Best of
Contemporary

1997

Daring to Dream / Holding the Dream / Finding the Dream


Nora Roberts - 1997
    As she tries to pick up the pieces, the long-simmering chemistry between her and Joshua Templeton finally comes to a boil.Holding the Dream (1997)Kate Powell has always felt indebted to the Templetons for taking her in after her parents deaths. All she's ever wanted is to make them proud. But accusations of embezzlement have her hanging her head in shame. It takes the gentle persistence of Byron DeWitt to prod her into fighting back.Finding the Dream (1997)Laura Templeton wanted one thing in life, to marry her Prince Charming and raise a family. Unfortunately, her Prince turned into a toad and she's forced to begin her life again. Adding to the turmoil is the brooding, handsome Michael Fury, a man she's always had a hidden desire for.

Because of the Rain


Deborah Raney - 1997
     Anna Marquette has everything to live for. Her daughters are in college and, with the support of Paul, her loving husband, she is pursuing her dream of a career in counseling. Then one night, while on a trip to Orlando, the unimaginable happens. She takes a “short cut” to an evening out with Paul and is brutally assaulted. When Anna suspects the attack has left her pregnant, her faith is put to the test. As Anna and her family confront the heart-wrenching decisions that lie ahead, Anna gradually comes to realize that God has a plan for her and that she must trust Him. But will her family accept the choice she makes? Will her husband’s love for her prevail? And will her marriage survive this ultimate test? “Because of the Rain” is a powerful story that will keep you on the edge of your chair waiting to find out what happens next. This novel was originally titled “In the Still of Night.” The text has been expanded and updated from the original edition.

The Birds & the Bees


Milly Johnson - 1997
    It feels like history repeating itself for Stevie, but this time she is determined to win back her man. She isn't going to act as he might expect. She isn't going to wail and dig her heels in, she is simply going to pretend to let him go whilst she pursues a mad course of dieting, exercising and self-improvement. And it feels like history is repeating itself for Adam MacLean too, who is also determined to win his lady, Jo, back with the same basic psychological tactics. Then he is going to initiate his master plan: Getting together with Stevie to drive Jo wild with jealousy. So, like the Scottish country jig 'The Birds and the Bees', the couples all change partners and learn some revealing truths about each other along the way. But what happens when Adam's master plan actually starts to work? And just who will Stevie be dancing with when the music stops?

Stars of Mithra Complete Collection


Nora Roberts - 1997
    Cade is sure the woman of his dreams just walked through the door when Bailey shuffles in, but the two must solve Bailey’s mystery before considering their love for each other…no matter how passionate their affair may be. CAPTIVE STAR M.J. O’Leary is used to punching first and asking questions later. So when bounty hunter Jack Dakota tries to arrest her for bail jumping, she doesn’t go down easily. Little does Jack know, getting involved with M.J. will land him in a world of trouble. On the run from hired killers, M.J. refuses to talk about who’s after her…or why she has a massive blue diamond hidden in her purse. M.J. and Jack are drawn to each other, despite their better judgment, but can Jack learn to trust M.J. when she has so many secrets? SECRET STAR Lieutenant Seth Buchanan is astonished when the beautiful victim of his homicide investigation turns up—very much alive—at the murder scene. The cool, controlled cop never lets his feelings get in the way of his job, and with a killer at large, Seth can’t afford any distractions. But there’s something irresistible about Grace Fontaine…and eventually Seth finds it hard to remember there’s any mystery more important to solve than that of Grace herself.

Red River Deep


Abby Gray - 1997
    Maybe a brand new start in a brand new town would help erase the memories. It was worth a try. Building a new life… Is what Austin is planning when he takes the position at Oklahoma State University. He planned on forgetting the past not rekindling an old love with Tracey Walker. But maybe a person has to put an end to the past to move on to the future. He loved her Red River deep, but with their shattered past and present responsibilities it won’t be easy for either of them to learn to trust and love again, but miracles do happen. If you liked Carolyn Brown’s Broken Road series: To Trust, To Believe, To Commit, To Hope and To Dream, you'll love Red River Deep.

