But what he got was a woman who shook his lonely bitter world upside down, and touched him in a way no other woman could. Emily Nelson, a courageous young mother, ends a loveless, bitter marriage and strikes out on her own. She answers an ad as a cook and live-in caregiver to a three-year-old boy on a local ranch. Ranch owner Brad Friessen hires and moves in Emily and her daughter. But Emily soon discovers something's seriously wrong with the boy, and the reclusive, difficult man who hired her can't see the behavior and how delayed his son is. So Emily researches until she stumbles across what she suspects are the soft signs of autism. Now she must tell him, give him hope, and help him come to terms with this neurological disorder-to take the necessary steps to get his child the help he needs. As their lives become intertwined, their attraction is unavoidable-a connection sparks between them. But just as they're getting close, Brad's estranged wife, Crystal, returns after abandoning the family two years earlier. Among the shock and confusion is one disturbing question Brad can't shake: How does Crystal know so much of his personal business, the inner working of the ranch, and Emily's relationship with his son? Crystal must've had a plan, as she somehow gains the upper hand, driving a wedge in the emotional bond forged between Brad, Emily, and the children. The primary focus for care and therapy of three-year-old Trevor is diverted. The lengths to which Crystal will go, the lies, the greed, just to keep what's hers, are nothing short of cold and calculating. Emily's forced out of the house. Brad fights to save his boy, to protect what's his, and struggles over his greatest sacrifice-Emily, and the haunting question: Has he lost her forever?THE OUTSIDER SERIES: The Forgotten Child (Brad & Emily) A Baby And A Wedding (An Outsider Series Short) Fallen Hero (Andy, Jed & Diana) The Search (An Outsider Series Short) The Awakening (Andy & Laura) Secrets (Jed & Diana) Runaway(Andy & Laura) Overdue (An Outsider Series Short) The Unexpected Storm (Neil & Candy) The Wedding (Neil & Candy) Or grab The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection which includes all the books and short stories in this in this romantic saga. THE FRIESSENS: A NEW BEGINNING: The Deadline (Andy & Laura) The Price to Love (Neil & Candy) A Different Kind of Love (Brad & Emily) A Vow of Love, A Friessen Christmas

    Happily ever after? Not so much. Evan and Annie are deeply in love, but that hasn’t stopped tension from creating cracks in their relationship. Determined not to fail his wife, Evan takes action before those cracks become craters, damaging their marriage irreparably. Over the Fourth of July weekend, he’ll reignite Annie’s passion with his own brand of fireworks.Stand back and watch the sparks fly. *Break out the fireworks and get ready to kick off your summer with this HOT new collection of stories. Sparks Fly is part of the Red Hot and BOOM! multi-author series (stands alone for reading enjoyment) Sparks Fly is a 12K word short story.

    Her father drags her to the beach for a Newport Beach Seagulls' event, something he's done with her since the team was first created in 1993. In fact, he's had season tickets for the same amount of time, and since Emma's mother left them when Emma was three, she has been her father's date ever since.Kyle Underwood is a first line right winger for the Newport Beach Seagulls. He's an instigator on the ice, the type of player who rubs his mouth, gets under the skin; the kind of player who is hated unless on the team. He's happy being single, dating around, and focusing on his passion: hockey. Up until he decides to talk to Emma Winsor, daughter of one of the Gulls' season ticket holders. He thinks she'll be like every other puck bunny who attends these fan events but she doesn't even know his name.She's different. He has to have her.Will Emma take a chance on a notorious bachelor hockey player? Can Kyle convince her that he's just as different as he is?

    When her car breaks down in the mountains of Montana, she reluctantly knocks on the door of a cabin for help. What she finds is Luke Brennan, the most handsome man she's ever met, who appears annoyed by her bothering him and is also downright rude. He takes her up to the main ranch house where his mother welcomes her warmly, opening their home to her for as long as she needs to stay. Andi quickly falls in love with the ranch and its occupants, and the beauty of Montana. And no matter how hard they fight it, she and the brooding cowboy form a bond that becomes stronger by the day. Andi soon finds herself struggling with her promise to marry one man and the attraction she feels for another. Luke Brennan isn't interested in having his heart broken again. He's loved and lost once, and he's hardened his heart against ever falling in love again. But when a beautiful woman with the most tantalizing green eyes shows up at his door one night, he is taken by surprise. As hard as he tries to stay away from Andi, he finds himself drawn to her time and time again. But she's a city girl, and engaged to another man. She's off limits. Yet, he finds his heart slowly giving itself away to this woman. Should he bet against all odds and tell her how he feels before it's too late?Does fate hold all the cards for the cowboy and the city girl, or will they choose their own destinies?

