Secret Desires, a contemporary romance from J.L. Regen

Please help us offer a very warm welcome to J.L. Regen. She is here this week to share her contemporary romance, Secret Desires. Welcome, J.L.! We are all excited to hear more about Secret Desires.

Q&A with J.L. Regen:

What inspires you as an author?
What inspires me to write? The joy of seeing my words come together as a novel that people can read and will transport them to another world.

How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time taking photographs, although with COVID, my ability to travel has been handicapped since my favorite places are overseas. In fact, my WWII Historical novels will be set in Paris, Istanbul, and other exotic places.

Do you listen to music when you write?
When I write I usually like to have my quiet space so my characters aren’t distracted.

How do you, your friends and your fans encourage you when you need a pick-me-up?
When I need a pick me up, my fans and friends remind me that they want another story to read so I set my fingers to the keyboard.

What are you working on next and when can we expect to see it?
My next book, which I hope to have completed by the end of the year, will be a Middle Grade story that deal with bullying the class reader.

About Secret Desires:

Nothing in Margo Simmons’s life comes easy. She can’t claim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left to her until she is gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man of her dreams but anguishes over a loving relationship because he is still emotionally tied to his deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the guardian to a recently orphaned child she had been tutoring. Margo evolves from an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a woman determined to fulfill the secret desires locked in her heart. My story speaks to anyone who has suffered a loss and had to start over.

Secret Desires Buy links: 

Excerpt from Secret Desires:

MARGO SIMMONS GRIPPED THE EDGES of the leather chair, waiting for details from the family lawyer about her
Uncle Harry’s death. She hoped it would be shorter and less painful than the reading of her father’s will.

An older gentleman extended his hand. “I’m sorry your mother couldn’t be here.”

Margo looked up from her reflections to acknowledge him. “Thanks, Mr. Steinberg.”

“You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.”

Margo blinked back tears at memories of good times shared with Uncle Harry. “Not so young. I’m twenty-three.”

The portly man squeezed himself into a swivel chair and peered at her over wire-rimmed bifocals. “I’m ancient compared to that
number.”

Margo gripped her knees to steady her nerves. “My mother wanted to come with me, but they’re downsizing at her dress
shop. She was afraid to leave early. My stepfather is furious because Uncle Harry didn’t leave him any money.”

Mr. Steinberg saddened at the sorrowful expression on the young woman’s face. “It pains me to hear Jerry hasn’t changed
his ways. However, since you’re the only one present to hear your uncle’s will, I’ll get to the point. Harry has left you his Riverside Drive condominium apartment and the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

Margo jumped up from the chair and hugged the man. “This is a miracle. I can’t wait to tell my Mom. She’s wanted me to get out
on my own. Now I can. Though I wish it hadn’t come with the loss of my uncle. I adored him.”

About the Author:

J.L. Regen’s book was inspired by a real life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. She lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published three nonfiction books and is crafting a historical suspense set in World War II and a MG novel. Her book for younger readers, Jamie is Autistic: Learning in a Special Way, has been used widely in elementary school classrooms here and overseas and is now in Spanish and Chinese and live as a YouTube video.

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