New Releases by Deanna Lynn Sletten

There''s a serial killer on the loose around Florida State University, or at least that''s what everyone believes. Young women go missing for several days and then are found dead a few miles from where they were abducted. The local police and an FBI task force are working to find the culprit but with no success. Meanwhile, all the women around Tallahassee are afraid they may be next. When Amber Johnston, Rachel''s daughter''s roommate and best friend, is discovered missing on the first day of spring break, Rachel becomes involved. Unfortunately, her boyfriend, FBI Agent Avery Turley, is in Idaho as part of a task force searching for a different serial killer. So, Rachel turns to Lieutenant Jack Meyers of the Panama Beach City Police Department for help. Together they search for Amber, leading them on the trail for the culprit killing all the pretty girls.

Everyone believes Rachel is dead. But she''s very much alive.Rachel Scott Emery''s life unravels when she unexpectantly comes upon an old news article online that states she was killed thirty-five years ago at the age of eight. Even more shocking is her murderer was her then sixteen-year-old brother.Realizing she must untangle the mess, Rachel leaves her Tallahassee, Florida home and goes back to Casita, California to prove she is still alive. But going home again isn''t easy. Believing that her parents had relinquished custody of her years ago to her beloved aunt and uncle, she slowly learns what really happened. And unearthing the truth, when so many in town want to leave it buried, becomes a daunting and dangerous task. What really happened the day little Rachel left town? And who is the little girl buried in the grave?

Diane picked up her mother''s phone. "How do you feel about your mother being let out of prison today after sixty-five years?" the reporter asked. Diane stared at her mother. "My grandmother is alive?" That one phone call hurled shock waves throughout the entire family. 1955 - Anna Bergman Craine''s life changes in an instant when she commits a crime of passion and is sentenced to life in prison. Leaving behind two young children, she is left alone in the world, never to hear from family or friends again. Decades later, she is set free and finds she has a family that has chosen to forget her. What caused this beautiful, intelligent, young woman to commit such a drastic deed that would pull her away from everyone she loved? 2020 - Diane Martin is shocked to learn that not only is her maternal grandmother alive, but she''s just been released after decades in prison. Against her aging mother''s wishes, she visits the older woman and soon hears a tale of the events that led up to that tragic day in 1955. Diane realizes that her own life has mirrored that of her grandmother''s and, had circumstances gone differently that fateful day, she might have experienced the same fate. A heart-wrenching story of a family torn apart because of a moment in time and trying to put the pieces back together after being separated for decades.

Sometimes you just have to walk away?Maggie Harrison is a devoted wife and mother, always putting the needs of her family ahead of her own. One day, without planning to, she drives away leaving behind her indifferent husband and two sulking teenagers. Maggie goes off on a quest of self-exploration, enjoying adventures, meeting new people, and rediscovering her passions. For the first time in years, she dreams about what she wants out of life, and realizes that her deteriorating marriage can no longer continue as it is. Can she and Andrew repair their broken relationship, or is their marriage over?Andrew Harrison likes his life to be in perfect order. He enjoys his work and status in the community, leaving Maggie to take care of their home and children. He knows his marriage isn''t perfect, but after twenty-three years and two kids, whose marriage is? When Maggie leaves without a word, he is forced to pay more attention to his home life and his almost-grown children, and he begins to do a little self-exploration of his own. Slowly, he begins to understand what drove Maggie away, and how important she is in his life. Is it too late to resolve their differences and save their marriage? Or will Andrew lose Maggie forever?

