CELEBRATING POST #500!!!--a tribute to amazing author KATHLEEN E. WOODIWISS--credited with pioneering the historical romance genre, she revolutionized the publishing industry

 

Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

A woman burdened by war...A doctor torn between passion and duty...A sweeping tale of love in the face of dishonor from the incomparable storyteller--Kathleen Woodiwiss.

Alaina MacGaren is forced to flee the devastation of her homeland in the guise of a young boy, only to find sanctuary in the arms of an enemy. Cole Latimer is a dashing Yankee surgeon who has served the Union faithfully, and his tender heart compels him to help a ragged, innocent "lad" in need--never suspecting the rags conceal a bewitching belle suspected of being a rebel spy.

But Alaina's masquerade does not fool Cole for long. And the strength, courage, and breathtaking sensuality of this woman whom it would be treasonous to love sets duty and desire at war within him. Yet Destiny has joined them for good or ill--and they both must follow where their hearts would lead them, if they are to build a glorious new life together out of the ashes of the old.


MY REVIEW: My favorite work of romantic fiction is “Ashes in the Wind” by the late, great Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. “Ashes” is a soaring Civil War love story which shows the humanity and the tragedy of both sides of the conflict. Cole Latimer is a Yankee surgeon whose compassionate nature and strong physician’s ethics benefit both “the blue and the gray”. Alaina MacGaren is a beautiful young Southern woman forced to pose as a young boy in order to survive. In her disguise as “Al”, the young cleaning boy at the military hospital, she comes to know Dr. Latimer. The beginning of their relationship is that of sparring partners who form a tentative friendship. The scene where Cole realizes that not only is “Al” a female, she is the mystery woman with whom he shared a night of blazing passion and also the illusive, veiled widow whom he has pursued is something else! Once they finally face each other as man and woman, a deep, abiding love begins to grow. Their passion overcomes many doubts and obstacles and finally reaches full bloom. Both of these characters went through a personal growth process as the horror of the War Between the States and its lasting aftermath unfolded. Cole’s disgust and frustration when he was unable to save a life due to military interference was deeply felt. Alaina’s desire to be seen as a lovely young woman instead of a ragged boy was palpable. An unforgettable love story.

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss changed my reading world, and "Ashes in the Wind" is my favorite book. I love history, and that is one of the reasons that I have been a lifelong reader of historical romance. I know that some readers state that they want a romance, not a history lesson, but I think the two go hand-in-hand. The setting of the book, the era, culture, social mores, religious beliefs, fashion, art and literature of the times all affect the way the characters would develop as people. Therefore, they are very important elements of the story line details. I appreciate the amount of research and love of subject an author invests into a well-written historical romance.

Here is a description of Cole Latimer from my favorite historical romance, “Ashes in the Wind”, by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss:

“A tall figure strode into view, resplendent in dress-blue uniform with shiny brass buttons, bright braid on cuffs, and gold epaulettes bearing the rank of captain riding on wide shoulders. A red and white sash was bound about a lean waist beneath a wide black gun belt, and a Hardee hat was pulled down over his scowling brow. As the man came forward, the yellow stripes that ran down the sides of his trousers flashed against the blue of the cloth.

………eyes of bright azure blue set in a face bronzed golden by the sun. Long, light brown sideburns were neatly trimmed, accentuating the leanly fleshed cheekbones and firm angular jaw. His nose was thin and well formed, slightly aquiline, and beneath it were generous, but at the moment, unsmiling, lips. There was an air of the professional soldier about him, a quality that displayed itself in his crisp manner, almost painfully neat apparel, and rather austere mien. The handsome features bore the look of good breeding appropriate to some princely head of state and those eyes, fringed with dark lashes……”

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s books

Series

Birmingham Family Saga
1. The Flame and the Flower (1972)
2. The Kiss (1995) (in Three Weddings and a Kiss)
3. Beyond the Kiss (1996) (in Married at Midnight)
4. A Season Beyond a Kiss (2000)
5. The Elusive Flame (1998)

