When Wishes Collide

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Barbara Freethy, takes us back to the beach in an emotional love story between two best friends who have been separated for a very long time.

Alexa Parker and Braden Elliott fell in love when they were twelve years old. On a summer day, while searching for sea glass on the beaches of Washington State, they discovered an unusually shaped blue bottle. The ever-imaginative Alexa declared it a genie's bottle. Popping the cork, they were surprised by a rogue wave that sprayed them with a fine, cool mist. Closing their eyes, they each made a wish …

Before their love had a chance to grow, life, family and tragedy separated the two best friends. Now fifteen years later, Alexa returns to Sand Harbor after her aunt is injured in a mysterious break-in at her antique store. Braden is also back, but he's not the innocent boy Alexa remembers. His military service has left him with physical and emotional scars.

Can the sweet love of youth be recaptured by two now cynical souls? Can solving the mystery of the past bring them to a new future? Or will it take a wish, maybe two …

(A short novel of 40,000 words approximately 180 pages)

Three women, three birthdays and one unforgettable night that will change their lives forever.

One night in San Francisco, three women make a birthday wish believing it cant possibly come true. Liz is turning thirty. A successful nurse, she has a good career, but no man to share her life. All her friends are married, and shes alone, still trying to outrun a tragedy from her past. Then she meets a handsome stranger.

Angela, a member of a large, loving Italian family, is facing thirty-five with no baby in the nursery. Eight years of infertility treatments have put a strain on her marriage. Will she have to choose between her husband and having a child? When she is mugged by an unexpected assailant, her life takes a new turn.

Carole, a corporate wife, is staring down forty candles. Having grown up poor, she worked hard to get ahead, but when her kids bail on her birthday, and she discovers her husband with another woman, she realizes that she may have nothing at all. She goes back to where it all began, the mother she left behind, and the man whose heart she once broke.

From #1 NY Times Bestselling Author, Barbara Freethy, comes a romantic new contemporary series about the Callaways, a big, blended Irish family born to serve and protect.  


The second oldest of the Callaway clan, Aiden Callaway veered from the family tradition of urban firefighting and became a smokejumper, never questioning his choice until the job took the life of his friend, Kyle, and left Aiden with injuries and fractured memories. Everyone blames Aiden for what happened, but he doesn't remember, nor is he sure he wants to remember. The truth may clear Aiden of blame but destroy Kyle's reputation and hurt the people he left behind. 
 


Aiden seeks help from an unlikely ally … 
 


Sara had always been untouchable, sweet, innocent, his sister's best friend, and the girl next door. But one reckless night in their youth took their relationship to a new level. Sara has never forgiven or forgotten the way Aiden brought it crashing down, but she's no longer that girl with the crazy crush. She's a woman in search of her own truth.

The sparks between Aiden and Sara have been smoldering for a very long time. Sara is afraid to take another chance on a man who broke her heart, and Aiden knows better than anyone how dangerous an intense fire can be.

As teenagers they weren’t ready for each other. Are they ready now?

** ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS is the first book in an eight book connected contemporary romance series featuring the intriguing Callaway family. Love, mystery, adventure -- the Callaways have it all!

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PRAISE for Barbara Freethy novels

"Freethy has a gift for creating complex characters." Library Journal

"Barbara Freethy is a master storyteller with a gift for spinning tales about ordinary people in extraordinary situations and drawing readers into their lives.” Romance Reviews Today

"Freethy’s skillful plotting and gift for creating sympathetic characters will ensure that few dry eyes will be left at the end of the story.” Publishers Weekly on The Way Back Home

“Freethy skillfully keeps the reader on the hook, and her tantalizing and believable tale has it all– romance, adventure, and mystery.” Booklist on Summer Secrets

“Barbara Freethy brings a tender poignancy to mainstream romantic fiction.” Romantic Times on Daniel's Gift

"Freethy’s story-telling ability is top-notch.” Romantic Times on Don't Say A Word

Fans of Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Kristin Hannah and Robyn Carr will enjoy this emotional novel of romantic women's fiction featuring love and family from #1 New York Times Bestseller Barbara Freethy. A perfect choice for your bookclub!