A Lake Harriet Novel Sometimes the only one standing in the way of your happiness is you.Debbie Adams has never thought of herself as beautiful or witty. Her short, curvy stature has always made her feel self-conscious. As the owner of Deb''s Bridal Boutique near Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Debbie runs the business she''d inherited after her mother''s death. But owning a bridal shop has never been her dream-it had been her mother''s. And as the years go by, Debbie sees friends and neighbors pairing off and building a future while her life remains stagnant. Then, one March day, frantic to get in shape before a friend''s wedding, Debbie forces herself to go biking. As she rides along the icy lake path, she''s startled by a runner and slips and falls. Regaining her bearings, she looks up into a pair of warm, brown eyes and the most handsome face she''s ever seen. Could this tall, extremely fit, and good-looking man be her destiny? Marc Bennett''s life is amazing. He owns a chain of fitness centers around the Twin Cities and lives in a beautiful mansion that overlooks Lake Harriet. The only thing missing from his life is a wonderful woman to share it with. Not that he''s lacking in applicants for the position. He''s a handsome man with a warm, caring personality and women flock to him. But at thirty-six, he''s had the shallow relationships and he''s not in a hurry to commit to anyone. Then one crisp, spring day, as he''s running the lake path with his dog, Bernie, he literally crashes into a woman on a bike. As he attempts to help her up, he finds himself looking into the most beautiful pair of blue eyes. Eyes he can''t seem to get out of his mind.

A Lake Harriet NovelIn the charming Lake Harriet neighborhood where we first met Kristen, Ryan, and their dog Sam in Walking Sam, two people are struggling to put their lives back together with the help of a rambunctious dog named Bailey.Lisa Evan''s life has been in turmoil since her husband, Andrew, left her nine months earlier. With two-year-old Abby to care for and a new full-time job as a school nurse, she''s just trying to keep her head above water both emotionally and financially. It didn''t help that her ex-husband gifted a rambunctious puppy to Abby for her second birthday. But Abby instantly fell in love with Bailey, so Lisa didn''t have the heart to say no. Even though Lisa''s quiet neighborhood is a great place for kids and dogs, there''s one neighbor who isn''t thrilled about Bailey-the hermit across the street. And try as she might, Lisa can''t keep the dog from digging his way out of the yard and running to the hermit''s house. But after one particularly nasty clash with the hermit, Lisa discovers that maybe the man across the street isn''t as terrible as she''d once thought. Avery McKinnon moved to the quiet neighborhood to hide out after an extremely nasty divorce. In one year his entire world has fallen apart. His wife left him, he lost his house, and his novels are no longer selling as well as they used to, taking a bite out of his income. He''s bitter and angry and the last thing he wants is to become chummy with all the annoyingly happy people in his neighborhood. When the puppy across the street keeps running over to his house and digging up his yard, Avery explodes. Can''t that annoying woman across the street control a puppy? But when he finally sees Lisa for who she is, he realizes that maybe he''s been angry long enough. Maybe it was time to let someone back into his life. And then her ex-husband comes back into the picture and ruins everything.

From the author of the bestselling historical novel, Miss Etta.Two strong women, generations apart, living parallel lives.When Marla Madison''s husband dies, she realizes her life has become very small. Her daughter is grown and Marla has spent the past two decades focused on his friends, his interests, and his home. Feeling lost, she throws herself into fixing up the one-hundred and fifty-year-old family lakeside manor. She soon discovers an old journal in a secret drawer and is instantly intrigued. The handwritten book tells the tale of another Mrs. Madison from over a century ago, the first woman to live in the lake manor. As Marla reads the journal, she discovers that her life parallels that of the woman who wrote those words decades ago and Marla finds inspiration from her strength.1875 - Alaina Carlton was content to become a spinster until her beloved father introduced her to Nathaniel Madison, one of the most prosperous men in St. Paul, Minnesota. Even though she values her independence, Alaina is intrigued by this man who pursues her. When they marry, she believes she''s found a man who will treat her as an equal, but soon realizes that isn''t entirely true. From their mansion on the illustrious Summit Avenue to their manor at Great Heron Lake, where the rich and powerful play, her life is no longer her own. But fifteen years and two children later when Nathaniel grows ill, she takes her rightful place where women weren''t allowed in order to secure her children''s inheritance and her future.An inspiring family saga of two determined woman who found meaning in their lives by following their passions and not allowing society, or propriety, to hold them back.

"In the fall of 1895, Etta Place falls in love with Harry Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid. She gives up everything to follow him and his partner-in-crime, Butch Cassidy, in their outlaw life across the continent and beyond. Breathtakingly beautiful and every inch a lady, Etta can also ride and shoot as well as any man. As their fugitive life begins to crumble, she finds herself alone and living in a convent with her newborn son. Knowing she can''t hide away forever, she moves halfway across the country to begin anew. Etta prays her past won''t catch up with her"--Back cover.

