(from usatoday.com
by Joyce Lamb)
Curl up with some awesome romances this weekend, though you'll probably hope there were more like 28,000 hours in a day! Here are highlights (and there were LOTS more that came out, too):
It Happened One Wedding by Julie James. After a humiliating end to her engagement, investment banker Sidney Sinclair is done with commitment-phobic men. But when her sister winds up engaged after a whirlwind courtship, Sidney is thrown into close contact with exactly the kind of sexy playboy she wants to avoid—the gorgeous best man. She's stuck with him, for better or worse, until her sister walks down the aisle, but that doesn't mean she has to give in to his smooth advances, no matter how tempting they are… Special agent Vaughn Roberts always gets his man on the job and his woman in bed. So Sidney's refusal to fall for his charms only makes him more determined to win over the cool and confident redhead. Only what starts out as a battle of wills ends up as a serious play for her heart. Because the one woman who refuses to be caught may be the only one Vaughn can't live without…
Warrior's Curse by Alexa Egan. Gray de Coursy, Earl of Halvossa and Imnada shape-shifter, flies the streets of Regency London, soaring as an eagle under the cover of night. While fighting against Napoleon, Gray and his comrades were cursed by a dying Fae-blood. Now Gray hopes to break the spell that exiles them from their clan by stealing the Imnada's most treasured relic—the Jai Idrish. When he receives a visit from his childhood companion Meeryn Munro, Gray is not only surprised by her offer of help, but also by how her sensuous curves tempt him beyond reason. Appointed the Imnada clans' next high shaman, Meeryn knows she possesses the power to keep Gray safe. What she is not prepared for is the torrent of desire he sets off in her. When they discover that the only way to lift Gray's curse is to travel to the Gateway—a magical door between two realms—Meeryn and Gray must outwit a dangerous enemy if they hope to have a future together.
Pure Heat by M.L. Buchman. Firehawks series #1. Emily Beale and Mark Henderson have flown out of the Night Stalkers series to form a new helicopter team of wildland firefighters. These heli-aviation firefighters battle more than flames, they fly into places even the CIA can't go. Carly Thomas, a third-generation wildfire specialist, and Steve Mercer, a former lead smokejumper, take on the flame and the danger. But can their hearts take the heat when fire between them really sizzles?
Hearts in Harmony by Gemma Brocato. Ever since her husband's death, Pippa Sanders' life is all about her children. But when charming, smooth-talking Clay Mathers enters her life, she doesn't know if she can resist his campaign to make her into a friend–with benefits. What starts as a simple affair starts to evolve into something more.
An Unwilling Husband by Tera Shanley. In Tera Shanley's witty and gripping new book, sassy society girl Maggie Fleming is moving back to the old Western town of her childhood – a far cry from the drawing rooms of Boston. But when her independent streak gets her in trouble, there's only one person she can turn to: her childhood best friend, Garrett Shaw – who now barely talks to her. Will she melt his cowboy heart?
A Question of Class by Julia Tagan. On the strength of her charm, Catherine Delcour climbed from poverty to opulent society. But soon, her past is a scandal her merchant husband won't tolerate when Morris announces their union isn't valid. Benjamin Thomas seeks to avenge his sister's death by ruining the Delcours. But Catherine isn't the spoiled society wife Benjamin expects.
Enchanter by Joanna Wadsworth. Eighteen-year-old Silvie Carver's worst problem is completing finals until she realizes she's the key to keeping their enemy king from making a decision that will escalate the war. Warrior and enchanter, Guy Moyer, has been fighting his soul's demand to find his "one"...who also happens to be his enemy. Can the mated pair turn the tide of the war and find their place with each other?
Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler. When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is pulled from an op in Afghanistan, he is surprised to discover he's been hand-picked for a special assignment with the Department of Covert Operations (DCO), a secret division he's never heard of. Terrorists are kidnapping biologists and he and his partner have to stop them. But his new partner is a beautiful, sexy woman who looks like she couldn't hurt a fly—never mind take down a terrorist. Ivy Halliwell is no kitten. She's a feline shifter, and more dangerous than she looks. She's worked with a string of hotheaded military guys who've underestimated her special skills in the past. But when she's partnered with special agent Donovan, a man sexy enough to make any girl purr, things begin to heat up...
Exterminating Angel by Pamela Turner. Zaphkiel, a chain-smoking, hard-drinking archangel, never intended to unleash the sun demon upon the city but his recent crime is a certain death sentence. Hired by Lucifer, Sean wants nothing more than to fit in. But how can he when he was born without special abilities? Or so he believes. Thrown together in a battle of survival, Zaphkiel and Sean find themselves pawns in a game of power and control.
