From USA Today Bestselling Author Bette Lee Crosby comes a powerful southern saga based on a true story... Betrayal and secrets tore her family apart decades ago, now a lonely widow must search for the pieces of her broken childhood. WHEN I LAST SAW YOU Georgia, 1968 - Margaret Rose McCutcheon has just buried her husband and must now name a beneficiary for the estate upon her demise. She is hard-pressed to do so because there is no one. No children. No family. At least none to speak of. At one time, she had two sisters and six brothers, but the lot of them were scattered to the four winds, with no one knowing where the others went. In the hope of finding at least one of her siblings, Margaret hires a detective and sets off on a journey to uncover the truth of why the family broke apart as it did. West Virginia, 1901 - When Eliza Hobbs gives birth to her sixth child, her husband is not there to welcome his daughter into the world. No surprise, because Martin is seldom there. He works in Charleston and returns to Coal Creek only when he has a mind to. Yes, he sends money on occasion, but seldom enough to make ends meet. Although Eliza believes each new child a blessing, he sees them as yet another responsibility on his already overloaded shoulders. When he discovers another child is on the way, he demands she get rid of it. he stops returning home and there is no more money. Left with the children, a mountainside patch of land, and a house in sorry need of repair, Eliza seeks help and turns to someone powerful enough to hold sway over Martin and force him into providing for his family. Pushed to the brink, Martin does something unforgivable and the family is forever torn apart. Now, after all these years, will Margaret be the one to find the pieces of her broken family?
When a mistaken identity gives a young woman a chance to start over, hide her past, and give her young daughter a better life, she takes it. Then an old acquaintance shows up, threatening to expose a truth that could destroy everything. A story of finding family and discovering the true meaning of love. Heartfelt Southern Fiction.
A woman grieving her loss. A boy running for his life. A town defending them both. From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY, the first book of a gritty, small-town, family saga in the tradition of the finest Southern fiction. Small-town gossip never much bothered Olivia Westerly. As a single career woman, she's weathered her share. It's easy to ignore the raised eyebrows over her late-in-life marriage to Charlie Doyle. But after he drops dead on their honeymoon, the whispers are salt on her raw grief. Especially when an orphaned, eleven-year-old-boy shows up on her doorstep, looking for the grandfather he never met. Behind Ethan Allen Doyle's wary blue eyes lie heavily guarded emotions that unexpectedly tug on Olivia's heart, and she finds herself wanting to win his trust. But when his murderous secret comes looking for him, the entire town embraces the lonely widow and desperate child to show its true heart when danger threatens one of its own. A heartwarming tale of love, loss and unexpected gifts, featuring a woman you'd like to call friend, a boy you will ache to hug, and a town you wish you could call home. USA TODAY BESTSELLER AND WINNER OF FIVE LITERARY AWARDS - Royal Palm Literary Award, Reviewer's Choice Award, FPA President's Book Award, IAN Outstanding Fiction Award, Eadon Contemporary Fiction Award
From an Award-Winning USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR...A heartwarming Southern Saga about a perfect family in an imperfect world... Laura Wilkes has everything a woman could want when she snaps the picture of her five-year-old daughter on the carousel. Each time the carousel comes around Laura snaps another picture, seven in all. This is a day of unforgettable happiness; one of the few Laura has left. In the months following the stock market crash, the family is beset by tragedy. A homicide that goes unpunished. It's the height of the depression and there are hoards of faceless, nameless men living in train yards and back alleys. The murderer is never caught but the family never gives up hope of finding him. Now twenty-five years later, Laura's daughter has fallen in love with a policeman. Jack Mahoney is a rookie with little or no power, but he's the one, the only one, who can deliver the justice the family has long awaited. In a heartwarming family saga that stretches across three generations, and brings back Wyattsville's favorite detective, readers will get to know Jack Mahoney as a young man about to fall in love. Beyond the Carousel is family saga fiction at its best... Christine Nolfi, bestselling author of Sweet Lake.