    It seemed they'd found their forever early in life. But somehow it all went wrong. Now — ten years later — Gina's back in town. This time he doesn't intend to let her leave. Mason spent the years he lost with Gina building a business, breeding and training horses, and helping keep his family's ranch going. Gina threw herself into a life in New York City where she has a career as a photographer… and a fiancé. Gina needs to sell the ranch where she grew up and move her dad to New York. When she returns to Paradise Valley to finally close that chapter of her life, the last person she wants to see is the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Mason isn't going to let the only woman he's ever loved walk out of his life forever without explaining what went wrong. He never understood why she left. Now he has one last shot to make her stay. (This book is intended for adult readers aged 18+.) *************************************** Each Remington Ranch Romance can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers here! Each book contains one couple's story. Book 1: Mason Look out for the other brothers, who will each get their own book: ShaneCarterBeau

    Yet she is the type of woman he wants to avoid – the kind that gets him thinking about settling down, spawning kids, and finding lower-mortality employment.Lacey has her own reasons for avoiding Mick. Tired of living in the shadow of her financial mogul sister, this real estate agent has tossed ethics aside to succeed in today’s beleaguered housing market. Her no-fail plan to land lucrative listings? Crashing the funerals of wealthy corpses with the hope their heirs will need to sell their homes.But when their circles of friends collide, Lacey can’t avoid Mick’s rock-hard abs and a smile that melts her into a pool of hot wax. Friendship blossoms and passion simmers... even as she struggles to conceal the unethical business plan that brought him into her life.SEAL the Deal is a full-length novel about the fine line that divides friendship and love, and the unexpected joy of crossing it.

    The secretarial job Benedict Merrill gave her five years ago has allowed her to support her younger brother and she’s indebted to the wealthy rancher. But soon her brother will be on his own and she’ll leave the tempting Benedict—and her powerful attraction to him—behind forever. When she hands in her resignation, Benedict reveals plans of his own—ones that involve Pilar in his bed. She can handle a three month affair, no sweat. But when she starts to fall for Benedict, will she be able to handle loving him for always?

    Suddenly responsible for an infant, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a kidnapper intent on taking the baby back--and leaving no witnesses. Texas Rancher Adam Firebrand has no idea how or why his name came up in association with a kidnapping, but he'll stop at nothing to keep a baby girl and her guardian angel safe.USA TODAY Bestselling Author Barb Han guarantees danger lurking around every corner, hearts on the line, and romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Join her Firebrand family in Lone Star Pass, Texas as they break through deep-rooted family feuds and find their way to love.

    . . Maureen Evans has had a crush on Smith Harrington since they were in college together. She always knew he didn’t see her as anything more than his best friend—just one of the guys—but that didn’t stop her from weaving sexy fantasies about him. Now, after years of maintaining a long-distance friendship, Smith’s moving to Burton, Georgia, Maureen’s hometown, to become her partner at the veterinary clinic. After all this time, she should be able to handle working with him without getting hot and bothered. Or maybe not. The more determined Maureen is to maintain their just-friends bond, the more Smith seems intent on testing those boundaries. And when flirting crosses the line into something more, it ends in a night neither of them can forget. When friendship is no longer enough, there’s always love.

    Right up until he broke her heart six years ago. Now that she's returned to Wyoming for good, what she wants more than anything is to save her family's ranch. Even if that means swallowing her pride and asking Dave to marry her.Matty's up to something - Dave knows that much. Just as he knows that Matty needs help, so of course he'll provide it, just as he has all her life. Doing what's best for Matty is second nature. Even when it comes to marrying her in name only. Although he can't resist one hot-blooded kiss after the I-dos.Maybe - just maybe - his Matty will become more to him than Almost a Bride.

