Sandra Brown's Love Beyond Reason was released in 1981.
Sandra Brown - Love Beyond Reason book description:
This story reflects the trends and attitudes that were popular at the time, but its theme are eternal and universal. As in all romance fiction, the plot revolves around star-crossed lovers. There are moments of passion, anguish, and tenderness-all integral facets of falling in love.
When Mary Adams married into the powerful Manning dynasty, her life became a nightmare that ended only when she and her husband died on the same night. Now her beautiful, savvy sister, Katherine, has vowed never to let a Manning near her orphaned niece.
But she finds the charismatic Jason Manning impossible to resist.