He infiltrates the most hostile countries in the world, defeats our enemies' advanced security measures, and eliminates threats before they ever reach our shores. But now, his skills have left him. Sent overseas on a critical assignment, he fails, unable to pull the trigger. Absent his talents, Robie is a man without a mission, and without a purpose.To recover what he has lost, Robie must confront what he has tried to forget for over twenty years: his own past.THE GUILTYWill Robie escaped his small Gulf Coast hometown of Cantrell, Mississippi after high school, severing all personal ties, and never looked back. Not once. Not until the unimaginable occurs. His father, Dan Robie, has been arrested and charged with murder.Father and son haven't spoken or seen each other since the day Robie left town. In that time, Dan Robie-a local attorney and pillar of the community-has been elected town judge. Despite this, most of Cantrell is aligned against Dan. His guilt is assumed.To make matters worse, Dan has refused to do anything to defend himself. When Robie tries to help, his father responds only with anger and defiance. Could Dan really be guilty? With the equally formidable Jessica Reel at his side, Robie ignores his father's wishes and begins his own desperate investigation into the case. But Robie is now a stranger to his hometown, an outsider, a man who has forsaken his past and his family. His attempts to save his father are met with distrust and skepticism . . . and violence.Unlike the missions Robie undertook in the service of his country, where his target was clearly defined, digging into his father's case only reveals more questions. Robie is drawn into the hidden underside of Cantrell, where he must face the unexpected and possibly deadly consequences of the long-ago choices made by father and son. And this time, there may be no escape for either of them.

     BREAKING AWAY Phillip and Reese are happy in their single lives. It’s simple. They do what they want, who they want, and how they want, but from the moment they meet, the attraction is undeniable. Soon, they are more than willing to spend just one night tangled in the sheets. But, one night turns into two, and two turns into three, until they find themselves in a repeated dance of “One Last Time” that has the potential to be something more… if only Reese and Claire allow it. Can Phillip find a way to thaw the hearts of both the women in his life, or will he be forever trying to break them away from their pasts? TANGLED IN THE LACES Karson King is on the fast track to the NHL. Lacey Martin is coming back from a hard fight against cancer and is terrified of him but the attraction is too much to ignore. Soon their love is so intense, neither of them see the rest of their lives without the other. LACES AND LACE Nine years later, and neither has been able to succeed in moving on from what was, what could have been, and who each of their hearts still beats for. When a chance encounter during a fateful night has their paths crossing again, will the tether still attaching their souls allow them to face the past, present, and a possible future? Can two people with fate on their side find a way back to each other? Overcome all the obstacles in their way to finally live life together to the fullest? Or will they let those around them and the circumstances they face, along with questions and doubt, ruin a second chance at the life they both deserve?  WANTING TO FORGET Jordie Thomas is looking for something to take his mind off of the woman he let go— or rather, pushed away— and the terrifying prospect of what will happen if his broken leg doesn’t heal. He’s ready to get back to his family and fellow teammates on the Nashville Assassins and get back onto the ice. However, with his injured leg in the way and his mind clouded by a certain woman, he needs a break to clear his head and his heart. With New Orleans in his sights, can this player find a way to get back to the crazy and reckless life he used to live? OVERTIME In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.

    After all, what’s more relaxing, and more romantic, than a midnight stroll through Paris? Or the way the moon reflects off the ocean? And if your mesmerizing, sexy date happens to be ready to nibble your neck, who would want to say no?Vacations are a perfect time to indulge, so why not spend a little quality time with these immortal hunks in three luscious tales of hot getaways. Treat yourself to a little bit of summer moonlight with these tales brought to you by Michele Hauf, Kendra Leigh Castle and Lisa Childs.

