Not Your Everyday Housewife


Book Description

Sometimes we’re lucky enough to get that second chance – in life and in love. That Second Chance Series are stand-alone stories of strong women who battle heartache and loss with a courage and determination to find new paths and true love. What ties them together? A common theme: belief in the beauty of that second chance. Not Your Everyday Housewife is Book Five of That Second Chance Series. A wise and humorous tale of living large after 40 as women finally make peace with themselves—wrinkles, blubber, neuroses, exes, and all. Three women embark on a month-long “discovery” journey and uncover quite a few tidbits along the way…one bottle of Clairol Midnight will not cover a full head of red hair, and never talk to men wearing polyester pants hiked up with a tan belt. But most of what they unearth is about themselves—who they are, what they really want, what they really don’t want. The center of controversy is a Maid-for-You mixer, which symbolizes a boring, routine suburban life with no second chances—then along comes insight in the form of Tula Rae, a sixty-something salsa-dancing, Dalai Lama-quoting, four-time widow in Spandex and a gray braid who gives them a different perspective on life, love, do-overs, and the real reason a man buys his woman a Maid-for-You mixer, which she says is all about S-E-X. That Second Chance Series:Book One: Pulling Home (Also prequel to A Family Affair: The Promise)Book Two: The Way They Were (Also prequel to A Family Affair: The Secret)Book Three: Simple Riches (Also prequel to A Family Affair: Winter)Book Four: Paradise FoundBook Five: Not Your Everyday HousewifeBook Six: The Butterfly Garden




Small Town Perfect Boxed Set 2


Book Description

Small town romantic women’s fiction with love, hope, second chances, and a happy ending! Note from Mary: I love secondary characters: writing them, reading about them, even watching them on the big screen. Secondary characters support the “stars”; make them more vibrant and compelling. But when the story ends, I’m often left wondering what they’d do if theywere in the “spotlight”. That’s why I’ve created special boxed sets that were part of That Second Chance series and the Truth in Lies series. These boxed sets let the reader follow the before and afterof select characters as they first appear in That Second Chance series and later in the fictional town of my bestselling Truth in Lies series. Boxed Set Two contains The Way They Wereand A Family Affair: The Secret. I invite you to follow their journey! The Way They Were They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together. At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together—until a family tragedy tore them apart. Fourteen years have passed, and they’ve both carved out separate lives hundreds of miles apart—hers as a wife and mother, his as a successful, driven businessman. But once a year, Kate pulls out a red velvet journal and writes a letter, which she’ll never send, to the man who still owns her heart. Once a year, on the anniversary of the first and only night they made love, Rourke permits himself to read the annual investigative report detailing an ordinary day in Kate’s life. When a subcontractor at one of Rourke’s holding companies is killed, Rourke decides to pay the widow a visit and offer condolences, never dreaming the widow will be Kate. As they embark on a cautious journey of rediscovery, one far greater than they could have imagined, secrets and lies threaten to destroy their newfound closeness—forever. A Family Affair: The Secret They weren’t looking for happily-ever-after, but the town of Magdalena had other plans... Roman Ventori isn’t looking for a wife. He’s had one of those and it ended badly. He’s come back to Magdalena out of duty, not love for the town that drove him away with rumors and judgments. Angie Sorrento is in Magdalena to do a job, not find a husband. She almost had one of those, until he dumped her days before the wedding. Roman’s father has health problems and his last wish is to see his son settled with a wife, a child, a second chance at a life that doesn’t include city life and flashy women. There’s only one person in town who can make the impossible happen. Angelo “Pop” Benito, the Godfather of Magdalena, is the wiliest matchmaker in the Catskills and if he sets his mind to it, an old man might see his wish come true. Small Town Perfect Series: Boxed Set 1 includes Pulling Home and A Family Affair: The Promise Boxed Set 2includes The Way They WereandA Family Affair: The Secret Boxed Set 3includes Simple Richesand A Family Affair: Winter Boxed Set 4includes Paradise Foundand A Family Affair: The Wish Boxed Set 5 includes Not Your Everyday Housewifeand A Family Affair: The Gift Boxed Set 6 includes The Butterfly Gardenand A Family Affair: The Return




