He must, however, work a deal with her. She needs money to save her ranch and he needs access to the spring on her property. Seems simple, right? But nothing’s ever easy with Pearl. The woman is steely and stubborn, but she’s lovely too, with a carefully concealed, vulnerable side. As much as he tries not to notice, thoughts of Pearl distract him plenty. She stirs all sorts of protective notions. He yearns to shield her from the dangerous outlaws that lurk in the nearby canyons. When whispered rumors turn into deadly threats, Levi vows to do whatever it takes to keep Pearl safe.

    . . In early 1943, Magda Ritter's parents send her to relatives in Bavaria, hoping to keep her safe from the Allied bombs strafing Berlin. Young German women are expected to do their duty--working for the Reich or marrying to produce strong, healthy children. After an interview with the civil service, Magda is assigned to the Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat. Only after weeks of training does she learn her assignment: she will be one of several young women tasting the Fuhrer's food, offering herself in sacrifice to keep him from being poisoned.Perched high in the Bavarian Alps, the Berghof seems worlds away from the realities of battle. Though terrified at first, Magda gradually becomes used to her dangerous occupation--though she knows better than to voice her misgivings about the war. But her love for a conspirator within the SS, and her growing awareness of the Reich's atrocities, draw Magda into a plot that will test her wits and loyalty in a quest for safety, freedom, and ultimately, vengeance.Vividly written and ambitious in scope, The Taster examines the harrowing moral dilemmas of war in an emotional story filled with acts of extraordinary courage.

    marshal. On the way to Cypress Creek, Texas to meet her intended, Louise Settelmeyer is in for a shock when her stagecoach is attacked by bandits. When the robbery is stopped by men from the U.S. Marshals Service, Louise has no choice but to rely on the escort of a cocky and childish deputy marshal, Andy Fulton. Upon reaching town, Louise is in for yet another shock when she discovers that her intended was none other than the man robbing her stagecoach. Deputy U.S. Marshal Andy Fulton can’t leave the beautiful woman he rescued at the stagecoach station without provision. He’s a man of integrity and, therefore, must do something to help—even if the woman won’t laugh at his jokes and insists she’s got everything under control. Unfortunately, he’s seen firsthand what happens to a woman on her own in the West and decides to intervene on Louise’s behalf, helping her obtain a position at the local hotel. Things seem to be going fine until Louise becomes a target for criminals in town and finds herself in need of rescue more than once. The dangers don’t stop there, as Louise realizes that seeing her handsome rescuer every day is putting her heart in danger of growing more attached than she’d like. Will Andy be able to rescue Louise, yet again—and learn to risk his heart in the process? And will they uncover the truth behind why outlaws are tracking Louise down? Only time, a little good humor, and a dollop of boldness will tell. . . Author’s Note: An Unexpected Treasure, Marrying a Marshal Book One is a PG-rated Western Romance short story of about seventy-five pages with plenty of Old West action and romance. There will be three more stories to follow this one, each of about 150 pages long, so if you like this one, and I’m sure you will, there’ll be some longer books to follow! This is also part of the Hero Hearts series which is a larger multi-author series about men who love, honor, and protect their families, all while having faith in God! Brought to you by Annie Boone, Kate Cambridge, Terri Grace, Misty Shae, Cat McGill, Hayley Wescott, and Natalie Dean! Enjoy!

    This big step seems her best chance to find a husband. After all she is twenty-four and a schoolmarm on the fast track to spinsterhood. Wearing her best hat and her bravest face, she steps off the train expecting to find a respectable marriageable man waiting for her. Specifically she expects to be met by “a fine-looking bachelor rancher of twenty-six years of age in need of a cheerful, sturdy and well-mannered wife.” Instead she is met by a rangy looking cowhand who is fifty years old if he is a day. When she refuses to marry him and rebukes him for misrepresenting himself he tries to force her to go with him. A handsome cowboy strides over and confronts the lying creep who lured her out West. He is every inch her idea of the perfect cowboy, strong and handsome, confident and heroic. After he runs off the lout, she thanks him. She remembers him from the train. The moment he boarded she noticed his striking gray eyes and his charismatic way. Unfortunately since a woman and three small children were with him she took him for a married man. But he isn’t. He is looking after his widowed sister and little nephews. Good news. Savannah, resigns to wait a week for the Georgia bound train to come, but soon learns the school teacher is seriously ill and volunteers to substitute for as long as she is needed, even though it will delay her departure. As sickness spreads through town and her relationship with the cowboy becomes more complicated, it becomes unclear whether she will find love in Dovetail or return home content to be a spinster schoolmarm. Also by Crystal Anne Tilden The Best Selling Christian Western Romance, Mail Order Bride: Carrie and the Cowboy