She longs for a peaceful life away from the darkness of her past where she can create the paintings that are close to her heart, and where she hopes she can grow to love her husband. But how do you love a man who was persuaded to marry you against his will? Franklin Haskell never planned to marry. What woman would want a man who was crippled due to his own arrogance? But when he is offered the chance to help a woman in crisis, he agrees to wed. Corva is so much more than he expected, and when a baseball game gives her the chance to shine, he loses his heart. But how do you tell a woman you love her when she deserves so much better? The game of love has never been so hard to play…or so worth winning. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam Level = HOT If you would like to read this story without any “scenes,” check out Corva: The Perfect Bride .

    Note: each book can be read as a stand-alone. A life-altering betrayal leaves Donna Grace alone, unmarried, and pregnant. She’s desperate to leave St. Louis, Missouri, and return to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she grew up, and the only way back is by wagon train. The wagon master refuses to let a single woman drive a wagon without a male escort. Donna knows she can’t trust men, but it seems she’s going to have to partner with one if she wants to get back home. Luke Russell failed to protect his fiancée. Because of his neglect, she was murdered. He vows to never leave another person to face dangers on their own and to never again open his heart to love. When he overhears Donna Grace’s predicament he offers her a marriage of convenience that they will dissolve as soon they reach Santa Fe. But the trail forces them to work together. The birth of Donna’s baby unites them in a way they can’t deny. Will the dangers and joys of the Santa Fe Trail break down the barriers these two have built around their hearts? Read more books by award-winning author Linda Ford: Dakota Brides series: Temporary Bride Abandoned Bride Second-Chance Bride Reluctant Bride War Brides series: Lizzie Maryelle Irene Grace Wild Rose series: Crane’s Bride Hannah’s Dream Chastity’s Angel Cowboy Bodyguard Big Sky Country series: Montana Cowboy’s Baby Montana Bride by Christmas Montana Cowboy Daddy Montana Cowboy Family Montana Groom of Convenience Montana Lawman Rescuer

    After the death of her father, Crystal is relieved to be leaving the troubles of her Georgia life behind to visit her aunt's cattle ranch. Despite being raised as a proper Southern belle, Crystal is determined to hold her own in this wild land—even if a certain handsome foreman named Luke doubts her abilities.Just when she thinks she's getting a handle on the constant male attention from the cowhands and the catty barbs from some of the local young women, tragedy strikes. And saving the ranch from a greedy neighboring landowner means Crystal must take charge of a cattle drive, ready or not. Can she rise to the challenge? Or will she head back to Georgia defeated?

    Thornton Duvall was orphaned at a young age, and he was taken in by a rancher. He’s been working on a cattle ranch all his life.He can read and write, but he’s not well-read. He’s a good man, one who would give the shirt off of his back to anyone who needs it.Despite the strong objections of his boss, Thornton says that it’s time he got married and puts out an ad seeking a mail order bride. He has always wanted a family of his own.Jane starts falling in love with a man that she’s never met before. But how could a city girl learn how to live on a ranch? Will she be able to break through the hardships of a ranch life for the sake of a stranger?Can two people coming from completely different worlds, put their disagreements and create the family they always wanted? Or, their stubbornness and the opinion of others will become a self-fulfilling prophecy for them?

    Army during the Indian Wars. This collection of nine stories set in the era of the frontier army gives an entertaining and educational glimpse into a world not often explored in fiction. "Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter" weaves a tale of an Irish woman who has no choice but to marry a man she barely knows after the death of her husband leaves her penniless. She struggles with isolation and the cruelty of the others in the fort because of her rapid marriage. In the end, hers is a story of loss, love, and survival. But these are not all love stories. In "Mary Murphy" one soldier reflects about the hard life of a laundress. "A Season for Heroes" tells of a buffalo soldier named Ezra Freeman, a true hero to one officer's family. The collection concludes with "Jesse MacGregor." The narrator, John, looks back on an Apache attack in the desert. After his detail's captain is killed and John is injured, authority falls to surgeon Jesse MacGregor. The account of their struggle to fight hunger, thirst, the elements, and of course, the Apaches, is mesmerizing. Kelly does not leave comedy out of her collection. "Fille de Joie" is a charming story of a married couple reunited after an almost two-year separation. The wife is arrested after the two make too much noise during their afternoon tryst. She is charged with being a fille de joie, and the comedy ensues. Kelly's work will find an audience among those interested in feminist literature, American history, fiction, and nonfiction.

    For years afterward, each nursed a secret dream—that the other had grown into a special person—brave, good, kind.When Norah Hawkins and Caleb Sutton cross paths again, dreams die. She is a bitter, suicidal widow. He is a gunman with little conscience and few scruples. Alternately angry, repelled, and attracted, the two form an uneasy partnership to hold land she owns and he covets against a marauding neighbor. Their bargain never included love, or did it?

    After all, she'd been shunned by the citizens of Dead Dog, Oklahoma for so long that she'd given up hope of having any respectable gentleman callers.But the last thing Jed expected was romance. He was looking for a sophisticated woman to help him sow his wild oats. Instead, Cora made him a proposition of her own--one that would cause a fury in the town--and cause her to question her own heart...

    He's been too busy helping to provide for his family. Now that he's heading west, Dex is hoping to start a family of his own. However, his attempt to acquire a mail-order bride fails miserably when the lady writes back ridiculing his terrible spelling. Rachel Oliver may be the last person he wants to know what a dunce he is, but she's also the smartest woman in town--and it's clear he needs her help.Rachel Oliver has lingered in town for three years secretly mooning over Dex Stanton, but now she's done. If the fool wants to write to a mail-order bride company, so be it. Once she begins giving Dex lessons, however, Rachel realizes she may not be prepared to give up just yet.As their time together runs short, can two of the most stubborn people in town set aside their pride long enough to find love?Love by the Letter is a companion novella to A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears's full-length debut novel available fall 2013. Includes an extended sneak peek at A Bride for Keeps.

     Elizabeth Dawson is too outspoken for gentle society, but she may be the perfect match for a tough Montana cowboy. A story of two very different people who belong together, proof that sometimes fate can have a sense of humor when it comes to love

    Catherine Bennett is destined to hang... unless she can disappear.With the untamed territory of Colorado as her most likely refuge, she packs her physician's kit and heads West. But even with a new life and name, a female doctor with a bounty on her head can hide for only so long.Sawbones is the first novel in a gripping historical fiction series.

    He's witnessed and experienced a lifetime of cruelty and he's lost too much to care about anything ever again. While he was captured, his entire family died, leaving him with the only person he cares about - his cellmate, Griff. As a result, his steely nerves have made Sam one of the most famous and feared hired guns in the west. Then Griff disappears inside the gates of Hamilton's fabulously profitable Silver Spur ranch. Sam figures that posing as a bodyguard of the Baron of Banking's daughter, who's come to visit, will be the simplest solution to finding his way in. Little did he expect that fighting a war would do so little to prepare him for an encounter with the very adventurous and alluring Laura.

    The old matchmakers had gone too far this time and now it was up to Wyatt to tell Hannah Richmond and her adorable son that they’d been had by four well-meaning old cowpokes. Except that when Hannah looked at him like he was the best thing since sliced bread and made him feel like a complete man, Wyatt began to think that maybe the old fellas were right — and that could be dangerous for the whole town!

    Ava hated politician! What will happen when Ava discovers that her new husband has political ambitions, an arrogant streak, and a struggling gold mine? Can a man with ambition and power such as Jackson ever learn to accept anything less than perfect? Gold Creek is nothing like Ava ever imagined. Wild, unruly, the town matches her new husband. Ava is thirty-one, beautiful and brave, but with a heartbreaking past, and a crippling injury. She's always had everything she needed financially, but now this has CHANGED. She has lost everything . . . . . Crippled Ava and her Ma have been thrown out onto the street by her cruel father- a politician! They have no way of survival. She needs to make a plan, to save them both from poverty, from a life begging on the street. Gold Creek . . . and Jackson Abrams, are her ONLY option. When events seem desperate, Ava makes a strong, desperate decision: to travel to the other side of the country to marry a man she has never met. Jackson promises that his gold mine can provide for him, Ava, and her struggling mama. Join Ava on her journey cross-country to Gold Creek, where she meets the powerful and devastatingly handsome Jackson Abrams, who has the love and respect of the town, but hidden secrets, and a blind spot when it comes to love and business. He has a picture-perfect vision for his life, and Ava - with her crippling injury - worries that he can't see past the imperfections. "What's wrong with your leg?" "An accident," she replied, softly. "Oh," he said, at last. "So, it's...permanent then." "It is." They continued to walk in silence for half a mile. "Ava," Jackson said finally. "I want things to be perfect between us." "Perfect?" she asked, looking up at him and frowning. "Jackson, you do know there's no such thing as perfect, don't you?" Can Ava learn to adjust to life in the wild mining town? Can Jackson learn to love imperfection? Will Ava trust that Jackson can see her inner beauty? “Take the journey with Ava and Jackson, as they learn to open up, love, trust in God's plan, and to see the beauty in imperfection. “ This is a sweet and CLEAN WESTERN ROMANCE short story.

    Yet even in the war-torn South, there was room for a Christmas miracle or two. The Wise Virgin by Jo Beverley — Their families have feuded for generations. But will the love of Edmund de Grave and Joan Montelan overcome all this Christmas Eve—or will a family secret keep them apart forever? Tumbleweed Christmas by Candace Camp — "Bah humbug" rancher Daniel MacKenzie met his match in his new housekeeper, Melinda Ballard. She was determined to bring the holiday spirit into his home—and the magic of love into his heart.

    But then again, there’s no man quite like Trey. Charity has known Trey all her life, but she can still appreciate a fine-looking man when she sees one, and Trey is far more to Charity than just a fine-looking man. He may have always seen her as his best friend’s little sister, but Charity’s all grown up and her crush on Trey has grown up too. If only she could get him to see her as a woman. During a trip to buy Charity’s new barrel-racing horse, Trey’s floored—and a bit horrified—by how attracted he is to her. He wants to put her firmly in the friend zone, but his body disagrees. And when they get home, that attraction ignites all the way to the bedroom, leaving Trey riddled with guilt the morning after. He feels he’s betrayed the family who made his life bearable when he was young and dealing with a drunken, violent father. But what Trey is convinced was a mistake turns into so much more when Charity finds out she’s pregnant—with twins. Now, he’ll do right by her and support his children. He’ll take care of Charity, like he’s always done. The only thing is, Charity insists she doesn’t want or need his help, thank you very much. She’s still stinging from his rejection after their night together, and refuses to marry him based on some duty or obligation. She wants a man who loves her, not just one who’s determined to do the “right” thing. Yet as Charity’s pregnancy progresses, Trey realizes he can’t live without her, and he’ll do all he can to convince her they were meant to be. This novel contains sexual content, profanity and scenes with referenced violence and referenced substance abuse.