Her continued defiance earns her the sting of his belt on her sore, already bright red backside, but in spite of everything the humiliating chastisement leaves her longing for him to claim her hard and thoroughly.After Margaret's desire for Iain is inadvertently put on shameful display, they are soon wed by the order of the king, but will the battle-hardened Scotsman's firm hand prove sufficient to cure his headstrong bride of her reckless ways or will more intimate means of correction be required?Publisher's Note: His Headstrong Bride is a stand-alone sequel to His Conquered Bride. It includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

    But that means marriage to the king's handsome knight, Alain de Crency, and certain death for her. For if he doesn't kill her, his priests will. Written by multiple time RITA Award winner Dell Jacobs

    Controlled by the Fates. Can Macy's love for her soul mate survive the bonds of time... and death?17-year old Macy Lockhart is as far from normal as any one girl can be. The problem is, she doesn’t know it yet.After a bloodstone pendant is mysteriously left on her door, Macy’s life begins to change in ways she’d never dreamed. And while she will eventually come to realize that nothing is ever what it seems, that her life is a tangled web of lies and the Fates themselves pull the strings, for now she is left with only the explanations that they offer her.Macy is led to believe that if she doesn’t return to a previous doomed life, one in which she served as Queen Cleopatra ‘s handmaiden, the fate of the entire world will be threatened in a way that would destroy history as we know it. She learns that she has lived thousands of lives, each one ending tragically…but none as tragic as this one.After returning to ancient Egypt, she is faced with heart-wrenching decisions. Unless she interferes with Fate’s plan, the very thing she was born to protect, her soul mate will die leading Marc Antony’s forces against Rome. Can she really stand aside and watch the love of her life die all over again?In this fascinating novel-length prequel to The Bloodstone Saga, Courtney Cole sets the stage for an epic journey that will have readers holding their breath until the very last page of the very last book has been turned.What would you do if you held Fate in your hands?

    His father, John Dudley, saw his own father executed by Henry VIII when he ascended the throne, and suffered ignominy and obscurity as a result. But John is determined to rise high and see his family restored to its former glorious position. He places his sons in the Royal Household, and Robert spends his childhood years at the Royal Court, as playmate to King Henry's children, Prince Edward and the Lady Elizabeth. Robert sees his father gain power and influence, becoming the young King Edward VI's most important courtier. But when John tries to make his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, queen,the Catholic Mary Tudor proves she has the support of the people, and John is forced to renounce Jane and proclaim Mary queen. For their part in the Nine Days Queen affair, John and his sons are imprisoned in the Tower of London, to await trial and probable execution. Forced to admit that he erred in his belief in the New Religion, Protestantism, John, along with his son, Guildford who married Jane Grey, are executed, having their heads cut off on Tower Hill. One more brother dies of illness, and Queen Mary shows mercy and releases the remaining three brothers. Robert becomes desperate to restore the family's name and fortune, and persuades his brothers to join Queen Mary's husband, King Philip of Spain, in a war against the French. In France, the youngest Dudley brother, Henry, is killed, but Robert is mentioned in despatches as having fought valiantly, and the taint of attainder is removed from the Dudley family name. The Dudleys are not considered traitors any longer. But Robert is still not wanted at court, and he is forced to leave London and settle down with his wife, Amy Robsart, in Norfolk. But he soon grows tired of both the country and his wife, and hopes one day to be able to return to the court. His chance comes when Queen Mary dies and Elizabeth Tudor becomes queen. Abandoning his wife, Robert rushes to her side. Elizabeth soon falls in love with Robert, and sordid rumours spread throughout Europe about their relationship, made worse when Robert's wife dies in mysterious circumstances, and he is suspected of having her murdered. Exiled from the court, Robert has to wait in the country for the coroner's court to return a verdict of Accidental Death before Elizabeth allows him to return to her. Robert is now a free man, but Elizabeth, ever fearful of relinquishing her power, and haunted by the beheadings of her mother, Anne Boleyn, and her stepmother, Katherine Howard, will not agree to marry him, while jealously keeping him by her side. But Robert keeps hoping, and with his heart set on becoming king, he is forced to live a double life, keeping his mistress and illegitimate son secret to avoid Elizabeth's wrath. Until he falls in love with Elizabeth's cousin, the pretty and seductive, Lettice. Lettice demands marriage when she becomes pregnant, and Robert, tired of waiting for Elizabeth and wanting an heir to carry on the Dudley name, agrees. Meanwhile, his growing reputation as politician and staunch Protestant, means that Europe looks to him to solve their religious and territorial problems. Ever eager to improve his reputation and to prove that he is more than Elizabeth's favourite, he launches himself into war in the Netherlands, and is finally offered the governorship of the Dutch, making him a king in all but name. He accepts the Dutch offer but when Elizabeth hears of it, she is furious and insists that he renounce the title. Robert is forced to make a humiliating exit. He returns to England, disappointed and broken in body. Forced to become a soldier again when the Spanish launch their Armada, Robert is too ill to celebrate the English victory and dies en route to taking the spa waters at Buxton. When Elizabeth hears the news, she looks herself away in her room to grieve alone.

