And they will risk anything to fulfill their duty, and satisfy their desires. . . Tane is a Charon, sworn to hunt and kill rogue vampires. His new assignment seems like a waste of his talents--until he catches up with the jinn he's been sent to capture. Half human, half demon, Laylah has a vulnerable streak that strikes right through to Tane's cold heart. He should be furious when she uses her powers to bind them together, preventing him from dragging her before the Commission. Instead he welcomes any reason to stay close enough to touch, to taste, to seduce. . . Laylah doesn't know why she was chosen to protect a child who may be the catalyst in a war between good and evil. But the mysteries of her past pale compared to the dangers approaching. Tane is devastatingly strong, breathtakingly sensual. And Laylah will have to trust in every ounce of that strength, because her enemies are drawing near, eager to destroy them both. . . Praise for Alexandra Ivy"Beyond the Darkness kept me riveted! The Guardians of Eternity series is highly addictive." --Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author "Oh, so hot and wonderfully dangerous." --Gena Showalter on Darkness Unleashed "A darkly erotic adventure with a vampire hero who can bite me anytime!" --Angela Knight on Darkness Revealed When Darkness ComesNever Tempt FateIt's been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she's survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears. For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death. A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil--and a desperate race to save their love. . . "A sizzling paranormal romance. . .an affair so hot it burns up the page." --Savannah Russe, USA Today bestselling author of Beyond the Pale "Alexandra Ivy is already in a league of her own." --Lynn Viehl, author of Dark NeedEmbrace the DarknessIs He Her Mortal EnemyLady Shay is the last of her kind. Half human, half Shalott, her blood is a precious aphrodisiac to vampires, who consider it more precious than gold. Though Shalotts are renowned assassins, a curse held over Shay lands her on the slave auction block, where her fate is uncertain. . . Or The Man Who Will Risk All. . .Viper, the beguiling chief of a deadly vampire clan, can't explain his longing to possess the beautiful Shalott who once saved his life, but now he is free to do anything he wants with her. Strangely, while he desires both Shay's blood and body, he wants her to surrender willingly. To Save Her Life? A hidden evil has been stalking Shay since she left the slave market with Viper. It is an evil that endangers the very existence of Viper's kind, and there's no reason he should court such danger just to protect a Shalott. But the love he feels for Shay is enough to make him willing to go to hell and back if it means spending an eternity with her in his arms. . .Praise for Alexandra Ivy and When Darkness Comes. . ."Not to be missed. . .Ivy is definitely an author with huge potential in the paranormal genre." --Romantic Times (Top Pick!)

    After the dance they gather the family and share their story—a story of love and courage overcoming adversity and thriving in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s the summer of 1946, and Adam has just returned from the war to his home in Reunion, Montana. At a town festival he meets Elizabeth Baxter, a young woman going steady with his former high school rival and now influential banker, Nathan Roberts. When Adam and Elizabeth share a waltz in a deserted pavilion one evening, their feelings begin to grow and they embark on a journey, and a dance, that will last a lifetime.

     Bookworm Bailey Chambers is a pacifist who believes there’s good in everyone. Falling for daring SWAT door-kicker Conall O’Rourke wasn’t in her plan. A glimpse of Con’s risky, violent job scares Bailey into breaking up with him…just when he was about to propose to her. Con never surrenders, and is determined to woo, win, and wed the woman he loves. After all, he smashes barricades for a living. But he can’t win this battle with his usual weapons. Sidelined to await the outcome while Bailey fights to slay her fears is the hardest thing Con’s ever done. When the couple are trapped in a deserted mall with a crew of ruthless bank robbers—who’ve taken their friends hostage—they must work together to overcome formidable odds. As the clock ticks toward the final countdown, Bailey and Con each offer the ultimate sacrifice, desperate to ensure the other will survive the night. But even if they live…will the terrifying battle be the final kill shot that dooms their relationship? Just 24 hours can change your life. Book 1 of 4 in the "24 Hours - Final Countdown" Series. Previously published as Midnight Hero.

