Cross the Ocean

1871 . . . The very proud Duke of Wexford was about to have his orderly world blown apart. At the age of twenty-four, Blake Sanders had wed a beautiful, dutiful wife and she had borne him three children. But now as mid-life approached, the Duchess had the unheard of temerity to leave him! Too mortified by her behavior to mix in ton company, Blake sought companionship with his best friend and neighbor, Anthony Burroughs, and his wife Elizabeth. But Blake had forgotten the Burroughs were entertaining a houseguest, Elizabeths distant cousin, a spinsterish Amazon from America. Gertrude Finch, a champion for womens rights, had long ago decided most men were useless other than Uncle Fred whod raised her on his horse ranch near Chicago. While traveling with other Suffragists, Gert lectured women on the perils of passion and the value of independence but thought of neither when Blake kissed her. While opposite in nearly every way, other than an attraction neither could deny, their one night of passion would change her world, and send Gert scurrying her way back home across the ocean. When Blake discovered his heir had stowed away on Gerts ship, he set out on his own adventure to America, to bring the boy home and to see Gert once again. Traversing Americas vast wilderness, Blake discovered that Gert had changed his life. Whether riding the rails or meeting common folk, Blake saw a whole new way of living but most of all, he realized something about love. He found he was not immune, and his heart could love, and love deeply. 1871 . . . The Very Proud Duke Of Wexford Was About To Have His Orderly World Blown Apart. At The Age Of Nineteen Blake Sanders Had Wed A Beautiful, Dutiful Wife, And She Had Borne Him Three Children. But Now As Mid-life Approached, The Duchess Had The Unheard Of Temerity To Leave Him! Too Mortified By Her Behavior To Mix In Ton Company, Blake Sought Companionship With His Best Friend And Neighbor, Anthony Burroughs And His Wife Elizabeth. But Blake Had Forgotten The Burroughs Were Entertaining A Houseguest, Elizabeth’s Distant Cousin, A Spinsterish ‘amazon From America’. Gertrude Finch, A Champion For Women’s Rights, Had Long Ago Decided Most Men Were Pretty Useless Other Than Uncle Fred Who’d Raised Her On His Horse Ranch Near Chicago. While Traveling With Other Suffragists, Gert Lectured Women On The Perils Of Passion, And The Value Of Independence, But Thought Of Neither When Blake Kissed Her. While Opposite In Nearly Every Way, Other Than An Attraction Neither Could Deny, Their One Night Of Passion Would Change Her World, And Send Gert Scurrying Her Way Back Home Across The Ocean. When Blake Discovered His Heir Had Stowed Away On Gertrude’s Ship, He Sets Out On His Own Adventure To America, To Bring The Boy Home And To See Her Once Again. Traversing America’s Vast Wilderness, Blake Discovered That Gertrude Had Changed His Life. Whether Riding The Rails Or Meeting Common Folk, Blake Saw A Whole New Way Of Living, But Most Of All, He Realized Something About Love. He Found He Was Not Immune, And His Heart Could Love, And Love Deeply. 1891 . . . Jolene Crawford Crenshaw, heiress and Boston socialite, went from her family home directly to Landonmore upon her marriage, the mansion she shared with her handsome and charismatic husband. She'd never in her life worried in the slightest over anything as crass as the dollars required to maintain that home or the lifestyle she'd been born to. Her extensive yearly wardrobe, the stables and the prime horseflesh within it, even the solid silver forks and knifes that graced her table, were expected and required to maintain the social standing that she'd cultivated over the years. But suddenly she was a widow with little money and just her pride and her secrets to keep her upright. Max Shelby made his fortune in oil wells and cattle, but lost the love of his life the day his wife died. Now, his happy, carefree daughter needs instruction and guidance as she grows into a young lady and his dream of becoming a Senator from his adopted state of Texas seems out of reach with few political or social connections. The right wife would solve both problems. As it happens, his sister knows of a woman, a recent widow, charming, beautiful and socially astute, but in reduced circumstances, who may want to begin again. Max signed the wedding contract sight unseen. Will Jolene be able to shed her sorrows, anger and fears to begin anew away from the censure and hidden tragedy that marred her life? Is her new husband, confident, strong and capable Max Shelby, the man, the only man, to see past her masks to find the woman beneath?