Heat level: Clean, Closed-Door Romance

Starting over wasn’t part of Donna Mackenzie’s plan—but neither was losing everything she thought she could trust.

Donna Mackenzie believed she’d built a solid, comfortable life in Seattle—until her husband’s addiction shattered her marriage and upended their future. Reeling from betrayal and determined to reclaim her sense of self, Donna leaves her job, sells her home, and heads to Tucson, Arizona, hoping a fresh start will quiet the doubts she can’t escape.

Between gourd-crafting classes, desert sunsets, and a growing friendship with fellow snowbird Sharon Peterson, Donna begins to rebuild a life on her own terms. Romance is the last thing she’s looking for—especially after everything she’s endured.

But her newly divorced neighbor, Gary Phillips, has his own reasons for keeping his heart guarded. Drawn to Donna despite his better judgment, he’s willing to take things slowly—even if earning her trust proves harder than he imagined.
As friendship deepens and walls begin to soften, Donna must decide whether protecting her heart means closing it off forever—or risking it once more for a love rooted in honesty, patience, and second chances.

Disillusioned Dreams is a warm, reflective later-in-life romance about healing, trust, and discovering that it’s never too late to begin again—told in a clean, closed-door style.

Note to Readers:

This is the clean, closed-door edition of Disillusioned Dreams. The story, characters, and emotional arc are the same as the original version, but this edition handles romantic moments off-page.

Readers who already own the original edition (part of The Arizona Series) do not need to repurchase this book unless they specifically prefer a clean, closed-door version.