Always the friend. Never the girlfriend.
Over the last few years, Sarah Rigg has watched her friends find their soulmates, but it's never been the right time for her to find love.
When she meets Patrick Willett, she knows he's not going to be Mr. Right. Although he's funny, smart, handsome and loves kids, he's got one flaw - he's engaged to another woman. But maybe he has a friend who's just like him?
Her last blind date ended up with her friend Charlotte falling in love with the potential suitor before she could even go out with him. This round of matchmaking had to be better, right?

 

Candle Beach Novels
Book #1: Sweet Beginnings
Book #2: Sweet Success
Book #3: Sweet Promises
Book #4: Sweet Memories
Book #5: Sweet History
Book #6: Sweet Matchmaking
Book #7: Sweet Surprises

All relationships take work, but is she ready to make a sacrifice this big?

Interior designer Amelia O'Connor came to Candle Beach to renovate and manage a historic hotel with her brother. Now that the hotel is completed and on the brink of success, she's not sure being a hotel owner is a good fit for her. Unfortunately, when you're in business with your brother, you can't just quit.

Jordan Rivers is at the peak of his career as a leading man in romantic comedies, but his personal life is spiraling out of control. His beloved wife died two years ago, leaving him a single father to a young daughter. Between a demanding job and his own grief, he hasn't been the father to her that he wants to be. He hopes that a relaxing week at the Candle Beach Hotel will be exactly what he needs to get his life back on track.

A chance meeting on the beach turns into something neither of them could have predicted. But Jordan has a life back home in Los Angeles and Amelia isn't sure what her future holds. Can their new love survive the challenges of a long-distance relationship, family obligations and memories of the past?

Candle Beach series
Book #1: Sweet Beginnings
Book #2: Sweet Success
Book #3: Sweet Promises
Book #4: Sweet Memories
Book #5: Sweet History
Book #6: Sweet Matchmaking
Book #7: Sweet Surprises
Book #8: Sweet Sacrifices

It was love at first sight. Will his arrival ruin it all?

The first time Maura saw the historic Candle Beach Hotel, she knew it was the perfect future site for the local historical society's museum. Now that it's on the market, she just needs enough money to buy it before some greedy developer swoops in and demolishes the crumbling building.

Experienced hotelier Aidan has been searching for his dream property for ages, so when his friend tells him about the old hotel for sale on the Washington coast, he's intrigued by the possibilities.

After Aidan catches Maura trespassing on the hotel property, unaware that it's been sold, her dreams are shattered and she wants nothing to do with the new owner. He's instantly intrigued by his gutsy visitor, but winning over her mind and heart isn't easy to do.

How can Aidan convince her that he's not the greedy developer she feared? Maura wants to believe he's there for the right reasons, but can she trust him?

This is the 3rd book of the popular Sweet Tea B&B series In this installment...Kate gets the surprise of her life when her ex-husband, Brandon, wants to reconnect with his daughter, but what's his motive?Mia and Travis work toward having a relationship again, but will someone try to get in their way?Evie tries to build a new relationship with her father, but can she ever forgive him?Jack comes to town and is keeping a life-changing secret from his daughters. What will they do when they find out what it is?

In book 2 of the Sweet Tea B&B series...

Mia's high school sweetheart breezes back into town, but will she let him stay at her B&B and risk her heart again?

Kate tries to expand the business, but will she and Mia butt heads over the future of their mother's beloved bed and breakfast?

As usual, Evie is up to no good. Will this little prank get her in hot water?

A woman arrives to stay at the B&B who has some secrets of her own...

A captivating series that masterfully weaves the complexities of modern family life with the surprise joys and gifts of midlife reinvention.

Jess Rand is eager to rebuild her life after a long-overdue divorce. First, she'll sell the house that used to feel like home and start fresh at Whispering Pines, the Minnesota lake resort gifted to her sister by their late Aunt Celia. Her tumultuous marriage has mangled her belief in "happily ever after," yet she's excited to embrace her newfound independence. A savvy businesswoman, Jess mirrors Celia's many talents. She's determined to live up to the confidence Celia placed in her, despite a jumble of nerves and shaky optimism.