Till Death Do Us Part


Lurlene McDaniel - 1997
    April has a brain tumor which cannot be operated on. She's only 18, and her future is uncertain. But when she meets Mark Gianni, a 21-year-old with a passion for car racing, things change. Mark is handsome and charming--and has cystic fibrosis. Despite herself, April falls completely in love with him. Aprilsays yes when Mark asks her to marry him. But a racing accident aggravates Mark's CF, and April must make a decision that will change the course of her life forever."

Candy


Luke Davies - 1997
    She's breathing gently, long slow breaths. I imagine her soul going in and out: wanting to leave, wanting to come back, wanting to leave, wanting to come back. The day will soon harden into what we need to do. But for now we have each other. . . ."He met Candy amid a lush Sydney summer. Gorgeous, sexy, free-spirited Candy. They fell in love fast, lots of laughter and lust, the days melting warmly into each other. He never planned to give her a habit. But she wanted a taste. And wasn't love, after all, about sharing lives? Candy had a bit of money and in the beginning, everything was beautiful. Heady, heroin-hazed days, the world open and inviting. But when the money ran out, the craving remained, and the days ceased their luxurious stretch.But there was still love. Only now, it was a threesome. Heroin had its own demands, its own timetable, and thoughts of nabbing the next fix hurled them into each day. Then, when desperation sets in, Candy will stop at nothing to secure a blast, as she and her lover become hostage to the nightmarish world of addiction. Painful, sexy, tender, and charged with dark humor, Candy provocatively charts the daily rituals of two lovers maintaining a long-term junk habit. Told in stunningly vivid prose and set against the backdrop of suburban and urban Australia, Candy is both an electrifying and frightening glimpse of contemporary life and love.

Tallchief


Dinah McCall - 1997
    But now Kathleen Ryder is back in his life--still pursued by the deadly secrets that forced her to flee before. And even though Morgan swears to protect her, he is helpless against his own rekindled passion.Kathleen has never forgotten the achingly sweet hunger that bound them together years ago. Now, still on the run, all she dares ask is that Morgan keep her safe--never expecting that he has the power to breathe life-giving fire to an ember that has grown cold.

Starting Over


Marcia Willett - 1997
    Frances and Stephen Ankerton are desperately worried about their son, Hugh, who wrongly blames himself for a fatal accident that took place nearly a year ago. While Frances turns to Annie for advice, Stephen finds a way to set Hugh's mind at rest... When Max Driver inherits some land on Dartmoor his dream becomes a reality. And a chance encounter with Frances leads to each and every one of them being touched by his warmth and enthusiasm. Soon he is an integral part of their lives and his determination to fulfil his own goal inspires the others to start over again.

Mirror, Mirror


Patricia Scanlan - 1997
    He is, in fact, selfish, shallow and very, very devious - a master of deceit. Suzy Wallace, a woman scorned, wreaks havoc and revenge on her husband's mistress, once her best friend, now her sworn enemy. She will never forgive and never forget. Alexandra Johnston, ambitious, talented and seductive, uses every trick she can to get what she wants...and then finds out that having is not quite the same as wanting. Ellen Munroe, the mother of Chris' child, the woman he has used and abused over and over, finally has the chance for happiness with an honest, decent, steadfast man...until Chris lies his way into her heart again. Mirror, Mirror is the story of women who have had enough. This is a tale of delicious revenge and glorious vindictiveness, as Chris Wallace finally tastes the bitter fruits of his deceits and gets what has been coming to him.

A Place to Call Home


Deborah Smith - 1997
    No one in Dunderry, Georgia--least of all Claire's family--could understand the bond between these two mavericks. But Roan and Claire belonged together...until the dark afternoon when violence and terror overtook them, and Roan disappeared from Claire's life. Now, two decades later, Claire is adrift, and the Maloneys are still hoping the past can be buried under the rich Southern soil. But Roan Sullivan is about to walk back into their lives....By turns tender and sexy and heartbreaking and exuberant, A Place to Call Home is an enthralling journey between two hearts--and a deliciously original novel from one of the most imaginative and appealing new voices in Southern fiction.

Orchard Valley


Debbie Macomber - 1997
    This trilogy features three delightful, spirited sisters and a trio of equally fascinating men.

