Especially after a bearshifting hunk of mancandy (her words) saves her deliciously curvy self (his words) from the evil enchantress.If she can save the small town (and a dog) from an untimely, witchy doom, she still needs to contend with the possessive, brazen bear of a man with desires to claim her as his own...That last part sounds lovely, actually.I mean, sure. Why not? Let’s do this!

    Five years ago Harlan headed up the investigation of an identical murder in the same woods; a mishandled investigation that effectively destroyed his credibility as a detective. The new case immediately takes a bizarre twist when the body is identified as the same girl found hanging in the woods five years ago. The following day a local man commits suicide and the police find more dead girls hidden in his basement. The case seems open and closed. Until the killing spree begins. Harlan finds himself drawn into a dark world where murder is a form of self-expression and human life treated as one more commodity to be used and discarded. The only clue that links everything is a large oil painting of ‘Sagittarius A’ – a massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy orbited by thirteen stars daubed in blood with the words – Heart SwarmThis edition is no longer available.

    Oh my!When it comes to magic powers, I hit the oddball lottery. All I have to do is step into people’s shoes and—poof—I instantly learn all the most private things about them, those things they most desperately want to hide from the world.Naturally, when a woman turns up dead wearing an actress’s very famous—and very cursed—glass slippers, everyone looks to me for answers.I just want to sell soap and candles with my sisters in our family’s shop, but turns out nobody is willing to let me off the hook that easily. And that hook includes going undercover at a swanky ball with the deceased spoiled prince of a son.Will donning my party dress and stepping into these cursed shoes lead me down the right path, or will I wind up tumbling headfirst into my grave?

    Go figure. I've always known I was adopted. It never mattered much...until my birth mother died. I inherited a new power from the mysterious woman. But now she’s dead and I, despite the fact that I have exactly zero training, I’m the next time-traveling assassin. Don’t get excited. The job sounds glamorous, but it comes with a huge learning curve and plenty of mishaps. Then there’s having to actually assassinate people. That part sucks. It could be worse. I could still be working retail.

    

    ***** FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED ***** The stories in this collection, because they all happen in Upper Nettlefold, have things which happen, that influence the other stories. So the order in which they are presented here aligns with the timeline in which events in the stories happen (although many are in parallel). Read through this collection in order, and you will find that each story builds on the ones before, weaving the magic of community and interconnection between characters. There is also a map of Upper Nettlefold to help you visualise everything as you read. Although each story can stand alone, we’re sure that you’ll love finding the linkages as you go. This is our second visit to Upper Nettlefold, but it won’t be our last. (Our first was the collection ‘Love, One Regency Summer’ which will only be available for a limited time, so, if you like these stories, you’ll want to grab it before its gone!) You may see other collections based here, or you may see individual books from the various authors, but we will keep expanding the stories about the people you’ll meet in this collection. We have also each given you a short preview of another of our books. This collection includes: To Dance with the Dangerous Duke by Arietta Richmond A Duke sworn never to love again, a Lady trapped by one past mistake, a Christmas Ball, a blackmailing cad, an impossible choice, a last minute reprieve, a miraculous love. Merry Christmas My Love by Rose Pearson A Lady whose heart is broken, an Earl whose life needs to change, an accidental meeting, the interference of well-meaning friends, a confrontation, a new love that heals old hurts. >Miss Modesty’s Mistletoe by Grace Austen An Earl with a scandalous reputation, a young woman whose parents hope to see marry a respectable man, a not so accidental meeting, a dramatic rescue on the way to the Ball, a love long held declared.< The Compromised Lady’s Christmas Wish by Regina Darcy A Lady deceived, abandoned and robbed, a gentleman rescuer who has lost all that he loves, a murderer unveiled, a love that restores two reputations and heals broken hearts. A Christmas Secret by Kelly Anne Bruce A widow whose days are lonely, even surrounded by family, a military man who brings news of her husband’s last days, and unexpected attraction, an identity revealed, a new love for Christmas. The Earl’s Christmas Love by Sophia Wilson A widowed Earl, avoiding society, a Lady who hopes for love, a past acquaintance with designs on the Earl, a trap set and sprung, a misunderstanding resolved, a love saved from despair. Miss Fitzwilliam’s Christmas Redemption by Lydia Pembroke A young woman, bitter about her own bad choices, and a love lost, a change in circumstances, a charitable action which leads to a meeting with a man of the merchant class, a love that redeems. The Christmas Fortune by Isabella Thorne A Knight who hopes to marry, a Lady whose place in society is newly restored, and threatened by past scandal, the villain who could ruin her, a plan to trap a wrongdoer, a love saved by royalty.

    There’s something in his bag. Something silver and glistening, sparkling with hopes and dreams of a bright and beautiful future. The only thing standing between him and his soon to be fiancée Emma is his arduous, mind-numbing drive home. But something isn’t right. His phone, his hearing, the music, the traffic; everything just seems off and out of sync, and Riley can’t quite put his finger on it.All he has to do is keep his eyes on the road…All he has to do is take it slow…In this brooding and deeply moving short story by Jack Harding, buckle up and settle down for a journey that will stir your senses and pull on your heart strings, keeping you guessing right until the end of the road.

    There is nothing he wouldn’t do to secure her services at first, but later he will settle for nothing less than her heart…Nearly 7 years ago, Susan Langdon was well aware that her actions would ruin her marriage prospects. Now she is content with being a governess and taking care of her twin charges, even if there’s a void in her heart that will never be filled…When her employer’s brother, the widowed Duke of Kent, arrives in the manor, Susan will get the feeling that he isn’t there just for a social visit. And she is absolutely right!Eldridge Johnson is in dire need of a governess and his brother seems to have the perfect candidate for the job! And with the twins departing for Eton soon, she should be ripe for the picking!But what the Duke will find upon meeting Susan is that her qualities are far more precious than those of a mere governess, and though the course of action is clear in their heads, the unexpected obstacles brought on by a family member will perplex things quite a bit…

    He’s got a new mate, is in a race to save his ranch, and is the brand-new alpha of the Two Claws Clan. Add to that, his mate, Ava, has a serious problem with Christmas, and Trigger has his work cut out for him. This is his first Christmas as leader of his Clan, and he’s taken it as a personal challenge to make it perfect. The only problem? Ava never wanted perfect.***************************Grim Christmas:Grim is trying to hold it together for the holidays. He’s vowed to be a better Alpha for the Rogue Pride Crew, but he’s at war with the two lions inside of him, and at war with a certain Red Dragon as well. He was raised to be a weapon and had never celebrated like everyone else. All he wants to do is coast straight through the holiday, but his new Crew is messing with his head. He wants to hate them, but little by little, they are chipping away at his heart. Especially his new mate, Ash, who is so sweet about making it the perfect day.Ashlynn Kane is bound and determined to make Grim’s first Christmas outside of the Tarian Pride the happiest day of his life. The only problem is, her new lion shifter mate is a bit of a scrooge. With a can-do attitude and some mishaps along the way, she is going to do her best to make the man she loves feel special. Even if it means going against her Alpha’s wishes.Naked mole rats, talking pebbles, and baby donkeys, oh my. Ash won’t stop until Grim believes in Christmas again.***************************New Vyr:Vyr Daye is learning that not every happily ever after works in a straight line. He was supposed to be okay after he escaped shifter prison and found his mate, but for the past six months, his dragon has felt broken, and has an undeniable instinct to burn and claim the entire world. Four mountain ranges in six months and he’s losing all control, and dragging his Sons of Beasts Crew, and his mate Riyah, straight to hell. It was never the other dragons the world had to worry about. It was always the Red Dragon inside of him. And now he must find a way to save the world from himself.***************************A Very Beastly Christmas:Dominant grizzly shifter, Easton Novak, hasn’t celebrated the holidays since he was a child, but his mate is about to make this Christmas one for the books. She’s been hiding something from him, and her revealed secrets are about to knock his world upside down. Making his woman happy should come naturally, but now he’s overthinking everything. And for Easton, that could mean losing control of his feral inner grizzly.Timid raven shifter, Aviana Novak, has been lying to her mate for months, but she can’t put the truth off anymore. She was trying to protect herself, her beloved Gray Backs, and most of all…her mate. But now she’s in too deep and Beaston’s control of his inner monster is at risk.Aviana is about to make this a Christmas Beaston and the Gray Backs will never forget.Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, naughty language and piles of sexy shifter secrets. Intended for mature audiences.

    A compelling and gripping debut Suspense Urban Thriller filled with unexpected twists that will keep you page-turning and rooting for Betsy Ryan until the early hours. Perfect for fans of Fractured and Gone Girl. “Aldrich’s book delivers a solidly structured and detail-filled plot that starts with a skillful, early buildup of suspense. Like an Agatha Christie novel, the novel makes efficient use of misdirection while adding several suspicious suspects to the mix. The Characters are vividly drawn and believable. The story features an appealing and creative narrative voice.” ~BlueInk Review "Top notch storytelling and an exceptional fiction debut, Pink Slips proves a must read and one that raises high expectation for future releases from Aldrich. It is recommended without reservation." –Book Viral Reviews “Beth Aldrich’s Pink Slips is a psychological thriller that sustains a sense of mystery throughout, told from the point of view of pregnant suburban chef Betsy Ryan. The first-person perspective helps build suspense and heightens the action through the story’s many twists and turns.” ~4-Star Foreword Clarion Reviews “Not since Rosemary’s Baby has a book revealed how vulnerable women are when pregnant… Aldrich has Raymond Chandler’s (The Lady in the Lake), gift for portraying violent scenes, but has a woman’s insight into the especially serious consequences it could have for pregnant women.” ~5-Star, Indie Reader Review “Atmospheric and chilling with a feisty and relatable EveryMom heroine, Pink Slips will keep you in suspense until the gripping climax.” ~Eve Adamson, nine-time New York Times bestselling collaborator Betsy Ryan is pregnant with her third child, and receiving threatening notes from an anonymous person. During what should be a joyful time in her life, she’s forced to face a decade old memory, and relive one of the most devastating nights of her life In order to uncover the mystery behind the threats, she enlists the help of an unlikely, but oddly reliable source, her dog Barney. As the menacing notes continue to arrive, her husband is called out of town for work, and she struggles to keep her composure while shielding her two young sons from danger. She trusts no one except her parents, best friend Misty, and her extraordinary dog—who has proven to literally understand everything she says. Is this person out to harm her? And how do they have so much personal information about Betsy? She can’t help but think it’s the same person who attacked her at the train station almost a decade ago, and changed the course of her life forever. To save herself and her unborn child—Betsy must face her fears and find her strength, to reveal who is after her and most importantly…why.

    Magic will save her. Magic will lead her home. On Tempris, time magic is outlawed, and suspected time mages are hunted. Humans are second-class citizens, shunned by the immortal fey that live on the island. They even have a name for their kind: Shardless.Taly is one of the lucky humans. Taken in by a fey noble and his family, she's lived a good life, surrounded by people she loves. But when an accidental brush with magic causes her to see things -- ghostly apparitions that give her small glimpses into the future -- it has deadly consequences. The Sanctorum has returned to the island, and if they find her, they'll kill her. And anyone that tries to protect her.This includes her best friend, Skye. He was the boy that saved her. The man she knew she could never have. And when he refuses to let her go, their actions might hold the power to reshape the world.An ancient evil is rising, and in order to protect those that she cares for, Taly will have to sacrifice everything.Including her heart. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, this action-packed fantasy romance will have you captivated from page one!

    So I’m going to give you a refresher course. I’ve known you for years and years. We used to have beautiful conversations. There was no one that knew you better than me. We were handmade for each other. Lately, it’s become achingly obvious you’re miserable. You’ve moved back home to take care of your ailing mother. You’ve been looking for a new job, but that’s not going well. Admit it: it’s all too much. Everyone around you sees your suffering, but they’re not willing to help you.Everyone but Jackson. He comes into your life at the perfect moment and offers you everything you could want: a shoulder to lean on, love, and most importantly, hope. But there’s no one that can compare to me. You seem to forget that I’m your figure 8. Your infinity. You try to run, but I will always find you.Yours Truly, Figure 8

    a supernatural mystery.Edrington, Oregon - a town with a horrifying past. A town with dark secrets. A town where a woman has summoned something terrifying.Three hundred and fifty miles south, Ryan wakes up in a motel room with a bag of stolen money, bullet hole scars on his chest, and no memory of his past - his only clue is a scrap of paper in his wallet with an Edrington address scrawled on it.Plagued by nightmares of a tortured man who seems to be forcing his way from the dream world into our world, Ryan journeys north to the small Oregon town where the answers are waiting for him.

    But now that I’m here, I must either submit or die.My captor took me for his own, but his equally powerful brother will stop at nothing to steal me away. How can I escape when my choice of lover could change everything about their world? Or end it, once and for all.

    From NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Justice series, M A Comley, who has sold over three million copies worldwide.She did it, she escaped his clutches.Now she lives under a new name.For the past five years, Lucy has lived in fear of her past.But all that is about to change when Matthew enters her life.Will she be able to finally trust another man after....?Which should she listen to, her heart or her head?As she fights to obtain the happiness she deserves, someone is lurking in the shadows with their own dangerous agenda.Will they be the one to determine whether she lives or dies?