Chile peppers, hot air balloons and white sand dunes mix with a small town mayor, a fake fiance, and a second chance at love. Borrowing Amor: Love is a nuisance when all you want is to disappear. Two weeks before Christmas, Katie is kicked out of her apartment. Again. Rather than wander the streets and continue to work for a dirty cop, she decides to leave the city and disappear for good. But her car breaks down in a small New Mexican town, and everything is threatened when she falls for the charming mayor. Sam Freedman is the first bachelor mayor of Amor. After convincing the locals that having a mayor without family responsibilities means he can dedicate all his time to the community, townspeople watch his every move. Then Katie Andersen shows up. Against Sam’s better judgement, he hires her to replace his event coordinator. Now he can barely think straight, let alone run a town. In the midst of half-truths and outright lies, Katie and Sam desperately search for the place where honesty and trust lead to love. But they have to find it before the past catches up with them. Borrowing Love: It’s better to have loved and lost, they said. They were wrong. Ruby Freedman hasn’t left the small town of Amor in four years--not since her husband died. The memory of his fateful accident was enough to cause her to sell her airplane, and never ride in a car again. Then Parker Loveland comes back to town. Now she has to add him to her list of things she intends to avoid.After years away, Parker Loveland is back in Amor to celebrate his parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary. He has worked hard to escape the clutches of his hometown, but when he runs into Ruby, the only girl he cared about in high school, and the only one that ever stood him up on a date, he’s torn between the embarrassment he felt more than a decade before, and his desire to be around her.Caught between memories of the past and fear of the future, it will take leaving Amor to help Ruby and Parker find the second chance they didn’t know they were looking for. Borrowing a Fiance:  She wanted freedom. She got a fiance instead. Melinda Garrett has been stuck managing her parent’s diner for over a decade, when all she had wanted was to go to college. When her younger sister gets married, Melinda reluctantly agrees to attend with her friend, Daniel, as her date. But when the pressure is on, she claims he is her fiance, in hopes that her parents’ opinion of selling the diner will change.Daniel Armstrong isn’t the kind of guy a girl takes home to meet her parents, but when he offers to attend a wedding as Melinda’s date, he finds himself labeled as her future spouse. Now, challenges lie around every corner, testing Melinda’s claim that she and Daniel are in love.

    Fun, flirty, sweet and sassy - always with the perfect happy ending.Each story is 8,000 to 11,000 words in length (approximately 32-44 typical book pages in length. 53,000 words total, or 210 typical book pages.)The stories include:"The Hot Girl's Friend"How can a plain Jane find love when her best friend is a curvy blonde man magnet?Jane usually busies herself during a night on the town, fending off the men lusting after her gorgeous friend Miranda. When Brady the bartender overhears her inspired, ludicrous excuses, he resolves to hook up Jane with his friends. But Jane would be quite happy with him. Pine along as Jane tries to find her own happily ever after."Wrong Place, Right Guy"She's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can the guy who saves her be Mr. Right? Or will his past keep them apart?When Kristen is jumped in a parking lot, Tony jumps in to save the day. While she thinks her hero could also be her heartthrob, Tony's worried his past is reason to stay apart. Will the good guy get the girl in the end?"Not You"One night with a stranger - gets even stranger the next day.Single, lonely Carly thinks the best way to handle her mother's third wedding is by throwing her own bachelorette-party-for-one the night before. What's the harm in her first one-night stand ever? She'll find out the next day."Desperately Seeking Cupid"Does she finally have the key for finding love?Brianna has tried everything to find love - with no luck. So she's turning to feng shui to bring romance to her world. Too bad the guy she's after thinks its bunk. Will her formula for love work - or blow up in her face?"Never Been Dumped"It's a relationship with an expiration date and it's going to go bad.Rachel hates breaking hearts. She's never been dumped, and she's tired of being the one to walk away. But a handsome stranger in town for the summer promises he'll dump her after their summer fling. Will they be able to say goodbye?Flirts! Five Romantic Short Stories to make you smile and swoon. Look for Beach Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories due out in late summer 2011.

    Until he meets Jennifer McCoy, his outspoken new assistant and development executive.Newly engaged Jennifer has no idea that her devastatingly gorgeous new boss is the man she kissed, blindfolded, in a game of Truth or Dare. That kiss, that man, that beautiful stranger she cannot forget.Blake hasn't been able to stop thinking about that kiss either...and he'll do anything to win Jennifer --even if it means being a beautiful bastard and breaking all the rules.The THAT MAN TRILOGY is a steamy romantic comedy. Written in dual POV, it's approximately 500 pages long and has an HEA.

