An enchanting trio of paranormal Christmas stories:Dawn Halliday's Winter Heat:Lost in a blizzard, a young woman casts a spell over the brooding Highland warrior who rescues her.Cindy Miles's A Christmas Spirit:A museum curator?s tour of a Scottish castle leads to an unexpected encounter with a dead-sexy spirit.Sophie Renwick's Yuletide Enchantment:Passion blooms between an anxious bride-to-be and a dark, sensual stranger from another world.

    You'll recognize Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and other enduring characters, but they'll exist in realms beyond your imagination, where the familiar is transformed into the extraordinary and otherworldly.Contents:Taken in Death / J.D. Robb --If Wishes Were Horses / Mary Blayney --Beauty, Sleeping / Elaine Fox --The Christmas Comet / Mary Kay McComas --Stroke of Midnight / R.C. Ryan.

    In the dead of night, she escapes on a northbound ship, intending to return after Christmas celebrations calm the city’s witch fever. But when Lily lands in the wilds of Scotland, her skills for surviving in the city can’t save her.Roderick MacDonald is on a secret mission for his chieftain when he finds a lass near death on a barren hillside and is forced to take her with him. Though this mysterious Sassenach may have The Gift his clan needs—and he burns with passion for her—he’s determined to resist the enchantment she weaves on his scarred heart.When love blooms amidst the harsh winter beauty of the Highlands, will these two obstinate souls from different worlds accept the Yuletide gift?

    Honor-bound and sworn to protect, they're about to meet their match in twelve feisty heroines. Amidst the wild Scottish mountains, the snow is falling deep, but twelve heart-warming stories of love await--one for each day of Christmas. Discover an embroidered partridge fuelling revenge, two turtle doves sealing an ill-fated match, a feathery Yuletide tale, the betrothal of a reluctant songbird, five golden rings forged in forbidden love, a pet goose who represents a second chance, a swan taking flight, a dairymaid with murder on her mind, nine ladies dancing in the moonlight, a duty-bound laird and a wayward lady, a beautiful piper, and a ghostly drummer playing matchmaker.Twelve historical romance tales set against the backdrop of snowy medieval Scotland at Christmas.Loving Her Highland Enemy - by Samantha HoltA revenge-obsessed lass keeps a depiction of her clan's partridge close to her heart in this passion-steeped enemies-to-lovers Yuletide tale.Highland Dove - by Elizabeth RoseWill Duncan MacLean be able to escape the English prison in time to fulfill his promise of marrying Mari Stewart on Hogmanay, before she weds another?The Kitchen Maid’s Tale - by Hildie McQueenRiding in the back of a cart down the center of the village could be quite embarrassing. Riding in the back of a cart, in a cage with three chickens, was mortifying.Brenna's Yuletide Song - by Cathy MacRaeHumor abounds in this rollicking tale of a pampered merchant’s daughter and the Highlander she must marry.Ringing in Yule - by Sky Purington Will years of forbidden love remind Tavish and Nessa what's at stake before she marries another?Highlander's Christmas - by Mariah StoneA secret child. A pet goose. And an unlikely couple who could get a second chance at love this Christmas—if he doesn’t kill her father.Highland Swan - by Anna MarklandDr. Pendray must save his patient’s life, though it means losing the woman he loves.The Lady's Guide to a Highlander's Heart - by Emmanuelle de MaupassantDisguised as a simple dairymaid, Lady Flora Dalreagh sneaks into the home of the warrior she believes murdered her father, intent on revenge.The Laird's Midnight Dancer - by Ashe BarkerA sacred stone circle, moonlight, and a bewitching midnight dancer to bring a laird to his knees…An Angel at the Highland Court - by Celeste Barclay A laird who fears making a mistake, and a lady whose made one mistake after another...innocence and experience, fire and ice make for one steamy Christmas.The Piper - by Lily BaldwinA battle-wounded laird whose sight has been stolen is soothed by the music of a beautiful piper who also bears scars of a tragic past.Scot Under the Mistletoe - by Caroline LeeA ghostly drummer turns out to be very much flesh and blood in this hilarious Yuletide romp featuring a second-chance romance, a mysterious little plant, and more than a few Henrys.

    Set against the backdrop of the rugged Scottish Highlands and the tumultuous 14th century, Lady Aila Graham is destined for the convent until her brother's death leaves her an heiress and her father hastily arranges a marriage for her with a Highland warrior she's never met. Misunderstandings between the battle-hardened knight and his lady are exploited by their enemies and threaten the entire clan. Only by throwing caution to the winds and forging a powerful bond together can they rout a traitor and save their people—and their love—from destruction.…

    So when a naked bleeding Highlander materializes out of the air into her kitchen, she does what any rational free-thinking herbalist under the same circumstances would do--she heals him. She didn’t expect to be drawn back to the 13th Century where a dangerous whacked-out witch holds the handsome Highlander captive.Nor is she prepared to be drawn so strongly to him that she’ll do whatever it takes to save him. Imprisoned by the witch, Toren Limont the High Sorcerer and Protector of the Faes’ magic, uses the last of his magical reserves to go forward in time and find a healer the witch doesn’t have any influence over. He merely seeks the small respite a healing can give him in order to continue to withstand the witch’s tortures long enough for his clan and siblings to flee.Until Charity falls with him through time as either his salvation or his entire clan’s downfall.

    She encounters a patient who tells her he can send her two hundred years into the past to spend three months in the rugged Yellowstone wilderness at the dawn of the mountain man era. The only requirement: she cannot tell anyone that she’s from the future.How did a white woman suddenly appear in the remote Rocky Mountain wilderness? Trapper Daniel Osborne’s first instinct is to protect this mysterious and unconventional woman from the harsh realities of his mountains. While he fights his growing attraction to her, he is left frustrated by her lies and secrecy.Daniel shows Aimee a side of Yellowstone she’s never experienced. She is torn between her feelings for him, and exposing a secret that will destroy everything he holds as truth. As her three months come to an end, she is faced with a dilemma: return to her own time, or stay with the man who opened her eyes to a whole new world. When the decision is made for her, both their lives will be changed forever.

    But there's no mistaking the irresistibly masculine Scottish Highlander whose chamber she's accidentally infiltrated--or the severe wound he's suffered in battle. As a doctor, Ali knows how to heal his injury, how to nurse his body back to health. What she doesn't know is how to heal his heart. . . A proud warrior and the leader of a powerful clan, Rory MacLeod is ready to fight to the death to protect his homeland. After all, ever since tragedy robbed him of his wife, he has had nothing to lose. Yet the mysterious woman sent to tend his wounds is beginning to reawaken something inside him--something that he'd rather stay buried. But when true passion is mixed with Scottish magic, even the most fearsome warrior could begin to fall. . .

    No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart—until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length—but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.A prisoner in time...She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side...

    They were nothing but trouble. Leaving the rash life of his youth behind, he returned to Skye, seeking peace. He never meant to split the clan or start a war with the MacDonald of Duntulm. He certainly never foresaw an arranged marriage to the most scandalous woman in Scotland. Even though she was twice his age, the size of a horse and mother to more than one illegitimate child, he agreed to secure his sister’s freedom. However, even that plan goes drastically awry. On his wedding day, he finds himself faced instead with an enticing, green-eyed lass named Bree. A walking disaster, his bride immediately turns his world into chaos and threatens to melt his resolve never to love again.Betrayed by her own mother, Bree flees to Skye, thinking only to reunite with her long, lost father. Instead, she finds herself wed to Ruan MacLeod as a replacement bride. When she is forced to remain in the castle, she is soon caught between brothers and the mentally ill wife of the laird.Shy, yet strong, Bree embarks on a journey of independence and learns along the way that all men are not necessarily evil. In fact, one particularly brooding, yet gentle-hearted warrior is worthy of love, and she soon loses her heart forever.Excerpt from Chapter Six:...All at once, he noticed he was still holding her, apparently at the same moment understanding dawned in her face.Bree launched into another attack, jabbing his midriff and raking his skin with her nails.“Be still, ye wee hellion!” Ruan bellowed, pinning her wrists behind her back.For a moment, he thought she was going to retch; her pasty skin seemed almost yellow, purple and black streaks adorned her nose and cheekbones. Marriage to him had not served her well; in two days, she had transformed from a lass with a pair of bright green eyes to a drowned, underfed chicken.As her foot grazed his shin, he winced, quickly amending the thought; a mean-spirited, drowned, underfed chicken.Another well placed kicked wrenched a new succession of curses from his lip, but as her tears began to flow, real ones, his exasperation fled. Of all things, tears affected him the most. One slid down her cheek. Succumbing to a wave of pity, he wiped it gently with his thumb. Bree gulped, frowning in a way he could not fathom. For several long minutes, they stared wordlessly at each other.Finally, her cracked lips opened and she wailed, “I’m not wedding anyone!”Gazing down into the bright eyes brimming with tears, Ruan sighed. “Aye, ‘tis a wee bit late, lass.”It was supposed to be comforting, or so he thought, but his response seemed only to renew her resistance. Balling her fists, she struck his chest but more in blows of frustration than anything else. In spite of his best efforts, he grinned. Battling to the last breath was something he could understand, even for a hopeless cause such as this one. Lips twitching, he easily recaptured her wrists in a single hand. They were unusually small hands, perfectly shaped.The fingers jerked free from his grasp. Startled, he met her eyes once more.“You’ll die if you touch me!” Her slurred threat ended with a hiccup, rendering it anything but intimidating.He could smell the whiskey on her breath.His grin widened.Her hand fumbled near his belt before closing over the hilt of his sword. Assuming a fierce expression, she attempted to frighten him. “I’ll sever your manhood whilst you sleep!”To emphasize the statement she tugged at the blade, several times.On the third attempt, the sword cleared the scabbard almost an inch.“Aye.” Ruan laughed outright, his lips curving into a suggestive smile, “But it would take even a larger blade; ye haven’t a prayer if ye can’t lift this one.” His hand closed over hers. Not as a deterrent, but simply to watch her eyes flash defiantly once more....

