Each book describes a classic novel and drama by explaining themes, elaborating on characters, and discussing each author's unique literary style, use of language, and point of view. Extensive illustrations and imaginative, enlightening use of graphics help to make each book in this series livelier, easier, and more fun to use than ordinary literature plot summaries. An unusual feature, "Mind Map" is a diagram that summarizes and interrelates the most important details that students need to understand about a given work. Appropriate for middle and high school students.

    Four fiercely independent cowboys must learn to trust if they hope to find love. FIRE AND RAIN Luke MacKenzie was haunted by the Rocking M’s legacy of grinding women into dust. He has vowed never to marry—the bitter legacy of the Rocking M will end with him--until Carla arrives. His best friend's little sister has grown up. Now Luke must choose between Carla and the ranch that is part of his soul. OUTLAW Tennessee Blackthorn is ramrod for the Rocking M, a remote western ranch where Anasazi ruins have recently been discovered. His new job is to protect the ruins and the delectable blond archaeologist who wants nothing to do with him. GRANITE MAN Cash McQueen had learned the hard way not to trust a woman. When he met Mariah MacKenzie, he thought she was like nearly all the women he had known, looking for a man to take care of every little thing for her. Mariah had come to the Rocking M looking for the brother she adored. Instead, she found Cash. Together they look for Mad Jack's lost gold mine and find instead a blazing passion. But will passion be enough to convince a hard-rock miner like Cash to trust her, to return her love? WARRIOR Nevada Blackthorn has spent too many years in too many war zones. He no longer believes in anything except his family. Then he meets Eden. He fights their mutual attraction as savagely as a wolf in a trap. She knows there is no guarantee that her love will be returned, yet still she loves.

    The day after the troupe arrives in tiny Morgan’s Crossing, the manager takes all the money and leaves town. By opening a dressmaker shop, Cinnia hopes to make the home she’s always wanted, but Nola, the older sister who has made the decisions for the orphaned sisters, disagrees. Leather worker Nicolai Andrusha is living in hiding as Nic Andrews until the patent on his family’s tanning process is approved. Although he’s under a mandate to keep a low profile, he’s intrigued by the red-haired performer. Controversy arises when miners claim they paid the manager for private appointments with the female performers. Will Nicolai defy his family obligation to help the stranded beauty who has caught his eye?

    

    No nation can stand against his legions but even the Empire has its limits. The brooding forests across the Rhine hold warriors who will not submit and the Suevi are the mightiest of them. With only their hatred of each other in common, the Romans and the Germans cross the river to raid and slaughter but neither of them has the force to take the other’s territory and hold it. This does not prevent them trying. Otto of the Suevi, son of the Chieftain and war counsellor Badurad, lives freely among the woods and glades on the far side of the river, hoping to live the same life as his father and become a respected warrior in his turn but that is not to be. He visits a wise woman with his father and her shocking, prophetic vision of his future sets him on a different path than he could never have imagined. Fate is not to be defied so Otto accepts what she has told him as absolute truth and lets it guide him through blood and fire to his personal destiny far from his own people.

    He never even had a proper name until he made one up for himself. Even though Ammie has always been a part of Ethan’s world, she was still far above the reach of a street urchin turned ranch hand. But that doesn’t stop her from haunting his dreams each night. Ammie has turned down every eligible match, waiting for Ethan to see her as more than just another honorary-type cousin. But considering how much time he spends out on the trail, she might have to wait forever. Until a deadly killer has Ethan sticking like glue to her side because he’s convinced that no one could protect her the way he can. But spending so much time close to Ammie and becoming part of her life is pure torture. Once the job is done, Ethan is determined to hit the trail, and this time it might be for good. Unless he finally puts his pride aside and succumbs to his feelings … or being her protector costs him his life. Loving Amelia has romance, suspense, heat and a love story that will keep you turning pages far into the night. Get your copy today and fall in love all over again! Loving Amelia is the third book in The Crimson Rose Series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