    The woman he loved married another, and life went on. Now the main characters in this tragedy are all gone, and in the wake of the final man's last will and testament, the past has roared back with a vengeance. Secrets will be revealed and the lives of four people will be shattered as they learn that who they are and where they come from is not at all what they always believed.TEXAS SECRETSUp-and-coming chef Maddie Collins finds out that her father's life was a lie when she is bequeathed a family homeplace she never knew existed—by the husband of the only woman her father ever loved. A former SEAL, sexy cowboy Boone Gallagher arrives back in Texas to discover that the father who drove him away has struck one last blow. The only place he's ever thought of as home now belongs to a woman who doesn't want it, and he must keep her there for thirty days—or it will be lost to them both.TEXAS LONELYMitch Gallagher is a loner, down to the bone. Banished at sixteen from everything and everyone he held dear, he's an intensely private man whose rusty, unused heart long ago gave up on love. Fragile Perrie Matheson is on the run to protect her beloved son. Too ill to travel further with a winter storm on the way, she has no choice but to gamble her child's safety on a man who wants only to be left alone. But during days spent together in the mountain cabin, Mitch and Perrie each find surprises in store...and all the reasons they should stay apart battle with the yearnings of hearts too long denied love.TEXAS BAD BOYEveryone thinks Lacey DeMille is the next thing to royalty, a society girl with beauty, brains and money—but sexy Texas bad boy Devlin Marlowe knows better. Twenty years after being exiled in disgrace for daring to want her, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks has sweet revenge in his grasp...for only he knows that her whole life is built on a lie.And revenge may be more costly than either of them can imagine."Jean Brashear writes with warmth and emotional truth. The depth of her understanding of human nature marks her as a writer to watch." ~Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author"Jean Brashear is a writer of rare talent." ~Affaire de Coeur

    The ten book western historical saga follows the McCutcheon family, as well as the characters of Y Knot, Montana Territory and Rio Wells, Texas from 1883 to 1887. Book 1: MONTANA DAWNVCRW Laurel Wreath Winner, Maggie Finalist, Gayle Wilson Finalist ,RWA Golden Heart FinalistMontana Territory, 1883When Luke McCutcheon finds Faith Brown about to give birth in her rickety wagon, his first instincts are to ride for help. Instead, he stays and delivers a beautiful baby girl. Unable to leave the pretty young widow and her little son and newborn unprotected in the Montana wilderness, he brings them along on his family's cattle drive, to the absolute delight of the other friendly cowboys.Luke, third son of Montana's wealthy McCutcheon family, is different from his brothers. As the offspring of a Cheyenne warrior, he carries a chip on his shoulder for all to see. His flashing eyes and handsome face make Faith feel she's stepped into some long-ago tale where men cherish their women--and keep them safe. If only she could trust him! Faith is on the run, and although she's pampered and protected by Luke and his family, she just can't risk the consequences of sharing the details of her past--one that's hunting to take her back to the nightmare she's just escaped. Happy-ever-afters are for fairytales, she reminds herself sternly as her heart feels the warm pull of his. Still, she can't help but dream of a loving family, a home to call her own, a beautiful and bright...Montana Dawn.Book 2: TEXAS TWILIGHTVCRW Laurel Wreath WinnerTexas Badlands, 1886Fresh out of medical school, John McCutcheon finds his stagecoach under attack by brutal outlaws. With the help of a feisty acquaintance, Lily Anthony, he manages to fend off the assault. Lily is attracted to the charming cowboy-doctor, with his chiseled good looks and teasing ways, then heartbroken to learn he's engaged to be married.Once settled in Rio Wells, Texas, John tries to ignore the fact that his cousin has taken a shine to Lily. When a bounty hunter shows up looking for a priceless jewel that Lily has found stashed away in her aunt's belongings, Lily fears her dreams of owning her own shop--and of finding true love--are about to go up in flames...or, could that just be the glow of a beautiful ... Texas Twilight?Book 3: MAIL-ORDER BRIDES OF THE WEST: EVIEGolden Quill Contest FinalistA mail order bride goes to Y Knot, Montana, 1886Secretly answering a letter from the mail order bride agency she works for as a maid, Evie Davenport travels by stagecoach to Y Knot, Montana to marry Chance Holcomb, a young rancher who once worked for the powerful McCutcheon family. Evie's never been out of St. Louis and rarely left the large Victorian where she was raised. The beauty and vastness of Montana steals her heart and soul, but will her fairytale marriage come to an end when Chance discovers the truth about her past and how his letter ended up in her care? Book three of the McCutcheon family series continues the saga...Read the entire McCutcheon Family saga in order:Montana DawnTexas TwilightMail-Order Brides of the West: EvieMail-Order Brides of the West: HeatherMoon Over MontanaMail-Order Brides of the West: KathrynMontana SnowfallTexas LonesomeMontana CourageMontana PromiseWatch for more McCu