One Night in Texas by Linda Warren. Angie Wiznowski has made mistakes, the biggest is the secret she's kept from Hardison Hollister for ten years. The man she loved has the right to know what happened following that hot Texas night long ago. And it could cost Angie the most precious thing in her life. Hardy has no inkling he's a father, until an accident leaves a young girl injured and the Texas district attorney with an unexpected addition to his family. Blindsided by shock and hurt, Hardy can't forgive Angie for her deception. But as he gets to know his child, old and new feelings for Angie surface. While scandal could derail Hardy's political future, is that future meaningless without Angie and their daughter?
Hell for Leather by Julie Ann Walker. Only a crisis could persuade Delilah Fairchild to abandon her beloved biker bar, let alone ask Black Knights Inc. operator Bryan "Mac" McMillan for help. But her uncle has vanished into thin air, and sexy, surly Mac has the connections to help her find him. What the big, blue-eyed Texan has against her is a mystery... but when the bullets start to fly, Mac becomes her only hope of survival, and her only chance of finding her uncle alive. Mac knows a thing or two about beautiful women- mainly that they can't be trusted. Throw in a ticking clock, a deadly homegrown terrorist, and some missing nuclear weapons, and a man just might find himself on the wrong end of the gun. But facing down danger with Delilah is one passion-filled thrill ride...
The Sarantos Baby Bargain by Olivia Gates. Naomi Sinclair had once fallen hard for Andreas Sarantos. Marrying the irresistible Greek venture capitalist had seared her soul with pleasure, and despair. For she soon discovered he was incapable of love. Now her ex-husband is back to claim her orphaned ten-month-old niece. Andreas let Naomi get away once. But adopting his best friend's baby girl gives him the leverage he needs to bring his unwilling ex-wife back to his bed. Will having the only woman he's ever wanted erase the scars of his dark past? Or will he lose Naomi, this time forever?
The Heir of the Castle by Scarlet Wilson. When the closest person tycoon Callan McGregor has to a father dies, it's down to him to organize the inheritance of Annick Castle. And the most suitable candidate seems to be stunning lawyer Laurie Jenkins. Even though she makes the usually brooding Callan's pulse race, this is business he cannot afford a distraction. But she's a bubbly breath of fresh air who shakes the castle and Callan to its foundations. This time, he's not going to walk away from either his home or from Laurie.
How to Rope a Real Man by Melissa Cutler. The newest in Melissa Cutler's sexy contemporary Catcher Creek series brings readers back to the Sorentino sisters' New Mexico ranch for a fast-paced passionate romance filled with emotional depth, steamy love scenes, and sexy cowboys to boot!
The Secrets of Bell River by Kathleen O'Brien. Armed with only her suitcases and secrets, Tess Spencer arrives at Bell River Ranch. She'll work temporarily at their spa and never tell the Wright sisters her true connection to them. Meeting gorgeous carpenter Jude Calhoun challenges those plans, however. Strong and capable, Jude makes Tess want to share the burden of what she knows. That confession may come sooner than she wants when her past intrudes at the ranch. But if she reveals the reasons she's here, she will definitely be the outsider, unwelcomed and alone. And leaving Bell River could cost her the one man she wants.
Bodyguard Reunion by Margaret Daley. Teaming up with an old flame is not what bodyguard Chloe Howard would call a smart move. Nine years ago Chloe and T. J. Davenport worked on a case together, fell in love, then went their separate ways. Now she's reunited with the fearless bodyguard to protect a controversial couple on a book tour through Texas. And the reunion reminds Chloe of dreams best forgotten. She knows she has to keep her emotions in check so their clients' protection remains their top priority. Protection that is the only thing keeping them from falling prey to a stalker's deadly schemes.
Latimer's Law by Mel Sterling. Stealing a pickup truck, newly widowed Abby McMurray hopes to escape her abusive brother-in-law. But the vehicle's owner and his attack dog halt her plans. She knows she's made a terrible mistake. Yet there's something tender about the stranger that makes her feel safe. K-9 deputy Cade Latimer senses Abby isn't a criminal. And when he sees her bruises, he knows she's running from someone. Physically and emotionally scarred from a botched investigation, Cade has his own demons. Yet he can't resist protecting the gentle woman who's capturing his heart. But little do they know, Abby's brother-in-law will go to any lengths to track Abby down.
Hell's End by Ally Blue. Rebellion, war and survival. Love's a bitch. Hellscape, Book 1 Tuck's a Gutter, one of a gang of violent orphans running level thirty-six of Hell's End, the solar system's outermost space station. There's only one way out of this brotherhood of blood-grow up and be killed and eaten by other Gutters. Tuck barely escapes his death sentence, only to fall prey to the powerful L'arisian family. Rescue from a L'arisian whorehouse never happens, but rescued he is, and by Gov soldiers no less. Alone among the enemy, Tuck trusts only one person-the man who risked everything to pluck him to safety. Ivan's a soldier. No more, no less. But the disquieting things he learns about the Government's plans for the Gutter kid have him doing the one thing a soldier shouldn't do. Think about doing what's right instead of what he's told. All for a guy he can't get out of his head. Getting involved in a rebellion that might get them killed is a problem. Falling in love? That's a disaster in the making.
