But what of its opposite -- the moment when it becomes clear that things are indisputably over? Dumped is a survey of every type of romantic crack-up, a group of stories full of the hilarity, wisdom, insight, and sometimes, yes, fierce revenges of some of the most memorable broken hearts in recent literature. Dumped sheds light on what can be the toughest part of human relations -- whether newly elucidating the misery we've all endured, or merely reminding us that others have had it far worse -- from the mother in Elizabeth Berg's Open House absurdly attempting to tell her son his father has left, to the betrayed wife in Roald Dahl's "Lamb to Slaughter," who beats her husband to death with a leg of lamb, then cooks it for the police. With contributions from such notable authors as Will Self, Saul Bellow, Alice Munro, Raymond Carver, Lorrie Moore, Dorothy Parker, Andre Dubus, and Tobias Wolff, as well as rising stars like Lucinda Rosenfeld and Steve Almond, Dumped spans every variety of romantic catastrophe and every possible response to it; from the wise to the hilarious, the bitter to the bittersweet. This book is the panacea for problems of the heart.

    Before you get snowed in, grab yourself a copy of this limited-edition collection. With heroes and heroines of all kinds, you'll be sure to find some that you just can't help but fall in love with. These romantic reads can be read as stand-alone stories. But, why would you want to do that? Read them all! Immerse yourself in this wintery ensemble from Romance Collections. This collection includes: Storm of Seduction (Gilpin County Search & Rescue 1.5) by Nicole Morgan Will Lori's plan be the thing that brings her and Kevin together again? The Gift by Stephanie Morris Sometimes love is the only gift you need Luca's Little Christmas Cracker by Caitlyn Lynch Santa's sexy helper is all Luca wants for Christmas! Finding Love by Krista Ames Sometimes the best things are found in awkward places... The Great Fruitcake Bake-off by Vicki Batman It's love and war in the baking world. Christmas Choices by Sharon Coady Which man can make this the best Christmas of her life? Hot Coffee by Donna R. Mercer Everyone Needs A Little Cream in Their... Nice Girl Naughty by Jan Springer Can Summer's bodyguard keep her safe from a serial killer? Touchdown Dance by Carma Haley Shoemaker Dance was my first love. I'm counting on you to be my last. Christmas Wishes by Livia Quinn Tis the Season for Second Chances Tied Up In Tinsel by Amber Skyze Things can go awry when a dream fantasy turns into a nightmare. Rent-a-Gentleman Two: Winter Sparks by Rebecca Fairfax A winter-spring relationship? No--more like winter sparks Stranger in the Snow by Jane Blythe Trust a stranger with her life or risk it in a blizzard. Resisting You by Suzanne Jenkins Kendall accepted a life without love until an unexpected visitor changed her mind. Mistletoe Fantasies, Book 1 in the Pleasure Your Fantasies Series by Stacy Eaton Dancing pays the bills, but it's ruining her Christmas Fantasy. A White Hot Christmas: Novella by Rene Webb Keeping warm has never been this hot! A Wolf's Claim (The Holiday Ball Book 1) by Marie Mason Will fate and some blue pixie dust be enough to get these two lovers together? Christmas Comes to Silver Falls (A BBW Holiday Romance) by Joann Baker & Patricia Mason When a long lost love rides into town, Christmas becomes even more complicated for Mayor Holly Bryant as she must choose between her responsibility as mayor or her heart. Winter Encounter by Karen Cino

