Showing results by narrator "Lara Asmundson" in All Categories

Rancher's daughter Daisy Richards believes her life is over. How can she go on with this devastating injury? When her entire family gets sick, she must lean on one of her father's ranch hands for help - but the new-to-town cowboy insists she can do more than she thinks. With Ricky's confidence bolstering her, Daisy discovers life hasn't ended after all...and she might be falling for the cowboy. But Daisy doesn't know the secret Ricky's been keeping.

Kathryn Ford knows one thing for sure; she will not marry the boring, arrogant man her father has arranged for her since the day she was born, simply as a pawn to enrich his vast holdings. When she discovers she's been disowned for her defiance, the pampered socialite takes her destiny in her own hands. Determined to show her father what a capable a woman she is - without his help or interference - she signs up to be a mail-order bride, totally prepared to give up all the luxuries of her previous life.

Come celebrate the holidays in 1895 Sweetwater Springs, Montana, as 10 western romance authors join New York Times best-selling author Debra Holland in telling 14 short stories of love and laughter, heartbreak and healing, and most of all, Christmas joy.

Her scars frighten everyone away. Crown Princess Eloise is used to tabloid headlines calling her a monster and touting her fiery temper. The headlines are true, after all. Although an automobile accident years ago scarred her and stole her dreams, she still has a responsibility to her people. So when her dying father demands she show the media a softer side, she can't refuse. The problem is she doesn't have a softer side.

Edith Livingston Grayson can hardly wait to shake the dust of Sweetwater Springs, Montana, from her silk skirts. Finally her exile to the small prairie town is over. She is returning home to Boston with her son, Ben. Home to society. Home to educated, upper-class people. Home to the ocean. She can’t wait to attend cultured entertainment, shop in exclusive stores, sail in the harbor, and use indoor plumbing - well, her brother’s home in Sweetwater Springs had indoor plumbing - but most of the town did not!

As a young woman, Rose Collier gave her heart to Andre Bellaire, her brother's best friend. In spite of their attraction and for reasons unknown to Rose, Andre distanced himself from her. Andre Bellaire is living what he calls his third life. Then his comfortable routine is disrupted by a letter from his best friend Marty saying he’s dying and asking Andre to take care of his sister - the woman he once loved. The former barriers to their love no longer matter. But new ones do - at least for him. Can love bloom again in the winter of their lives?

K.C. Granger is the sheriff of Sweetwater Springs. Red Charlie is a Blackfoot Indian and the blacksmith of Sweetwater Springs. When reports of Indian thievery begin, K.C. enlists Red Charlie as her deputy, even traveling with him to the nearest reservation and taking needed supplies for the starving people. The two of them settle into a comfortable working relationship. K.C. doesn’t know what to do with the womanly emotions of love she grows to feel for her deputy, and Red Charlie believes a relationship with an Indian will only bring trouble to the woman he admires.

Jilted seamstress Constance Taylor travels to Sweetwater Springs to live with her estranged father, the livery stable owner. She plans to open a dressmaking shop and bring sophisticated clothing styles to the frontier town. Doctor Angus Cameron is bitter and discouraged from his work with upper-class Londoners and the wretched poor in the East End slums. He arrives in Sweetwater Springs to join the medical practice of his brother, the town doctor. Sparks fly when Constance and Angus clash over her fashionable creations, which he believes are unhealthy.

After nearly dying in an assassination attempt, Princess Alessandra of Glorvaird escapes to a place no one would ever think to look for her: small-town Oklahoma and a ranch staffed by a herd of woolly, uncouth cowboys. One cowboy in particular gets under her skin, until she sees his softer side. She knows this interlude can’t last forever, but that doesn’t stop her from wishing it might....