But just as Jess finds her footing again, unforeseen challenges emerge, testing her resolve in ways she never expected.

A web of deceit begins to unravel when her estranged husband disrupts a family celebration. How dare he ask Jess to care for the child he fathered with another woman? The sins of his past collide with Jess's dreams, shattering the serene future she'd envisioned and saddling her with an unfair moral dilemma.

Her emotional turmoil grows when hidden secrets and shocking accusations tied to Celia emerge. A forced collaboration with a vexing younger man from her aunt's past could prove to be more than her bruised and battered heart can take.

As she navigates a tangled maze of love, lies, and loss, will Jess discover that protecting her family is the ultimate way to honor Celia's legacy?

"This is a beautiful read and I had a hard time putting it down." —Book In One Hand Coffee In Another Blog

Molly Trent is an adventurous, free spirit whose turbulent childhood has driven her to a new mission in life—to make people feel better. Unfortunately, a series of burglaries at her new wellness shop puts her in the path of a cynical and suspicious detective, who thinks she does more harm than good. She's used to criticism, but she sees something in the tightly-controlled police detective that she wants to unleash, if only she could get him to trust her.

Trust doesn't come easily to Detective Adam Cole. He has been a loner for as long as he can remember. He's very good at protecting people. He's great at being a friend, but relationships that go beyond that—not so much. After a heartbreaking tragedy in his early twenties, he put up walls that are never coming down. Despite what Molly Trent might think, he does not need help or herbs to be happy.

Unfortunately, what he needs is her. The chemistry between them almost makes him wonder if she hasn't cast some sort of spell over him. But he fights their attraction hard, because he doesn't do forever, and he can't imagine that an optimistic romantic like Molly would settle for anything less. But when they get tangled up in life and love, anything can happen…

 

Author Bio:

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 41 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Traditionally published for many years, Barbara opened her own publishing company in 2011 and has since sold over 4.8 million copies of her books. Nineteen of her titles have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. In July of 2014, Barbara was named the Amazon KDP bestselling author of ALL TIME! She was also the first indie author to sell over 1 million copies at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon. An author known for writing emotional stories about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary situations, Barbara has received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and has also received six nominations for the RITA for Best Single Title Contemporary Romance from Romance Writers of America. She has won the honor twice for her novels Daniel's Gift and The Way Back Home. 

Shop all Barbara Freethy books

From the complex family dynamics of a small English village to the lasting scars of childhood, Edna Watson is both cantankerous and compassionate—the woman that you love to hate.

When her cousin calls to report her father’s passing, Edna sees a chance for closure of a shocking incident that happened when she was five years old. But attending her Uncle’s funeral means confronting the memory that has dogged her life with shame and insecurity.

A stranger wants to buy her house and despite her protestations, he seems intent on bullying her into submission. Why is her house so important to him?

Opening a previously unopened box belonging to her late mother, Edna revisits painful memories she’s tried to forget whilst uncovering life changing and distressing secrets.

Can she face her demons and heal decades-old wounds, or will the terrible circumstances of her childhood destroy her last chance for peace?

That Terrible Woman is a powerful and bittersweet novel of love and hate, loss and resentment, the corrosive effects of long-held grudges, and the redemption found in forgiveness.

Author Bio:

Jacki Racke was born in London. She has had a varied and interesting career, including the release of three pop records in the 60s, before working as a model agent in the early 70s.

This is her debut novel, which she started during Covid, following an initial creative writing course and subsequent Alumni mentoring programme with Curtis Brown Creative.

She lives in London with her husband Laurance, where they love spending time with their four children and eight grandchildren.

The first of a charming, heartwarming holiday trilogy that will whisk you away to a dreamy winter in the mountains. With sweet romance, strong family bonds, and an uplifting story of hope and joy, this is the perfect Christmas collaboration between two beloved women's fiction authors!

