Virginia Kantra

Leaving the Losers in Your LifeThat was Nicole Reed's goal. And then he opened the door. Long, lean, gorgeous and definitely rough around the edges, Mark DeLucca was everything Nicole longed for - and everything she'd come to Eden to avoid.Then she started hearing the rumors about Mark. And stumbled across his secret. Seems that Mark had just inherited a son he'd never known about. Now the ex-military man was fumbling with being a daddy and turning to Nicole for help both day and night. But was this newfound need something Nicole could believe was just for her?

A woman learns to be the heroine of her own life in this heartfelt novel inspired by Anne of Green Gables by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra. She believed life could follow a plotline—until the story she was living unraveled. Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her the same impulsive charm, the same fiery imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley’s fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero. But when a string of real-life plot twists—a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father—pulls her back to the island she once couldn’t wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn’t follow a script. Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her “The Pest.” It’s time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

Four sisters face new beginnings in this heartfelt modern take on Little Women by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra. Amy March is more like her older sister Jo than she'd like to admit. An up-and-coming designer in New York's competitive fashion industry, ambitious Amy is determined to get out of her sisters' shadow and keep her distance from their North Carolina hometown. But when Jo's wedding forces her home, she must face what she really wants...and confront the One Big Mistake that could upend her life and forever change her relationship with Jo. Gentle, unassuming Beth grew up as the good girl of the family. A talented singer-songwriter, she's overcome her painful anxiety to tour with country superstar Colt Henderson. But life on the road has taken its toll on her health and their relationship. Maybe a break to attend her sister's wedding will get her out of her funk. But Beth realizes that what she's looking for and what she needs are two very different things.... With the March women reunited, this time with growing careers and families, they must once again learn to lean on one another as they juggle the changes coming their way.

Jack Rossi is Dare Island’s new police chief. The laid-back North Carolina community is just what he needs to recover from a rocky marriage and a big-city police department.  He’s learned his lesson: no more high-profile women or high-pressure jobs. The last thing he wants is an unconventional alt girl rocking his world.   Grad student Lauren Patterson made headlines when she kept a bank robbery from going bad.  She’s fled to Dare Island to clear her head and focus on writing her story. However, sexy Jack Rossi is a distraction that’s too hot to ignore, and it’s igniting an affair too combustible to resist—or quit.   But when their pasts come looking for them, Jack and Lauren find themselves fighting for the future they deserve, whatever the price.  

When it comes to love, anything can happen on Dare Island—especially in this latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.   After escaping a disastrous marriage, bakery owner Jane Clark has convinced herself that she has everything she needs—her precious son, a thriving business, and a roof over her head. But the arrival of a handsome stranger on the island shows her exactly what she’s been missing...   The only home Gabe Murphy ever had was the Marine Corps. He's working hard to rebuild his life. It will take a special place, and a special woman, to make him want to stay.   Now Gabe is determined to prove that he's worthy of Jane’s trust—and her love. But when her past reappears, that trust will be tested, and Jane and Gabe will have to fight hard to hold onto their love and make their dreams a reality...

Meg Fletcher spent her childhood dreaming of escaping Dare Island-her family's home for generations. So after she landed a high-powered job in New York City, she left and never looked back. But when she loses both her job and the support of her long-term, live-in boyfriend, she returns home to lick her wounds and reevaluate her life. Helping out her parents at the family inn, she can't avoid the reminders of the past she'd rather forget-especially charming and successful Sam Grady, her brother's best friend.Their one, disastrous night of teenage passion should have forever killed their childhood attraction, but Sam seems determined to reignite those long-buried embers. As Meg discovers the man he's become, she's tempted to open her vulnerable heart to him. But she has no intention of staying on Dare Island-no matter how seductive Sam's embrace might be.