Award-Winning Story of friendship From bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby...What Matters Most. A heartwarming story of acceptance and coming to grips with reality. Royal Palm Literary Award Winner. Louise Palmer is a settled-down person. A woman who wants nothing more than to remain in the same house until the day she dies. So, when her husband, Clay, announces an intention to quit his job and move to Florida, her life is thrown into a turmoil of mixed emotions and strained loyalties. Torn between Clay's desire for "the good life" and the lifelong friendships of her quilting club, Louise struggles with what to do...until her best friend suggests a scheme to thwart the move. Before she discovers the truth of what matters most, a marriage will be tested, family relationships will fall apart and the friendships Louise tried to hold on to will change dramatically.
CAN YOU TRULY TRUST THE MEMORIES OF YOUR HEART? Max Martinelli spent her junior year of college in Paris, and fell in love. Julien was a wickedly handsome young man who was crazy in love with her, or so she thought. He was a free-spirited artist and she an aspiring architect-impressionable, young, and standing on the brink of womanhood. That was over three years ago but the memory of him still haunts her. Max's life is stuck on hold because she can't stop wondering what would have happened if she had gone back. Was Julien simply part of the magic of Paris? Or was he meant to be her destiny? After a New Year's Eve party that ends in disaster and bad dreams, Max decides to find out once and for all. She is going to return to Paris and search for Julien. But will her search bring forever after happiness or a truth so ugly it will change her life forever? What the Heart Remembers is Book 3 in the Memory House Series
When young Cheryl Ann leaves home, she thinks her path is straight...until she'sis forced to make a choice she could never have imagined. The man in her life makes it clear: either pick your baby or pick me, he says. Suddenly, Cheryl finds herself at a crossroads. choose between the baby she is carrying and the man she loves, sShe makes a decision that will change her life forever, and that decision leads to a chain of events that will lead Cheryl to a completely unexpected place. . Now Seventeen years later she is about to discover the result of her youthful decision. Baby Girl is a mother's story. It's about the greatest sacrifice a mother can make when she wants only the best for her child. It's about falling in and out of love, of losing yourself and finding yourself. It's about the passion of young love, the happiness of true love and the perilous journey that carries you to a place where you can see the differences. You may shed a tear or two but in the end you'll lean back and give a sigh of contentment because you'll understand this is how life is, and we can make of it what we will. When young Cheryl Ann is forced to choose between the baby she is carrying and the man she loves, she makes a decision that will change her life forever. Now Seventeen years later she is about to discover the result of her youthful decision. Baby Girl is a book you won't want to miss because it's a story you you won't forget. From the Author: The novel Baby Girl This book is based on a true story...a story that is heartbreaking at times but comes full circle to leave you with a better understanding of what a woman will do to protect her child. When I first heard this birth mother's story I was touched by it, so much so that I needed to know more...and when I knew more, I knew I needed to write the story my novel. The result is Baby Girl.
A Woman with a special gift sees the storm bearing down on a peaceful Hawaiian Island... from a USA Today Bestselling Author, a tale of danger based on actual events In the days before hurricane Iniki hit the island of Kauai the forecasters predicted it would stay south of Hilo. But Esther Ka’awai, a psychic and gifted wise woman is of the ancient culture. She has seen the future and knows of the devastation that will come to the island. She has warned those she loves; now all she can do is pray. As she struggles to accept this gift of knowing, Esther discovers that even the most wonderful gift can sometimes break your heart. A story of love, faith, and a belief in the future. This special edition contains a preview excerpt from A Million Little Lies
Eleven year-old Ethan Allen Doyle has witnessed a brutal murder and now the boy is running for his life. Olivia Westerly is the only person Ethan Allen can trust, and he's not too sure he can trust her. She's got no love of children and a truckload of superstitions--one of them is the belief that eleven is the unluckiest number on earth. Olivia avoided marriage for almost forty years. But when Charlie Doyle happened along, he was simply too wonderful to resist. Now she's a widow with an eleven-year-old boy claiming to be her grandson. With a foul mouth, dark secrets and heavily guarded emotions, Ethan Allen Doyle is not an easy child to like. He was counting on the grandpa he'd never met for a place to hide, but now that plan is shot to blazes because the grandpa's dead too. He's got seven dollars and twenty-six cents, his mama's will for staying alive, and Dog. But none of those things are gonna help if Scooter Cobb finds him.
