Sweetwater Springs doesn’t have a hotel, so passengers are parceled out to townsfolk’s homes. No one wants anything to do with complaining Aunt Edith. That also leaves Charity and their newly widowed friend Amelia nowhere to stay until the tracks are repaired. A new blizzard is headed their way, so what are they to do? Logan Murdoch and his brother came to Sweetwater Springs to restock before the next storm arrives. Against his better judgment, Logan lets the sheriff convince him to take three so-called innocent women to Murdoch Ranch. Other than their housekeeper-cook, a woman hasn’t set foot in the Murdoch home in the twenty years since his mother abandoned them. He doesn’t expect his father to welcome these unwanted visitors. Both Charity and Logan are surprised at the events that unfold. How could this have happened?

    Hephaestus Books represents a new publishing paradigm, allowing disparate content sources to be curated into cohesive, relevant, and informative books. To date, this content has been curated from Wikipedia articles and images under Creative Commons licensing, although as Hephaestus Books continues to increase in scope and dimension, more licensed and public domain content is being added. We believe books such as this represent a new and exciting lexicon in the sharing of human knowledge. This particular book contains chapters focused on Vorkosigan Saga, and Vorkosigan saga planets. More info: The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of science fiction novels and short stories by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. Most of them concern Miles Vorkosigan, a physically disabled aristocrat from the planet Barrayar whose life (from before birth), military career, and post-military career is a challenge to his native planet's prejudices against "mutants."

    She's a bossy, fiery red-head. Her handsome brother wants to join the army and fight against Napoleon. But he's all she has and she wants him to become a diplomat instead. She gets a job with an aristocrat hoping he will provide the contacts. Needless to say, it doesn't work out exactly as any of them expects.

    Touched by The Sight, she struggles to understand herself, while fighting those who threaten her world: the violent clans who relish war; her cunning guardian, Archibald Campbell, the powerful Earl of Argyll—callously ambitious, and bound by loyalty to the Crown; John Campbell, the Earl’s second son—a strong, experienced warrior on the battlefield—who cannot begin to understand the mysterious woman he is forced to wed; and Elizabeth Campbell Maclean, a gentle woman whose heart is forfeit in a treaty with a man her father hates. Completely captivating, Child of Awe carries the reader from the wild beauty of mist-shrouded glens to the horrors of war, from the hatred of ancient feuds to the wonder of new love: enchanting us, heart and soul, with the seamless skill of a genuine storyteller. LEGEND OF THE FAE by APRIL HOLTHAUS The Legend begins… After returning home from battle against a neighboring clan, Laird Galen Graham stumbles upon an injured woman in desperate need of care and protection. Wanting to return her to her family becomes a difficult task when he discovers the lass cannot speak. While trying to solve the mystery behind who she is, Galen finds himself falling in love with a lass he knows nothing about. Ella of Andor, knows nothing but wickedness and blood thirst for power as she follows in the footsteps of her predecessor, Alaris; a dark Fae queen. But while heading on a quest to ensure her people’s victory against their enemy, she is led to the heart of the Highlands where she soon discovers the truth about her past that would change her life forever. HIGHLAND BURN by VICTORIA ZAK Will Love's Flame Quench the Dragon's Fire? ... The past never stays in the past, it rears its ugly head eventually. James the Black Douglas knows this all too well. With a past that has left him vengeful and his dragon blood thirsty, his reputation as a ruthless warrior haunts his enemies in their sleep. As his allegiance stands with Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland, he must now repay a debt to the king and agrees to marry his daughter, Abigale Bruce. The problem is he doesn't want a wife. When flames start to burn out of control between him and the auburn-haired lass, he must decide to either kindle the flames of passion or shelter her from the truth and set her free. It's What Shines in the Dark That Brings Forth Your True Light... Determined to keep his daughter safe and out of the hands of the English, Robert hides Abigale behind the safe walls of a nunnery. After eight long years of living her life in seclusion, Abigale is finally set free. But her new found freedom comes to an abrupt halt when she learns of her betrothal to the infamous Bogeyman - James the Black Douglas. She soon finds herself falling in love with the uncontainable and haunted man. Is her love enough to soften his hardened heart? JUST BEYOND THE GARDEN GATE by DAWN MARIE HAMILTON Determined to regain her royal status, a banished faerie princess accepts a challenge from the High-Queen of the Fae to unite an unlikely couple while the clan brownie attempts to thwart her. Passion ignites when a faerie-shove propels burned-out business consultant Laurie Bernard through the garden gate, back through time, and into the embrace of Patrick MacLachlan. The arrogant clan chief doesn’t know what to make of the lass in his arms, especially when he recognizes the brooch she wears as the one his stepmother wore when she and his father disappeared.

