A FIRE BURNS DEEP by Kate Hofman The Dark Castle Lords

Available now! A Fire Burns Deep A FIRE BURNS DEEP is the story of Brent and Lara, about to be married, when circumstances conspire to make Brent believe his mother's suspicions that Lara is having an affair with Ted, a childhood friend. Brent storms out, before she can tell him she is pregnant with their child. Years later, Brent tries to find Lara - and at the same time finds his four-year old son, Christopher. He proposes marriage, and after some hesitation and difficulties contrived by Brent's mother, they marry.

A woman with whom Brent had a casual fling years ago, tries to insinuate herself into his life again. Lara is upset, and Brent convinces her of his love. At a preview of paintings at the art gallery where Lara used to work, the artist and Lara renew their casual friendship, to Brent's indignation.

The novel describes how they finally resolve their insecurities and settle down to a life of happiness with their son.

"The chemistry between Lara and Brent was instantaneous and explosive. Ms. Kate Hofman has written sensual scenarios which should come with high-powered fans. The couple was still in love after all this time. Even though they agreed to marry for the sake of their son, Chris, the two were, obviously seriously attracted to each other. Ms. Hofman has created her main characters to be so polite that it bordered on unbelievable. Even the son’s manner of talking to them was super sticky sweet. The manner of referring to each other and their family was always ‘my darling,’ ‘my love,’ and such. That was definitely not bad, but unique."

"The couple’s continued stressful problems were well-developed by the author. The problems surfaced often and quickly. However, no matter how difficult the crisis, they were all polite at all times. And I was certainly not expecting the ending to be as it was. It was quite unencumbered with problems at the end. It’s a great book to make you feel good about life. I recommend it to all who love happily ever after." - 4 1/2 Hearts, Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio

"Author Kate Hofman specializes in the romance of misunderstandings, writing characters whose emotions and vulnerability run deep. The path of true love never runs smooth for her hero and heroine. They must always struggle through numerous tribulations to discover each other and to maintain a relationship. Ms. Hofman is skillful at keeping readers believing in the lives of her protagonists and even events that may seem far-fetched in the hands of other writers are believable and realistic in her novels. This prolific writer is a joy to read, and Brent and Lara's story continues in the next novel, HIDDEN DESIRE. A FIRE BURNS DEEP is another gem in the necklace of wonderful Kate Hofman stories and a fine introduction to her writing for those who are new to her stories." - 5 Pixies, Frost, Dark Angel Reviews

HIDDEN DESIRE by Kate Hofman The Dark Castle Lords

HIDDEN DESIRE Coming in August from The Dark Castle Lords HIDDEN DESIRE is the sequel to A FIRE BURNS DEEP - published in July - which was Brent and Lara's story. Alyssa Charlton works at the St.George Art Gallery and is busy writing the catalogue and bio of the artist, Marco Alvaréz, when Marco comes in. They are thunderstruck with each other. Tom, the gallery owner and an inveterate matchmaker, invites them for Saturday brunch and a swim. Marco invites Alyssa to have dinner with him. Very soon, passion flares between them, and he stays to spend a night of love with her. When she wakes, he is gone. Puzzled and hurt, she hears from Tom that Marco left a note saying he has to return to Phoenix to deal with something, and he'll be back the next day. But Marco does not come back.

What Tom and Alyssa couldnt possibly know is that Marco, on his way back from breaking with a casual girlfriend, has been the victim of a drunk driver, who caused a serious accident. Marco has amnesia. When he regains his memory, he instantly phones Alyssa.

Alyssa, who is pregnant by Marco, has moved to a bigger apartment, renting her small studio out to a friend of Tom's. When Marco phones there, the friend says casually that Alyssa is at the doctor's, a first pregnancy is often a bit troublesome. Marco replaces the receiver, devastated. Obviously Alyssa has not waited, and he has just spoken to the father of Alyssa's child. Marco goes on a painting trip in the Rockies -- hoping to forget the crushing pain of what he sees as Alyssa's betrayal.

Meanwhile, Lara has discovered that Alyssa is her half-sister. Furious, she refuses to have anything to do with Alyssa. Tom speaks to Marco's Phoenix dealer, and the two concoct a scheme to get Marco and Alyssa back together. But will they succeed, with Marco convinced Alyssa has a child by another man?

During the preview of Marco's exhibition, Lara stresses that Marco's interest has always been in her. Brent will not allow this rampant self-aggrandizement and takes Lara away without waiting for Tom's grand reception and dinner.

The next day, Brent comes into the office, asking if Alyssa will receive Lara briefly. Lara apologizes, and reconciles with her half-sister.

Marco's mother has her heart set on him marrying the daughter of a French countess, and she is livid at the thought of him being interested in a woman who works in an art gallery. She brings her considerable power and influence to bear on derailing whatever there might be between the two. Will she succeed in destroying her son's chance at happiness?

