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Legacy of Love
The Inheritance
A runaway heiress. A desperate miner. In the snowy heart of Colorado, can they overcome the shadows of their past together?
December 1889. Heiress Lavinia Starr has only one chance to escape her ruthless stepbrother and the unwanted marriage he’s arranged. Desperate for freedom, she boards a westbound train in the dead of night. With danger close behind, she hides in the rugged Rockies, forced to depend on a stranger for survival.
Silver mine owner Isaac Loritz has thirty days to strike a new vein before investors shut down the Coronado Mine. The last thing he expects to find on Christmas Eve is a determined young woman sleeping in his barn. Lavinia’s courage and beauty awaken a longing he thought long buried. Helping her could cost him everything, but he can’t leave her alone in a winter storm.
As snow blankets Aspen, danger closes in. Lavinia must return to the prison of her past or fight for freedom and a future with the man who has captured her heart.
Legacy of Love is a series of historical romance novels and novellas based on the courageous people and significant events that wove together the rich tapestry of America's freedom and faith. For readers of Laura Frantz and Julie Klassen, The Inheritance novella is a heart-stirring Gilded Age romance in the Legacy of Love series, celebrating courage, redemption, and a timeless hope.
LEGACY OF LOVE NOVELSThe MasqueradeThe RunawayThe ImposterThe Christmas BrideThe JourneyThe SocietyThe StrangerThe Silent OrderLEGACY OF LOVE NOVELLASThe InheritanceThe Homecoming (releasing in 2025)The Trail's End (releasing in 2026)
December 1889. Heiress Lavinia Starr has only one chance to escape her ruthless stepbrother and the unwanted marriage he’s arranged. Desperate for freedom, she boards a westbound train in the dead of night. With danger close behind, she hides in the rugged Rockies, forced to depend on a stranger for survival.
Silver mine owner Isaac Loritz has thirty days to strike a new vein before investors shut down the Coronado Mine. The last thing he expects to find on Christmas Eve is a determined young woman sleeping in his barn. Lavinia’s courage and beauty awaken a longing he thought long buried. Helping her could cost him everything, but he can’t leave her alone in a winter storm.
As snow blankets Aspen, danger closes in. Lavinia must return to the prison of her past or fight for freedom and a future with the man who has captured her heart.
Legacy of Love is a series of historical romance novels and novellas based on the courageous people and significant events that wove together the rich tapestry of America's freedom and faith. For readers of Laura Frantz and Julie Klassen, The Inheritance novella is a heart-stirring Gilded Age romance in the Legacy of Love series, celebrating courage, redemption, and a timeless hope.
LEGACY OF LOVE NOVELSThe MasqueradeThe RunawayThe ImposterThe Christmas BrideThe JourneyThe SocietyThe StrangerThe Silent OrderLEGACY OF LOVE NOVELLASThe InheritanceThe Homecoming (releasing in 2025)The Trail's End (releasing in 2026)
86 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2025
23 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Dobson
50 books1,764 followersWriting fiction is a fun excuse for Melanie to explore ghost towns and old houses, travel to unusual places, and spend hours reading dusty books and journals. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction with threads of romance and suspense.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 14, 2025
Many romance stories are relatively predictable and this is no exception. But it's the how the couple get together that makes a story compelling and enjoyable.
Lavinia Starr runs away from her privileged life in Omaha. She's running from her stepbrother and a man who will marry her. But they only want her inheritance for varying reasons. Lavinia isn't even sure if she has any inheritance believing her late step mother may have willed it to her step brother.
Lavinia stumbles into Aspen, confused, poor and lost. She stumbles across an empty barn to find shelter. Little does she know that this one decision would change her life around.
It's an easy read and Dobson has us all cheering for Lavinia. The story takes. a few shortcuts that perhaps limit the story and Patrick, the step brother, is definitely more bark than bite which once again perhaps take s little away from the story.
But I'll happily recommend it.
