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Spencer: Three Complete Novels
Bygones
Divorcee Bess Curran has built a successful career as an interior designer in historic Stillwater, Minnesota. Though still angry with her ex-husband, Michael, for abandoning their marriage, she's proud of their children, twenty-one-year-old Lisa and nineteen-year-old Randy.
When Lisa announces that she is pregnant and plans to marry, Michael and Bess warily come together to help organize the wedding - and before long, their own spark is rekindled. Though their parting was acrimonious, Michael and Bess reexamine their roles in the divorce and gradually come to terms with each other.
Longing for that once-upon-a-time togetherness, they are forced to consider whether twenty years of love can really be erased by a legal decree; and whether sometimes, when the times change, people don't change along with them.
November of the Heart
Set at the end of the 1800s, November of the Heart tells the story of Lorna Barnett, a young woman from a wealthy Saint Paul family, and Jens Harken, the ambitious dreamer who works in the kitchen of her family's summer estate. When Jens overhears her father's plans to compete in the summer regatta, he brazenly crosses the line between master and servant by offering to design and build a boat that is sure to win.
As the new boat comes together, so does the relationship between Lorna and Jens, and despite the rigid caste system that keeps them apart, they embark on an affair as fresh and innocent as the summer itself. But the repercussions of their passionate idyll soon separate them against their wills, forcing them through buried scandal and shame to endure a loneliness where it is always November of the heart.
Family Blessings
Forty-four-year-old widow Lee Reston takes great pleasure in life with her three children and thriving florist business. And like most people, she cannot imagine how she will cope if that which is most precious is taken from her.
Then Lee's life is turned upside her oldest son, Greg, is killed in a motorcycle accident. In her anguish and grief, she turns to police officer Christopher Lallek, Greg's best friend; together they grieve and together they begin to heal. As their friendship blossoms, Chris becomes more and more a part of the family, and soon Lee realizes she's experiencing feelings she never thought she'd feel again - and wonders what the world will think of their unexpected love affair. She finds her answer close to home, for her own daughter also has feelings for Chris. The family that was once the core of her existence becomes a mixed blessing, and Lee must confront her children to understand where family ties end - and a woman's need for love begins.
Divorcee Bess Curran has built a successful career as an interior designer in historic Stillwater, Minnesota. Though still angry with her ex-husband, Michael, for abandoning their marriage, she's proud of their children, twenty-one-year-old Lisa and nineteen-year-old Randy.
When Lisa announces that she is pregnant and plans to marry, Michael and Bess warily come together to help organize the wedding - and before long, their own spark is rekindled. Though their parting was acrimonious, Michael and Bess reexamine their roles in the divorce and gradually come to terms with each other.
Longing for that once-upon-a-time togetherness, they are forced to consider whether twenty years of love can really be erased by a legal decree; and whether sometimes, when the times change, people don't change along with them.
November of the Heart
Set at the end of the 1800s, November of the Heart tells the story of Lorna Barnett, a young woman from a wealthy Saint Paul family, and Jens Harken, the ambitious dreamer who works in the kitchen of her family's summer estate. When Jens overhears her father's plans to compete in the summer regatta, he brazenly crosses the line between master and servant by offering to design and build a boat that is sure to win.
As the new boat comes together, so does the relationship between Lorna and Jens, and despite the rigid caste system that keeps them apart, they embark on an affair as fresh and innocent as the summer itself. But the repercussions of their passionate idyll soon separate them against their wills, forcing them through buried scandal and shame to endure a loneliness where it is always November of the heart.
Family Blessings
Forty-four-year-old widow Lee Reston takes great pleasure in life with her three children and thriving florist business. And like most people, she cannot imagine how she will cope if that which is most precious is taken from her.
Then Lee's life is turned upside her oldest son, Greg, is killed in a motorcycle accident. In her anguish and grief, she turns to police officer Christopher Lallek, Greg's best friend; together they grieve and together they begin to heal. As their friendship blossoms, Chris becomes more and more a part of the family, and soon Lee realizes she's experiencing feelings she never thought she'd feel again - and wonders what the world will think of their unexpected love affair. She finds her answer close to home, for her own daughter also has feelings for Chris. The family that was once the core of her existence becomes a mixed blessing, and Lee must confront her children to understand where family ties end - and a woman's need for love begins.
- GenresRomance
772 pages, Hardcover
First published April 27, 1995
39 people want to read
About the author
LaVyrle Spencer
106 books1,602 followersLaVyrle Spencer is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and Spencer was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988.
Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.
In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.
She retired from writing in 1997.
Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.
In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.
She retired from writing in 1997.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 3, 2023
This book was Awesome! The three books in one took a little longer to read but enjoyed each one! LaVyrle Spencer did a great job as usual! If you like her books, this Is a must!
November 1, 2009
A nice change of pace. Bittersweet actually has some good pioneer-type references.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews