Slowly she turned to face the door just as Graham came through at full stride. At the sight of him a wild kind of joy seized her. Graham halted on the threshold. He drew in his breath sharply, and in spite of himself, his pulse thundered at the sight of the tall, willowy figure. The last time he had seen Avril she had been a child. Here in her place was a graceful young woman. "Avril, my dear," he said, finding his voice. "Welcome home!" Fortune's Bride, the third in a series of award-winning novels by Jane Peart, is a revision of the story of Avril Dumont, a wealthy young heiress and orphan, who gradually comes to terms with her lonely adolescence. There is romance and heartbreak, true love and fulfillment in this story of Avril's seemingly unreturned but undaunted love for her bachelor guardian, Graham Montrose. Readers of Fortune's Bride will be smitten with the charm of the old South as they follow Avril's development into womanhood, and meet the people who give her a sense of self-worth. So skillfully drawn is the plot of this romance that the reader will suffer form ongoing suspense throughout Avril's story.

Blake Fortune might not have been the easiest boss in the world, but Katie Wallace knew him better than anyone. Neighbors and longtime friends, she and Blake made a great team. Katie dreamed they'd someday be more…. But time was running out. Spurred on by last month's life-altering tornado, Blake had decided it was time for him to marry—somebody else! With the rest of the Fortunes rooting her on, the spunky secretary had to find a way to change his mind fast. Could her plan really win over the Fortune of her dreams?

Robert Moreton loved his life and duty in the army, it was all he ever wanted. He was happy to be sent to Portugal. . .until he came across Esmeralda Talbot, shipwrecked in a small Portuguese village and in danger of being forced to marry the headman's son. Robert rescued Esmeralda, intending to send her immediately to England. Only there was no way he could do so, and to save her reputation from ruin, he married her. Esmeralda could not believe her luck. She had been in love with Robert since years before when he had danced with her at the Governor's ball in India. Married to her dream! Now all she had to do was keep him from fulfilling his promise to annul the marriage. Robert knew life was brighter and better than it had ever been before-but he had no idea why. Esmeralda did not dare hint at her passion for him, lest her too-honorable husband send her to England. How was she ever to get Robert to realize he was in love and wanted to keep her beside him forever? Publisher's Note: This book was originally published elsewhere in 1983.

Victoria Malvey, the exquisitely talented author of "A Merry Chase, Temptress, Enchanted, " and "Portrait of Dreams, " takes her readers once again to Victorian England, where a defiant lord and a daring lady struggle to forge a new destiny...together. Lady Alyssa Porter refuses to leave the future to chance. Determined to provide for her younger sister after the death of their parents, she conceives a most ingenious -- if somewhat shocking -- plan. Soon the exotic beauty is masquerading as Zora, gypsy fortune-teller extraordinaire. Before long, using intuition, wit, and a flair for high drama, she is the latest darling of the town, invited to the finest of homes and introduced to the most interesting of men. Intrigued by tales of the mysterious gypsy, Mr. Ian Fortune is amused by her audacity as she spins beguiling tales for enthralled lords and ladies. Certain that Zora is neither gypsy nor seer, he is nonetheless enchanted by her bold ruse, though he wonders if others will take the deception so lightly. Drawn to her vibrant beauty, he vows to win her confidence and learn her secrets. For even the most fiercely independent female sometimes yields to the pleasures of a man's protection. And though this lady may not hold the future in her hands, she does hold the key to his heart.

ON THE WAY TO THE ALTAR… Police detective Carson Becketthad skirted the altar assmoothly as a sly criminalavoided handcuffs. Now thetime had come to settle downand fulfill his ailing mother'swish—and he was halfway there with an unofficialpromise to wed his childhood sweetheart. But first hehad to repay an old family debt to the last of theChandler heirs.When his search led him to the gray-eyed,mesmerizing Kit Chandler, his usual logic desertedhim. Instinctively, he changed from benefactor toprotector when Kit became the target of someoneelse's wrath. And when tension turned to passion,Carson realized he was in deep. He would get to thealtar, but with whom?

In a time of revolution, a fiery young widow may have to compromise more than her politics. . . As British soldiers swarm her Maryland plantation, Caroline Steele must feign loyalty to the Crown to protect her home. But she is in danger of losing everything when a fugitive chooses her bedroom as his hiding place—and effectively ruins her reputation. Now the scoundrel owes Caroline his life—a debt she demands he pay—with marriage. . . Rebel sea captain Garrett Faulkner never planned to take a wife. But Caroline has him undeniably trapped—and tempted. With the British on his heels, and a murderous suitor after her fortune, both have much to lose—and more to gain than their hearts dare imagine. For marriage is merely one part of a bargain filled with secrets, adventure—and irresistible desire. . . 150,000 Words