    Paired up with his grandmother’s companion and charged with bringing Christmas to a lonely house, will he come to believe in himself—and love?The Mistletoe Trap - Eve PendleA spicy-hot story of a heroine with a flair for enterprising embroidery and a botanist single father hero. Can a scandal that compromises Amelia's reputation give their love a second chance?A Most Inconvenient Earl - Claire DelacroixWhen Eurydice Goodenham unexpectedly proposes a marriage of convenience to Sebastian Montgomery, Earl of Rockmorton, the notorious rake is intrigued. Sebastian soon realizes that the unpredictable Eurydice is the perfect match for him—but can he convince his skeptical bride to take a chance on love?The Lady's Guide to Mistletoe and Mayhem - Emmanuelle de MaupassantOn the run until she receives her inheritance, Ursula takes on the identity of an etiquette teacher and heads to Castle Dunrannoch to whip her 'young charge' into shape. But the long-lost heir is a whole lot more than she's bargained for!A Countess for Christmas - Anthea LawsonMiss Cecilia Fairfax dreads the upcoming holidays, especially when her brother brings home an unexpected guest. But of all the blessings of the season, sometimes the most unexpected is love.Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord - Larissa LyonsMistletoe kisses grant a blind heroine and a frosty hero a chance at happiness during a winter house party.Her Accidental Groom - Nadine MillardLady Natalia Soronsky and Lord Benjamin Strafford started out as enemies and ended up as co-conspirators in a faux betrothal. But the longer they continue the ruse, the more they start to wonder just how false their feelings are.Christmas Spirits - Jane CharlesWhen Benjamin Storm, Earl of Kenley, is sent to Scotland to procure a missing whisky shipment, he encounters the most unusual smuggler.Joy to the World - Nicole ZoltackUnbeknownst to Eliza Berkeley, the man she thought she was going to marry was not Stephen Huntington, the Duke of Wyndale. Will a match formed through deceit blossom into love this Christmas?To Fall for a Duke by Christmas - Sadie BosqueA reluctant duke and a charming commoner devise a plan to serve their own needs. A false relationship is supposed to be their salvation... Until love intervenes.What If I Still Love You - Erica TaylorAfter a failed elopement ten years earlier, Henry, Earl of Carrington, and Anna, the widowed Viscountess Rycroft, are reunited at his aunt’s Twelfth Night party. Can this star-crossed pair find their way back to each other?Christmas Promises - Brenda HiattWhen Lord Vandover leaves for London, he promises his grandmother he will return with a bride. Unfortunately, with each simpering debutante he meets he regrets that promise more—until he encounters the lovely Miss Holly Paxton.

    Their courtship by mail results in matrimony – on the very day they meet each other face to face for the first time! Molly adores her new husband and wants nothing more than to make him happy. But sometimes, his rules just get in her way. He wouldn't really take her in hand, would he? He's just joking, teasing her. Right? He'd been right about the rustlers, though. After a very tough night, they were caught, and now, surely, Derek could loosen up those rules. Besides, what he never finds out won't hurt, will it? Publisher's Note: This sweet Old West romance contains elements of power exchange.

    Only...Just as her terrible uncle announces her betrothal to a very lecherous Earl, Lady Ivy Marple knows that her life cannot get any worse. And due to the tragic loss of her family, she stopped believing in miracles long ago...Burdened with an impossible task by his late friend, Charles Landon, the Duke of Nelson, has to ensure Lady Ivy is happy. The problem? How does a man with an illegitimate child save a damsel in distress?Just as he approaches her with his preposterous plan, Ivy is certain her brother’s friend has no moral qualms. But if she has to choose to become a governess over her upcoming nuptials, then that she will. Even if she is sure to lose more than her reputation in the process...

    Or, at least, that is the point Lady Alexandra is determined to prove. And she is more than ready to pose as a governess if it is to seduce the Marquess of her dreams.As a man that never wishes to wed, Simon Windsor, the Marquess of Pembley, accepts his horrifying reputation with gratitude. With very few people aware of his strange condition, he relishes the peace and quiet of the countryside.With the new governess for his hellion niece and nephew feeling disturbingly familiar to the masqued Lady he seduced at a ball, he fears that the worst side of his will be exposed. The one that should have remained hidden till his last drawing breath...

    Her goal? To hire a lord to help her conduct an investigation into murder. And, perhaps, give her life it’s missing meaning. That’s not too much to ask; is it? Surely, there is an impoverished lord somewhere willing to help her. But, when the handsome Earl of Westmoreland answers her ad, Charlotte didn’t count him being quite so dashing or mysterious. Does he know she’s the very heiress he’s been searching for?But, as the murder plot thickens, so does the air between them. And Charlotte must answer the question: does she catch a murderer or allow herself to be caught by an earl?Perhaps, she should kiss him to find out...

     A tale of passion and compassion and most of all, one woman's brave heart. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, 1865. When Lily Jenkin begins her first day working for the Morgans at their corner shop in the little village of Abercanaid, she has no idea of the calamity that lies ahead of that fateful day. It is a day of tragedy at the Gethin Coal Pit that brings her into contact with the new handsome, chapel minister, Evan Davies, for the first time. Although a dark cloud of death passes over the village, Lily and Evan draw close to one another as they help the villagers deal with the tragedy, forming a bond which could lead to love. However, there is a gossiping old crone in the village who will do her best to cause trouble for the pair by hook or by crook. Lily has the opportunity to escape the valley of the shadow of death to make a new home for herself in Great Salt Lake, America. Will she take the chance to go to ‘Zion’, following her Mormon relatives, and more importantly, will Evan, a Welsh Baptist minister, go with her? The Seasons of Change Series: 1. Black Diamonds 2. White Roses 3. Blue Skies 4. Red Poppies

    But there is one thing Charlotte hasn’t revealed to Grayson that may change everything.Take a deep breath, smell the sweet scent of the sagebrush across the wide open plains and watch the glowing sun go down behind the mountains as you journey back in time to the Old West with Grayson and Charlotte. Love is in the air, but will it drift away?Love, Honor & Keep Her can be read as a stand-alone story without a cliffhanger.Themes: western romance, clean & wholesome romance, historical romance, inspirational romance, western & frontier romance, Victorian historical romance, happily ever after

    

    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.