    But convincing reserved rancher Jules Parrish he "can" give his orphaned niece a real home won't be easy--unless Olivia seizes the chance of love and motherhood she never expected...."A Family of Her Own "by Ruth Axtell MorrenWar and tragedy destroyed Rianna Bruce's chance at happily ever after...or did it? Reuniting with her first love, Noah Samuels, proves that her feelings haven't gone away. In helping his young daughter, can Rianna show the disillusioned Noah the blessing of a second chance?

     Just Friends I didn’t know what I was missing until I had her in my bed. Only, she’s determined not to fall for me. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to her I’m the man she wants…the man she needs. Even if that means ruining every other man for her…including my own ranch hand. She thinks I’m going to walk away? Not happening. She’s mine…Forever. Protect Me The arrogant bastard is back… After one too many failed relationships, I promised myself I was done with men…Then Tyler pressed his muscular mountain man body against mine and that vow I made? It went out the window. Then he left with no explanation other than a pathetic goodbye note. But it’s fine, I’m fine. As long as he doesn’t kiss me or touch me or look at me, I’ll be fine! Scratch what I said before because I'm so screwed. Baby Shock Brooding, hotter than hell and everything I shouldn’t want… Ethan Brighton, ex-military, soon to be cop and oh, my best friend’s older brother. The moment I had that first taste, I was addicted. He’s determined not to notice me. Not to give in. Will I forever be his dirty little secret now that I’m carrying his baby? Business & Pleasure Rich. Arrogant. So drop-dead sexy you’re ready to sell your kidney just to touch him. Oh and did I mention he’s technically my new boss? All I have to do is follow the rules. 1. Don’t sleep with the sexy, arrogant, man-whoring boss. 2. Don’t drool every time you look at his perfectly chiseled face and rock-hard body. 3. But mostly…don’t let him know you want him just as bad. Then again…rules are meant to be broken. Baby Mistake How to destroy your career in three easy steps… Step #1: Sleep with your boss. Step #2: Get pregnant by your boss. Step #3: Quit your job and run away from your problems. Now I’m pregnant, jobless and oh, I haven’t told the father… He already has his perfect life, I don’t need to be reminded I’m carrying his mistake. Fake It I can fake anything for fifty grand… Including being the pretend fiancée to Mr. Sex-on-a-stick himself, Cameron Styles. Chicago’s most successful, ruthless lawyer and douchebag extraordinaire.

    Polly, living in grinding poverty, loses her mother in childbirth and finds herself alone on the streets of Hull. Rosalie, brought up in affluence and comfort on the other side of town, loses her own mother in similar circumstances and on the same day. Polly takes a job as scullery maid in Rosalie's lonely house, and the two girls form an unlikely friendship. Traveling to the North Yorkshire Moors they discover a new kind of life and find unexpected joy and fulfillment.

