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Chapter 1

The Last Straw

Eliza's alarm blared at 5:00 AM, jolting her from a fitful sleep. For a moment, she stared at the water-stained ceiling of her studio apartment, disoriented. The locket she'd found last night lay heavy against her chest, its silver chain tangled around her neck from tossing and turning. Christmas morning. The thought brought no joy, only a hollow ache and the pressing weight of reality.

She silenced the alarm and forced herself to rise from the mattress on the floor. No...

Chapter 1: The Last Straw

Sarah's apartment smelled like failure.

That was the first thought that crossed her mind when she opened the door at 9:47 PM, arms laden with grocery bags containing exactly $23.47 worth of food that would have to last until her next paycheck. The smell wasn't literal—not garbage or mildew or anything she could spray away with the dollar-store air freshener she couldn't afford this week. It was the scent of dreams deferred, of potential curtailed, of a life that had...

Empty Cupboards

The fluorescent lights of Brennan's Department Store cast everything in a harsh, clinical glow that made Sarah Mitchell's eyes ache. Or maybe that was just the exhaustion. She'd been on her feet for seven hours straight, and her shift didn't end for another three. "Excuse me, miss?"

An elderly woman held up a cashmere scarf, price tag dangling. "Do you have this in navy?" Sarah summoned a smile from somewhere deep, somewhere that still remembered how to pretend everything was...

The Marriage Clause is one of the two longest novels I have written at almost 500 pages. It has several tropes...

She inherited a ranch. He needed a wife. Their arrangement was supposed to be temporary—until love rewrote the rules.

When photographer Delilah Taylor returns to Wind River Station, Wyoming for her grandmother's funeral, she expects a quick trip to settle the estate and escape back to her city life. Instead, she discovers a shocking stipulation in her inheritance: marry a member of...

Hearts of Cottonwood Creek: A New Frontier Awaits
Every so often, a story comes along that reminds me why I fell in love with the wild promise of the West. Today, I’m delighted to introduce my latest historical romance—a tale of grit, independence, and the courage to follow your own path.Meet Laura Montgomery: Fierce, Fearless, and Unforgettable
In Hearts of Cottonwood Creek, you’ll step into the Montana Territory of the 1880s, a place where the land is as untamed as the hearts who call it...

Breaking the Promise

A Small-Town Hockey Romance

NHL star Jake Matthews returns to his hometown of Milford after a devastating playoff loss, seeking refuge from the media circus and his own self-doubt. He plans to lay low at his childhood best friend Connor's family lake house for the summer. What he doesn't expect is to find Connor's little sister Emma—who used to follow them around with pigtails and scraped knees—now grown into a beautiful, independent woman running her own successful...

A New Chapter Begins: Discover "Maggie's Story"
Every now and then, a story arrives that reminds me why I fell in love with writing in the first place. Today, I’m thrilled to share my latest release with you—a tale that reaches back before "I Wish I May," weaving together heartbreak, hope, and the enduring power of second chances.
When I first imagined Dr. Margaret "Maggie" Baker, I saw a woman standing at the crossroads of despair and destiny. In 1925 Chicago, Maggie’s world collapses—her...

A Journey from Rock Hill: My Story Before the Stories

Every so often, I’m reminded how the threads of our past quietly shape the stories we tell—and the lives we lead. This week, instead of sharing a new release or a favorite tale, I wanted to offer you a glimpse into the journey that brought me to where I am today, weaving words on the page and dreaming up lives on the frontier.

I was born and raised in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a small town nestled in the South Carolina upcountry. Life there...

NEW RELEASE

I WISH I MAY

A Time-Travel Romance

by Susan Leigh Carlton

NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

When love defies time itself, which world would you choose?

Cardiac nurse Lainie Rosewood's perfect life crumbles when her fiancé abandons her at the altar. A desperate wish upon a shooting star transports her to 1872 Montana Territory, where she becomes the frontier town's healer—and captures the heart of enigmatic rancher James Ashworth.

But when a suspicious doctor threatens to expose her as a witch,...

I'm thrilled to announce that my brand new website is officially live! You can now visit me at https://susanleighcarltonsromances.com for all things romance, writing, and literary love.

What You'll Find on My New Site

This new digital home has been designed with you, my wonderful readers, in mind. Additions will be made frequently. Here's what you Will be able to see as I add content:

• Latest Book Releases - Stay up-to-date with my newest romantic tales
• Behind-the-Scenes Content - Get a peek...