Rachelle J. Christensen – författare

A Cuban refugee and a billionaire wannabe.

Shawn Halstrom has an assignment: travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to investigate the Heart of Atlanta refugee center so that Burke Enterprises can make a donation. The job should take two weeks tops, but he wasn’t planning on falling for a Cuban refugee named Carolina Diaz. She’s a single mother who isn’t interested in dating, even if the guy might be a billionaire.

When work pairs the unlikely duo together, Shawn and Carolina see a different side to each other and the world. Carolina’s son, Daniel, captures Shawn’s heart and the possibilities for a different future unfold. But when the refugee center where Carolina works faces closure, the two must decide if they are strong enough to work through the difficulties ahead and if love is a risk they’re willing to take.

Anika Fletcher hates Christmas—its promises of good tidings and hope for the future are as tinseled as the ornaments on Kenworth’s Hope Tree. Despite her feelings, Anika wants to maintain her daughter’s faith in the magic of the season and gladly accepts a second job working with the handsome Carlos Rodriguez to restore Kenworth’s old fashioned soda fountain.

Carlos is no stranger to hard times and slowly shares his life of light and joy with Anika as they work together. Just as her fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything. Anika isn’t sure who she can trust or if hope is worth nurturing—especially at Christmas, when it’s easy to enjoy a kiss and believe love can last longer than the season.

As the head librarian of the Echo Ridge Library, Britta Klein thrives on order and categorization. Unfortunately, the old church-turned-library is in desperate need of a renovation. The Harvest Hurrah fundraiser seems to be the answer, but plans keep going awry. With help from Milo Geissler, accomplished musician, piano tuner, and kiss thief, each catastrophe is narrowly avoided. When Milo goes to great lengths to help Britta find a key classic book, she begins to wonder if there is more to life than books and order. Can she allow this man who speaks the language of music to tune her heart to a new song?

Welcome to Echo Ridge, New York, where romance finds its way into the hearts and lives of the people who walk the streets of the close-knit community.

What happens when you meet a prince in hiding on the streets of Echo Ridge?

When a mysterious man offers to help Elise redecorate the old Bed & Breakfast, she gladly hands him a wallpaper steamer. After she discovers his true identity, she doesn’t know whether to curtsy or run and hide. Unfortunately, hiding isn’t an option because her heart is already tangled up with the handsome prince. At the same time, Elise’s old crush from high school wants a relationship, and Elise is forced to decide whether to chase after a fairy tale ending or stay grounded in reality.

Do you remember your first love? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you had a second chance to follow your heart?

When Laney Richins left Echo Ridge, New York, eight years ago, she vowed she’d never return, but life had other plans. Those plans included her cute little boy and a divorce, so Laney moved back home and started over. Working in the flower shop seems like the perfect plan until Billy Redford, the man she should have married, shows up.

Billy’s heart was broken when his high school sweetheart turned her back on him and fled Echo Ridge for the big city lights. Running into Laney in Echo Ridge now brings up past feelings he thought were long gone. She’s prettier than ever, still seems to read his mind, and despite his protests ends up on the building and decorating committee with him for the Homecoming dance. Billy knows how to build just about anything, but he isn’t sure he knows how to mend a broken heart.

Come back to Echo Ridge and delight in four contemporary romances! Each heartwarming, inspirational story is set in beautiful upstate New York.

Hope for Christmas

Anika Fletcher hates Christmas, but she wants to maintain her daughter’s faith in the magic of the season and gladly accepts a second job working with the handsome Carlos Rodriguez to restore Kenworth’s old fashioned soda fountain. Carlos is no stranger to hard times and slowly shares his life of light and joy with Anika as they work together. But just as her fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything.

The Kiss Thief

As the head librarian of the Echo Ridge Library, Britta Klein thrives on order and categorization. Unfortunately, the old church-turned-library is in desperate need of a renovation. The Harvest Hurrah fundraiser seems to be the answer, but plans keep going awry. With help from musician Milo Geissler, each catastrophe is narrowly avoided. When Milo goes to great lengths to help Britta find a key classic book, she begins to wonder if there is more to life than books and order.

The Princess Bride of Riodan

When a mysterious man offers to help Elise redecorate the old Bed & Breakfast, she gladly hands him a wallpaper steamer. After she discovers his true identity, she doesn’t know whether to curtsy or run and hide. Unfortunately, hiding isn’t an option because her heart is already tangled up with the handsome prince.