A Family Affair: Winter


Book Description

They should have been married and working on their “happily ever after” but fate intervened and stole their chance. On the day Michael Androvich stands at the altar before family, friends, and most of the town of Restalline, Pennsylvania, he’s prepared to pledge his life, love, and fidelity to the woman who owns his heart. There’s only one thing missing—the bride. Elise Pentani loves Michael truly and completely, but there’s a tiny piece of her that believes he’ll fall back into his “bad boy” ways. When a threat from his past visits her, Elise lets doubt rule and skips her own wedding. Nursing a broken heart and determined to forget the woman he can’t forget, Michael heads to Magdalena, New York, to secure a business deal for his family’s lumber company. He’s not prepared for the endless questions and inquisitive nature of the residents who remind him an awful lot of his hometown. Just when Michael has gotten the town to accept the fact that he’s not talking about his past or the reason for his surly disposition, his ex-fiancée shows up with an apology he doesn’t want to hear and certainly doesn’t want to believe. There’s no way the residents of Magdalena can ignore these two broken-hearted souls who have “need help” and “belong together” stamped all over their sad faces. Will the town be able to help them see they’re made for each other or will pride and hurt keep them apart? Truth in Lies Series: Book One: A Family Affair Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas, a novella Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise Book Eight: A Family Affair: The Secret Book Nine: A Family Affair: The Wish Book Ten: A Family Affair: The Gift Book Eleven: A Family Affair: The Weddings, a novella Book Twelve: A Family Affair: The Cabin, a novella Book Thirteen: A Family Affair: The Return Book Fourteen: A Family Affair: The Choice Book Fifteen: A Family Affair: The Proposal Book Sixteen: A Family Affair: Bonus Scenes Book Seventeen: A Family Affair: The Homecoming Book Eighteen: A Family Affair: The Decision Meals From Magdalena: A Family Affair Cookbook And more... Bonus Material: Also included in this eBook is an excerpt from the next book in this series, A Family Affair: The Promise. KEY THEMES: jilted groom, former bad boy, Catskills, furniture making company, matchmaker, romantic bed and breakfast, bakery, sugar cookies, runaway bride, marriage, strong women, nurse.




A Family Affair Boxed Set 4


Book Description

Heartache. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Redemption... Real families aren’t always the ones you know about… A Family Affair Boxed Set 4, Books 10-12, is about so much more than a secret family. Set in the small town of Magdalena, New York, the people have big hearts and good intentions…at least most of them do! Magdalena is a place of family, forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. And hope. Lots of hope. This town, and the people in it are about helping others get through the tough times and broken dreams, and doing it with the help of family, friends, sometimes even strangers. This boxed set includes A Family Affair: The Gift, A Family Affair: The Weddings, and A Family Affair: The Cabin. A FAMILY AFFAIR: THE GIFT Only one thing is missing from Tess and Daniel “Cash” Casherdon’s perfect life—a child. Oh, how they long for one to make their life complete. But what is it people say about being careful what you wish for…? Their wish will come true, but not in the way they think. Daniel Casherdon’s past is about to catch up with him. It’s bad enough when a woman arrives in Magdalena with a nine-year-old boy she claims is his, but confessing to a terminal illness and asking Tess and Cash to raise the boy when she’s gone? Well, that’s going to require a big leap of faith that won’t be easy or without repercussions. How can anyone refuse a dying mother such a heartbreaking request? Tess is torn between doing right by the child and acknowledging that another woman has given the man she loves something she may never be able to—a child. As the woman pulls Cash closer into her emotional circle, it is Tess who becomes the outsider, and soon she wonders if the woman has secrets she’s not telling. More than one resident is suspicious of anyone who drives a wedge between one of Magdalena’s favorite couples. The newcomer may look and act like the girl next door, but something isn’t right, and Pop Benito is going to gather ammunition and find out what that something is. But he’d better do it fast, before it’s too late. A FAMILY AFFAIR: THE WEDDINGS What’s more charming than a Christmas wedding? How about two Christmas weddings? Join us as we head back to Magdalena in this holiday novella and witness two couples head down the road of happily-ever-after. But don’t expect that road to be nice and smooth. Is anything worthwhile ever easy? Still, I’m betting on this town to help these couples through the rough patches and a good amount of snow to get to their happily-ever-after. So, are you wondering who these couples might be? There are quite a few possibilities, but I’ve decided to give you the true gift of a good surprise! A FAMILY AFFAIR: THE CABIN He’s lost his fortune… She’s nursing a broken heart…When fate steps in, will love prevail? Pete Finnegan had it all—money, power, status, a future wife, until he lost it all in one huge financial “gamble.” Now he’s back in his hometown of Magdalena, trying to figure out what to do with his life. When Nate Desantro offers him a job fixing up a cabin one hundred miles away, he jumps at the opportunity. Peace and solitude in the woods away from busybodies and do-gooders is exactly what he needs to contemplate his future. But Pete doesn’t expect to find a beautiful woman staying at the cabin. Elissa Cerdi has escaped to the Blacksworth cabin to heal her broken heart. As Gloria Blacksworth’s former caregiver, she’s agreed to honor the dead woman’s last request by mailing letters to select residents of Magdalena. When Elissa meets Pete, she doesn’t know he has ties to Magdalena, and she certainly doesn’t know the final letter she plans to mail is about his father. Pete and Elissa are both in need of healing and maybe that’s why they agree to shut down the outside world and pretend nothing exists but what’s inside the cabin. Could that also be why they’re able to open up to one another, talk about disappointments, hurts, betrayals, and hopes? Because it’s all pretend? Is that why passion consumes them, burns them with a need they’ve never felt before? Is it so powerful because it isn’t real? Except it is. When Pete uncovers the truth about Elissa’s part in Gloria Blacksworth’s cruel scheme for vengeance, he feels betrayed and questions everything that happened in the cabin. As weeks pass and the couple forge separate lives, Pete must decide if he can open his heart once again to forgiveness and love.




A Family Affair: Summer


Book Description

Tragedy tore them apart. Will destiny bring them back together? Eight years ago, tragedy struck the town’s perfect couple, Daniel “Cash” Casherdon and Tess Carrick, days before their wedding. That tragedy shredded their dreams of a life together and sent them fleeing Magdalena. Now, destiny has brought them back and the town is determined to see this couple mend their differences. Angelo “Pop” Benito will lead the crusade to march Cash and Tess down the aisle with the help of The Bleeding Hearts Society, a garden group more interested in healing people’s hearts than helping a sick basil plant. Magdalena’s finest will rally to give Tess and Cash that second chance. But all the prayers and contrivances in the world won’t help until Tess reveals the secret she’s carried for too many years, a secret that could destroy her chance with Cash forever… Truth in Lies Series: Book One: A Family Affair Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas, a novella Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise Book Eight: A Family Affair: The Secret Book Nine: A Family Affair: The Wish Book Ten: A Family Affair: The Gift Book Eleven: A Family Affair: The Weddings, a novella Book Twelve: A Family Affair: The Cabin, a novella Book Thirteen: A Family Affair: The Return Book Fourteen: A Family Affair: The Choice Book Fifteen: A Family Affair: The Proposal Book Sixteen: A Family Affair: Bonus Scenes Book Seventeen: A Family Affair: The Homecoming Book Eighteen: A Family Affair: The Decision Meals From Magdalena: A Family Affair Cookbook And more... Bonus Material: Included in this e-book is the first chapter of A Family Affair: Fall, the next book in this series. What happens when destiny ignores the rules?




A Family Affair Boxed Set 2


Book Description

Heartache. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Redemption. Real families aren’t always the ones you know about… A Family Affair Boxed Set 2, Books 4–6, is about so much more than a secret family. Set in the small town of Magdalena, New York, the people have big hearts and good intentions…at least most of them do! Magdalena is a place of family, forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. And hope. Lots of hope. This town, and the people in it are about helping others get through the tough times and broken dreams, and doing it with the help of family, friends, sometimes even strangers. A Family Affair: Fall Heartache. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Redemption. It’s time to head back to Magdalena, New York, and spend a little time with the people we love to love and even a few we love to hate. Gina Servetti was raised to believe she wasn’t enough—not thin enough, not pretty enough, not clever enough. She’s more comfortable with a spreadsheet than a conversation and doesn’t trust easily, especially where men are concerned, most notably the good-looking, smooth-talking ones like Ben Reed. When city boy Ben Reed arrives in Magdalena, he’s not planning a long-term stay in a town filled with too many busybodies and too little excitement. He just needs things to settle down in Philly for a few months before he returns to his old life and his plan to win back his ex-wife. But once he gets to know the people in this town, he starts to care about them: one in particular—Gina Servetti. The longer he’s around her, the more he realizes she’s so much more than a woman with a scowl and a sharp tongue. She’s real and honest, and as afraid of trusting as he is. But can Ben and Gina open up and take a risk for a chance at real love? Well, if the rest of the town has anything to say about it, and they always do, this couple will take the big leap and end with an “I do”! A Family Affair: Christmas It’s time to head back to Magdalena in this holiday novella… The town is preparing to celebrate the holidays when a snowstorm hits and threatens to ruin the festivities. But that’s not the only threat blowing into town…Pop’s son is here from California to enjoy Christmas with his father, but when he leaves, he’s taking Pop with him…or is he? Will the town give up the Godfather of Magdalena, or will they show Pop’s son that when we open our hearts, anything is possible…even second chances? A Family Affair: Winter They should have been married and working on their “happily ever after” but fate intervened and stole their chance. Can the residents of Magdalena help them get it back and give them a second chance? On the day Michael Androvich stands at the altar before family, friends, and most of the town of Restalline, Pennsylvania, he’s prepared to pledge his life, love, and fidelity to the woman who owns his heart. There’s only one thing missing—the bride. Elise Pentani loves Michael Androvich truly and completely, but there’s a tiny piece of her that believes he’ll fall back into his “bad boy” ways. When a threat from his past visits her, Elise lets doubt rule and skips her own wedding. Nursing a broken heart and determined to forget the woman he can’t forget, Michael heads to Magdalena, New York to secure a business deal for his family’s lumber company. He’s not prepared for the endless questions and inquisitive nature of the residents who remind him an awful lot of his hometown. Just when Michael has gotten the town to accept the fact that he’s not talking about his past or the reason for his surly disposition, his ex-fiancée shows up with an apology he doesn’t want to hear and certainly doesn’t want to believe. But there’s no way the residents of Magdalena can ignore these two broken-hearted souls. Michael and Elise have “need help” and “belong together” stamped all over their sad faces. Add that to Pop Benito’s determined matchmaking skills and Lily Desantro’s clever curiosity, and this couple might just get that second chance… Truth in Lies Series Book One: A Family Affair Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise Book Eight: A Family Affair: The Secret Book Nine: A Family Affair: The Wish Book Ten: A Family Affair: The Gift Book Eleven: A Family Affair: The Weddings, a novella Book Twelve: A Family Affair: The Cabin, a novella Book Thirteen: A Family Affair: The Return Book Fourteen: A Family Affair: The Choice Book Fifteen: A Family Affair: The Proposal A Family Affair Boxed Set:Books 1-3 A Family Affair Boxed Set 2: Books 4-6 Meals From Magdalena: A Family Affair Cookbook NEW: Park Bench series: What happened before A Family Affairbegan? These questions are answered in my new Park Bench series. These short stories make the perfect park-bench read and are named after the signature park-bench covers. Book One: A Family Affair Shorts: Destiny Book Two: A Family Affair Shorts: Regret Book Three: A Family Affair Shorts: Love Book Four: A Family Affair Shorts: Heartbreak Book Five: A Family Affair Shorts: Peace




A Family Affair: The Weddings


Book Description

Wedding Bells in Magdalena! What’s more charming than a Christmas wedding? How about TWO Christmas weddings? Join us as we head back to Magdalena in this holiday novella and witness two couples head down the road of happily ever after. But don’t expect that road to be nice and smooth. Is anything worthwhile ever easy? Still, I’m betting on this town to help these couples through the rough patches and a good amount of snow to get to their happily-ever-after. So, are you wondering who these couples might be? There are quite a few possibilities, but I’ve decided to give you the true gift of a good surprise! Truth in Lies Series: Book One: A Family Affair Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas, a novella Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise Book Eight: A Family Affair: The Secret Book Nine: A Family Affair: The Wish Book Ten: A Family Affair: The Gift Book Eleven: A Family Affair: The Weddings, a novella Book Twelve: A Family Affair: The Cabin, a novella Book Thirteen: A Family Affair: The Return Bonus Material: Included in this e-book is an excerpt from A Family Affair: The Cabin, the next book in the series.




A Touch of Seduction


Book Description

Love and betrayal...Regency style He was the second son of an earl. She was the daughter of a vicar. They were young, in love, and believed nothing could keep them apart… Oh, but they were so very wrong. Jason Langford fell in love with Ariana Kendrick the first time he saw her. It didn’t matter that she was but a vicar’s daughter and he was the second son of an earl. Nothing mattered but their love and the future they planned as husband and wife. But those dreams were torn apart one fall afternoon—swiftly, painfully, tragically. Nine years later, Jason and Ariana will meet again. They’ll be caught in a tangle of lies, deceit, and intrigue. Where has she been all these years, when Jason thought her dead? Why is she using a name other than her own? Is she truly a widow? When she and her son are rescued walking along a road, why does she have no traveling cases? No carriage? Not even a coat? And the boy she insists is not his son? Is that yet another lie? It will take great effort to untangle the truth from the lies, but Jason is determined to learn what really happened to the woman he loved, the one he could never forget…and never stopped loving… An Unlikely Husband Series: Book One: A Taste of Seduction(Francie & Alexander’s story) Book Two: A Touch of Seduction: a novella (Ariana & Jason’s story) Book Three: A Scent of Seduction(Julia & Jon’s story) Book Four: A Breath of Seduction(Sophie & Holt’s story) Book Five: A Dash of Seduction(Madeline & Douglas’s story) Bonus Material: Included in this eBook is a sample of A Scent of Seduction, An Unlikely Husband, Book 3.




A Family Affair: Spring


Book Description

Real Families aren't always the ones you know about... Harry Blacksworth is rich, handsome, the ultimate playboy with a killer smile and a clever wit. He's fought it, denied it, ignored it, but the damn truth won't go away: He's fallen in love. And just when he's accepted that fact, Greta Servensen, the only woman he's ever trusted, breaks his heart. But Harry’s not the only one with relationship troubles... Christine Blacksworth and Nate Desantro beat the odds when they fell in love and married. But staying married is threatened when the foundation behind every good relationship--trust--is challenged. Angelo "Pop" Benito is The Godfather of Magdalena. Nothing happens in that town without his knowledge or approval. And Pop doesn't do anything without a long sit-down with his dead wife, Lucy, and a half dozen pizzelles by his side. He'll need a lot of lung power and a tray of his favorite treat to help Nate and Christine out of a real mess. And he may need the help of his checkers buddy and Magdalena's shining star, Lily Desantro.. Truth in Lies Series: Book One: A Family Affair Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas, a novella Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise Book Eight: A Family Affair: The Secret Book Nine: A Family Affair: The Wish Book Ten: A Family Affair: The Gift Book Eleven: A Family Affair: The Weddings, a novella Book Twelve: A Family Affair: The Cabin, a novella Book Thirteen: A Family Affair: The Return Book Fourteen: A Family Affair: The Choice Book Fifteen: A Family Affair: The Proposal Book Sixteen: A Family Affair: Bonus Scenes Book Seventeen: A Family Affair: The Homecoming Book Eighteen: A Family Affair: The Decision Meals From Magdalena: A Family Affair Cookbook And more... BONUS: Also included in this eBook is the first chapter of A Family Affair: Summer, Truth in Lies, Book Three.




A Taste of Seduction


Book Description

Love and Betrayal…Regency style A young woman of noble blood, raised as a peasant girl… An orphaned stable boy, now grown and the surrogate son of a powerful earl—the same earl who just so happens to be the young woman’s father… Francie Jordan and Alexander Bishop have nothing in common—she runs barefoot and talks to animals. He won’t loosen his cravat unless the bedroom door is firmly closed. She believes in love, second chances, and happily ever after. He believes in keeping a safe distance from anything that resembles an emotion. Indeed, they have nothing in common but an undeniable desire for one another they can’t ignore, and an ailing “father” who will employ any means to bring them together. Unfortunately, not everyone wishes to see a union between Francie and Alexander, and they will stop at nothing to keep this couple apart. An Unlikely Husband Series: Book One: A Taste of Seduction(Francie & Alexander’s story) Book Two: A Touch of Seduction: a novella (Ariana & Jason’s story) Book Three: A Scent of Seduction(Julia & Jon’s story) Book Four: A Breath of Seduction(Sophie & Holt’s story) Book Five: A Dash of Seduction(Madeline & Douglas’s story) Bonus Material: Included in this eBook is a sample of A Touch of Seduction, An Unlikely Husband, Book 2.