A Handful of Heaven

Small-town mechanic Zachary Drake had no illusions about his longtime friendship with winsome, wholesome Karen McKaslin-even after she called off her wedding to the local pastor. Zach simply intended to lend a grease-stained hand and a sympathetic ear to a pal in need, and keep his secret longing to himself....

Having narrowly escaped a loveless marriage, Karen was counting her blessings. Now she could transform herself into a woman worthy of being loved for all eternity. She never dreamed Mr. Right was waiting for her on the wrong side of the tracks, praying she'd see in his eyes what he didn't dare say....

On the journey to her new life, Sara Mercer decides to make one pit stop to see the daughter she gave up for adoption four years ago. She only wants to catch a glimpse of the child she has longed for, but mother nature has other plans. When a blizzard strands Sara in Moose Creek, Montana territory, she has no choice but to stay with little Mary's adoptive family. Her love for her child grows, as do her feelings for Mary's widowed father, Sheriff Gabe Chapman. But can love overcome the secret of Sara's past?

This is a re-issue of the original story published by Zebra Historical Romance in the Christmas Kisses Anthology under the pen name Jill Henry. Sensual content. Approximately 35,000 words (about 124 print pages)

New neighbor Chad Lawson seems too perfect. At least to Rebecca McKaslin, who's been burned by a Prince Charming-type before. Worried, her loving family supports her time-out from romance. Yet, as Rebecca gets to know her handsome, churchgoing neighbor, his reliable, friendly nature challenges her resistance to relationships. Soon, she wonders if God put him in her life for a reason. Should she accept this rare gift and risk her heart again?

When contacted by her long-lost grandmother, Lauren McKaslin wanted to reconnect-with all the warmhearted Montana McKaslins. For too long, she'd relied solely on herself and her faith. But mistrustful lawman Caleb Stone stood in the way, and his questions about her were intimidating. Was his attention more than a protective instinct? Now that she believed in family again, perhaps this was also the time to believe in true love....

When he'd first popped through the shrubbery, nurse Kirby McKaslin had found her new neighbor brazen and obnoxious. So she was more than surprised to find Sam Gardner volunteering to pilot an early-morning medical emergency flight…and fixing her fence, making her cocoa when she couldn't sleep, even cooking dinner.

But when Sam took Kirby's hand in his, she wasn't surprised to find herself falling for him….

Then he gently removed his hand, and closed his wounded heart to her. After he'd shown her that faith and kindness could exist in a man, could Kirby convince him that despite his past, love wasn't gone for him-forever?