    Morrison links two beloved series in a riveting tale of envy and seduction that has basketball star Darius Jones up against a woman who takes being a fan to the next level.Darius Jones is living the good life. He's got a chance to become the league's most valuable player, he's crazy in love with his wife, and his relationship with his mom has never been better. But Darius also has a stalker who's determined to be the number one woman in his life. And no matter where he goes, she's there. . .scheming to kill his wife, Fancy; charming his manager and mother, Jada; manipulating his son's mother, Ashlee; and worst of all, dragging new mother Honey Thomas into the mix with one of the most heartless schemes ever. With his life quickly unraveling, Darius must gamble all he's worked for to save his wife, reclaim his son, and stop a madwoman from ruining the lives of everyone around him. . . . Never Again Once MoreIn Soul Mates Dissipate, her phenomenal Essence® and Blackboard bestseller, Mary B. Morrison left readers cheering with her tell-it-like-it-is-and-then-some story of Jada and Wellington, two lovers whose connection is tested, but never broken. Now, in this eagerly awaited sequel, Jada and Wellington find themselves facing new conflicts that will challenge the decisions they made years ago.Do we choose love, or does love choose us? That's the question Jada Diamond Tanner can't seem to stop asking herself after ten years of marriage. She thought she'd chosen the right man in Lawrence Anderson, her steady, reliable husband and the man who helped raise her son Darius. But did she choose the right life when she turned her back on Wellington Jones, the soulmate whose fiery kisses took her body and spirit to a higher level than she ever dreamed possible?For twenty years, Jada has struggled to keep her distance from Wellington, and he's paid her in respect. But now, the cracks in Jada's carefully constructed life are beginning to show. Darius is a young man out of touch and in trouble. When his destructive behavior threatens to destroy him, Jada reluctantly lets Wellington take more control and be the father Darius needs.With each day back in Wellington's company, Jada begins to question the choices she has made in her life--choices made out of fear, out of foolish pride, out of denial. Slowly, she begins to realize that she still has one choice left: to get true to herself. Armed with the courage and the fire she's been missing for years, Jada's out to seize the opportunity she thought she had lost--and this time, she'll say, "never again once more."Soulmates DissipateBringing the soulful, sexy, and totally uncensored voice of black women to readers everywhere, Mary B. Morrison is blazing a new trail in African American erotic fiction that has made her one of the most exciting, and most popular, authors writing today. Exquisite ebony-skinned fashion photographer Jada Diamond Tanner may have her pick of fine men, but no one has captured her heart like gorgeous financial advisor Wellington Jones. From the moment of their first embrace, Jada is sure he is the soul mate she has waited for. But while the love she shares with Wellington is exhilarating, Jada finds herself facing challenges she never could have imagined--from Melanie Thompson, bright, beautiful, and talented, but hungry for the love she has never had. . .and from Cynthia Jones, Wellington's overbearing socialite mother, who believes Jada will never fit into her circle of aristocratic friends. Forced to make difficult choices, Jada will soon learn some painful lessons about love, trust, and commitment. But she will also discover deep emotional strengths in herself, along with the courage to celebrate the joy each day can bring--with or without the man she loves.

    And Tor already had her inside before he remembered what she was going to see.His brother and sister had frozen in mid-argument, both with handfuls of their dad's fur as they tried to tug him back to wakefulness or at least out of the kitchen."Is that ...?" Bernie began. She blinked and rubbed her eyes.It was possible to pass off a werewolf as a dog, but there was absolutely no mistaking a polar bear for anything else.There was a polar bear lying in the middle of the kitchen. A very large, very shaggy bear. And Tor's brother and sister were both frozen in the act of trying to pick it up."Oh, hi!" Inga said, very brightly. She dropped her double handful of Stieg's ruff, allowing his head to clunk to the floor—his tongue was lolling out now—and strode forward with a hand held out. There were long white strands of polar bear fur all over her shirt. "You must be Tor's mate—uh—friend! Hi! I'm Tor's sister. I'm Inga. What's your name?"Bernie kept trying to peer around her, where Eren had given up trying to shake the bear awake and instead delivered a swift kick to his backside. The bear grunted, rolled over, and started snoring."I, uh, I'm Bernie," said Bernie. "Is your—um—is your bear all right?""He's drunk," Eren said darkly.Tor could have pushed him through the trap door at that moment."Your ... bear is drunk," Bernie said.Compared to this, even trying to deal with a demon cat destroying her curtains, her backseat, and everything else she owned seemed halfway normal.Jump into a brand new series from Zoe Chant, featuring a beautiful, magical shifter town, a sexy, protective hero with a chaotic polar bear family, a tough heroine picking up the pieces of her shattered heart, a maybe-haunted lighthouse ... and a cat only his owner could love.

