"Take some water," one of them said. Catherine shoved the cup aside, afraid she'd be sick. The floor rocked. The air smelled of the sea. She clambered to her feet, staggering, and fought the panic threatening to overwhelm her. He'd put her aboard a ship. Unlike the other women aboard ship, Catherine de Villeroy had assumed Fate intended her to live an aristocratic life of ease and luxury. Instead she is transported to a fetid jungle to be tied to a secretive stranger who reeks of pigs. Catherine's shipmate Marie Claude has had few expectations in life, and even they have been disappointed. When her only options become prostitution or starvation, Fate decrees she will become the wife of a stranger in a strange land. Even if her new husband is a cruel man, how can life not be better in this rough paradise of alligators and wild orchids? Agnes expected a life spent in her father's bookstore, perhaps married to a gentle, scholarly man. Betrayed and ruined, Agnes retreats into herself and hardly notices when she is transported to Louisiana. Married to a stranger who desires only an amenable bed partner, Agnes strives to stay present in her new life and to explore what more Fate allows a ruined woman.

    Neither Katie nor Levi were eager to wed a stranger but they agree. While Katie still hoped to find true love, Levi wants to avoid love at all costs. Katie's attempts to woo her husband fall flat, but the man is colder than winter snow. She is certain her life with Levi will be long and lonely and that she will never have the baby she so desires. Levi is fond of Katie but the scars of the past are huge walls he will never cross. A Christmas emergency drops a newborn baby boy in Levi ad Katie's home. The little boy opens both Katie and Levi's hearts. bringing them closer than they ever believed possible. Levi can feel this sweet angel healing the scars he has battled so hard to avoid. Soon, they must give the baby back to his true parents? Will the loss destroy their marriage forever or will their faith make them strong enough to weather all the storms life may toss at them? (the above is from Amazon's "About this Book")

    

    Wealth. Power. Romance. Books one, two, and three of the Johnson Family series—available in a box set for a limited time! UNFORGETTABLE: She offered everything he never knew he needed… Ivy Johnson is stunned when Lucas Baylor makes an appearance at her family’s event in Seattle. She hasn’t seen him in nine years and never expected to again. Avoiding him is a must. She can’t let him uncover her secret, but Lucas won’t be denied. When her deception is revealed, it throws his life into a tailspin and forces them to face the truth of their feelings for each other—feelings they’ve both tried in vain to forget. PERFECT: Does the end justify the means? Cyrus Johnson is rich, powerful, and used to getting his way. When his estranged wife shows up at his office demanding a divorce once and for all, he not only refuses, he makes a demand of his own. Daniella Barrett-Johnson has little bargaining power where Cyrus is concerned, and he’s already used his vast financial resources to prolong their divorce and keep her tied to him. Her only hope is to give him what he wants, but if she does, how will she ever be able to leave him for good? JUST FRIENDS: Should they risk their friendship for a chance at love? Alannah Bailey is tired of being the boring best friend of Trenton Johnson and decides on a makeover. After the changes, she starts dating, but instead of being happy, Trenton acts like he wants to keep her under lock and key. Trenton is used to partying and having his pick of women. Such an advantage comes with the Johnson name, their money, and his own good looks. When he needs downtime, he depends on his best buddy, Alannah. But he doesn’t like the changes he sees in her lately, and by the time he figures out why, it might be too late.

    

    Although Nia was initially cautious about the pace at which their relationship was moving, she finally opened up her heart to love. Then she’s hit with what seems like the ultimate betrayal. Raffiel is certain that Nia was made for him. At every turn, he receives confirmation that she is the one. But there is something that he doesn’t know about Nia that could change how he feels about her. Is the omission of information the same as lying? If so, Nia and Raffiel are both guilty. In the finale, secrets are uncovered that will rock their world. Is this newfound love strong enough to see them through the hard times? People are going out of their way to ensure that these two don’t get their happily ever after. This couple will be tested and find themselves questioning if this could be love.

    Her only ally? A sworn enemy. After being isolated and beaten for years by bandits, English merchant girl Emily is rescued by the very Highlanders she has spent years in fear of. Despite their assurances, Emily is terrified. Her only comfort is the Laird's own English wife, Sarina, who must help her overcome the trauma she has faced at the hands of brutish villains. When one of the bandits is captured, however, Emily discovers the truth she has wanted to hear for years: Her mother is alive. Uncaring of the dangers she may face, Emily pleads with the Mackenzie family for assistance to find her last remaining family member. The kind-hearted Laird's brother, Angus, volunteers to accompany and protect her on her journey. Emily is forced to let go of her anger toward the Scottish people for the actions of the few when she finds herself becoming more and more devoted to her Highland protector. But when an unexpected enemy arises to test her trust, Emily must make a heart-breaking decision that will change the course of her life forever... "Highlander's Unexpected Ally" has over 80,000 words packed with romance, anguish, and passion set on the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

    But Salamanca Cottage is not all that it seems and soon she finds that she is not alone. Then she has decide if the being she talks to and finds herself becoming fond of is real or merely a manifestation of her grief and longing.

    

    Despite his promises to find another job in another hospital so they could move, Simon is still working long hours in the same place, leaving Jamie to do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to raising their daughter. As if that weren't hard enough, their relationship has become somewhat long distance, and Jamie spends time driving back and forth between the house in their hometown and Simon’s apartment in the city with their screaming baby girl in tow after spending time with her sick mother every week. They both find themselves tired and irritable, more often than not, and their lack of communication just makes misunderstandings and fights happen more often than either of them have the time or energy to deal with properly. When Jamie finds out that none of Simon's friends know anything about her or their baby despite how long it’s been, she has to ask herself once again if trying to make something work with Simon is the right thing to do or if she’d be better off following in her mother’s footsteps and going it alone.

    Growing up an only child with her mother and father prevalent in her life. In love with her first and only boyfriend and getting ready to leave for college, Cassidy feels like life is perfect. A chance encounter with the most respected and feared family in Columbia. She finds herself being thrown into a world wind romance with a man that is liable to turn her world upside down forever. Will she be able to navigate these foreign waters with ease or will she capsize in the dark depths of the unknown? Kentrell Banner is known for his screw ‘em and leave ‘em demeanor. Thinking he has it all, he never complains about missed opportunities because he has never experienced them. Until he meets the beautiful and feisty, Cassidy Warborough. Being the person that refuses to take no for an answer, he goes full throttle trying to get Cassidy on his roster. Unfortunately for him, Cassidy isn’t one of his usual feats, so she refuses his advances no matter how thick the attraction. Finally weighing her down, he gets her to give into his advances, but at what cost? Will Kentrell be willing to give up his playboy ways to court the unfamiliar or will his spoiled and entitled behavior cause him to lose possibly the best thing that has ever happened to him? Candace Harris is a female who knows what she wants and not so much what she needs. Experiencing the perils of relationships through the eyes of her best friend, she finds herself uninterested in what they have to offer. When a strong minded and handsome, Malachi Banner comes into her life. She finds herself experiencing the lure of being that girl that experiences a happy ever after. Will she chance her heart and sanity for a piece of the good thing or will she chose to stick to what she knows and spare herself from the possibility of being hurt? Malachi Banner is not the man behind the name. Strong, opinionated with a hint of crazy, he finds himself intrigued with the likes of Candace Harris. Used to the fast life like the rest of his cousins. He can’t escape the strong attraction that he has to prove to Candace that good men do still exist, but will his attempts be a bust. Using his personality and suaveness to bombard his way into her life, she immediately friend zones him. Will he be able to way her down and change her view on relationships or will he forever be the friend?

    It is a new, never been told before story about Matt and Nicole.) AN EXCERT FROM THE BOOK (It’s Nicole in the middle school lunch line)— My stubborn eyes keep clinging to Matt. No matter where I try to make them look, they keep lingering back to him. He’s like a magnet to my eyes. A magnet that I want to strangle … yet hug. Both at the same time. Matt must feel my eyes on him, because he glances up at me and our eyes lock. I get this ache in my chest. This longing. Longing for us to be close again; best friends again. (Or maybe even MORE than friends—gulp!) Embarrassed that Matt caught me spying on him, I quickly turn away from his hypnotic stare. My mangled heart feels like it’s going to explode. SUMMARY OF THE BOOK: Best friends, Matt and Nicole, are in a fight. What’s that about? Can they make up and be friends again? Or maybe even become MORE than friends? Hmmm. NOTE: This book also contains a short story about Ally and Griffin in middle school. And now a free bonus story as well: MIDDLE SCHOOL POWERS (VOL. 4). It’s just an added story because readers have been asking for more to the Middle School Powers series—so here it is—a new story included in this book, free. (This book is 190 pages) Update: Now there is a another story about Matt and Nicole added to this book as well. Enjoy! Melanie Marks' newest book is: "Ally and Griffin (Middle School)" Also new: Beck Bait

    Katy’s driving home for Christmas – except an empty, cold caravan hardly seems like home, and it’s not feeling much like Christmas. It wasn’t supposed to be like this: a few months ago she had her dream cottage, a loving fiance, and big plans for a perfect wedding. Now she’s in her car, travelling through the snow along dark, country lanes, heading towards a Christmas spent by herself, with nothing more to look forward to than a frozen turkey dinner and a box of Quality Street. With her friends busy with their guests, her parents on a cruise, and her ex-fiance miles away, the only person Katy is expecting to see at all is Luke, the builder who has been working hard to transform Katy’s cottage before it goes up for sale on the other side of Christmas. Arriving at last in the Holderness village of Weltringham, she’s disappointed to find both the cottage and the caravan in darkness, and Luke nowhere to be seen. It seems everyone in the world has abandoned her to her gloomy fate. Is she doomed to have the worst festive season ever, or is someone about to save Katy’s Christmas? After all, it is the time of miracles … Take a break from those Christmas preparations and curl up by the fire for a couple of hours with this seasonal cosy read.

    Her goal was to become an accountant and work her way up to run her own company. Unfortunately, before her 21st birthday changes had to be made in her life that would cause her to leave everything she once knew behind; including her mother.Caleb was your average bachelor that ran through women like water. The problem was he wanted to settle down but never found anyone good enough to do that with.When Kharis and Caleb finally meet face to face, sparks fly and a flame is ignited in both of them that won't allow either one of them to walk away; no matter what obstacles are placed in front of them. The two of them will take a journey unlike any other showing everyone that it's ok to have that different kind of love.

    But with an American film crew in town intent on uncovering buried secrets from WWII, and a disgruntled relative amongst other problems, life is neither simple nor quiet. When Patrick, her ex-boss, unexpectedly offers Katie her dream media job, she must decide whether it is worth turning her back on everything and everyone in Dartmouth - including Leo, a friend from the past, who wants to be a part of her future. Will Katie make the right decision?