Novels

The Wolf and the Dove (1974)
Shanna (1977)
Ashes in the Wind (1980)
A Rose in Winter (1983)
Come Love a Stranger (1984)
So Worthy My Love (1989)
Forever in Your Embrace (1992)
Petals on the River (1997)
The Reluctant Suitor (2003)
Everlasting (2007)

Omnibus

Three Weddings and a Kiss (1995) (with Catherine Anderson, Loretta Chase and Lisa Kleypas)
Married at Midnight (1996) (with Jo Beverley, Tanya Anne Crosby and Samantha James)

Short stories

	The Kiss (1995)
	Beyond the Kiss (1996)

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss



(1939 - 2007) Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, creator of the modern historical romance, died July 6, 2007 in Minnesota. She had just turned 68. Her attorney, William Messerlie, said that she died after a long illness.

Born on June 3, 1939 in Alexandria, Louisiana, Mrs. Woodiwiss was the youngest of eight siblings. She long relished creating original narratives, and by age six was telling herself stories at night to help herself fall asleep. At age 16, she met U.S. Air Force Second Lieutenant Ross Woodiwiss at a dance, and they married the following year. She wrote her first book in longhand while living at a military outpost in Japan.

Woodiwiss is credited with the invention of the modern historical romance novel: in 1972, she released The Flame and the Flower, an instant New York Times bestseller, creating literary precedent. The Flame and the Flower revolutionized mainstream publishing, featuring an epic historical romance with a strong heroine and impassioned sex scenes. "Kathleeen E. Woodiwiss is the founding mother of the historical romance genre," says Carrie Feron, vice president/editorial director of William Morrow and Avon Books, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers. Feron, who has been Woodiwiss's editor for 13 years, continues, "Avon Books is proud to have been Kathleen's sole publishing partner for her paperbacks and hardcover novels for more than three decades." Avon Books, a leader in the historical romance genre to this day, remains Mrs. Woodiwiss's original and only paperback publisher; William Morrow, Avon's sister company, publishes Mrs. Woodiwiss's hardcovers.

The Flame and the Flower was rejected by agents and hardcover publishers, who deemed it as "too long" at 600 pages. Rather than follow the advice of the rejection letters and rewrite the novel, Mrs. Woodiwiss instead submitted it to paperback publishers. The first publisher on her list, Avon, quickly purchased the novel and arranged an initial 500,000 print run. The novel sold over 2.3 million copies in its first four years of publication.

The success of this novel prompted a new style of writing romance, concentrating primarily on historical fiction tracking the monogamous relationship between a helpless heroines and the hero who rescued her, even if he had been the one to place her in danger. The romance novels which followed in her example featured longer plots, more controversial situations and characters, and more intimate and steamy sex scenes.

"Her words engendered an incredible passion among readers," notes Feron. Bestselling author Julia Quinn agrees, saying, "Woodiwiss made women want to read. She gave them an alternative to Westerns and hard-boiled police procedurals. When I was growing up, I saw my mother and grandmother reading and enjoying romances, and when I was old enough to read them myself, I felt as if I had been admitted into a special sisterhood of reading women."

New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips, a leading voice in the women's fiction arena, says, "We all owe our careers to her. She opened the world of romance to us as readers. She created a career for us to go into."

The pioneering author has written 13 novels over the course of 35 years, all New York Times bestsellers. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's final literary work, the upcoming Everlasing, will be published by William Morrow in October 2007. "Everlasting is Kathleen's final gift to her fans," notes Feron.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, who was predeceased by her husband and son Dorren, is survived by sons Sean and Heath, and numerous grandchildren

LEGENDARY HISTORICAL ROMANCE AUTHOR GEORGETTE HEYER--​Queen of Regency Romance!--a formidable and energetic woman with an impeccable sense of style and above all, a love for all things Regency--her prolific writing career also included modern romance, short stories, mysteries and detective fiction

Georgette Heyer, New York Times bestselling author

Georgette Heyer’s historical novels and Regency romances have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades. But Miss Heyer remained a very private woman. Her identity was a mystery to most of her fans during her lifetime and she refused all requests for interviews or comments. “I am to be found in my work,” Miss Heyer wrote when asked to divulge details of her childhood or personal life.