    From the Highlands of Scotland to the Hollywood hills, twelve strong heroines meet twelve hot heroes in tales that span the globe. Whether you crave big-city adventure or small-town romance, second chance stories, or sexy single dads...this outstanding collection holds something special for you. Come be our Valentine, and snuggle up with these sweet and steamy romances, perfect for reading on a chilly winter's eve. Happy ever afters guaranteed.Heart Tamer (Heartthrob Series Novella) by Sophia Knightly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Fashion designer Kate Hayes must somehow convince her estranged ex-husband, Alec MacLeod, to agree to an unusual request. In this fiery second chance at love, whose heart will be tamed?The Sometime Bride by Ginny Baird, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Carrie St. John is done with wedding disasters. Third time's the charm? A jilted bride and a ditched bachelor cut a "fake fiancé" deal.The Surrogate's Secret by Mimi Barbour, USA Today and National bestselling author. Confirmed bachelor, Miguel, forces his dead brother's gorgeous, headstrong surrogate to marry him so he can take her and her twins to Chile to cheer his ailing mamita.Breaking the Rules by Mel Curtis, USA Today and National bestselling, award-winning author. The Gordon's marriage has been an emotional rollercoaster, but Jack has the solution-lock them inside a safe room for a cool-down, which turns out to be hot.Take Me, I'm Yours by Donna Fasano, USA Today bestselling author. Sexy single dad Derek learned the hard way to never trust a beautiful woman. So although he is indebted to Lainey for thwarting a kidnapping attempt on his daughter, he isn't about to offer her his heart on a silver platter!Valentine Babies by Mona Risk, USA Today and National bestselling author. Getting involved with fearless reporter, Roxanne, involves more complications than Dr. Greg has ever faced in the OR.The Army Doctor's Valentine's Baby by Helen Scott Taylor, USA Today and National bestselling author. An abandoned baby brings two lonely army doctors together.The Rock Star's Wedding by Ari Thatcher, USA Today and National bestselling author. Kenzie's vacation in St. Thomas heats up when her high school sweetheart and rock star heartthrob Chaz appears. If only he wasn't there for his wedding. Love Struck by Patrice Wilton, USA Today bestselling author. With the "love bug myth" and discovery of gold, Serendipity Falls is no longer safe. Can Samantha and Kyle find a way to end this madness, or will they too be swept away by love?Ambrosia by the Sea by Traci Hall, National bestselling and award-winning author. After a bitter betrayal by her late husband, self-taught chef Celia Langdon moves to the sea, where dive shop owner Dax Smith dares her to heal from the heart.Reading Between the Lines by Anna J Stewart, National bestselling author. When Ethan Sutherland was in high school, he'd go to any lengths to hide his secret, including betraying the one girl who tried to help him. Now he's back in town and hoping Cassidy Wells finds it in her heart to forgive him.

    That’s what I am. My virginity auctioned off to gorgeous billionaire Connor Kenyon. His demands are simple. Do exactly what he wants, when he wants. No questions asked. I have no idea why he’s chosen someone like me —an everyday, average girl next door—when he’s famous for dating gorgeous sexual goddesses. He carries himself with an authority that goes beyond his twenty-six years, and his eyes are so blue they pierce me. He’s an American prince from a family with political connections, a golden boy who went to prep schools and Harvard, an entrepreneur who created an astoundingly successful business because of his brains and admirable drive—not because he was handed everything on a silver platter. The first time I meet him, his gaze is intense with a hunger that leaves me breathless. I flush with arousal at that first look, my most private place beating for him. But a man who would buy a woman’s innocence can’t be as perfect as Connor Kenyon seems. No, a man who would do something like that is bruised and broken beyond repair. And with every touch, every kiss, every demand, I’m realizing that he has the power to break me too… Because He Owns Me by Hannah Ford Recent college grad Adriana O’Connor came to New York City to focus on starting her publishing career—not to fall in love. Even if she were looking for her soul mate, Callum Wilder would be the last person she would choose. The sexy and demanding billionaire is completely unattainable – not to mention his penchant for whips, chains, and punishment. Falling for Callum can only guarantee one thing – devastating heartbreak. Callum Wilder lives his life by one unbreakable rule – never surrender control. But when a chance encounter with Adriana leads to one hot and sexy night, the hold she has on him threatens to break his will. But Callum’s need for control is there for a reason, a devastating reason he’s vowed never to reveal to anyone, ever. And just one slip up could cost him everything… HUGE contains these stories and more…ten romances from today’s top romance authors!!

     An innocent outing lands FBI Special Agent Katie Freeman and her partner, Michael Powell, on the trail of a kidnapper whose greatest pleasure is torturing women. When a college freshman is reported missing, everyone assumes she ran away. But when her body turns up in a cornfield not far from where she went missing, a different story begins to emerge. Kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead, she clings to life, and now it’s up to Katie and Michael to uncover who did this to her. When a second woman goes missing, the two agents begin a search that has a very different ending. Finding the man responsible will take a combination of new investigative methods and Katie’s unfailing ability to piece together a puzzle - one that is as twisted as the corn maze that has become this perpetrator's hunting grounds.

    Every day for three years, she’s mourned the loss of her parents, tried to find the people responsible for their murders. Holding tight to her only living family – her sister and her aunt - this brave young Witch searches for answers in the most unlikely of places.When assigned the murder case of two powerful Witches very close to his hometown, Agent Ranger Evans never expected to find his Mate in the process. Unfortunately, three years have passed, he’s recovering from a life-threatening fight with the people responsible, and he’s no closer to claiming the sweet Ellie MacLeish as his own.Why is it danger is always lurking in the most unlikely places? Who could be orchestrating the murder of innocent Witches? Why leave their bodies out in the open to be found so easily? Can the answers truly lie at the exclusive Crimson Moon Resort?Only Destiny knows the answers and She’s not talking. But, one thing’s for sure Fate Will Not Be Denied, and neither will the sexy Agent Evans.

    When Noah goes behind my back and hires Lauren, my gut tells me something isn’t right about the beautiful, intelligent woman.When she uncovers a company secret, I rethink my doubts about her.When her ex pops back into her life, I’m on guard again.When her adorable daughter and snaggle-toothed, one-eyed dog melt my heart, I lose sight of what’s important.In the end, I should have gone with my gut. She’s trouble with a capital T. The question is, what do I do when I’ve fallen for her, already love her daughter, and my company needs her expertise?

    Desai's writing is energetic and contemporary’

    Two missions that must be fulfilled by any means. But at what price? In a distant galaxy, under twin suns and a purple sky, a team of Earth scientists explores a jungle planet hopeful they have at last found a suitable new home for their people. Set upon by aliens they soon learn these warriors aren't quite what they seem. They have a mission of their own and the female scientists who are remarkably like them, are much too tempting to ignore. Whisked away to a far-off world, the Odyssey's crew find themselves mated to these powerful men. Expected to comply with the rules of both an old-fashioned and yet surprisingly advanced society, the women struggle with their new roles by testing limits, denying their fates, and ultimately escaping. Brought together again through an interstellar treaty, both the scientists and the warriors must face down the challenges of integrating their two differently-minded societies. Can there be a solution to the ill-fated futures of both Earth and Primaria?

    Warren I was doing a favor for my sister, but that led her into my club. This was no place for a woman like her, but I wasn't a man that would turn her away. No, I'd teach her and mold her for myself. Fatima One favor turned into another. One apology turned into Warren seeing how much I enjoyed things I knew not of. I told him I could handle it, but he knew better. His response to me only led me deeper down the rabbit hole. One that I did not want to come out from. Please note, Warren is a short novella and will only take up a percentage of this book. Never before chapters from three yet-to-be-released books, Always Right, Love at All Costs: Stetson Series and Dream Ride: Legion of Guardians are also included at the back of the short novella. Along with a preview of Take A Knee and Cole.

    Includes:BABY PROOFClaudia Parr has everything going for her. A successful editor at a publishing house in Manhattan, she's also a devoted sister, aunt, and friend. Yet she's never wanted to become a mother—which she discovers is a major hurdle to marriage, something she desperately wants. Then she meets her soul mate Ben who, miraculously, feels the same way about parenthood. The two fall in love and marry, committed to one another and their life of adventure and discovery. All's well until one of them has a change of heart. Someone wants a baby after all.This is the witty, heartfelt story about what happens to the perfect couple when they suddenly want different things and there is no compromise. It's about deciding what is most important in life and wagering everything to get it. And most of all, it's about the things we will—and won't—do for love.WHERE WE BELONGMarian Caldwell is a thirty-six-year-old television producer living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and picture-perfect relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had locked away forever. As Marian and Kirby embark on a quest to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves. A place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.HEART OF THE MATTERTessa Russo is a stay-at-home mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie—a boy who has never known his father. Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, they are strangers to one another and have little in common, aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined. This is the moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

