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Real Love #53

Feb 1953 · Ace Magazines [1940s-1950s] · 0.10 USD

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A young woman named Jane accepts an invitation to a nightclub from Neal Buckley, a man she hardly knows, as a dare, though she is conflicted about the decision. After a night out, Neal proposes to Jane, and she accepts, dreaming of becoming a famous designer in New York City. However, once engaged, Jane's ambitions clash with Neal's expectations of a quiet married life in a small town, leading her to question whether she should abandon her dreams. On their honeymoon to New York, Jane encounters an artist she had met before and becomes increasingly torn between her desire for independence and her commitment to Neal, ultimately deciding to leave him the next morning to pursue her own path.

Contains 4 stories

Extra Man on a String

7 pp · Romance

Mary grew up with two devoted neighbors—Roger Barrett and Sam Frazier—and when their childhood trio finally faced the truth that romance couldn't stay a three-way street, she found herself torn between the boy who made her feel tender and protective, and the one who swept her off her feet. After a passionate moment with Sam pushes her to elope, Mary believes she's made her choice—but when Roger graciously shows up to wish them happiness at their wedding reception, she discovers that saying goodbye to half her heart might be harder than she bargained for.

My Path of Lies

8 pp · Romance

A young woman from a small town, rejected by the wealthy crowd she longs to join, leaves for Hollywood after a devastating betrayal and her mother's death—determined to build a new life as a fashion designer. Working at a boutique and finding her footing in the industry, she discovers genuine opportunity and acceptance, but must reconcile the bitterness that's driven her ambitions with the person she's becoming. "My Path of Lies" explores how far ambition can carry you when it's fueled by resentment, and whether success tastes as sweet when it's built on spite.

Glamour-Struck

7 pp · Romance

A small-town girl caught between two worlds discovers that glamour and ambition can arrive on unexpected roads. When a sophisticated artist from New York rolls into her quiet town, Glennon finds herself drawn away from Murray Lawton—the dependable farmer she's promised to marry—and toward dreams of a bigger life. As she's pulled deeper into this thrilling new world, she must face a choice that could reshape everything.

Ashamed of My Mother

8 pp · Romance

A young woman torn between love and a shameful secret finds herself caught when her fiancé Paul grows eager to meet her family—but she's been hiding a painful truth about the woman she's been forced to call her sister. As wedding plans loom and Paul's parents welcome her into their lives, she must wrestle with whether honesty or silence will determine her future happiness. "Ashamed of My Mother" explores the impossible choice between protecting a dangerous lie and risking everything for the man she loves.