1968 - 1971Sixteen-year-old Charlotte Parsons is devastated over losing her brother in the Vietnam War. Wanting to learn more about the war, she joins a group of college women who send letters to soldiers and befriends Joseph Russo, a young soldier. But a few months after they begin corresponding, his letters stop coming, and Char moves on, still confused as to why so many young lives are being lost so far away from home. Two years later, Char begins college in her small Illinois town of Grand Falls. She¿s been dating her brother¿s long-time best friend, Deke Masterson, who is a senior in college and is deep into the anti-war movement. Char is still trying to come to terms with her brother¿s death and is unsure of how she feels about the war. Then a stranger comes to town and changes everything. Joseph Russo did his duty and served in the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart for his injury as well as a life-long limp. He¿s ready to put the war behind him. While in Vietnam, he¿d corresponded with a girl from Grand Falls and he enjoyed reading about her idyllic life. For a boy from the Bronx with a tough father and a delinquent younger brother, Grand Falls sounded like heaven. When he¿s discharged, he moves there to attend college. And when he meets Charlotte in person, he¿s taken with her sweetness, intelligence, and beauty. The battle lines are drawn as Deke resents Joe¿s presence around Char. What started out as a well-deserved escape to a small town for Joe soon turns into a battle of wills between him and the idealistic Deke. And there stands Charlotte, right in the middle.Night Music is a story about a moment in time when the world was chaotic and nothing was completely clear. In the midst of all the chaos, can Char and Joe find enough middle ground to fall in love?

A Lake Harriet NovelIn the charming Lake Harriet neighborhood in Minneapolis, MN, where we first met Kristen, Ryan, and their beloved dog Sam in Walking Sam, we meet another couple who are struggling to find true love.Mallory Dawson is planning the winter wedding of her dreams. She¿s found a wonderful man to share her life with and is looking forward to a promising future together. But one month before her wedding, she runs into the man she once loved who she hasn¿t seen in ten years and her entire life is turned upside down. James Gallagher fled to California ten years ago to start his life over after the love of his life, Mallory, refused to marry him. But when his dad passes away and his mother becomes ill, he returns home to help run the family business. Seeing Mallory again brings a flood of memories back, and he begins to wonder what his life would have been like if he hadn¿t left.Will fate bring them back together¿or will the wedding go on?

Author Deanna Lynn Sletten returns with an unforgettable novel about one man''s crisis of self and his greatest act of love. The words "I''m her husband" roll off Clay Connors''s tongue, but with his estranged wife lying in a coma--and no assurance that she''ll awaken--he knows he''s perilously close to losing everything. A singular, terrifying accident has left Jess Connors suspended between life and death. Now Clay is reunited with the family he hasn''t seen for two years, including the daughters he left behind. Clay should have been there for his family. He never should have stayed away so long. The alcohol that took over his life destroyed everything but a shred of his self-preservation. Sober and haunted, Clay revisits the memory of love, marriage, and how his life unraveled. He hopes that by trying to reconnect with the daughter who blames him and the daughter who barely knew him, he can find a light of hope in this darkest hour. As his family faces its most grueling, emotional test yet, Clay must summon the courage to make right what was wrong--and find forgiveness from his harshest judge: himself.

