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Lost Loves
The Return of Caine O'Halloran / Hard Choices
A new hope
Caine O'Halloran had been a hero. A husband. A father. Now he was none of those things. His career as a baseball pitcher—all but over. His marriage to Nora Anderson—history. The son he loved—gone. And now, as he returns to his hometown to regroup, he finds instead that every familiar corner, every familiar face is a reminder of what he has lost.
Except for Nora. Because with her he has a second chance. A chance at forgiveness, redemption and hope. But after all the golden opportunities Caine has squandered in his life, can he believe he deserves another chance?
Bonus book included in this volume!
Hard Choices by USA TODAY bestselling author Allison Leigh
When the daughter she'd given up appears on her doorstep, Annie Hess knows it's time to reconcile her past—with her daughter, and the one man she can't forget.
Dear Reader,
I’ve always enjoyed writing stories about reunited lovers. So much so, I drew from my own reunion romance while writing The Return of Caine O’Halloran, and although the book was first released in 1994, Caine and Nora remain very close to my heart.
Long ago, in a small coastal town on the Oregon Coast, my high school sweetheart bought me a white paper bag of taffy, then proposed to me at the sea wall. A few months later, I was a teenage bride. Nine years after our wedding, I was a divorced single mom.
Although the reasons for our breakup were not as tragic as Caine and Nora’s, they were, nonetheless, painful.
We were apart for two years, during which time we both grew up and changed a great deal. Back then my husband’s career involved a lot of traveling, but he returned to town frequently to visit our son.
It was during those visits that we realized that we each liked the person the other had become. That awareness, coupled with a very strong love that never died, made us decide to try again.
We’ve never had any reason to regret that decision and last summer, in that small coastal town we still love to visit, we celebrated our forty-seventh anniversary. And yes, that taffy store is still there!
In our case, as in Caine and Nora’s, love truly is better the second time around. I hope you enjoy their story.
xo,
JoAnn
Caine O'Halloran had been a hero. A husband. A father. Now he was none of those things. His career as a baseball pitcher—all but over. His marriage to Nora Anderson—history. The son he loved—gone. And now, as he returns to his hometown to regroup, he finds instead that every familiar corner, every familiar face is a reminder of what he has lost.
Except for Nora. Because with her he has a second chance. A chance at forgiveness, redemption and hope. But after all the golden opportunities Caine has squandered in his life, can he believe he deserves another chance?
Bonus book included in this volume!
Hard Choices by USA TODAY bestselling author Allison Leigh
When the daughter she'd given up appears on her doorstep, Annie Hess knows it's time to reconcile her past—with her daughter, and the one man she can't forget.
Dear Reader,
I’ve always enjoyed writing stories about reunited lovers. So much so, I drew from my own reunion romance while writing The Return of Caine O’Halloran, and although the book was first released in 1994, Caine and Nora remain very close to my heart.
Long ago, in a small coastal town on the Oregon Coast, my high school sweetheart bought me a white paper bag of taffy, then proposed to me at the sea wall. A few months later, I was a teenage bride. Nine years after our wedding, I was a divorced single mom.
Although the reasons for our breakup were not as tragic as Caine and Nora’s, they were, nonetheless, painful.
We were apart for two years, during which time we both grew up and changed a great deal. Back then my husband’s career involved a lot of traveling, but he returned to town frequently to visit our son.
It was during those visits that we realized that we each liked the person the other had become. That awareness, coupled with a very strong love that never died, made us decide to try again.
We’ve never had any reason to regret that decision and last summer, in that small coastal town we still love to visit, we celebrated our forty-seventh anniversary. And yes, that taffy store is still there!
In our case, as in Caine and Nora’s, love truly is better the second time around. I hope you enjoy their story.
xo,
JoAnn
- GenresRomance
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
JoAnn Ross
240 books798 followersNew York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross has written over a hundred novels for a bunch of publishers. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmo and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs.
A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.
Currently writing a new Honeymoon Harbor series for HQN set on the Washington peninsula, that will launch in April, 2018, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay books are set), in the Pacific Northwest.
A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title.