    Now get all three books for one low price: I Love This Bar, Hell, Yeah, and My Give a Damn's Busted. About the Books in this Contemporary Romance Bundle 1. I Love This Bar Serving two counties, the Honky Tonk is the gathering place for every hothead, thirsty rancher, and lusty lady looking for a good time. Owner Daisy O'Dell vows she'll run the place until they drag her cold dead body through the swinging doors. That is, until Jarod McElroy walks in, looking for a cold drink and a moment's peace from his ornery Uncle Emmitt. The minute Jarod sees Daisy, he knows he's met not only his own match, but Uncle Emmitt's as well. Now, if only he can convince her to come out from behind that bar and come on home with him... 2. Hell, Yeah When Cathy O'Dell buys the Honky Tonk, the nights of cowboys and country tunes come together to create the home she's always wanted. Then in walks a ruggedly handsome oil man who tempts her to trade in the happiness she's found at the Honky Tonk for a life on the road. Travis Henry has found his best friend and so much more in Cathy. When his job is done in Texas, how is he ever going to hit the road without her? 3. My Give a Damn's Busted Hank Wells thinks he can dig up dirt on the new owner of the Honky Tonk for his employer, but he's got no idea what kind of trouble he's courting. Larissa Morley isn't going down without a fight. If this dime store cowboy thinks he's going to get the best of her—or her Honky Tonk—then he's got another thing coming. As secrets emerge, and passion vies with ulterior motives, it's winner takes all at the Honky Tonk...

    Finally together in one set—the Beautiful Bastard’s friends’ own unforgettable love stories. The perfect gift for any romance fan—three different men, from both sides of the Atlantic.BEAUTIFUL STRANGER: All of New York City knows Max Stella loves women. Despite pulling in plenty of lovers with his Wall Street bad boy charm, it’s not until finance whiz Sara Dillon—and the wild photos she lets him take of her—that the ex-pat Brit really thinks of keeping any of them around. Hooking up in places where anybody could catch them, the only thing scarier for Sara than getting caught in public is having Max get too close in private.BEAUTIFUL PLAYER: Lectured by her brother for neglecting her social life in favor of grad school, bookish Hanna Bergstrom challenges her brother’s best friend, unapologetic playboy Will Sumner, to turn her into a sultry siren. It’s not long before the innocently seductive pupil is teaching the venture capitalist a thing or two he can’t forget. Now that Hanna’s discovered the power of her own sex appeal, it’s up to Will to prove he’s the only man she’ll ever need.BEAUTIFUL SECRET: Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, urban planner Niall Stella is hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows the bright new engineer at his London firm, outgoing California-girl Ruby Miller, is a breath of fresh air. Once Ruby makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie on a business trip to New York, there’s no turning back. But it’s easy for lovers to play pretend when they’re thousands of miles from home…

     You have the right to remain sexy. Anything you say can and will be used to get you in my bed. You have the right to use my body to give yourself a delirious, life-changing orgasm. Livia Ward wants a baby before she’s thirty. And she wants it the old-fashioned way—by having as much sex as it takes with a man she’s hand-picked to make up the second part of the equation. What she doesn’t want is a boyfriend. Officer Chase Kelly is exactly the kind of cocky jerk this librarian has sworn off, but he is undeniably hot. And he’s better in bed than Livia ever expected her baby daddy to be. It’s trouble from the start, but her deadline is rapidly approaching. Both of them think they can give each other what they want--a few nights of fun for Officer Kelly, a no-strings baby for Livia--but this hot cop is about to learn that sex, babies, and love don’t always play by the rules. You know me. Come on, you know you do. Maybe you pretend you don’t. Maybe you clear your browser history religiously. Maybe you pretend to be aghast whenever someone even mentions the word porn in your presence. But the truth is that you do know me. Everybody knows Logan O’Toole, world famous porn star. Except then Devi Dare pops into my world, and pretty soon I’m doing things that aren’t like me—like texting her with flirty banter and creating an entire web porn series just so I can get to star in her bed. Again. And again. With Devi, my entire universe shifts, and the more time I spend with her, the more I realize that Logan O’Toole isn’t the guy I thought he was. So maybe I'm not the guy you thought I was either. *Includes Logan O’Toole’s Tools of the Trade as a bonus.

    But it's hate at first sight for Jane and Cal Langdon, and neither is too happy at the prospect of sharing a villa with one another for a week, not even in the beautiful and picturesque Marches countryside. But when Holly and Mark's wedding plans hit a major snag that only Jane and Cal can repair, the two find themselves having to put aside their mutual dislike for one another in order to get their best friends on the road to wedded bliss €”and end up on a road themselves ... one neither of them ever expected. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched: Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings, not necessarily her own as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiance's chateau in the south of France. But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man, €”whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept €”announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.

