Though the rest of her adoptive family scorned her as an outsider, Gram and her grandson Ian always loved Laina like she was one of their own. Now Laina is all grown up and a foster parent in her own right, to a little girl named Jada whose upcoming adoption by strangers is sure to break Laina’s heart. But Laina faces the prospect of another devastating loss when Gram’s health begins to fail. As she has so many times before, Laina turns to Ian for advice, only to find that her feelings for her handsome, warm-hearted friend have changed, deepening into a love that could transform her life...or ruin her dearest friendship.When Laina and Ian come together at the family summer home on the windswept shores of Hatteras Island, the sparks igniting between them cannot be ignored. But with stakes as high as these, can they overcome their fear of heartbreak to claim the promise of love?

    She certainly doesn’t need a man to complete her. Her life couldn’t be better. Or could it?Charlie’s life is about to change. From an episode of doggy incontinence to a vomit incident in the M&S food hall, life has some little mishaps planned for Charlie that lead to some BIG surprises.With a fancy dress party looming, what begins as a drunken nightmare could turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her.

    Following her mother’s death she is guided to Horstberg in search of answers and contentment. When her path repeatedly crosses with the brooding Stefan Heinrich, she is drawn to him by feelings too profound to ignore. The love they share is intense and undeniable, but Ericha’s ignorance of Stefan’s circumstances puts her on a scale in his life opposite to the country he rules, and the wife he loathes.While Stefan questions daily what kind of madness drove him to marry the deceptive and tawdry Johanna Von Bindorf, a princess from the neighboring country of Kohenswald, he is torn between his commitment to do what is right, and his love for a woman that he cannot have; a woman who fills his aching soul. Years of spiraling downward in hopelessness finally drive him to make Ericha a part of his life as far as it is possible, while deep inside he knows that eventually a price for his happiness will have to be paid.As Ericha develops a deep bond with the legendary Abbi du Woernig, she unknowingly breathes life back into the heart and soul of Horstberg. But happiness and peace for the entire family are fleeting and fragile. Both Stefan and Ericha quickly realize the price for their choices is higher than either of them ever could have imagined. When Horstberg’s freedom is bargained for with the life of its ruler, Stefan knows that he must sacrifice everything to once again prove himself worthy to serve the people of his country with dignity and to live his life with the woman he loves.

    She had a good job teaching school in the small town of Salmon, Oregon, and she finally had good friends she felt she could bare her soul to, but there was still something missing. When her friend Doris proposed sending for a mail order husband for Gretchen, who was seven months pregnant and unwed, she hoped for the best for her friend, but still felt badly for herself. Darryl Miller has always been known as one of the demon horde. He knows that if he stays in Beckham, Massachusetts, he will never rise above the reputation, but he has nowhere to go! When he receives a letter from his twin sister asking him to marry her pregnant friend, he only hesitates for a moment. Two weeks later, he arrived in Salmon to marry a stranger. The only trouble is the stranger refuses to marry him. Within an hour, he finds himself married to another friend of his sister’s. Will he be able to make a go of life with the beautiful straight-laced schoolteacher? Or has he made a huge mistake leaving everything to travel across country? This book was previously published in an anthology!