    We argue, we fight, and we have absolutely nothing in common.So why is my body constantly on fire whenever he’s around? It just proves that London Shaw is dangerous, and I need to stay far away from him.Except he’s my next-door neighbor.This is our story. Our flawed yet perfect rendezvous. Our nuclear attraction. Our one-in-a-billion connection.* Boston Billionaire is the first book of a Duet. The story continues in Boston Love.

    I thought I’d have more accomplished by now - like a wife and family - but for nine years I’ve held onto the memory of the girl who got away. Now she’s back and I’m more determined than ever to make her mine. For good this time.PaigeAfter years of working tirelessly, I just landed my dream job at the largest newspaper on the west coast. Unfortunately, that lands me in the same city as the man who broke my heart nearly a decade ago - the same one I’ve never really been able to let go of. When my editor assigns me to write an exposé on Jack, I’m forced to decide where my loyalties lie - with the career of a lifetime, or the love of my life.In the Grasp is the first steamy standalone contemporary sports romance in the LA Wolves series.

    Bullied as a child, she hides behind an unremarkable wardrobe and relegates herself to the shadows. But when her best friend convinces her to attend a charity benefit in Chicago wearing a stunning red dress that catches the eye of every man in the room, she discovers a surprising side to her personality. One that adores the spotlight but has no idea how to handle the attention.Mark Strong, a wealthy Chicago businessman, is brimming with confidence. He’s in total control. Nothing—and no one—escapes his notice. However, Mark carries a heavy, painful burden. After finding his fiancée with another man six years ago, he’s erected a fortress around his heart, unwilling to let himself fall in love again. But when enchanting Karma snares his gaze from across the room, he has no idea she will shatter his carefully ordered life.What starts out as a casual flirtation takes a series of surprising turns as Mark and Karma embark on a sensual journey destined by fate. Mark is driven to know Karma, understand her…educate her, and Karma is his willing student, eager to experience the pleasure he promises. But when the student becomes the teacher, Mark has to make a choice between taking another chance on love or a future alone.

    Five handsome cowboys. All in one box set at a great value! What’s not to love? Her Second Chance Cowboy When Ben accompanies his mother to an old friend’s funeral, the last person he expects to see is her. Ben and Chastity were high school sweethearts whose three-year relationship ended dramatically. But they were once in the head-over-heels, can’t-breathe-without-you kind of love. And now, they suddenly find themselves pushed into each other’s lives again in the most surprising of circumstances. Saving Her Cowboy After surviving a few combat fights in the military, Bart Miller is suffering from a severe case of PTSD. Then he meets the new employee at his family’s ranch, Missy. She may just be the only person who can help Bart begin his journey to healing. But will Mrs. Miller see it that way? Especially since Missy is somewhat off limits as an employee at the Miller Ranch… Her Rival Cowboy Danielle thinks Benji’s just the arrogant, rich cowboy from the rival ranch down the road. So when he shows up on her family’s ranch offering help after it suffered a big fire, she’s less than cordial. Benji can’t figure out why she seems to hate his guts for no good reason. Now he must decide if he wants to look past her attitude to do the right thing, or let her sour disposition chase him off… Her Fake-Fiance Cowboy Sophia Hernandez is on the run from her past. Then, out of nowhere, like a knight in shining armor, Bradley Miller shows up and runs off the man who has been haunting all of her dreams. And her world is suddenly turned upside down. Together, maybe the two of them can defeat the shadow lurking over Sophia’s life. But doing so means trusting again, and some things are too impossible a task. Taming Her Cowboy Billionaire Bryant Miller is a cowboy billionaire who thinks he has it all. Keiko Albryte is out to prove him wrong. But although Keiko’s life looks perfect on the outside, she has a few struggles of her own, which Bryant soon finds out about. Even so, Bryant still doesn’t seem to be deserving of a good woman like her. Will their hurts combined be too volatile together? Or will they be just right for each other… AUTHOR’S NOTE With over 300 combined stellar reviews on these novel-length books, this series has really hit a note with readers. I have absolutely LOVED my venture into contemporary western romance. And I hope you download these books and come on the journey with me! See you at Miller Ranch!