A Dare Island Novella from the New York Times bestselling author of Carolina Dreaming...Determined to leave her wild past behind her, Cynthie Lodge is forging a new life for herself and her daughters—one that's man-free and drama-free. But not everyone is so eager to let go of the past. When sexy loner Max Lewis returns to Dare Island, seeing Cynthie again rekindles his feelings for his high school crush. Now he must convince her to take another chance on love.Previously Published in Ask Me WhyPraise for Virginia Kantra"Virginia Kantra delivers."—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author"It's always a joy to read Virginia Kantra."—JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author

Home to the Fletcher family for generations, Dare Island is a fishing village rocked by changing times--its traditions slipping away like sands of the North Carolina coast. Single dad and fishing boat captain Matt Fletcher deferred his own dreams to support his innkeeper parents and build a future for his sixteen-year-old son. Matt has learned to weather life's storms by steering a steady emotional course...and keeping a commitment-free approach to love. Newcomer Allison Carter came to Dare Island to escape the emotional demands of her wealthy family. The young teacher aims to build a life here, to make a lasting place for herself. She doesn't want to be another Woman Who Once Dated Matt Fletcher. It's both tempting and dangerous to believe she can be something more. Then Matt's brother Luke makes a sudden return home, with a child of his own--and a request that will change all their lives. With a child's welfare at stake, Matt must turn to Allison to teach him to let go of the past, open his eyes...and follow his heart.

Meet the Fletchers of Dare Island Steady Matt, the son who stayed Ambitious Meg, the daughter who never looked back And warrior Luke, the Marine who never expected to return.A heartwarming new novel in New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra’s beloved series about family ties, second chances, and the power of love… Marine Luke Fletcher is determined to do his duty—first to his country and now to his ten-year-old daughter, the unexpected legacy of a high school girlfriend. But his homecoming to Dare Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks challenges his plans for the future and forces him to face everything that's missing in his life. He wasn't prepared to lose his heart to this child he never knew. Or to fall hard for coolly reserved small town lawyer Kate Dolan. Former military brat Kate knows Marines can make lousy fathers...and she's got the scars to prove it. Giving her heart to a man who's bent on leaving seems one sure way to have it broken. Now, no matter what it takes, Luke must prove to Kate and to his daughter that Semper Fi is more than a motto—and to himself that there’s more than one way to be a hero.

Guilty Secrets by Virginia Kantra released on Mar 25, 2004 is available now for purchase.

From a chance encounter... Morgan of the finfolk does not normally waste his attention on humankind, but while in Copenhagen, he meets a young woman who captures his interest-if only for a night. On sojourn in Europe before starting medical school, Elizabeth is intelligent, attractive?and eager for a little adventure... A memory kept... Sixteen years later, Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez is called to the island of World's End to become its only doctor. There, she hopes to reconnect with her troubled son Zack, who has become withdrawn since her husband's death. She has no idea that World's End will also reconnect her with Morgan? And a future about to be born... From the moment Morgan lays his eyes on young Zack, he suspects the boy is finfolk-and his own son. As he and Liz clash over Zack's fate, they discover their desire is as strong as ever. But proud Morgan's loyalty has always been the sea, while Liz's responsibilities lie on land. Will their reignited passion be enough to bring them together? Or will their secrets force them apart?