Coming Home to Love

When Laney Richins left Echo Ridge, New York, eight years ago, she vowed she’d never return, but life had other plans. Those plans included her cute little boy and a divorce, so Laney moved back home and started over. Working in the flower shop seems like the perfect plan until Billy Redford, the man she should have married, shows up. Billy knows how to build just about anything, but he isn’t sure he knows how to mend a broken heart.

An auto accident with a bad boy sparks a fake engagement … Is it fate or a heartbreaking mistake?

After her fiancé dumped her just months before their wedding, Liza Sorenson swore off dating. The holiday season is ruined when Liza is forced to attend a design conference and meet with her ex—the guy who now wants her back. She needs help to fend off her ex, so when she gets into an accident with Jaime Maldonado, she sees an opportunity.

After a run-in with the police, Jaime becomes the “bad boy” of Echo Ridge. He needs to present a good image to fight off his ex-wife and win an upcoming court battle involving the custody of his son. An auto accident is the last thing he needs until he realizes he might be able to use it to his advantage.

Jaime and Liza enter into a fake engagement, each with the intention of using the other to solve their problems, but they didn’t bargain on getting their hearts entangled with their agreement. Liza is hesitant to trust and Jaime is hiding a secret bigger than she could ever imagine. Will this fake engagement damage their hearts or help them find a way to heal?

Adrielle Pyper knows how to plan a wedding, and she is especially good at pleasing “bridezillas.” But when her biggest client and best friend is murdered just three days before the wedding, Adri’s world falls apart. She moves to the resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho, and starts from scratch. Thanks to Adri’s impeccable taste and unique style, she lands two celebrity clients, and her business seems headed for success—that is, until someone vandalizes the specialty wedding dresses she imported from overseas. The race is on to uncover a secret hidden within the yards of satin and lace before Adri becomes the next victim. With a delightful blend of mystery, toe-curling kisses, humor, and spine-tingling thrills, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things is a romantic suspense novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

When wedding planner Adrielle Pyper orchestrates a destination ceremony in Hawaii, she’s prepared for anything—except murder.

After the trauma of her last event, the beautiful isle of Kauai is the perfect place for Adri to unwind and do what she does best—plan. She even lets herself indulge in the attention of the groom’s handsome brother. But just when everything seems to be perfect, an afternoon snorkeling trip turns deadly when Adri discovers the body of a young woman.

Shaken, but unable to let go, Adri’s sleuthing leads her into more danger than she bargained for. When a number of “accidents” threaten her own life, it soon becomes apparent that someone will do anything to keep Adri from interfering with their vengeance.

Love can be a very dangerous thing.

At least it seems that way to Adri Pyper, the premier wedding planner in Sun Valley, Idaho. When one of her clients dies mysteriously, Adri takes the advice of the local detective and swears she will stay out of the investigation … this time.

Luke Stetson’s involvement in the case, along with the possibility of a kiss between the two, should be enough incentive to keep Adri out of trouble. But when a dog-themed wedding is almost ruined by a suspect, Adri and her assistant, Lorea, are thrust into private-eye mode. When poison enters the picture, even a reluctant sleuth can’t steer clear of danger.

Christmas Kisses is a collection from five bestselling and award-winning authors. Set in the snowy town of Echo Ridge in upstate New York, these inspirational romances are sure to delight while you sip cocoa by the fire and listen to Christmas carols.

The Candy Counter Heiress by Lucy McConnell

Someday Reese Gates will own the Candy Counter at Kenworth’s. Unfortunately for Reese, even the best laid plans can melt like chocolate.

Christmas Makeover by Cami Checketts

When Chelsea Jamison realizes she’s fallen for her best friend, she wonders if there is any hope of a relationship with Drew or if she’s stuck in buddy status for life.

Hope for Christmas by Rachelle J. Christensen

Just as Anika Fletcher’s fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything and Anika isn’t sure who she can trust or if hope is worth nurturing.

Soda Fountain Christmas by Connie E. Sokol

Keira Kenworth has one focus this holiday season: to save her father’s old-time department store from bankruptcy—not to dwell on Tayton Wells, the tall, dark, and genius marketing guru hired to make it happen.

One Winter Night by Heather Tullis

Jonah Owens needs to sell his grandmother’s house—which would be easier if his neighbor didn’t have all those farm animals. Kaya Fiedler’s family has owned their land for nearly a hundred years—and there’s no way she’s giving up the animal therapy business she’s been struggling to make profitable.

Welcome to Echo Ridge, New York, where romance finds its way into the lives of the people who walk the streets of the close-knit community. In these five novellas, listeners will experience the power a book has to change a life, make dreams come true, and bring two hearts together.