The Private World of Georgette Heyer
by Jane Aiken Hodge


The classic biography of Georgette Heyer is, finally, back in print and will delight Heyer fans everywhere. She wrote more than fifty novels, yet her private life was inaccessible to any but her nearest friends and relatives.

Lavishly illustrated, and with extracts from her correspondence and references to her work, The Private World reveals a formidable and energetic woman with an impeccable sense of style and above all, a love for all things Regency.

Georgette Heyer’s books

• Regency Romances
• Mysteries
• Historical Fiction

and so many more...


Georgette Heyer


 


Georgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.

In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer, and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.

Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Stella Martin.

Her Regencies were inspired by Jane Austen, but unlike Austen, who wrote about and for the times in which she lived, Heyer was forced to include copious information about the period so that her readers would understand the setting. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.

Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.

https://www.sourcebooks.com/georgette-heyer.html 

ROMANCE AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE BARBARA CARTLAND--a legend in her own lifetime--one of the world's most prolific novelists--one of the best-selling authors as well as one of the most commercially successful worldwide of the 20th century--her belief that the power of love is more important than anything else in everyone's life

Barbara Cartland’s books

Barbara Cartland’s huge back catalogue features hundreds of historical pure romances full of dashing princes, independent and strong heroines, sinister love rivals and exciting revelations brimming with happy endings.

 

 

Barbara Cartland was the world's most prolific novelist who wrote an amazing 723 books in her lifetime, of which no less than 644 were romantic novels with worldwide sales of over 1 billion copies and her books were translated into 36 different languages.

As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, theatrical plays and books of advice on life, love, vitamins and cookery.

She wrote her first book at the age of 21 and it was called Jigsaw. It became an immediate bestseller and sold 100,000 copies in hardback in England and all over Europe in translation. Between the ages of 77 and 97 she increased her output and wrote an incredible 400 romances as the demand for her romances was so strong all over the world.

She wrote her last book at the age of 97 and it was entitled perhaps prophetically The Way to Heaven.
Her books have always been immensely popular in the United States where in 1976 her current books were at numbers 1 & 2 in the B. Dalton bestsellers list, a feat never achieved before or since by any author.

Barbara Cartland became a legend in her own lifetime and will be best remembered for her wonderful romantic novels so loved by her millions of readers throughout the world, who have always collected her books to read again and again, especially when they feel miserable or depressed.

Her books will always be treasured for their moral message, her pure and innocent heroines, her handsome and dashing heroes, her blissful happy endings and above all for her belief that the power of love is more important than anything else in everyone's life.


Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland

 

Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland was a English writer, during her long career, she wrote over 700 books, making her one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century. She sold over 1,000 million copies throughout the world, earning her a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The world's most famous romantic novelist, she also wrote autobiographies, biographies, health and cookery books, and stage plays and recorded an album of love songs. She was often billed as the Queen of Romance, and became one of the United Kingdom's most popular media personalities, appearing often at public events and on television, dressed in her trademark pink and discoursing on love, health and social issues.

She started her writing career as a gossip columnist for the Daily Express. She published her first novel, Jigsaw, a society thriller, in 1923. It was a bestseller. She went on to write myriad novels and earn legions of fans, she also wrote under her married name Barbara McCorquodale. Some of her books were made into films. Ever the romantic, during WWII, she served as the Chief Lady Welfare Officer in Bedfordshire. She gathered as many wedding dresses as she could so that service brides would have a white gown to wear on their wedding day. She also campaigns for the rights of Gypsies, midwives and nurses.

