Romancing Orange County

by Linda Carroll-Bradd, Liz Durano, May Leonardo

First Loves, Second Chances, and Compelling Courtships

Celebrate one family's enduring passion for love, land, and legacy with Romancing Orange County: An El Ocaso Anthology.

Gifted to the Galteros in 1842, Rancho El Ocaso—with its rugged canyons and arroyos descending to the Pacific Ocean—becomes the pride and passion of a family that binds its loyalties to the land and each other. First rancheros, then vintners and orchardists, then entrepreneurs and hoteliers, each new generation remains deeply committed to family and the land they cherish.

1864 / Her Healing Touch / Linda Carroll-Bradd
Casta and Joaquin have been acquainted since they were children. Somehow, on this visit to the Galtero Rancho, they look at each other through different eyes, unable to deny the attraction.

1890 / Love Under the Orange Blossoms / May Leonardo
My father forced me into a betrothal with a man I never met. Furious, I planned to bring misery upon all. But my betrothed offered me a deal: stay married for 30 days, then choose my own future. I will resist my new husband's looks, charm and sculpted body and return home a free woman. How hard can that be?

1910 / On the Wings of Love / Christoper Lentz
In 1910, a chance invitation from an artist to touch the sky in a hot-air balloon opens up a widow's world…and her heart.

1938 / Watch Over Me / Selene Grace Silver
One aloof, business-minded man determined to keep his life tidy, uncomplicated, controlled. One provocative, art-loving woman born to make it rousing, exhilarating, adventurous.

2023 / Lost in Lavender / Kristy Tate
Widowed nurse Jesse and reserved gardener Clive find unexpected love in life's later years, healing old wounds and discovering love can bloom again.

Present Day / Lucky in Love / Domino Savoie
When Camille skids off a muddy road to avoid a stray dog, she's unexpectedly rescued by Hawke, her long-time nemesis. Forced to share a rustic cabin, old tensions spark new passions. Can they overcome their tumultuous past and find a love that endures?

Present Day / Timeless / Liz Durano
He was my first love, the foreman's son I almost eloped with until life pulled us apart. Twenty-five years later, Hiro Sato returns as a billionaire and a man determined to rekindle what we left behind and a second chance at love.

400 pages.

Presented by the nonprofit Orange County Romance Writers, this collection of romances and women's fiction is inspired by the Galtero family's rich history. Romancing Orange County: An El Ocaso Anthology showcases a diverse array of voices, from bestselling authors to debut storytellers, all members of OCRW. All proceeds support emerging writers, fostering their growth in the world of writing and publishing.

Visit the Orange County Romance Writers website for more information.

400 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2024

About the author

As a child, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about characters having exciting adventures in places far away. Upon reaching a landmark birthday, she decided to write one of those romances she loved so much. Easier said than done. Perseverance paid out and twelve years later, she received her first call from a publisher and a confession story was published. Now Linda writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor, and many have a tie to her previous home of Texas.
Linda enjoys writing from her cabin in the mountains among the cedar and pines with her husband of 34 years and their two much-loved dogs.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am posting a review for one of the specific books included in the collection. Timeless by Liz Durano completely won me over. Hiro and Lucia's story was incredibly emotional, and I loved how their love, which had been torn apart years ago, still lingered in the background of their lives. When Hiro returns, he is successful and mature, but the spark between him and Lucia remains undeniable. Their reunion feels so real—there’s something profoundly genuine about how they reconnect, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time.

What stood out to me was how, despite being apart for so long, both Hiro and Lucia fully lived their lives, though it was clear they never truly moved on from each other. Witnessing them navigate their past and present to discover what they truly wanted was incredibly satisfying.
Timeless is a wonderful addition to your book collection. Happy reading…enjoy!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Timeless, Liz Durano's present day second chance contribution, but I like the idea of an anthology following the same family through the decades as this one does.

Timeless had a good plot, with two young lovers separated and coming back in touch thanks to an old painting, part of the El Ocaso ranch and Galtero family heritage. Lucia and Hiro, the landowner's daughter and the ranch foreman's son, twenty-five years on, both successful and still drawn to each other. I just wish I'd got to spend more time with them, especially as young lovers before and after their sudden rift. Their brief story is sweet, romantic and had that touch of reality in the separate family lives they established after losing one another.

I read a complimentary copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Sharon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read Timeless from Liz Durano in this anthology, and I really enjoyed this second chance at love romance. As this is a quick read, I will not get into too many specifics as I will only end up giving the whole storyline away. What I will say is that Lucia & Hiro are better people than me; after separating because of parental influences, I would find it hard to get past that. But pushing that aside, reading these two get their second chance was extremely heartwarming. I found this a wonderfully written story, with incredible main characters that totally deserved to find one another again.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucia was raised in an affluent family so not everyone was happy when she fell in love with Hiro and were determined to drive them apart. It will be decades later before he comes back into her life with a gift that will touch her and her family’s hearts.

In the time that Hiro and Lucia have been apart he has become a successful businessman. When he sees Lucia again the feelings between them still remain and now, they must choose what happens next.

I enjoyed seeing that while they were apart both Hiro and Lucia lived full lives and that now it was finally their time. These are my thoughts on Timeless by Liz Durano.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only book I have read in this anthology is Timeless by Liz Durano, and as such, my review is for that book only. This heartwarming romance reunites estranged sweethearts ripped apart by parental intervention. Hiro could have been bitter, holding a grudge towards Lucia's parents, but instead, he finds and returns the one thing they treasure most. With Lucia championing them and old friends facilitating their reunion, the story comes to a beautiful conclusion in the City of Love. I received a copy of this short story as a gift, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read Liz Durano's Timeless.
It is a later in life second chance romance. It is a quick read.
Hiro and Lucia were young and in love but her parents couldn't see their daughter with the caretakers son.
They both went on different paths and found love and had children with others.
Now at the 60th anniversary of the estate they are once again together. If is as if no time as past and their feelings are just as strong as they were twenty-five years ago.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have received this book from Liz and had thought that the only book I read in this anthology will be Timeless by Liz Durano. But I surprised myself by finishing all the stories. I like the idea of an anthology following the same family and loacation through the decades and it was refreshing and inspiring.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I received an Advance Reader Copy of Timeless by Liz Durano and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a really good second chance story. I really like Hiro and Lucia and how they navigate their lives, their outlook on challenges.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Present day: Timeless by Liz Durano.

Someone watched Shogun.
I really enjoyed this second chance, a little later in life read. I liked that they both had lives in their time apart, but maybe, having life experience, they could make it work as adults. Plus, he’s a hot billionaire now.