Romantic Adventures #42

A blinded soldier begins to rebuild his life with the help of his devoted nurse, who finds herself falling for him as she helps restore his will to live. When he asks her to correspond with his distant fiancée to test her devotion, the nurse makes a fateful choice that sets in motion a web of deception she may come to regret. "Once in a Lifetime!" explores the painful territory between selfless care and the heart's true desires.

Hannah's insecurity about how others perceive her threatens to sabotage her own romantic prospects, as every gesture from the boys around her gets twisted into imagined slights and criticism. In this cautionary tale, Hannah's constant suspicion and oversensitivity gradually drive away every suitor willing to give her a chance, until word spreads that she's simply no fun to be around. By the time she realizes what's happened, the dance card that could have been full sits empty.

Kate Nelson arrives at a swank ski resort determined to find romance, only to discover she's hopelessly outnumbered by women. When a desperate attempt to stand out on the slopes ends in a broken leg, Kate suddenly finds herself the center of male attention—including that of Dr. Howard Spears, the resort physician who tends to her injury. As her forced convalescence brings them closer together, Kate begins to wonder if her accident might be the lucky break she needed all along.

Tony Bedell, a reporter for "Inside Story" magazine, sets out to write an exposé on Hank Larsen, a golf pro, convinced he'll fit every stereotype of a dim jock—so she approaches him under false pretenses, plying him with flattery and loaded questions while her photographer captures unflattering shots. As Tony gathers material for what she's sure will be a juicy hatchet job, she finds herself genuinely drawn to Hank, but by then it's too late to stop the presses, and the resulting story makes him the laughing stock of the sporting world. Now Tony must face the music when Hank discovers who's really responsible for his public humiliation—and confront what her lies have cost her.

Alan Lander has carried a torch for Betty Sims since their schooldays, but his crippling shyness keeps him from expressing his feelings—even as he finally works up the courage to date her. As their time together deepens and Betty's circle of admirers grows, Alan struggles with his self-doubt, wondering if he could ever be enough for a girl like her. When Betty extends an unexpected invitation, Alan must decide whether to risk his heart or let the moment slip away.

A year of longing for Burke Wilmott comes crashing down when his confession of mere fondness shatters Adele's heart—until a charming stranger at a museum offers her an escape, and she agrees to an unusual arrangement: romance without names, just two people getting to know each other in New York. As Adele and her mystery man, Peter, grow closer over stolen days and evenings, she discovers what it feels like to be truly wanted, but lingering feelings for Burke threaten to complicate everything when he shows up demanding a second chance.