    But some crabby bureaucrat is standing between him and the permits he needs. He's surprised to discover the culprit is actually beautiful, young Shannon Morgan, and even more shocked when fireworks ignite between them. Unmasking Love: Sparks fly when Julie Payne meets Trace Watkins at a costume party, and they end the night beneath the sheets while literally hiding behind their masks. When the holiday hook-up ends, their real identities present a serious snag: Trace manages the bank Julie happens to be suing. But will they turn this nasty trick of fate into a treat? Lights, Latkes, and Love: Non-profit CEO David Shay can't get enough of the December festivities. As manager of a large retail store, Hannah Jenkins, on the other hand, turns into a jaded Scrooge every year on Black Friday. Can a nice Jewish boy - with the help of some Christmas lights, a little girl, and a latke party - teach Hannah the true meaning of the season and guarantee them both a New Year's Eve kiss to remember? Ringing in Love: When entrepreneur and single mother Catherine Bennett leases office space in Dominic Russo's building, she can't keep her mind - or her eyes - off her new landlord. Only problem is, he happens to be a known womanizer . . . and her professional rival. Then he offers her an irresistible chance at winning a huge contract if she partners with his company. Catherine must decide whether mixing business with pleasure might not be such a bad idea this New Year's Eve. The Gift of Love: Isabella Rodriguez received the worst birthday gift ever - an eviction notice from her family home. Adrift, she accepts an unexpected promotion and transfers to Seattle where she meets Taylor Jordan at a business mixer. They're drawn to each other like candles to a cake. But when Taylor discovers Bella was behind one of the most humiliating experiences of his life, will they be able to find a future together? Thankful for Love: Rancher Jack Richardson needs someone to wrangle his two sons, and Quanna Morales needs a steady job to fund her education and help support her disabled brother. But despite a working relationship, the two can't fight their attraction, even though Quanna worries his family and friends won't accept her Indian heritage. When her worst fears come true and a feud erupts at the Thanksgiving table, will Jack be able to convince her that their love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle? Sensuality Level: Sensual

    Even if that means killing anyone and anything standing in her way.Once again these two couples try weathering the storm they call Gangsta Luv.

    New frontiers discovered. What it means to be human reimagined.Dreams of tomorrow become reality in this third collection of bestselling authors and newly emerging writers from Sci-Fi Bridge. From the inner worlds of unforgettable characters to alien planets at the farthest reaches of our galaxy and beyond, our writers examine the human experience from within and without. They hold up a mirror to the human experience. Who are we as a species? Who do we want to be? How do we achieve that greatest vision of ourselves for us and our children?You'll wonder at the possibilities of what we can accomplish together. You might even come to believe that a better tomorrow can be more than a dream....Foreword by Chris Fox"Centurion" by M.G. Herron"Geospermia" by Patty Jansen"Storming the Norse Wind" by M.D. Cooper"The Far Side of Psyche" by Rhett C. Bruno"Sparkle Ship Shine" by Hall & Beaulieu"Latecomers" by Chris Ward"Fool's Gold" by Zen DiPietro"The Tribe" by Andreas Christensen"The Theta Patient" by Chris Dietzel"The Last Ship" by Chris Pourteau"Taken For a Walk" by Justin Sloan"Playing Doctor" by Robert Jeschonek"Awaken Me, Paper Robot!" by A.K. Meek"Refurbished" by Artie Cabrera"Steel's First Temper" by David VanDyke"Siren Song" by Jon Frater"Digital Commander" by J.S. Morin"Little Blue" by Chris ReherWant to know more about Sci-Fi Bridge? Visit our site at scifibridge.com and subscribe to receive giveaways and great Sci-Fi deals straight to your inbox.

    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.