A Season of Miracles [Hardcover]

Heather Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

In a time long ago, in a land under siege, the fury of revolt pushed a knight and a lady of the manor into a secret, forbidden love -- until treachery destroyed it all in a fiery cataclysm that shattered what could have been . . .

Heiress to a powerful family empire, jewelry designer Jillian Llewellyn is envied by women, desired by men and fiercely protected by her loyal, gregarious family. Since her husband's death a year ago, Jillian has withdrawn, focusing only on her work. But this yuletide season, something unimaginable is going to shatter her safe world, drawing her into a web of danger and desire.

At the center of the storm is a handsome stranger, Robert Marston, the new silent partner at Llewellyn Enterprises. Dark, powerful and disturbing, he is as formidable as he is intimidating . . . as mysterious as he is familiar. The connection she feels is bone deep -- as if they've known each other before.

As the Llewellyn family celebrations move from Manhattan to their elegant Connecticut farmhouse, several bizarre accidents strike Jillian -- and a chilling fear that someone wants to harm her begins to grow. She recognizes this terror from a memory she can't explain or understand. But who at Llewellyn Enterprises would want her dead? A co-worker? A member of her own close-knit family? Against, her will, she is drawn to Robert, unsure whether he is her salvation . . . or her damnation. Perhaps he is both, but only he can prevent the nightmare from happening again.

As the ghosts of the past are resurrected, Jillian and Robert must unlock the timeless secrets of passion and betrayal . . . clashing once again in a drama of murder and intrigue. Three hundred years ago, two lovers were damned by the fires of treachery. In another lifetime, the man Jillian loved tried but failed to save her. Now, in this season of magic and miracles, two lost souls are being given a second chance.

At Christmas time, anything is possible . . . if you believe.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

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 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Mira (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551668734
• ISBN-13: 978-1551668734
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,643,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Heather Graham was born somewhere in Europe and kidnapped by gypsies when she was a small child. She went on to join the Romanian circus as a trapeze artist and lion tamer. When the circus came to South Florida, she stayed, discovering that she preferred to be a shark and gator trainer.

Not really.

Heather is the child of Scottish and Irish immigrants who met and married in Chicago, and moved to South Florida, where she has spent her life. (She has, at least, been to the Russian circus in Moscow, where she wished she was one of the incredibly talented and coordinated trapeze artists.) She majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred and fifty novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, horror, and Christmas family fare.

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty-five languages, and has had over seventy-five million books in print. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, the Lifetime Achievement Award from RWA and more. Heather has also become the proud recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television.

Heather loves travel and anything that has to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. She also loves ballroom dancing. Each year she hosts the Vampire Ball and Dinner theater at the RT convention raising money for the Pediatric Aids Society and in 2006 she hosted the first Writers for New Orleans Workshop to benefit the stricken Gulf region. She is also the founder of "The Slush Pile Players", presenting something that's almost like entertainment for various conferences and benefits. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cheesy at times, but succulent nonetheless., April 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Season of Miracles (Hardcover)

I have to say that I loved this book. I found it at a library book sale, and started it with unease. Within the first few pages, I was hooked.

I'm not really sure what it is about this book that's so great, but it is. It's a great romance, one of those meant-to-be stories that are so appealing. Especially since the characters seem to be fighting their feelings for the majority of the book! In addition, it's a delightful mystery. I have to say that this is THE FIRST mystery book I've ever read where I've suspected the culprit before he/she was revealed. That may not say much about the author's craft, but I loved it. For...us more gullible readers out there.

All in all, I would definetely say that this is a wonderful book. I read it twice in one day-once you pick it up, there's no puting it back!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not up to usual standards, January 6, 2002

By 

P. Bradley "trellis9" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Season of Miracles (Hardcover)

Sorry, but I didn't think this was one of Graham's best. The heroine is too passive, too cowardly, too stupid. 3 Heroine Survival Tips: (1) Got a family history book that details how an ancestress (whom you suspect you may be the reincarnation of) died? Then don't read the tale in 3 separate parts (and chapters), especially if someone keeps trying to kill you. (2) If your boyfriend points out that your family members are the most likely/only suspects, believe him. And, finally, (3) If you're trapped in a burning building and there's a window you can break and jump out of, do so. Don't stand around looking out of the window, confused, waiting for your boyfriend to show up outside and shout up to you "Break the window and jump!" Pretty much every woman on the North American continent knows and lives by these rules, and doesn't feel kindly towards fictional characters who don't. And read some of Ms. Graham's other books, they're much better.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasing Holiday Diversion, December 23, 2001

By 

Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Season of Miracles (Hardcover)

Author Heather Graham, who also writes as Heather Graham Pozzessere, introduces the reader to her newest work of fiction, ripe with the paranormal, a possible killer, and passionate romance.

Enter the clan Llewellyn, a powerful New York family running a profitable company. Patriarch Douglas is getting on in years, and widowed granddaughter Jillian is viewed as his favorite choice to lead the company in the future. When Douglas hires handsome Robert Marston to help oversee the company and keep a close watch on Jillian, other family members become rather resentful. The relationship between the cousins is often difficult to keep straight and slightly too quirky for this read. Nevertheless, they all become suspects in Robert's book as Jillian encounters one too many "accidents".

The attraction between Robert and Jillian is a definite highlight of this read, as it is well-executed, not too explicit, and innovative in design when they discover that they may have known each other in a past life. When Jillian begins to have strange dreams of fire, Robert becomes more convinced that he must stay by her side. And as they discover an old history book and meet with a psychic, Robert and Jillian learn that they now may have a chance to right the wrong of a past life.

Highlighted as a pre-Christmas tale, this is a light read with just enough mystery and miracles to keep the reader in a holiday mood. Though not Ms. Graham's best, overall, this is a fast-paced work of fiction sure to provide diversion from the frenzy of the holiday season.