When the Chambers sisters receive an invitation from their jet-setting aunt to spend the entire month of December at the family's cabin in Asheville, North Carolina, they have one question -- why? The retreat, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, may be the site of many happy childhood holidays and summers but it also holds sad memories. The sisters, and their aunt, have spent twenty-five years avoiding the cabin and renting it to strangers. Why would Aunt Elizabeth want her "dearest darling" nieces to put their busy lives in three different states on hold and spend a month in the mountains?

Eve, Angie, and Noelle, triplets born on Christmas Day, owe their very lives to their aunt, and they agree they must go. Once there, not only do they learn to let go of the past and embrace a bright future, they all start to see their lives in a new way.

Big city girl Noelle comes face-to-face with her first love...and feelings for this single dad are strong, tempting her with a small town lifestyle that she never imagined she'd embrace. Eve, a stressed-out mother of three, revels in the change of scenery and begins to learn the art of letting go of complete control. And when Angie's rocky marriage truly cracks, she finds a new kind of joy with a connection to the past and a reconnection with her daughter.

Can one Christmas in Asheville change everything? Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains, and promises a whole new life ahead.

The Carolina Christmas Trilogy

The Asheville Christmas Cabin -- book 1

The Asheville Christmas Gift -- book 2

The Asheville Christmas Wedding -- book 3

The charming, heartwarming holiday series continues, whisking you away to a dreamy winter in the mountains. With sweet romance, strong family bonds, and an uplifting story of hope and joy, this is the perfect Christmas collaboration between two beloved women's fiction authors!

The forecast for Christmas is chilly with a chance of major life changes for three sisters who have been brought together by their aunt. The month in Asheville has already opened the women's eyes to new possibilities, and each of the sisters must make major decisions this holiday season.

With her daughter joining the family at the cabin, Angie faces the fact that her marriage is over, but has no idea how or where to start again. Noelle can no longer deny that the boy she once loved is now a man she could love again...although it would mean giving up her big city life and exciting New York career. Eve and her husband discover an opportunity that would upend their comfortable lives, but might bring them immeasurable joy.

Can one Christmas in Asheville change everything? Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains and promises a whole new life ahead.

The Carolina Christmas Trilogy

The Asheville Christmas Cabin -- book 1

The Asheville Christmas Gift -- book 2

The Asheville Christmas Wedding -- book 3

From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes The Barlows, Book 17 of The Seaside Saga.

Jason and Maris. To the residents of Stony Point, they're simply known as the Barlows. Their home is a shingled New England cottage on the bluff, where salt air breezes stir and gulls cry and spirits roam. But like wisps of sea fog, darkness has touched upon their lives this summer. Will light and love return to their old weathered cottage by the sea?

And The Seaside Saga continues.

The Seaside Saga's Reading Order:
Book 1 - Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans
Book 2 - The Denim Blue Sea
Book 3 - Beach Blues
Book 4 - Beach Breeze
Book 5 - The Beach Inn
Book 6 - Beach Bliss
Book 7 - Castaway Cottage
Book 8 - Night Beach
Book 9 - Little Beach Bungalow
Book 10 - Every Summer
Book 11 - Salt Air Secrets
Book 12 - Stony Point Summer
Book 13 - The Beachgoers
Book 14 - Shore Road
Book 15 - The Wait
Book 16 - The Goodbye
Book 17 - The Barlows
Book 18 - The Visitor
Book 19 - Stairway to the Sea
And more Seaside Saga Books

From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes a love story set at a tucked-away cottage by the sea.

For Mack and Avery Martinelli, the summer is their oyster. They can spend all day on the beach, or not. Cruise the dusty beach roads, or never leave their deck overlooking Long Island Sound. Fill their itinerary with excursions on the Connecticut shore, or while away the hours in a shingled cottage. Every decision this week is theirs to make.

Until it's not. Until life as they know it changes -- and suddenly the Martinellis have to face only each other. Face each other in The Beach Cottage and see what they have, or don't have, between them.

She says that she’s his daughter. Could the shocking claim be true?

Beatrice is speechless. It’s something she never expected—a secret daughter. She and Aiden have only just renewed their romance, after decades apart, and he never mentioned a child. Did he know she existed?