"At one time MAD DOG AND ANNIE thought they'd have a future together, but he left town and she married his best friend. Now the sinfully sexy policeman unexpectedly returns and once again looks in her direction. Years of abuse from her soon-to-be-ex have made the single mom wary of love. Well-developed characters, strong emotions and good romantic tension blend beautifully in this first-rate Virginia Kantra offering." –RT Book ReviewsBad boy Maddox “Mad Dog” Palmer has loved Annie Barclay since they were kids. But when she married his high school teammate, golden boy Rob Cross, Maddox backed off and moved away. Now he’s back in town, and Ann is in trouble, threatened by both her abusive ex-husband and the law. Tender-hearted Ann is fighting for a new life and custody of her young son. She has enough on her plate without a burned out, big city cop reigniting an old flame or reminding her of the girl she used to be. Maddox tempts her beyond her safe boundaries. But can the first man who made Ann feel desire teach her to love again?Romance Writers of America RITA© Award finalistAll About Romance "Desert Isle Keeper"Praise for "emotionally compelling" New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra:"Virginia Kantra is back where we want her, writing fantastic contemporary romance." –Rendezvous "I'm a long time Virginia Kantra fan girl because every time I read one of her books, she reminds me why I read romance." –JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author"Kantra has to be the only romance author I've read whose characters are as rich as those of Nora Roberts." –The Romance Reader"I have read and enjoyed all of Virginia Kantra's books. One thing for sure, her heroes are some of the best in the business. They are strong and tender with a protective and nurturing streak and a deep commitment to family - all traits that I love." –All About Romance ***Snatching a couple of dirty glasses, Ann got busy, got moving, got her mind off Rob’s latest threats and Mitchell’s outgrown sneakers and the things she did and should have done with Maddox Palmer back in high school.No regrets, she reminded herself. Figure out what has to be done now, and do it. After nine years of having the spunk and the tar whaled out of her, initiative still came hard. But she was learning, she thought with satisfaction. In the past year, she’d had to learn.The cheery little bell over the door summoned her back to the hostess station. She grabbed a menu and a smile to welcome the new customer and then stopped dead and let both of them slide.It was him. Maddox Palmer, in the flesh. In jeans, she corrected herself, and a tan T-shirt that almost matched the color of his skin. She squeezed the menu tighter. This time the Cutler grapevine was right. He was handsomer than ever.He had to be over thirty now, big and broad and somehow harder. Solid. His face had a lot more lines. Well, he was three years older than her, though only two years ahead in school. He’d been kept back in first grade, she remembered, the year his mama died. He had thick brown hair that his new short cut couldn’t tame and hooded eyes that still saw right through her, and a juvenile-delinquent slouch that made him look tough and ready to react to whatever punch life threw at him. He dangled a cigarette between two fingers of his right hand, and he still had that not-a-dimple in his chin that tempted every good girl to press a finger to it.Ann damned the way her heart speeded up just at the sight of him.

From New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra comes a heartwarming modern novel inspired by the timeless classic Little Women. The March sisters—reliable Meg, independent Jo, shy Beth and stylish Amy—have grown up to pursue their separate dreams. When Jo followed her ambitions to New York City, she never thought her career in journalism would come crashing down, leaving her struggling to stay afloat in a gig economy as a prep cook-slash-secret food blogger. Meg appears to have the life she always planned—the handsome husband, the adorable toddlers, the house in a charming subdivision. But sometimes getting everything you ever wanted isn’t all it’s cracked up to be... When their mother’s illness forces the sisters home to North Carolina for the holidays, they’ll rediscover what really matters. One thing’s for sure—they’ll need the strength of family and the power of sisterhood to remake their lives and reimagine their dreams.

When the last available bachelor on World’s End island marries someone else, working mom Regina Barrone realizes that the love she yearns for isn’t just going to appear by magic... Dylan Hunter has returned to land for his brother’s wedding, but he is troubled. Years ago, he chose his life as a selkie—an immortal being of the sea—over the fragile and treacherous emotions of humanity... But Neither Regina nor Dylan foresee the future, where only love can save them—and the world.

First in the new The Children of the Sea series from the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Margred is a Selkie - a legendary being of the sea, able to shapeshift into seductive human form. And she has found a human she desires... Burned out from the big city, Caleb Hunter becomes police chief on the peaceful Maine island of World's End. Then he meets a woman who's everything he's ever dreamed of. Their passion is undeniable, irresistible ...and it may change the fate of humankind.