The Littlest Angel


Sherryl Woods - 1997
    Father-by-Surprise Clint Brady admitted his reaction could have been more enthusiastic, but the thought of baby bottles and nappies was enough to rattle even a rugged rancher like himself. Now that the shock had passed, nothing was going to come between Clint and fatherhood -- not even stubborn Angela!

Lonesome Cowboy


Debbie Macomber - 1997
    Savannah Weston led a quiet life growing heirloom roses and helping her brother with the struggling family ranch. Never in her wildest dreams did she believe that her life of solitude would be shattered by Laredo Smith, the handsome drifter who captured her heart and showed her that love can be found in unexpected places.

Chase the Moon


Dinah McCall - 1997
    Living off the land in rural Kentucky, they adhere closely to the words of the Bible. But there is more going on at their compound than either Elijah or Gracie realises. In fact, a man has been killed for knowing too much. When the victim's twin, Jake Baretta, arrives at the compound to search for his twin's killer, he struggles to keep his heart and attraction to Gracie to himself, and his mind on the job. Everyone knows the first rule of undercover work: Never fall in love with enemy.

Ask Mariah


Barbara Freethy - 1997
    and call her "Mama."AN UNSPOKEN NEED -- Since his wife's accidental death, Michael Ashton has struggled with his many responsibilities as a single parent to twin daughters who, though they clearly love him, refuse to speak to him. Then he meets Rose and Lily's new teacher, and his emotions spin out of control. For Joanna Wingate is the mirror image of his late wife.MARIAH'S MAGIC -- Bizarre coincidence, a strange destiny... or something althogether different has joined these four lives. The twins believe Mariah -- a magical fortune-teller in a crystal ball -- has the answers. But only Joanna and Michael's willingness to confront long-buried secrets can guide their families back to wholeness ... and unite them in a love that seems meant to be.

Midwives


Chris Bohjalian - 1997
    But one treacherous winter night, in a house isolated by icy roads and failed telephone lines, Sibyl takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency Caesarean section on its mother, who appears to have died in labor. But what if—as Sibyl's assistant later charges—the patient wasn't already dead, and it was Sibyl who inadvertently killed her?As recounted by Sibyl's precocious fourteen-year-old daughter, Connie, the ensuing trial bears the earmarks of a witch hunt except for the fact that all its participants are acting from the highest motives—and the defendant increasingly appears to be guilty. As Sibyl Danforth faces the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do.

Irresistible?


Stephanie Bond - 1997
    But she's getting pretty close. So when she has a chance to take part in a four-week clinical study that involves a pill that makes the taker attractive to the opposite sex, Ellie doesn't waste any time signing up. After all, she has nowhere to go but up, right?

Scandalized!


Lori Foster - 1997
    Reprint.

Spud


John Heffernan - 1997
    John Heffernan's vivid portrayal of life in the bush is written from first-hand experience. Spud is the author's own loyal companion on his property in northern New South Wales and was the inspiration for the story.Spud is the first book in the popular series by award-winning author John Heffernan. Look out for the other best-selling titles, Pup and Chips.

Scarlett Saves Her Family


J.C. Suares - 1997
    The story of a stray cat who returned into a burning building to save her kittens also examines the people whose lives were touched by the cat.

Ashes to Ashes (New English Library


Gwen Hunter - 1997
    series, this book could be considered a prequel. It has the same fictional setting and features Ashlee Davenport, Rhea's favorite emergency room nurse.Ashlee Chadwick Davenport has been a widow for only a month when she finds disturbing evidence suggesting that her husband Jack--pillar of the community, church deacon, principled businessman--might have been much less honorable than he seemed. There are recordings of anonymous phone calls alleging Jack was involved in unsavory business transactions. Records of shady land deals. And she finds letters that hint at even darker dealings. Worse, from an emotional standpoint, Ashe discovers racy photos of her deceased husband with her best friend. She feels as if her marriage and her life have been ripped away from her. Her whole existence has been built on lies.All she has left is her daughter and the farm that has been in her family for generations. Then, suddenly, even those things are threatened. Jack's death has left her holding something that someone wants very badly. And they'll do anything to get it.Ashe must draw on her ever-growing anger to find the strength to fight Jack's final legacy: an unknown, unseen enemy.