    True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand. Jolie Wilkins Book 2: Toil and Trouble:The Underworld in civil war.The cause? A witch who can reanimate the dead.A sexy as sin vampire determined to claim her.An infuriatingly handsome warlock torn between duty and love.Who says blonds have more fun?After defending herself against fairy magic, Jolie Wilkins wakes to find her world turned upside down—the creatures of the Underworld on the precipice of war.The Underworld is polarized in a battle of witch against witch, creature against creature, led by the villainous Bella, who would be Queen.While Jolie has one goal in mind, to stake the vampire, Ryder, who nearly killed her, she also must choose between the affections of her warlock employer, Rand, and the mysteriously sexy vampire, Sinjin.And as if that weren’t enough to ruin a girl’s day, everything Jolie knows will be turned inside out when she’s thrust into the shock of a lifetime.Dulcie O'Neil Book 1: To Kill A Warlock:A Dreamstalker— a creature that stalks and kills its victims in sleep.A fairy in law enforcement determined to stop him.A potions smuggler who possesses something she wants.A vampire with his own agenda.And a partner who couldn’t possibly be sexier or more frustrating.Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy working in law enforcement for the Netherworld.When Knight Vander approaches her with a case regarding comatose victims, she agrees to help him, imagining the most difficult part will be combatting her attraction to him.But, what Dulcie isn’t betting on is the fact that the case becomes personal when she learns all the victims are somehow linked to her.When her best friend falls victim to the Dreamstalker, Dulcie must do everything in her power to ensure her friend’s survival, including associating with criminals and accepting the fact that desperate times do definitely call for desperate measures.Dulcie O'Neil Book 2: A Tale of Two Goblins:The murder of a dark arts warlock.A shape-shifting, ravenous creature on the loose.A devilishly handsome stranger sent to investigate.Sometimes working law enforcement for the Netherworld is a real bitch.Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy. And not the type to frolic in gardens. She’s a Regulator—a law-enforcement agent who monitors the creatures of the Netherworld to keep them from wreaking havoc in the mortal world.When a warlock is murdered and Dulcie was the last person to see him alive, she must uncover the truth before she’s either deported back to the Netherworld, or she becomes the next victim.Enter Knight Vander, a sinfully attractive investigator sent from the Netherworld to work the case with Dulcie.Between battling her attraction to her self-appointed partner, keeping a sadomasochistic demon in check, and fending off the advances of a sexy and powerful vampire, Dulcie’s got her hands full.As the body count increases, Dulcie finds herself battling dark magic, reconnoitering in S&M clubs and suffering the greatest of all betrayals.

    Now that Sparrow, her ward, has reached nine years of age, she reckons he needs a male role model in his life. With typical efficiency she sets about finding a father-figure by drawing up a series of checklists for each candidate, and following a strict protocol for interviewing them.So far, all the contenders have failed miserably to get enough ticks in the right boxes. But Ferne is focused and nothing is going to stop her from fulfilling her responsibilities…...except maybe a saboteur out to wreck her business; drunken neighbours; her unfortunate past from which it is so difficult to escape; her estranged mother; long-lost sister; and her Jack Russell, Merrie, who is not above galloping over and nipping any prospective role models she thinks Will Not Do.Katie Fforde (best-selling rom com author and President of the Romantic Novelists' Association) said of 'All His Own Hair': 'Susan Alison handles difficult issues with quirky humour and uplifting results.'(To give you some idea of length - 'White Lies and Custard Creams' is 83,700 words long and 'All His Own Hair' is 87,300 words long.)Susan Alison is the Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner for 2011. She has won competition awards for short fiction and sold numerous stories to commercial publications. Her fiction concentrates on the relationships humans forge with each other (and quite often with their dogs). She is a freelance artist.Jill Mansell (best-selling rom com author) said of 'White Lies and Custard Creams': "Susan Alison has written a lovely, quirky romp packed with off-the-wall characters - original, intriguing and great fun!"

    Horse rancher Burke Logan is intrigued by his neighbors' cousin when he meets her on a trip to Ireland, but Erin thinks Burke is nothing but a brutish American. Impressed by her cleverness, and determined to win her over, Burke offers Erin a job at his farm in Maryland. It's a big change from her small Irish hometown, but she decides to take a chance. Even though it's clear that Burke is falling for Erin, this practical woman is determined to resist his smooth-talking flattery and bold kisses...no matter how weak-kneed they make her feel. Irish Rebel As soon as he laid eyes on her, Brian Donnelly knew that Keeley Grant was off-limits. Hired on as a horse trainer at the Grant family's farm, Brian tries to keep his distance, dismissing Keeley as the boss's spoiled daughter. He soon learns that she's much more than that. Though Keeley continuously brushes Brian off, something about his intensity draws her in. Maybe it's his cocky grin, or his gentle way with animals, but strangely, Keeley finds herself dreaming about the Irish rogue. Working together is complicated, as are Keeley's new feelings, and trying to avoid each other could prove to be useless when there are so many reasons to give in to the promise of first love.

