Hi PD,
I'm very happy to announce the release of my newest dev romance, The Walled Garden. "Jazz Age" has always been the story that received the most requests for a sequel, and I've finally expanded it into a 43,000-word novella! It's chock-full of romantic longing, 1920s glamour, eccentric friends and family, and of course devvy details.
- Preview: read the original "Jazz Age" on the PD stories blog
1922: Helena De Vries is an East Coast heiress dispatched to Southern California, where she wants to help her eccentric aunt establish a museum—while her parents aim for her to court young men of suitable stature. Lonely and dissatisfied, Helena flees a glittering soirĂ©e, only to encounter a man who presents her with an impossible appeal.
Thoughtful, witty, and kind, Michael Byrne is a son of one of the nation’s wealthiest families, yet has lived his entire life confined to one wing of the Byrne mansion. Born with cerebral palsy and deemed incapable of public appearance, Michael has never been allowed to meet anyone like Helena. For him, their friendship is an unexpected gift.
But after the first sparks of warmth—and desire—Helena finds herself longing for more. Equally afraid to expose their affection to public censure and to give Michael promises that she might not be able to fulfill, Helena faces an irresolvable dilemma: how can you confess your love for a man who isn’t supposed to exist?
The Walled Garden is a sparkling, lush, and sensual Jazz Age romance novella, featuring a rich cast of characters who struggle to reconcile exacting social expectations and the demands of the heart.
Just bought it. Can’t wait to read.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Thank you for the support; I hope you enjoyed it!
DeleteA great news! Will go and check it out immediately! Thank you for writing and publishing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI am starting to read it now! Can't wait, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU!
DeleteOh such great news indeed! Loved Jazz Age, so very devvy. I'm beyond thrilled about this. Off to buy and read it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the support and the review, Lovis! Now we just need more Not Gay... ;)
DeleteJust bought it and read in a single session Just as good as the original short story. Thank you for making it into a book!
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo, so glad you thought so!
DeleteLoved Jazz Age and can’t wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteYay, thank you.
DeleteJust bought it. Can’t wait to see how you expanded it. Loved Jazz Age.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteDang it, Rowan, I was really into the worldbuilding, loved the characters, etc., but it ended too soon! Like… there’s all this buildup and conversation, etc., and then the next page is [TIDY ENDING]. I want at least two or three more of those little teaser stories people put out there to get you to join their newsletters đ
ReplyDeleteBut seriously… I’d love to see more about their time together away from the mansion.
Ooooh, believe me, I really struggled with whether to go on! I had planned for a long time to write a third part where we'd get to see Helena and Michael honeymoon in Paris, and both of them would come to grips with how people with disabilities lived without Michael's financial privileges. I also wanted to get into societal perceptions of people with congenital vs. acquired disabilities in the wake of all the injured veterans returning home after WWI. But when I realized that it had taken me two years just to finish the second part of "The Walled Garden," and how much historical research I'd want to do, I realized that I needed to just get TWG out into the world as it was. I do hope to go back to their story eventually, and I hope it's worth the wait for you! Thank you so much for your sweet comment.
Delete<3
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