. . Eight-year-old, Vern Harpole, wakes up on the front porch of a bakery he's never seen before. The frightened boy is discovered by the kind baker who returns him to the hotel where he'd been staying with his mother and young sister, only to learn they've left and have no intention of returning. With no trace of where they’ve gone or by what means they’re traveling, a search is impossible. Even the authorities have little help to offer. Being childless, the baker and his wife decide to give Vern a home. Initially, they see him as a means of cheap labor. But over time, a bond of love grows between them, and they find joy as a family. Yet Vern can't dismiss the hurtful feelings of abandonment, as well as many unanswered questions about his mother. Margaret Jordan has recently immigrated from Ireland to America. Like Vern, she's troubled by painful reminders of traumatic experiences that have irrevocably altered her life. She settles in Kansas City, where she finds employment at a local restaurant. When she and Vern cross paths, he immediately recognizes her pain and wants to help her, but it will take more than kindness to break through the protective walls she's built around herself. Determination pushes him to be persistent, needing to believe that love can be something more than forsaken.

    He awakes to find himself in total darkness, naked and chained to the floor. Fed just enough to keep him alive, Drew is unable to identify his captor, or the reason for his incarceration. As reality fades, hallucinations take over. Can Drew escape his prison before madness claims him?Meanwhile Drew's wife, Holly, despairing of ever seeing him again, turns to his brother for comfort. As the worst winter in decades sweeps the UK, she learns of Drew's tragic past. Could his disappearance be connected with that of a prostitute years before?A story of how the mind responds to solitary confinement, 'Silent Winter' examines one man's desperate attempt to survive the unthinkable.

    After a tumultuous childhood in a broken home, keeping secrets became a way of life for twin sisters: Gabby and Olivia, and their little sister, Emma. They've all got skeletons in their closets; memories locked away never to see the light of day. But after they take divergent paths in life, disaster strikes, and their pasts collide head-on with a mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama. The worst has happened, and if they want to find the key to survival and reconciliation, they must learn to let their skeletons out; shake the dust off of them, and maybe even let them dance across the floor. At turns heartbreaking, dark and beautiful, The Girl in the Box explores not only the consequences of secrets--even secrets kept out of fear--but also the courage it takes to speak the truth, to let go, and to survive. Trigger Warning: The content of this novel contains graphic scenes: violence to women, victimization, abduction, and abusePreviously titled: Let Me GoFiction: Psychological Suspense, Family Drama, Stand-Alone (no cliffhangers)

    

    Feeling like he’s been bucked off before the eight second buzzer, Clay’s betting he can score if she’ll give him a second chance. But qualifying may call for more than he’s prepared to give. Dusty Morgan is determined not to fall for the cowboy staking out her station. She’s vowed never to get tangled up with someone who makes their living through rodeo, and she’s not interested in a hit and run. Though he may be what she desires, Dusty knows from experience he isn’t what she needs—or is he?This novella was previously published as Re-ride at the Rodeo.

    Yet Nell is determined to elude the duties and restrictions of matrimony. So when she finds herself pregnant at the age of 17, she refuses to divulge the name of the father and even her childhood friend Martin is kept in the dark.Nell's stepfather Hiram sends Nell to live at the Poor Farm of which he is a governor, to await the day when her baby can be discreetly adopted. Nell is ready to go along with Hiram's plans until an unused padded cell is opened and two small bodies fall out.Nell is the only resident of the Poor Farm who is convinced that the unwed mother and her baby were murdered, and the incident prompts her to rethink her decision to abandon her own child to her fate. But the revelations to which her questions lead make her realize that even if she manages to escape the Poor Farm with her baby, she may have no safe place to run to.

    Under the leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the men of the Corps of Discovery would cross the continent and into history. Here, from award-winning historian Ralph K. Andrist, is the dramatic story of their epic journey.

    She was dead tired and just wanted to nap. "My babies! I'm so glad you all made it." Caroline met them on the porch. "Hey, ma." Adonis hugged her and then Destiny hugged her before she took the baby out of her hand. "Look at granny's baby," she cooed over AJ. "But I thought I was your baby, granny," Serenity pouted. "You sure are my baby. Come give me some love, sugar." Caroline loved her grandbabies. "Oh my goodness, he looks just like you, Des." "I know right. All he has of his daddy is skin tone," Destiny replied. "Well y'all come on in here." They went inside. "Where is Tamara?" Adonis asked about his sister. "She's at work but she'll be here later," Caroline replied as she kissed all over AJ's face. "Oh ok." He responded. "Adonis take y'all stuff to the guestroom and you know ReRe has her own room here now 'cause I want to start getting her during the summers," she said, referring to Serenity by the nickname she had given her. "Nah, I'm getting a hotel room. Des and the kids are staying here with y'all." Caroline looked at him like he had grown two heads. "And why the hell can't you stay here with your family?" His mom still didn't know that he had a new girlfriend. It was now or never. "My girlfriend coming up here to kick it with me," he sort of mumbled. Even though he was a grown man, his mothers' opinion mattered. "What the hell did you just say?" Caroline only cursed when she was pissed. "Look ma, not now okay." He let out a frustrated sigh. He knew how much his family liked Destiny but they had to accept the fact that they weren't together. "So you brought Destiny and my grandbabies up here knowing your girlfriend was coming too?" "Yeah, man. But it's not even like that. I invited my girl before I knew Des was coming." Adonis felt like a little kid who was being reprimanded by his mother. "Well, the minute you found out Des was coming, you should have canceled that other chick." Caroline was so disgusted by her son that she got up and left the room. "Look, I didn't know coming here would cause problems. I was just trying to make it better for AJ." Destiny was apologetic. "Nah, Des, you good, ma. But I need to go take care of something. I'll be back later." He stood to leave. "Okay." Destiny hated to see him leave because she knew he was going to meet up with Nikki. Yeah, she was actually jealous.