    The first three books in New York Times bestseller Jill Shalvis's award-winning series are guaranteed to make you laugh and fall in love. In SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, Maddie's whole life needs a makeover. She's lost her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision), so what better time to leave LA for Lucky Harbor - the little place she used to call home. Renovating the ramshackle inn left by her mother is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Facing a tall, dark hottie contractor, and a past she needs to overcome, will Maddie learn that there's no place like home?In THE SWEETEST THING, Tara has a million reasons not to return to Lucky Harbor. But anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. So joining her sisters getting their newly renovated inn up and running is the perfect chance to get her life back on track. But with a sexy, green-eyed sailor on the scene, and her ex appearing out of the blue, three is most definitely a crowd. Can she face up to her past, and find her heart's desire?In HEAD OVER HEELS, Chloe likes living on the edge. A quiet life running the family inn just isn't for her. But it's not long before her misbehaviour draws the attention of the rugged, sexy sheriff - who'd love to tame her wild ways. Suddenly she can't put a foot wrong without him hot on her heels. And for the first time, she actually wants to get caught. Will Chloe's colourful past and rebellious ways stop her from find finding love in Lucky Harbor? Return to this heartwarming little town in the other exclusive Lucky Harbor collections. And don't miss Jill's Cedar Ridge books - the gorgeous series set in the Colorado mountains, that we promise will capture your heart.

    The works in the series are suitable for ages eight and up. The books are simple, retellings of the great literary classics which remain faithful to the original text.

    But instead of using magic to transport himself to his new lands, Minalan decides to leave cross-country, in a wagon with his father. Down the Bontal River, Min and his dad make a stop at Robinwing, get snowed in at Barrowbell, and enjoy a few days as guests of Baron Astyral. Along the way Minalan comes to terms with many things in his life, and with his father's advice and some introspection he prepares for the great challenge ahead in distant Vanador. No one knows what the future holds, but as the stakes for Callidore grow higher, and weigh more heavily on Minalan's shoulders, it might be possible for Min to find inspiration on the Road to Vanador!

    She's a princess from a wealthy family. Binge what readers are calling the “realest romance” out there. Get the complete Bad Idea Series plus an exclusive novella, After Party!For Bad Idea: Repeat after me: stay away from the girl. The beautiful girl. The f**king ray of sunshine in the middle of your delivery route. Layla Barros is everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I’ll never have.She’s an innocent young student. I’m a convicted felon. She’s rich girl from a nice family. I’ve got nothing but a broken home.But if I’m an addict, she’s my drug. I can’t stay away, even though I know I’ll ruin her in the end. She might be the girl of my dreams, but I was always a bad idea.For Lost Ones:Six months ago, I gave my heart to a girl. Beautiful, kind, and sexy as sin, she’s the only person who saw past my record or the color of my skin. Who really saw me for me. She loved me enough to let me go, let me leave this city to find my own path. But without her, I drift, lost without direction. Without me, she spirals, desperate for connection. I gave my heart to a girl, and she gave hers to me. But love shouldn’t hurt this much.For True North:They said I was a bad idea. Poor. Violent. Criminal. They said I’d amount to nothing, and I believed them too. Until I met her. Layla Barros saved me from my worst, but to do that, she lost the best herself. Now it’s my turn to bring her back to life. If only I can figure out how to do it.I’ll do anything to protect the chance we finally have. I’ll follow her to the other side of the world: Brazil. Cuba. You name it.But how can I be her true north when I’m still finding my direction too?Because sometimes your worst demons are those closest to you. And sometimes getting rid of them isn’t a choice at all. Now includes the exclusive novella After Party only seen once in a limited-run anthology!

    Defying the odds against him, he’s pulled himself up by his own boot straps bringing his older sister, Ryland, along for the ride. The definition of started from the bottom Darian was determined to change the status quo within his family dynamic but he was quickly learning that his dream made it hard to connect with genuine people. Kori Childs is a surgical nurse and despite giving so much to others it’s a feeling that hasn’t been reciprocated much in her life. Suffering a bad break up has Kori skeptical of dating and focusing solely on smashing her goals one by one. After an untimely encounter with Darian Thomas he’s everything she vowed to stay away from but finds herself still intrigued by the essence of him. She tries her best to ignore him but when Darian wants something he’ll stop at nothing to get it - including Kori. With mo’ money comes mo’ problems and finding a solid woman to stand by Darian’s side is one of them. From the beginning he saw something special in Kori but she’s not interested in anything his lifestyle has to offer. Even still she cant deny his charm and finds herself questioning if Darian is different or is his love out my league?

    You’ll want to read them over and over again, share with your friends, and bookmark every page.We hope you enjoy these excerpts and come back for the rest of the story! Here’s just a touch of: Sweet Thing by Renée CarlinoRush Too Far by Abbi GlinesUgly Love by Colleen HooverBeautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuireCollide by Gail McHughUnteachable by Leah RaederDesert Heat by Elizabeth ReyesWorking It by Kendall RyanFive Ways to Fall by K.A. TuckerJane’s Melody by Ryan Winfield Find out more about your favorite authors at Facebook.com/AtriaIndieAuthorsTwitter.com/AtriaBooksAtriaIndieAuthors.com

