Chance's Return by Lucy Naylor Kubash
Lucy Naylor Kubash has been writing for most of her life. She began her career writing short romance stories for Woman’s World magazine and now writes contemporary romance for The Wild Rose Press. Lucy has penned a column, The Pet Corner, for nearly 25 years, that advocates for homeless pets and animal rescue. She lives in Michigan with her husband of 53 years where they enjoy spending time with their two grown children, an assortment of pets, and traveling whenever possible.
A little bit about Author Lucy Naylor Kubash…
I’ve been writing for most of my life, selling my first short story to Woman’s World magazine in 1983. I wrote and sold a number of romance stories to the magazine, then went on to write full length novels for The Wild Rose Press. My fourth book, Chance’s Return: North Star Legacy Book One was released April 16, 2025, and is the first book in a trilogy. The books are western contemporary romance, and Tetons by Morning: North Star Legacy Book Two is in edits now. Book three, Fire in the Heart, will follow. I’ve also written a column called The Pet Corner for over twenty years that is published in a local shopper’s guide.
This is Author Lucy Naylor Kubash’s writing and publication journey in her own words…
Inspiration to start writing…
Reading is what inspired me to write. I’ve always been an avid reader, and even as a child, I loved making up my own stories. In junior high, I started writing my first novel, a historical romance set during the Civil War, which remains unpublished. I love writing romance, but often with a touch of mystery/suspense or even a little paranormal. The books published by The Wild Rose Press are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and other fine retailers. I also have self-published five collections of my short stories that appeared in Woman’s World, and they are available HERE.
Chance’s Return: North Star Legacy (Book One) Blurb
Young widow Casey Girard travels to Wyoming to recover from a tragic loss. Working as a cook at the North Star ranch for the summer will give her an opportunity to heal and to start over near the beautiful Grand Teton Mountains.
Ex-rodeo champ and prodigal son of the North Star, Chance McCord comes home to face a family still divided by their own painful past. After the estrangement, he needs to find a way to face his own haunting memories.
When Chance and Casey meet, the attraction is undeniable and blooms like the Blue Lupine in the valley, but they must learn to trust one another and to put their pasts to rest before love can grow.
One of Lucy’s favourite excerpts from Chance’s Return…
Clutching their packages, they sprinted to the café two doors down and hurried inside. Casey glanced about the bustling Hitching Post. A lot of other folks had the same idea.
Dishes clattered and voices were raised as the overwhelmed servers filled orders for the mob of tourists that, with the advent of the storm, had descended on them.
Casey didn’t see a single empty table or booth.
“Room only at the counter, honey.” A harried server jerked her head towards the lunch counter.
Casey saw the two empty seats, one on either side of a tall, broad-shouldered man. His hat and faded denim jacket said cowboy, and he looked intimidating, even with his back turned.
She was reluctant to ask him to move over, but being on her own had forced her to fend for herself and do things she never thought she’d have to do. With only a second’s hesitation, Casey marched up to the counter and smiled. “Could you please move down one? All the other seats are taken.”
For a minute, she didn’t think he’d heard. He remained hunched over the full-to-the-brim mug of coffee that sat steaming on the counter in front of him. He hadn’t made it to the café in time to avoid the downpour. Rain darkened the faded denim jacket, and his battered, equally wet, black cowboy hat tilted low over his forehead, shadowing his face. He seemed totally withdrawn from the bustle of the café around him.
Casey cleared her throat to speak again and found herself looking into eyes the same color as the moody sky above the mountains. With the chary gaze of a lone wolf, the man stared from beneath the hat brim. He needed a shave, and his dark hair curled just above the collar of his jacket. In one glance, he took her all in, from her pink running shoes and skinny jeans to her green-and-white college sweatshirt. His gaze lifted and dwelled on her face. She shifted from one foot to the other. A crazy rush of warmth flooded her from her toes to the roots of her ponytailed hair.
“Hey, can we sit down?” Jamie asked. “I’m really hungry.”
The fact he’d eaten lunch only a few hours ago didn’t seem to matter. Lately, Jamie was hungry all the time.
The boy’s remark did the trick.
A smile crinkled the man’s tanned face. “Sure enough, partner.” He stood just long enough to hoist himself over to the next stool.
Jamie scrambled up beside him.
The man pulled the brim of the boy’s hat down over his wavy blond hair.
Scrunching his nose, Jamie tipped his head back and gave the stranger the once-over. “You a cowboy, mister?”
Casey poked her son. “Jamie, hush. Don’t ask a bunch of questions now.” In three weeks’ time, Jamie had also lost a lot of his bashfulness. Simply too many people lived at the North Star ranch, and too much happened for him to remain shy for long. But no doubt this guy wouldn’t appreciate a kid’s questions. When it came to cowboys, Jamie was an avid fan, and anybody who dressed like one became instant hero material. In spite of his friendly gesture, this particular cowboy didn’t look interested in being a little boy’s hero.
“It’s okay, ma’am. I don’t mind.” He winked at her.
That sort of masculine wink could do strange things to one’s equilibrium. Casey snatched the plastic-covered menu and stared at it, although, unlike Jamie, she wasn’t a bit hungry.
Buy Chance’s Return: North Star Legacy Book One
Connect with Author Lucy Naylor Kubash
Thanks for featuring my book!
An engaging way for the two main characters and the child of one of them to meet, Lucy. It leaves the way open for lots of things or nothing to happen.
And lots happens! Thanks, Meryl.
a lovely piece. Congratulations Lucy
Veronica Lynch
Thank you, Veronica!
Well done, Lucy!
Thank you, John.