    A womanizing merchant. Is Allana Dundas' life doomed before it even begins? Travel through Scottish Medieval Highlands with a sensuous historical romance full of courage, action, romance, strong emotions and twists. Here is the story: When wild and beautiful Allana Dundas reaches nineteen, everyone believes it is high time she is wed. Her family expects her to marry the neighbouring Laird's son, Nevin Kirk, a ruggedly handsome and masculine young man.Yet, a drunken embrace leads to sparks flying between Nevin and the fair, quiet Bettina, Allana's younger sister. Suddenly, all expectations are shattered.The sisters begin unwittingly competing for the hand of the handsome Nevin until hopeless romantic Allana finds an irresistible passion in the arms of a mysterious travelling merchant from Mull named Kendrick Muir. Undoubtedly, a proposal is not far behind and when the mature and sexy Laird Gavin Ingram catches word of the budding romance blossoming in the heart of Dundas Castle, he is shaken to his very core. Their wedding must be ruined, but how?A long-concealed ally arrives in Oban to reveal a heart-breaking secret which casts Allana's future into chaos once more.She isn't getting any younger and a fearful Allana realizes she must find a suitor or face a lonely future of spinsterhood. Will the free-willed Allana Dundas ever be tamed?"Highlander's Burning Desire" has over 80,000 words packed with romance, action, and emotion set on the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

    Complete and unabridged,the three novels are Rendezvous, Ravished and Reckless.

    But the discovery that the vanished child perished in infancy seventeen years earlier threatens Leith's mission -- unless he can fool the ailing chieftain with a beautiful impostor.An Unspoiled BeautyAt first, lovely and spirited Rose Gunther is incensed by the arrogant Scotsman who whisks her away from her English convent. But protest as she might, Rose is helpless to resist the handsome warrior -- whose sensuous touch promises a different kind of heaven. And soon even a perilous deception seems but a small price to pay to savor fully the sweet, forbidden nectar of Leith's love.

     Don't Tell a Duke You Love Him He was too dangerous to be denied… The Duke of Longley was a rake and should be left well enough alone. At least that is what Lady Lily Ducat’s mother continually said. As far as Lily could tell, she was correct. His Grace had a devilish air about him and a brooding silence that no debutante should attempt to tame and certainly not grow an affection for. He was too much man and beyond redemption. Except once they are tossed together after a winter storm, she is dangerously close to declaring her love because in the dark of night, he was all Lily could see. Meddle in a Marquess's Affairs Rakes make the worst husbands… Not that Rex Baluster, the Marquess of Highwater would want her anyway. But when he arrived at Lady Camille Ducat’s door shot and near death, she didn’t hesitate to help him. She had no reputation to preserve after all. She’d given that up when she ended her engagement to another rake. And though her heart beat wildly every time she looked at Rex, she knew that to involve herself with such a man would only lead to heartache. Never Trust an Errant Earl A surly rake and a desperate lady… Lady Cristina Ducat might not be as clever as her sisters, but she knows when action is required. Her mother seems set on arranging an unwanted marriage for Cristina, but Cristina has plans of her own. She’s got the perfect man all picked out. The problem? The Earl of Clearwood, Sirius Renwall, keeps getting in her way. Not only is Si annoying beyond measure with his dark and brooding demeanor, but he makes her heart beat in the most curious and exhilarating way. Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight A bluestocking and a rake… Lady Victoria Ducat has an orderly life filled with academic pursuits and the care of her ailing father. She has no use for a drunken rake like the Earl of Kissinger. Just because he is handsome, charming, and he makes her knees weak doesn’t mean she’s going to give up her principles. So what if Lord Kissinger looks at her the way no man has before? She’ll just ignore the heat in his gaze and the breathless want it brings. She had a plan and she’ll stick to it, which is a far sight better than getting her heart broken…isn’t it? Make a Viscount Beg An unrepentant rogue and a desperate lady… Lady Adelaide Ducat hated the Viscount of Averstone with a passion that sang in her blood. The man was a wretch, a rake, a rogue, and so annoying that she’d like to… well, she desperately wanted to… she ought to….kiss him until he begged for mercy. Wait. That wasn’t right. She’s got bigger problems to worry about, like what her scheming mother was planning or how she’s going to care for her dying father. She needs a husband to help her not a rogue who would only distract. So why can’t she stop thinking about how good his lips would taste? Can a single kiss change their minds forever?