    A big, strapping "steak-colored" man who is as strong as he is sensitive, Isaac is the man of Bebe's dreams. But he's also a father dealing with the challenges of raising a thirteen-year-old daughter on his own.Much to Bebe's surprise, Isaac's whip-smart daughter, Dashay, turns out to be the "other woman" who threatens to keep them apart. Meanwhile Sandy, Bebe's best friend, who is struggling in the workplace as she clashes with the new owners of the radio station, continues on her adventure in search of true love, refusing to give up. Set in Chicago and told in alternating voices, Bebe's By Golly Wow sparkles with Yolanda Joe's deft storytelling, in-your-face dialogue, and marvelous insight as she paints a sensitive and funny tale of modern romance, family transitions, and heartfelt friendships.

    Have these knots in my stomach. But drinking isn’t an option. Maa is sleeping with me. Baba in Lalitaji’s room. And she on the sofa. Want to step into the toilet, take one swig, and then go directly to sleep. How the hell will Maa know? I mean she’s sleeping like a log. No, no, shouldn’t. What if she wakes up? She’s a light sleeper, after all.11.30 pm: No wine. Or vodka. Terrible, terrible night. When will they go back to Kolkata and let me be?11.32 pm: Chhi . . .Chhi . . . How selfish am I? My parents, one with a heart condition, spent thousands on flight tickets and landed in Chennai. Why? Because they wanted to spend time with their widowed daughter. And what does the daughter want? To sneak into the toilet and take one good swig of wine. Shame on her! Okay, now I’m being over-dramatic.Meet Madhubala Ray a thirty-year-old brand-spanking-new widow in Chennai.She lives with her seventy-year-old mostly-silent MIL—whose name she can’t remember, teaches Social Science to bratty teenagers, and suddenly has a life filled with unpredictable men, catty colleagues, a bisexual best friend, and . . . heart-wrenching memories of her late husband.How does she deal with all of that?By baring it all, in her diary. Join this oddball-widow who always keeps it real as she gives an honest account of a young North Indian working woman in Chennai, who tries to survive a tragedy through wine and vodka, her quirky sense of humour, and refuses to give up on love. Despite its oddities. The question is: does she survive and find love, again?Secret Diary of an Incurable Romantic is a story that is brutally honest, funny, romantic and liberating. It’s a slice of life, you wouldn’t want to miss.

    she must keep it secret, and that means telling lies. Holly hates telling lies. Her latest assignment has brought her to the paradise island of Mauritius where she meets a British couple, Robert and Rosemary, who share a tragic secret of their own. The moment they introduce Holly to handsome writer, Philippe, she begins to fall in love, something she hasn't allowed herself to do for twenty years. But Philippe has not been completely honest and when Holly stumbles across the truth, she feels totally betrayed. "A slice of sheer escapism which packs an emotional punch" Jemma Forte This is the first book in the Liberty Sands trilogy. Read on at the end of this book to find out what happens to Holly next in the preview of If He Really Loved Me..., book two in the series.

    Thank goodness she's got a new job. Right away though, it's obvious she and her gorgeous boss, Joe Brownley, have very different ideas about her role! One thing they do agree on is that the attraction between them is best explored after hours…. Her Perfect Stranger For only one night, Commander Corrine Atkinson lets go of her iron control and seduces a sexy stranger. Come morning, she sneaks out of his bed and gets back to her own life. Too bad her perfect stranger turns out to be Mike Wright—the newest member of the team she's commanding. And spending all day together reminds Corrine how good they are at night!

    Now it’s come back to life! People are feeling good about living here again—stalled lives are moving forward. People like Margaret Clemens are taking risks on new ventures and on lifelong dreams. On happiness. Margaret is a local rancher who’s finally getting what she wants most. Marriage to cowboy Matt Eilers. Her friends don’t think Matt’s such a bargain; neither did her father. But Margaret is aware of Matt’s reputation and his flaws. She wants him anyway. And she wants his baby… BUFFALO VALLEY The outside world has discovered Buffalo Valley. A large retail conglomerate plans to move in, which would surely destroy the independent businesses...and maybe the whole town. Just out of the army, Vaughn Kyle is looking for a life to live, and decides to visit an old family friend. He arrives at her store one snowy day and finds instead a young woman named Carrie Hendrickson… As Vaughn gets to know Carrie, she makes him question the things the thought he wanted. He wants to stay in Buffalo Valley and fight for its way of life, and for Carrie’s love.

