Showing results by author "Karla Gracey" in All Categories

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.

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.

Georgina Chappel has everything a girl could wish for, except her freedom. As a daughter of a wealthy and influential man, she is forced to be something she is not, every single day. She knows that she has failed her parents, her Coming Out was a distinct flop, and despite her wealth and good name, she has yet to find a suitable husband. But she does not want any of the dull and insipid men of her circle. She wants adventure and a man who will love her just the way she is.

After spending eight years in jail, Elias Groves is struggling to make a life for himself…. After all, there aren’t many people willing to hire someone convicted of bank robbery. No matter how many times he moves and attempts a fresh start, Elias can’t escape his past, and unable to find stable work, the idea of a wife and a family seems to be slipping further and further from his reach. When his friend suggests perusing advertisements in the paper to find a woman looking for a husband, he’s not convinced.

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.

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.

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?

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?

Harriet Kirk has spent a lifetime being overlooked. Though she adores her sister, Annalise, who is beautiful and urbane, confident and accomplished in every situation, Harriet is tired of always being compared unfavorably to her. Clever and quick, practical and sensible, Harriet has always felt like an ugly duckling, but it has never stopped her from wanting the happily ever after that her sister always seemed destined for. But an unusual twist in their fates has them taking their destiny into their own hands.

Bernadette Havering is a vivacious and independent woman. She knows her mind and never intends to let a man dictate what she should or should not be able to do. In a world where women having a job is frowned upon, she longs for a profession and wants to make history by becoming one of the very first women in the United States of America to gain a law license. But why should she give up a husband and family in order to do so? Can she truly have both?

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?

Jimmy Doyle has a good job and great prospects, but he has never known what it feels like to have a family. But as things around him begin to change, he wonders if he could be blessed to find love. But having never known what it feels like to belong, will he recognize true friendship and affection when it is offered him? Maddy Bryant lost her parents when she was only eight years old. She has been pushed from pillar to post ever since but finally found a stable position in the Kendall's Cambridge town house as a maid.

Rose Unwin married young, and learned to regret her choice. But, she was still heartbroken when her husband died in a tragic accident. Unwilling to make the same mistakes again, she decides to take her time this time around, but how will she know if she has made the right choice? Andrew Davey finds himself at a crossroads. His employer, mentor, and friend has passed away, making his future in Faith Creek tenuous at best. But, nonetheless he agrees to help a friend to locate the heir to Mortimer Welsh's estate. Little does he know that his entire life is about to be turned upside down.

Mayme Galton has always felt a little like a fish out of water, not truly fitting in among the high society her Uncle has tried to get her to enter into, nor being allowed to spend much time in Faith Creek, where she would have been welcomed with open arms. Passionate and generous, she has spent much of her life trying to please everyone - including the parents who abandoned her. She wants her life to change and is prepared to take risks to make that happen, but will she ever find the love she craves, and deserves?

Grace Gardner has done everything she can to try and fit into society, but she simply isn't that kind of girl. With her love of horses and passion for the wild terrain of Texas, she fears that she will never find a man to marry her. But, just maybe, if she takes matters into her own hands, she might find the right man after all. Owain Jones left Wales with hopes of making his fortune, and helping out his family. Offered the chance to start again by Sheriff Kimball, Owain makes his way to Faith Creek, but can he ever leave his past behind and build the loving family he longs for?

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.

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.

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.