High above the clouds in a place no mortal has ever seen, there is a Scale of Life that is held in balance with stones of happiness and sorrow. The Keeper of the Scales sees impending disaster for Drew Bishop and heaves a huge sigh. He places a rose-colored stone on the happiness side of Drew's scale, but it is not enough. The danger is too great. When Drew Bishop's wife is killed in a random act of violence, he is left with a traumatized daughter and a job teetering on the brink of disaster. He believes this is as bad as it can get, but he is wrong. Now the Keeper must scan the vast landscape of lives to find a silver thread to ease Drew's pain. That is the only chance Drew has for happiness, and the Keeper knows it. He is powerless to do anything else; instead, he can only wait and hope the thread spools into happiness for Drew and his little girl.
THE REGRETS OF CYRUS DODD...The Wyattsville Series, Book 4 Revenge, death, deception... These are the things Cyrus Dodd has to overcome if he is to give Ruth the life he's promised her. The problem is he's got a prideful nature and when a seemingly innocuous argument leads to a bitter feud with his neighbor, his life changes forever. The plans he has falls by the wayside and before he finds a way to fix it, he comes to understand the meaning of regret. In this early twentieth century family saga, two men come up against each other-both are iron-willed and stubborn. One will lose his farm; the other will lose his family. In a tale of betrayal, murder and revenge two West Virginia farmers will discover that being right does not necessarily mean being happy. Believing he has lost everything Cyrus Dodd is forced to start over. He promises Ruth that this time it will be better, but the truth is he doesn't know if it's a promise he can keep.
The Twelfth Child is a novel about trust, love and friendship. Set in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, this story starts in early 1900's and takes readers on a journey of mystery, adventure and discovery as young Abigail Anne Lannigan struggles to unearth the woman she is destined to become.
FROM A USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR comes a heartwarming mystery that is rich with imagination and magic. In Previously Loved Treasures, Book Two of The Serendipity Series, recently widowed Ida Sweetwater finds the granddaughter she never knew she had and turns a group of haphazard strangers into family. Struggling to make ends meet, Ida turns her cozy home into a boarding house and goes in search of used furniture. This quest leads to the Previously Loved Treasures shop and Peter Pennington, a delightfully strange proprietor who anticipates people's needs. In addition to bargains, Peter hands out sage advice. When a pocket watch belonging to one of the residents goes missing for a second time he warns of danger-but will Ida's granddaughter listen and will she heed his advice? This is a story that resonates with Crosby's heartwarming albeit quirky characters and the joy of a pay-it-forward philosophy.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MEMORY TO OUTLIVE ITS OWNER? Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety. Before time runs out Ophelia must find her successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading. When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.
50 YEARS OF MEMORIES ARE HIDDEN IN THE WALLS OF THE LOFT... Annie only needs to find one... the one that will save Oliver's life. On the day of their wedding, Annie saw nothing but happiness ahead, but when an accident calls her back to Memory House, her world is changed forever. Ophelia Browne, the woman who taught Annie to find the memories in a forgotten object, is leaving the house and she's leaving all those powerful memories behind. After only three nights in the loft, Annie must now find the single most meaningful memory in Oliver's mind. If she finds it in time, she can save his life, if she doesn't...well that's something she can't afford to think about. Readers will welcome back the much-loved characters from Memory House and enjoy a few new friends! REVIEWER PRAISE FOR MEMORY HOUSE... "A magical book of memories, treasures and stories from a Masterful Southern Storyteller..." Judith D. Collins, top 1000 Reviewer "Magical realism that will enchant..." Heidi, Rainy Day Ramblings "Wonderful, heartwarming story of love and life..." Sherry Fundin, Reviewer
When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she's only seven years old, and who's going to believe a kid? Jubilee's Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series. This story of discovering lost family and finding love reconnects readers with Ethan Allen and the other heart-warming characters of the bestselling novel SPARE CHANGE.
Can the faith of a child inspire forgiveness in the heart of a woman seeking revenge? From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY comes a heartwarming Southern family saga that redefines the meaning of family. Crime is a rarity in the small town of Wyattsville, so when one occurs it is front page news. Grocery store owner, Sidney Klaussner, shot in the course of the robbery, is lying in the hospital unconscious. In the room across from him the young man assumed to be the shooter. Although no one knows the truth of what happened inside that store, Sidney's wife is determined to see the boy punished. The lad's only hope is his sister Jubilee. She knows why he was there but is anyone going to believe a seven-year-old? A heartwarming saga of finding forgiveness and coming together as a family. Spare Change readers are sure to welcome back Olivia Doyle and the colorful residents of the Wyattsville Arms. Winner of the Reader's Favorite Gold Medal, the FPA President's Book Award Gold Medal, and the Royal Palm Literary Award.
