Showing results by author "Danielle Stewart" in All Categories

The first lie got him in trouble. Our romantic date night was meant to fix us. But when my husband grabs my hand and says he needs to tell me something, I can tell from the look in his eyes that our marriage is in deep trouble. The second lie ruined our marriage. We’ve been here before. I wonder who she is. Is she younger than me? For a moment I wonder if I’ll forgive him. But I always do. It’s the only way to keep our family together.

Rocking away on her peaceful front porch, Betty Grafton receives sad news which forces her to relive the darkest moments of her life. Surrounded by her family, a captive audience hanging onto her every word, she weaves the tale of how an unlikely and controversial friendship shaped her into the woman she is today. Exposing her own mistakes, fears, and soul deep heartbreak, Betty shares the hard truth about growing up in the South in the 1960s.

Today, all my worst fears came true. I thought I had escaped the dark secrets of my teenage years. But when my son is accused by one of my students of a crime I know only too well, my past comes hurtling into my present. But what can I do? I love my son. I need to believe him no matter what.

Against all odds, Piper Anderson has managed to pick up the pieces of her life. She's holding tight to her budding romance with Officer Bobby Wright, anxious to have her moment with him. Now encircled by fiercely loyal friends, she finally feels like she's standing at the edge of a normal life. That is until reports of a brutal attack at the local college campus turn her dream of happily ever after into a nightmare. The unmistakably familiar details of the attack are an instant reminder of the chains tying her to people and places she so badly wants to escape.

Mathew Kalling knows better than to get involved with a party girl. You can't be charged with running an oil empire and still think a wild woman is a safe bet. But once he's had a taste, he just can't seem to stay away. Try to sweep Jessica Thorne off her feet and she'll head for the hills. Nothing sends her running faster than grand gestures and fairy-tale promises. But when her back is against the wall will she finally take the risk and let love whisk her away?

If you spend half your life chasing down vengeance, what do you do when the thing you're hunting turns out to be someone you love? If your sanity depends on the solace you'll find in retribution, is one terrifying discovery enough to get you to stop searching? Rebecca has given Devin half her heart and all her love since the moment he was arrested. Now it's up to him to decide if he's capable of the same dedication when new clues point to her involvement in murder.

Piper Anderson has been given a fresh start in the picturesque town of Edenville, North Carolina. But her plans of settling into a normal life are derailed when she witnesses a prominent judge in her community committing a violent assault. Running from her own past and fueled by a passion to make the judge answer for his crimes, Piper is forced to decide if she'll play by the rules or achieve justice in her own way.

Slamming the door shut behind her, Stephanie takes one last look at the party where her best friends are busy celebrating. As the drinks are poured and music blasts, she disappears into the darkness alone. Some say she was crying. Others think they heard an argument that night. But we never saw her alive again…

Frankie Cooper has grown up surrounded by her outrageous family in the small town of Edenville, North Carolina. The problem with growing up with a suffocating family is that even though her 18th birthday is behind her they still don't see her as an adult. But when she's finally in the arms of the man she's been dreaming about, none of that matters. She's been in love with Maxwell for years and nothing will get in the way of starting her life with him.

Most days it's manageable. No more than a quiet wondering around the edges of her mind. What has become of the baby she left behind? Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart.

Clay Landon has never taken himself or his life of privilege seriously. He has spent his life going where he wanted, when he wanted, and keeping his relationships as casual and open as his lifestyle. It's a pretty damn good life until he meets Lexi Chambers, an equally free spirit who is completely unimpressed by him or his wealth.

To Piper Anderson, fate has always been that unavoidable circumstance that befalls a person. Some people are destined to be happy, and others, like Piper, have a rougher road. Each time she tries to step off her predetermined path in search of happiness, someone or something drags her back to it. Heartbroken after Bobby allows his own past to come between them, Piper is eager to leave Edenville behind. With Jules as her companion, she heads back to New York, the place where it all began, in search of a piece of her history that isn't tarnished.

At 19, Devin Sutton lost his first love, his freedom, and his hope. Years later, the only thing he has on his mind this holiday season is finally settling the score back in Clover, North Carolina. That is, until the girl he thought he'd lost forever crosses his path. Rebecca Farrus is supposed to be off living the life of her dreams, not tending bar in some dive. When faced with the choice, will Devin decide to celebrate what he's finally found or keep seeking retribution for everything he lost?

No matter what people tell him, Jedda Wright is convinced he's nobody's hero. He's made his mistakes and paid dearly for them over the years. Suddenly freed from his past, he's forced to find his way in a world he hardly recognizes. He's written himself off as a lost cause and pushes away any chance at love. Has he been punished enough to be worthy of his redemption, or when given the chance, will he make the same mistakes again?

Telling James West he can't do something is like telling lightning it can't strike. The only thing that crosses his mind is, "challenge accepted." Finally sitting at the helm of his family's oil company, James is ready to conquer the industry. The gorgeous, mysterious woman who keeps crossing his path looks like the perfect distraction from the stress of his new role. He'll have to choose between having her in his corner at West Oil or taking her to his bed.

Mark Ruiz’s life is a structured routine full of well-worn grooves. Board meetings. Dinner with clients. Preparing presentations. Exhaustingly long days strung together over 41 years of hard work. Retirement is the promise he makes to himself. The item on his list he can’t wait to check off. The problem? Retirement is better in theory than in practice. Three months in, he realizes his new phase of life is as stale as the slice of cake they sent him home with on his last day at the office.

Looking back can seem daunting. Moving forward can seem impossible. With an old friend back in her life, will Betty hold on to yesterday even if it tears her apart? The past can't be rewritten, but the world can be changed - especially if Betty and her family in Edenville have anything to do with it.

Tara Shiloh knows she's not a drug addict. She's positive she's a good mother and hard worker. So why is she in an alley with a needle in her arm? Waking up in the hospital without her son is terrifying. Being told she can't have him back nearly crushes her. With her memory spotty and the circumstances incriminating, Tara must fight to learn the truth and wrestle with the idea that maybe her son is better off without her. Reid Holliston defends guilty people for a living and it's slowly killing him. He's certain there is no such thing as a truly blameless client anymore.

Autumn Chase is painfully aware grief is a beast that won’t be chased off before it’s ready to leave. When an icy road and a dark night leave her a young widow, she’s forced to trade in her perfectly planned future for the unknown. Like a child hiding from a monster, she pulls her covers up over and head with the intention of sheltering herself forever. But once an unexpected stranger shows up on her doorstep, Autumn has to choose between being alone or connecting with someone who is hurting as badly as she is.

Dr. Noah Key would gladly have traded places with his wife in the car accident that claimed her life. Without her he finds himself living a half life, haunted by all the ways he failed in his marriage. Determined to absolve himself, Noah sets out on a journey to the other side of the world to provide medical aid after a devastating storm destroys an impoverished island. But nothing is as he expected; faced with impossibly difficult choices, Noah must decide if he’s helping or hurting the people around him.