Love isn''t always a walk in the park...Ryan Collier has lived a quiet life with his golden retriever, Sam, and two orange tabbies since the death of his wife nearly three years ago. Friends and family are encouraging him to move on and find someone new to share his life with, but Ryan feels he will never find someone he can love as much as his wife. Ryan reluctantly gives in and starts going out on weekends, and soon discovers that women have changed as well as the rules of dating. He''s longing for a fulfilling relationship but the women he meets only want one-night stands. Then, Kristen moves in next door and he''s happy to find they have a lot in common. There''s only one problem-she''s not available.Kristen Foster craves a peaceful place to call home. With her stressful job as a pediatric oncology nurse and a failed marriage behind her, she doesn''t want any more drama in her life. Then her casual boyfriend-a surgeon-proposes to her. And she finds that the widower next door is a thirty-something, handsome man who seems to have his choice of young women every weekend. His only redeeming quality is his beautiful dog, Sam. But as she gets to know Ryan, Kristen is drawn to him. She finds herself struggling to choose between the dependable surgeon or the man she believes is the neighborhood playboy.Can Sam''s furry charm bring Ryan and Kristen together?Walking Sam is a heartwarming story of two people who have to let go of the past in order to see what''s right in front of them. What readers are saying about Walking Sam: "An uplifting story that leaves the reader with a warm smile and feeling that something really good happened!" - Maryann Bruner"Walking Sam is a beautiful, warm, loving story." - Susan Schleicher of The Book Bag"I LOVED this book, it was a very moving book of loss and love!" - Diane E. Damico"I love all of Deanna''s books. They keep you involved in the stories and I hate to put the books down." - Shirley Dodge

Poring over a dusty hatbox of photographs in her grandmother''s closet, Emily Prentice is shocked to discover her father was married to his high school sweetheart before meeting her mother. In the summer of 1968, Jack and Libbie fall in love under the spell of their small town, untouched by the chaos of the late sixties. Though Libbie''s well-to-do parents disapprove of Jack''s humble family and his aspiration to become a mechanic, she marries Jack a year after they graduate high school. But soon their happiness crumbles as Libbie''s mental state unravels and she is drawn to alcohol and drugs. Despite his efforts to help her, Jack loses the woman he loves and is forced to move on with his life. Now that Emily''s mother has passed away, Jack is alone again, and Emily grows obsessed with the beautiful woman who had given her father such joy. Determined to find Libbie, Emily pieces together the couple''s fragmented past. But is it too late for happy endings?

She never expected to fall in love...Carly Stevens loves to have fun but her carefree lifestyle has finally caught up with her. Broke and in debt, she heads to Montana to spend the summer with her sister, Andi Brennan, at the Brennan ranch. Her sister agrees she can stay on two conditions--she works to pay down her debt and changes her wild-girl ways. Reluctantly, Carly agrees, but it isn''t long before she breaks her promise and finds herself in a bind and Randy comes to her rescue. Carly begins to see the ''crusty old cowboy'' in a different light and soon finds herself falling for the one man she''d never thought it was possible to fall in love with.Randy Olson''s life has never been easy--growing up with an alcoholic mother and an absent father-- but he considers himself lucky to work for the Brennans and to be considered a part of their family. When Carly shows up to stay for the summer, he does his best to ignore the spoiled city girl, as he has done over the past two years when she''s visited. Then, one night, everything changes and he realizes there may be more to Carly than he ever imagined. As their relationship grows, old doubts plague Randy--could a city girl like Carly ever truly love a simple ranch hand?

"Colt isn''t going to know what hit him," Luke Brennan teased when Colt first met Carly. That was the understatement of the year. Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss... Colt Brennan is a sweet, shy cowboy who has spent his life working the family ranch in Montana. He''s never given a thought to doing anything different until the vivacious Carly Stevens comes along and steals his heart. Everyone warned him that Carly gets bored with her men easily, but Colt doesn''t believe it''s true. Once their relationship goes beyond a few stolen kisses, he''s sure that Carly is the woman for him. On Carly''s invitation, Colt leaves everything behind to move to Seattle and live with her. But sometimes a kiss is just a kiss, and although he wants much more with Carly, he finds her slowly pulling away, leaving him confused. And then there''s Beth. Colt feels an instant connection with Carly''s roommate, Beth Owens, and is intrigued by her quiet kindness and inner strength. Beth is the one to bring a smile to his face and warm his heart when all his life plans goes awry. As time goes by, Colt finds himself caught between the woman he thinks he loves, and the woman he feels a deep connection to. Who will be the woman who steals Colt away with just one kiss?

