Showing results by author "Karla Gracey" in All Categories

Bored and lonely New York socialite, Carolynne Forbes, longs to leave her wealthy past behind her and become a musician. She has both the talent and the dedication required, but does not know how to defy her family's expectations, or Society's rules. But a chance meeting with an acknowledged rake sparks her courage to find out if she truly does have what it takes. But can she convince him that he is as deserving of happiness and fulfillment in his own life too?

For the most part, Geoffrey Drayton is content with his life in Iron Creek. Having thrown himself into work since the death of his wife, Geoffrey is now the most popular carpenter in town. But the life of a widower is a lonely and empty one. After watching so many of his friends find happiness with mail-order brides, Geoffrey decides it is time for him to take a chance—and advertises for a bride of his own.

Catherine Parker has been brought up in the lap of luxury, and has always expected she would someday make an expedient marriage, but when her Papa insists she marry a man she knows he despises, she has no choice. But will she find the love and companionship she craves, or is she merely trading one kind of hell for another? Can she trust a stranger to care more for her than her own father?

Following her mother's death, Emily Watson is determined to learn more about her history. She had never met her father, but when she finds letters between her parents, she’s filled with a yearning desire to learn more before taking further steps forward in her own life.

Maeve Fitzpatrick has always been brave. Moving from Ireland to America was just a big adventure to her, but the reality has turned out to be so much less than she imagined. Living in grey and dreary Pittsburgh is hardly her dream come true! But she is not one to ever give up on herself - or her goals - and so she places an advertisement to find herself a husband, eager for the opportunity that another change of scenery might bring. But there are obstacles to face that she has never considered, obstacles she cannot change alone.

Catherine Pinkiss is a chambermaid. Her employers are ungrateful and expect too much of all their employees. Knowing that only she can change her life, she takes a chance and replies to an advertisement in the Matrimonial Times. She knows she could be risking her very life, but when a handsome man arrives on her doorstep, will she regret the actions she has taken? Dylan Jones believes that love will never find him again. Left alone to bring up his son after the tragic loss of his first wife, he knows that happiness is fleeting.

Belinda Weatherhead has secretly loved Thomas Rawlinson her entire life. Tortured by seeing him every day, the easy friendship he shares with her brother makes him off-limits. So when he leaves town unexpectedly, Belinda decides that it is time she got over him and found herself a man who can see her as she really is. Thomas Rawlinson has always been restless. He longs to get away from the confines of his ranching family, knowing he simply doesn't fit in there. But a year in Philadelphia has him missing the family he loves, and he longs to find a way to return, and to somehow save face whilst doing so.

Jonny Cable isn’t like his twin brother. Andy might have chosen to settle down and marry, but Jonny has a duty to fulfill in the army. It shouldn’t matter that he sometimes yearns for a different life—one where he can stay in one place and make a simple living running a hotel. Or that he should long for companionship like his brother has with his own lovely wife.

You can travel the world, but love will always find its way to you. From joining the army to please his father to going into business to help the man who saved his life, Harry Wallsey has lived his life for other people. Now, Harry is content with his life in Iron Creek, helping run the newspaper he helped establish—but as a lover of poetry and literature, even this life is not one he ever wanted.

Clara Warburton is strong willed and determined that being female should not hold her back. As a student at Stanford, she wishes she could continue to enjoy the freedoms she has found there. But Society frowns upon clever and ambitious women, and her Papa is determined she will now learn her place. But Clara is not the kind of girl to take ultimatums lying down and so sets a course of her own making. But will it all end well? Has she finally been too clever for her own happiness?

After suffering a permanent injury from an ambush and losing mobility of one of his legs, Andrew Cable has lost all hopes for a happy future for himself. Now, as he is forced to rely on his mother and his brother, Jonny, to care for him, Andrew doubts his life could be any more pathetic. But when Jonny advertises on his behalf with hopes of finding him a mail-order bride, Andrew realizes that he was wrong. The woman seems just as determined to escape her own situation in life. So, he decides to help her do just that—while also giving his brother a taste of his own medicine.