No Boundaries by Donna K. Ford. Andi Massey lives a secluded life in rural Tennessee. Since a brutal attack, she has avoided emotional connections. She is certain she has nothing left to offer anyone, but secretly wishes her life could be different. Gwen Palmer has never been afraid to go after what she wants. Betrayed and tired of meaningless sex, she leaves her roots in the big city, seeking the quiet and peace of the mountains. The last thing she wants is another emotionally distant relationship. Andi and Gwen find that small town life has a way of bringing them together whether they like it or not. But all may be lost when Andi comes face-to-face with her past and the man who has vowed to destroy everything she loves. Can Andi and Gwen overcome their past hurts and fears—as well as present dangers—and accept love without boundaries?
After the End by Amy Plum. Michael Grant's Gone series meets M. Night Shyamalan's The Village in this riveting story of one girl's journey to save the very people who have lied to her for her entire life. Amy Plum, internationally bestselling author of the Die for Me series, delivers a fast-paced adventure perfect for fans of Marie Lu and Robison Wells. Juneau grew up fearing the outside world. The elders told her that beyond the borders of their land in the Alaskan wilderness, nuclear war had destroyed everything. But when Juneau returns from a hunting trip one day and discovers her people have been abducted, she sets off to find them. And leaving the boundaries for the very first time, she learns the horrifying truth: World War III never happened. Nothing was destroyed. Everything she'd ever been taught was a lie. As Juneau comes to terms with an unfathomable deception, she is forced to survive in a completely foreign world, using only the skills and abilities she developed in the wild. But while she's struggling to rescue her friends and family, someone else is after her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about her secret past.
The Temptation of Lila and Ethan by Jessica Sorensen. On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless, but a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. Whenever she hits bottom, there's only one person who's there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory. Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. Yet he can't deny they have a deeper connection than he's used to. When Lila falls farther than she has ever before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling…for her?
Rush by Nyrae Dawn. Brandon Chase has always defined himself by football, but when he's injured only one person can help him get back on track—a forbidden love he's desperately tried to put behind him. Alec Andrews has never quite forgiven Brandon from walking away when their friendship turned into something more, yet he can't deny help to one of his closest friends. Their old attraction comes flooding back, but as Alec thinks about coming out to his conservative family and Brandon considers revealing he's a gay football player, the two men must be strong to fight for a love that could be the greatest rush of their lives.
Vampire's Thirst by Cynthia Garner. After accidentally starting the zombie apocalypse, necromancer Kimber Treat now lives with her vampire lover in a compound where humans and vampires live together peacefully. Kimber is beyond happy when she learns she's pregnant. But as her body changes, Kimber fears that her powers are being influenced by evil, a fact that she must keep from everyone, including Duncan. Preoccupied with his new role as leader of the vampire conclave, Duncan isn't so busy that he doesn't notice that Kimber is hiding something. With the threat from the zombie outbreak looming, will Kimber and Duncan learn to trust each other once more to save themselves, their unborn child, and the rest of the world?
Her Only Desire by Delilah Devlin. When a mysterious job posting keeps appearing at the diner where she works, Tilly Floret can't resist applying—no matter that the entire town of Bayou Vert is whispering about the wealthy, powerful man behind it and his scandalous return home. Ex-Navy SEAL Boone Benoit never thought he'd set foot in Louisiana again. As soon as Tilly starts her new job in his pleasure club, he senses a kindred soul, one who has a simmering hunger for the taboo rites of mastery and submission. She just doesn't know it yet. Now as Boone tutors Tilly in the tantalizing world of leather and lace, she will shed her every inhibition and surrender to him, body and soul.
Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti. Genetically engineered by the government to be ruthless soldiers with an expiration date, Nate Dean and his brothers were loyal only to one another…until Nate laid eyes on the woman who stole his heart and blew his world apart. With time running out, there's only one person who can save his family: the very woman Nate swore he'd never trust again. Nate is just as undeniably sexy as Audrey Madison remembers, yet there's an edge to him now that's as irresistible as it is dangerous. When he asks for her help, Audrey can't refuse. But she has secrets of her own—secrets that, if Nate ever discovers them, may cost them both their lives.
Kiss and Kill by Lala Corriere. Just when romance author Chyna Blaze gives up her haunting past, she has a new problem. Her peers are being knocked-off. The detective insists she's high on the list. Her publicist arranges the date with a well-known literary giant. Chyna finds the idea annoying, but harmless. Orson Locke quit writing, but not his vices. He likes his sugar straight out of cans of white icing, chased by bourbon, and Poe. He likes his temptations well-sated.