    Conflict. Lawlessness. An uncertain future in a strange place. The American republic has crumbled. Joshua Winston, a reluctant leader who had hoped to enjoy a quiet, peaceful retirement from politics, is forced off of the sidelines. Now, he must lead a group of Americans determined to survive in the dangerous new world they face. He takes great pains to steer his group clear of the chaos that reigns after the republic, but fears that the conflict will inevitably find its way to them.

    But under this surface perfection is a secret Hannah has tried to bury, one that rears its painful head each year on her birthday. When David Conway enters her life just as she turns thirty-eight, that secret will be exposed. Can Hannah's relationship with her husband and daughter survive when they discover she is not the person they thought her to be? Patricia Kay once again delivers an emotional story centering around family relationships, one of her favorite themes.

    Illuminating the way in which faith has influenced both her life and her writing, Karon also discusses her calling as an author—a calling she received early but took years to answer. Only an incredible leap of faith gave her the courage to give up all she had, risking everything to follow this call. Intimate, funny, and straight-from-the-heart, this eSpecial is a superb companion to Jan Karon’s novels, providing a revealing glimpse into the life of a novelist who has moved so many people with her words.

    Often her only contact with the outside world was through her two-way radio. Stretched to the limits, she achieved more than she ever thought herself capable of. With every setback and in the toughest of times when the odds seemed insurmountable, she learnt to dust herself off, find a smile and just keep on going. For eighteen years Jenny and Rick battled flood, drought, cyclones and personal hardship. Yet their world was a big as the landscape in which they lived, filled as it was with generosity, wonderful characters and the joy of life. At McAllister they established an oasis for their family and friends.Jenny's motto is: life throws many curve balls at us, but it's how we deal with them that counts. This is the extraordinary story of a woman of the bush and her indomitable spirit.

    We were colored girls in a white world that didn’t want us."  Born on the wrong side of a racial divide in apartheid-torn Cape Town, young sisters Ruby and Rose exist in a world where they are not welcome. As part of the Cape Colored community, they are considered socially inferior, yet even within their own social group the sisters live in the poor end of town. Their father was killed when they were very small, so when their mother dies after a protracted illness, Ruby and Rose’s fate falls into the hands of Aunt Olive. Ruby knows without being told that their aunt’s home will not be opened up to them – charity does not extend to the poor relations who would cast a smudge on such a respectable house. Aunt Olive condemns her nieces to the local orphanage, relieving her conscience with monthly invitations to Sunday lunch. In the orphanage the girls grow up sheltered from a divided world that they do not yet fully understand, but the day approaches when Ruby and Rose must forge their own paths in life and confront the lessons that apartheid enforces. Like the award-winning Dance with a Poor Man’s Daughter, this beautifully observed novel of sisterly love once again displays Pamela Jooste’s poignant understanding of human nature.

    Christmas Mystery of the HeartEscaping her past, Lady Sarah Sayers seeks a simple life as a governess. Her world is turned upside down when she meets the Duke of Huntington. Together, they must solve a mystery, but will they also find love in this troubled time?A Duke for ChristmasIsabella did not want to end up on Charles’ doorstep, but it might be exactly what both of them need… A clean, Regency romance to warm your heartChristmas Masquerade BallA Christmas tale of mystery and love from the Regency era to warm your heart!Christmas Mystery of LoveLady Amelia does not believe in true love, even when the dashing Earl of Swinford tries to win her affections. Will a dire situation help Lady Amelia open her heart to the possibility of romance? A Duke’s Heart for ChristmasAre second chances at love truly possible?A Dance at the Christmas BallMiss Madelene Blackmore has mixed emotions about Lord Langley. Will her feelings change at the Christmas Ball?Christmas WeddingA Regency Christmas tale of love to make you swoon.Christmas with an EarlA Regency Christmas romance to warm your heart.Conflicted HeartLady Jane is the envy of many. As the beautiful daughter of a duke, she has never had an absence of suitors. The Marquess of Greenshire has seemingly won her heart, but Jane is surprised that she cannot keep her thoughts from wandering to a certain baron with a questionable reputation. A Lady’s Christmas WeddingLady Lucy Fitzwilliam has been promised to the Duke of Selby, but after a daring rescue, her heart belongs to someone else. Christmas WishesWill Lady Charlotte be forced to marry the man of her family’s choosing, or will she follow her heart?Christmas Journey HomeA historical Christmas western for the holidays!Authors note: All stories included in this historical romance collection are stand-alone romances.

    This series is set in a newly fashionable spa town on the beautiful Cumbrian coast, where the great and the bad of visiting Regency society turn local life upside down. Passion, mystery, and scandal continue to follow the citizens of this wealthy enclave, now with an entire new group of social misfits. Regency Historical Romance has never been so adventurous - or so exciting! This set includes: The Wicked Marquis - The lady meets her match... and he's completely ineligible. The Wicked Governess - Can a governess teach a damaged hero? The Wicked Spy - Can her enemy melt her cold heart? The Wicked Gypsy - An old Blackhaven tragedy merges with a new quarrel. Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Books in the Blackhaven Series: The Wicked Baron The Wicked Lady The Wicked Rebel The Wicked Husband The Wicked Marquis The Wicked Governess The Wicked Spy The Wicked Gypsy The Wicked Wife Blackhaven Brides set, Books 1 - 4 Blackhaven Brides set, Books 5 - 8