    It continues on from Heart Sync but does not go as far as the epilogue mentioned in that book.Having taken their relationship to another level, Ethan and Nadine quickly discover that life is no easier.With career demands greater than ever, insecurities threaten to unsettle Nadine, no thanks to the constant and cruel remarks from Sandra.As well, Ethan struggles to balance work and to accept the success his metal sculpting has brought him. As he soon learns, being well-known attracts more business but it has drawbacks too.Work dominates and threatens their commitment to one another; it's not just their earning levels that seek to divide them.And sometimes, people and situations aren't always as they seem, as Nadine finds out when she makes a startling discovery about the foundations of her romance with Ethan.

    . . in Ireland. Elizabeth Lara built a perfect life as San Francisco’s top divorce attorney, but when she loses her great-aunt Mags, the woman who raised her, she boards a plane and leaves it all behind. The Irish shores welcome her as she learns a shocking truth, kept secret for thirty-five years. Devastated and now alone in the world, Beth tries to find peace in a beautiful cottage by Lough Rhiannon, but peace isn’t what fate had in mind. Almost as soon as she arrives, Beth’s solitary retreat into the magic wilds of Ireland is interrupted by Connor Bannon. A man with light brown hair, ice blue eyes and a secret of his own. He’s gorgeous, grieving, and completely unexpected. With the help of Mags’ letters, the colorful townspeople of Dingle, and Connor, Elizabeth might just find a way back to the girl she lost long ago and become the woman she always wanted to be. The complete collection takes you on a journey through: The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth The London Flat: Second Chances The Paris Apartment: Fated Journey Released for the first time with bonus content, including the never before released opening chapters of the new book The Irish Castle, this Irish women’s fiction romance novel trilogy will take you on an adventure you’ll never forget and give you all the feels. Escape to Ireland now. A Note From Jules: Be forewarned you might not want to start this book late at night—several readers have reported “gobbling it up” and going on to the next book immediately. These books are romantic literary women’s fiction, they are not traditional romance, per se. “If you enjoy Nora Roberts, you’ll like Juliet Gauvin. The Irish Cottage is a fresh take on women’s literary fiction, sometimes light and scrumptious and other times quite profound in its observations on life, love and loss.” -Amazon Review “A book that conveys the true feelings of Ireland when you visit…it’s a bit of a romance, history, travel, and mystery neatly tied into a book well worth reading.” -Amazon Review “I started this book and couldn't put it down. It brought me to Ireland and I never wanted to leave.” -Amazon Review The Irish Heart Series Collection is an international women’s literary fiction Irish romance novel trilogy. Other themes include: romance literary fiction, women’s sagas, love stories, and second chances at life and love.

    She had forfeited university, parties, boyfriends, summer jobs - all the usual preoccupations of a woman her age - in order to care for Arlette in their dilapidated, albeit charming home on the English island of Guernsey. Her will included a beneficiary unknown to Betty and her family, a woman named Clara Pickle who presumably could be found at a London address. Now, having landed on a rather shabby street corner in '90s Soho, Betty is determined to find the mysterious Clara. She's ready for whatever life has to throw her way. Or so she thinks . . . In 1920s bohemian London, Arlette De La Mare is starting her new life in a time of postwar change. Beautiful and charismatic, she is soon drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. But two years after her arrival in London, tragedy strikes and she flees back to her childhood home and remains there for the rest of her life. As Betty navigates the ups and downs of city life and begins working as a nanny for a rock star tabloid magnet, her search for Clara leads her to a man - a stranger to Betty, but someone who meant the world to her grandmother. Will the secrets of Arlette's past help Betty find her own way to happiness in the present? A rich detective story and a captivating look at London then and now, "Before I Met You" is an unforgettable novel about two very different women, separated by seventy years, but united by big hearts and even bigger dreams.