    Bad. (Barely) in Plaid.You know those Scottish bad boys...they don't wear anything under their kilts, and who would want them to? Now, USA Today bestselling author Donna Kauffman introduces the Chisholm brothers, three of the sexiest lads ever to leave a woman hungry for moor...Bottoms UPRascal Brodie Chisholm has more charm than the law allows, which is a good thing given he's bailed out of university to run the local pub. Brodie loves everything about the pub life: the community, the darts, trading barbs with the lads, flirting outrageously with the lasses - except for Kat Henderson, of course. She'd probably kick his ass. But Kat's about to show Brodie that the woman of his dreams might just be the tomboy next door and that billiards tables can come in handy for games other than shooting pool...On TapReese Chisholm is a definite man, sure of his ideas and strong of opinion about running the family distillery - until American Daisy MacDonnell shows up. The red-headed beauty has a lot of fancy ideas about promoting his family's whiskey on the Web, singing their praises (very embarrassing) or something. Not that Reese can remember what she says when she's sitting in front of him. He's too busy fantasizing. Moors. Heather. Frolicking and rolling and moaning and....No. Reese Chisholm is all business. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is Daisy...Night WatchTristan always felt he'd been born a century too late. He was a sheepherder, both by profession and desire, with a poet's heart and a need to share a deep, hungry passion with one special woman. Bestselling author Bree Sullivan has come to Scotland looking to escape the paparazzi. Now, a surprise rainstorm has her stuck in the middle of nowhere, rescued by the world's hunkiest sheepherder. And suddenly, being along is the last thing on her mind... Go on...Tartan up your sex life....

    Is her mind playing beautiful tricks? Or has her fantasy become a reality?Shattered Dreams by Rebecca YorkWho wants to harm Miranda? The answer to that question lies in the psychic visions of her former lover--astonishing revelations that could reunite them forever or plunge them both into jeopardy.Road of Adventure by Robin D. OwensIn life, Jake and Shauna were destined for love, until a twist of fate changed everything. Now, with otherworldly help, they have one more chance to prove it's possible. If they heed the lessons they learned on earth...

    And now that she’s at last become its owner, she suspects that she was drawn there for a reason.As if Greywethers were a portal between worlds, she finds herself transported into seventeenth-century England, becoming Mariana, a young woman struggling against danger and treachery, and battling a forbidden love.Each time Julia travels back, she becomes more enthralled with the past...until she realizes Mariana’s life is threatening to eclipse her own, and she must find a way to lay the past to rest or lose the chance for happiness in her own time.

    To escape this unwanted marriage, her loyal servants help her escape her escort and she finds herself on a ship bound for Norway instead. When a storm arises, Sophie and the crew are shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland, and Sophie is taken to Monleigh castle, the home of James Graham. To avoid being sent south to the dreaded English duke, she pretends to have lost her memory and seeks sanctuary in the arms of the only man who can help her--the Highlander.

    It is a vast cosmic sea. Where each life exists as rippling circles on its surface, past and future being eternally present. And occasionally, one expanding ring intertwines with that of another, weaving the lives of two people together...In 2012, Emme Wilde can’t find the right guy. She wants to feel that swept-off-your-feet dizziness of true love. But so far, her dating life has come up short. Star Trek geek? Nice but too serious. Hippy artist? Cute but too vulnerable. Instead, Emme obsesses over the portrait of an unknown man in an old locket. Granted, a seriously dreamy guy with delicious, wind-swept hair she just itches to run her fingers through. But still. Dead men may be great listeners, but they are not exactly boyfriend material. Emme travels to England, determined to uncover his history and conquer the strong connection she feels.In 1812, James Knight has given up finding the right woman. All he wants is someone to share his love of adventure. Instead, his life has become a Shakespearean drama. His brother languishes in a tragic star-crossed romance. His beloved sister clings to life, slowly dying of consumption. But then he finds a beautiful mystery woman, dripping wet and half-dead, beneath a tree on his estate. Now if he can uncover her history, perhaps adventure—and romance—will find him at last.