     Paws, Claws & Aww's is a collection of steamy paranormal romance stories hot enough to melt your digital reader. Powerful, sexy, protective and romantic - this collection of stand-alones and series starters is full of sexy, paranormal, Alpha male shifters, witches and mage's to scratch your itch and make you howl! Featuring: Alana Hart - Saving Her Bear (The Bears of Blackrock #1) Never go home again! That's what Mom said - and stay away from that Fenn boy! How could Catherine Calhoun listen when that 'Fenn boy' has haunted her mind - and heart - for ten years? When Catherine finds herself in trouble, it's not the town of Blackrock or the family she left behind so long ago that calls her back. It's him. It's that Fenn boy. The boy whose kisses are her happiest memory. Yet, John Fenn has secrets - the kind that come with sharp claws and teeth. Even a bit of fur couldn't lessen the magic of his kisses, but there is darkness in Blackrock - the very thing that once tore her away from her true love. Will her return be enough to save John from becoming that darkness' next victim? Julia Leijon - Grizzly Guardian Still reeling from her sister's murder, Merryl retreats to Oregon with her nephew Sam. Building a new life for the pair of them is almost enough to distract her from her grief, especially when she faces the problem of how to help Sam learn what it is to be a bear shifter. With nowhere else to turn and no idea what to do, Merryl turns to her impossibly sexy and unattainable crush, Daniel. Daniel just wants to enjoy small town life after a violent past, but if anyone can see through his gruff facade and battle scars, it's Merryl. Helping Sam discover the cub side of his nature helps Daniel rediscover what it means to connect with those around him. For the sake of Merryl and Sam, Daniel will even return to his harrowing FBI work to help solve the murder and find them some peace. Despite a strong mutual attraction between them, a major obstacle blocks their way, and it's one that Daniel can never let Merryl know about: while his human side wants to support her as a friend while she puts her life back together, the bear in him knows with absolute certainty that he has found his fated mate. Knowing how many emotional burdens Merryl is already coping with, Daniel carries this heavy secret alone. But can Merryl convince him that she's tougher than he thinks, and can make her own choices? After each enduring so much cruelty and hardship at the hands of an unkind world, are the two of them still capable of love and trust? Liv Brywood - Midwinter Night's Alpha (Sexy BBW Pagan Holidays #6) His wickedly sexy tongue explored every inch of her trembling lips. Katelyn knows that returning to West Yellowstone for this year's centennial Yule celebration is probably a huge mistake. But after being gone for five years, she misses her old coven. It should be easy enough to avoid her ex-boyfriend, Devin. After all, werewolves usually hibernate during the winter. So when the BBW witch runs into him not five minutes after getting into town, she's convinced she's cursed. She knows better than to trust his rugged good looks and washboard abs. His silver-tipped tongue has ruined her life once before, and she refuses to make the same mistake twice... even if he does look hotter than a gushing geyser. Emma Alisyn - Alphonso's Baby (Clan Conroy Brides #2) Bear shifter Alphonso shunned his mate to protect her from his dark past... but when he discovers her six month old baby is his, will he take the risk in order to raise their child? Always looking over his shoulder for enemies, Alphonso pushed curvy Tamar away after their one, blazing hot night together. "I'm not relationship material, Tam. Don't get stars in your eyes." Only that one night resulted in a secret child, a beautiful baby girl Tamar has been hiding in plain sight for six months. Waiting patiently for him to see the goshdarnit light already. When he discovers her deception, Alphonso knows he has a choice to make. Continue to allow his past to dictate his future, or take a chance on true love and family? Tamar isn't certain her childhood love Al will ever see reason- she knows he did some bad stuff. Especially when that bad stuff shows up in the form of a curvy, exotic ex-girlfriend looking for protection. Tamar isn't going to roll over and play dead, though. She's Head Sow in these parts and no one - not the mysterious beauty, not her father's disapproval, and certainly not the enemies waiting in the shadows to strike - are going to claim what belongs to her without a bloody fight. Terra Wolf - Leaping Through Time (Soul Mate Bureau #2) William has the money to find his mate, but does he have the time... The crazy, old witch says she can send the wealthy, leopard shifter back in time to meet his mate, for a hefty fee. He'll have one week to find her or lose her forever. In a foreign land and a foreign place where his money is useless, he'll need his own wits and animal instincts to find the woman of his dreams. Constance is a woman in a man's world... She makes armour for the gladiators in a world where the men are men and the women are their objects. Constance has long since given up on love when just getting through a gruelling day is challenging enough. When the gorgeous, but wild eyed and crazy, fool in the silly clothes tells her stories of whisking her away to a future of leisure and money, all in exchange for one night of mating, she can't help but want him to not be lying. Another suitor pursues William and isn't willing to share... The beautiful and wealthy Fiona tries to distract William off the trail of his fated mate with her womanly ways and won't take no for an answer. When William is forced to unleash his leopard to try survive, Constance realises that she's unknowingly craved a man like him all along. Will the two of them have enough to survive the past, escape to William's present, and show Constance a future she never thought possible? Tina Talon - Bad Boy Wolf Joshua is a love 'em and leave 'em type of fellow. That is until he bumps into Meagan and everything changes. Meagan isn't used to shifter men and their lustful appetites and stormy tempers, but falls for Joshua anyhow. Can the two of them make a go of it, despite everything that could keep them apart? Christy Rivers - Real Men Are Bears After catching her boyfriend with another woman in their bed, Jess Perkins is blind with rage. The only thing she can think of doing is to take a long drive through the Washington wilderness. Eventually, she finds herself in the small town of Douglas, where the only place that's open is Uncle Ray's Bar and Grill. Jess, a struggling alcoholic, knows she shouldn't stop where temptation lurks. But there's no harm in walking in and ordering a harmless little burger... Thomas Hannity grew up listening to stories about fated mates, but he knows they're only fairy tales. His last relationship was with a human, and it ended badly. When he unexpectedly runs into his ex at work, it sends him into a spiral, and the only balm for his ache is a nice, strong drink at his favourite bar. It's a night just like any other... until a curvy, dark-haired girl wanders in from the cold. A girl that Thomas feels the sudden need to protect the moment he sets eyes on her. She's an independent city girl with a dark past. He's a bear shifter who no longer believes in love. Logically, they make no sense together. But destiny often isn't logical at all. Kellan Larkin - Alpha's Soulmate (Alphas' Fated Mates #1) M/M Gay Shifter Mpreg Romance He took my chin and pressed his lips to mine. Bliss overwhelmed me. This was utterly divine. Tucker's an Omega wolf recovering from a traumatic past. He ran away to Lake City to pursue his passion for journalism. While he knows it's also time to find his Alpha, he's distrustful and wary of emotional intimacy. That changes when he meets Clay. After a broken engagement with an ex-fiancé who stalked and threatened him, Clay buried himself in his work, founding a successful tech company. Now he's ready to move on and find his fated mate. But it turns out his ex isn't quite ready to let him go... When demons from the past threaten to disrupt the pair's growing relationship, Tucker and Clay find that they'll have to fight for their love. We’re going to start off fresh and build something together. We can do this, Tucker. You and me. Tessa Thorn - Dating The Billionaire Dragon (Mail Order Mates #1) "So, you’re the kind of lady who isn’t afraid to find out what a dragon’s like in the bedroom, huh?" Tina Valdez is the curvaceous, successful owner of a boutique bakery and a respected member of her community. There's just one thing missing - a man to share it all with. That changes when she meets real estate tycoon Blake through the shifter dating service Mail Order Mates. Blake the dragon shifter is sweet, sexy, and dominant in the bedroom. And he treats her like the goddess she is. But when anti-shifter prejudice threatens her business, she has to make a hard decision. Can she have it all? Or will she have to choose between her home and heritage and the promise of a new future with Blake? J.S. Wilder - Beared To Him (HoneyPoint Town #1) This is Part one of a Three Part series about HoneyPoint Town. Raine Wilson wants one thing: marriage. Her ex comes back into town after a mutual friend dies and after finally moving on with her life after six years. She finds it hard not to resist temptation to fall for the one that broke her heart. Joe Carlton wants one thing: to avoid his true form. Having to go back home after six years. He can’t resist but show his true form when he sees the luscious curves and earthy brown skin of his mate in the arms of another man. There’s a war coming to HoneyPoint Town and none of the locals know it until Joe starts to fight for the love he once lost. Erica Summers - The Dark Mage's Girlfriend What do you do when your crush turns out to be a Dark Wizard, summoner and binder of demons? Amy works at a supermarket while studying for college. One normal day, she finally gets her chance to ask her crush and neighbour out. She runs after him just as her shift ends. But, in a narrow street, a surprise awaits. The dreamy, aloof man who comes to the shop everyday, whenever she works, turns out to be a mage, and a dark one at that. Can Amy find love or will she be swallowed by his darkness? Kit Fawkes - Playing With Fire (Elementals #1) Curvy fire elemental witch Serafina’s hot temper gets the best of her, leading her to make a mistake during a vengeance spell that accidentally summons a high-level demon to do her bidding instead. Liam appears to help her undo what she’s done, and she’s drawn to the mysterious Guardian of the balance between light and dark magic. He’s intent on tracking down the demon, but her heart isn’t in stopping the vengeance curse just yet. Their attraction is mutual, but will Serafina and Liam find a way to make their relationship work, or will it flash and burn out after the mission binding him to her is complete, and he no longer has a reason to stay?