    That was six years ago and he's finally ready to ease off the accelerator. A unique opportunity to work for a top-shelf security and investigations firm in Florida is right up his alley.Ashlyn Ellis had everything she'd ever wanted--a high-profile career as a federal prosecutor, an upscale apartment in the city, and a beach house for when she needed to decompress from all the stress that accompanied the job. All three are threatened when she realizes someone has been following her every move for a very long time.When Ashlyn comprehends the lengths her pursuer is willing to take things, she calls in a favor. She never expected her plea for assistance to materialize in the form of Keane Sanderson--the one man who had every reason to revel in her misfortune. She's finally given the chance to rekindle the flames of desire she never should have extinguished, just in time for it all to be taken away when the stalker takes his obsession a step too far.Series Description: Safeguard Security & Investigations (SSI) is owned and operated by Townes Calvert, a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant who returned home to the States a bit more damaged than he'd care to admit. Not that anyone could tell outside of a very select group of former active duty buddies. It had taken Townes quite a while to acclimate to civilian life and he'd kept himself busy in the interim working in treacherous situations with even more dangerous friends. The final result is a close-knit unit of highly trained former military men who have the experience to protect the innocent, investigate crimes on the gritty edge, and aid local law enforcement when justice has taken a back seat to political correctness. Follow along as Kennedy Layne conveys each of their gripping stories as they work together on investigations that lead them down perilous paths of passion, intrigue, and suspense...

    See author's note, below Pulling Home (That Second Chance #1) It's taken nine years and a cross-country move, but Audra Valentine Wheyton has kept her secrets safe. She's created the perfect life: a husband who loves her, a daughter she adores, and a position as head writer for an award-winning daytime soap. When her husband dies suddenly, Audra returns to her hometown for the funeral and faces a community that has not forgotten her meager beginnings and the man who has never forgiven her for marrying his brother. Jack Wheyton is a successful pediatric neurosurgeon who is about to become engaged when Audra walks back into his life with her daughter. He forgave his brother long ago for taking something that had been his, something he hadn't even realized he wanted until it was gone. But forgiving Audra is another story...and forgetting her? Near impossible. When a shattering illness strikes Audra's daughter, she turns to Jack to save her child and risks exposing a secret that will change their lives forever. A Family Affair: The Promise (Truth in Lies #7) Grant Richot sprinted through life, a boy wonder with talent, intelligence, confidence, and charm. He never doubted the world awaited him, just as he never doubted the right woman would come into his life—but only when he was ready for her. Anyone before that was simply preparation for the one. How wrong he was. Years and a tragedy later, Grant arrives in Maggie Finnegan’s hometown of Magdalena, New York—broken, uncertain, and searching for that second chance with the woman he cast aside. But Maggie’s no longer naïve and impressionable; she’s a confident, competent widow with a child, who has more at risk than another broken heart… Note from Mary: I love secondary characters: writing them, reading about them, even watching them on the big screen. Secondary characters support the “stars”; make them more vibrant and compelling. But when the story ends, I’m often left wondering what they’d do if they were in the “spotlight”. That’s why I’ve created special boxed sets that were part of That Second Chance series and the Truth in Lies series. These boxed sets let the reader follow the before and after of select characters as they first appear in That Second Chance series and later in the fictional town of my bestselling Truth in Lies series. Boxed Set One contains Pulling Home and A Family Affair: The Promise. I invite you to follow their journey!

    So imagine her surprise when, twelve years later, he shows up at the unique and quirky inn she manages on Mermaid Isle, off the coast of Maine. The sweet, gangly teen has matured into a sexy and handsome man, leaving her heart desperate to pick up where they left off.It’s impossible for her to ignore the way her body instantly reacts to his touch and he's just the distraction she needs when she finds out the owners of the Siren Song Inn are selling it to Holt Enterprises. Holt only has eyes on the bottom line and Riley knows they’ll strip the inn of everything that makes it special, ruining not only the Siren, but devastating the island economy.While fighting to save her beloved inn, Riley falls in love with Thorsen all over again. But when she’s faced with the real reason Thorsen’s on the island and his unbearable betrayal, will she be able to save the inn and her chance at true happiness?

