Historical Romance Novels
The North Star Series by Bobette Bryan
My debut novel, Painter of Dreams, is the first book in my North Star Series—an erotically charged romance saga about bold men with the courage to defy convention and pioneer a transatlantic steamship line, and the greater dream they find in the women they love. It has supernatural elements and some readers have said it’s a Gothic Historical Romance.
Originally published in 2012, Painter of Dreams is the novel that will always be closest to my heart. While putting the final touches on my first mystery novel this summer, I decided to take a peek back at this story. I got hooked. In fact, I went down a romance writing rabbit hole from which I’ve not yet emerged! Not only did I rewrite Painter of Dreams to bring it up to date and add a few new parts, but I also pounded out Aaron Hawthorn’s love story. I cannot wait to share it with you. If you didn’t fall in love with Aaron in the first book, you absolutely will in his sweeping, tragic tale.
These two novels, along with two others currently in development, form the North Star Series. The two books in between revolve around North Star’s wealthy investors, the Devlin brothers.
Book 1: Painter of Dreams
Desiree Thornton is an aspiring painter; Brandon Hawthorn is the Earl of Drayton and visionary owner of the North Star Line. While in New Orleans, Brandon falls for a breathtaking woman in a lowly riverside bar. Following her into the shadows of the night, he’s assaulted and nearly killed by a woman he assumes is Desiree. He recovers, only to find his investment cash has been stolen from his hotel room—threatening to destroy his dream of building a transatlantic steamship. Determined to find answers, Brandon tracks Desiree down and forces her back to Liverpool to make amends for what she did to him, setting off a fierce, erotically charged battle of wills.
Book 2: (Working title: Rose on My Pillow)
Derrick Devlin returns to Annandale, England, the birthplace he and his brother were forced to leave behind. After building an immense fortune from business ventures and a silver mine, the brothers became primary investors in the North Star steamships. Yet, despite his wealth, Derrick cannot banish a certain fiery temptress from his mind. He returns to his homeland to exact revenge for his father’s death and reclaim his lost heritage, only to find himself losing his own heart to the enemy.
Book 3: (Title Protected)
Jared Devlin captains the Betsy Ross, a majestic clipper ship of his own design. While in Liverpool for a critical meeting with the Hawthorns regarding the steamship investment, he falls under the spell of Brianna, a captivating young woman working at the hotel. Swept up in desire, he takes her back to his family estate in Virginia. In the heat of the American South, accusations fly and secrets threaten to tear them apart, but neither can deny the electric attraction sparking between them.
Book 4: (Title Protected) — Aaron’s Story
Aaron Hawthorn is in New Orleans on a dangerous, undercover mission for the British Admiralty. Infiltrating a ruthless criminal gang led by the elusive Zin seems hopeless, but the stakes double when Aaron falls for a young lady deeply embroiled with the syndicate. He must risk everything to save her, but tragedy strikes, leaving Aaron profoundly changed. He returns to Liverpool a broken man, haunted by the memory of the mysterious woman he loved and lost in the shadows of New Orleans.