Margot Dalton - The Newcomer

Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Two decades of bringing you the very best in romance reading.

To recognize this important milestone, we’ve invited six very special authors—whose names you’re sure to recognize—to tell us how they feel about Superromance. Each title this month has a letter from one of these authors.

Although critically acclaimed author Anne Mather—whose foreword appears in this book—has never written for Superromance, she has been reading the line since it began. “It is not difficult to see why Superromances have become so successful,” she writes. “I’d recommend that anyone who is looking for a longer, exciting read give them a try. I did, and I’ve never regretted it.”

The Newcomer by Margot Dalton is a worthy addition to our anniversary lineup. Margot began writing for Superromance in 1990 and has written 22 titles for the line. In addition, she was written five mainstream novels and has contributed to several continuing series and anthologies.

In The Newcomer, readers are taken back to the town of Crystal Creek, Texas. Margot wrote seven of the original CRYSTAL CREEK series titles, and Superromance is proud to present her newest book about that friendly ranching community.

Dear Reader,

Almost ten years ago, Harlequin approached a number of authors with an exciting new idea. We were given the challenge of helping to create a central Texas town and ranching community, along with a host of exciting, heartwarming characters to populate this setting. The result was the 24-book CRYSTAL CREEK series, which has remained popular with readers since publication of the very first book in 1993.

As an author, I loved everything about writing the CRYSTAL CREEK books. So you can imagine my excitement when the Superromance editors suggested I might want to return to Crystal Creek with a new series of books. I could hardly wait! The Newcomer, the third book in this trilogy, shows what kind of tension can arise when a close-knit town is divided by the arrival of strangers. It also wraps up the stories of Bella, who appeared in the first book, and her sister Lucia, who was trying hard to save the Crystal Creek middle school in the second book of the trilogy. And it introduces Douglas Evans, a handsome, kilt-wearing Scotsman who has somehow become the mayor of a small town in Texas!

I loved making this nostalgic return to Crystal Creek. I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I did.

Warmest regards,

Margot Dalton

Harlequin Superromance

#914—IN PLAIN SIGHT

#928—CONSEQUENCES

www.millsandboon.co.uk

I’ve been asked to write a brief foreword to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harlequin Superromance, and I have to tell you, I was very flattered by the request. I have never written for Superromance myself, but I’m an enthusiastic book buyer, as well as a writer, and I have read many of the books over the years.

It’s not difficult to see why Superromances have become so successful. Harlequin has always kept a close eye on what its readers want, and when Superromances were first published, they were much longer than they are today. But, as with all new ventures, there have been obvious refinements and the line has gone from strength to strength.

I started reading Superromances at their inception, and naturally, I had my favorites. Many writers who started out with Superromance are household names today—authors like Stella Cameron, Sandra Canfield, Janice Kaiser, to name a few—and you may still be lucky enough to find their early books. I’m fortunate enough to have a collection of many of these novels, and they bear favorable comparison to what is being written today.

Of course, these days a whole new batch of authors is making their mark with Superromances. It’s a very fertile breeding ground, and I’m sure many of these writers will go on to become the household names of tomorrow. Whatever happens, I know Harlequin will support and encourage them in every way.

Because of their length, Superromances can explore character development in greater detail, and the stories reflect the lives of ordinary people—often in extraordinary situations. I’d recommend that anyone who is looking for a longer, exciting read give them a try. I did, and I’ve never regretted it.

Anne Mather

Anne Mather is a renowned and much-published author of romance and women’s fiction—one of the world’s most popular. She’s particularly well-known for her work in the Harlequin Presents series. Her distinctive stories offer intense passion and high drama—an unbeatable combination!

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

THE CAROUSEL HORSES stood frozen in the misty chill of the February afternoon. Silver hooves pawed silently at the floorboards, dark eyes rolled wildly, while manes and tails streamed as if blown by the wind. A fitful sun broke through dark clouds above the hills, sparked fire from gold-mounted saddles and jeweled breastplates.

Lovingly, Douglas Evans caressed the blond mane of a fiery sorrel with bared yellow teeth, then knelt to examine a splintered board on the floor near the big tiger, whose jaws were drawn back in a menacing snarl.

The tiger had been discovered wrapped under layers of oilcloth in June Pollock’s cellar, more than sixty years after the dismantling of the Crystal Creek carousel. Unlike many of the other animals, this one had hardly needed any restoration. Its broad striped back was worn smooth from the thousands of tiny riders who’d sat on him, wide-eyed and awed at their own daring, as the tiger paced slowly around the carousel platform.

“Unca Dougie,” a small voice called from somewhere outside the carousel enclosure. “I’m cold.”

“Put your brush down, Robin, and come up here,” Doug said.

His rich Scottish brogue sounded loud and a little intrusive, even to his own ears, on this silent winter afternoon in the Hill Country of central Texas.

He smiled as his niece plodded up the carousel steps and tumbled at his feet in a bright plaid jacket and hood. She lay on her back and waved her green running shoes in the air.

Robin was four years old, a plump, happy little girl with golden curls, red cheeks and an irrepressible personality, as different from her older sister Moira as two children could possibly be. Doug loved his young nieces as if they were his own children, and spent a good deal of time worrying about them.

Especially nowadays…

Hiding his frown of concern, he bent and lifted Robin into his arms. Then he sat on the bench next to the tiger and cuddled the child, making a great show of putting his big hands over her ears and rubbing her cold cheeks.

She squirmed and giggled, forgetting her complaints, then settled contentedly against his denim jacket and looked around at the carousel. With a surreptitious glance at her uncle, Robin jammed her thumb in her mouth and began sucking it thoughtfully.

Doug gently removed the thumb and kissed her bright hair. She made no objection, just nestled more cozily in his arms.