He understood she'd never yield to him without a struggle, but her hair like dark flame stirred him, her satin skin tempted him irresistibly, and he felt the passion in her reach out and stroke him. Held captive on the riverboat he'd won in a poker game, she was mesmerized by the bold, sensuous sun god who made her tremble, but she refused his demand that she reveal a family secret. She was half Apache, half Delaney, an outcast who treasured loyalty and vowed escape -- even if Nicholas could drive her to the brink of madness with his bold embraces. He dazzled her, wooed his proud warrior woman until she became his quest, his outspoken dream. But once her courage survived a terrifying test, could he make his lovely, wild pagan understand that she was his destiny, the legendary Firebird who would carry him to a heaven that was home in her arms?

    Could this become the season of peace on earth. . . and goodwill to one special manMiracle of the Heart by Patricia PotterBlythe Somers was faced with a painful choice. Torn between her love for a Yankee officer and her loyalty to his Confederate brother, she agonized over what course to take. There seemed no way out. Until, against all odds, Blythe's band of ragtag orphans managed to perform their own Christmas miracle!Christmas at Bitter Creek by Ruth LanganMatthew Braden had spent his whole life in and out of trouble, and Laura Connors knew he'd never change. She told herself she just needed a man to help out around the ranch, but the one present she was hoping for this Christmas was that Matthew would stay on and this time for good.

    . . As soon as she arrives in Venice, golden-haired Charlotte Morrow is pursued by the city's most dashing and celebrated men. Young and reckless, the orphaned English ward of a mysterious guardian expects a life of parties and adventure. Instead she finds herself little better than a bird in a gilded cage at Edentide, her guardian's immense palazzo on the Grand Canal. A "Ghoul of Venice" is terrorizing the city, draining beautiful young women of their blood. To Charlotte's horror, her handsome, brooding guardian, whom she secretly calls the Demon Count, is considered a prime suspect. Every night in his mansion is a spine-tingling battle between passion and fear, as he draws her to him with irresistible desires and dark cravings. Is he protecting her from the Ghoul, or savoring the prospect of her seduction and murder?

    Could his searing kisses convince her that her destiny lay with the best bad boy of the bayou?

    He raced his horses up the drive to his country estate with such speed he couldn't swerve to avoid the girl in the path of his carriage.Greatly relieved she was still alive, the Marquis carried the beautiful girl up to one of his guest bedrooms. When she recovered consciousness the next morning, Ruckley discovered that his emergency houseguest was a gypsy.His unfortunate accident could turn out to be a stroke of luck: only the day before at his London club, the Marquis had bet he could pass off a common girl as a lady of quality.The enchanting, intelligent gypsy was perfect for the impersonation. What an easy way to win a thousand pounds! But the Marquis hadn't wagered on falling madly in love with his pretty imposter.

    Clever John gives readers an early glimpse inside Hoyt's next Maiden Lane novel, Scandalous Desires. Extended preview of Scandalous Desires included.

    But confronting the child's mother, Isabelle Graystone, means resisting a chemistry that is as fierce as ever.Wes's failure to commit sent Belle running five years ago. Now he's back, making himself indispensable and stoking Belle's deepest passions. But is his interest in her part of a bigger ploy?

    But the town was hiding something, and he had a feeling he knew who was behind whatever was going on.The Widow's Secret...Rebecca's heart stopped when Cole McGuire walked back into town, his green eyes blazing with passion. And the longer he stayed, the more she wished for the love she'd never had. But would Cole ever forgive her for hiding the truth – that the son she claimed for her own was the child he'd been searching for?

    "Why don't you give up? Go back where you came from and leave Adam alone. Can't you see he desperately wants his freedom?"Kim stared at Ursula in stunned silence, then felt anger rising. Ursula wanted her to go, for that would leave the field clear for her.Well, Kim decided, if Adam wants his freedom, he can say so. She wasn't going to run off like a scared rabbit!

    But was the iron-willed academic truly the one they sought? Beautiful psychiatrist Dr. Maisy Dalton was unwittingly brought in to hypnotize the ruggedly handsome Zach into talking about the "memories" hidden within him. But the innocent doctor couldn't control her feelings for the mysterious man who spoke of mistaken identity and something called the Extraordinary Five. In her heart, Maisy knew Zach was telling the truth, and was willing to risk her life and love to help him unravel the secrets of MEDUSA and the potentially dangerous X5...Five extraordinary siblings,One dangerous past.Unlimited potential.

    It is a feeling stronger than love, señorita."Laura's job as nurse/companion to a widowed Spanish condesa had come at an opportune time. She found the Condesa delightful, but her arrogant son Rodrigo was another matter altogether. With his outrageous demands and wicked charm, he seemed to want to take charge of her life just as he oversaw everything else at the castillo. But Sister Laura Marsh, the terror of the wards, would soon show him she was a force to be reckoned with! Would she be able to resist him — or would desire prove stronger than both of them?When Laura's new life amid the grandeur of a Spanish castle was threatened by Rodrigo, the autocratic Conde de las Montanas, she determined not to succumb to his powerful temper. But would she be strong enough to resist his will?

    The intensity of his gaze burns through her disguise, making her throat dry, her cheeks pink. Caro's gambled her reputation to be here, and can't risk letting anyone close enough to expose her secret--no matter how much her body craves to give in....

    Little does she realise that she's about to face greater perils in the arms of a stranger than she's ever found on the back of her horse.DESIRECord Elliot is a man trained to deflect disaster and his mission is to ensure that Raine Smith remains untouched by sudden gunfire at the Summer Games. Yet from the moment Raine meets Cord's ice-blue glance, she knows he's more hazardous to her heart than a sniper's bullet. Falling for a man who answers to the call of intrigue and holds secrets that can never be shared is to endure the broken promises, unexplained absences, and constant danger that come with his profession.TEMPTATIONBut in the fiery passion of irresistible love, a summer to remember seems worth any risk.

    Helping - and sometimes hindering Roger, is the great love of his life...Elizabeth of Chester, beautiful, tempestuous, incredibly wayward in an age when most women were little more than chattles. Will the passionate love affair of Roger and Elizabeth save - or doom - their great cause?

    Right off the bat it spells trouble. But sometimes love at first sight needs a second glance—and a second chance to bring two distant hearts, minds, and bodies together. So indulge yourself. Believe in the impossible, and in the unfathomable dreams of unbridled passions—where you least expect it. Now in these four delightful stories of love and war, four acclaimed authors invite you to discover common ground between men and women—and the thrill of sharing it when the light go down…stories:The Icing on the Cake by Lynn Kurland (de Piaget / MacLeod #6.5)He’s a writer working on his new novel, and baking wedding cakes on the side. She’s an Alaskan wilderness buff more experienced at fending off grizzlies than men. But she’s about to discover the joy of coming in from the cold…The Short, Hot Summer by Elizabeth BevarlyHe was as out of place in Alabama as she would be in Manhattan. But the temperature spikes whenever an executive stuck in town for a big-time deal and his small-town landlady are together—creating enough heat to rival the sultry summer nights…Pride and Prejudice by Emily CarmichaelA double-booked hotel room during a prestigious dog show pits a cartoonist and her pet papillon with an award-winning Border collie. What ensues is a sexy contest of wills. And it’s winner take all…The Princess and the Adventurer by Elda MingerShe stuck out like a debutant at a monster truck rally. What was a lady doing in a cantina on the border of the Mexican jungle? Little did Matthew Kinkaid realize, he was just the man she was looking for…