Owen Easton needs to get a life. Between family obligations and running his bar, he doesn't even have time to date. To make matters worse, his sister-in-laws are pregnant-all of them-his niece keeps asking where babies come from, and his mom signs him up for tango lessons because she says his Latin hip action isn't up to snuff. So when the beautiful barista next door offers to help run the family bar so he can go to a bachelor party in Cabo, he leaps at the chance, until he breaks his number one rule: never ever mix business with pleasure.
After a tragic accident, kindergarten teacher, Abi Woods is forced to take stock of her life and vows to make better choices. She trades in her Teacher of the Year trophy for Good Samaritan hat and posts a Good Deed Needed signup sheet in town. Only this amateur do-gooder discovers that do-gooding is harder than it appears. Determined to make amends for her past choices, she agrees to team up with the big, broody bar owner next door-who might just be the biggest wrong she has to right . . .
The day Jillian Conner caught her husband smearing her award-winning frosting on his mistress's cupcakes was the day she adopted her man-free diet. Including the insatiable flirt who is renting the summerhouse next door. So when her too-sexy-for-words neighbor decides to take a midnight swim-in nothing but his tanned and muscled glory-Jillian tells herself there's no harm in looking, as long as she doesn't sample. Because this single girl in the city-a local cupcake goddess, who just received an order for a seven-tier wedding cake-already has her hands full. She could use another set of ovens-but skinny dipping with the most notorious player in the NFL is a bad move.
After a serious injury, superstar running back Clay Easton, knows the only way he can prepare for the pre-season is absolute focus. So he trades in the noisy grind of city life for the tranquility of nature and rents a house in a sleepy community on the outskirts of Portland. All he needs is a pool, a gym, and some room to breathe. One solid month of uninterrupted rehab is the only thing standing between him and the game. Except, his distraction-free plan has one snag: the sexy single mom next door who watches him from her kitchen window. Before long, Clay can't help but wonder where all that watching will lead. After all, he's never been good with sitting on the sidelines . . .
All is fair in love and war . . .
As far as Piper Lewis is concerned, happily ever after was about as realistic as finding Prince Charming riding a unicorn, but since street art doesn't pay the bills she accepts a job as the resident photographer for Portland's most popular historic wedding venue. Her role as the Ansel Adams of Love is nearly cut short when she has car troubles and her tall, dark, and delicious driver-for-hire, takes one look at her mud-soaked clothes and tries to flee. Except years on the streets made Piper's reflexes faster than his four-hundred horsepower, and with one calculated move she's in the backseat, telling him exactly where she'll shove his tip. Only he isn't a driver at all, he's the Best Man. And while he might not be a prince, he still manages to charm her into a kiss.
Josh Easton goes toe to toe with some of the toughest criminals on the streets every day. There isn't a fight he won't take on, which is why he's running to be the Portland District Attorney. So when the mayor promises Josh an endorsement in exchange for a small favor, he doesn't hesitate to help with the Ladies Auxiliary League annual fundraiser. He never imagines that a bunch of Portland socialites could land him in hot water-and up the conflict, with the intoxicating artist whose lips made a lasting impression.
Set against the breezy backdrop of coastal Rhode Island, the latest novel from bestselling author Marina Adair asks whether two of a small town's biggest hearts can learn to put themselves first-in the name of love ... As caregiver for her autistic brother, Beckett Hayes knows how meaningful a little extra help can be when life happens. Which is why she runs Consider It Done, a personal concierge service in her small town. Her job also gives her the flexibility to follow her passion, being Rome, Rhode Island's unofficial special needs advocate, training emotional support companions in her spare time. There's not much of that, though, and certainly not enough for serious dating. It's always been family first for Beck. But one unquestionably gorgeous, good-natured man is suddenly a temptation that's getting tougher to resist ... Sixteen years ago, Levi Rhodes was ready to sail off into the sunset-literally. But then his father's death and his sister's unexpected pregnancy postponed his sailing scholarship and the adventures he had planned. Running the family marina and bar was the least he could do for his grieving mother. Plus, his niece needed a father-figure. But now that she's in high school and has her bio-dad in her life, Levi's wondering if it's time to get his sea legs under him again ... until curvy, caring Beck showed up in his bar, and then in his dreams ...
This Christmas, the best kind of trouble comes in threes: Three bestselling authors. Three stories of holiday romance. And three cowboys who are ready for love-whether they know it yet or not . . . MISTLETOE COWBOY * Diana Palmer Horse whisperer Parker doesn't drink, smoke, or gamble, and he doesn't have much to do with women, either. Until he meets winsome widow Katy, and her sweet child. Could Christmas kisses under the mistletoe bring the handsome wrangler the gift of his very own family? BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE * Marina Adair To claim his slice of the family ranch, Texas Ranger Noah is forced back to Tucker's Crossing. All he expects to find is a tractor load of painful memories-until a holiday storm, a power outage-and perhaps the magic of Christmas-deliver him to rescue an intriguing woman named Faith. But just who's rescuing whom? MISTLETOE DETOUR * Kate Pearce When Morgan Valley rancher Ted Baker gets out his tow truck to pick up a snowbound driver, he doesn't expect to find his old school friend Veronica on the lam with her pet pig-much less true love-just in time for Christmas . . .
A heartening romance of friendship, second chances, and the healing power of love…
Mackenzie Hart has made a career out of writing about eternal love, so when she finds her perfect match in Hunter Kane, she decides to put it all on the line. Irresistibly charming and drenched in alpha-male swagger, Hunter isn’t just the catch of the town—he’s Mackenzie’s best friend. Only someone beats her to the altar. After a fresh start and three years to recover, the last thing Mackenzie expects is for her old life to come knocking…
Recently divorced, musician Hunter Kane wants to reconnect with the woman he left behind. Admitting his biggest mistake comes first. What comes next is up to Mackenzie. He hopes she’ll give him a second chance. He may have been the one to break her heart, but he knows he can also be the one to mend it.