** WINNER OF RITA Award for Best Contemporary Romance - Romance Writers of America

In her impetuous summer of love, Jenny St. Claire found Luke Sheridan -- her dashing knight in intern's scrubs. But a fast-track future and rigid, ambitious parents drove passion out of Luke's life. And the summer ended, leaving Jenny with a broken heart... and a beautiful son, Danny, to help mend it.

Years later it is tragedy that reunites them -- the father whom a son longs to know, and the mother who has tried desperately to forget. And as Luke and Jenny struggle to ignore the pain and desire reborn in a look and a touch, only the remarkable courage of a young boy -- and the help of a rather unorthodox guardian angel -- can offer them the most precious gift of all: a second chance at the love of a lifetime.

REVIEWS

“Wonderful story, wonderful cast — this is a do-not-miss reading experience.” Rendezvous Magazine

“Barbara Freethy brings a tender poignancy to mainstream romantic fiction.” Romantic Times

“The depth is incredible, the minds of the characters (and there are quite a few) delightful. Clearly a hit!” Heartland Critiques

“Exceptional. I couldn’t put it down!” The Time Machine Newsletter

“The lead players are excellent and the support cast superb … Kudos to Barbara Freethy for a first class reading experience.” Affaire de Coeur

Fans of Robyn Carr, Catherine Anderson and Nora Roberts will enjoy this charming and sexy contemporary romance from #1 New York Times Bestseller Barbara Freethy.

Katherine Whitfield hadn't left her seamless life in California to get mixed-up with a rough around the edges man like Zach Tyler. With his well-worn jeans and slow, seductive smile, he was nothing but a cowboy on the wrong side of the Mississippi - a diversion in her heartfelt quest to discover the father she never knew.

Zach has a gentle hand with horses and a seductive touch with women ... and when he takes Katherine in his arms, he unleashes the passion simmering just below her cool exterior. Yes, her probing questions and tantalizing ways could cause nothing but trouble - but sometimes a man needs a little trouble ....

Reviews:

"Ms. Freethy's protagonists have such depth of character and personal conflict that they come alive on the pages. The author then surrounds them with a bunch of interesting secondary characters and places them in a setting so well described I felt I was there in the lush Kentucky countryside. An excellent romance to enjoy, remember and keep." Rendezvous Magazine

"This book is meant to be read in one sitting. Like a horse worth riding, this romance is definitely worth reading, and the setting makes for one long and lovely romance. Ms. Freethy has penned a welcome addition to any keeper shelf, for this is nothing if not spirited." The Old Book Barn Gazette

Fans of Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr and Susan Wiggs will enjoy this emotional contemporary romance from #1 New York Times Bestseller Barbara Freethy.

This is a full length novel of approximately 100,000 words.

Famous photojournalist Ryan Hunter has come back to a family torn apart by mistrust and resentment -- to the father who disowned him, to the brother who betrayed him, to the little boy who shares his features. Ryan, the charismatic "bad boy" son, has returned -- stirring up past conflicts like a whirlwind...and throwing Kara Delaney's fragile, passionate heart into turmoil.

Kara has struggled back from a disastrous marriage to build a new life for herself and her little girl -- a peaceful existence now jeopardized by vicious, small town politics, by her daughter's fanciful ghost stories...and by Ryan's return. Now nature's impending fury threatens to expose long-buried secrets. And Kara must join with the enigmatic, misunderstood Ryan -- to discover the truth that will save their families.... and to explore a dangerous, irresistible love as mighty and enduring as the onrushing river.

Reviews...

"Barbara Freethy delivers strong and compelling prose ..." Publishers Weekly

"Ryan's Return is a beautiful and touching tale of redemption and second chances for people who believe in neither." Affaire de Coeur Magazine

"A powerful story of families shattered years ago, and brought together by love, RYAN'S RETURN is a compelling read no one should miss." Genie Romance and Women's Fiction Exchange.

"A superlative novel that proves everyone can indeed go home again." Debbie Macomber

"Rising contemporary star Barbara Freethy hammers home deep and complex emotions in RYAN'S RETURN, a wonderful and powerful book." Romantic Times Magazine