Magical Romance Series

The vision in Lady Mirielle’s crystal globe showed two men arriving at Wroxley Castle. She knew one was honest, but sensed the other was concealing his identity. The first, Hugh, quickly became a valued friend and teacher. Giles remained a tantalizing mystery, though Mirielle could not deny the immediate and compelling attraction between them. Meanwhile, Alda, the temperamental Lady of Wroxley, carried on an illicit affair with the seneschal, Bryce, who was Mirielle’s cousin. When an angry Alda ordered Giles to the dungeon, Mirielle helped him to escape, knowing she would likely never see him again. Then Hugh returned with a troop of men-at-arms and with him rode the Baron of Wroxley,the husband whom Alda had long assumed was dead in the Holy Land. With their arrival the real battle for the hearts and souls of those who lived at Wroxley began, and Mirielle was at the center of the fighting.

Baghdad, AD 1138. When his teacher vanishes during a magical spell gone awry, Warrick appeals to the dying astronomer John of Cornwall for help in finding him. He’s promptly blackmailed into escorting John’s sharp-tongued daughter, Sophia, and a priceless crystal ball to Byzantium. Forced to flee from the sultan who is determined to possess both Sophia and the crystal ball, Warrick, his best friend Robin, Sophia, and the gorgeous genie that Sophia’s father has conjured as her chaperone all join a caravan. Genie spends her time flirting with Robin or trying to tempt the beautiful but dowdy Sophia into more glamorous clothing. Warrick is fascinated by sharp-tongued Sophia, whom he believes is hiding heartache and dark secrets. As their danger increases, passion grows, though Sophia tries to fight it. Across burning desserts, through steep mountain passes, during an earthquake and attacks by the sultan’s men, the two couples, determined to reach Byzantium and safety, risk all for love. But in Byzantium, they find treachery and new dangers that leave them with no choice except to continue their long journey in hope of reaching England.

King Henry I of England has decided to end an old feud by marrying Lord Dain of Penruan to the daughter of Penruan’s enemy, Gavin of Wroxley. Thinking his bride-by-proxy will be a mere child, Dain is startled to meet the lovely Emma. He’s rude to her and refuses to sleep with her. Emma decides to make Dain care for her and sets out to make life easier for the folk of Penruan, who are forced by Dain’s religious fanatic mother to live without kindness or help for their ailments. In the local village of Trevanan, the healer Agatha proves to be an unexpected ally as she recognizes Emma’s ability to work magic. In a cave hidden below the cliff where Penruan is built, a stranger who calls himself Hermit offers friendship. On the high cliffs a ghostly woman in white watches Emma. Meanwhile, Dain’s mother, Lady Richenda does all she can to keep the two apart. Emma begins to find small gifts on her pillow almost every morning and believes they are peace offerings from Dain. Gradually, Dain softens toward his unwanted bride, until they make love. But Lady Richenda has other plans and causes as much trouble as she can, blaming Emma for anything that goes wrong at Penruan. Finally, Dain has had enough. So has Agatha, who is disgusted by Richenda. Agatha reveals the truth about the woman in white, whose name is Vivienne. Emma, also wanting truth, tells Dain about her magical ability. After Dain decides to send his mother to a convent to live, Agatha, Emma, and Vivienne lay a spell on Lady Richenda, binding her to kindness toward all people for the rest of her life. Dain watches this magical working and understands that all magic is not evil. When Emma’s parents arrive with an army, in response to an urgent letter from Richenda, it’s clear she’s been working her own kind of evil. Explanations follow and though Dain remains skeptical, at last the feud is over, so he and Emma can live together in peace.

Laura finds a piece of aquamarine glass on the New Jersey beach. But it’s not sea glass, it’s a miniature time-machine that transports her back 30,000 years to an earth threatened by an approaching asteroid. Kentir, leader of the project to destroy the asteroid has also brought to the land he calls Issa, Hua Te, a Chinese mage; Chac, an Aztec priest; and Marica, a woman from the 23rd century in hope one of them will have knowledge that will help. The project headquarters is a lovely, airy white building at the edge of a northern sea, but with tropical vegetation. Laura and the other time-travelers, along with Kentir, his brother, Thuban, and a few of their friends race against time to find a solution. Marica proves to be a nasty person, who taunts Thuban with his inadequacies and makes constant trouble, but Hua Te is ever calm and pleasant, and Chac is unexpectedly noble, offering his astronomical knowledge to the cause. Still, nothing provides hope until Thuban suggests piloting an old rocket ship into space to blast the asteroid to pieces. Kentir insists he will be the pilot. Everyone is exhausted. Laura and Imilca, one of the scientists, whose husband died in an accident early in the project, decide a party will help relieve the tension. One day is devoted to preparations. Then, under the shimmering northern lights the project workers enjoy themselves. And, at evening’s end, Laura and Kentir make love. Both know their time is short, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Laura has found the one man she can love forever. The next day Thuban boards the rocket ship and leaves to confront the oncoming asteroid. New timestones have been provided for those remaining, so they can transport themselves to other times. Marica attempts to steal the stones so she can sell them. Chac stops her, but at the cost of his own life. With no time left, Laura, Kentir, and Renan, the project physician, transport themselves to the New Jersey shore. Obviously, Thuban’s plan to use the rocket ship has worked.