The bodyguard is supposed to keep things strictly business--but forbidden fruit is always the most tantalizing! Their lives are on the line, their hearts are involved, and rules are made to be broken. This boxed set features five full-length romance novels with bodyguard heroes. Taken by the Cowboy by Julianne MacLeanNewspaper columnist Jessica Delaney crashes her car in a lightning storm and soon finds herself dodging bullets in the Wild West. She's tossed in jail for a murder she didn't commit--and the handsome, sexy sheriff in charge of her arrest has danger written all over him. Jessica needs to get home, but first she has to trust Sheriff Wade to protect her from a gang of outlaws bent on revenge. But soon she must choose between the life she longs for in the future... and the greatest love she's ever known. The Bodyguard by Kathryn Shay by Kathryn ShayWhen Cord McKay saves Stacey Webb from an attack, she has no idea he's played a devastating role in her past. After a second incident, she insists he become her bodyguard. Cord tries to remain distant and remote, but a vehicle accident and a kidnapping attempt bring Stacey and Cord together--and nothing can stop the irrepressible attraction between them. His Forbidden Touch by Shelly ThackerDisgraced ex-knight Royce Saint-Michel finally has the chance to reclaim his birthright--if he agrees to escort the lovely Princess Ciara across a war-torn land to her royal wedding... and ensures that she arrives untouched. The princess and her bodyguard set off alone, but forbidden desire soon proves even more dangerous than the assassins on their trail. With the fate of two kingdoms hanging in the balance, will Royce and Ciara do as honor and duty demand... or surrender to the longing in their hearts? Aphrodite's Passion by Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner)Tracy Tannin has always felt ordinary and dull, but when she finds an antique belt in her grandmother's attic, suddenly everyone wants her--or maybe they just want the belt. Superhero Hale has no interest in mortals, so when he starts to crave the mortal he's been assigned to protect, he knows it must be the belt. Because no way can a guy like Hale fall for a girl like Tracy. Right? Burning Touch by Patricia RyanMansfield, NJ, is burning up building by building--and it's Detective Jamie Keegan's job to bring the arsonist to justice. His captain orders him to consult beautiful India Cook, who claims to be a psychic. Convinced she's a con artist, Jamie tries to deny the chemistry simmering between them--but that becomes impossible when India's life is threatened and he's compelled to become her live-in bodyguard.

    Dating one of the hottest guys in the biggest fraternity? Done. Failing out of College? Oops... When Libby Gentry's parents receive the letter that she's failed out of school, Libby is forced to pack her Prada bag and head to work for her great aunt in rural Louisiana. Nothing about tiny Elsbury, Louisiana, entices her until she locks eyes with the southern charmer, Blaine Crabtree. Libby is used to getting what she wants and Blaine is no exception, but as the two grow closer, bigger problems arise. Libby doesn't know how much more pain her already paper-thin heart can take and when new opportunities in Chicago pop up she is presented with a difficult situation: wait for her redneck Romeo, or move on.

    In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

    Mia Dechino is running from her traumatic past and the death of a loved one. Heartbroken and numb, she packs a bag and is ready to escape the small town in Georgia where she grew up. Heading off to Miami to start over, she meets Sebastian Price on an interview from hell. Sebastian is cocky, arrogant, and a womanizer, but he might be what Mia is searching for. Mia tries to keep her distance from Sebastian but the connection between them is unavoidable. Their attraction slowly builds as the line between employee and employer blurs. At twenty-three years old, Mia has gone through more than most people have in a lifetime. Can Mia move past the pain she has in her heart and finally begin to be happy? Or will the guilt of a loved one’s death destroy her. . *Recommended for 17+ due to subject matter and sexual content.

    BUNDLED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. HALF MY HEART BOOK 1: THE CLOVER SERIES At nineteen, Devin Sutton lost his first love, his freedom, and his hope. Years later, the only thing he has on his mind this holiday season is finally settling the score back in Clover, North Carolina. That is, until the girl he thought he’d lost forever crosses his path. Rebecca Farrus is supposed to be off living the life of her dreams, not tending bar in some dive. When faced with the choice, will Devin decide to celebrate what he’s finally found or keep seeking retribution for everything he lost? CHANGE MY HEART BOOK 2: THE CLOVER SERIES You really can't have it all, or so Devin Sutton is finding out fast. Returning to Clover was all part of his plan to exact revenge on the town that robbed him of nearly a decade of his life. Unfortunately, things quickly begin to crumble when he's forced to choose between rekindling an old love or destroying the town. Walking the fine line between both might just end up leaving him with nothing. With his heart full of vengeance is there any room for love?

    One evening delectable Sebastian Kattalakis appears -- a dragon slayer trapped between two worlds -- claims to hold the key to solving the tapestry’s mysteries. Channon follows him into a fantastic alternate world of magic, danger, and adventure.Also in:* In Other Worlds anthologyCollector's-edition.

