Sweethearts #85

Desperate and alone on a frozen street, a young woman contrives a dangerous scheme to escape homelessness—only to collapse at the doorstep of a grand mansion and wake up claimed by amnesia she doesn't quite possess. When the charming and perceptive Bruce enters the household, Enid finds herself drawn into a dream she's always harbored, but the lie at the heart of her refuge threatens everything she's come to cherish. Will her deception unravel before she can find her way to genuine happiness?

A delightful collection of romantic customs from around the world—from Holland's candle-burning courtship ritual to Ethiopia's butter-based marriage expectations—"Romance Oddities" takes readers on a tour of how different cultures have approached love and marriage throughout history. This lighthearted piece celebrates the wonderfully strange ways that people across the globe have defined romance, commitment, and what makes an ideal spouse.

Audrey Lynn, a blind typist riding the same train into Beldock every day, finds her carefully ordered world upended when Michael Macdennon, the train's new conductor, begins paying her special attention—and his warmth awakens feelings she's kept locked away. When a train wreck throws them together and Michael's devotion becomes undeniable, Audrey must confront the shame and fear that have kept her isolated, learning whether love can truly bridge the distance she's built around her heart.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1923, Montgomery Clift announced at age 13 that he wanted to become an actor—and despite his parents' disapproval, he pursued the stage with determination, landing roles in Broadway productions and working alongside legends like Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine. When his friend Howard Hughes sent him a script for the western *Red River*, Clift made the leap to Hollywood and quickly became a major film star, all while remaining devoted to his craft and wary of the industry's spotlight. This biography captures how raw talent and serious dedication to acting transformed a young man's childhood dream into stardom.

Donna Neil's perfect love with Steve is tested when a terrible secret weighs on her conscience—a moment of panic and silence that she cannot bring herself to confess, no matter how much it strains their bond. As guilt gnaws at her and distances her from the man she adores, Donna must decide whether the burden of what she's done will destroy their future together or if she can find the courage to face the truth.

Lana dreams of the glamorous life that money can buy, so when her fiancé Ken—a struggling lawyer—can't offer her the financial security she craves, she sets her sights on the District Attorney who might help Ken climb the political ladder. But winning Ben's affection means driving a wedge between him and his own fiancée Gloria, and when Ben's biggest case hinges on a witness's testimony, Lana discovers just how far she's willing to go to get what she wants.