Their budding relationship may not survive a scandal this big.

Penny’s brother comes back into her life along with her high school nemesis, his best friend. There’s one rule her brother has always held his friends to—no dating his sister. But she’s an adult now, does the rule still stand?

Plus the friend has information about the photos that were found hidden inside the cottage walls. However, his revelation may uncover more questions than answers.

Taya’s coming to terms with the new competition in town, an upscale resort built by her very own father. It could mean the end for the Blue Shoal Inn.

Then Beatrice’s ex-husband comes back into the picture and throws a spanner into the works with a shocking announcement. 

Author Bio:

Lilly Mirren is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three children. She always dreamed of being a writer​ and is now living that dream. When she's not writing, she's chasing her children, doing housework or spending time with friends.

Her books combine heartwarming storylines with achingly realistic characters readers can't get enough of. Her debut series, The Waratah Inn, set in the delightful Cabarita Beach, hit the USA Today Bestseller list and since then, has touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers across the globe.

Shop the Coral Beach series

*** Now a USA TODAY BESTSELLER ***

She's 43 years old...

...and starting over from scratch.

How did this happen? She had it all together. A stable marriage of two decades. Two grown daughters. And now she and her husband, empty nesters, were moving to a beach house.

Until he showed up late one night and tore their marriage apart.

A secret life.

A different woman.

Another family.

Left alone, she has to begin again.

And then her estranged sister and mother get thrown into the mix.

When she buys a house on a small South Carolina island, will she learn what life is really about?

Or will she find out that some relationships can never be mended?

This women's divorce fiction book will give you all the feels. Grab your tissues and go on a journey with this quirky cast of characters. Get it now.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Breeze comes a novel as sweet as the salt air by the sea.

It was going to be exquisite: a rambling, shingled New England cottage converted into a grand beach inn. Nestled among hydrangeas and swaying dune grasses, this seaside haven would welcome guests on the Connecticut shore. Except the little beach town of Stony Point is no longer feeling like a haven to its residents. Residents including a brooding Jason Barlow, the esteemed architect in charge of the inn's renovation--until a stubborn, grief-induced For Sale sign puts an end to that.

But with a little help from the beach friends, anything is possible. In an effort to save the inn and convince its cherished owner to stay, the friends band together to stage an inn-tervention, shaking up their own lives in the process.

A new season of love, adventure, and heart-healing awaits in the quaint seaside village of Stony Point. So pull up a sand chair and book your stay for a page-turning getaway in The Beach Inn.

About the Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.

From New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio comes a heartfelt beach book like no other -- The Beachgoers, Book 13 of The Seaside Saga.

You know them on a first-name basis. Jason. Maris. Elsa. Shane. Celia. Kyle. Lauren and the rest of the Stony Point beach crew. So catch up on the enchanted evening sand and join your favorite friends on the Connecticut shore. In this deftly woven novel, love, secrets and surprises are in store.

Start your journey or catch up on The Seaside Saga:
Book 1 - Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans
Book 2 - The Denim Blue Sea
Book 3 - Beach Blues
Book 4 - Beach Breeze
Book 5 - The Beach Inn
Book 6 - Beach Bliss
Book 7 - Castaway Cottage
Book 8 - Night Beach
Book 9 - Little Beach Bungalow
Book 10 - Every Summer
Book 11 - Salt Air Secrets
Book 12 - Stony Point Summer
Book 13 - The Beachgoers
And more Seaside Saga Books

Most days it's manageable. No more than a quiet wondering around the edges of her mind. What has become of the baby she left behind? Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie's identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she's tried to silence for decades. Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake.Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery. In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.

Two widows, six kiddos, and a will that leaves them a massive cattle ranch, but only if they work it for a year.

Abigail and Amanda may have married brothers, but they have almost nothing else in common (and really, they never did get along very well). After their husbands both pass away within a year of one another, they have no reason to interact. Their connection drops to an awkward phone call on birthdays and an exchange of holiday cards.