As a tenuous friendship turns into something more, Hunter’s life on the road beckons once again. Will love be enough to keep them together, or will their wildly different worlds be too much for them to overcome?
There's nothing that single mom Liv Preston won't do if it means making her six-year-old son smile again. After a heartbreaking two years, her little family is due for some fun in the sun. She just didn't expect to find it in the big, rugged, Search and Rescue hero next door-who shows her just how exciting, and sexy, life's adventures can be.
As head of Reno's K-9 search division, Ford Jamison knows what it takes to make life-and-death decisions on the fly. He doesn't hesitate, doesn't do regrets, and has never doubted his instincts-until he makes a promise that turns his world upside down. Desperate for redemption, he returns to Sequoia Lake, only to find himself face-to-face with his past...and the one woman he can't have. Not when his secret would destroy her-and everything she holds dear.
For Liv, finding love once was a gift. Finding it twice seems impossible, until the moment Ford's lips meet hers. Love doesn't always come easy, but when it's right, it's worth fighting for...
There are a lot of things Ali Marshal doesn't do: pink anything, a day without chocolate, and Hawk, her sister's ex-husband. Sure, he's a sexy former NHL star who can make her pulse pound with just a wink. But he belonged to Bridget first. And no matter how long she's had a crush on him, how great he's always been to her dad, or that her sister is engaged to someone else now and Ali needs a date to their engagement party, she can't give in to temptation. Can she?
It's been years since his disastrous marriage crashed and burned, and Bradley Hawk has finally moved on. So when Bridget blows back into town with her new fiancé, throwing the engagement party of the year, he could care less . . . until Ali tells one little lie that lands him smack dab in a fake relationship. After one promise to be Ali's date and two of the hottest kisses he's ever had, Hawk can't deny how much he wants her. But what happens when this fauxmance starts to feel very, very real?
With a kidney transplant behind her, Avery Adams is determined to channel her inner adventurer and explore everything life has to offer. Only problem is, the closest she's ever come to a real-life adventure was sixth-grade science camp. So to seize the summer in her rustic Sierra Nevada town, she takes a job as a guide at the local adventure lodge. But Avery doesn't realize her biggest challenge will register at six-plus feet of rugged good looks and alpha-male charm.
As a member of the Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue team, Tyson Donovan has made a life out of cheating death and rescuing weekend warriors from the treacherous terrain. "The world is my home" is more than just a motto; it's what scares off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. When his dad's health lands the family's adventure lodge in serious danger of going up in flames, he moves home-and quickly remembers why he left. Until he meets Avery, the irresistible new guide who makes him want to stay.
Tyson gives the inexperienced Avery a lesson in romance that her books could never teach her. And with her undeniable spirit for life, Avery shows Tyson the healing power of love. But with one misstep, everything comes crashing down, and they'll both have to take the biggest leap of all-into the kind of adventure that lasts a lifetime.
He's one bad apple she just can't resist . . . Kennedy Sinclair never dreamed she'd own a pie shop and an orchard in a small town like Destiny Bay. But nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it's the perfect place to cross something off her "Life's short so eat the icing first" list and start her life over from scratch. Her shop, Sweetie Pies, is famous for its hot, flaky apple turnovers and sinfully delicious deep dish pie. For Kennedy though, nothing is more enticing than the tall, strapping slice of temptation who keeps coming back for more.
Luke Callahan is determined to make his hard cider business a success. With his beloved father's cider recipe and the opportunity of a lifetime in his grasp, he'll stop at nothing to get this deal done. There's just one catch: he needs Kennedy's apples. At first, he thinks it'll be as easy as pie to charm those apples right off her trees. But Kennedy isn't falling for his tender charms or his wicked ways. When the negotiations start heating up, so do the feelings they have for each other. And it takes just one kiss to seal the deal . . .
Every red-blooded male in St. Helena wants Harper Owens...as a friend. Despite her efforts at seduction, Harper seems to be destined to end up alone. The only guy with a knack for unleashing her inner vixen is firefighter and resident rule-breaker Adam Baudouin. Agreeing to a faux-mance could help him secure a promotion-and save her family's lingerie shop, the Boulder Holder. But playing with fire has consequences. Especially when the flame comes courtesy of St. Helena's own Five-Alarm Casanova.... None of Adam's quick-and-easy hookups have prepared him for a connection this extraordinary. There's more to the milk-and-cookies art teacher that he'd love to explore. But first he has to convince her to trust the town's most notorious playboy. Even tougher-he'll have to trust himself to be the real-life hero this warm and sexy woman deserves.
Emerson “Emi” Blake dropped out of culinary school to care for her ailing mother, but she has bigger dreams than running St. Helena’s most popular pita cart. First on the menu: upgrade to a gourmet food truck. A new part-time job as a personal chef will definitely provide the funds, but it also forces her into close contact with her one and only one-night stand, Dax Baudouin, who’s daring her to try a second taste.
Former army Ranger Dax has a clear mission: come home, get healed, and get gone. Yet Emi’s tough-girl exterior and hidden soft side are even harder to resist than her mouthwatering baklava. After years of battles, he knows better than to try and rescue anyone—not that she’ll let him get close enough to try. Truth is, Dax is starting to think that Emi’s the one person who can save him…if he can just persuade her to give him another shot.
