Heart Throbs #13

Jo, a woman with grand dreams of marrying a wealthy or famous man, has been dating Jeff Stevens for years, enjoying their relationship but holding back on saying yes to his repeated proposals. Though she’s drawn to Jeff’s affection and loyalty, she’s hesitant to commit, caught between her idealized vision of romance and the reality of their modest life together.

Jo, a talented tennis player, finds her feelings for her coach, Wynn Blair, deepening into love—only to discover he’s involved with another woman, leaving her heartbroken. When her old friend Bill Gaines reenters her life, Jo is forced to confront her past and the complicated emotions that have shaped her journey.

Lenore, who grew up in a rough neighborhood and carries deep resentment toward cops after her father was killed in a shootout with police, finds herself drawn to Dan Scott, a man she meets at a community dance. As their romance blossoms, she begins to enjoy new experiences and feels hope for the first time—until she discovers Dan is a plainclothes officer investigating the very gang she once knew.

Jo and Gordy Rhodes have been waiting years to marry, their plans repeatedly derailed by Gordy’s latest dream—this time, a mail-order perfume scheme that fails to deliver. Though she’s long loved him, Jo finally reaches her breaking point, convinced that his endless "deals" will never lead to stability, and she ends their engagement in frustration. But when Gordy surprises her by calling to say he’s found a steady job and is saving for a house, Jo realizes that their love might be stronger than her doubts—and that maybe, just maybe, they’ve both changed.