Tales of the Pacific

Series · 4 books · 1988-1989

By Emilie Richards

Books in series

From Glowing Embers

1988

Former lovers are reunited as a hurricane approaches the island of Oahu. Once, Julianna was plain Julie Ann, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who dared to love the son of the town's most powerful family. Gray loved her, too, and married her to give their unborn child a name, but sometimes love isn't enough. Ten years later they meet again. She is successful, beautiful, and certain that a decade ago he betrayed her, but despite their painful past, both are helpless to deny a love that never died. As secrets are slowly revealed and new and surprising friendships develop with other refugees from the storm, the past and present come together in one tumultuous explosion. From Glowing Embers is the first book of a four book series set among four islands in the Pacific. Smoke Screen, Rainbow Fire and Out of the Ashes follow, featuring characters introduced here.

Smoke Screen

1988

Lost in a landscape of boiling mud pools and geysers, Paige Duvall wonders if she's finally descended into hell. The land her mother inherited in New Zealand is not the pastoral paradise she hoped for, a place where the worldly young woman hoped to recover from another failed relationship. Instead one wrong step can end her life. Then the devil himself, Maori sheep farmer Adam Tomoana, emerges from the swirling mists to guide her to safety. While she must rely on Adam to guide her home, is it safe to trust this man with her heart? While she is fascinated by their encounter, only Adam knows that it's not their first. Both are battered souls; both need healing, as does Adam's small silent son. But to heal, both must tell the whole truth, and there are secrets in Paige's past, and relationships she can't remember. If Adam reveals them, will he drive her away, or will he win her love forever?

Rainbow Fire

1989

Over the rainbow to Oz In the dusty Australian outback, a priceless treasure lies under ancient silt stone and sand: opals that gleam with rainbow fire and spark greed and betrayal in the hearts of men. Kelsey Donovan doesn't care about opal. She arrives in Coober Pedy to look for a different treasure, the precious jewels of family and belonging. But when Kelsey finds Jake Donovan, the father she's never known, she is almost too late. Jake is in a coma, hovering between life and death after a mysterious cave-in at the Rainbow Fire mine that he owns with a stranger named Dillon Ward. And who better to benefit from Jake's death than his partner? What can Kelsey do for the father whose love she's always craved except safeguard what belongs to him? She sets out to protect the Rainbow Fire from Dillon himself, and to discover the truth behind her father's accident. Sometimes though, the most precious of treasures isn't found in mines or in rewriting a difficult past, a painful lesson Kelsey learns almost too late. After all her struggles, could the greatest of treasures be standing right in front of her?

Out of the Ashes

1989

For Alexis Whitham, Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia seems like the perfect place to escape with Jody, her daughter, and begin a new life free from the escalating abuse of her ex-husband. In their new hideaway she can write, and Jody, an adaptable gifted child, can find friends and grow up in safety. For Matthew Haley, the remote destination is a place to hide, as well. A ranger at Flinders Chase park at the farthest reaches of the island, he can live in solitude and avoid confronting the pain of his past. Then his new American neighbor brings him an injured koala, and Matthew finds that no matter how much he wants to, he can't escape Alexis or her enchanting nine-year-old daughter. But while Matthew may find a way to put his past to rest, Alexis' may yet come back to haunt her.

Author

Emilie Richards

Author · 52 books

I'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose. I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see. I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit. Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil. Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.