    She wants isolation and tranquility. Instead, she finds Jack. After securing the perfect summer location to work on her book, Laura arrives at a small cottage on the North Sea in Scotland. There are no kids, no memories of the perfect life she once had, and no distractions…Until a chance meeting with the mysterious Jack Ross changes everything. No matter how hard she fights her desires for the sexy gardener with green eyes and a chiseled body, she can’t stay away from him. But Laura doesn’t know Jack is running from his past—and it’s about to catch up with him. Can the mysterious Jack mend Laura’s broken heart? Or will it crumble more as they strive to bring down a man who could destroy them both? Get set for a suspenseful read based on a summer fling that turns into something more.

    . . or was it forever? Another unforgettable love story from USA Today Bestselling Author Barbara Bretton It's 7:08 on the morning of Maggy O'Brien's thirty-fifth birthday and she's driving carpool in her pajamas and bunny slippers. She can't remember the last time she shaved her legs. She's hasn't slept past dawn since her kids were born and one of them is now a teenager. Can life possibly get any worse? The second she sees her sisters waiting impatiently at the foot of her driveway, she knows the answer to that question. Claire and Ellie are staging a makeover intervention and no amount of protest can save Maggy from being cut and colored and waxed to within an inch of her life. And as if that's not enough, they announce she's being banished to Atlantic City for an all-expenses-paid getaway weekend for one. Maggy isn't a sequins-and-stilettos kind of woman. She's a single mom who is more comfortable pushing a shopping cart through Stop & Shop than sipping champagne in the backseat of a stretch limo headed toward Vegas on the Jersey Shore. Still even Maggy isn't immune to playing Cinderella for a weekend, even if it only means room service lobster and trying her hand at the penny slots. But when she locks eyes a few hours later with ruggedly handsome police detective Conor Riley, she discovers there's more to Cinderella's story than dancing until midnight. They agree it's just a fling. A weekend of magic with no strings attached. They'd say goodbye on Sunday night and return to their everyday lives with sweet memories and no regrets. But Maggy and Conor are about to discover that maybe some flings are meant to last forever . . .

     Then I could buy one, use him as a companion for my son who needs a male figure in his life, and then return him once we were all good again. But it doesn’t work that way. A friend mentions a Big Brother Program, and I’m all in. My little one gets what he needs, and I don’t have to sacrifice my freedom and worry about love loss again. The handsome guy they assign my son isn’t at all what I expected. Nor are the warm fuzzies I get when I see him. Come to find out, he’s not there for the best reasons. But me and my kiddo have fallen in love with this unruly, aggressive alpha male. There’s no way to work out the desires bubbling up inside of me and keep my morals in check. And for the first time in my life, I want to make the wrong decision. The selfish one. The one just for my own deep, dark pleasures. To find out that he's beyond wealthy, just like my son’s father was, leaves me cold. I should run far from him. My ex's family made me sign a contract promising to never tell about the baby in my belly. My life was forever changed. Rich people are horrible people. This new love interest is no different. Yet I’m trapped in desire and drowning in need when he’s around. With no way to take it down a notch. Not sure I would if I could… Every good girl deserves a bad boy. ~ Weston

    You’ll meet a famous country singer who lost the love of his life to the bottle, a recovering addict who fought hard to prove herself to the man of her dreams, a professional baseball player who gets a second chance with his first love, an elusive billionaire who’s used to getting what he wants, and a married couple on the brink of divorce who puts it all on the line to save the only thing that matters to them: their family.

    I will live with integrity, fight with honor and die for what’s right. Precious lives were saved when three brave Navy SEALs went against orders, embarking on a rescue mission of their own. A mission that will never be forgotten and changed the course of their lives forever. While they will never regret their decision, it came with heavy consequence. 
 Now they must fight to protect the women they love while also battling the new and existing demons that torture their souls, from death, corruption, destruction and war. These men are strong, honorable and will do everything they can to overcome the past that continues to haunt them. These are their stories. For the first time, all four Men Of Honor books are together in one specially wrapped bundle, with exclusive bonus material of the prologue and chapter one to An Act Of Redemption—the first book in the spin off series, Acts of Honor, which is due out summer 2015. Fighting Temptation~ Jaxson and Julia’s story. Sweet Temptation~ Sawyer and Grace’s story. Resisting Temptation~ Cade and Faith’s story. The Final Temptation~ Cooper and Kayla’s novella. An Act of Redemption, prologue and chapter one~ Logan and Anna’s story, book one in the Acts Of Honor series.