Currently writing a new Honeymoon Harbor series for HQN set on the Washington peninsula, that will launch in April, 2018, JoAnn lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart, who proposed at the sea wall where her Shelter Bay books are set), in the Pacific Northwest.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 6, 2016
I just felt there were a lot of unnecessary elements to the plot.
March 8, 2025
I liked the author's writing style but felt the plot and characters needed to be developed more. There are several misunderstandings between the characters which could have been avoided. I'll read more of this author's books.
December 27, 2017
The Return of Caine O'Halloran
A great story full of surprises and love. A terrific ending with love winning out over secrets. Worth every single one.
A great story full of surprises and love. A terrific ending with love winning out over secrets. Worth every single one.
May 20, 2025
Tragedy can change lives but you have a choice what direction you chose.
September 4, 2015
The Return of Caine O'Halloran: This was my first experience with a JoAnne Ross story and was quite favorably impressed. I loved the setting in the North Olympic Peninsula if Washington State. Living in the Puget Sound area I could easily visualize the setting of the fictional town of Tribulation as it is located only 35 miles from real life Port Angeles. Ms. Ross brought the town to life with her physical descriptions of the town as well as it's history. Not only did she bring to life the protagonists, Caine O"Halloran and Nora Anderson, she put life into a host of supporting characters. My heart ached as I was introduced to little Dylan as she brought him to life only to have him torn from that life by a drunk driver. The impact of that terrible tragedy on Caine and Nora helps drive much of the story line. I came away from this read with a real appreciation for the talent of JoAnne Ross as an author and story teller. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
Hard Choices: This is my second experience with Allison Leigh. During the first half of the novel I did not feel she was living up to my previous read. There was a subtle hint from time to time that things were not always as they seem. At that point I felt this offering was a two or three star book. But the, wow, things took off.I was blindsided with the plot twists and turns and seemingly previous very subtle hints blossomed into major and surprising events.
Hard Choices: This is my second experience with Allison Leigh. During the first half of the novel I did not feel she was living up to my previous read. There was a subtle hint from time to time that things were not always as they seem. At that point I felt this offering was a two or three star book. But the, wow, things took off.I was blindsided with the plot twists and turns and seemingly previous very subtle hints blossomed into major and surprising events.
August 12, 2016
Both books were quite good, touching on the less common theme (in romance stories anyway) of rough beginnings and poor\selfish familial groups. Reminding us that with time and (hopefully) maturity perspectives can change....and it is OK.
The Return of Caine O'Halloran - youth, innocence and tragedy ended their 1st marriage...the Return is an opportunity to reconnect and recover...and discover.
Hard Choices by Allison Leigh -
Was a good story about the impact(s) of a real winner of a mother on the lives of her daughter, the resulting impacts of decisions when she was 17 and 19-ish and the resounding craziness as the secret adoption, a natural disaster on the island that Annie lives on and some of the discoveries and rebuilding of lives which began during the town's recovery.
The Return of Caine O'Halloran - youth, innocence and tragedy ended their 1st marriage...the Return is an opportunity to reconnect and recover...and discover.
Hard Choices by Allison Leigh -
Was a good story about the impact(s) of a real winner of a mother on the lives of her daughter, the resulting impacts of decisions when she was 17 and 19-ish and the resounding craziness as the secret adoption, a natural disaster on the island that Annie lives on and some of the discoveries and rebuilding of lives which began during the town's recovery.
February 4, 2014
Caine O'Halloran has been put on waivers by his baseball team. He returns home to regroup only to find himself courting his ex-wife. Good story.
Hard Choices: Annie Hess is living a quiet life on an island off the coast of California. Her niece runs away from home to join Annie just before a big storm isolates the island. Annie's former lover shows up to return her niece to her family. Because the storm has isolated them, their departure is delayed, giving time for some old truths to be revealed. Good story.
Hard Choices: Annie Hess is living a quiet life on an island off the coast of California. Her niece runs away from home to join Annie just before a big storm isolates the island. Annie's former lover shows up to return her niece to her family. Because the storm has isolated them, their departure is delayed, giving time for some old truths to be revealed. Good story.
October 23, 2013
Both books were great love stories. I really enjoyed them equally.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews