Neither Mitch Rutherford or Rosie Galvez expect to find romance during their month-long visit to the rambling Victorian getaway. Mitch, an architect, is a workaholic on a deadline, while Rosie's determined to relax and enjoy the scenery while preparing an environmental report. But despite—or perhaps because?—of their differences, they find themselves drawn to each other, and their lives are irrevocably changed by their stay at the lodge. Originally published in 1998 in That Summer Place anthology.

    First she got engaged, then she was jilted, and now she’s pregnant—via a sperm bank! She was so sure love had passed her by, she decided to have a baby on her own. Before Lily’s due date, Jake will have to woo her, win her, marry her, and convince her that he wants to be a dad to the baby she’s carrying…and maybe a few more. Originally published in 2004 in Mothers by Design.

    Instead of asking her to be his lover, he was asking her to be temporary nanny to his baby niece. Not an ounce of desire in sight. Or was there? Living together, spending time in intimate surroundings, created a sensual tension too powerful to ignore. How long before this strictly business relationship turned into a strictly passionate predicament?Taking Care of BusinessFrom the moment she met Tag Elliott, Renee Williams thought of nothing but how his lips would feel on hers. That and darkened bedrooms and whispered promises. But as a member of Manhattan's wealthiest family, Tag was way out of the social worker's league. Besides, no matter how much she craved him, there was another small matter: she was black and Tag was white. Renee had agreed to one night to live their fantasies, but in the light of day Tag decided once was not enough. He could ignore the scandal they would stir; why couldn't she? After all, Tag wanted her. And he always got what he wanted….

    Until one day the deputy catches a petty thief attempting to steal a bottle of baby medicine. The imploring eyes of desperate single mother Patsy Longhorn—not to mention those of her feverish little boy—just might make him reconsider.After breaking off relations with her husband, Patsy Longhorn is wary of men in general, and facing police deputy Justin Adams should have had her running for cover. But somehow this man makes her wonder if maybe the time has come to stop running—if maybe Justin is what she’s been waiting her whole life to find. The Unclaimed Baby Sharon Adams once thought she had her whole future planned—until her dreams were snatched away and she was left running her family’s convenience store. Then on a fateful snowy night she finds two strangers at her door. The first is Cody Branson, an intriguing and irresistible man from another town. And the second is a baby, the one she’s always dreamed, and long despaired, of finding…Loner cowboy Cord couldn’t say exactly what had brought him to Sharon’s door on that cold and snowy night. But when he sees Sharon Adams with a beautiful baby in her arms, for one wild and improbable second he dreams of having a family again. And he knows that, whatever it takes, he has to find a way to make it happen…

    The Playboy’s Second Chance This story was formerly titled Kismet. Since the title was confusing to readers, I changed the name and now bring you The Playboy’s Second Chance. I hope you enjoy my sexy, stand-alone novella. Trevor Dane, Wall Street Hot Shot and billionaire, has everything — money, power and any woman he could possibly want yet he isn’t happy. When his latest interviewer turns out to be the one woman he’s never forgotten, Trevor sees a second chance and he won’t let Lissa Gardelli’s wariness or old hurts stop him from getting back into her bed… and her heart. Midnight Angel Hollywood superstar, Dylan North, revisits his home town with the express intent of seeing his first love once more, to see if they can reignite the love he stupidly threw away ten years before. The last thing Dr. Holly Evans needs in her life is her high school sweetheart returning and stirring up old feelings. But Dylan is determined to convince Holly that happily ever doesn't only happen in the movies.

    But the Circle Bar B ranch isn't the haven she expects it to be. Malicious rumors about Libby are circulating through the ranch, and worse, her lifelong opponent, rancher Jess Barlowe, believes them. The cowboy is as sexy and rugged as ever…but now he's promised to keep a very close eye on her… The more time Jess spends with Libby, the harder it is to resist her. He can't get her out of his mind, but his doubts linger. Are the rumors true? Is he the man she really wants? And in the end, can a proud cowboy like Jess love a woman he can't completely trust?  FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME!  A Wife for a Westmoreland by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson Derringer Westmoreland is haunted by memories of a woman whose face he cannot recall. When he finally traces his mystery woman, Lucia Conyers, she's less than impressed with his charms. For the first time in his life, if he wants to win a woman's heart, he'll have to risk his own.

    A tender, riotously funny short story, "Good Men" is about five men and their unlikely friendships and also about love, marriage, and what gives two people the courage to link hands and jump off the cliff.

    It’s been a year since Layla became a vampire and she still hasn’t tapped into the raw power of her transformation. It’s a point of contention with some of the other, older vampire dancers at Blue Moon Entertainment. But there’s only one vampire’s opinion that matters…Sean O’Rourke, Layla’s maker, protector, husband, and dance partner suddenly seems to be keeping secrets about her true nature…and their future as a couple. But when a sadistic ex-lover appears in Rhodes to reclaim possession of Sean, Layla must finally harness her supernatural gifts and prove her strength…or lose him forever.Layla Steps Up is a brand new novella from Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire series, as well as the Agatha Award-nominated Aurora Teagarden series.

    The distance he puts between them costs both him and Ellie Matthews dearly. Jake will never forgive himself for not seeing what a bastard his friend was. Now that Ellie is free from her nightmare, Jake waits, needing and wanting. He’ll be there when Ellie is ready to spread her wings.OverheardGracie Evans is a woman tired of the men in her life not satisfying her in bed. She’s had a string of boyfriends, but none of them have come close to satisfying the vivid fantasies she has. Two weeks before Valentine’s Day, she breaks up with her latest boyfriend after a night of lackluster sex.When her best friend, Luke Forsythe, overhears her talking to their friend Michelle about what she really wants, he’s stunned. And very turned on. Gracie thinks there isn’t a man alive who can satisfy her in bed. Luke aims to prove her wrong.UndeniedWes Hoffman has a good life and good friends and firmly entrenched in his comfort zone. Until a blast from the past tilts his universe and gives him a healthy dose of something he isn’t used to experiencing. Insecurity.Payton Ricci is surprised but not the least bit unhappy when she spies Wes Hoffman across the bar at a bachelorette party. He was her first many years before but the two have very different recollections of the act.When Wes dodges Payton like a man with the hounds of hell at his heels, Payton realizes it’s going to take a whole lot more effort on her part to make him see the light. Better yet, see her. As a grown woman and not the teenage virgin he once made love to.

     Within minutes of landing on his doorstep, Lanie Weatherford had succeeded in turning Reece Masardi's peaceful, well-ordered world topsy-turvy. Never had he met anyone like her! From her pet miniature horse to her pet causes, this outrageous, unpredictable community do-gooder was all heart -- and all woman... Lanie knew Reece's life had been bumpy lately, and he couldn't seem to bounce back on his own. It was up to lighthearted Lanie to teach him how to laugh again -- whether he was willing or not! But to her surprise, Reece had a thing or two to teach her...about romance. And soon they were sharing more than laughter -- they were sharing love.

    They'll offer you a cup of mulled cider and the story of how they met—and they'll share Helen's breathtaking adventures during the Second World War.“KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE” by Bella AndreFor Mary Sullivan Christmas has always been about family. As she hangs her ornaments, she's swept back to the first days of her whirlwind romance with her husband--and the love that would be the foundation on which they built their family.“FINDING EACH OTHER” by Melody AnneBrayden Steele gave up his love of Christmas many years ago when he lost his mother and father in a car wreck. But just because he no longer believes in Santa Clause, doesn’t mean the magic has given up on him.“BEFORE THAT PROMISE” by Violet DukeIf anyone can make Drew Lawson believe in the magic of Christmas, it's the mind-wreckingly beautiful Skylar Sullivan.  She's the girl-next-door he'd classified as completely off-limits two years ago--and she's standing on his doorstep on Christmas Eve.“CELEBRATION AFTER DARK” by Marie ForceOn the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary, Big Mac and Linda McCarthy take a look back at how they came to be, while each of their children confront a new challenge in their own lives. Come to Gansett Island to celebrate the holidays and the anniversary of the island’s most loved couple!“A DUNDEE CHRISTMAS” by Brenda NovakWelcome to Dundee, Idaho, where the town is small but the hearts of the people living in it are large. A woman seeking refuge in an unfamiliar town during a snowstorm is taken in by a man who helps her discover a new sense of home. But Ken Holbrook provides more than safety and comfort because with him, she also finds love. “UNMATCHABLE” by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGeeAfter Jane Osborne is unceremoniously dumped by a rich man, and then invited to his wedding, on (Christmas Eve no less), she decides to hire a date from Craigslist and pass him off as an upgrade.“CHRISTMAS MIRACLE FOR DAISY” by Jane PorterWhen his goddaughter, Daisy, is orphaned, confirmed bachelor Cormac Sheenan adopts her. All goes well until Marietta's seasonal Santa Claus promises his daughter a mommy for Christmas. Cormac is livid, until his old flame Whitney Alder comes back to town.…“CHRISTMAS WISH: A HOPE FALLS HOLIDAY NOVELLA” by Melanie ShawnFor the movie star and the single mom, will a Christmas Wish become their new reality? “A COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE” by RaeAnne ThayneWidow and caterer Jenna Wheeler is determined to spin Christmas into the stuff of magic for her four children, even if that means helping out her new landlord, sexy billionaire Carson McRaven. At first, Carson wants nothing to do with Jenna, children or the holidays, but he has a little to learn about the spirit of Christmas."THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" by Melinda CurtisSimon Castle' s on his way to a make-or-break meeting unseasonably scheduled for December 25--until the gorgeous redhead subbing for his limo driver takes him on a detour.“GINGERBREAD DREAMS” by Anna J. StewartCan carpenter Hamish MacFadden show free-spirit Essie Goodman how magical family--and Christmas--can be?

