A Season of Miracles

October 29, 2001
A 17th-century romantic tragedy haunts a 20th-century couple in this latest novel by prolific romance writer Graham (Night of the Blackbird). Jewelry designer Jillian Llewellyn works for her grandfather at Llewellyn Enterprises in Manhattan, where her cousins feud for power. Sunny Jillian, her grandfather's favorite, leads a charmed life, but as Halloween approaches, she is disturbed by strange dreams and troubled by the arrival at Llewellyn's of a new manager, darkly handsome Robert Marston. At a Halloween party, both Jillian and Robert are warned by a tarot card reader of impending danger, and told that they were connected in a previous life. Their attraction to each other in this life is plain, and on a Christmas-season company trip to the Llewellyn homestead in Connecticut, they grow closer. In Connecticut, too, Robert is prompted by a helpful ghost to do some research into the 1661 story of a woman burned to death as a witch in England. Do a number of attempts on Jillian's life have anything to do with that long-ago horror? Unfortunately, the 17th-century tale is retold so many times—in the prologue, in the historical account of the times and in two different diary excerpts—that the repetition undermines the plot's punch. The Llewellyn family wrangling functions as an entertaining sideshow, but as the tale builds to a climax, its credibility is weakened by unlikely developments—the number of times Robert saves Jillian from attempts on her life alone borders on the absurd. Narrative flaws aside, diehard fans will relish the cozy Connecticut Christmastime setting.

November 15, 2001
A violent, tragic 17th-century love affair impacts the lives of a wealthy modern family as the characters are given another chance to "get it right" in this fast-paced, intricately plotted tale that, despite its Christmas setting, is far from the typical warm and cozy holiday romance. Warned of violent danger and enemies by a fortune-teller one Halloween, heiress and jewelry designer Jillian Llewellyn is far too practical to take such nonsense seriously; but when a few too many accidents, terrifying dreams, and unexplained feelings and memories begin to plague her, she knows she must find some answers. Ghostly visitors and an English history book provide clues in this compelling, darkly magical tale of enduring love and reincarnation, which will please fans who want a holiday romance with a paranormal twist and a bit of a mystery besides. Graham (Night of the Blackbird), who also writes as Shannon Drake and Heather Graham Pozzessere, is a New York Times best-selling author and lives in Miami.

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2001
Handsome and powerful, Robert Marston is the outsider brought into the Llewellyn family business by the patriarch, Douglas. One reason he is hired is to watch over Douglas' beautiful and likable granddaughter, Jillian, who Douglas believes is in danger. At a Halloween party, a tarot card reader is extremely upset by Jillian, as is Jillian by the card reader. As she makes her way out of the bar to get some air, she comes face to face with Robert, who she hadn't yet met. Stricken by a wave of pain, Jillian faints dead away, and so begins their acquaintance. Or does it? It seems that they had a past life together that went terribly wrong. As they come to know one another, events start to mirror the past, and Robert realizes that Jillian truly is in danger. With witchcraft, ghosts, and suspects aplenty, Graham's spooky romance is hard to put down.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)