Loving's Forge Series by Mary F. Smith

“Starting over? That’s exciting, but painful at the same time, because it means a phase of your life has ended. And there’s that scary place in the middle, when one phase is over and the new phase hasn’t really begun." After her husband leaves her for a trophy wife, Anne-Marie Sullivan returns to her home town of Loving's Forge, determined to reinvent herself. Impulsively, she buys a stately but crumbling old mansion, which she intends to convert into an upscale bed and breakfast... more“Starting over? That’s exciting, but painful at the same time, because it means a phase of your life has ended. And there’s that scary place in the middle, when one phase is over and the new phase hasn’t really begun." After her husband leaves her for a trophy wife, Anne-Marie Sullivan returns to her home town of Loving's Forge, determined to reinvent herself. Impulsively, she buys a stately but crumbling old mansion, which she intends to convert into an upscale bed and breakfast. Tom Maguire is the best contractor in town, and Anne-Marie needs his help to renovate her bed and breakfast. But she broke his heart years ago, and he hasn't forgotten it. Neither of them can deny the growing attraction, but can they can they rekindle a love that ended long ago? less

"Perhaps there was no other purpose in loving than...to love. To feel and share joy. And perhaps there was no other purpose to art than to create beauty. But it had been a long time since he had loved for the sake of love, or created art for its own sake."When Jeannie Carson was a young college student, she spent a year in Paris and fell deeply in love with Pierre Delacroix, a struggling young artist... more"Perhaps there was no other purpose in loving than...to love. To feel and share joy. And perhaps there was no other purpose to art than to create beauty. But it had been a long time since he had loved for the sake of love, or created art for its own sake."When Jeannie Carson was a young college student, she spent a year in Paris and fell deeply in love with Pierre Delacroix, a struggling young artist. But Pierre's passion was his art, and when Jeannie returned to Loving's Forge, she tried to forget what had happened in Paris, and married her high school sweetheart.Decades later, now widowed, Jeannie returns to Paris for a visit. A long forgotten painting in a gallery leads her back to Pierre, and a terrible accident forces her to prolong her stay in Paris. Pierre offers to take care of her until she can travel, and the old feelings resurface.But bringing Pierre back into her life will force Jeannie to reveal a secret she had thought long buried - a secret that threatens to tear her family apart. less

“Even a wise man can be a fool in love.” The last person Roxanne Mason expects to turn up at her bed and breakfast is her estranged husband, Vince. He'd gone to prison more than twenty years ago for murder.But he's back, and he's determined to create havoc.To get away from Vince, Roxanne takes refuge in Loving's Forge. Liam O'Malley, owner of the Shamrock Pub, gives her a job and a place to live. There's mutual attraction, but neither is ready to risk a relationship... more“Even a wise man can be a fool in love.” The last person Roxanne Mason expects to turn up at her bed and breakfast is her estranged husband, Vince. He'd gone to prison more than twenty years ago for murder.But he's back, and he's determined to create havoc.To get away from Vince, Roxanne takes refuge in Loving's Forge. Liam O'Malley, owner of the Shamrock Pub, gives her a job and a place to live. There's mutual attraction, but neither is ready to risk a relationship. Both need to come to terms with tragedies in their past before they can love again.But when Vince strikes at Roxanne, the barriers come down and Liam finally reveals the secret he has kept for more than thirty years. less

"Love puts people in a kind of haze, you know. They don’t think clearly. Emotions take over. The heart leads, but the heart knows only its own ways, and not those of the world. More’s the pity."When Deputy Elmer Hodges gives a traffic ticket to Anita Bressett, the new librarian in Loving's Forge, he is smitten. His mother, Elvira, doesn't approve, and is determined to sabotage their relationship. She finds out that Anita is hiding a shameful secret... more"Love puts people in a kind of haze, you know. They don’t think clearly. Emotions take over. The heart leads, but the heart knows only its own ways, and not those of the world. More’s the pity."When Deputy Elmer Hodges gives a traffic ticket to Anita Bressett, the new librarian in Loving's Forge, he is smitten. His mother, Elvira, doesn't approve, and is determined to sabotage their relationship. She finds out that Anita is hiding a shameful secret. But in revealing that secret, Elvira gets caught up in her own web of deceit and must confront a painful scandal from her own past. less