Lovelorn #17

When a young woman named Martha reconnects with her high school sweetheart Bob Vickers—now a talented college pitcher fresh from signing a major league contract—their long-separated romance reignites in a whirlwind of proposals and promises. But when Bob's spring training whisks him away to Florida, Martha discovers a glamorous rival from his past waiting in the wings, threatening to unravel everything they've built. As Martha grapples with newfound doubts and jealousy, she must decide whether their bond can survive the pressures of Bob's ascent to big league stardom.

Marian has spent four years as her family's sole wage-earner, sacrificing her own dreams while supporting her ailing mother, struggling father, and brother—until she meets Brett Smith, a charismatic businessman who awakens her heart and asks her to choose between marriage and the family that depends on her. When she brings Brett home, her protective relatives turn against him just as they've sabotaged every romance before, leaving Marian torn between the love she's finally found and the loyalty that's defined her entire adult life.

A lesson in what really makes a girl popular: Foolish Fay learns the hard way that good looks and snobbery won't win friends, while Wise Wilma discovers that a cheerful attitude and genuine kindness toward everyone—rich or poor—are the real keys to being liked. When an unexpected rainstorm threatens to ruin the day, their contrasting approaches reveal exactly why one girl is the town's most unpopular and the other is always in demand.

Gloria Simmons has spent years guarding her heart against love, scarred by watching her father abandon her mother despite his declarations of devotion—but when a charming musician pursues her at a summer resort, she finds her resolve tested as never before. Torn between the magnetic pull of romance and her fear of the heartbreak she witnessed as a child, Gloria must confront what her mother's quiet wisdom finally reveals about the true cost of refusing to love. A poignant story about whether the pain of loss is worth the joy of finding your person.

A marriage counselor renowned for solving everyone else's love problems, Jeanne Padgett has spent years devoted to her career—and to the memory of her late father, whose idealized image she's never found matched in any man...until she meets the brilliant Dr. Rolfe Bancroft. When romance finally seems within her grasp, Jeanne discovers that the very patterns that made her such an effective counselor may hold the key to understanding why marriage wasn't for her.

"Going Steady" explores the real reasons why young people commit to dating one person—and the honest ways to end such relationships when they're not right. Through several snapshots of couples navigating the perks and pitfalls of steady dating, this practical guide examines how to tell the difference between genuine love and settling for convenience, peer pressure, or habit. From clumsy breakups to graceful ones, it shows readers how to navigate this emotional territory with kindness and self-awareness.