Brides in Love #16

Jane's heart belonged to Michael—until a letter from Canada shattered that dream, leaving her convinced love was a luxury she could never afford again. Years later, as a driven editor in New York, Jane discovers her orphaned niece Susan faces an impossible choice, and in desperation, she strikes a cold bargain with Pete Talbot, a carefree writer she despises: marry her for money, then divorce quietly once the adoption is final. But Pete has other ideas about what this marriage might become.

Cecilie hides her feelings for Don, uncertain whether he could ever return them—until his mother's carefully orchestrated party sets an unexpected moment in motion. When Don presents her with a treasured necklace, Cecilie must confront the gulf she believes separates them, only to discover his true intentions were there all along.

Lucille has always loved Don—until she watches him marry her best friend Kathy at the wedding reception. A brash stranger named Dave Gurney won't let her wallow in heartbreak, and as he draws her into conversation about their lives and ambitions, something unexpected happens: her grief transforms into something altogether different. By the evening's end, Lucille discovers that sometimes the person meant for you arrives when you're looking the other way.

When Marie vows never to speak to Alan again after their quarrel, all eyes are on them at the college hangout—but she's got a clever plan to break the ice without saying a word. A forgotten compact becomes the unlikely messenger that reignites their connection.

A young woman named Mimi must confront what real commitment means when the man she loves, Jeff, challenges her to understand the seriousness of marriage—and the sacrifices it demands. As Mimi grapples with her own behavior and what true love requires, she discovers whether she's ready to leave her carefree ways behind. "The High Cost of Loving" explores what it takes to build a marriage worth having.

Laurie Clay arrives at her Aunt Ellen's home in upstate New York, seeking refuge from a troubled past that has left her guarded and withdrawn. When her neighbor Tom—a kind local whose family connection runs deep—begins drawing her out of her shell, Laurie finds herself opening up to the possibility of healing and genuine connection. As the two grow closer, Laurie must decide whether to finally trust someone with the truth about the sordid life she's left behind.