    He owes Declan his life, and Declan more than has his hands full with his own family problems. Little does Archer know he’ll be chasing a would-be recruit all the way to hell and back. Or maybe Alaska just seems like hell. Audrey Sharpe works for no one but herself. Not even when the most elite security company in the country wants her. She doesn’t have time to worry about MacKenzies. She’s racing against the clock to hunt down the man who taught her everything she knows and to stop him from killing more innocent people. When sexy, but tough as nails, Archer Ryan keeps getting in her way, Audrey has to decide whether he’ll be an asset or a distraction her body and mind can’t afford. CRAVE: When Evangeline Lockwood witnesses the murder of a prominent politician, the killers will do everything they can to make sure she can't testify. Since Evangeline's father was once Deputy Director of the CIA, he knows just who to call to protect his only daughter – MacKenzie Security. The last thing Cal Colter wants is to get stuck with a babysitting job, but Declan MacKenzie has assigned him the task and he has no choice but to accept. Cal especially doesn't know what to do with the quirky computer nerd who covers her lush body in baggy clothes and her stunning violet eyes behind glasses. But if Cal knows anything, it's women, and he's just as determined to peel back the layers of this unusual woman as he is to keep her alive. SCORCH: Shane MacKenzie’s life has been turned upside down. He’s lost his command, his identity, and his will to live. He’s a dead man walking, and the only thing that makes waking up in the morning worthwhile is knowing he’ll come head to head with the one woman who gets his blood moving. Doctor Lacy Shaw spent years as a medic on the battlefield. She’s seen things that can never be erased from her memory, and when Declan MacKenzie gives her the opportunity to work for MacKenzie Security, she decides any job has to be better for the body and soul than watching soldiers die in a war zone. That’s until she meets Shane MacKenzie and realizes she’s never fought so hard for one person to live.