Amber Beach


Elizabeth Lowell - 1997
    Though a shrewd businesswoman, Honor Donovan has been effectively shut out of the dangerous family enterprise by the Donovan males -- until her favorite brother, Kyle, mysteriously vanishes along with a fortune in stolen amber.Now, linking up with "fishing guide" Jake Mallory -- whose previous association with the Donovans has bred mistrust and suspicion -- Honor sets out for the Pacific Northwest in search of answers. But old wars and new politics have lured ruthless, high-stakes players from around the globe into a deadly game. And suddenly, elusive trust can be the only salvation -- and death the penalty for deceit -- if Honor and Jake hope to survive the perilous intrigues surrounding a breathtaking lost Czarist treasure known as the Amber Room ...

Buenos Aires


Christopher Doyle - 1997
    It documents Doyle's everyday experiences on the set of the film, and each page is an entry penned by Doyle himself and accompanied by incredible photographs of behind the scene moments on set and various locations in Argentina.

Small Town Girl


LaVyrle Spencer - 1997
    Now one of country music's brightest lights, "Mac" McPhail is a millionairess many times over, whose career is her life. At thirty-five, Mac has no time for marriage, children, or kinfolk - until her sisters insist she come home to help care for their widowed mother. Assuming a month in Wintergreen will be merely dreary, Mac is unprepared for what awaits her. After almost two decades of public adoration, she is suddenly a nonperson - insulted by her jealous older sister, enraged by her intractable mother, ignored by Kenny Kronek, the next-door neighbor she mercilessly taunted all through high school. A handsome divorce who dotes upon his teenage daughter, Casey, Kenny is widely respected in the community. Now he refuses to give Mac even the time of day. Once she discovers Casey is a promising country music talent, Mac assumes the role of mentor. She gradually becomes an integral part of life in Wintergreen, and the feigned indifference between Mac and Kenny turns to playful bickering, then passion. By month's end, Mac McPhail has not only grown to treasure the priceless solidarity of family and community, but also opened up her heart to love. Yet what was possible in Wintergreen appears a naive fantasy back in Nashville: Is there room for caring and commitment in the realm of superstardom - or is a woman worshipped by millions destined always to be alone?

A Gracious Plenty


Sheri Reynolds - 1997
    Finally, when she speaks to them, they answer, telling their stories in a remarkable chorus of regrets, explanations, and insights.  A Gracious Plenty is like an extraordinary amalgam of Steinbeck and Faulkner, Spoon River Anthology and Our Town. It is a reading experience that you will not soon forget.

Calcutta: City of Joy


S.B. Bhattacherje - 1997
    

The Truth About Toby


Cheryl St. John - 1997
    The Truth About Toby by Cheryl St.John released on Jul 25, 1997 is available now for purchase.

Pure Love: Readings On Sixteen Enduring Virtues


Marilyn Arnold - 1997
    In "Pure Love", Marilyn Arnold, Emeritus Professor of English at Brigham Young University, has compiled hundreds of stories, articles, and poems that illustrate those virtues, including the virtues of faith, truth, humility, kindness, patience, hope, endurance, and many others--all illuminated through her insightful and inspiring commentary.

Out of the Mouths of Babes


Dennis Hamley - 1997
    One is arrogant, one is destructive and one is the beautiful catalyst that will begin the end. As they move ever closer, the destiny that began with their births accelerates. It will blow their lives apart.

Love in a Small Town


Curtiss Ann Matlock - 1997
    They grew up in Valentine, Oklahoma, and were sweethearts from the get-go. But something is missing in their marriage, and Mollie can’t bear to stay where she doesn’t feel loved. Tommy Lee is confused and hurt and angry when she leaves for the refuge of Aunt Hestie’s empty cottage, but he has complaints of his own. In her unique voice, Curtiss Ann Matlock uncovers the heart of their story—their passion and promise, their hopes and dreams. Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance by Curtiss Ann Matlock; originally published by Avon

Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care for Remote Locations


Howard D. Backer - 1997
    Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care for Remote Locations is your comprehensive guide. This indispensable book provides information on how to handle common injuries and illnesses when medical care is an hour or more away. Easy to follow, Wilderness First Aid directs you through the most appropriate type of care.