Lavinia Starr runs away from her privileged life in Omaha. She's running from her stepbrother and a man who will marry her. But they only want her inheritance for varying reasons. Lavinia isn't even sure if she has any inheritance believing her late step mother may have willed it to her step brother.
Lavinia stumbles into Aspen, confused, poor and lost. She stumbles across an empty barn to find shelter. Little does she know that this one decision would change her life around.
It's an easy read and Dobson has us all cheering for Lavinia. The story takes. a few shortcuts that perhaps limit the story and Patrick, the step brother, is definitely more bark than bite which once again perhaps take s little away from the story.
But I'll happily recommend it.
December 18, 2025
Begins with hopping on to a freight train.
Novella is the perfect gracious format for Lavinia's forced adventure.
Always a treat to read each and every well curated conversation and description from the sumptuous imagination of Melanie Dobson.
I can smell the barn smoke as well as the crisp aspen air.
Novella is the perfect gracious format for Lavinia's forced adventure.
Always a treat to read each and every well curated conversation and description from the sumptuous imagination of Melanie Dobson.
I can smell the barn smoke as well as the crisp aspen air.
January 18, 2026
A quick Christmas novella I truly enjoyed. It’s my first time reading from this author and I’d like to read more.
A young girl running away from her stepbrother because of her inheritance that he knew he didn’t have any power over unless she was manipulated by him. But she didn’t know about her inheritance until the family lawyer made her awared of it. In the meantime she met the handsome mine owner that was able to protect her while running away and that protection grew into something more.
You’ll enjoy this novella if you like clean historical romance at Christmas time.
CW: persecution; verbal abuse
A young girl running away from her stepbrother because of her inheritance that he knew he didn’t have any power over unless she was manipulated by him. But she didn’t know about her inheritance until the family lawyer made her awared of it. In the meantime she met the handsome mine owner that was able to protect her while running away and that protection grew into something more.
You’ll enjoy this novella if you like clean historical romance at Christmas time.
CW: persecution; verbal abuse
December 14, 2025
A satisfying novella
This is a short novella, less than 100 pages, so the romance did not have time to seem well developed. Despite this, the characters were likable, and the story was an enjoyable quick read, which is perfect for the busy Christmas season.
This is a short novella, less than 100 pages, so the romance did not have time to seem well developed. Despite this, the characters were likable, and the story was an enjoyable quick read, which is perfect for the busy Christmas season.
January 17, 2026
Faith to Riches Fairytale
This heart-warming faith while afraid, to riches story is s modern fairytale about a prince of Integrity and a protected princess who the villains just can’t seem to catch. I loved the faith themes and provisions the heroine finds along the way!
This heart-warming faith while afraid, to riches story is s modern fairytale about a prince of Integrity and a protected princess who the villains just can’t seem to catch. I loved the faith themes and provisions the heroine finds along the way!
September 27, 2025
A very short story! Engaging with mystery & love.
November 24, 2025
short but sweet
It was an easy read. Even though the ending was pretty easy to guess, getting there was very interesting. Recommend it.
It was an easy read. Even though the ending was pretty easy to guess, getting there was very interesting. Recommend it.
December 11, 2025
What a heartwarming novella. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
December 12, 2025
fire in the barn
This was wayyyyyy too short. I just loved it!!!!! I love this author. Every book I have read of her’s is outstanding.
This was wayyyyyy too short. I just loved it!!!!! I love this author. Every book I have read of her’s is outstanding.
December 28, 2025
quick, great story
Really enjoyed tge characters and because a novella, able to read in a short time. Enjoy Melanie Dobson—and this did not disappoint
Really enjoyed tge characters and because a novella, able to read in a short time. Enjoy Melanie Dobson—and this did not disappoint
January 15, 2026
Predictable, but still enjoyable for a quick read.
February 6, 2026
Good but quick
Good storyline with interesting characters. So short, you don't really get to know anyone. Still, a lovely short story. . . .
Good storyline with interesting characters. So short, you don't really get to know anyone. Still, a lovely short story. . . .
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews