Heart Throbs #36

Kaye Warren and Ronny Stevens arrive in Harbor City with big dreams—a lucrative job as dancers at the prestigious Hamlin Hotel seems like the break they've been waiting for, especially since it means they can finally marry in the fall as planned. But when the charming and wealthy Gloria Farnsley takes a sudden interest in Ronny, Kaye watches helplessly as the man she loves is drawn deeper into Gloria's world of yacht parties and high society, leaving their shared future behind. As Kaye's patience wears thin and her heart burns with jealous fury, she decides it's time to fight for what's hers.

When Gale Sanders returns from a three-month tour with an orchestra, she discovers that Frank Oliver—the man she loves—is getting married to someone else, and she's forced to attend the wedding. At the reception, a sympathetic stranger named Brian sits beside her, and they bond over their shared heartbreak, but as they grow closer over the following weeks, Brian reveals a secret that changes everything about how Gale understands their meeting. What begins as mutual misery becomes the foundation for something genuine, as Gale learns to distinguish between the dream she was chasing and the real connection she's found.

Diana Dunlop has kept a guilty secret: she's in love with Jeff Burton, her best friend Peggy Crowder's fiancé. When Peggy's work keeps her away from social engagements, Diana finds herself standing in—wearing Peggy's gown, dancing in Jeff's arms—and the line between loyalty and desire grows dangerously thin. As Jeff confesses feelings Diana can't deny, the three friends hurtle toward a reckoning that will force Diana to choose between her heart and her conscience.

Marie Lorimer has sacrificed six years supporting her younger sister Janet since their mother's death, and when romance finally arrives in the form of Harry Barton, she's torn between the man she loves and the responsibility that's defined her life. As Harry pushes for marriage and a fresh start together in San Francisco, Marie must confront the hard truth about her sister's dependence—and discover what she's really willing to give up for family.