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Unexpected Twist of Love

June 5, 2026 by Tracy Reed in category Writing

A couple of years ago, it’s hard to believe I’m saying that. Even more hard to comprehend that the book I’m about to talk about will be ten years old this year. 

Many of you may remember I did something a few people questioned. I published a title a month for a year. Looking back on it, I have mixed emotions. Was it insane? Possibly. Did I fully understand what I was doing? No. Would I ever do it again? Depends. 

The challenge set the stage for a healthy backlist, which I don’t regret. However, because I wasn’t fully aware of what I was doing, it left me with a few loose ends…cliffhangers. 

I think I only have two books left on the cliff. I also have the end of a series I’ve been putting off. Technically, the series that needs an ending could stand as it is. However, I won’t do that, because there are some things that really need to be finished. I know one of the reasons I’m hesitant to end that series, is because it’s the first one I wrote. I’m very attached to those characters, but I know I need to give them a proper finish.

Back to the book this post is about, UNEXPECTED LOVE. Read the previous post at the bottom.That book in its inception, was supposed to be about a woman and her multiple husbands. Instead, it became the story of a woman and her deceitful husband. I thought it was going to be a standalone with a hard cliffhanger. In my defense, it ended with a cliffhanger because someone told me that’s what readers liked. They forgot to tell me, readers also wanted an HEA at some point. I have been putting off the continuation of this story for a while. 

Last year or possibly, the end of 2024, I started writing the continuation of the story. OMG! I have to admit I can tell the difference in my writing. The follow-up to this book is insane. I love the direction and the plot. Since I wrote the first book, I’ve been involved in a few anthologies requiring novellas or short stories. In one of the anthologies, I wrote a short story. Recently, I needed a novella and was clueless on what to write. I took the short story and expanded it into a novella. Once I got in to the story, I discovered I was able to tie it into the UNEXPECTED LOVE follow-up. So, what was originally a multi-book series, converted to a standalone, is now a three full-length novels and three novella series. 

I never saw this happening. I was also able to implement world building. I talked about world building in a previous post. The characters in this series tie into characters from some of my other series: The Alex Chronicles; Generational Curse; A Southern Gentleman and Miss Match. 

When I stated earlier that I had no idea what I was doing ten years ago, this is what I meant. Had I known about world building and series writing, I would have done a lot better with that challenge. 

To sum up. Always listen to your characters. 

Previous post on UNEXPECTED LOVE

I apologize if I’ve already told the story about my upcoming release, “UNEXPECTED LOVE.” My relationship with this story goes back several years. When I first became an Indie Writer, I had quite a few stories dancing around in my mind. I had this idea for a series about a woman and the many men in her life. More like all the men she’d married.

When I set out to write the series, the task seemed a little daunting. I don’t know about anyone else, but I easily get attached to my characters. But if I don’t feel a connection, it’s difficult for me to tell their story.

When I got the idea for this story, I imagined it as a five book series. I had all the husbands mapped out. However, when I started writing, it felt very forced. I was so overwhelmed trying to tell this woman’s story. I abandoned the series and thought I would tell it as a standalone. Summarizing each of the husbands and focusing on the one she really loved.

I picked up the pages I’d started, made a few changes, and set out to write. I liked where this story was going, but as I got more involved with the characters, the story changed. It was no longer a story about a bitter divorcee, but a liberated divorcee who finds love in an unexpected source, her ex-husband’s ex-best friend, who just happens to be her divorce attorney. That’s either a mouthful or a blurb.

The more involved I got with Fiona’s story, the more I liked her. But I also felt sorry for her. She’s a sweetheart, searching for her voice. In a nutshell, she married her college crush, who later deceived her. Once she decided to divorce him, she found her voice. I love her transition, although it’s not without its ups and downs. One of which is the change in her relationship with her attorney and her self-esteem.

Last year, when I set out to write twelve titles in a year, I had this title on the schedule as a short story. However, I didn’t think there was enough story for a book. So I resolved myself to make it a short story. I cleaned up the first chapter and started writing. But when I started writing, the story took a turn. It was no longer about Fiona and her husband, but Fiona and her attorney.

I continued writing, thinking I could tell the story in novella length. As I got closer to what would be maximum novella length, the characters kept talking. No matter how hard I fought to end the story, they kept talking, so I kept writing. I really enjoyed the direction the story was going. Then I wrote myself into a hole. Crap! I didn’t see a way out, so I introduced another character, thinking she would help me. Instead, she led me to a wall, and the only way around the wall was another character. Hold on, it gets better. When I introduced this character, he brought his own storyline in addition to tearing down the wall.

So here I was with a full-length novel. But here’s the kicker. When I introduced Fiona’s brother (aka “the wall”) into the mix, the story took another turn and led me to a place I never would have imagined being, “Cliffhanger Boulevard.”

Yep, my five book series originally titled, “My Five Husbands” was changed to a standalone novel. Then it got a title switch to “UNEXPECTED LOVE.” Then it became a short story, that grew into a novella that reverted to a full-length standalone, which is now book one in a new series. Talk about unexpected.

So what’s the lesson learned? Never throw out an idea. Instead, put it aside and, when the time is right, revisit it. You might be surprised what story you can tell.

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LOVE WINS CHARITY ANTHOLOGY

April 5, 2026 by Tracy Reed in category Writing Happy Resurrection Day…. Happy Easter.

I had a topic in mind to discuss this month, but it was one of those topics that’s better discussed or debated, not written about. So, as I sat at my computer wondering what to talk about this month, I opted to turn the spot light on an anthology I’m participating in.

I didn’t know Twyla Turner personally, but I followed her on Facebook. I watched her share about her weight loss and later her battle with cancer. As her illness progressed, I felt compelled to pray for her, so I reached out to her. I told her I felt led to pray for her and asked what she wanted prayer for her. She said yes and told me what she wanted prayer for. I immediately added her to my prayer list. Needless to say, I was shocked when I saw her father’s post on Facebook about her passing.

When I heard about this anthology, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it. I wanted to help bring awareness to the cause and help Twyla’s family and loved ones celebrate her memory.

So, here I am, one of eight incredible authors—Harper Black, KT Bond, AJ Buchanan, Gabbi Grey, Olivia Huxley, Gabbi Powell, and Alexa Sant—have created LOVE WINS: Stories of Heat, Heart, and Hope—eight unforgettable romances celebrating love in all its forms.

💖 Available now—but only until May 15.

Every single dollar raised will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Twyla’s memory.

Whether you knew and loved Twyla, or you’re discovering her for the first time, this collection is a chance to celebrate her legacy the way she lived—through story, connection, and love.

✨ Buy the anthology or make a donation here: https://lovestories4you.wixsite.com/charity-anthology

I encourage you to support this project because it’s for a good cause.

BLURBS FOR “LOVE WINS” PROMO

TURN BACK TIME by KT Bond
They say time will tell, and that the third time’s the charm. Winsome Bernard would like a word with whoever “they” are.
While helping out her sister at her B&B, the last person Winsome expects to encounter again—for the third time—is the man she once believed was lost to her forever. Alain DuPont has already walked away from her twice. Once because he had no choice. Once because he made the wrong choice. Either way, she’s done paying the price for his absence.

As the son of a diplomat, Alain understands the power of a charm offensive. But charm alone won’t save him this time. Somewhere between leaving and returning, he’s learned the truth he should have known all along: the most important decision in life isn’t where you live or what you do, but who you choose to love.

That ‘who’ has always been Winsome.

Now he wants a third chance, but Winsome isn’t convinced he deserves it. With old wounds reopened, undeniable chemistry simmering, and no room left for excuses, Alain must prove he’s no longer the man who let her walk away—while Winsome must decide whether a love broken can still be trusted a third time.
A second-chance romance about grown love, hard-earned trust, and the courage to choose again.

A ROAD TRIP TO THE HEART by Harper Black
When her cross-country trip takes a turn, she finds herself on the road to love…
After the tragic loss of her father, Maisie Jones is starting over. At least that was the plan until illness forces her to delay her journey near the Colorado-New Mexico border.

The only available accommodation in town is a cottage owned by a big, tall, handsome guy with hard edges who, for some reason, looks vaguely familiar…
Max Mitchell isn’t going to tell Maisie who he really is—at least not right away. His fame as a musician is in the past, and he’s never regretted fading into obscurity to become a family man.

Max is determined to get to know the quiet, introverted Maisie. But for a loner like Maisie, she’s reluctant to believe a man as confident as Max is interested in her.
All Max knows is that he hasn’t felt like this about anyone since his divorce. However, there’s another woman in town with her sights set on Max’s heart, which means convincing Maisie to stay could prove to be a bumpy ride…

IN PERFECT RHYTHM by AJ Buchanan
When past admiration meets present attraction, two men rediscover the rhythm of love.
For years, Levar Hunter has felt emotionally out of sync. Now a magnetic attraction to his younger colleague builds like a symphonic crescendo—unexpected, undeniable, and impossible to ignore.

Levar has never forgotten Andrew Chang-Lee, the gifted young musician he once mentored while teaching at a local college. After Andy’s graduation, friendship replaced formality, a bond that endured quietly for over a decade. But when Andy—now a celebrated concert pianist—returns to public life after an extended absence, something between them has undeniably shifted. And it isn’t just the proximity they share as colleagues at the gifted academy where Levar teaches.

Andy’s fascination with his former mentor has never faded. It lingers like an unfinished melody, one he never quite learned to set aside. This time, reunited with Levar as equals, he’s determined not to leave the song unfinished.

Accepting a five-month position as artist-in-residence is, officially, Andy’s way back into the spotlight after a serious health scare. Unofficially, it’s about Levar, the man who once inspired him, and whose growing awareness is unmistakable. Andy’s feelings haven’t changed. And this time, neither will Levar’s.

Tender, sensual, and emotionally rich, this slow-burn M/M romance is about second chances, hidden longing, and finding harmony when the timing is finally right.

EMMANUEL’S SURRENDER by Gabbi Grey
Dalton
I firmly believe old age shouldn’t take the fun out of life, and I love helping the residents at The Good Life look their very best. I was born to be a hairdresser. I was also born to be a flirt, and that hot new doctor brings out the shameless in me. At first, it’s all in fun, but I notice him watching me even when he pretends he’s far too busy for my antics. Usually, guys call me shallow or lightweight, and they leave me without a backward look. Somehow, with Dr. Bradner, I feel seen. Important. Is there any chance a man like him might actually date a guy like me?

Emmanuel’s Surrender is a small-town, age-gap, interracial, opposites-attract, instalove gay romance with a by-the-book doctor, a sassy hairdresser who has no boundaries, and senior residents who don’t know how to mind their own business.

THE PLUS ONE PLAYBOOK by Olivia Huxley
Star hockey defenseman Declan Fitzpatrick just wants to play the game and avoid talking to the media, including tenacious reporter Ayana Williams, who’s been after him for months. When his mom sets him up with a blind date for his brother’s wedding weekend, he panics and tells her he’s already taken – by Ayana, the only name he could recall in the stress of the moment.

Ayana will go along with the charade, but only if he’ll grant her exclusive access for an in-depth profile. Her future with her employer demands she succeed.

Three days at the Fitzpatrick family home as a pretend couple should be easy, but sharing a room, and so much of themselves, with one another begins to blur the lines. As the weekend winds down, Declan and Ayana must decide if they’re playing for keeps, or if this relationship was always headed for the penalty box.

A BRUSH WITH THE PAST by Gabbi Powell
Victoria fled a broken heart twenty years ago, putting an entire country between her and the man she’d loved. She got married, had a son, and life was good. Except good can become bitter in a heartbeat. The marriage ended in a nasty divorce, and a horrific accident changed her life forever. Now she’s come back home to Mission City to start fresh. To give her son the best childhood she can. To reconnect with her mother. To put the pieces of her shattered future back together. That’s the plan, at least. Until she discovers who lives next door.

Douglas will always regret breaking up with Victoria. He was young and reckless and had big plans, made bad choices. After she left, he found a quieter life, married a woman he loved, and grieved when he lost her. When he decided to return to Mission City, the house he liked best happened to be next door to Victoria’s mother. A bit masochistic, perhaps, but at least he might get news of her now and then. Until the day Victoria returns to her mother’s house with a young son, a broken marriage, and a whole lot of pain in her past. Douglas wants nothing more than to make Victoria happy again, but how can he prove this grumpy middle-aged man is worthy of a second chance?

A Brush With the Past is a 25k grumpy/sunshine, interracial, sensual second-chance romance with a man who’s tortured by his past, a woman looking for a fresh start, an interfering mother, and a precocious seven-year-old boy. The story is part of the Love in Cedar Valley world.

ONE WEEK by Tracy Reed
Chef Roman Maxwell is as comfortable in the kitchen as he was on a Special Forces assignment. But a last-minute catering job for an executive retreat presents him with an opportunity for love with attorney Makena Crawford. She never expected one week with the hot chef would whet her appetite for love.

IT’S ONLY LOVE: A ROMANCE IN THREE STORIES by Alexa Santi
It’s Only Lunch
Cassandra Alston has always had a secret crush on her friend Luke, so she’s not prepared for the revelation that he’s finally single and available. Her fears send her fleeing their lunch together, but when COVID-19 lockdown strands her at O’Hare, she calls the one person she knows will always come to her rescue.

It’s Only Christmas
When Christmas skeptic Cass agrees to a road trip down the California coast to see the holiday market in Solvang, neither she nor Luke expect the series of disasters that await them, starting with a trip to the emergency room. Now they’re trying to keep their trip afloat, their relationship together, and their Christmas spirit bright despite the obstacles standing between them and their destination.

It’s Only Forever
The course of true love hits a final snag at their wedding, where two feuding uncles each insist he should have the sole right to walk Cass down the aisle. Bringing their families together means Cass and Luke must resolve tensions still lingering from Cass’s own parents’ wedding of 30 years before. Maybe it’s not too late to elope … 1 0 Read more

Love Wins Anthology

February 5, 2026 by Tracy Reed in category Writing

I am so excited about an upcoming anthology to support pancreatic cancer and in memory of Twyla Turner.

LOVE WINS: STORIES OF HEAT, HEART, AND HOPE, a limited-edition charity anthology, celebrates the power of love in all its forms. Couples navigate between the pull of the past and the promise of the future with courage and passion. From curvy girls to tough guys, from tender new adults to seasoned older adults, these multicultural and interracial lovers invite us to savor the joy of living, loving, and believing. Dive into Love Wins, an anthology of diverse romances, featuring uplifting tales of hope, celebration, and second chances, curated in memory of our fellow writer and romance lover, Twyla Turner.

✨💜✨Participating Authors ✨💜✨
K. T. Bond
Harper Black
A.J. Buchanan
Gabbi Grey
Olivia Huxley
Gabbi Powell
Tracy Reed
Alexa Santi
A.M. Roark

Other Books by Tracy Reed

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