    Just in time for the Christmas season--four of romances best-loved writers contribute timeless, passionate stories created especially for this collection! Jill Barnett, Mary Jo Putney, Justine Dare, and Susan King set the pages on fire with love, as these exquisite stories capture the true spirit of this special time of year!

    Yet when irresistible redhead Rosie Harrison drops into his life and disrupts his peace, Joshua's desires begin to change. Can he convince her to hang around long enough to meet him under the mistletoe? Snowbound Bride by Shirley JumpA Christmas Eve blizzard leaves Marietta stranded in an airport with Reed Hartstone, the only man to ever break her heart. Perhaps rekindling the past may actually be their perfect Christmas present. Their Christmas Vows by Margaret McDonaghFrazer McIntosh knows exactly what he wants for Christmas--Callie Grogan. Despite his reputation as a fun-loving Romeo, Frazer is serious about his beautiful colleague. Serious enough to love her forever, if only she'll agree to be his Christmas bride....

    But to Lady Kiri Lawford he's a hero-braver than the smugglers he rescues her from, more honorable than any lord she's ever met, and far more attractive than any man has a right to be. How can she not fall in love...?But Damian Mackenzie has secrets that leave no room in his life for courting high-born young ladies-especially not the sister of one of his oldest friends. Yet when Kiri's quick thinking reveals a deadly threat to England's crown, Damian learns that she is nowhere near as prim and respectable as he first assumed...and the lady is far more alluring than any man can resist... Praise for Loving a Lost Lord"Intoxicating, romantic and utterly ravishing..." -Eloisa James"Entrancing characters and a superb plotline..." -"Publishers Weekly, " starred review"Will leave readers smiling, breathless, and anxiously awaiting the next adventure..." -"Library Journal, " starred review"Romance at its best " -Julia QuinnIn the first of a dazzling series, Mary Jo Putney introduces the Lost Lords--maverick childhood friends with a flair for defying convention. Each is about to discover the woman who is his perfect match--but perfection doesn't come easily, even for the noble Duke of Ashton. . . Battered by the sea, Adam remembers nothing of his past, his ducal rank, nor of the shipwreck that almost claimed his life. However, he's delighted to hear that the golden-haired vision tending his wounds is his wife. Mariah's name and face may not be familiar, but her touch, her warmth, feel deliciously right. . . When Mariah Clarke prayed for a way to deter a bullying suitor, she didn't imagine she'd find the answer washed ashore on a desolate beach. Convincing Adam that he is her husband is surprisingly easy. Resisting the temptation to act his wife, in every way, will prove anything but. And now a passion begun in fantasy has become dangerously real--and completely irresistible. . . "Intoxicating, romantic and utterly ravishing..." --Eloisa James"Gentle humor, exotic elements, compelling, flawless prose, and irresistible characters caught in a sweet, sensual dilemma will leave readers smiling, breathless, and anxiously awaiting the next adventure in Putney's new "Lost Lords" series. Readers. . .are in for a rare treat; fortunately, there are more delicacies to come Putney writes some of the most sensitive, exquisite historicals in the field." --"Library Journal " (starred review) "The enchanting first Lost Lords novel confirms bestseller Putney as a major force in historical romance. . . Entrancing characters and a superb plot line catapult this tale into stand-alone status." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) "If you loved the "Fallen Angels, " you'll adore the "Lost Lords: " men who formed unbreakable bonds while at a school for boys of "good birth and bad behavior." Only the incomparable Putney could bring them to life and have readers yearning to be close to such dynamic heroes and the women who tame them." --"Romantic Times" (4 stars) "New York Times" bestselling author Mary Jo Putney continues her stunning Lost Lords series with this stirring, sensual story of a rebellious nobleman drawn to a lovely widow with a shocking past.As the sole remaining heir to the Earl of Daventry, Alexander Randall knows his duty: find a wife and sire a son of his own. The perfect bride for a man in his position would be a biddable young girl of good breeding. But the woman who haunts his imagination is Julia Bancroft--a village midwife with a dark secret that thrusts her into Randall's protection. Within the space of a day, Julia has been abducted by her first husband's cronies, rescued, and propo