    He said....She saved me from being alone and dying to soon. Moses Parks is a man with the million dollar plan but soon realizes that money can not buy happiness. Searching for something else to live for while dealing with his failing health, Teka comes into his life as a breath of fresh air. But then she goes away. Without warning. Moses refuses to forget about her and makes it his mission to find her and continue what they started. But she's broken. She's unable to love. Somehow, the two lost souls become one and it's the greatest love story ever written. But... is it really? Is love all its cracked up to be? Nako introduces readers to a new set of characters that are individually dealing with trials and tribulations while trying to love each other but unaware of how to do so properly. In this new series join her on an emotional roller coaster as two people from different sides of the track find their way to each other although every thing seems to get in their path. Salvation is an exciting and emotional read and one you won't be able to put down or forget. Disclaimer: This is the prelude to a three book series. The book ends on a cliffhanger.

    But when her husband dies, Jessie fears the family she's longed for is slipping away - until Chase Logan unexpectedly comes to her rescue. By pretending to be her husband, Chase can make all of her dreams come true.Three days are all she asks of him. Three days to ignite a love neither of them ever imagined possible....Number of Pages: 283

    “Diamonds are nothing more than compressed carbon.” Veteran cop, DCI David Jones, is tough and uncompromising. His Serious Crime Unit has the best arrest record the Midlands Police Service has ever seen and Jones wants to keep it that way. Locksmith turned jewel thief, Sean Freeman, is the best in the UK. He's never been caught—the police have never even come close. When Freeman's boss forces him to break into the Stafford Museum, the UK’s most secure premises outside of the Bank of England, he's in trouble—the Stafford is in the heart of Jones' jurisdiction. Someone's record is going to suffer. In the third instalment of the DCI Jones Casebook series, veteran detective, David Jones tackles a series of cases and faces a clever and engaging criminal he respects and would probably like--under different circumstances. But Jones has a job to do and Freeman is going down. . This book can be read as a stand-alone novel.

    Innocent young patrician, Anniana, is to be un-willing pawn in a game of power that will see her wed to the decadent new emperor, Titus, unless she can escape Rome with her only protector, a violent, Norse giant. He must get her to Pompeii before Salvia, her diabolical mother, discovers her escape. But when Pompeii is destroyed by Vesuvius, and Salvia sends assassins to track her down, it becomes a chase across the empire to keep her freedom.Vali has every reason to hate Salvia, who used him as a sex slave years before. Now he must keep her daughter safe, not only from hired killers, and the many dangers of the journey, but from the biggest threat of all – himself, because a damaged barbarian is no fitting mate for an innocent noble of Imperial Rome.Ninia, Anniana’s handmaiden, is sent to find her mistress, and her only desire is to save her friend from the barbaric Norseman. But when she’s ship-wrecked with Braxus, ex- gladiator and pirate, she unexpectedly discovers a chance for real happiness for herself. The only problem - the man she’s starting to love is in league with the enemy.This is an epic journey across the breadth of the early Imperial Roman Empire in search of freedom,respect and love.

    He enlists the help of longtime friend, Caroline Franklin, to assist him in finding a mail-order bride. Caroline is in love with Wyatt. He is the only man to attract her since her husband passed away several years ago. When Wyatt comes to ask her a question, she is completely surprised by his request. What will she do when faced with losing the man she loves?Dear Reader: Please note this is a clean, short story of thirty pages

    He is everything that Olivia wants in a husband, except for the fact that he’s a quick pumper and extremely boring in bed. He has no thrill or desire of being able to please her which sends her in the arms of another man. At the beat of a song, Zay erotically sweeps Olivia off of her feet. He’s a handsome, well educated, wealthy bachelor that can catch any woman’s attention. However, he’s put them on hold just to win over Olivia. What happens when vows are broken, boundaries are crossed, and friends become enemies? Will Olivia fight for a sexless, mind-numbing marriage or will she keep grinding on that wood and riding Zay like a surfboard? All is fair in love and war, but all bets are off when Zay and Olivia unexpectedly find themselves Drunk In Love. This novel is sassy, edgy, amusing and life like.

    One small bed. Two ex-lovers. What could go wrong?Broken-hearted Grant retreats to a cabin in the woods to work on his master's thesis and escape the sadness of a recent breakup. A blizzard is on the way, but Grant has food, books, and a cozy fireplace. But when a loud knock jolts Grant from his chair, he's stunned to see his intense ex-boyfriend, Adam...Adam wants to win back Grant's love, but it won't be easy. Harsh words were spoken during their breakup, and Adam's struggling to heal from his wounded past. Grant wants to start a family, but Adam can't imagine being a father...The men cooperate to stay safe and warm during the blizzard, but they can't deny their feverish attraction. They discuss a future together, but old hurts surface. Can Adam and Grant resolve their differences and have the future they always planned, or will this weekend be their final goodbye?The Carpenter is a 20,000 word standalone gay romance with a Happily Ever After.

    It hardly mattered that her Scottish bloodline was shrouded in mystery. But Alec's heated desire turned ice-cold when he discovered that this winsome lady was, in fact, a witch --- whose powers of white magic were not always perfectly under control ...Too late, Joy knew she was desperately in love and that nothing could stop the course of their destiny --- the scandal threatening to destroy her and the passion that held them both spellbound in a forbidden, irresistible match.