Beautiful, wealthy, and sophisticated, opera star Sophia Maxwell is living the life of her dreams. As the Songbird of Chicago, she's lauded for her pure, rich voice and has a constant circle of admirers vying for her jaded attention. Then she loses her voice during a performance. Her doctor warns her to rest her larynx, or she'll never sing again. Devastated, Sophia retreats to the frontier town of Sweetwater Springs to stay with her sister. She's determined to recover and once again take the stage by storm.

The prodigal son is back. Ever since the terrible mistake he made in high school - a mistake that cost his best friend his life - bullfighter Luke Starr has stayed far away from Pecan, Texas, and his family. But with his twin brothers gone on their respective honeymoons, Luke is forced to come back to town to watch over Gramma and the family ranch. And he can't wait to leave again. Because being home hurts more than being stomped on by a bull - and it's only a matter of time until he messes up all over again.

Plain and timid, debutante Pamela Burke-Smythe is a wallflower at the high-society Boston balls she attends, overlooked by possible suitors. One by one her friends become engaged, and Pamela resigns herself as to life as a spinster.

The well-educated daughter of a lawyer, Trudy Bauer arrives at the St. Louis based Mail-Order Brides of the West agency full of excitement for an adventure of a lifetime. She befriends the agency's maid, Evie Davenport, and the two form a strong and lasting friendship. They vow to stay in contact through letters when Evie takes hold of her destiny and arranges a marriage on the sly. Each brave young woman is ready to face whatever an unknown groom and life in Montana can throw her way.

Bridget O'Donnell left Ireland, dragging along her reluctant twin sister, Alana, to create a better life in the new world. The sisters travel to Sweetwater Springs, Montana, intending to live with their uncle's family. Upon arrival, their plans are derailed by news of their aunt's illness. James Whitson, a cowboy on the Thompson ranch, is in town to drop off a letter at the train station. When he meets the twins, he's immediately smitten with Bridget.

In the aftermath of a terrible storm, sheriff's deputy Matt White is injured and becomes stranded on a remote homestead with a lovely young woman and her grandfather. The reclusive duo intrigues him, but he's got a duty to the town. He can't believe it when they refuse to help him return to Bear Creek. Catherine Poole stays away from town for a reason. She has no time to play nursemaid to the injured lawman - but she also can't let him suffer.

The well-educated daughter of a lawyer, Trudy Bauer, arrives at the St. Louis based Mail-Order Brides of the West agency full of excitement for an adventure of a lifetime. She befriends the agency's maid, Evie Davenport, and the two form a strong and lasting friendship. They vow to stay in contact through letters when Evie takes hold of her destiny and arranges a marriage on the sly. Each brave young woman is ready to face whatever an unknown groom and life in Montana can throw her way.

Jocelyn Larsen returns to Virginia for the first time since she was a little girl to oversee repairs on her family's old river house. It feels like it’s been at least that long since she followed her heart, rather than a carefully laid plan. With room to breathe and time to think, she hopes for the chance to reflect on a life she’s uncertain she still wants for herself. When she is reunited with Jack, her childhood bully, her intentions to relax and recenter herself are threatened by feelings she is resolved to get under control.

When a logging accident kills his friend and Felicity Woodbury’s fiancé, Lars Aagaard steps in to lend his support. To keep Felicity’s suitors at bay during her mourning period, the two act as if Lars is wooing her. But, already smitten, Lars hopes to turn the pretend courtship to real love.

After nearly dying in an assassination attempt, Princess Alessandra of Glorvaird escapes to a place no one would ever think to look for her: small town Oklahoma and a ranch staffed by a herd of wooly, uncouth cowboys. One cowboy in particular gets under her skin, until she sees his softer side. She knows this interlude can't last forever, but that doesn't stop her from wishing it might.

Cowboy Trey Markson might have quit his job as a hand on the Triple H, but he still has a soft spot in his heart for seven-year-old Scarlett - and her mama, part-owners of the Texas ranch. When Scarlett pulls him in on a Christmas caper, all his old feelings for Carrie reignite, and he's afraid he's going to get burned all over again.