    Otherwise the feisty old lady will never allow her only grandchild to live alone in Sheraton Beach. Shannon begs her cheating ex-fiancé Laz Lewis to pretend for just one evening that the couple’s still together. Only the gorgeous police officer wants a favor in return—dinner at his house on Friday night. After sealing their agreement with a heart-throbbing kiss, Shannon has a sneaking suspicion the terms may end up being more than she can handle. Especially since now that she’s back in his life, Laz has every intention of making sure that this time he and the head-strong beauty make it to the altar.

    The last thing she expected was to find her hunky boss holidaying in the beach shack next door.He looked mighty different to the uptight executive she was used to. He'd shed the suit and turned into a surf god. Dominic is horrified that Jilly is living in the old shack. Rumour has it that it's haunted. He wants her to move but she digs in. Can she ignore his charms...and who is the secret visitor who won't leave her in peace?

    He’s ready to leave his wild Vegas playboy ways behind and become a new man. And he knows just the place to do it… his brother Joe’s new hometown. He’s never spent time in a place described as quaint or idyllic, and now he intends to revel in every charming, sweet thing he can find. Like the homegrown country girl his brother sets him up with for the Christmas formal.After several attempts to find holiday magic on her own, Kate just wants one great Christmas. Her quest takes her to her friend's hometown of Sapphire Falls. The Christmas-crazy town is a far cry from San Francisco and Kate quickly finds herself drawn into everything from the snow to the hot cocoa. And, of course, the sweet country boy she'd been set up with for the formal. Looks like she’s going to get everything she wanted — and more — under the tree this year. Getting In The Mood Kate’s back in Sapphire Falls to surprise Levi on the most romantic day of the year… and with her plan to stay in Sapphire Falls this time. But she soon discovers Levi hasn’t shared everything about his new life. In fact, he almost seems to be trying to scare her off with all the talk of snakes and bugs and bad coffee and worse oatmeal. He even lied about the county’s best muffins being right here in Sapphire Falls. Why would he deny her muffins?! The sex is still off the charts, but if that’s all Levi wants, Kate will have to learn to deal with it… somehow.Warning: A very sweet story ahead, including cheesy quotes about love, candy and chocolate, a town that overdoes everything including construction paper hearts on Valentine’s Day and two people who are crazy in love — with each other and with this quirky town.Includes the bonus short story, Getting Frisky... Kate and Levi's New Year's Eve together!

    Small Towns, Big RomanceThe towns may be small, but the laughter, friendships and romance are larger than life! Join twelve bestselling and award-winning authors for a stroll down Main Street as they take you into their sweet and sexy small town worlds in this limited-time collection of swoon-worthy romances. Your Love Is Mine by Bella Andre Second Chance Charmer by Brighton Walsh Issued to the Bride: One Airman by Cora Seton One More Moment by Elena Aitken Keep on Loving You by Erika Kelly High Heels and Haystacks by Erin Nicholas Hot Mess by JH Croix Where I Belong by Jill Sanders To Get Me To You by Kait Nolan Proxy Bride by Katy Regnery Wrapped in Love By Lexi Ryan Seducing Sawyer by Melanie Shawn