Two brothers work a rich and bountiful land — and one extraordinary woman shares their lives. To Jonathan Gray, Mary is a devoted and giving mate. To Aaron, she is a beloved friend. But seven childless years of marriage haveforced Jonathan to ask the unthinkable of his brother and his wife — binding the two people he cares for most with an act of desire born of compassion...awakening Mary to the pain of infidelity, and to all the bittersweet joy and heartache that passionate love can bring.
Book Details
Format
Paperback
ISBN-10
0380470845
ISBN-13
9780380470846
Publication Date
Oct 1979
Item Weight
0.40 pounds
Length
6.73 inch
Width
4.17 inch
Height
0.98 inch
First Sentence
The truth had long been settling on Jonathan Gray, sneaking into his resisting corners, but it had finally resounded in the deepest part of him.
LaVyrle was born on July 17, 1943 in Browerville, Minnesota, USA, where she grew up. Married her high school sweetheart Dan Spencer, shortly after her graduation, a decision she calls the wisest choice of her life. They had two daughters, Amy and Beth (d. 1990).
LaVyrle worked as a teacher's aide at Osseo Junior High School, when in her thirties, she read Kathleen Woodiwiss's novel "The Flame and Flower", which gave her the idea to become a novelist. She decided to try transferring to paper a recurring dream she was having about a story based on her grandmother's lifestyle on a Minnesota farm. Her story became her first manuscript, "The Fulfillment", and she sent it to Kathleen Woodiwiss. The bestselling author read the novel and promptly mailed it to her own editor at Avon. The editor purchased the novel, which was published in 1979. She was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988. She wrote 23 sweet historical and contemporany novels. Published around the world, her works had included 12 New York Times Bestsellers, and have been won four RITA Awards, three Golden Medallion Awards and a Minnesota Book Award. LaVyrle said: "the trademark of my books is mending relationships, showing people how to mend relationships."
LaVyrle is a founding member of the Midwest Fiction Writers (MFW), chapter 24 of the Romance Writers of America. Four of LaVyrle's novels were produced as television movies: The Fulfillment in 1989 (She and her husband appear as extras in the film), Morning Glory in 1993, Home Song in 1996 and Family Blessings in 1999.
LaVyrle and her husband are grandparents. Her husband is a retired estimator for a general contractor, and she also decided to retire from writing in 1997 after an 18-year career. They live in a Victorian house in her native Minnesota, where she enjoyes gardening, cooking, playing bass guitar and electric piano, and photography.