Barbara Cartland McCorquodale passed away on 21 May 2000, with 160 still unpublished manuscripts, that are being published posthumously.

http://www.barbaracartland.com

"Four Seasons in Firefly Glen Series"--charming contemporary romance from author Kathleen O'Brien--"Come home to Firefly Glen--a place to live, a place to love"

Winter Baby

Master Plan:

√ 1. College
√ 2. Career
3. Marriage Oops!
4. Children (after two years)

Sarah Lennox had her life arranged down to the last minute - but that was before she discovered she was pregnant and that her fiancé was a jerk.

Not sure what to do next, she heads to Firefly Glen, the quiet little town that was once a haven for her. After she arrives, though, she fins upheaval in the disconcerting presence of Sheriff Parker Tremaine - a man who can almost make her forget that she's a recently ditched, slightly desperate and undeniably pregnant schoolteacher.




Babes in Arms

Re•spon•si•ble adj 1: trustworthy, reliable, dependable. 2: the one thing Griffin Cahill is not.

Griffin Cahill plays too hard, dodging commitment any and every way he can. His ex-fiancée, pediatrician Heather Delaney, works too hard, for essentially the same reason.

Everything changes when Griffin's twin nephews come to stay. The babies are more than a handful, and for the first time in his life Griffin needs help - which Heather is extremely reluctant to give. Helping Griffin take care of the boys will mean moving into his house and becoming part of his life. That ended in disaster once. And she's too smart to let it happen twice. Isn't she?

The Redemption of Matthew Quinn

Ex-con Matthew Quinn has plenty of trouble in his life right now. He doesn't need to take on more. And there's no question that Natalie Granville - with her crumbling mansion and her canceled wedding - is capital-T trouble. But that doesn't stop him from accepting a job from her.

He can handle it. All he needs to do is follow some rules:

1. Remember she's your boss, nothing else.
2. Don't start letting the arrangement get all cozy and domestic and personal.
3. Don't notice, don't want, don't feel and definitely don't touch.

The One Safe Place

Faith Constable is not the kind of woman who runs from a fight

If it weren't for her orphaned nephew, she never would have left Manhattan for the sleepy little town of Firefly Glen. But now she's here - hunted by a madman and forced to live in fear.

Reed Fairmont can help everyone but himself
 
Reed knows Faith needs a safe place to hide, but he's beginning to wonder just what kind of protector he can be. His previous failure has already cost one life. Still, he can't back out now - Faith and her nephew have nowhere else to go.

MY REVIEW:   Kathleen O'Brien gave me much more than I expected with "The One Safe Place". I knew it would be a great read, but it was full of wonderful extra touches! Ms. O'Brien really put some oomph into the details, and the sweet sexual awareness between the main characters is palpable. In addition to the well-done suspense aspect of the story line, there were some sharply funny laugh-out-loud moments! Two people who have suffered great loss, an adorable little boy with a cute dog, and a worthy supporting cast all come together for a terrific romance read. Ladies, let me just say this: Sensitive, sexy, widowed veterinarian. Repeat: Sensitive, sexy, widowed veterinarian.


Kathleen O'Brien


  
Since the day Harlequin bought her first novel, Kathleen has published more than 30 titles with them- everything from hot, sexy contemporaries to dark, brooding suspense. Read in more than 30 countries and 29 languages, she's a five-time finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, a winner of the Maggie Award, and a three-time finalist for Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice.

Kathleen comes from a family of writers, poets, and journalists- though she may be the one shameless romantic in the bunch. A true Cancer, she values home and family above everything and wouldn't dream of ditching a single friend, memory, gift, or love letter. Consequently, her office is a mess, full of books, colored cut glass, photo albums, Madame Alexander dolls, and a cockatiel who whistles the theme from "The X Files." She is addicted to Mozart and Elvis, Dancing With the Stars, Dorothy Dunnett novels, and sugar-free Popsicles.

http://kathleenobrienonline.com/

"THE BLOOD ROSE TRILOGY"--thrilling romance series of the Old West by phenomenal author Kaki Warner

Pieces of Sky

A woman with no one to rely on finds a man she can trust with her heart in the first “flawlessly written”(Chicago Tribune) western romance in Kaki Warner’s Blood Rose Trilogy...