The Kiss Thief by Rachelle J. Christensen

The old Echo Ridge library is in desperate need of a renovation. Librarian Britta Klein’s heart refuses to be swayed by musician Milo Geissler and his irresistible dimpled smile. But when he helps her find a key classic book, Britta wonders if there is more to life than books and order.

The Lion, the Witch & the Library by Lucy McConnell

Jennifer Solomon’s birthday wish is to have the one person she’s been too shy to go after: Kirke Staples, her best friend. Friend, as in don’t fall in love with the man. But it’s too late. In her efforts to win Kirke’s heart, Jennifer is forced to decide what type of woman she wants to be.

The Last of the Gentlemen by Cami Checketts

Working nights and struggling through life, Emma Turner doesn’t leave much time for romance. But when her son’s good-looking lacrosse coach takes an interest in her children, Emma has to fight off desire and banish her daydreams. If only she could tell that to her heart.

Much Ado about a Kiss by Heather Tullis

The one thing Fay doesn’t need right now is a guy in her life—especially her brother’s irritating best friend from high school, whose kiss made her heart flutter. Why does he have to upset her just-fine world? Not this time. Not if she can help it. But can she?

Pride & Persuasion by Connie E. Sokol

Lindy Marchant is roped into the Echo Ridge library fundraiser to become an assistant for Armand D. Beaumont, a bestselling detective writer. While Armand inadvertently assists Lindy with the shop, she uncovers his painful truth and an inconvenient growing attraction.

Silver Screen Kisses is a collection of stories inspired by movies that are on every favorite-movie list. Written by award-winning and bestselling authors, these contemporary romances take the reader back to Echo Ridge in the spring, when the promise of new love is budding just like the tulips around the Emerald Inn Bed & Breakfast.

In “My Fair Lacey” by Janette Rallison, we hear the story of Lacey, who has dreamed of opening a restaurant for years—but first she needs a loan. When Garrett Halifax, her roommate’s Harvard-educated brother, offers to help her clean up her appearance and manner to impress the bank manager, she jumps at the chance—but will she be able to keep up appearances without falling for the sexy Garrett?

“The Princess Bride of Riodan” by Rachelle J. Christensen is the story of Elise, who accepts the help of a good-looking stranger in redecorating her old bed & breakfast. When she finds out who he is, she doesn’t know whether to curtsy or run and hide—but her heart is already tangled up with the handsome prince. Will she chase the fairy-tale ending or choose her high school sweetheart and stay grounded in reality?

The anthology also includes “You’ve Got Email” by Heather Tullis, a story of sexy mistaken identity and online romance; “My Best Man’s Wedding” by Cami Checketts, in which a fake fiancé becomes a real lover; and “While You Were Skiing” by Lucy McConnell, the tale of a handsome skier with a head injury who thinks the beautiful hostess of the ski lodge is his fiancée—so of course, she plays along.

Do you remember your first love? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you had a second chance to follow your heart? In this collection of novellas written by award-winning and bestselling authors, come home to Echo Ridge as summer winds down and hearts once broken and lost are given one more chance, a second chance to love.

A Brand New Second Chance by Lucy McConnell

With a broken heart and an unsure future, Abigail Martin moves home to Echo Ridge to capture the parts of her teenage years she missed out on because she’d had a steady boyfriend. Kissing a random guy, flirting with strangers, hanging out at Fay’s after a football game—all of it. Carter Montgomery offers his help, because he’s a helpful kind of guy, and she quickly falls for his quiet humor, kindness, and heated kisses. Fearing that she hasn’t lived enough of life to settle down, Abigail must decide if she’s going to break Carter’s heart or give love a brand-new second chance.

A Perfect Fit by Janette Rallison

Jojo Halifax believes that winning Echo Ridge’s float competition is just what her fledgling art career needs. And if that means giving her ex-boyfriend, Anthony, a second chance so she can be a designer on his team, well, she’s willing to make the sacrifice. But when a lost bet leads to a blind date with her brother’s friend Wyatt, she begins to have second thoughts about second chances. Wyatt is handsome and charming and just might have been paid to make her forget about Anthony. Is falling for his charm worth the risk, or should she take Anthony back again?

Almost Home by Heather Tullis

Damon lived in ten towns while growing up, but Echo Ridge is one of the few that started to feel like home before his parents relocated their family again. Now a widower, moving back to the small ski resort town is irresistible for him—but somewhat less so for his daughter, Maggie. Learning that Haley, the girl who had gotten away, is back in town is an unexpected bonus. When Haley left a high-powered job in New York City to take care of her grandmother, she never expected to run into the boy she’d been crushing on sixteen years earlier. When they end up working together on the homecoming float, she finds the attraction between them just as compelling as before. But when given a choice, will she give him her heart or leave love behind to return to her job in the city?

