Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, there was a young woman called Liesel Brooks who came to Everwood to marry a reluctant prince who thought he wanted another. Liesel would never have agreed to marry the prince if she'd known he belonged to another woman. But her dying father had insisted that the prince wanted her and that he wanted her safe after he was gone. You see, Liesel had an autoimmune disease that wouldn't kill her but gave her pain nearly every day of her life. She bore the pain gracefully and created magical paintings that turned her agony into beauty. So, Liesel arrived in Everwood, a beautiful wine town where her future husband owned Callahan Vineyards. He was handsome. He was smart. He was not happy about marrying her. She was a slight, dainty, almost fairylike woman with a face that would not launch even one ship, but then Atlas Callahan didn't see her heart, which would have launched thousands. Kind, wonderful, big-hearted Liesel married her prince, and…no, they didn't live happily ever after. Well, not until there was magic. I am Seraphina Vine, the fairy godmother of Everwood. I bring lost souls and broken hearts together. So, I wave my magic wand and tell you the story of a little match girl who brought light into the life of a reluctant prince. The Temporary Wife is the first book in the Once Upon A Time series and is based on the H.C. Andersen fairytale, The Little Match Girl. This is a standalone book with a very happy fairytale ending. If you love the arranged marriage/marriage of convenience trope and are fans of authors such as Catharina Maura and Shain Rose, you'll love this series.

Once upon a time in the enchanting wine-country town of Everwood, there was a young woman named Ariel Callahan, who, like the Little Mermaid, loved a prince from a world unlike her own. Tej Nair, a prince in his own right, was a man caught between love and duty, fond of Ariel but tethered to his conservative Indian family's expectations. Ariel's love for Tej was as deep as the ocean, yet she had to keep it hidden, just like her heartache upon discovering she could never bear children. This secret, used by Tej's mother, tore them apart, leading Ariel to flee to New York, leaving behind her childhood home and family for a life of helping others. Seven years passed with Ariel transforming her pain into passion, working tirelessly at the ACLU. But the call of Everwood, her home, was strong, and she returned to find solace in her family's vineyard and the cozy confines of the Whispering Vines wine bar. Tej's journey mirrored Ariel's. His life was a tale of unfulfilled dreams and obligations, leading to an unhappy arranged marriage and a successful yet unfulfilling career. His heart remained adrift, just like his new home on a boat in Santa Barbara harbor. Their reunion was bittersweet, laden with resentment and unspoken truths. The spark that once ignited their love still flickered, but the shadows of their past loomed large. It seemed as though their story was destined for heartache, until a sprinkle of magic, the warmth of Everwood's sun-kissed vineyards, and the courage to embrace true love guided them back to each other. I am Seraphine Vine, the fairy godmother of Everwood. I bring together lost souls and mend broken hearts. With a wave of my magic wand, I present to you the tale of a little mermaid and her prince, a story of sacrifice, hidden truths, and the enduring power of love. For sometimes, the one you want is worth every trial.

Once upon a time, there was a princess called Hansa Raj who just didn't fit in, not in her family or the small wine-country town of Everwood. Overshadowed by her radiant sister Naina, an ex-supermodel turned media empress, Hansa harbors dreams, as fragrant and deep as a Pinot Noir, of crafting her signature wine with an Indian touch, paying homage to her heritage. When she meets the Wine Prince Orion Callahan, it's love at first sight for Hansa. Orion doesn't even notice her. Most people don't, and Hansa doesn't seek attention because she has an ugly secret. Hansa has dyslexia, which makes her everyday life a struggle that she bears in silence because she's afraid that if people find out, they'll realize that she is as dumb as she is plain. Can you blame her when her own family thinks she's less intelligent, less pretty… just less than her sister, her cousins, and everyone else they compare her to? Orion, who unsuccessfully tried to woo the brilliant Naina in high school, has now risen as a prominent winemaker, and Naina is finally giving him the time of day. But as he gets to know Naina, he also learns more about Hansa, who is now managing his wine-tasting room at Callahan Vineyards. Instead of falling in love with Naina, whom he's always wanted, he finds that he's instead, albeit reluctantly, captivated by the unexpected strength and genuine passion of Hansa, the duckling that no one notices. Against the backdrop of frost-kissed vineyards and with just a little magic, Orion learns that some ducklings are perfect as they are, and Hansa discovers that she doesn't need to become a swan to be loved. I am Seraphina Vine, and I am the fairy godmother of Everwood. I bring lost souls and broken hearts together. Now, I wave my magic wand and bring you the story of an ugly duckling and a prince blinded by surface beauty. Because sometimes love is ugly. An Ugly Love aims to challenge The Ugly Duckling's message that acceptance comes only with transformation, illustrating that not every duckling needs to become a swan. This story is about embracing the often messy and imperfect nature of being human and celebrating love as the force that truly moves our world.