Jessica Thornton is a long way from her native England. An authoress and milliner, she carries the weight of a scandalous secret—a horrible shame that has brought her to the West on a desperate search for the only family she can trust: her brother.

No one prepared Jessica for the heat and the hardships—or for a man like Brady Wilkins. Despite the rancher’s rough-hewn appearance and her own misgivings, Jessica must put her life in Brady’s hands after their stagecoach crashes.

Soon, she begins to see the man behind the callused hands and caustic wit—a man strong enough to carve out a home in the wilderness and passionate enough to restore Jessica’s faith in herself...




Open Country

How do you forgive a brother's betrayal? How far do you go to protect the family you love? Hank and Molly find out in OPEN COUNTRY, Book II of the 1870s family saga, the Blood Rose Trilogy.

Molly McFarlane is as desperate as a woman can get. Forced to flee with her late sister's children, she must provide for her wards while outrunning the relentless tracker the children's vicious stepfather has set on their trail. Out of money and with no other options, she marries a man badly injured in a train derailment, assuming when he dies, the railroad settlement will provide the money they need to keep moving West.

But there is one small problem. The man doesn't die.

Hank Wilkins doesn't recall the accident he barely survived-and he certainly doesn't remember marrying Molly. But as he slowly recovers at the Wilkins ranch in New Mexico Territory, the idea of a real marriage takes hold...until his memory returns, and that fragile trust is shattered, and the tracker follows Molly to the ranch. Then things really start to unravel.

Chasing the Sun

Daisy Etheridge always dreamed of singing on a real stage, rather than in a smoky San Francisco saloon. But along the way she fell in love, had her heart broken, and bore a child to a man who loved another. Now she has a second chance to develop her singing talent. With no other way to get the money she needs to support herself and her child during her training, she and her daughter travel to New Mexico Territory to seek help from the wealthy family of the man who abandoned her.

Jack Wilkins, a carefree adventurer, has always wanted to travel the world, rather than stay home to work the family ranch with his brothers. He thought he'd escaped three years ago when he followed his childhood love to San Francisco, only to find that his devotion wasn't enough to keep her. Now he's back, trying one last time to win her--when out of the blue a woman from his past shows up with a baby who has eyes like his.

Caught between his feelings for his old flame, his attraction to Daisy, and his new role as a father, Jack does the honorable thing and offers marriage. But Daisy refuses. Although she has never stopped loving Jack, she's unwilling to risk her dream for a man who might still love another, or who would rather chase the sun west than settle down with her.

But Jack won't give up. As spring drifts into summer, tensions build, and the Wilkins family is strained to the breaking point when old enemies and financial ruin threaten the ranch. Then a violent storm brings everything to a head, forcing Daisy and Jack to make hard choices about which dreams are worth fighting for, and what they want out of their lives--and out of each other.


Kaki Warner


 

Kaki Warner is an award-winning author and long time resident of the Pacific Northwest. Although she now lives on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State, Kaki actually grew up in the Southwest and is a proud graduate of the University of Texas. Her years spent riding horses and enjoying the expansive views of Texas became the Historical Romance Author, Kaki Warner inspiration for the backdrop of her novels - the wide-open spaces of historic New Mexico Territory.

Several years ago after their two children had left for college, Kaki and her husband, Joe, moved from the city to their hilltop cabin overlooking the scenic Methow Valley. Kaki now spends her time gardening, hiking, reading, writing, and soaking in the view from the deck with her husband and floppy-eared hound dog.

http://www.kakiwarner.com/

"The Callahans of Texas"--from author Sharon Gillenwater--captivating, compelling contemporary western romance series set in beautiful West Texas

Jenna's Cowboy

Can you ever get a second chance at your first love?

Jenna Callahan Colby thought she was content. A partner on her father's successful ranch, she is surrounded by family and friends. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in town—the first guy she ever noticed, the one her father sent away all those years ago.

And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as strong as ever.

Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do, though, after two tours of duty in the armed forces. With the help of good friends, strong faith, and a loving family, he hopes to put the horrors of the past behind him—and become the man Jenna deserves.




Emily's Chance

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing historical society will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, he also helps her uncover her own hidden worth and the value of love.

The second book in THE CALLAHANS OF TEXAS series, Emily's Chance is a heartwarming story of letting love take the lead. Readers will come away wishing they lived in Callahan Crossing.


 

Megan's Hero

Six months pregnant, unmarried, broke, and alone, Megan Smith doesn't think things can get much worse--and then they do. Stuck on the road without shelter when a tornado appears, Megan barely escapes with her life. And when Will Callahan comes upon her in the road, her life will never be the same. While staying at the Callahan family ranch, she finds herself daring to love again, even while she suspects that Will's affection for her can't be anything but pity. But when she realizes that the townspeople think she's just a gold digger, she can't bear to stay. Can Will convince her that her past doesn't mean a thing when it comes to love?

Filled with the easy charm and warmth of Texas, Megan's Hero will have readers believing in the power of love and forgiveness. 


Sharon Gillenwater



aka Sharon Harlow
 Bestselling author Sharon Gillenwater writes stories about love--between a man and a woman, of family and home, and the everlasting love of God and Jesus.

She grew up on a ranch in the Rolling Plains of West Texas, near the small town of Colorado City. Marriage took her across the country, but Texas is still dear to her heart. All of her Christian contemporary romances and most of her Christian historical romances are set in small West Texas towns filled with rugged, yet tenderhearted cowboys and strong, yet compassionate women.

While on a trip to England and Scotland years ago, the history and people captured her imagination. After returning home, she discovered Regency romances and another favorite time period and setting. She currently has two Christian Regency historical romances available, along with three sweet historical Regency romances.

She and her husband live in a quiet, rural area of Washington state with a wonderful view of the mountains. A friend once commented, "It's like a writer's retreat." Sharon agrees and is busy dreaming up stories about Texas cowboys or English and Scottish heroes and the women who win their hearts.

You can find her on Facebook at
https:www.facebook.com/sharon.gillenwater2
Or email her at Sharong329@gmail.com

"A Chapel Springs Romance"--author Denise Hunter's inspirational contemporary romance series--small towns have big hearts

 

Barefoot Summer

Madison’s heart closed the day her twin brother died.

Since losing her twin, Michael, in a drowning incident, Madison has rejected the faith he lived by. Instead, she’s devoted her life to fulfilling Michael’s dream—winning the River Sail Regatta in their small Indiana town, Chapel Springs.

As she trains for the regatta, Beckett O’Reilly is teaching Madison to swim. But he’s keeping a painful secret from her—and as they grow closer, that secret threatens to upend their lives . . . and the lives of both their families.


 

Dancing with Fireflies

Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.


MY REVIEW: Author Denise Hunter continues to amaze me with her thoughtful, touching, and terrific inspirational romances. Her skill at storytelling goes beyond the box of "Christian Fiction"--she actually has created a genre all her own. "Dancing With Fireflies" is Book 2 in her "Chapel Springs Romance Series". Jade McKinley had long ago left her hometown of Chapel Springs, Indiana with dreams of a successful music career in Chicago. The tragic loss of her first love had changed her life forever, and now an unexpected, personally traumatic incident was bringing her home again, once more irrevocably changed. Her first stop is to see Daniel, the good friend whom she thought of as another big brother. Daniel Dawson, now the mayor of Chapel Springs, was the son of a senator, and throughout his entire life, he had been propelled by his father's political ambitions. He had been a big part of Jade's life, but she never knew that his feelings for her were not brotherly love, but those of a man in love. The secret that Jade is carrying--she's pregnant--will have a profound effect on those around her, especially Daniel. Faith and forgiveness are always within our reach, if we only ask. Can Jade and Daniel find their way to being who they truly are, and along the way will they find spiritual peace and contentment? Will their winding paths merge and lead them to a lifetime of joy together? One should never stop dancing with fireflies. God's hand is in all things--even the most simple of pleasures.

Book Copy Gratis Thomas Nelson Books Via BookLook Bloggers  


 

The Wishing Season

Living side-by-side, a fledgling chef and a big-hearted contractor find a delicious attraction.

Trouble is, their chemistry could spoil their dreams.
Spirited PJ McKinley has the touch when it comes to food. Her dream of opening her own restaurant is just one building short of reality. So when a Chapel Springs resident offers her beloved ancestral home to the applicant with the best plan for the house, PJ believes it’s a contest she was meant to win.

Contractor Cole Evans is confident, professional, and swoon-worthy—but this former foster kid knows his life could have turned out very differently. When Cole discovers the contest, he believes his home for foster kids in transition has found its saving grace. All he has to do is convince the owner that an out-of-towner with a not-for-profit enterprise is good for the community.

But when the eccentric philanthropist sees PJ and Cole’s proposals, she makes an unexpected decision: the pair will share the house for a year to show what their ideas are made of. Now, with Cole and the foster kids upstairs and PJ and the restaurant below, day-to-day life has turned into out-and-out competition—with some seriously flirtatious hallway encounters on the side. Turns out in this competition, it’s not just the house on the line, it’s their hearts. 



 

Married 'til Monday

With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Seabrook, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college—her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It’s just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong? 


Denise Hunter

 

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including "The Convenient Groom" and "A December Bride" which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest.

You can learn more about Denise through her website www.DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter

"JILTED BRIDES TRILOGY"--AUTHOR CHERYL HOLT'S THRILLING REGENCY ROMANCE SERIES! JILTED at the altar---by a cad...by a scoundrel...by a rogue...there could be no greater humiliation!

Jilted By a Cad

Josephine Bates only ever wanted to marry and have a home of her own.  At age eighteen, when a handsome suitor swept her off her feet, she believed all her dreams were about to come true.   But he was actually a cad who stole her dowry and jilted her at the altar. Since then, she’s been wary of men and their motives.  She’s accepted the notion that she’ll never escape her dreary, quiet existence, and she’ll most likely live out her days as a spinster…

Peyton Prescott is a ship’s captain in the Royal Navy.  He’s a man of action and adventure, and his years have been filled with danger and excitement.  But his brother has died, so he’s inherited a title and earldom he never sought or wanted. He’s afraid his new position will force him to abandon the thrilling life he loves, and he’s loafing in England, feeling landlocked and desperate to return to the sea.  He’d give anything for a diversion, and when pretty, lonely Josephine crosses his path, he’s fascinated and can’t resist…
But Peyton isn’t looking for a bride, and Josephine could never be interested in a handsome, dashing scoundrel.  Yet as friendship blossoms and passion flares, can love be far behind?





Jilted By a Scoundrel

Winifred Watson grew up as the only daughter of a decorated war hero.  When he died suddenly, she was shocked to learn that he was bankrupt and she lost everything to pay his final debts.  She’d hoped to wed her fiancé—a steady, handsome man who would have guided her through the tumult of her father’s death.  But when her penury was revealed, her fickle betrothed jilted her at the altar. His treacherous conduct pitched her into a downward spiral that she can’t seem to halt…

John Dunn escaped his dreary home by joining the army when he was sixteen.  He loved his years as a soldier and planned to dedicate the remainder of his life to King and country.  But he was swept into a scandal and drummed out of the service. He’s returned to his family’s isolated, dreary castle on the Cornwall coast, but it’s the one spot on the globe he vowed to never visit again.  He’s bitter, raging, and eager for a diversion from his pathetic situation…

When Winifred arrives, demanding shelter and assistance, John isn’t inclined to provide any help. But she’s pretty, intriguing, and in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. How can he resist?