Life is full of surprises...Claire Martin''s life is perfect, or at least she tells herself it is. She owns a successful clothing boutique, has a steady, dependable boyfriend, and a beautiful grown daughter who is about to be married. Sure, Claire''s husband of twenty years left her for a younger woman four years ago, but that is all in the past. Now, Claire is looking forward to her daughter''s Bahama wedding and spending a week in paradise. The only thing Claire dreads is her ex-husband and his wife will also be on the island. Claire is determined to make the best of it, though. What Claire doesn''t realize is ignoring her ex-husband for the week is going to be impossible.James Martin''s life is a mess. His wife of less than four years has made him the most miserable man on earth and now they are in the middle of a messy divorce. He''s happy that he can forget her for a week as he goes off to the Bahamas to attend his lovely daughter''s wedding. Jim is embarrassed to admit to his daughter and his ex-wife, Claire, that he made the biggest mistake of his life when he left her for another woman, so he makes up a story as to why his new wife didn''t come along. When he and Claire are unexpectedly forced upon each other, Jim soon realizes what he''s lost and he begins to wonder if he can find a way back into Claire''s heart.

Life can change in a heartbeat... Ali Jenson''s life changed forever the moment her mother died. The sixteen-year-old was suddenly swept away from the life she knew in California to live with her estranged grandfather in the deep woods of northern Minnesota. Ali''s life has never been easy, but it seems her grandfather is trying his best to make it even more difficult. Her only hope is to get through the summer and her last year of high school so she can return to her old life in California. What she hadn''t counted on was slowly becoming attached to the grumpy old man and falling in love for the very first time. Benjamin Jenson never planned on meeting his granddaughter, let alone having her live with him. He isn''t thrilled with the idea of a teenage girl coming into his home or his life. He''d been down that path once before and he didn''t want to relive it again. But he is her only living relative and he knew his deceased wife, Lizzie, would have wanted him to give Ali a home. Grudgingly, he figured he could put up with the girl for a year. He never expected Ali to find a way into his heart and make him face painful past memories and his worst fear. The fear of losing yet another person he loves. Will Ben finally let go of the past and give Ali the one thing she''s always dreamed of? A home.

Three very different women−one house−one devastating diagnosis.When recently widowed Katherine Samuals purchases a home to share with her son, Christopher, and best friend, Denise Richards, the last thing she expects is to include Denise''s outrageous sister, Darla Richards, into the household. But Katherine agrees because she adores Darla''s daughter, Chelsea, and feels this is a good opportunity to give the young teen a real home. Living with Darla is not easy. She parties too much, sleeps around, and speaks her mind without apology. To conservative Katherine and shy Denise, Darla''s behavior is intolerable. Then, Darla is diagnosed with AIDS, and the household is turned upside-down. Katherine finds herself thrown into Darla''s life, first as her caregiver, then as her companion as she explores the devastating lives of AIDS sufferers. Katherine''s fledgling writing career flourishes as she shares the experiences of Darla''s AIDS group in newspaper articles across the country. And Denise finds true love for the first time, but struggles with the inappropriate timing of her personal happiness. Surprisingly, Darla also finds love−real love−in a time when she needs it the most. As the household struggles with the stress of living with a terminal illness, Katherine, Denise, and Darla learn just how strong their bond of friendship, and sisterhood, is.If you are a sister or best friend, you will love this story.

Michael DeCara came home from the Vietnam War a wounded man, both physically and emotionally. He tried putting his life back together, but found civilian life difficult after all he''d experienced in Nam. Raising his young daughter, Vanessa, by himself after his wife left, he found it difficult to commit to one job or one woman for any length of time. Then he met a young woman who made him feel good about himself again and who fell in love with Vanessa as well. But then a life-changing event occurred and he had to choose between his past and the present. He chose to leave without a word to the young woman, believing he was doing what was best for her. Now, years later, she has walked back into his life and he believes they may have a second chance at love–except she hates him and he doesn''t understand why. Danielle Westerly fell in love when she was only eighteen and her heart was broken when he left her without a word. Her heartache was increased when she made a fateful decision that would alter her future, and she blamed him for her loss. Years later, she is single and has built up a successful career when she accidently runs into the man who was responsible for her past pain. Yet, their chemistry is undeniable. Can Dani give up her anger and let go of the pain of the past and fall in love again with the man she has hated all these years? Dani and Michael share a journey of heartache, loss and painful memories that threaten to keep them apart. Can they break past these and finally find love again?