Change of Plans by Cami Checketts

Kaitlyn Johanson comes home to Echo Ridge planning to bring the sparks back with her high school boyfriend, Mason, work at Kenworth’s, and enjoy family and the beautiful valley. She never expected her heartthrob—nationally-acclaimed lacrosse player, Axel Olsen—would visit her hometown. When Axel steals her attention, and possibly her heart, from the man she was supposed to marry, she has to choose between taking a risk on new love or giving old love a second chance.

Coming Home to Love by Rachelle J. Christensen

When Laney Richins left Echo Ridge, New York, eight years ago, she vowed she’d never return, but life had other plans. Those plans included her cute little boy and a divorce, so Laney moved back home and started over. Working in the flower shop seems like the perfect plan until Billy Redford, the man she should have married shows up. Billy Redford’s heart was broken when his high school sweetheart turned her back on him and fled Echo Ridge for the big-city lights. Running into Laney in Echo Ridge now brings up past feelings he thought were long gone. She’s prettier than ever, still seems to read his mind, and despite his protests, ends up on the homecoming dance’s building and decorating committee with him. Billy knows how to build just about anything, but he isn’t sure he knows how to mend a broken heart.

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Autumn Collection.

In Heather Horrocks'' charming story, A Hound Dog Named Elvis, interior designer, Kaitlin Hartley returns to her hometown of Aspen Grove, California, to the job of her dreams after a year of specialized training in New York. During the town''s Autumn Festival, she enters her dachshund, Elvis, into the Running of the Hallowieners race. Joshua Moore, the man who hadn''t wanted her to leave Aspen Grove, but hadn''t waited for her either, enters Elvis''s sister, Priscilla. When Kaitlin gets home afterward, she realizes Elvis has left the building—with Joshua. She has the wrong dog! Can she get her dog—and the man she''s never stopped loving—back?

Eye for an Eye, Stephanie Black''s thrilling novella, follows Mallory as she is just getting her life back together, living with her sister and brother-in-law and starting college. After a difficult few years following a family tragedy, she''s finally ready to move forward, which includes getting to know the charming Darien better. But when illegal drugs turn up in her sister''s drawer, the first person accused is Mallory, and suddenly she doesn''t know who to trust. She turns to Darien, but with all evidence pointing at her, she doesn''t know if Darien is the man to save her.

In First Heist, a suspenseful novella by Heather B. Moore, Mia, an undercover agent is about to make a handoff to co-agent, Omar Zagouri. But before she can complete her assignment, her cover is blown, and she finds herself escaping with Omar. The only problem is, her boss warned her about Omar and his sketchy history of landing himself in the middle of danger. After losing her mother in an attack planned for Mia, pulling off any heist with a man like Omar is the last thing she needs for her career...or her life.

Sarah M. Eden''s cozy mystery, Letter for Two, we meet Sophia, who looks forward to the 5:30 p.m. mail sorting she does with her next door neighbor, Ethan. They live in a renovated house, now split into two apartments. Ethan is one of those dreamy, smart guys, but he shows no interest other than being friendly toward Sophia. When they find a mysterious letter addressed to Eleanor, dated to 1953, Sophia and Ethan determine to solve the puzzle together. Sophia knows that spending evenings with Ethan in "research" might be her only chance to convince him that she should be more than just a neighbor.

In the enchanting novella, Silver Cascade Secrets, by Rachelle J. Christensen, Jillian is the master landscaper at a beautiful park. Meeting Travis there soon after breaking up with her boyfriend, Jillian is wary at first. Travis seems like a great guy, but Jillian had fallen for great guys before. When she learns that his brother, Craig, was murdered six months before, her heart goes out to Travis. True to her curious nature, she starts asking questions and learns about Craig''s close connection with the park. But finding the answers puts Jillian''s life in danger, and she must decide who she really trusts.

Chocolate Obsessed, a captivating romantic suspense by Annette Lyon, we meet Whitney, an executive pastry chef who is working her resort''s booth at the New York Chocolate Show. The only problem is that she shares the shift with her arch rival, Stephen. But then an unexpected visitor shows up: Jeremy, a man who lost a dessert competition she judged. When Jeremy confronts her and becomes threatening, Stephen gets Jeremy dragged off by security. But that doesn''t throw Jeremy off for long; soon Stephen and Whitney are running for their lives.