Jilted By a Rogue

Amelia Boyle has always viewed herself as an extremely modest and moral woman. But after suffering a string of personal catastrophes, she went a bit wild and made several reckless decisions. Her spurt of excess culminated in her becoming engaged to a man she barely knew. When he promptly jilted her at the altar, the cruel act yanked her to her senses. She’s been forced to admit she has frivolous tendencies, and she vows to never let them flare again.

James Hastings loves his life in the army, and he doesn’t plan to ever retire. He’s a confirmed bachelor who spends his days around active, tough men who are proud to serve King and country. He’s not interested in marriage or settling down, and he has no time for women and no patience for flirtation.

But when Amelia stumbles into his dull, boring world, she turns it upside down, and it gradually dawns on him that he might not be able to live without her. Amelia has sworn off romance though and has other plans that don’t include binding herself to a handsome, dashing soldier. Can James convince her that he might be precisely who and what she needs to be happy?


CHERYL HOLT




CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon "Top 100" bestselling author who has published over forty novels.

She's also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She'd hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn't sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that she has a knack for writing some of the world's greatest love stories.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as "The Queen of Erotic Romance", and she's also revered as "The International Queen of Villains." She is particularly proud to have been named "Best Storyteller of the Year" by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at www.cherylholt.com.

ELIZABETH ROSE--MULTI-TALENTED, MULTI-GENRE AUTHOR TAKES READERS ON ROMANTIC ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD AND THROUGHOUT THE AGES!

Series by Elizabeth Rose

                       

Highland Secrets 
(Secrets of the Heart #1)

 











Highland Spring
(Seasons of Fortitude #1)

 

Restless Sea Lord 
(Legendary Bastards of the Crown, #1)



Pirate in the Mist: Brody 
(Second in Command Series Book 1)

 

Lady and the Wolf (Red Riding Hood) 
(Tangled Tales #1)



The Baron's Quest
(Barons of the Cinque Ports #1)

 

Lord of the Blade
(Legacy of the Blade #1)

 

Ruby
(Daughters of the Dagger#1)



Onyx
(MadMan MacKeefe #1)  

The Dragon and the Dream Walker
(Elemental Series #1



Kyros' Secret
(Greek Myth Fantasy #1)



Doubting Thomas 
(Tarnished Saints #1)

  

The Outlaw 
(Cowboys of the Old West #1)

 

Mary, Mary: (Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary)
(Gnarled Nursery Rhymes Book 1) 
 


Finally Home: Sweet and Clean Romance 
(Sweet Nothings Series Book 1)


Elizabeth Rose Books

 

Elizabeth Rose is the author of medieval, paranormal, fantasy and contemporary novels. While based on romance, her novels have complex plots, action and suspense. She loves writing bad boy tortured heroes and empowered feisty heroines.

Her books have won rave reviews, and been seen on The History Channel as well as Wild Chicago. She has been a Sapphire Award finalist, and been nominated by Romantic Times for a Reviewer’s Choice Award. Her book, Igniting Andrew - Book 11 of the Tarnished Saints Series is up for a Rone award, and Restless Sea Lord - Book 1 of the Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series received the Seal of Excellence from Books and Benches.

She is also a freelance artist and photographer, and has designed and created all her own e-book covers as well as created all her own book trailer videos.

She has several series: The Legacy of the Blade Series, Daughters of the Dagger, Elemental Series, Tarnished Saints Series, Greek Myth Fantasy, and her newest, her Scottish medieval MadMan MacKeefe series.

She hopes to visit the castles of Scotland and England personally some day. However, she has been to the jungles of Peru and Machu Picchu which inspired her novels, Curse of the Condor and Eden’s Garden.

Elizabeth’s trademark is a rose on the cover of each of her books, to let you know it is her work, since there are other authors by the same name. She also ends each novel with the title of the book being the last words of the story.

Visit her website to view her latest book trailers and to read excerpts of her work. http://elizabethrosenovels.com.