


Books in series

#1
The Pepper in the Gumbo
2014
Alice Augustine runs the oldest bookstore in the historic district of Natchitoches and believes technology is the root of most problems. If only more people would turn off the TV and shut down the computer, the world wouldn't be in the mess it's in. If only she can get the teens she loves to step away from the screens, they might be able to hold on to their Creole culture. The only person who seems to understand her passion for classic literature is the mysterious website owner, Browning Wordsworth Keats.
Paul Olivier comes back to his home town determined to show the people of Cane River that he's not the poor, nerdy kid he once was. He's made a fortune designing video games and opening a giant electronics store right in the snooty historic district will be the crowning glory of his career. Unfortunately, one bookish anti-tech fanatic has decided to do everything she can to keep that from happening. Even worse, she doesn't know that in cyber space, they're best friends and kindred spirits.
Alice and Paul clash from the start, but nothing is ever quite as it seems. When secrets are revealed, will there be a second chance- for both of them?
A romance that brings the humor of You've Got Mail and the deep friendships of 84, Charring Cross Road, this romance will touch the classic literature lover in everyone.

#2
These Sheltering Walls
2015
An ex con who wears his crime on his sleeve.
A woman drowning in an ocean of secrets.
Can they find love and hope in each other?
Lorelei "Henry" Byrne was born cursed. Being able to spot a lie with perfect accuracy sounds like fun, until you have to live with it. Her whole existence has been hobbled by her hidden talent. She’s estranged from her family, has only one friend, and couldn’t get through a first date if her life depended on it. She throws herself into her work as the new head of the Cane River Creole National Heritage Park, resolving to be content in her solitude… until she meets Gideon, a man with nothing to lose and no reason to lie.
After spending most of his adult life in prison, Gideon Becket has built a quiet life around the Cane River archives. He doesn’t believe he deserves happiness after the crimes he’s committed. When Henry arrives in town, everything starts to change, and Gideon wonders if there’s hope for him after all. But just as he takes the first steps toward forgiving himself, his past comes back to haunt him. Does he hold on to his guilt, or does he take a chance on a new life? Letting Henry into his heart will mean confronting his own tragic past, and take a courage he isn't sure he has.
Set in the beautiful Cane River region around the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, this is the second book in the Cane River Romance series.
This is an inspirational, clean romance. There is no sex or swearing, but the book does address issues such as PTSD, family secrets, murder, life in prison, drug use, gangs, and there is a flashback to a child’s death. The characters experience dark, real-life struggles, and ultimately must decide whether to live a life of grace and forgiveness.

#4
A Star to Steer By
2015
Roxie Sunshine Hardy is perfectly happy living in Philadelphia, far away from her hometown. Growing up as a chubby nerd obsessed with classic literature, Roxie finally feels like she’s found her place in the world. She’s kept her full name a secret and has never, ever, ever told a single soul how she spent her high school years. People might think growing up in a family bakery is delightful, but Roxie knows the reality. Spending countless sweaty afternoons inside Sunshine Bakery’s big, pink foam cupcake costume is the stuff of her nightmares.
Those terrible days are behind her now, but when her family needs her, Roxie decides to return to Natchitoches. She assures herself that it’s only for a few weeks, and there isn’t a snowball’s chance in Dante’s Inferno that she’ll have to get into that cupcake suit.
Moving from New York City to Natchitoches shouldn’t be a problem for Andy McBride. The slower pace, Creole culture, and friendly locals make up for the lack of any good Thai take-out. But Andy hasn’t counted on how much he’d miss his brother, Mark. He can’t uproot Mark from his group home for the mentally disabled back in New York, so Andy tries to go on as usual. To everyone else, including his fascinating neighbor from Philly, he’s living the carefree life of a wealthy bachelor, but Andy is haunted by the knowledge that Mark might not be around for much longer.
When an unlikely friendship blossoms with Sunshine Bakery’s anonymous dancing cupcake, Andy decides to stop pretending to be someone he’s not. He learns seizing the day isn’t just for poets, and life is too short to be without the people you love. A story of family, loyalty, and a true love that can’t be disguised, A Star to Steer By will warm your heart.

#5
The Boundless Deep
2016
“It’s hard to live a lie. It’s even harder to show the world who you really are.”
A world class liar and a cheat, Rosie Black has always used her skills to get what she wanted. But when the law catches up to her and her career is destroyed, she finally decides she’s had enough. Hired to be a nanny to newborn twins, Rosie thinks life in the sleepy historical town of Natchitoches seems like a great way avoid the mistakes she’s made and the people she’s hurt. Her plan is to snuggle sweet babies during the day and retire to her quiet apartment above the little vintage bookstore at night. But there’s something special about By the Book, and despite her best intentions, Rosie is drawn into a tight-knit group of quirky, faithful friends. One man in particular makes her wonder if her life could ever be more than cautionary tale. But when Rosie’s past and present collide, will the promise of a second chance with Blue be enough to face the unthinkable?
A tale of hope, laughter, and finding your God-given purpose. This is a clean Christian inspirational romance, approximately 250 pages and includes recipes.
The Pepper in the Gumbo, Cane River Romance Book One (October 2014)
These Sheltering Walls, Cane River Romance Book Two (May 2015)
Only Through Love, Cane River Romance Book Three (July 2015)
A Star to Steer By, Cane River Romance Book Four (October 2015)
The Boundless Deep, Cane River Romance Book Five (March 2016)
Author

Mary Jane Hathaway
Author · 15 books
About the Author: Mary Jane Hathaway is the pen name of an award-nominated writer who spends the majority of her literary energy on subjects un-related to Jane Austen. A homeschooling mother of six young children who rarely wear shoes, she’s madly in love with a man who has never read Pride and Prejudice. She holds degrees in Religious Studies and Theoretical Linguistics, and has a Jane Austen quote on the back of her van. She can be reached on facebook at 'Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits' or her regular author page of Virginia Carmichael (which is another pen name, because she’s just that cool).