Until an eccentric uncle of their husbands' leaves a massive cattle ranch to the women's minor children. . . if they work the ranch themselves. A ranch that's located near a small town on the Wasatch front that isn't too keen on outsiders.They're both going to turn the bequest down, clearly. It's not like either of them could properly raise their kids or find love again in a backwater province like Birch Creek.

But when things at home change dramatically-for both moms-they decide to give it a try. . . just for the summer.What could possibly go wrong in a mere three months? (Or more importantly... what might go right?)

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Pamela Kelley said, "B. E. Baker takes you right to the heart of the small town that two widowed sisters-in-law land in very unexpectedly. Can they survive the year they need to spend there to keep it? I really enjoyed reading Bridget's romantic women's fiction debut."

All is calm in Melinda's hometown ... until outsiders start to shake things up. The quiet days of early winter make Prosper look like a scene from a snow globe. Holiday lights glow in every window, plans are being made for the Christmas festival, and greetings of good cheer fill the aisles at Prosper Hardware. Everything changes when a national magazine sets its sights on the town's newest business, creating controversy about the best way to put little Prosper on the map. And when federal officials threaten to close the post office, Prosper's future suddenly doesn't seem so bright. Melinda is in the midst of it all, trying to navigate a new crush and mediate long-standing family drama. Can she find her way through the uncertainty and greet the new year with an open heart? Eighth in a series.

The Blue Shoal Inn faces its biggest challenge yet. Will it close its doors, or will Taya find a way to save it?

Taya's inn is under threat. Her father's company has built a five star resort in Blue Shoal and is taking her business. She renovates the inn, as a last ditch effort to keep it afloat, but will finally have to make a decision about whether to hold onto the past or embrace the future.

When her father hires a handsome manager for his new resort, Taya wants to hate him but witnesses him do something unexpected that causes everything she thought she believed to unravel.

Rowan reconnects with his estranged stepfather, Buck, but questions still hang over Buck's head about the murder of Penny's grandmother. He was once a suspect, but was cleared of any wrongdoing. Still, Penny and her friends do some digging and will discover that not everything is as it seems. When, Rowan and Penny have a decision to make that could mean big changes for both of them, they'll learn a truth about their past that has been hidden for far too long.

Author Bio:

Lilly Mirren is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and three children. She always dreamed of being a writer​ and is now living that dream. When she's not writing, she's chasing her children, doing housework or spending time with friends.

Her books combine heartwarming storylines with achingly realistic characters readers can't get enough of. Her debut series, The Waratah Inn, set in the delightful Cabarita Beach, hit the USA Today Bestseller list and since then, has touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers across the globe.

Shop the Coral Beach series

A summer of surprises, sisterhood, and secrets... visit Heirloom Island and fall in love with the Sageberry sisters.

Darla Sageberry knew she was going to turn thirty-five. She did not know that she'd be calling off her own wedding. Now she's faced with a mid-life crisis, two decades too early.

On a whim, Darla takes to her bucket list. At the top of it? Living on an island. The problem is, Darla can't afford to uproot her life and take off to the Carribean. So, she considers settling for something a little smaller. A little sweeter. And a little closer to home. Even if the only place to stay is with her estranged sister in a curious house at the end of the Heirloom Island Boardwalk.

Head to Heirloom Island in this heartwarming series about three sisters and the charming small town they come to call home. With a dash of romance and a touch of mystery, The Boardwalk House is a sweet beach read by the author of the Birch Harbor series.

Things aren't always what they seem on Waverly Lane...

After moving to the outskirts of Charleston, South Carolina, Shelby Anderson decides to form a book club to get to know her neighbors and build a new life after her old one imploded.

Little does she know that the women who show up with homemade cookies and perfectly manicured nails have a whole host of secrets of their own.

Will her new book club lead to lifelong friendships or put her in the middle of drama she doesn't want or need?

If you love funny, Southern women's fiction with maybe a hint of romance thrown in for good measure, you'll adore The Book Club On Waverly Lane!