Wesley Baker has brought more than just his hopes with him to Iron Creek—he carries his half-broken heart in tow. Once, he had traveled to meet the woman he hoped to marry, only to discover that her existence had been a con. Since then, Wesley managed to pick up what was left of his life and shattered heart and find his way to the small town of Iron Creek, where he hopes to establish a bakery of his own. Wesley is determined not to make the same mistakes again—but as those around him continue to find love through mail-order brides, Wesley decides to risk his heart one last time.

Sarah Clinton has lived in Faith Creek her entire life. Her family were among the very first people to arrive and settle in the then wild and untamed land. Quiet and shy, she finds her place working for Maeve Fountain and begins to wish she had the feisty woman's determination and spirit. Taking her destiny in her own hands, she responds to an advertisement, hoping to find the happiness so many around her in Faith Creek have done, but can she trust that he truly wants her and not her effervescent and amiable employer? Wilbur Franklin has always wanted a simple life. As a Montana banking clerk he can understand what draws people to up sticks and change everything in their lives, but has always felt he lacked the courage to do something so drastic, so brave, so reckless himself. But a friendship made as he tried to find himself a bride leads him to do just that. But, will his gamble pay off?

Lisette Gibbons has courage and steel. Having made the dangerous crossing from England to New York as a girl, losing her beloved Mammy, and keeping house for her often absent Dadda, she has few friends to turn to when trouble strikes. She reaches out of her small world to find that there are many people who are glad to help, but she fears them learning her dark secret. Merle Shipley loves his life. He enjoys running the town's busy postal office and has big ambitions for it. But he feels something may be missing. Watching so many of his friends find love has made him think about building a family, now his business is doing so well. But will his generous heart make him lose out when he offers sanctuary to a woman he has never even met?

Prudence Wimbourne is a ballet dancer, but a terrible accident ends her career abruptly. Now all her hard work and the sacrifices made by her and her family feel as though they have been for nothing. She longs to escape, and to find a new life with a man who understands how hard it is for her to leave everything behind. Matthew Carrington longs to find a place he might call home. Tired of never having a home and travelling from town to town as a member of a travelling troupe of actors he has saved his earnings, but never knew what to do with them until he meets some of the townsfolk of Faith Creek and knows he could make a life there. But as he builds his own theater, he realizes that there is still something missing.

Frances Harman has spent a lifetime living out of suitcases, a staunch supporter of her papa as he builds an empire as a hotelier. A quiet soul, happiest when out of sight, left alone to pursue her own interests and happiness, she has never felt the lack of companions or excitement in her life. Yet, since his remarriage, she has been forced into a new world, one of parties and balls and afternoon promenades, and has found herself overshadowed by her beautiful stepsister, Maria, in every way. But in a moment of uncharacteristic bravado, she responds to a matrimonial advertisement in the newspaper.

Susanna Greyshott's family were once wealthy and well-to-do, but they have fallen upon hard times, and she and her Mama have been forced to make changes and do the best they can under the circumstances. But it has made Susanna hard as flint, unwilling to forgive and even less willing to open her heart. She is quite prepared to move to Texas, where she believes she may finally be able to build a life for her and her Mama where they are beholden to no-one, but a face from her past could ruin it all. Can she truly let herself accept all the benefits and happiness that Faith Creek longs to offer? Will she learn to forgive and accept the love that has always been all around her?

Georgina Fey is expecting a child, but has been left a widow by the tragic death of her husband. But she finds herself at war with his family. Her brother missing, she has nobody to turn to, until she remembers an old friend of her brother's. Being desperate, she writes to him, begging for his help, but she does not ever expect him to offer her sanctuary. His warm heart and gentle ways leave her torn between guilt and affection.

Winston Piper is jealous of the happiness his friends have found in recent times, and so, he takes the chance that he might find love by mail order, too. But his fears are not that he won't find the woman he so desperately craves, he worries that she will not give him the chance to make her happy. Can he convince her that her past does not have to overwhelm them and deny them of happiness, and that it is their future he cares about most?

Alice Springham has worked as a maid in a top Boston hotel since she was a girl. But she is feeling restless. Not knowing what she wants she answers an advertisement that made her smile. She has no idea if it is love she is missing, or if she even wants to wed. Will she ever learn what it is she truly wants?