Cassandra Austin - Heart And Home

Cover Page

Praise Acclaim for Cassandra Austin’s recent books Flint Hills Bride “…an exciting, action-packed love story with a very special twist.” — Romantic Times Magazine Hero of the Flint Hills “A beautiful love story with vivid descriptions…a definite keeper to be cherished.” — Rendezvous

Excerpt “Damn it, Jane, you’re twisting everything I say.” He was right outside her door. She didn’t want him to hear her crying. “Jane, please, listen to me.” Her head flew up at the sound of his voice, no longer muffled by the door. “Oh, Jane.” He moved to sit beside her on the bed and wrapped her in his arms. She wanted to resist but found it impossible. His gentle hands cradled her head against his strong shoulder. “All I seem to do is make girls cry,” he murmured. Jane sniffed, trying to control her tears. She didn’t like her broken heart being compared to a young girl’s tantrum, but she couldn’t think of any scathing retort. “How can I prove I love you?” he whispered. She could guess what he considered proof. The last thing she wanted him to know was that she longed for that “proof” every night…!

Dear Reader Dear Reader, ‘Tis the season to be jolly, and Harlequin Historicals has four terrific books this month that will warm your heart and put a twinkle in your eye! Cassandra Austin’s new book, Heart and Home, is very aptly named this holiday season. Known for her raw, emotional Westerns, Ms. Austin stays true to her style with this story of starting over and finding true love. Physician Adam Hart vows to start a new life in Kansas, hoping that his “society” fiancée will eventually join him. But as his feelings for his beautiful, caring neighbor grow, the young doctor finds his ideas of love transformed… Don’t miss our special 3-in-1 medieval Christmas collection, One Christmas Night. Bestselling author Ruth Langan begins with a darling Cinderella story in “Highland Christmas,” Jacqueline Navin spins an emotional mistaken-identity tale in “A Wife for Christmas” and Lyn Stone follows with “Ian’s Gift,” a charming story of Yuletide matchmaking. If you want a Regency-era historical tale that will leave you breathless, don’t miss A Gentleman of Substance by Deborah Hale. Here, a taciturn viscount offers marriage to the local vicar’s daughter, who is pregnant with his recently deceased brother’s child. And in Jake Walker’s Wife, a Western by Loree Lough, a good-hearted farmer’s daughter finds her dream man in the Texas cowboy hired on—only, he’s wanted by the law… Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance. Happy Holidays, Tracy Farrell, Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Harlequin Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Title Page Heart and Home Cassandra Austin www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CASSANDRA AUSTIN has always lived in north-central Kansas, and was raised on museums and arrowhead hunts; when she began writing, America’s Old West seemed the natural setting. A full-time writer, she is involved in her church’s activities as well as the activities of her three grown-to-nearly-grown children. Her husband farms, and they live in the house where he grew up. To write to her, send a SASE to: Cassandra Austin, Box 162, Clyde, KS 66938.

Dedication Dedicated to my sisters: Nora, Sally, Nancy, JoAnn, Bobbie and Mari. Special thanks to Warren S. Freeborn, Jr., our retired family doctor and friend, for assistance with medical aspects of this book. Any errors that remain are purely my own.

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

Author’s Note

Copyright

Flint Hills Bride

“…an exciting, action-packed love story with a very special twist.”

— Romantic Times Magazine

Hero of the Flint Hills

“A beautiful love story with vivid descriptions…a definite keeper to be cherished.”

— Rendezvous

He was right outside her door. She didn’t want him to hear her crying.

“Jane, please, listen to me.”

Her head flew up at the sound of his voice, no longer muffled by the door.

“Oh, Jane.”

He moved to sit beside her on the bed and wrapped her in his arms. She wanted to resist but found it impossible. His gentle hands cradled her head against his strong shoulder. “All I seem to do is make girls cry,” he murmured.

Jane sniffed, trying to control her tears. She didn’t like her broken heart being compared to a young girl’s tantrum, but she couldn’t think of any scathing retort.

“How can I prove I love you?” he whispered.

She could guess what he considered proof. The last thing she wanted him to know was that she longed for that “proof” every night…!

Dear Reader,

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and Harlequin Historicals has four terrific books this month that will warm your heart and put a twinkle in your eye!

Cassandra Austin’s new book, Heart and Home, is very aptly named this holiday season. Known for her raw, emotional Westerns, Ms. Austin stays true to her style with this story of starting over and finding true love. Physician Adam Hart vows to start a new life in Kansas, hoping that his “society” fiancée will eventually join him. But as his feelings for his beautiful, caring neighbor grow, the young doctor finds his ideas of love transformed…

Don’t miss our special 3-in-1 medieval Christmas collection, One Christmas Night. Bestselling author Ruth Langan begins with a darling Cinderella story in “Highland Christmas,” Jacqueline Navin spins an emotional mistaken-identity tale in “A Wife for Christmas” and Lyn Stone follows with “Ian’s Gift,” a charming story of Yuletide matchmaking.

If you want a Regency-era historical tale that will leave you breathless, don’t miss A Gentleman of Substance by Deborah Hale. Here, a taciturn viscount offers marriage to the local vicar’s daughter, who is pregnant with his recently deceased brother’s child. And in Jake Walker’s Wife, a Western by Loree Lough, a good-hearted farmer’s daughter finds her dream man in the Texas cowboy hired on—only, he’s wanted by the law…

Enjoy! And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.

Happy Holidays,

Tracy Farrell,

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Harlequin Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

has always lived in north-central Kansas, and was raised on museums and arrowhead hunts; when she began writing, America’s Old West seemed the natural setting. A full-time writer, she is involved in her church’s activities as well as the activities of her three grown-to-nearly-grown children. Her husband farms, and they live in the house where he grew up. To write to her, send a SASE to: Cassandra Austin, Box 162, Clyde, KS 66938.