"A touching story from a beautiful writer"

Silhouette Special Edition is a series that is geared to the more emotional side of romance. It's harder to conjure emotions without "playing" on them. Kids that are too cute, babies galore, provoke emotions. A man presenting a woman with a white rose evokes, calling to the heart, to the soul. The difference between evoking and provoking emotions is a tight rope for a writer. You want to portray real people with real emotions so the readers feel a natural empathy - that is evoking. You provoke a reader into facing things, sometimes they'd rather not, a mental "pitchfork", or you toss in that too cute kid to get that awwwwww...but it's a device best used sparingly. Too often, I see an author provoking instead of evoking, because the latter is harder to write, it takes a more deft touch to use that voice. Carol Stephenson is one of the best authors I have seen that evokes emotions. She paints in gentle, understated imagery that reaches into a reader and makes them feel.

NORA'S PRIDE, Silhouette Special Edition #1470 is sheer perfection. The well drawn characters, conjured with the deft touch that pulls the reader into caring instead of pushes them. Stephenson has a soothing voice, and I hope there would be more in the series about Nora's family. There are her two sisters and her budding daughter that are just crying for their own stories.

Twelve-years-ago, Nora was in love with Connor Devlin. But one night he left town and never came back, leaving Nora alone, without knowing she was pregnant. Now, one autumn afternoon, she looks up to see him boldly coming into the new pottery shop she and her sisters have opened. She is panicked, fearful he knows about their daughter Abby, nearly twelve now. But it's soon apparent the town's rebel has no idea he has a daughter. Immediately, Stephenson gives you two very loving, poignant characters in Connor and Nora. Young lovers driven apart by his vengeful, controlling mother. Quickly, it becomes apparent that Abby will have to be told, but she is unsure if Connor is ready to be a father. As they are finding their way back together again, Connor's mother is moving to, once more, drive them apart.

The characters are strong, painfully real, the story touching, showing what an amazing writer Stephenson is. I am sure we will be hearing more from this very talented writer. Once again, I note a wonderful writer who uses Multi-POV (Point of View) so well, that lets you know Connor and Nora and Abby equally. Such a touching book, such beautiful writing.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted November 15, 2004

Connor was the only man she'd ever loved...

A night of passion had left Nora McCall with a lifetime of memories and... a daughter.

And now he was back.

Summary

Connor was the only man she'd ever loved...

And he'd crushed her heart when he'd left town. Thoughts of Connor Devlin filled Nora McCall with hot fury--even hotter than their one night of passion. A night that left Nora with a lifetime of memories...and a daughter.

And now he was back.

For twelve years, Connor had longed for Nora McCall--and cursed the sacrifice he'd made to save her family. Now he had returned to fight for Nora's love. But Connor hadn't expected to face the shock of his life--a lovely young girl who called him Dad!