A hardworking contractor, his needs are fairly simple and when his grandmother’s house comes up for sale, everything seems to fall into place. Until his offer on the place goes up in flames when some out-of-towner drops a number he can’t even fathom, let alone match.Julia Hawkins is your average socially-inept, tech wizard on the verge of selling her multi-billion dollar website. Tired of the city grind and unable to handle the intricacies of being in the public eye, Julia retreats to a place no one will think to look for her: The Suburbs. But the place she's chosen as her own isn't quite up to par and she wants to make some changes. Big changes. If only she could get the local construction company to return her phone calls.What follows isn’t enemies to lovers. It isn’t insta-love. It’s two complicated people, with complicated problems, finding their forever in the most unlikely place. Right at home.***This series is a spin-off from The Freehope Series. We initially met The Williams Brothers in Book 3 of the Freehope Series, Confessing History. As Logan's cousins, they'll be attending Beth and Logan's beach wedding, and if you read this book, you will too!***

    The grandson’s name is Chance Sterling and not only is he as gorgeous as the day is long, but he's probably the coldest and most unavailable man she’s ever met. The first time Chance Sterling laid eyes on Rosalie Stetson was at his cousin Peter’s wedding. She was the bride. She doesn’t remember him, but she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Now he's forced to trust Rosalie with his family fortune. The only problem is Chance trusts no one, especially the ex-wife of the most spoiled Sterling in the clan. No matter what Rosalie and Chance think of each other, they’re in it together. But do they have what it takes to survive this dangerous game of “Winner takes all?” Passion ignites, and mystery abounds as this pulse-pounding tale of whodunit keeps you guessing until the very end. ***** Note: This title "Secrets & Lies" was previously "Secrets & Chance." The title has been changed to more accurately reflect the content. ***** “Secrets and Lies is a magnetic story that really pulled me in. Z.L. Arkadie has a knack for creating complex characters that grab hold of the reader and take them along for the ride. The author does a great job of presenting an intelligent romance along with an intricately weaved mystery. I am very excited for the next book in this series!” -- Neila F., Editor, Red Adept Editing ***** The Sterlings Series: Secrets And Lies (Book 1) Secrets That Hide (Book 2) Secrets That See The Light (Book 3) The Secret Keeper (Book 4)

    Alysia of Athens, pampered daughter of a wealthy physician, is taken from her home and sold into slavery when her father is accused of treason during the turbulent reign of Tiberius Caesar. She is purchased by Paulus Maximus, a powerful Roman legate who pierces through her determination to hate her captors. When trouble caused by his jealous stepbrother forces her to run away, she finds herself in the battle-torn land of Palestine, where she meets a man named Jesus who will change her life forever. But in her flight from the intrigues of Rome to the palaces of Jerusalem, Alysia finds she cannot escape her enemies, neither the one who stole her heart, nor the one who wants to destroy her.

    Stubborn.Mace Nichols is an ‘I’ll die with my boots on’ cowboy. Old-school. Tough, silent and honorable. Which is why he’s leaving his wife, Jenny. She has helped him build his dream—the Montana ranch they loved. Now he can’t give her the family she’s always dreamed of, so he has no choice: he needs to set her free. It makes perfect sense to him.It doesn’t make a bit of sense to Jenny! She loves her stubborn, bull-headed husband. She admires his courage, his tenacity and his determination to always Do The Right Thing—even if, in this case, it is the stupidest thing he’s ever done.Mace is right—Jenny has always wanted a family. But she wants a family with Mace! How can she convince the most honorable, stubborn man in the world what really matters in life? First published as A Cowboy’s Tears

    Secretly...of course. Devin Andrews loves his job at Fierce-The Brewery and working for his cousin Mason. What he doesn’t love is that his Aunt Jolene has set her sights on making him the next target of her matchmaking scheme. But he’s onto her and has no plans on falling prey like her unsuspecting children did. Besides, he’s not sure he has what it takes to fall in love since he never has before, even being the oldest of the family. Hope Hall picked up her life and moved to Charlotte for a man. She should have listened to her family when they cautioned her against it, reminding her that she was too spontaneous with everything in life...even men. After being blind, stupid, and naive once again, she doesn’t want to go home and listen to them say they were right. Instead she is trying to make a life for herself—one without a man in it—and prove she can do it on her own.

    And now she’s returning after ten years of being gone, with a PhD and plans to use her new position to transform their struggling high school into a center for educational excellence.She soon realizes that her biggest challenge isn’t going to be the rival gangs embedded in the student body, although they’re a close second on the list. It’s Josh Hawling, who has somehow convinced their aging superintendent that he and his security firm partner can coach their backwoods collection of farm boys into a football team that’ll make the playoffs.How is a woman of her refined background and education supposed to improve test scores and graduation rates when her students’ biggest idol is a man who spent more time in the principal’s office than in the classroom? Even though she feels safer having him on their crime-ridden campus, she’s so not looking forward to her daily encounters with his cocky self. Or being socked in the heart all over again by his devastating smile. Or having to finally face her unwanted attraction that might have kindled into a lot more if she’d never left Texas in the first place.Welcome to Heart Lake! A small town teaming with old family rivalries, the rumble of horses’ hooves, and folks on both sides of the law and everywhere in between — faith-filled romance that you’ll never forget.