"Ms. Hofman writes fine romances with handsome and sensitive heroes and strong and very feminine heroines. This is no exception. Marco is the perfect Latin Lover type, but very sensitive. Alyssa seems a bit submissive at first, but is tough where it counts. The character of the half-sister Lara is a bit unsettling. She is a heroine of a previous story and pretty horrible for most of the book here. Other than that, I enjoy the fact that the author revisits the same community in her stories and that so many of the characters are familiar. It is like visiting with old friends. The love story here is passionate and complex and a little melodramatic, in a good way. I really enjoyed it." - Maura, Coffee Time Romance

"Author Kate Hofman continues to demonstrate her flair for what 17th-18th century French literature valued as the comedy of farce. In Ms. Hofman's novels, however, the misunderstandings common to her hero and heroine (and usually obvious to their friends and loved ones) are seriously detrimental and life-changing. The comic relief occurs when at last the misunderstandings are explained, all is worked through, and hero and heroine can reunite. Ms. Hofman leaves no stone unturned in her quest to set her protagonists on the best path for each, and the reader appreciates her efforts. Any reader looking for heartfelt romance, a hero and heroine suffering courageously through trials and tribulations, and deeply held friendships will value any of Ms. Hofman's novels, each of which is a treasure and a joy to read." - 5 Pixies, Frost, Dark Angel Reviews

"Hidden Desire is a very beautiful love story, Ms. Hofman has written a great, moving story of Alyssa and Marco’s life, and how these two characters fell in love despite a difficult road before them." - 5 hearts, Margo Arthur, The Romance Studio

CIRCLE OF LOVE by Kate Hofman The Dark Castle Lords

THE APHRODITE AFFAIRS: CIRCLE OF LOVE Coming in September from The Dark Castle Lords CIRCLE OF LOVE is the first in the series of 5 novels about Greek tycoons.under the title The Aphrodite Affairs. Lydia's mother is spending a few months in London, England. She raves to Lydia over Jason, a Greek Adonis, younger than herself, with whom she is going out a lot. Anxious to prevent her mother falling into the hands of a gigolo, Lydia flies to London to talk some sense to her mother - if necessary to buy off the gigolo. When she enters her mother's living room, a very handsome man comes in from the balcony. Lydia lights into him, offering him money to leave her mother alone. Coldly furious, the man introduces hmself as Raphael Thalassinos, and leaves before Lydia can tell him how sorry she is about mistaking him for Jason.

When Lydia meets Raphael again, at a dinner party, she apologizes handsomely, and Raphael is captivated.

When he hears that a man who assaulted her years ago is about to be freed, Raphael insists that Lydia come with him to his duplex in Manhattan, where security is awesome. She agrees, and after some time love blossoms between them. When Raphael's father hears of his son's attachment, he flies to his son. He is appallingly rude to Lydia, whom he considers a golddigger, and tries to bully Raphael into giving her up.

Lydia is pregnant, and Raphael offers marriage. Lydia will not marry for the sake of the child, and more difficulties arise for them. His mother flies in, and although initially pleased with Lydia, she changes her mind and starts nagging her son to forget this foreign woman. Will Lydia finally be won over by Raphael's powers of persuasion? Or will the continued efforts by his parents succeed in breaking up an idyllic love affair?

LOVE'S LOST PAST by Kate Hofman The Dark Castle Lords

LOVE'S LOST PAST Coming soon from The Dark Castle Lords In Love's Lost Past, we follow Jason, younger brother to Raphael, the hero of Circle of Love. When Jason goes home to Greece for the long vacation -- he is studying at Yale U. -- he meets Lexi, with whom he falls in love, and they have an idyllic few months together. When Jason's father finds out, he ships Jason back to Yale in his private plane, without giving his son a chance to tell Lexi why he had to leave. When Lexi discovers she is pregnant, she appeals to Jason's elder brother, Raphael, who looks after her, and lets her study accounting. She proves herself excellent at her work, and in due course Raphael invites her to become his accountant in chief for all his enterprises. This will require a move from Athens to Florida, where Raphael - and Jason - live.

When Jason and Lexi meet at last, he is incensed that she kept her pregnancy secret, he would have come back and married her. His 8-year old son, Raph, adores his father, somewhat to Lexi's dismay. She wants to be the only parent in her son's life. Jason reveals her innate selfishness in denying him his rightful place as Raph's father.

Realizing Raphael may not want to employ a woman who is so ungenerous to his brother, she agrees to a marriage in name only, for the sake of her son.

When Lexi has to fly to New York to initiate changes in accounting, Jason's father forces a meeting with this common conniver, as he calls Lexi. Terrified, she phones Jason for help.

Will his help consist of protecting Lexi by throwing his father out of the apartment, or will he stay to help Lexi surrender to the love there was, once, between them?