    Leo doesn’t know how to be a single parent since the death of his wife, and he certainly has no desire to return to Bluestone. But he needs a place for his son, a place where he’ll be with family, while Leo does his job. He’ll stay long enough to get Max settled, then go back to work. School counselor Trinity Madison watches Leo struggle with his son, trying to overcome the mental barricade she’s erected against the man who sent his son away when he’s perfectly capable of caring for the child. The situation brings about her own unsettled feelings about giving her child up for adoption when she was young. But as she observes Leo’s difficulties, his sacrifices, she softens toward the man. While he’s in town, he ends up working with some old friends and Trinity on a committee to revitalize Bluestone. The former resort town is struggling and looking for ways to bring tourists back. Leo finds himself charmed, then smitten with the feisty counselor, but will he still love her when he learns her secret? Waltz Back to Texas (Lost in a Boom Town Book 1) After growing up in a dying town, with only two restaurants, no movie theater, and no future, waitress Cassidy Simon wants out. For once, luck is on her side when the oil boom comes to South Texas. She’s determined to use it for her advantage, starting up an RV park for the oilfield workers to add to her escape fund. She’s never been out of Texas, and she’s itching for adventure. Grady McKenna couldn’t get away from his family’s ranch fast enough when he was a teenager, but a tour in the Air Force in the Middle East is enough to convince him there’s no place like home. He’s seen the world, had his adventure. Now he’s ready to contribute to his family’s legacy in Evansville. Naturally, the woman who draws his attention is the one intent on slipping through his fingers. How can he convince her life with him will be all the adventure she needs? The Love I Want to Be In (The Off-Season Book 1) Single mother Brioney Mayburn has learned about responsibility the hard way, working as a maid in the motel in the small beach town of Avalon Island, Texas and looking after her younger brother. Local jack-of-all-trades Blue Maddox was her sister's high school boyfriend, but stayed behind when she went off to college. He's now drawn to Brioney, admiring her drive, her determination to give her daughter the best life she can. But will Brioney look past his beach-bum facade to see who he really is?

    And when she finds out that she can touch him, he suddenly becomes more than a fantasy. But how can she fight for a man that doesn’t exist in her time?This novella (19k) includes a man that might be a ghost, a neighbor that might be a fairy godmother in disguise, and possibly sex involving a mirror.

    Tired of waiting for the time to be right, she takes advantage of her boss’s generous offer for a little weekend getaway to thank her for helping out with a difficult business deal.Former NFL superstar Lucas Montgomery is still suffering from a career-ending injury. His self-imposed exile from life is exactly what he wants; a sanctuary where there’s no chance for disappointment or distractions and that’s exactly the way he likes it. While his family has been patiently waiting for Lucas to come around and embrace life once again, they don’t realize that it wasn’t just his career that was lost, but his sense of identity.Lucas thought everything was fine until sweet, sexy and completely off-limits Emma Taylor comes crashing into his carefully constructed world one snowy weekend and turns his entire life upside down.Montgomery Brothers Series: Wait for Me (Book 1) Trust in Me (Book 2) Stay with Me (Book 3) Return to You (Book 4) Meant for You (Book 5)

    Two men. One night. Half a million dollars.Julianne is in debt up to her eyeballs due to her mother's illness and her job as a catering waitress will never be enough to make ends meet. But a mysterious offer could solve all her problems. The only catch: She has to have sex with a stranger.Erik and Keegan are business partners whose friendship nearly ended when an explosion in their lab nearly killed Erik and left him with physical and psychological scars. Work is his only refuge and he uses it as a shield against the world. Keegan has watched his best friend retreat from the world for too long. He'll do whatever it takes to bring Erik out of the darkness.Their perfect plan is perfectly indecent.Erik proposes that Keegan make love to Julianne so he can watch. Keegan is shocked...and secretly thrilled. He wants Julianne just as much as Erik does.Julianne takes the money, but she never expected to be so excited by the illicit arrangement or to fall for the quiet Keegan and the scarred Erik. And when one night becomes an ongoing affair, will Julianne be able to draw the men out of the shadows and into the light?

    The paper was an unexpected inheritance from a close colleague, and Lois must keep it for at least a year, bringing a host of challenges, lessons, and blessings into her life.When Lois pulls into Green on New Year’s Day, she expects a charming little town full of smiling people. She quickly realizes her mistake. After settling into a loaned house out on Route 2, she finds herself battling town prejudices and inner doubts and making friends with the most surprising people: troubled teenager Katy, good-looking catfish farmer Chris, wise and feisty Aunt Helen, and a female African-American physician named Kevin.Whether fighting a greedy, deceitful politician or rescuing a dog she fears, Lois notices the headlines in her life have definitely improved. She learns how to provide small-town news in a big-hearted way and realizes that life is full of newsworthy moments. When she encounters racial prejudice and financial corruption, Lois also discovers more about the goodness of real people and the importance of being part of a community.While secretly preparing the paper for a sale, Lois begins to realize that God might indeed have a plan for her life and that perhaps the allure of city life and career ambition are not what she wants after all.