    He has plans to establish his own ranch, but instead he finds work with Frank Chastain, owner of a vast amount of land.Chance doesn't want to work for anyone, but Frank's beautiful daughter gives him reason to delay buying his own holdings. With winter coming, no home in which to live, and Veronica's offer to care for young Cole while Chance learns the ways of successful ranching in the desert, Chance has little choice but to accept the Chastains' offer to stay on.When Frank is attacked, his dying wish is that Chance marry his daughter, but after dealing with his in-laws, Chance isn't going to let anyone come between him and his son. Then Frank's precarious hold on the land he received as part of an old Spanish Land Grant forces Frank to make a desperate choice to save Veronica's inheritance--and also gives the men who attacked Frank reason to come after him.

    Now the old man is dead and Trev returns to Stone Creek for one reason and one reason only--to sell the Rocking C Ranch. Maybe then he can put his past behind him and move on.Beth Evans once confused lust for love and vows never to let it happen again. The bookmobile driver is trying to raise funds to build a new library. The late Hank Callahan bequeathed a million dollars for the project, but he attached one stipulation: Do not let his grandson sell the ranch.EXCERPT:He leaned across the desk. "You know, we haven't discussed the kiss the other night."She scooted the chair back. "There's nothing to discuss." He stood and slowly came around the desk, reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. "I want to kiss you again.""That's probably not a good idea." Oh, lord. She was playing with fire and if she wasn't careful, she was going to get burned. Bad."Probably not. I know you said we'd never kiss again. But don't you want to kiss me? Can't you feel the pull between us?""Yes . . . No!" She jerked her hand free and started backing away.He followed, closing in on her until she bumped against the library table. "Just one kiss, Beth. One kiss can't hurt."Before she could react, before she could reply, Trevor wrapped his arms around her, covered her mouth with his and God help her, she was a goner.

    It’s the kind of grind that takes a toll on a man and reveals who he is, deep down. What kind of man is Chet? He may just be the last real cowboy. He carries himself with a quiet dignity that commands respect from everyone he meets. Lately though, Chet’s started wondering if there’s more to life than work. Christy Harris hoped moving halfway across the country would help her escape the problems in her life. Namely, her abusive boyfriend, Mark. Not willing to let go that easy, Mark follows her west, determined to maintain control over every aspect of her life. Christy’s at her wits end, and is losing hope of ever being happy. After a chance encounter brings them together, the chemistry between Chet and Christy is undeniable. When Chet witnesses Mark’s abusive nature, he’s not the kind of man to sit idly by. Is Christy ready to recognize the difference between control and protection? Will Chet’s feelings for her be too much? Or, will she accept the same truth he already has? They’re meant to be together.

    Now she lives alone, works alone, survives alone. When a covert mission goes horribly wrong, suddenly she can trust no one. Not her boss, not her agency, not even herself. Lucas Goodman, former FBI agent turned PI, is on the trail of a missing teenager when his investigation leads him to Jamie. Despite her attempts to ditch him, Lucas tenaciously continues to shadow Jamie, realizing he doesn’t just want information...he wants her. When their investigations collide and her sister is in danger, Jamie is forced to team up with Lucas. Together they must expose the connection between agents’ murders, a missing teenager, and a sixty-year-old government conspiracy. But can she open her heart to find the truth within the lies? been odd man out in his family. Not the oldest, not the most charming, he'd had a lock on the youngest until another half-sibling came to live with them, so he raised hell in his youth. Con knows now the only way to redeem himself is with deeds, not words and sets out to prove once and for all he is worthy of the Stone family. When his older brother asks him to take care of business, Con finally will have redemption he craves. Except when Ava Sanchez, his brother's assistant, is threatened, he must choose between saving the girl and protecting his family. Will his choice bring him love or break his heart?

    No one knows I was a cop, let alone a mother. They see me as someone who laughs, loves, works hard, and surrounds herself with an odd collection of friends. They see me as normal.Which is exactly what I need my enemies to believe. That I’ve moved on. That I somehow forgot what they did to me.While deceiving those around me, I train, build new contacts, and hunt those responsible. And when I find them—and I will find them—they will regret the day they messed with my family.Because there's only one thing more dangerous than a pissed-off ex-cop… A pissed-off mother.Ex-cop Kelsey Harrison is Living a Life of Lies—While Hunting Her EnemiesBOOK ONE OF THE KELSEY'S BURDEN SERIES: LAYERED LIES

    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

    He was taking the farm. Wasn't it enough she'd been widowed 2 years ago. Worse, good meaning townspeople wanted her to disperse her ten children to families who needed them. She had to keep her family together. The letter from the judge in Montana. Her only hope of keeping her family together was to go west to Montana as a mail order bride. Judge Solomon Taggart groaned at having to referee a dispute between the two feuding families. That even their children were at each other made him doubt the wisdom of sending that letter to the widow in Minnesota. She had children. She didn't say how many, and he hadn't asked. He grabbed his rifle and swung up in the saddle, praying there'd be no bloodshed. And then he prayed he'd been wise to send that letter.

    Where the rich watch each other grow richer, and the whispers of scandal are as relentless as the rhythm of the sea. Here three beautiful, lonely women--Julia, Diana, and Casey--struggle to find love--or save it. Each is driven by her own fears, desires, dearest dreams and a haunting hope of a life of love.

    And they all know the sexy, rascally rancher is not the marrying kind. So how is it that our town's most notorious bachelor has wound up engaged on a Western reality TV show?We here at the Gazette are pleased The Great Roundup has chosen our hometown heartbreaker as a contestant. And we are definitely rooting for Travis's unexpected union with childhood friend Brenna O'Reilly, the one girl we believe can keep this cowboy on his toes. But is it true this betrothal is strictly a fabrication for the cameras? Pass the popcorn, dear readers. We suspect this made-for-TV romance could be headed straight for a Hollywood happy ending!