The Bottom Line by Sandy James. After a year of upheaval, Mallory has had her fill of change—with one exception. Her house is a disaster and she wants it fixed. But her contractor is sexy, sweet and single, which threatens the peaceful, solitary life Mallory has planned for herself. Between raising his daughter and dealing with his ex-wife, Ben Carpenter is glad to have a new project that will give him the extra income he needs, not to mention afternoons alone with a gorgeous woman. Though their attraction is undeniable, Ben sees the fear and pain hiding in Mallory's eyes. But how can he help her if she won't let him in? Ben can fix just about anything—but can he fix Mallory's broken heart?
Dead Ringer by V.B. Tenery. Mercy Lawrence is terrified. Bermuda airport facial recognition software has identified her as missing runway star, Traci Wallace. Despite Mercy's protests, Traci's husband, ex-CIA agent Thomas Wallace, is convinced Mercy is the mother of his ill six-year-old son. With only his son's welfare in mind, he abducts Mercy and takes her to a private island to care for the boy. But Mercy soon discovers there are men much more dangerous than a father desperate to save his son. Her doppelganger has made deadly enemies—a relentless team of killers who now want her dead.
Empower by Jessica Shirvington. It's all come down to this. The final battle between Angels and Exiles is about to begin in this stunning conclusion to the must-read series Entertainment Weekly calls "addictive." Two years ago, Violet Eden walked away from her home, her friends, the Academy, and hardest of all, she walked away from her soul mate, Lincoln. But it's time to stop running. Violet must find out who she really is—and exactly what she is capable of—before the abilities the angels gave her are turned against them. She is all that stands between the forces of good and evil... It's time to make a choice.
#First Impressions #Second Chances by Heidi Belleau. Jonah Gilchrist lives a double life. On the internet, he's a fashion-blogging Tumblr celebrity. In the real world, though, being an awkward gay virgin isn't as cute and endearing as it is online—it's a target on his back. After years of being bullied, Jonah's determined to start afresh at college, but it's hard to remake yourself when you're sharing classes with your ill-fated junior high crush. Sebastian Rose, with his easy-going manner and great sense of humor, was one of the most popular guys in junior high. He was also one of Jonah's only defenders. Too bad Jonah knows Sebastian's kindness was only pity. Bumping into each other after all these years makes it seem like the universe itself wants Jonah to have a second chance at his first love. But how can he ever hope to reinvent himself when Sebastian's presence pulls him further into his past?
The Flesh Cartel #16: To the Victor by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau. In the exciting final season of the Flesh Cartel . . . With the help of the FBI, Mat Carmichael has let himself be re-taken by the Flesh Cartel. Objective? Rescue his brother, exact revenge, and destroy the entire organization from the inside. FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson will be playing backup, of course, but to get Dougie out alive, Mat will need to make sure his brother is out of Allen's clutches before calling in the troops. Now that Mat's back in bondage, though, there's no way he can do it alone. He'll have to ask for help from the only man within the Cartel who cares about Dougie's welfare: Nikolai. And even knowing it will destroy him, Nikolai delivers. Bringing down the Cartel should have been the hardest part, but it doesn't take long to realize that the real challenge has only just begun. Dougie doesn't know how to be free anymore, and Mat is forced to admit that he may no longer be strong enough to help himself, let alone his brother.
Giving In by Maya Banks. Kylie sees the way Jensen looks at her. The dark promise in his eyes. That rough edge of dominance she knows he possesses. But dominance is the one thing that frightens her above all else. She and her brother barely survived a childhood steeped in violence and abuse. She could never give up total control and submit to a man. Especially a man like Jensen. Could she? Jensen sees the shadows in Kylie's eyes. Knows he has to tread very carefully or risk losing any chance he has with her. All he wants is the opportunity to show her that dominance doesn't equal pain, bondage or discipline. That emotional surrender is the most powerful of all, and that to submit fully to him will fulfill the aching void in her heart in a way nothing else ever will.
Illicit Passions by Crystal Jordan. Forbidden Passions, Book 6. Tori Haida was born a stereotype—a pretty swan shifter—and has spent a lifetime living it down with an in-your-face attitude and a zero-tolerance policy for stupidity. Which makes her attraction to the werewolf Alpha's heir more than a tad inconvenient. Bastian Lykaios is just the kind of dominant male who drives her crazy, and not in a good way. And yet, she can't help wanting him in the worst way. The moment he arrives at the Refuge Resort, Bastian is in lust. The were-leopards' administrative assistant is a study in contrasts: a cheerleader-perky blonde with a body built for sin, the mouth of a sailor, and a lead foot for her classic car. Unfortunately, there's no time to indulge in an affair, not while a werekind traitor is leaking information to the human press. But when Tori is kidnapped by a pair of scientists to use as a live specimen, Bastian's plan for damage control turns into a rescue mission.
Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard. In the bestselling tradition of Jan Karon, Charlotte Hubbard takes readers to the charming little Amish town of Willow Ridge where romance and its entanglements put love, loyalty, and faith in the Old Ways to the test.
The Death Skull by Cassiel Knight. Relic Defender, Book 2. Fallen angel Marisol Asheni Fell when she unwisely chose to follow Lucifer. Unlike many of her fellow angels, she has no desire for redemption. Instead, she prefers fighting the followers of the Dark when they step over the line. Except, in the deepest part of her soul, she longs for a reason to stop fighting. Jackson's only loyalty is to himself and his mother, but even he has boundaries he won't cross. When his last job threatened the life of a young woman, he tossed aside the lucrative pay, and finds himself fighting evil. He's attracted to Mari despite her hard, seemingly emotionless edge. And while Mari finds the tall human reluctantly appealing, she has no intention of finding herself in a relationship with a human. They must find and destroy the crystal Mayan Death Skull before the son of Lucifer uses the skull to destroy the world's leaders and throw the world into chaos to begin Hell on Earth.
Flight Delay by Nicole Helm. Antiques in Flight, Book 2. Lawson Baker hoped moving back home would give his kids some semblance of normal after a spectacular divorce from his very-famous wife. The kids are settled in and, finally, his life is his own. Then Katie Potter walks through the door of Antiques in Flight. She was his closest friend until her husband cheated on her with Lawson's wife. And Katie's revenge—going to the tabloids—gave Lawson's kids front row seats to a host of dirty little secrets. When Katie is offered a temporary job as AIF's secretary, she jumps at it. She returned to Pilot's Point hoping to come clean about the things that accelerated her slide into self-destruction. She's not about to pass up this chance to make things right.
Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig. Captain Dean Watters keeps his mission and his team in the forefront of his laser-like focus. So when these two things are threatened by hackers, Dean's Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Failing to stop the hackers from stealing national security secrets from the military's secure computers and networks isn't an option. Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. And a target. When Zahrah is captured because of her expertise in quantum cryptology, endangering the US national security, Dean is forced to crack the lockbox around his heart—a move that might come at the highest cost.
Enlightened by Joanna Chambers. Enlightenment, Book 3. Five months ago, David Lauriston was badly hurt helping his friend Elizabeth escape her violent husband. Since then, David has been living with his lover, Lord Murdo Balfour, while he recuperates. Despite the pain of his injuries, David's time with Murdo has been the happiest of his life. The only things that trouble him are Murdo's occasional bouts of preoccupation, and the fact that one day soon, David will have to return to his legal practice in Edinburgh. That day comes too soon when David's friend and mentor takes to his deathbed, and David finds himself agreeing to take on a private mission in London. Murdo is at his side in the journey, but a shocking revelation by Murdo's ruthless father leaves David questioning everything they've shared. As tensions mount and the stakes grow higher, David and Murdo are forced to ask themselves how far they're prepared to go to stay together.
Abandoned by Becca Jameson. Wolf Gatherings Book 5. Allison Watkins has been missing for a year. One of many victims captured by the mysterious Romulus, she is finally rescued by the North American Reserves in a massive sting. Tired and in need of counseling, she comes to the Spencer Ranch in Texas to reunite with her parents and work through her trauma with the other rescued women. Daniel Spencer has been training with NAR for over a year. He is prepared to fight the undefined menace closing in, threatening the way of life shifters have enjoyed for centuries. He is determined to ensure his family and friends can continue to live in peace. What he isn't prepared for is the sexy broken blonde with deep blue eyes who arrives at his family's ranch and stops him dead in his tracks. Allison is his mate. Denying the connection is futile. But she has been through a lot. She needs time. And time is not on their side.
Gifted by David Bridger. When sixteen-year-old Jessica's reclusive great-grandfather bequeaths her a haunted castle in the Welsh borderlands, she's thrust into a world of hostile strangers, troublesome Romany tenants, and a strange gift that shows her disjointed visions of the past. And that's only the start of it. She thinks she's going mad, until old family stories and the superstitious fears of locals convince her that something sinister really is going on at Kidd Castle, and all the while the gift keeps drawing her deeper into the secrets of her ancestors. The only person who seems to understand what's happening to her is the young Romany street artist, Joe. In the face of deadly danger to them and their loved ones, Jessica and Joe must master the gift before the past imposes its terrible will on the present.
Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris. Emily Hunt might come from a family of cops, but she never goes looking for an adrenaline rush. She lives the quiet--well, relatively quiet--life of a teacher and thrives on making a difference in the lives of her students. But she'll have to draw on a well of strength and savvy she didn't know she had as student Rafael Cerda takes her class hostage for ransom money to save his brother's life. Undercover cop Mason Taylor has been working with Rafael to find his brother and bring the cartel thugs who hold him to justice. Can he talk Rafael down from his impulsive actions? And is there something more sinister at work here than he realizes?
To Charm a Naughty Countess by Theresa Romain. Caroline, the widowed Countess of Stratton, sits at the pinnacle of London society and has no wish to remarry. But when the brilliant, reclusive Duke of Wyverne—her counterpart in an old scandal—returns to town after a long absence, she finds herself as enthralled as ever. Michael must save his family fortunes by wedding an heiress, but Caroline has vowed never again to sell herself in marriage. The only way she can keep him near is to help him find the wealthy bride he requires, but as she guides him through society, Caroline realizes that she's lost her heart again—endangering both the careful life she's constructed and the future of Michael's dukedom.
Mimi Malloy, At Last! by Julia MacDonnell. Meet Mimi Malloy: A daughter of the Great Depression, Mimi was born into an Irish-Catholic brood of seven, and she has done her best to raise six beautiful daughters of her own. Now they're grown, and Mimi, a divorcée, is unexpectedly retired. But she takes solace in the comforts of her new life: her apartment in the heart of Quincy, the occasional True Blue cigarette, and evenings with Frank Sinatra on the stereo and a highball in her hand. Yet her phone is arguably the busiest in greater Boston—it rings "Day In, Day Out," as Ol' Blue Eyes would say. Her surviving sisters love to gab about their girlhood, while her eldest daughter, Cassandra, calls every morning to preach the gospel of assisted living. And when an MRI reveals that Mimi's brain is filled with black spots—areas of atrophy, her doctor says—it looks like she's destined to spend her days in "one of those storage facilities for unwanted antiques."
Daniel's Decision: Emerald Springs Legacy, Book 4 by Nicole Flockton. Daniel Whitman has a plan to turn their hospitality retreat into a high-end eco-friendly resort, but his father and brothers think the timing is wrong. Against family wishes, he heads off to Australia to an award-winning eco-spa to test their services. He is immediately attracted to marketing manager Rochelle Harris but pushes it aside to concentrate on discovering what has made this resort so successful.
A Demon in Love: Sons of Gulielmus, Book 2 by Holley Trent. Charles Edison has spent most of his 123 years courting women for Hell. As a faithful son of the demon Gulielmus, he's never known true affection for women. Which is funny, seeing as how he's descended from a love god on his mother's side. Now that he sees his brother falling head over heels, Charles wants the same for himself. He wants to belong to someone.
Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray. Christina Kempf has always known that God chose Aden Reese to be her husband. As children, he was there to save her when she fell through the ice, and he's been by her side ever since. After his parents died in a car accident ten years ago, the Kempfs raised Aden as one of their own, and everyone sees Aden and Christina as brother and sister. But Christina has never given up hope that Aden will one day ask her to be his wife. Aden always planned to court Christina. But losing his mother and father changed everything—except his love for her. Her parents generously welcomed him into their home and treated him like a son. He can't betray their kindness by admitting his feelings for the girl who is like a sister . . . yet so much more. Pressured by her parents to court, Christina begins to accept the attentions of Sugarcreek's young men, and now, Aden must make a choice.
Burning Up the Rain by Cathryn Cade. Her powers could save her island...or bring their love crashing down. Hawaiian Heroes, Book 4 Despite her successful career, Lalei Kai-Ho'omalu has always considered herself mere decoration in a dynamic Hawaiian family, with none of their powerful gifts. Destined for life in the background as a useless, upper-crust wife. Desperate to escape her mother's latest matchmaking attempt, Lalei acts on her sizzling attraction to a guest at her cousin's island wedding, making him a bold offer he can't refuse. A no-strings, no-holds-barred affair on Nawea Bay with the sexy Hawaiian beauty is just the break California Realtor Jack Nord needs from his fast-paced career-and an inner darkness he'd like to forget. Just for a while. Their very public liaison is the shocking declaration of independence Lalei intended-with unintended consequences. Stirred to anger by developers set on carving her family's unspoiled ancestral lands into a resort, Lalei discovers she has the supernatural power to stop them. But when Jack learns his lover can bring down the rain and throw bolts of lightning, whose side will he take?
Reaching First by Mindy Klasky. Hotheaded Tyler Brock owes one hundred hours of community service for starting a bar fight. Lost in a new town with a new team, Tyler can't tell anyone his greatest secret—he can't read. When he's assigned to work for Emily Holt, he's in even bigger trouble. Emily is beautiful, uptight, and ready to shed her secret, unwanted virginity. They hit it off, in more ways than one. But when illiterate Tyler shirks his book-bound community service, Emily must hold him accountable. Can this mismatched pair save each other by sharing their long-held secrets?
