WELCOME TO TYLER-THE AUCTION’S AT TWO O’CLOCK
Tyler’s annual crafts fair is in full swing. This year the theme is Native American art. Stroll among the tables and admire the handiwork of America’s favorite hometown.
TORN BETWEEN TWO CULTURES
Michael Youngthunder is a successful businessman. But he remains tormented by the Winnebago heritage he cannot leave behind....
IS THERE A PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR HER?
Renata Meyer loves Michael, but he comes from a world she knows nothing about. And Michael seems unable—or unwilling—to help her bridge the gap.
Previously Published.
“My grandfather wants to see me dance again.”
“If that’s all it takes to make him happy, Michael,” Renata replied, “surely you could do it for him.”
He shook his head and looked away. “I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
Renata flushed. “Don’t shut me out, Michael,” she begged him. “This Native stuff is all new to me, but that doesn’t mean I’m not listening with all my heart. If I don’t understand, don’t put me down. Just explain it to me.”
His eyes met hers for a long, tense moment. “A mechanical rendition of an old dance or two wouldn’t do a thing for my grandfather. When he says he wants to see me dance, he means he wants to see me dance. He wants me to feel Winnebago.”
Renata laced her fingers with his. “Michael, you can’t be somebody you’re not, just to please him.”
Quietly he replied, “And I can’t be somebody I’m not, just to please you.”
Welcome to Harlequin’s Tyler, a small Wisconsin town whose citizens we hope you’ll come to know and love. Like many of the innovative publishing concepts Harlequin has launched over the years, the idea for the Tyler series originated in response to our readers’ preferences. Your enthusiasm for sequels and continuing characters within many of the Harlequin lines has prompted us to create a twelve-book series of individual romances whose characters’ lives inevitably intertwine.
Tyler faces many challenges typical of small towns, but the fabric of this fictional community will be torn by the revelation of a long-ago murder, the details of which will evolve right through the series. This intriguing crime will culminate in an emotional trial that profoundly affects the lives of the Ingallses, the Barons, the Forresters and the Wochecks.
Spring’s arrived with a vengeance, and old Phil Wochek’s broken hip is finally on the mend. Why not follow him down to the crafts fair Alyssa Baron has helped organize on the town square? The theme is original Native American artwork, and you’ll also find classic hand-pieced quilts.
Edward, Phil’s son, has promised to take time out from his duties at Timberlake Lodge and attend. Of course, Alyssa will probably do her best to avoid him. Still, you never know. She has a lot of questions plaguing her, especially after the gruesome discovery Brick Bauer makes in Phil’s closet....
So join us in Tyler, once a month for the next six months, for a slice of small-town life that’s not as innocent or as quiet as you might expect, and for a sense of community that will capture your mind and your heart.
Marsha Zinberg
Editorial Coordinator, Tyler
Arrowpoint
Suzanne Ellison
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Suzanne Ellison for her contribution to the Tyler series.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Joanna Kosloff for her contribution to the concept for the Tyler series.
CONTENTS
IT HAD RAINED all night, but by the time Renata Meyer saw the sign that said Tyler, Three Miles the sky was only dripping, a misty remnant of the deluge she’d left an hour ago in Milwaukee. It wasn’t quite summer yet, but for the past month it had already been so hot that this cooling thunderstorm was more a relief than a burden, especially considering where Renata was going to spend the weekend. Her Milwaukee apartment had a feisty air conditioner that kept her chilled most of the time, but the old family homestead north of Tyler had poor insulation, few windows and only one ancient oak tree for shade. The improvements made since her great-grandparents’ time had been minimal. Air-conditioning was not one of them.
As a free-lance artist, Renata didn’t have a lot of income, but she did have a lot of freedom as to where and how she spent her time. She lived on the periodic sales of her paintings and her more frequent free-lance commercial assignments, which embarrassed her artistic pride but kept a roof over her head. At this point she found that