FICTION · CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Helen Conrad
Also known as: Helen Conrad, Jena Hunt
Helen Conrad was born on April 11 in Pasadena, California, U.S.A. and grew up between Holland, Guam, and California, and spent a few years in Washington, D.C. as well. She obtained a B.A. in English Literature. Helen was working toward a Master's in Library Science when she dropped out to have her first son. "One look into those baby blue eyes and I knew it was going to be a long time before I went back to school. But with young ones, you do have time to read, and the more I read, the more I learned about writing". She started writing because she felt guilty about spending so much time reading. "Through writing I figured I could still immerse myself in the stories I love, but I could actually claim I was working! The amazing thing was when I sold my first book and the excuse was justified. Dreams really do come true!" After years of writing romantic suspense in the style of Mary Stewart and children's books in a lot of styles, she finally sold a romance to Jove's Second Chance at Love and there was celebration all around-at least in her ever-patient family of husband and four boys. She published four more romances for Jove under the name Jena Hunt, then began writing Silhouette Desires. A few sales to Bantam Loveswept and Harlequin Romance, Temptationand SuperRomance under the name Helen Conrad followed, as well as to Harpers, Dell Ecstasy, Mills & Boon, and even an historical with Zebra. Today, she is concentrating on Silhouette Romance, completely captivated by the breezy fun and touching poignancy of their compact, to-the-point form. She feels the perfect "quick read" should make the reader smile, sigh and put the book down feeling better about the state of love in the world. Now, she lives in the Los Angeles area now with Nick, her geologist-computers cientist husband and the two of her four sons who still live at home."Having the boys around helps keep me up on the current trends," she says with a laugh. "But writing helps keep me in touch with the romance that weaves through the everyday lives we all live."
Most acclaimed
Tears of gold
Vengeance leads Nicholas around the world in search of the temptress Mara until their meeting turns his desire for revenge into passionate love. Haunted by the memory of her aristocratic father's desertion of his mistress and children, Mara O'Flynn grew up despising men. She sought her livelihood in the theater, where, as a beautiful actress, she found vengeance in enchanting and discarding suitors, teasing them with subtle promises of ecstasy only to reject them with an air of finely tuned cruelty. It was an amusing sport... until the young Lord Julian--half mad with desire--shot himself. Then Mara, with her brother Brendan and his small son Paddy, departed for America. Brendan hoped to strike it rich in the California hills... Mara wanted only to forget young Julian's desperate act. She had no idea that Julian's uncle, Nicholas Chantale, was in pursuit. Dashing, reckless and rich, Nicholas Chantale had vowed revenge on the temptress who brought his nephew to such an extreme. Nicholas desired one thing--to win the affection of this evil beauty and then spurn her! Unsuspecting, Mara found herself in love, her long-suppressed passions awakened for the first time... by a man whose seductive allure concealed the hate in his heart!
Those Baby Blues
A new baby doctor has come to Tyler to start a practice and raise some kids of his own. But first he needs a wife. A nice old-fashioned girl. A stubborn tenant in his newly inherited home refuses to vacate his property, messing up his well-laid plans. She doesn't like kids, and there's something in her past she isn't sharing.... Yet, against his will, he's glad she won't leave.
Diamond in the rough
A Pulitzer Prize-Winning RomanceMiranda Shaw's world shattered the instant her star pitcher father was accused of cheating--and her family was destroyed forever. Decades later, the last thing she needed was some sportswriter digging into their business. No matter how handsome and charming he was...Mike Marlowe knew there was more to the story--and to the beautiful, elusive woman who stirred him even more than sniffing out a scoop. But Miranda was as fiercely protective of her heart as she was of her family name. Mike's relentless pursuit of the truth could rob him of the real headline: true love!