Miles. Kerry wanted hundreds of miles between her and the hometown that never felt much like home. College held all the promise of new beginnings. Academics and tests always made more sense to her than people and feelings. Her complicated family couldn't seem to give her room to breathe, but reinventing herself will prove harder than she imagines. When the plane touches down in California, Kerry's new life begins. Leslie can't hide from the choices she's made. Her life, and the life of her entire family, is forever altered and maybe permanently fractured. After losing so much, keeping Kerry safe is paramount. When Mark, the man she loved and left behind, is her only hope in a dangerous situation, she knows she's playing with fire. It's a risk she's willing to take. The turbulent push and pull between longing for independence and begging time to slow down ensues as mother and daughter tug in different directions. Kerry demands to break free and Leslie can't help but hold on. When they both lose their footing and tumble away from all the things they thought they wanted, who will be there to catch them?

Moving to the country has given Melinda a new set of skills, but does she have what it takes to fix matters of the heart? It's hard enough to let the past go, and let a new love in. But when a mysterious box is pulled from her farmhouse's crawlspace, she's torn between protecting the former owner's privacy and tracking down the woman he once loved. Prosper's Main Street may appear deserted on these sleepy summer afternoons, but there's plenty happening behind the scenes. One Prosper resident is ruffling feathers with her grand plans for the tiny town, and a new Fourth of July contest sparks a competitive spirit that's as American as apple pie. But as the temperature climbs, the shadow of hard times falls over the rural community. Can Melinda make the tough choices that will keep her dreams from turning to dust? Sixth in a series

Gwen and Griff were supposed to be coasting through the first year of marriage. They'd known each other since childhood and there were no surprises left to discover. When their plans of growing their family take a detour, Gwen wonders if the road they're on will ever lead her to happiness. Can she mourn and hope all at once?Leslie has inched her way closer to making amends. Divorcing her husband and blindsiding her children with a painful, decades-old secret has left everyone in tatters. One thread at a time she's begun to sew them back together. She's pioneering new ideas in the business world. Falling in love with her old flame. Getting to know the daughter she abandoned at birth. But her sons are still out of reach. When one needs help she finally sees hope for a future. There are no perfect families. Only best laid plans and how to deal with what happens when they fall apart.

Book 1: The Bend in Redwood Road
Book 2: The Pier at Jasmine Lake
Book 3: The Bridge in Sunset Park
Book 4: The Stairs to Chapel Creek
Book 5: The Cabin on Autumn Peak

“This vital, sweeping story is delivered in Harnisch's silky, upscale prose. Much like a fine glass of wine, The California Wife is a highbrow indulgence that is tasteful, captivating, and heady.” ―The Globe and Mail

In the sweeping, poignant internationally bestselling sequel to The Vintner’s Daughter, the Lemieux family’s ambition to establish an American winemaking dynasty takes Sara and Philippe from pastoral Napa to the Paris World’s Fair and into the colorful heart of early 20th-century San Francisco.

It is 1897, and Sara and Philippe Lemieux, newly married and full of hope for the future, are determined to make Eagle’s Run, their Napa vineyard, into a world-renowned winemaking operation. But the swift arrival of the 20th century brings a host of obstacles they never dreamed of: price wars and the twin threats of phylloxera and Prohibition endanger the success of their business, and the fiercely independent Sara is reluctant to leave the fields behind for the new and strange role of wife and mother.

An invitation to the World’s Fair in 1900 comes just in time to revive the vineyard's prospects, and amid the jewel-colored wonders of Belle Époque Paris, Sara and Philippe’s passion is rekindled as well. But then family tragedy strikes, and, upon their return to California, a secret from Philippe’s past threatens to derail their hard-won happiness in one stroke.

Sara gains an ally when Marie Chevreau, her dear friend, arrives in San Francisco as the first female surgery student to be admitted to prestigious Cooper Medical College. Through Marie, Sara gets a glimpse of the glittering world of San Francisco’s high society, and she also forges friendships with local women’s rights advocates, inciting new tensions in her marriage. Philippe issues Sara an ultimatum: will she abandon the struggle for freedom to protect her family’s winemaking business, or will she ignore Philippe and campaign for a woman’s right to vote and earn a fair wage?