    She enjoys her life and, apart from a rather snobbish mama, she is happy with her lot. Imagine her consternation then when her world is turned upside down by the brooding and aloof Mr. Brandon Haverton! Mariah and Brandon are forced to endure each other’s company more than either wants to when a snowstorm traps them in the same house. They argue, they bang heads and they drive each other insane. But something precious is blooming beneath the surface of all that ice. Something neither looks for but both need. Can love melt the snow around Brandon’s cold heart? Can Mariah be brave enough to take a leap of faith? And can a Winter Wish help bring two souls together forever? For the Love of a Lady-By Kristin Vayden Lady Esther Flanguard is all of the above… but that’s all about to change soon. Because, Essie has a plan. And it’s sure to work brilliantly. The only thing standing in her way is trying to convince Cross—her best friend’s brother—to go along with it. Lord Crossby, Cross to those who know him well, knows that Essie’s plan is not a good idea. What Essie doesn’t know, is that he’s been in love with her for years. He refuses to leave this second chance left to fate. He lost her once, and plans to never lose her again. So, knowing he’ll risk his heart, he agrees to play along with her disastrous plan. Silently vowing, that though Essie might be pretending…he isn’t, and this time he’s playing for keeps. Cloaked in Red:A Shattered Fairy Tale-By Kelly Martin Frederick Dodsworth has no desire to find love at Anthony Wexley's Christmas gathering. Yet when he lays his eyes on the beautiful Rebecca for the first time, he is beyond smitten. Lust turns to love. Love turns to jealousy. Jealousy turns to betrayal. How did Frederick Dodsworth become the most evil man in Darenset? Simple. It started with a kiss. The Devil Duke Takes a Bride-By Rachel Van Dyken Who said being bad wasn't oh so good? Benedict Devlyn, Duke of Banbury, has one thing on his mind and it isn't marriage. But things take a turn for the worse when his menacing aunt throws a hitch in his plans to remain the most sinful and talked about man in the ton. After all, a man cannot keep the reputation of being The Devil Duke when he is leg-shackled to some simpering spinster. But his aunt, bless her heart, thinks she's dying, and believes her nephew's behavior is the only thing standing in the way between her entrance to heaven or hell. So she very lovingly and selflessly sets him up. With his childhood nemesis. A young woman who, though she claims it was an accident, has nearly killed him thrice through her lack of grace and manners. It matters not that the minute he sets eyes on her at the Christmas ball, his blood boils with lust. He refuses to allow himself to fall prey to his aunt's ministrations. That is, until he is compromised and stuck in an engagement to a girl who claims she'd rather jump from a moving carriage than marry him. Funny thing that, for the very minute she says no, he finds his heart very much wants to say yes. When she doesn't leap at the chance to marry him, he sets about to not only prove that he's worthy of her favor, but also worthy of her heart.

    and intoxicating temptationThree years ago, Suzanne Austin dumped wealthy playboy and wine heir Daryle Catterton— and hasn't regretted it once. Now the owner of the hottest cupcake shop in San Francisco, her only relationship is with her business and she likes it that way ... until Daryle shows up with a business proposal she can't afford to refuse.She knows Daryle will hold up his end of the deal, but can she hold up hers without losing her head when their old chemistry gets uncorked?INCLUDES extended excerpts (chapters 1-5) of Next to You, Drawing Lessons and Falling for the Prodigal Son.

    These five contemporary romances explore the not-so-simple joys of small-town living, where the heroes are hotter than temperatures in July and the heroines know just when not to mind their manners. Grab a glass of sweet tea and sit a spell: Sweet Gone South: Chocolatier Lanie Heaven has good friends, a booming business, and the adoration of the citizens of Merritt, Alabama - and a big secret. Then widower Judge Luke Avery moves upstairs and threatens to turn her life into a sticky mess. Scrimmage Gone South: Lawyer Tolly Lee is pearls, debutante balls, and polished silver on the breakfast table. High school football coach Nathan Scott holds her responsible for his aborted NFL career. Can these two ex-lovers find a way to co-exist in the same small town - without becoming fodder for every gossip in town? Slugger Gone South: When New York Yankee Marc MacNeal comes to Merritt, Alabama, for a charity golf tournament, he's shocked to be reunited with his ex-fiancée Bailey Watkins. It could be the perfect chance to get some long-awaited closure - or the start of a whole new ball game. Simple Gone South: The last time Brantley Kincaid had an argument with someone, a loved one ended up in Merritt Cemetery. He's high strung enough about moving back home to the memories without running into his childhood playmate, Lucy Mead, who's all grown up. Secrets Gone South: Will Garrett grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and never expected debutante Arabelle Avery to end up in his arms during an emotional moment. Now she's returned to Merritt, his son on her hip. Will he ever be good enough to raise his son and win Arabelle's heart? Sensuality Level: Sensual

    The arrival of her new boss, Jason Young, has her co-workers competing to see who can bed him first. Lucy refuses to admit her own attraction to him, and his rude behavior towards her only strengthens her resolve to ignore her growing attraction. When a power outage traps her in the elevator with her sexy new boss, she soon realizes his coldness hides his own dark desire for her. Jason Young is determined to show her just how good it can feel to lose control, and Lucy is aching to give in to the sweet temptation.Author's Note: Although Tempted was originally a stand-alone story, reader's enthusiasm inspired me to write a second part to Jason and Lucy's story. Twice Tempted gives readers a look into what happens with Jason and Lucy after that crazy first week.