Regret is what stands in the way of happiness," she said then turned and walked away... From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY, comes an early twentieth century family saga of two Southern men who come up against one another. Both are prideful, iron-willed and stubborn. One will lose his farm, the other will lose his family. In a tale that delves into the heart of a small town West Virginia community two men discover that being right is not the same as being happy. Believing he has lost everything, Cyrus Dodd has no choice but to start over. He and wife Ruth leave their farm and travel to Wyattsville. As they settle down to a life far different than what he'd planned, Cyrus is forced to deal with one challenge after another, and the regrets trail behind him like a row of ducklings. He told Ruth they were leaving trouble behind and swore this time it would be better; but now he's wondering if that's a promise he can keep. Readers View says, "An engrossing story of ordinary people...a tale richly told." Indie Book Awards, Historical Fiction Finalist
High above the clouds in a place no mortal has ever seen, there is a Scale of Life that is held in balance with stones of happiness and sorrow. The Keeper of the Scales sees impending disaster for Drew Bishop and heaves a huge sigh. He places a rose-colored stone on the happiness side of Drew’s scale, but it is not enough. The danger is too great. When Drew Bishop’s wife is killed in a random act of violence, he is left with a traumatized daughter and a job teetering on the brink of disaster. He believes this is as bad as it can get, but he is wrong. Now the Keeper must scan the vast landscape of lives to find a silver thread to ease Drew’s pain. That is the only chance Drew has for happiness, and the Keeper knows it. He is powerless to do anything else; instead, he can only wait and hope the thread spools into happiness for Drew and his little girl.
When young Cheryl Ann leaves home, she thinks her path is straight…until she’s forced to make a choice she could never have imagined. The man in her life makes it clear: either pick your baby or pick me, he says. Suddenly, Cheryl finds herself at a crossroads. She makes a decision that will change her life forever, and that decision causes a chain of events that will lead Cheryl to a completely unexpected place. Baby Girl is a mother’s story. It’s about the greatest sacrifice a mother can make when she wants only the best for her child. It’s about falling in and out of love, of losing and finding one’s self. It’s about the perilous journey from passionate young love to happy true love and understanding the differences between the two. Baby Girl is a book that readers won’t want to miss because it’s a story they won’t forget. From the Author: This book is based on a true story…a story that is heartbreaking at times but will leave readers with a better understanding of what a woman will do to protect her child. When I first heard this birth mother’s story I was touched by it, so much so that I needed to know more. When I knew more, I knew I needed to write my novel. The result is Baby Girl.
CAN YOU TRULY TRUST THE MEMORIES OF YOUR HEART? Max Martinelli spent her junior year of college in Paris, and fell in love. Julien was a wickedly handsome young man who was crazy in love with her, or so she thought. He was a free-spirited artist and she an aspiring architect—impressionable, young, and standing on the brink of womanhood. That was over three years ago but the memory of him still haunts her. Max’s life is stuck on hold because she can’t stop wondering what would have happened if she had gone back. Was Julien simply part of the magic of Paris? Or was he meant to be her destiny? After a New Year’s Eve party that ends in disaster and bad dreams, Max decides to find out once and for all. She is going to return to Paris and search for Julien. But will her search bring forever after happiness or a truth so ugly it will change her life forever? What the Heart Remembers is Book Three in the Memory House Series REVIEWER PRAISE FOR THE MEMORY HOUSE SERIES “A magical book of memories, treasures and stories from a Masterful Southern Storyteller” Judith D. Collins, top 1000 Goodreads Reviewer “Magical realism that will enchant…” Heidi, Rainy Day Ramblings “Wonderful, heartwarming story of love and life…” Sherry Fundin, Reviewer “Crosby does more than leave you with memories of her books, she leaves footprints on a reader’s heart…” Suzie, Book Bunny Reviews
A magical tale that trips lightly through the hallowed ground of Spare Change and several other reader favorites...from a USA Bestseller and Multi-Award-Winning Author. Is it possible for a memory to outlive its owner? Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she's been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for forgotten memories. But now she's nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond such an age. Before time runs out Ophelia must find her successor...someone who can carry forth the gift and keep the memories from fading. When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. As the two women sip dandelion tea and share stories, Annie begins to uncover new memories. Ugly ones. Ones buried deep enough to hide the scars. Excitement turns to fear when a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia knows they have gone too far.
