by Jude Deveraux (1982)
SHE CAME HOME A SMALL-TOWN CELEBRITY BUT THE DREAM SHE FOUGHT FOR MADE HER A WOMAN OF THE WORLD Determined to repay those who had sacrificed for her, Laura Taylor turned her artistic drive to a fabulous dream. From the ruins of a Spanish mission, she would build a splendidly luxurious pleasure resort frequented by the world's most glamorous people. A woman of indomitable passions and remarkable strength, she was forced to deal with the jealousies and deceptions of those nearest her, and the crushing loss of the husband she adored. Overcoming the setbacks life put in her way, she was always the artist, creating grandeur and elegance. But her finest masterpiece by far was the great lady she made of herself.
Maggie Osborne
Living on a rundown farm at the edge of a small Texas town, Della Ward is haunted by the bittersweet life she once lived with an adoring husband who died too soon. Once a laughing, carefree soul, Della is now a widow with only guilty memories for company. Until the day she sees a rugged stranger riding across the prairie toward her house. His presence awakens Della’s heart, but she can never imagine the ways this man will forever change her life.
Emily March
"Town physician Rose Anderson has given up on dreams of a family until she meets artist Hunt Cicero, who has just become guardian to his sister's children and needs Rose and her warm maternal instincts to complete his patchwork family"--
Carole Mortimer
Forced together -- day and night Oscar-winning film director Gideon Byrne has found the perfect unknown actress to star in his next film: beautiful, talented Madison McGuire.... Madison is bound by contract to work -- and live! -- with the director for the next eight months! How will she keep her true identity a secret for so long? She knows Gideon will sack her if he finds out, but she's also irresistibly attracted to him -- ever since their first steamy kiss....
LaVyrle Spencer
Set at the turn of the century, November of the Heart tells of Lorna Barnett, a young woman from a wealthy Saint Paul family, and Jens Harken, the ambitious dreamer who works in the kitchen of her family’s summer estate. Lorna’s father, Gideon, an avid sailor, is determined to claim victory for his own White Bear Yacht Club in the next summer regatta. Having recently suffered defeat at the hands of the rival club, Gideon is willing to do almost anything to win back the prize he sees as his. Jens, pressed into service as a waiter as an elegant family dinner party, overhears Gideon’s lament, and is sure his boatbuilding skills can be put to use on behalf of his employer. Brazenly crossing the boundary between servant and master by offering to design and build a boat that is sure to win the race. Jens incites Gideon’s ire but piques his interest too. With Lorna’s help, he convinces Gideon to finance the project. Grateful for her intervention yet wary of jeopardizing his chance to build the boat of his dreams, Jens nevertheless is powerless to face of Lorna’s growing interest in the boat ��" and him. He soon finds himself eagerly awaiting her visits to the boatshed, and stars teaching her about the craft of boatbuilding, as well as the craft of love. Despite the rigid caste system which keeps them apart, Lorna and Jens are drawn inexorably together, and begin an affair as fresh and innocent as the summer itself. But the repercussions of their passionate idyll soon separate them against their shame to endure loneliness where it is always “November of the heart.”