Fate has other plans in store in the spring of 1906, which brings with it a challenge unlike any other that the Lemieux family or their fellow Northern Californians have ever faced. Will the shadow of history overwhelm Sara and Philippe’s future, despite their love for each other? In The California Wife, Kristen Harnisch delivers a rich, romantic tale of wine, love, new beginnings, and a family’s determination to fight for what really matters.

More Reviews:

“Harnisch’s lyrical descriptions underscore the beauty of winemaking, political activism, and even surgery. Combined with her first novel, The California Wife feels like the second season of a period miniseries, best enjoyed with a glass of zinfandel.” ―Booklist

“Fans of historical fiction, heart-pounding romance, and remarkable women look no further. Kristen Harnisch…transports you back in time through engaging dialogue, complex characters, and vivid description.... An exquisite read from start to finish.” ―Alexandria Brown, Napa County Historical Society Research Librarian

“The California Wife is a vivid, fine-tuned novel about two fiercely ambitious and determined people who face obstacles that would bring most of us to our knees. Harnisch’s skillful blend of 19th-century societal norms and details about wine-making practices never overwhelm the characters but enrich them, captivating the heart. You'll long remember this beautiful story about redemption, forgiveness, love, and family bonds.” —Ann Weisgarber, author of The Promise and The Personal History of Rachel DuPree

“The California Wife is not only an accurate and nostalgic account of the early history of our wine industry in California, it’s a lovely novel with characters you want join in a harvest, a meal, and a glass of wine. I recommend this book to wine lovers and historical fiction fans alike!” —Tina Vierra, Associate Publisher, Wines & Vines

Author Bio:

Kristen Harnisch is the author of the award-winning, internationally bestselling novels The Vintner’s Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner’s Legacy. She drew upon her extensive research and experiences living in the San Francisco Bay Area and visiting the Loire Valley to create the stories for the three historical novels in the series. Ms. Harnisch earned a degree in economics from Villanova University and currently resides in Connecticut.

Independently published with She Writes Press

Shop The Vintner’s Daughter series

Christmas comes but once a year. Unless you never take down the decorations.

When a pipe in her home freezes and bursts, antiques collector Fern Gale knows her holiday season is off to a bad start. Her house was already a mess and all she wants to do is drink hot chocolate and binge-watch Christmas movies. 

The winter catastrophe pushes Fern to spruce things up at 313 Pine Tree Lane. And that's when she stumbles across something that belongs to her estranged husband.
Stedman Gale thought he moved on from Fern. After all, when her mother died, their marriage died, too. But then he gets a frantic phone call in the middle of the night that changes everything...

If the small-town magpie can reconnect with the love of her life then maybe she'll be more than the lonely woman who lives in The Christmas House.

Book Two in the Hickory Grove series is a quirky, stand-alone romantic women's fiction about a second chance that comes a little later in life. 

Author Bio:

Elizabeth Bromke writes small-town women's fiction and sweet romance. In her stories, she weaves multi-generational family dynamics with the triumphs and trials of modern relationships.

Elizabeth and her husband and son live in the mountains of Arizona. There, they spend time together reading, taking walks with their sweet pup, Winnie, and working on puzzles.

“I never know what to say about a Julianne MacLean book, except to say YOU HAVE TO READ IT." —AllRomanceReader

From USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean comes a gripping and emotional contemporary novel, where people are affected by real life magic and miracles that change everything they once believed about life and love.

Claire Radcliffe has been blessed with a wonderful life-a loving husband, a fulfilling career as a schoolteacher, and a perfect house in a charming historic neighborhood. But with each Christmas that passes, the one thing she longs for most of all—a child of her own—continues to elude her, and before long, her life doesn't seem so perfect anymore.

When yet another holiday season approaches and her marriage suffers the worst possible blow, Claire must learn to have faith in destiny, and allow herself to believe that miracles can happen to anyone—especially at Christmastime.

Heartwarming and inspiring, The Color of a Christmas Miracle is the tale of one woman's journey to find happiness, and to learn the power of forgiveness and redemption on the path to true love.

