Welcome to Nickajack Lake

Buck and Ruby

A Journey from Survival to Forever

Ruby was a woman well-loved. But like so many women, she carried a longing she was taught never to name—never even to think of such things. But her husband loved her with a patience few men possessed, and when he discovered her deepest secrets, that patience became a mission. It took some time, but he began to wear her down. Then he ran out of time. And suddenly Ruby knew her secrets would remain just that. Secret. But that didn’t matter anyway, because love only comes around once in a lifetime, after all.

Buck didn’t trust women. He wasn’t big on people in general. Not after he survived the sharp sting of betrayal so many years ago. But that didn't matter now—life was good. When he found his private plot of land, he was relieved that the family next door shared his desire for solitude. Then he saw her long auburn curls and heard that infectious laugh. But that didn’t matter either because she was another man’s wife. He’d never live in her world.

In her debut novel, Alys Locke takes you on a journey with two people who believed they knew everything there was to know about love, only to discover a truth neither expected. Buck and Ruby is a ‘Later in Life’ love story. You can love more than once in your life, but rare love only happens once in a lifetime.

Please note: This book contains adult themes, consensual erotic scenes, and strong language. There is no cheating. No cliffhanger. With a very satisfying HEA! Suggested PG-18.

“A wonderfully written midlife romance filled with real life situations. Family drama. Guilt. Heat and sweet. A slow burn that's worth the wait. I loved it!” ♥ BookBub Review

“This is just a lovely book! Character development and pacing are solid and believable. I hope to read more from this author and maybe about some of the characters she introduced in this book!” ♥ Amazon Review

Grace and Gavin

A Sexual Renaissance

Grace Hamlin has always had a thing for big trucks.

Especially the kind with dark-tinted windows, driven by the sort of rugged man a respectable woman probably shouldn't be imagining during a twenty-hour solo road trip.

But Grace has reached an age when "respectable" feels a little overrated.

With Christmas approaching, she's driving from Tennessee to Colorado, eager to spend time with her family. The miles give her plenty of time to think about years past, choices she wishes she'd made differently, and a few fantasies she's never quite dared to admit.

Then, a black F-250 starts appearing in her rearview mirror.

And so does its driver.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly handsome, Gavin is everything Grace can't stop thinking about. Mysteriously ending up in the same Kansas hotel, a little wine, a lot of flirting, and an adjoining door present Grace with a very tempting opportunity to check something off her fantasy bucket list.

For one unforgettable night, she decides to stop dwelling on the past and discovers just how much adventure might still be waiting.

But morning comes.

Gavin disappears.

Grace still has a long road to Colorado ahead of her.

What she doesn't know is that her journey isn't quite over. Sometimes, the fantasies worth chasing aren't about finding something new, but about discovering what's been there all along.

Grace and Gavin is a seriously steamy, romantic short story about missed opportunities, rediscovered desire, and one woman's very unexpected sexual fantasies.

Please note: This short story contains strong language, adult themes, and consensually erotic love scenes. Suggested for readers 18 and over.

Jane and Grant

Worth the Wait

Deputy U.S. Marshal Jane Meyer Garnet has spent years proving herself in a man's world. Tough, capable, and fiercely independent, she has finally earned a coveted spot in the Witness Security Division and has no intention of letting anyone—or anything—interfere with the career she loves.

Especially CIA Agent Grant Carter.

Grant knows Jane is off-limits. She's married, a colleague, and has made it perfectly clear she doesn't need his or anyone else's protection. But watching from the sidelines as her marriage slowly crumbles is testing every ounce of his restraint.

Then, one devastating loss changes everything.

Years pass, and lives change. When an extraordinary young witness needs more than government protection, Jane makes a life-altering decision. Grant makes one of his own: wherever Jane goes, he's going too.

Now they're living under the same roof, raising a boy who desperately needs a family, and pretending to be something they're not.

The problem?

Pretending starts to feel dangerously real.

Grant has waited years for Jane to see what's been right in front of her. Jane has spent just as long convincing herself that the one man who has never failed her is nothing more than a colleague, a partner...a friend.

But Grant Carter is done waiting.

And this time, when he asks Jane if she wants company, he intends to stay.

Jane and Grant complement Raynor and Rose. Although all stories are standalone, Jane and Grant are first introduced in Raynor and Rose. This short story fills in the gaps, adding depth to their highly charged, sexy love story, which runs in tandem with Raynor's story.

Please note: This short story contains strong language, adult themes, and consensually erotic love scenes. Suggested for readers 18 and over.