     Bestselling and Award-winning authors bring you ten western romance novellas featuring alpha-cowboys from the past. This boxed set will take you back in time when men were rugged and handsome and the women who loved them courageous and daring. The Greatest Gift: A Montana Cowboy Christmas by Kathleen Ball. Amazon Bestselling and Award- Wining Author. Looking for the man who ran out on her, Ginger finds a cowboy worthy of love but he doesn't want or need love. Stone Mountain Christmas by Caroline Clemmons, Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning Author. Can Celia restore the town's Christmas spirit? "A beautifully written story about love and hope and all the emotions Christmas brings out in people." Karren Lucas Catherine’s Cowboy by Cait Braxton, Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning Author. During a supernatural dust storm, Fate steps in when rugged army tracker Elam helps Catherine deliver her child. Angel and the Texan from County Cork by Carra Copelin. Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning Author. Does Angel trust marriage to the man she suspects of killing her husband or the stranger who promises to pay off her debt and set her free if she decides their marriage of convenience won’t work? The Drifter’s Proposal by Kristin Holt, Amazon Bestselling Author. The baker's man is home for Christmas... "Compelling. Heartwarming. Tender." ~Diane Darcy, USA Today Bestselling Author The Perfect Gift by Lyn Horner, Award-winning author. Friendship has blossomed into young love, but it seems destined to die on the vine...until an unexpected Christmas gift promises happiness. Marshal Mistletoe by Susan Horsnell. She married the wrong man. Will fate intervene? Christmas Redemption by Paty Jager, Amazon Bestselling and Award-Winning Author. Can two battered hearts find solace or will the past continue to haunt their lives? "A story of forgiveness that has a wonderful hero who has worked hard to redeem himself." A Hard Candy Christmas by Hebby Roman, Amazon Bestselling Author. Two damaged souls. Can their budding love and the healing power of Christmas bring them together? Christmas Cowboy by Margaret Tanner. Will a miracle Christmas baby unite two tortured souls, or will it forever keep them apart?

    Easier said than done, and the sparks fly higher than a Fourth of July fireworks show as these three couples butt heads with their pasts and rub elbows (and a little more) with their futures. Crashing the Congressman's Wedding: Alice Cramer must keep her head down if she wants her local congressman's help securing a federal grant to open an historic theatre. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean standing up in church to say "he doesn't" at Justin Mitchell's wedding. You don't want to miss a minute of Alice and Justin's mismatched, headstrong, passionate, perfect relationship. Battling the Best Man: Now a Chicago resident, Dr. Kory Flemming can't say no to her best friend's wedding. Trouble is, Will Mitchell, the only man smart enough to keep pace with Kory in high school, turns out to be a sexy, accomplished adult up to his flirtatious tricks. There is no prescription for the pain when a wedding hookup threatens to derail both their careers . . . unless they set aside their rocky past. Marrying the Wrong Man: Morgan Parrish's dad planned her marriage to a man destined to be president of the United States, but she fell in love with the town drunk's son and fled pregnant. Now she's back and waitressing at the bistro Charlie Cramer manages. If they give in to the attraction and screw things up again, their daughter will deal with the fallout. On the other hand, they could be a family living the American dream. Sensuality Level: Sensual

    So why does one woman occupy his mind night and day? He is being trusted to deliver a group of mail-order brides from Massachusetts all the way to the Washington Territory. Karen is one of them. She's beautiful, smart and has two young children that should scare Adam off faster than an angry rattlesnake. He was burned at the alter, left standing with his heart broken and the whole world laughing when his fiancee eloped with his best friend. A woman is more trouble than he needs. But he's the moth and she's the flame. He knows he's going to get burned. But allowing her to marry another is out of the question. And when a deranged woman from Karen's past threatens the soft-hearted woman he can't help but fall in love with--and her two precious little ones--Adam discovers that walking through fire doesn't burn anymore, not if it gets him what he really needs...his own family.

    After losing her adoptive parents as a teenager, she found solace in a relative’s home. Her aunt helped shape her formative years and inspired her to reach for her dreams, no matter how unimaginable they may seem. Now, Remi is young woman trying to make a name for herself in the fashion industry, but finds herself distracted by one her aunt’s many suitors. Soon a torrid love affair with him begins to chip away at the wall that separates her love and devotion for the woman who raised her and the man she can’t help but fall in love with. Kaiden has never had to worry that he’d spend a night alone. Independently wealthy and dangerously handsome, his mere presence makes women for miles around swoon, but when he meets his girlfriend’s niece, he finds himself caught up in trouble. Love, lies, and scandal! Find out what happens in part one of What She Don’t Know!

    It was fought at a place thousands of miles from land, by hundreds of planes over distances of hundreds of miles. It saw four massive Japanese aircraft carriers pitted against three similarly huge American carriers in a battle for domination of the Pacific. The battle is the story of the young Japanese empire seeking to challenge the established industrial power of America. Japan had smashed America at Pearl Harbour, shaken her at Coral Sea. Now she was ready to risk all in one mighty attempt to drive the United States Navy from the Pacific Ocean. Japan’s admirals put to sea confident that they could take the Americans by surprise, take the Midway atoll and destroy the American carriers. American espionage ensured that Admiral Nimitz had full knowledge of the planned attack, so turning a Japanese trap into an American ambush. The battle that followed raged over three days, full of set backs and disaster for each side. But Admirals Yamamoto and Nagumo had over-reached themselves and suffered the greatest naval defeat in history. America entered Midway on the defensive, still a hesitant participant in the war. She left the battle as the world’s first super power. Richard Freeman graduated in mathematics before following a career in distance education. He now writes on naval history. His other books include 'The Great Edwardian Naval Feud'. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading publisher of digital books.