Benjamin Church came to the grange hall expecting to meet someone else, but then the girl in a red dress looked across the dance floor and smiled… Passing through Perfect is a heart-wrenching, Southern family saga that starts on the night Benjamin fell madly and completely in love with Delia. Once he tasted the sweetness of her kiss, he envisioned them spending the rest of their life together. He didn’t stop to consider her daddy was a learned Pastor and her mama a woman with a college degree; he only knew she set his heart to racing. When he touched his mouth to hers, he forgot the hardships of being a sharecropper, forgot what it was like to work from dawn ‘til dark and forgot that nothing in Grinder’s Corner ever really changed. Benjamin’s only thoughts were about lying together every night, sitting side by side on the front porch, and raising a family. Yes, he knew there’d be heartaches. Every couple had their share of heartaches, it was to be expected; but he never imagined such a tragedy would befall their family. Winner of the 2016 RONE Award for Inspirational Fiction and the 2016 Readers Favorite Gold Medal.
A HEARTWARMING SOUTHERN SAGA ...from a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women's Fiction. Recently widowed Ida Sweetwater's son is missing and she's determined to find him even if it costs her everything she owns. Emptying out her bank account she hires a detective to search for the boy. When the money runs out Ida turns her cozy home into a boarding house to make ends meet. Although there is no trace of the missing son, the detective turns up a granddaughter Ida never knew she had. Anticipating the girl's arrival, Ida goes in search of a used bedroom set and discovers the Previously Loved Treasures shop. The delightfully strange proprietor, Peter Pennington, knows she is coming and knows what she wants. In addition to anticipating people's needs, and offering bargain prices, Peter hands out sage advice. When a pocket watch belonging to one of the residents goes missing for a second time he warns of danger—but will Ida’s granddaughter listen and will she heed his advice? Previously Loved Treasures is an uplifting story that resonates with Crosby’s heartwarming albeit quirky characters and the joy of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s Pay-it-Forward philosophy. If you've read The Twelfth Child you won't want to miss this exciting sequel that solves the mystery of the missing bonds.
Regret is what stands in the way of happiness," she said then turned and walked away... From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY comes an early twentieth-century family saga of two Southern men who come up against one another. Both are prideful, iron-willed, and stubborn. One will lose his farm, the other will lose his family. In a tale that delves into the heart of a small town West Virginia community, two men discover that being right is not the same as being happy. Believing he has lost everything, Cyrus Dodd has no choice but to start over. He and wife Ruth leave their farm and travel to Wyattsville. As they settle down to a life far different than what he'd planned, Cyrus is forced to deal with one challenge after another, and the regrets trail behind him like a row of ducklings. He told Ruth they were leaving trouble behind and swore this time it would be better; but now he's wondering if that's a promise he can keep. Readers View says, "An engrossing story of ordinary people...a tale richly told." Indie Book Awards, Historical Fiction Finalist, FAPA President's Book Award Medalist
Can the faith of a child inspire forgiveness in the heart of a woman seeking revenge? From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY comes a heartwarming Southern family saga that redefines the meaning of family. Crime is a rarity in the small town of Wyattsville, so when one occurs it is front-page news. Grocery store owner, Sidney Klaussner, shot in the course of the robbery, is lying in the hospital unconscious. In the room across from him, the young man assumed to be the shooter. Although no one knows the truth of what happened inside that store, Sidney's wife is determined to see the boy punished. The lad's only hope is his sister Jubilee. She knows why he was there but is anyone going to believe a seven-year-old? A heartwarming saga of finding forgiveness and coming together as a family. Spare Change readers are sure to welcome back Olivia Doyle and the colorful residents of the Wyattsville Arms. Winner of the Reader's Favorite Gold Medal, the FPA President's Book Award Gold Medal, and the Royal Palm Literary Award.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.