top of page
N. N. Light
May 20, 202210 min read

Author Spotlight | Meet romance author @JanaRichards_ and her series #bookseries #romance #99cents



I love reading—and writing—smalltown romance. If you think nothing happens in small towns, you’re wrong. All the drama, heartache and joy of falling in love—or falling out of love—happens in a small town the same way it does in a city. The difference is that in a city you have the luxury of anonymity. If your boyfriend breaks up with you, no will know aside from the people you choose to tell. But in a small town, if your boyfriend breaks up with you, everyone will know. Gossip spreads at the speed of light. Everyone knows what happened, usually in excruciating detail, and you can’t get away from it. Maybe his mother works at the grocery store and gives you a pitying eye as she rings up your purchases. His sister is your teller at the bank, and his best friend fixes your car. Worse, you can’t get away from him. You’ll see him at the hockey rink, or at one of the few restaurants in town. How are you supposed to get over him if he’s everywhere you look?


I gave the fictional town of Masonville a population of six thousand because that was the size of the town my family and I lived in before we moved to a large city. The town was large enough to have a number of shops, restaurants, car dealerships and so on, as well as services such as a hospital and a veterinary clinic. But it was small enough that you knew a lot of people. And you knew their business, without really trying very hard. You were often acquainted with them in more than one capacity. For instance, I worked for the local junior hockey club which had a volunteer board of directors. Most of them were local business people, like the guy who owned the jewellery store, and the local druggist. One of them was also my financial advisor. I’d see them at meetings, at hockey games and every time I went to their businesses. My kids were young when we lived in this town and I took them to parent and child music lessons. One of the other mothers in the group was also my daughter’s swim coach. She was head nurse at the local hospital. Knowing someone at the hospital came in handy when my daughter had her tonsils out and I needed to move her to another room. The head nurse made it happen.


I remember one time when the father of one of my daughter’s friends had an affair with a female RCMP member. Everyone in town knew about the affair. I don’t remember how I found out; I certainly didn’t seek out the news, but I know it was common knowledge around town. I knew the wife and I can only imagine how tough it must have been to know everyone was talking about her husband’s infidelity.


I don’t want to give the impression that living in a small town is bad because it’s not. Small towns provide a feeling of community that isn’t always available in a large city. People give of their time in a small town, because they know if they don’t volunteer, stuff won’t happen. The head nurse I spoke of earlier? She volunteered to be the swim coach because she knew if she didn’t, the kids wouldn’t have a swim club. The same with the junior hockey team I worked for. Along with the volunteer board of directors were volunteer families who housed the young hockey players and received only a small stipend for the work they did. We had a booster club who helped out in numerous ways. Whenever I had a project in the office I needed help with, like stuffing envelopes for a mass mail out, all I had to do was call and they’d show up.


When my nephew’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer, the small town I’d grown up in and where he still lives, rallied around to raise money and support them. My great-niece is doing well now, and I know the aid and encouragement from her community played a role in her healing.


Small towns are interesting places to live in and fascinating to write about. I hope you enjoy the Masonville series!





Title - Child of Mine

Author - Jana Richards

Genre - Small town contemporary romance

Publisher - The Wild Rose Press


Book Blurb –


Lauren didn't intend to sleep with her brother-in-law Cole on the day of her husband's funeral. But now that she is pregnant, she's not sorry. Cole's given her a baby, a long-wished-for miracle. He's been her friend forever, though she never told him or anyone else how unhappy her marriage to his cheating brother was. And she's afraid to tell the small town that considered her husband a hero that the baby isn't his.


Cole's been in love with Lauren since he was sixteen. It kills him that everyone believes the baby is his dead brother's. All he wants is to claim the baby, and Lauren, as his own. Though she marries him, will Lauren's heart ever be his?


Lauren must tell the truth or risk losing Cole. Is her newly-discovered love for him greater than her fear of scandal in her hometown?


Excerpt –


“You mean everything to me. I love you.”


She shook her head. “You don’t love me, not really. I’m nothing more than a responsibility to you.”


“Don’t tell me how I feel.” Desperation turned to anger in a flash. Cole jumped to his feet and began to pace. “I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen years old, but you never saw me, not really. You only had eyes for Billy. It nearly killed me when you married him, but I stuffed down my anger and hurt and congratulated both of you, because really, what else could I do?”


“No, that can’t be true.”


“It’s true, all right. I wish to God it wasn’t. I tried to push away my feelings for you, tried to love other women, but none of them were you. None of them compared to you. I thought I’d get over you, but I never did.”


Her eyes were wide with shock. “Cole—”


“Billy guessed the truth. I found out he’d been cheating on you, and I confronted him. We had a huge fight, beat each other till we were both bloody. He told me I was jealous because you’d rejected me. He said you’d never want me, that you’d always be tied to him, no matter what happened. And he was right.” He gave a bark of mirthless laughter. “He’s dead and he still comes between us.”


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub) –


Grab this book on sale for 99 cents (slightly higher internationally)!
















Title – To Heal a Heart

Author – Jana Richards

Genre – Small town contemporary romance

Publisher – The Wild Rose Press


Book Blurb –


Garrett Saunders' world changed two years ago on a road in Afghanistan. Back home, he feels like a stranger. As he struggles to find his place in the world, he meets a horse destined for the slaughterhouse and a woman bent on rescuing the strays of the world, including him.


Blair Greyson moves to Masonville to look after her ailing grandfather and give her rescue horses a home. Right away she butts heads with a surly former Marine. Despite a rocky start, they come to an agreement: Blair will board Garrett's rescue horse and he'll help with repairs around her farm.


Garrett finds purpose working with Blair—and falls in love with her. But she's hiding a secret. Can she forgive herself and accept Garrett's love, or will she let guilt and regret continue to rule her life?


Excerpt –


He pushed himself to his feet, disconcerted by his unsteadiness. He made a few halting steps toward the gate as Blair ran into the yard.


“I forgot my sweater,” she said, grabbing the garment from the back of a chair and slipping it on. “It’s cooler than I thought. Are you sure you don’t want to watch the fireworks with us?”


“No, I—”


His words were cut off by a loud explosion, and his only thought was that he had to protect Blair. He grabbed her and threw her to the ground, covering her body with his. He was under attack. Why was Blair in Afghanistan? How could he keep her safe?


Through the chaos and noise he heard her muffled voice beneath him. “Garrett, you’re crushing me.”


He shifted his weight slightly. “Shh. I’m sorry. You have to stay down and quiet. I can’t let them hurt you.”


She stopped struggling. “Who’s going to hurt me?”


“Can’t you hear the mortar fire? I have to protect you.”


Her hand rubbed his back in gentle circles. “It’s all right, Garrett. It’s only fireworks. It can’t hurt us. We’re safe here.”


He lifted his head and looked around. He was in Cole and Lauren’s back yard in Masonville. There were no bombs, no shelling, no Taliban. He looked down into Blair’s face, into the pity in her eyes. He rolled off her, disgusted with himself.


Disgusted and scared. He was losing his mind.


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub) –
















Title - Unexpected

Author – Jana Richards

Genre – Small Town contemporary romance

Publisher – The Wild Rose Press


Book Blurb –


Single dad Ben Greyson wants only to retain custody of his two stepdaughters. A dysfunctional childhood has made family the most important thing in his life. When his late wife's parents sue for custody, a desperate Ben is left with two choices – run away with his girls or marry his next-door neighbor.


Jamie Garven wants to be a mother. She's intrigued by her handsome new neighbor and falls in love with his little girls. Then Ben is faced with losing his children, and Jamie agrees to marry him for a chance at motherhood. They're determined to show the world, and the girls' grandparents, two loving parents.



Excerpt –


“Is there anything I can say to make you change your mind about running away?”


“Say you’ll marry me.”


The words were out of his mouth before he knew he was going to say them. Jamie stared at him, eyes wide.


“What?”


“Marry me. You’re the only woman I’d trust with my girls.”


It suddenly made sense. If Jamie married him he could keep his kids.


She jumped to her feet, waking one of the dogs who’d been sleeping on the couch next to her. “What kind of marriage do you want, Ben? Are you proposing something for show?”


“No! I don’t know!” He stood and grasped her arms. “If you’re asking me if we’ll sleep together as man and wife, I don’t know.”


Her mouth twisted as if she was holding back tears. “You know I love the girls, but please don’t ask me to pretend. The last few months of my marriage, all I did was pretend. I pretended I had a husband who loved me. I swore I’d never do that again.”


Ben wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. He hated doing this to her, hated making her relive unhappy memories. He was asking too much of her and he didn’t blame her for saying no.


“Please, forget I said anything.”


He’d stick to his original plan. He and the girls would disappear. A life on the run wasn’t what he wanted for his children, but he’d do whatever he needed to do to keep them.


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub) –
















Title – Strong Enough

Author – Jana Richards

Genre – Small town contemporary romance

Publisher – The Wild Rose Press


Book Blurb –


Charlotte Saunders has a full life—a rewarding career as a nurse, meaningful volunteer work at a dog shelter, and family, friends and pets she adores. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t forget the horrible event that’s haunted her for ten years.


A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Damon Greyson now helps others who have suffered trauma. His experience and intuition alert him to trouble in Charlotte’s past, and he wants to help her, if only she’d let him.


As they work together to help veterans suffering from PTSD and neglected dogs needing loving homes, their feelings for each other deepen. But when the trauma from Charlotte’s past roars back to life, both are forced to confront their painful histories—or die trying.


Excerpt –


“I’m sorry. I hate women who use tears to get what they want. It’s just that yesterday the shelter had to put down some dogs. There was this one old dog, Shep….” She shook her head, unable to finish.


He squeezed her elbow before letting her go. “I’m sorry, Charlotte.”


She nodded and again Damon sensed her vulnerability. Charlotte tried to give off an aura of strength. She was the caregiving nurse, the person others looked to for help. But who helped Charlotte?


After a few breaths, she straightened her shoulders and faced him, her composure once more back in place. “How long do you think it will be?”


“You mean until the retreat is up and running?” When she nodded, he blew out a breath. “I don’t know. My building’s in worse shape than I first thought.”


“If there’s anything I can do to speed up the process, let me know.”


“You know anything about unplugging sewer lines?”


She made a face. “You’re on your own, Greyson.”


Don’t I know it. “Hey, you asked. From now on I’ll only request your help when it comes to dogs.”


She chuckled. “Good plan.”


This time Charlotte’s smile was genuine, and for a moment Damon couldn’t breathe. He found himself wondering what it would be like to have the full force of her smile directed at him on a regular basis, and to know there was real affection for him behind the smile. The longing he experienced at that thought shocked him.


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub) –


Preorder your copy today!









Author Biography –



When not writing up a storm or dealing with dust bunnies, Jana can be found pursuing hobbies such as golf (which she plays very badly) or reading (which she does much better).


Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com


Social Media Links –


Tags:

bottom of page