    When Jessie meets Zane Cameron, she finds herself wishing the tall, dark, and gorgeous cowboy was free. Lately, Zane has had the feeling that things aren’t as they seem with his fiancée. When she shows her true colors, he calls off the wedding. Zane feels it’s too soon to fall for another woman, but when he meets Jessie, he just can’t get enough of being around her. It’s not long before the pair gets together and it grows hotter between them than an Arizona summer. But Zane’s ex-fiancée threatens Jessie and everything takes a dangerous turn…and Zane could lose her forever.

    Can they create a beautiful future together?Watercolor artist Allison Paxton is used to taking her time to see the big picture, but after only one unforgettable night with scorching hot plastic surgeon, Russell Barkin, she knows exactly where she belongs--with him. Broken from a past filled with heartache, the stubborn surgeon won't believe there's a "happily ever after" for someone like him. Not even when Allison devises a plan to put him to the "relationship test". She pulls out all the stops, forcing him to see what he's been missing all along. Refusing to relent to the "no emotions" decree he placed on himself, Russell won't cave to the persistent and perky Allison--even though she's wheedling her way into his heart. When Russell finally sees that his happiness has been right in front of him all along, it might just be too late. Can two people build a future together when one is harboring pain from the past and the other is afraid of what's yet to come?This is the first book in the LOVE IN SANDY BEACH series. This 5-book big family contemporary romance series continues where THE ARMSTRONGS left off. And you’ll meet many of your beloved Armstrong heroes again. Every book contains a complete love story without cliffhangers and can be read as stand-alone. Follow each sibling on his or her path to a happily ever after, and meet again characters from previous stories in each new book.All my books contain steamy scenes, deep emotions, humor and adventureMore books in the LOVE IN SANDY BEACH series:MOMENTOUS KISSES (Allison and Russel)BILLIONAIRE KISSES (Reese and Nikos)TURBULENT KISSES (Chase and Pearl)DETERMINED KISSES (Ethan and Hazel)RESOUNDING KISSES (Terrence and Ivy)

    When his father has a stroke, Logan is temporarily forced to return home and take over the family ranch. He still feels responsible for his mother's death when he was twelve, and has never gotten over the guilt. Now he's faced with having to protect his twelve year old daughter Katie and his sister and her friend Megan Flynn. It's nearly more than one man can handle. He can't wait to get back to Dallas.Megan Flynn immediately falls in love with Morris Springs, Texas, population 976, when she delivers Logan's runaway daughter to his doorstep. Raised as a city girl, Megan has a dream of a few acres, a few champion Blue Heelers, and a small-town veterinary practice. The only thing standing between her and her dream is one stubborn, reluctant cowboy with an overprotective streak as wide as the West Texas prairie. But her stubborn streak is a match for his any day. And she's determined to prove it.Blame it on Texas is a story of the power of love to overcome any adversity, the strength of family and friendship, and the joy that comes with being part of something bigger than yourself.approximately 240 pages60,000 words

    Luke knows he needs to be a better daddy for his troubled kids, but his work as a veterinarian made it difficult in the past. He’s vowed to change, but he needs help while he settles into his new position with the local animal hospital.Rachel Hastings is a woman with a healing touch. She takes in injured and orphaned animals, so helping out with two new-to-town children shouldn’t be tough. What she hasn’t counted on is their sexy father, her secret crush from back in their high school days.Their attraction is immediate, but so many obstacles stand in the way. Luke and his family still grapple with the shock of the accident that killed his wife. Rachel carries baggage from her own failed marriage. Worst of all, Luke’s children hide a secret that is tearing them apart and may destroy any chance Luke and Rachel have of building a future together.Don’t miss Healing Touch, book one of a sexy new contemporary series from author Laura Browning.

    They spend the day together as VIP guests of the casino, and an intense attraction develops. When they share the bed of their comped suite, it’s hot, sensual, wild, and unforgettable.When Gigi overhears Boone talking about her, she’s shocked to realize he considers her a one-night buckle bunny. She confronts him, and Boone convinces himself it’s best for both of them if she goes on believing his only interest in her is sexual. He lets her walk out of his life, but when he realizes his mistake and then sees the sacrifice Gigi made for him, will it be too late to win her back?