FICTION · GENERAL
Peggy Webb
Also known as: Anna Michaels, Elaine Hussey
You name it and multi-talented, award-winning, best-selling novelist Peggy Webb (a.k.a. Anna Michaels) has written it – romance, women’s fiction, literary novels, screenplays, and comedic cozy mysteries. Elvis and the Dearly Departed, the first Southern Cousins Mystery, was a Mystery Guild Featured Alternate Selection. The second and third books in the series are now available, and the fourth, Elvis and the Tropical Double Trouble, will be in bookstores September 27, 2011. The Tender Mercy of Roses (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, May 2011) written under her pen name Anna Michaels is a Featured Alternate Selection of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs and a Top Five Pick of Delta Magazine. Pat Conroy calls Anna’s literary fiction debut “astonishing.” A former adjunct instructor at Mississippi State University, Peggy likes to describe herself as “Southern to the bone and a pillar of the church and community.” Her friends say she is as down-to-earth as the characters she creates for her books and the roles she plays onstage at Tupelo Community Theater. She readily admits to being part Callie in the Southern Cousins Mystery series and part Maggie in her Pulitzer nominated novel Driving Me Crazy (2006). She even confesses she saw herself in her stage roles as M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” and The White Witch in “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.” But she denies being the model for characters in The Edge of Paradise and Duplicity (both now available as e-books) and particularly Confessions of a Not So Dead Libido. “I am compelled to write,” she says. “My muses won’t let me remain idle.” Peggy’s body of work is a stunning testament to her muse: almost 70 novels, numerous blues songs, more than 200 magazine humor columns and two screenplays. Currently, she is releasing her Loveswept romance backlist as e-books. “I’m delighted to bring these timeless love stories back to you. What fun to get reacquainted with feisty, independent heroines and strong, sexy heroes!” Five of Peggy’s romance classics are now available, with many more in the works. Her most current e-release is Where Dolpins Go, her beloved women’s fiction novel originally published as a Bantam Fanfare. This is a revised edition to make it compatible with the screenplay Peggy co-wrote when this book was optioned for film. In a career that spans nearly 26 years, this native Mississippian has seen millions of her books in print in more than 17 languages. Acclaimed by both fans and reviewers, Peggy’s novels consistently appear on bestseller lists and garner awards. Peggy was recently honored by Romantic Times at the International Booklovers’ Conference in Orlando as a “Pioneer in Genre Fiction.” Dubbed Queen of Comedy by her fans, Peggy forged the way for romantic comedy. She went back to her comedy roots with her mystery series. Her fans say, “To read a Peggy Webb novel is to howl with laughter.” Her classic romances are also big hits with her fans, especially the hilarious Duplicity, the groundbreaking A Prince for Jenny and her time-travel, Night of the Dragon. Although Peggy says she’s “just a farm girl who loves music and words,” to fans she’s the writer who makes them laugh, makes them cry and makes them ask, “Who is Rainman?”
Isaac stood there on the soil of the Land of Israel he had yearned to see all the days of his life.
— from Only Yesterday
Most acclaimed
The Accidental Princess
SHE WAS PLAIN. A CHURCH SECRETARY. A VIRGIN, FOR PETE'S SAKE! How could CJ Maxey possibly let herself get talked into running for Dairy Princess? Worse, once she was cajoled into doing just that, how would she survive Clint Garrett, the lip-smackingly gorgeous, love-'em-and-leave-'em reporter assigned to stick to her like a burr? SHE WAS IMPOSSIBLE! EXASPERATING! AND SHE HAD KILLER LEGS.... With her feisty tongue and blazing blue eyes, CJ intrigued Clint. Both wanton and winsome, she was trouble packaged as a princess. But how could Clint be sure? And why did her innocent smile make him want to rescue her? One thing was certain: this confounding beauty queen was driving him crazy - with desire!
Duplicity
Fiery, independent Dr. Ellen Stanford loves nothing better than being holed up in her mountain research facility, teaching the gorilla Gigi to "talk" using sign language. She doesn't have time to fulfill the Stanford family's expectations that she settle down to marriage and family. Instead of disappointing the family - again - she decides to hire a fake fiancé for the family reunion. Enter CIA agent Dirk Benedict, a loner whose only mistress is danger. When his car breaks down on Ellen's mountain where he is vacationing, she mistakes him for the fake fiancé her friend had sent up the mountain for her to interview. Intrigued by the opinionated, red-haired beauty - not to mention her 500-pound gorilla - Dirk decides to play along. Too late, the real fake fiancé enters the picture, takes one look at the gorilla and runs screaming off the mountain. What's Ellen to do but head to the family gathering in Tennessee with the dangerously sexy undercover agent who has already captured the heart of her gorilla? Sparks fly. Not to mention a pie or two when Gigi takes umbrage at being called an ape. She prefers fine animal gorilla. By the time the charade ends, Ellen and Dirk discover that their game of love has become all too real. When Gigi runs away and the two of them must join forces to keep her safe, they unleash a passion that blazes through the summer with the intensity of wildfire. But how can it survive when work beckons Ellen and danger calls Dirk's name
Private Lives
2005
When John heard Sam shrieking for help from his pigpen, where she'd gotten herself stuck, he did the honorable thing and rescued her - but touching Sam spelled trouble! With her veil of silken hair smelling of sunshine and wildflowers, Sam was a breath of fresh air, a blithe spirit invading his house, his privacy, and his troubled mind. A man whose brilliant singing career had left him feeling used and drained, John had retired - returning to the country place he loved to search for the dreams he'd somehow lost. Now Sam had filled his haven with laughter and provoked him outrageously, enticing him to kiss her, in the hay in the barn, by the tranquil river, in the shimmering glow of a late sunset...and he was powerless to deny her, or his own deep need. But Sam had secrets, too - and hurts that no one could share, not even the man whose music echoed in her heart and filled her soul. Would soothing John's pain with endless love heal the woman he'd sing to forever?