Author Bio:
Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of numerous historical romances. She is a three-time RITA finalist, and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers' Best Award, the Book Buyer's Best Award, and a Reviewers' Choice Award from Romantic Times for Best Regency Historical of 2005. She lives in Nova Scotia with her husband and daughter, and is a dedicated member of Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada.

Shop the Color of Heaven series

"Exquisite" (Lisa Barr, New York Times best-selling author of Woman on Fire) and "utterly engrossing" (Katherine Gray, cohost of the Netflix series Blown Away), The Color of Ice will wrap you in its spell, all the way to its unforgettable ending.

Set among the glaciers and thermal lagoons of Iceland, and framed by the magical art of glassblowing, The Color of Ice is the breathtaking story of a woman's awakening to passion, beauty, and the redemptive power of unconditional love.

The stunning new novel by the author of award-winning novels Queen of the Owls and The Sound Between the Notes . . .

Cathryn McAllister, a freelance photographer, travels to Iceland for a photo shoot with an enigmatic artist who wants to capture the country's iconic blue icebergs in glass. Her plan is to head out, when the job is done, on a carefully curated "best of Iceland" solo vacation. Widowed young, Cathryn has raised two children while achieving professional success. If the price of that efficiency has been the dimming of her fire--well, she hasn't let herself think about it. Until now.

Bit by bit, Cathryn abandons her itinerary to remain with Mack, the glassblower, who awakens a hunger for all the things she's told herself she doesn't need anymore. Passion. Vulnerability. Risk. Cathryn finds herself torn between the life--and self--she's come to know and the new world Mack offers. Commitments await her back in America. But if she walks away, she'll lose this chance to feel deeply again. Just when her path seems clear, she's faced with a shocking discovery--and a devastating choice that shows her what love really is.

It was intoxicating. Thrilling. It was so unlike her. Aila was always a good wife. Never reckless. Always faithful. Until she wasn't.

Aila Sorenson doesn't know what happened to her marriage. She actively participated in building the life she and her husband, Ben, created but she no longer recognizes herself when she remembers the role she dreamt up fifteen years ago.

While Ben has been building a successful career as an attorney in Seattle, Aila has remained in the shadows taking care of their home and tending to their children while struggling to find a balance between the monotony and the chaos. They appear to be shining pillars of marital perfection-attending church on Sundays, volunteering, and surpassing every expectation society has of them-but deep down, Aila knows their marriage is crumbling. She often wonders if Ben even realizes it.

When Aila unexpectedly runs into someone from her past, the illusion she and Ben created begins to shatter. While many merely wonder about the road not taken, Aila runs down it full-speed. After months of authentic and insatiable passion, Aila rivals her devotion against her desires and must decide which one is worth fighting for.

New York Times bestselling author Joanne DeMaio returns to seaside Stony Point in this novel filled with beach friends, love, and the enchantment of a sandy boardwalk winding along the shore.

During two August weeks, denim designer Maris Carrington and coastal architect Jason Barlow prepare for their much-anticipated wedding. Guests arrive early, turning keys in charming cottage doors to begin their New England summer escape. The wedding is a reason for old friends to gather again; to meet in their shabby beach hangout and get the jukebox cranking; to walk that weathered boardwalk beneath a starry sky; to breathe the sweet salt air. "Cures what ails you," one of the friends, Neil, always said long before his life was sadly claimed. But his legacy was not.

When Maris discovers Neil's long-lost journal, its passages reveal a heartbreaking secret. Can truths be found within its timeworn pages? Can this leather-bound journal unite the friends as their lives begin to fray? A bittersweet family reunion, a surprising encounter from a devastating accident, a shocking confession leaving one marriage shattered--all will test the once close-knit circle. Suddenly this safe haven on the tranquil Connecticut shoreline churns with emotional turmoil, threatening even the beach wedding just days before it is to happen.

Yet like a silver cap on a breaking wave, love and friendship wash ashore with hope, ever shimmering, in The Denim Blue Sea.

About the Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.