Keeping Promises - A Book Dedication

Sorry I haven’t been around much, but for those of you following me, you know I have been working on my website(www.mefranco.com), and finishing up the final edits and formatting for my new release, The Rustler’s Daughter. Since it is a historical/western romance, I thought it would be fun to publish it on Valentine’s Day. Cheesy? Absolutely J

I dedicated this book to my Papa. I know it seems strange to dedicate a romance book to my grandfather, but he’s the reason I love romance books. When I was young, I couldn’t read enough. Of course, we didn’t have the internet, so I was hooked on the library. Still, I couldn’t check out enough books to keep me busy.

My grandfather was adamant that all of his grandchildren should attend college, and he made me promise to go no matter what. When I was in high school, he wanted to encourage my love of reading, so he would go to the “swap meet” (flea market) and buy grocery bags full of used Harlequin Romances. They were the clean ones, where the lovers kissed at the end and lived happily ever after. That's when I fell in love with romance. Once in awhile, a “bodice ripper” got mixed in, but I never told Papa. I kept those under my mattress…heehee.

He was so proud of my writing. I used to tell him that one day, I would write a Harlequin Romance, and he would say “I know you will, baby.” When he passed away, my grandmother found a worn out piece of paper folded up in his wallet with two of my poems on it. That meant the world to me.

From then on, I focused to keep my word. I went to college (a lot of college), and I worked on my writing. The Rustler’s Daughter is the fulfillment of the last promise I made to write a Harlequin type romance (with a little "bodice ripper" thrown in - don't tell). I decided to make it a western because Papa and I used to love to watch cowboy shows together. Thank you for everything Papa <3

Hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it!