The Hope Chest

Series · 5 books · 2001

By Maura McKenzie, Laura Hayden, Pam McCutcheon, and more

Books in series

The Mesmerist

2001

an alternate cover edition can be found here An antique hope chest containing five unique objects . . . five people inexorably drawn to the items inside . . . each sent to the past where they must accomplish a task and find their own path to true love with the help of a magical matchmaker determined to bring soul mates together, even across time. On the eve of her wedding, dog trainer Gina Charles finds her fiancé in flagrante delicto with her maid of dishonor, so she flees to a hotel in a nearby town. Unfortunately, her room already has another occupant—a ghost with compelling dark eyes who cuddles up to her in the middle of the night. Gina reluctantly agrees to help the ghostly mesmerist, Drake Manton, learn how he died. When her investigation leads her to the burned-out Chesterfield hotel, Gina finds a hope chest in the ruins and is drawn to the melted dueling pistol inside. When she touches it, she and her faithful terrier hurtle back in time to 1883 where she comes face-to-face with the very alive, very sexy mesmerist. Now all Gina has to do is prevent Drake’s fiery death so she can return to her own time. Or will she give up her life in the future for a lifetime of love in Drake’s arms? Originally published as Enchantment by Zebra Ballad.

Fire with Fire

2001

An antique hope chest containing five unique objects . . . five people inexorably drawn to the items inside . . . each sent to the past where they must accomplish a task and find their own path to true love with the help of a magical matchmaker determined to bring soul mates together, even across time. Corrine Webb, former foster child and now five-star chef in Dallas, knows what she wants: her own restaurant and no emotional ties. Life has taught her that getting close to someone means loss and pain. So she jumps at the chance to miss the forced togetherness of Christmas in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains the last two weeks of December. Caught in a snowstorm, Corrie seeks shelter in the derelict Chesterfield Hotel where she is drawn to an old hope chest and its contents. Picking up the tin star with one broken point, she finds herself tossed back in time to 1886 where she’s expected to wait tables. Jess Garrett, former Army officer during the Indian Wars where he experienced too much bloodshed and violence, now enjoys being the police chief of the quiet resort town of Hope Springs, Virginia where he keeps the peace with smooth talk and fast fists rather than with his gun. His predictable life hits a bump when the Chesterfield Hotel hires an awkward waitress who is the complete opposite of the society ladies he usually chases. His pursuit of the outspoken and strangely charming Corrie unknowlingly puts her in danger. Drawn together across time, Corrie and the lawman fall in love. Yet how can she let him plan their future, knowing she will return to her own time at the summer solstice? And how far will Jess have to go to keep her safe? Originally published as Fire With Fire by Paula Gill.

Grand Design

2001

The Perfect Prince CharmingRestoring old paintings for Hope Springs' Historical Society isn't exactly what frustrated artist Cynda Madison wants from her career. And yet, she has no idea just how challenging her job will become when she begins work on the damaged portrait of handsome Prince Dimitri Karakov. Moved when she learns that he was tragically killed at the Chesterfield, Cynda decides to investigate his death. Then she finds the painting's tarnished nameplate in an old hope chest, and is instantly swept back in time to 1887, where she meets the prince himself - very much alive and disturbingly attractive. Cynda knows she must prevent Dimitri's death to return to her own life...but can she prevent herself from falling in love?

Stolen Hearts

2001

The historic Chesterfield Hotel once offered visitors the graceful charm of its sumptuous rooms and the healing waters of its nearby hot springs. In the present day, as five people unearth the hotel's century-old hope chest, each will be transported to a bygone age - and transformed by the power of true love.For years, the king of thieves known only as Delgatto has searched for the legendary emerald stolen from his family centuries before. But then fate leads him to a battered wooden box buried in the ruins of the Chesterfield Hotel. When he touches the broken gold chain inside, he is suddenly transported back a hundred years to find the Chesterfield in its heyday - and the Heart of Saharanpur around the neck of an innocent beauty. The glow in Emily Drewett's eyes puts the jewel to shame, and soon Delgatto is faced with a desperate decision. To claim his legacy, he must break Emily's heart. Torn between duty and desire, he must decide if what he really wants is the necklace, or something even more precious...Emily's devoted love.

At Midnight

2001

An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here. An antique hope chest containing five unique objects . . . five people inexorably drawn to the items inside . . . each sent to the past where they must accomplish a task and find their own path to true love with the help of a magical matchmaker determined to bring soul mates together, even across time. Reporter Trish “Mac” McAllister will do anything to get the story of a lifetime . . . although a trip back to 1892 wasn’t anything she even remotely imagined. After chasing a killer to a ramshackle building, Mac finds a weathered wooden chest. Opening it, she reaches for a pair of broken handcuffs . . . and suddenly finds herself aboard a nineteenth century locomotive with Pinkerton agent Jared Yates. Jared’s fiancée was killed two years ago at the fashionable Chesterfield Hotel and he’s been searching for her murderer ever since. When his path crosses the odd Miss McAllister’s, he finds an unlikely ally—and lover—in his hunt for justice. With the sole purpose of gaining information for her news story, Mac agrees to work with Jared. However, losing her heart to the sexy Pinkerton was never part of her plan. When the portal back to the future is opened for a moment in time, Mac has to decide whether a once-in-a-lifetime story is more important than a once-in-a-lifetime love... Originally published as At Midnight by Maura McKenzie.

Authors

I've been a reader all my life, starting out with fairy tales and graduating to reading everything in the house when I grew older, including my parents' romances, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, and action/adventure.If a writer can combine romance and humor with a fantasy, science fiction, or paranormal element, I'm hooked. Add action/adventure, and it's even better! Since I couldn't find quite enough books that combine these elements, I sat down to write some of my own. The result is the books you'll see on my website. I now live in Colorado with my three dogs: Mo, Daisy and Trixie. Pseudonyms: Pamela Luzier (Fantasy genre) and Parker Blue (Young Adult urban fantasy genre).

Karen Fox knew at age twelve that she wanted to be a writer. She loved putting down on paper the adventures of those characters who came to life in her head so that she could enjoy them over and over. She was much older before she realized that everybody didn’t have stories going on in their head and wondered if this made her a little bit weird. Though she’s lived around the country and in Europe with her Air Force husband and three now grown children, she finds it exciting to imagine new worlds, new species, new adventures, and possibilities for the future. This excitement shows itself in her stories. Upon discovering the local RWA writing chapter in Colorado Springs, Karen went on to sell her first book in 1996 and has gone on to sell several more over the years. As one who believes by giving, she receives, Karen spent several years in several positions on the local chapter of Romance Writers of America—Pikes Peak Romance Writers, served two terms on the RWA board, and has also served over 20 years with the Pikes Writers Conference. She also works on the annual NINC Conference. To date Karen has published eight paranormal romance books with Kensington, Leisure Books, and Berkley, plus a novella with BelleBooks and a short story with DAW. Her second book, Somewhere My Love, was a RITA Finalist in 1998. Prince of Charming, a paranormal romance, was a winner for the 2001 Award of Excellence in the Paranormal Category and Finalist for the 2001 National Readers’ Choice Award. Buttercup Baby, another book in the contemporary fae line, went on to win the Booksellers’ Best Award. She’s also published two sweet contemporary romance novels and three short stories in the ongoing Dogwood Series.