"A business consultant takes a temporary job in a small North Carolina town to help a struggling restaurateur get her eatery out of the red. Hidden secrets, however, make his task infinitely more difficult. Ms. Kantra's vibrant characters, engrossing plot and excellent pacing make the pages fly." - Romantic Times Book Reviews

A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra. Dorothy “Dee” Gale is searching for a place to belong. After their globe-trotting mother’s death, Dee and her sister Toni settled with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas, where Dee attends graduate school. But when Dee’s relationship with a faculty member, a bestselling novelist, ends in heartbreak and humiliation, she’s caught in a tornado of negative publicity. Unable to face her colleagues—or her former lover—Dee applies to the writing program at Trinity College Dublin. Dee’s journey to Ireland leads her to new companions: seemingly brainless Sam Clery—who dropped out of college and now runs a newsagent’s shop—is charming and hot, in a dissolute, Irish poet kind of way; allegedly heartless Tim Woodman—who stiffly refused to take back his ex-fiancée—seems stuck in his past; and fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur, who longs for the courage to tell her parents she wants to teach underprivileged girls rather than work in the family business. In a year of opportunities and changes, love and loss, Dee is mentored by powerful women in the writing program, challenging her to see herself and her work with new eyes. With her friends, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears—including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all. Faced with a choice with far-reaching consequences, Dee must apply the lessons she’s learned along the way about making a family, finding a home...and recognizing the power that’s been inside her all along.

A former Marine fighter pilot battling to help his young son recover from burns suffered in the accident that killed his wife finds new life when he meets a beautiful new surgeon. This is the kind of book every reader hopes to find: full of wonderful characters, exciting passion and tender love. A joy, indeed. Dedicated burn surgeon Kate Sinclair shields her tender heart behind a white coat and a coolly professional manner. But something about the little patient the nurses dub “Iron Man” and his vital flyboy father challenges her as a doctor and a woman. Since the car crash that killed his wife and almost took his son, pilot Patrick MacNeill’s life has revolved around his little boy. No one—no woman and certainly no interfering doctor—can intrude on their bond, forged in love and pain. When little Jack’s care brings these two together, it ignites a passion they can’t ignore. But their growing involvement threatens Patrick’s emotional barriers and Kate’s professional future. With so much at stake, will she trust her judgment...or her heart?

"A beautiful widow takes on THE REFORMING OF MATTHEW DUNN, the sexy cop assigned to her community policing effort. But after the murder of her prosecutor husband, can she risk loving another man whose job puts him in mortal peril? Ms. Kantra creates a superb romantic tension between her reluctant lovers as well as a memorable cast of characters." –RT Book ReviewsGolden Heart Winner “Best Romantic Suspense”Holt Medallion WinnerRT Book Reviews “Best First Series Romance” NomineeClare Harmon believes in second chances for the kids and ex-cons she employs through her neighborhood garden project. But she won't risk her heart and her life on any man again, especially one who gets shot at for a living. Tough cop Matt Dunn doesn't want the beautiful girl next door complicating his recent assignment to the new community policing assignment. But when danger forces them together, these two wounded souls just may take a second chance...on love.Praise for "emotionally compelling" New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra: "Virginia Kantra is back where we want her, writing fantastic contemporary romance." –Rendezvous "I'm a long time Virginia Kantra fan girl because every time I read one of her books, she reminds me why I read romance." –JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author"Kantra has to be the only romance author I've read whose characters are as rich as those of Nora Roberts." –The Romance Reader"I have read and enjoyed all of Virginia Kantra's books. One thing for sure, her heroes are some of the best in the business. They are strong and tender with a protective and nurturing streak and a deep commitment to family - all traits that I love." –All About Romance

Easygoing, easy-loving carpenter Sean MacNeill is good with his hands and quick on his feet. The last thing he’s looking for is a widow with baggage, no matter how appealing. Responsible Rachel is fleeing the aftermath of her husband’s suicide...and the men he owed money to. The last thing she wants complicating her new life is a sexy carpenter, no matter how tempting. But sometimes the last person you want is the one person you need...