    Then the economy collapses, and it’s hard to surmount the reality ahead: they are about to sink their entire savings into rebuilding a new house they can’t afford while trying unsuccessfully to sell the one they already own. Will Janie back herself so far into a corner that she’ll find herself homeless before she finds herself a home?From crushes on contractors to frenzied shopping expeditions to the erection of a cupola that looks a little too phallic for her upscale new neighborhood―or really any neighborhood!―Janie navigates the pitfalls of building. Along the way, she deals with a con artist kitchen designer, a construction worker and architect who fight like schoolgirls, and a tile guy who turns her shower into a pornographic work of art, all while struggling to stay out of debt and keep her marriage going. In the end, she comes face to face with her flaws and learns that dreams can be achieved―but the only way to authentic happiness is through truth and acceptance.

    These passionate tales feature young women who learn that there’s nothing textbook about love…NEVER SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL The ballrooms of Mayfair have become much more appealing to Lady Amelia Plume since the arrival of Major Lucas Winter, an American with a dark past and a dangerous air. Lucas is brash, arrogant--and scandalously tempting. Yet Amelia suspects that Lucas has a hidden motive in wooing her. And she intends to discover it, by any means necessary. ONLY A DUKE WILL DO Louisa North likes her independence very much. So when Simon Tremaine, the dashing Duke of Foxwood, whom she once loved, returns bent on marrying her, she's skeptical. The fire between them burns as hot as ever, but when Simon's ulterior motive for marriage is exposed, along with the deeply buried secrets of her past, Louisa vows to make him pay...and the price will be his heart. BEWARE A SCOT'S REVENGE When Lady Venetia Campbell is kidnapped at pistol point by her father's sworn enemy, Sir Lachlan Ross, she discovers the wickedly sexy Scot is even more intoxicating than she remembers...and much more dangerous. Lachlan plans to use her as a weapon against her father, but Venetia is determined that his lust for revenge will be trumped by an even more powerful desire.

    Each chooses to travel a different path; one that leads them toward an unexpected destiny and a lover who can match their strengths with his passion. Four Regency gentlemen of varying reputations; unattached and uninterested in meeting women who will turn their worlds upside down. Or so they believed. None realize that Fate has a surprise in store for each of them… And oh my goodness!!! The resulting collisions are funny, joyful and explosively sensual…shaking up the Regency in the most delightful of ways.

    

    12 full-length novels by 9 best-selling authors. The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne and Secrets of a Viscount are available exclusively in this bundle to KU readers. TEMPTING HIS MISTRESS Samantha Holt What could possibly induce at woman to follow in the footsteps of her mother and further sully her reputation by becoming a mistress? ALEXANDRA Lauren Royal and Devon Royal Alexandra Chase likes being the perfect daughter, thank you very much. Why bother chafing against society's restrictions when she could be basking in the warm glow of its approval? But when her brother's best friend—and secret obsession—returns from a long spell abroad, she loses interest in the suitable young lord she's expected to marry. Suddenly, family duty and a flawless reputation seem less important than the chance, however slight, that her girlhood crush might notice her now that she's all grown up... TO TAME A HIGHLAND EARL Tarah Scott Miss Eve Crenshaw wishes to marry for love. When London's most notorious rakehell breaks into her bedchamber in the dead of night and ruins her, she plans a daring elopement that shocks even the earl. LADY STAR Claudy Conn Never, in all her twenty years of life, had Star Berkley seen the likes of Sir Edward. He was so damned arrogant, so damned fashionable, and so damned insolent—and he was the most handsome man she had ever come across! THE UNWANTED HEIRESS Amy Corwin An American heiress nobody wants; a duke every woman desires; and a murder no one expects. Some nights just don't go as planned. THE KISS OF A VISCOUNT Linda Rae Sande A kiss is just a kiss ... or is it? George-Bennett Jones finds himself in love with Lady Elizabeth. His competition for her hand is the blond, blue-eyed Gabriel Wellingham. George has been tutored by his mistress, though, and employs the rules he has learned in an attempt to gain the upper hand in his quest for Elizabeth's hand. THE GRACE OF THE DUKE Linda Rae Sande They say time heals all wounds, but what of those left by love? Lady Charlotte takes matters into her own hands when she travels to Wisborough Oaks to marry Joshua Wainwright. The Duke of Chichester is recovering from burns and has no intention of subjecting a woman to what the ton refer to as "His Grace with half a face." When it appears someone is trying to kill him, Joshua sends his estate manager to London to find out who would benefit from his death. THE SEDUCTION OF AN EARL Linda Rae Sande You can't teach an old dog new tricks... but what about his mistress? It will take the antics and devotion of man's best friend to teach Henry and Hannah that sometimes love is right in front of your nose. TEMPTING MISS ALLENDER Wendy Vella Seven years after her disastrous debut, Miss Patience Allender has reluctantly returned to society. No longer the meek, mild Miss, she will never again allow a man to humiliate her.