Marry Me for Money by Mia Kayla. Leaving her small town behind, Bethany Casse moves to Chicago to work at a top financial bank that brings her into contact with two men—Kent, the playboy, and Brian, Mr. Perfect. When her deadbeat mother follows her to Chicago, Beth is offered a solution that could fix everything. Marrying for money seems simple enough, but when lines become blurred, Beth realizes that the easy way out just made her life even harder than before.
Daisy Does It All by Kylie Gilmore. Exhausted single mom Daisy Garner is shocked when her blog about her perfect life with husband and baby brings a national talk show to her door. Amazing! Except she made the whole thing up. Enter Travis O'Hare, her fake husband, who's intent on becoming the real deal.
Chasing Luck by Brinda Berry. Sometimes surviving doesn't feel lucky. Especially when you're a sole survivor... At the age of seven, Malerie walked away from a bombing that left hundreds dead—including her mother. When a crazed gunman kills her guardian on her eighteenth birthday, Malerie suspects there may be more to her survival than luck. A mysterious code holds the key to her future, and a reluctant white knight holds the key to her heart. A loner wearing emotional armor… Ace is a twenty-year-old entrepreneur focusing on two things in life: financial security and a life without ties. A life that doesn't risk losing the ones who matter. When Ace is hired to secretly act as a bodyguard for Malerie, he faces an unwanted attraction that threatens to sabotage his heart. Can Ace find the courage to love a girl with a death wish?
Rumspringa's Hope by Beth Shriver. Torn between the affections of two men, will Emma's time away from home help her choose? Although promised to the widowed neighbor Zeb, Emma is considering leaving her Amish community to watch over her younger brother Mark when he leaves for Philadelphia to explore the outside world during his Rumspringa. There, she reconnects with her former beau Caleb, who protects the Amish teens, introducing them to his life evangelizing and helping the homeless. Unbeknownst to Emma, Caleb is glad for the opportunity to spend time with her and hopes to win her back.
The Art of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside. Book One in the Love and Murder Series. Lacy Dahl never questioned her past until the deaths of her adoptive parents and her husband. A husband who wasn't what he seemed. Her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew; secrets that dispute the identity of her father and threaten her life. Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts may make that impossible. As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy may be his only salvation. Lacy begins to think the present is more important than her past...until Chance's connection to her mother and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. Will the truth destroy Lacy and Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?
The Cowboy's Destiny by Marin Thomas. The Cash Brothers series Book 4. When jilted bride Destiny Saunders stumbles upon Buck Owens Cash and his broken down truck she gives him a lift to Lizard Gulch, Arizona—a forgotten town on Route 66, where a handful of senior citizen misfits live. Destiny is fighting to save the town from developers and when Buck joins forces with her, she falls deeper under his spell… But will her secret destroy any chance of a happy ever after with him?
Ruin Me by Jamie Brenner. Lulu Sterling thinks she has her future all figured out: with one more year left at NYU, she's spending her summer interning at her mother's iconic art gallery, determined to overcome the long shadow of her father's suicide and prove herself to her critical mother. With her boyfriend, rising artist Brandt Penn, Lulu also hopes she will finally experience the love that has always eluded her. But passion comes where she least expects it in the form of a brilliant, reclusive street artist known only by the tag GoST, and Lulu must decide how much she is willing to risk — and how far she is willing to go — to claim it.
Always Emily by Mary Sullivan. Emily Jordan has been in and out of Salem Pearce's life for years. As an archaeologist, her work often took her far away—even when he asked her to stay. She called it bad timing. He called it running away. Now she's back and asking for one last chance. But Salem is a single father with more than himself to think about. If he gives Emily another shot and she takes off again, it'll hurt his daughters, too. He can't take that risk. But deep down, he needs Emily. He always has. Maybe this time she'll stay.
Demon Hunter by Linda Kay Silva. Demon Hunter takes us to the most haunted city in the US: Savannah, Georgia where demons are everywhere, and Denny Silver just discovered that it is her job to hunt and destroy them. The only problem is, Denny doesn't WANT to be a demon hunter. It doesn't fit into her life plans, but suddenly, she uncovers a family legacy that requires her to be one...a legacy that has left her mother in a catatonic state, her brother in prison, her oldest sister in a convent, and her younger sister in terrible danger. With only Denny left to inherit the legacy, she must learn how to balance both worlds. When Denny's younger sister becomes mixed up with a demon, Denny Silver becomes the most reluctant of demon hunters who finds herself thrust into the sinister and shadowy world of demonic beings roaming our cities and wreaking havoc wherever they go. Only by becoming something she doesn't want to be can Denny protect not only her family, but others she truly cares about.
A Bridge Unbroken by Cathy Bryant. Letting go to build a bridge… A frightened runaway wants her painful past to disappear. A plan to start afresh is derailed when she co-inherits her late grandfather's farm with the man responsible for the scars on her heart. But he isn't the only ghost from the past. Someone else is out to get her and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Will Chance and Dakota lay aside their grudges to restore the old farmhouse and bridge, or will evil forces sabotage their attempt at forgiveness?
Playing with the Prop by Mina Carter. Never mix business with pleasure… Ashley loves her job as a physical therapist with the Sharks but she's never found herself remotely tempted by any of them. Until now the newest player gives her butterflies in her stomach, and fantasies that keep her hot and bothered at night. Harry James marked Ashley the first day they met. For the last year he's been biding his time, waiting for a chance to make his move. When the Sharks win big on Harry's birthday, can he stop at claiming a kiss, or will he want everything she has to give?
Double Her Temptation by Randi Alexander. Book 3 of the Double Seduction Series. Visiting the Silver Spur ranch in western Texas, Megan Shore loves being the center of sexy Trey and Garret McGatlin's sensual attentions. The more the brothers get to know the woman they'd met and seduced during one memorable weekend in Chicago, the more they can see her fitting into their lives long-term. But when a stalker from Megan's past finds her, she's tempted to run back to the polar north to hide. As the threat escalates, Garret and Trey call on their family to help find the man intent on kidnapping Megan. When Megan's parents start encouraging her to leave the ranch and return north with them, the McGatlin brothers need to prove that the best place for their woman is tucked tightly between their hard bodies, held safely in their arms.
Strategic Lust by Elizabeth Lapthorne. Book 9 in the Urban Seductions series. Josh is a confirmed bachelor, a Mage who likes playing the field within the magical community. Now he and his coworkers have a bounty on their heads after destroying a grimoire that reeked of dark magic. It's the last time he should want to get seriously involved with anyone. Yet he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Kate, a sensually appealing warrior who is tasked with protecting him—and cannot allow herself to become personally involved with her charges. Yet despite Josh's promises to himself and Kate's professional dedication, the magnetism between them only grows as threats both magical and mundane threaten to rip them apart.
Icy Seduction by Shara Lanel. Christine convinces cabby Jake to drive her into the Catskills—big mistake, thanks to a slick road and a deep, snow-filled ditch. In the dark, in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they wait until dawn to walk for help. Letting her inhibitions slide is all in the name of keeping warm and has nothing to do with how hot the cabby is. Right? Jake's "tip" for driving into a snowstorm is a one-night-stand with someone who doesn't mind a little spanking. Though he'd love to explore his Dominant-submissive fantasies with her, he doesn't expect to see her again. That is, until he experiences a true psychic connection with her. According to the lore of his people, she is his mate. All he has to do is convince a modern woman from another state that she is meant to be the mate of a man she barely knows. Oh yeah, right after he convinces her werewolves are real.
Hanna's Haven by Lorna Jean Roberts. Shadowpeak Wolves, Book 4. After a lifetime of being ridiculed and ignored, Hanna just wants a place to call home. But now that she has a chance to start over with a pack that will accept her, she can't let go of her big, bad bodyguard. Marcus intrigues her, frustrates her and makes her hotter than hell. How can she leave behind the only man she's ever wanted? Marcus can't keep his hands off Hanna, but he's not good enough for her. The things he wants to do with her would keep her satisfied for years. But she doesn't need a crusty, stuck-in-his-ways, overprotective werewolf in her life. No matter how beautifully she responds to his touch, his demands, she really needs him to keep his distance. But Hanna is his—the other half of his soul. Now he just has to figure out how to claim her.
Alien Tryst by Cynthia Sax. While investigating some mysterious disappearances, Kane uncovers two secrets that change his world. He's not entirely human. He's also dangerously close to death. His alien grandfather has broken a sacred rule, putting his entire bloodline, including Kane, at risk of termination. Eshe, a sexy blonde scientist with lush lips and a hot body, is Kane's only hope to save his family. He'll do anything to keep her safe, including fighting alien warriors, crossing vast galaxies and giving his woman the pleasure she craves. In this world, passion is power and love is necessary for survival.
Twin Hearts by Samantha Winston. Judy, an up-and-coming romance writer, breaks her leg and needs her twin sister Deirdre to fill in for her at a romance conference. Mindful of her childhood agreement that she'd take Judy's place if she needed her to, Deirdre and her cat Looney reluctantly set off for the conference, planning to sign a few books, shake a few hands and then go back home to Seattle. She didn't plan on meeting cover model Red Currier and falling head over heels in love. And it doesn't help her happily-ever-after that she's masquerading as her married, three-months-pregnant sister.
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