Oregon Historicals

In 1851, Independence, Missouri, a big wagon train waits to begin the 2200 mile trek to Oregon. Seventeen year old Amy Stevens shares her excitement at the journey with her best friend- only to be disappointed in his less than enthusiastic reaction. When he suddenly kisses her, Amy, who fancies herself a future bluestocking, angrily tells him he is ruining everything. Changes are coming, but surely not for her and Matt. Three years older, already with too many hard experiences, Matthew shares none of her illusions as to what lies ahead. He also has seen how the train's scout, Adam Stone has looked at her. He's torn as to what he can do about it. Matt has lived a hard life, worked hard to earn enough for the supplies to go west. His father and brother, both damaged by alcohol and hate, begged him to bring them. His brother claimed he wanted a second chance. What Matt learns, too late, is Morey's idea of a second chance involves revenge. Round the Bend is the story of the trek west told through two families- the Stevens and the Kanes-families as different as light and dark. It is a story of the purest of love and the most driven of hate. As the train heads down the Trail, the travelers will learn more about each other than any want. The road ahead will test them all. This is the first of four books, which follow the Stevens family through four romances as it tells some of the story of the founding of Oregon. Each of the romances stands alone, no cliff hangers.

He had long loved her, a secret impossible love. At lonely campfires across the west, where death waited in the shadows, he had dreamed of her. Then word arrived that what had been impossible was no longer. When he came to convince her to be his own, she put up barriers. He could overcome those. Could he overcome the greatest of all-who he was? Oregon Territory held many dangers; but the one that killed Martha Stevens' beloved husband struck without warning on the most mundane of days. She has been forced to live alone, to make a life on her homestead, one that is purposeful, oriented to her family. Her expectations do not include a man coming into that life, who like a tornado upturns her expectations and all she has known. What this wild man wants is impossible. Or is it? Where Dreams Go is set in 1855's Oregon Territory where these new pioneers must learn skills needed to build a state. Building a new world isn't for the weak. Dangers are always there for those who dare to walk the high places. Can we live our dreams-or is the cost too high?

It's 1865 and the Civil War has just come to an agonizing end- even impacting far off Oregon with its destructive divisiveness. With a loving family, successful businesses, and active theater life, Raine Stevens has all she could want except a love of her own. She prefers life without the sacrifices that kind of love requires. Only one man has ever tempted her to believe otherwise, and he went off to fight the war. He left and never wrote. And then, Jed Hardman is back, but it's too late for them. She won't leave Portland for a wilderness ranch on the John Day River. She's worked too hard for what she has. Besides, he's way too much the laird in the way he dominates all around him. She sends him off with no hope for a future together. After Raine learns her seemingly successful life has been more trap than what she thought, she decides to leave Portland also. She could go many places, but the only one that will help her find out if she and Jed have a future is the Hardman Ranch. Jed is grateful to have Raine come to him and accepts her terms, adding one of his own. Leaving the war apparently hasn't made his life safer. He now has a deadly enemy-more than one. Book 3 in the Oregon series follows the Stevens family (Raine isn't the only one finding a reason to head east of the Cascades). It is about what makes a home and family. What does it take to make a relationship work when it has every reason not to succeed? With gold miners, road agents, and Native Americans determined to push the white man from their land, this wilderness requires strong men and women to tame it. Raine isn't sure she can qualify, but she's about to find out. Going Home contains some strong language, violence, and sexual heat. It is intended for mature readers.

Moving to Tucson and living in Rose's Cottage provides a wellspring of inspiration for Lily Jacobs' art. It also helped her avoid a man in Chicago, who was threatening with his unwelcome attentions. After years of doing her father's bidding, Lily is now a woman of means, free to choose her own path. When famous painter, Patrick Jamison arrives in Tucson, Lily is eager to take lessons and improve her work. She isn't looking for love. Slow from birth, Jesse Taggert lives on the desert as he trains horses and works for a large ranch. Jesse knows animals and finds the further he is from people, the better-especially beautiful woman, but how can he refuse his brother's request that he teach his sister-in-law, Lily, how to ride the horse he has trained? Once these two meet, sparks fly. A woman like Lily would never want a man like Jesse, someone who can't even read. If that hasn't been enough reason to avoid her, the dangers his father is bringing onto him will be. Lily isn't listening. She sees things in Jesse he does not see in himself. Some loves are worth fighting to hold onto. Set in Tucson Arizona with familiar characters from earlier Arizona historicals, Lands of Fire is a love story not only of two people but also of the desert. Danger walks with this land, but the passion it stirs can make it all worthwhile-if one survives.

As a Pinkerton agent, Belle Stevens Morgan has led an adventurous life, far from her beloved family. On assignment in Oregon to investigate counterfeiting, she is posing as a governess in the employ of a wealthy and ruthless man. Lies are her stock in trade. To her regret, she has never forgotten the young cavalry officer, who rejected her love when she was seventeen. Meeting him again, in the midst of an Indian attack, she fears she still loves him and to no more avail than ten years earlier. Captain Rand Phillips is asked to take on one of his most dangerous assignments regarding an attempt to start a new rebellion, with the Civil War barely over and the country still in turmoil. The biggest danger of all, however, may be to his heart as he sees the woman Belle has grown to be. He pushed her away when she was little more than a girl. It won't be so easy this time-especially since she may be his one hope for survival. When two warriors meet, with secrets between them, danger is bound to be in the mix. Sometimes to win, one must risk it all. Book Four in the Oregon Historical series, with characters from the earlier romances, Love Waits is about a love that is strong enough to wait for its time-and fight for its fulfillment.