Vicki had spent the intermission backstage, chatting with two of her favorite singers who would soon grace the stage once more as the booming baritone Magnifico and his daughter Angelina, a dazzling soprano whose career had reached new heights during these ten, high-profile New York performances.Vicki couldn’t conceal her delight at the absolutely full house. “I guess the new marketing firm really hit one out of the park,” she commented quietly to Martin as the lights dimmed. “All ten performances are sold out!”Her lawyer friend smiled. “It’s the inspired leadership they’ve been getting,” he replied. “New blood, new ideas. It’s just magnificent.” The maestro appeared at the edge of the orchestra pit and received enthusiastic applause. “Although even I would admit that Rossini’s genius might have something to do with it,” Martin said, raising his voice over the audience’s appreciation. “Still, you’ve broken the glass ceiling yet again, I would say. Bravo, Miss Vydra.”“You’re too kind,” she said, patting his hand as the strings stirred in a quiet but ominous tremolo, quickly ushering in a sudden and violent orchestral tutti, brassy and loud, which filled the huge auditorium with the dark ferocity of the storm it depicted. Vicki let the eruption pass through her, finding herself carried by its torrential force, allowing the moment to fill her with an awed respect for nature’s power. She knew that it could not last, and the audience was soon deposited kindly into the peaceful meadow of the storm’s passing. Horn calls signaled the all-clear and, as one can always expect from Rossini, the good humor and delicate, social fun-poking resumed.***Content warning: For adults only!***

    Grumpy. Irresistible.Dr Jake McBride loves two things in life. His people, and chicken cheesy-crust pies. Returning from Iraq, he’s done with medicine and strangers… in fact life. He knows all about trauma, and plans on dealing with his, his own way. His needs are simple, solitude and working on his new career as the town recluse. The only problem with that… well two actually, are the interfering towns folk of Lake Howling, and Branna O’Donnell. He’s damn sure that her return means nothing to him… until it does!THE TEXAN MEETS HIS MATCH (Ethan and Annabelle)Hot. Rich. Annoying.Helicopter pilot Ethan Gelderman V is a man who understands woman, both in and out of the bedroom. Annabelle ‘killer’ Smith seems to be the only lady who looks at him like he’s something she got stuck on her stiletto. Sexy, beautiful and colder than a glacier, she lives in the small town of Lake Howling alongside his best friend, and she has a lifetime supply of Texan repellent. But Ethan has one thing in his favor – persistence - and when he gets the chance to infiltrate her defenses he takes it, and to hell with the bite marks!HOW SWEET IT IS (Buster and Willow)Enemies to lovers. And dangerously hot buns.Buster Griffin has zero tolerance for idiots. Annoy him and you’re cut from his life. Unless you’re a friend, then you get two strikes. When Willow Harper from New York turns up in his home town of Lake Howling determined to meddle, he’s ready to move her on. The problems starts when her business woman persona sheds and he discovers the sweet, hot mess beneath. Before he knows it, he’s making plans to keep her.If you enjoy your small town romance sizzling with a side of crazy, then Lake Howling is for you. Meet the real authority in town (the local book club) and remember to stick your nose in everyone’s business! Swim in the ice cold lake, then warm up with a coffee and mystery muffin at The Hoot Café. Plenty of feels and LOL’s, all wrapped up in a town that will have you packing your bags to head there from the opening page. BOOKS IN THIS SERIESA Promise Of HomeThe Texan Meets His MatchHow Sweet It IsIt Only Took YouDon't Look BackA Long Way HomeThen Came You

    Endless thoughts of her best friend's betrayal and her tattered reputation follow her to the small town where she takes refuge. Luke Brand has a good life, though not a perfect one. A widower while he was still young, he chases off any threat to the memory of his young bride and the house they lived in together. Can Luke get over his stubbornness and follow his mother-in-law’s desire and God’s instruction to help the town’s newest resident? Between the infuriating hot and cold signals of her landlord's son and the sincere faith of those in her new circle, Charlotte is left questioning a lot more than how to take back her career. Can Luke let go of a bride viewed through the skewed lens of memory? Will Charlotte’s pride and ambition thwart her efforts to find happiness again? Or, can this time in the charming Indiana town of Minden spur healing for both Charlotte and Luke and help them find the way to a new life, together? Tara Grace Ericson's debut novel is a sweet inspirational romance that introduces readers to the idyllic Midwestern town of Minden. Themes include forgiveness, purpose, and community - presented throughout the story of friendship and romance that hints at the passion of true love.

    Previously Published Separately. Bundled For Your Convenience. Book 1: The Teacher’s Billionaire What starts out as a plan to keep a family secret out of the media soon turns into so much more for billionaire Dylan Talbot as he falls in love with elementary school teacher Callie Taylor. But when Callie learns the truth about her relationship with the confirmed bachelor only complete honesty can save their love. Book 2: The Billionaire Playboy Legendary playboy Jake Sherbrooke arrives in North Salem with one thing in mind, helping the town recover from a devastating hurricane. Once there though he meets Charlotte “Charlie” O’Brien, a doctor in the US Navy, and he cannot help but be attracted to her. But can a relationship between a billionaire playboy and a woman afraid to let any man get to close survive his reputation? Book 3: The Billionaire Princess Self-made Christopher Hall has always admired his best friend’s sister, Sara Sherbrooke, from afar but he’s never dared take it any further. At least not until a one night stand following Jake’s wedding makes him believe his attraction might not be one sided. Soon both must decide if their growing romance is worth the possible consequences.

    Winter's Kiss2. Maid for Him3. Love LettersWinter's KissShe's the city girl from Boston. He's the gift shop owner from the bay. Their worlds were never meant to collide.Maid for HimHe's from one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the bay.She's a maid.It was never meant to be.Love LettersHe's a ladies man. A charmer and a flirt.The chaser, not the chased. Until the arrival of anonymous love notes upsets the status quo.All the books in this series are sweet romances with a happy-ever-after, and each book can be read as a standalone.

     Get all the bad you need, right here in one collection! Step Bride I’m the mobster’s forbidden bride. I don’t know why he wanted to get married, but I couldn’t stop saying yes over and over again. And it gets worse. My crazy mother eloped with his mafia father. We’re one big happy family, right? I need to divorce him. I need to stop wanting him. I need to get out of this situation before both our families are torn to pieces. Bastard's Baby I had that bastard’s baby and now I need his help. The Russians are at war with the Italians, but I know Vince is my only chance. When I run away from home and ask him for help, I’m risking my life to save my son. If the cocky jerk Vince Mori can’t learn what it means to be a father, I might be totally screwed. Kissing the Killer The killer took me, but I won’t be his.  He came in the night, killed my abusive father, and carried me away. Now we’re on the run. If the mafia finds out what he did, we’ll both be finished. He destroys everything in his path. I know if I let him, he’ll ruin me too.  But I have to give myself over to him, or we both might end up dead. Packing Heat They want to kill me, but he wants to knock me up. Either way I’m screwed. Rafa says getting me pregnant will stop the mafia from coming after me. He says it’s the only way to protect me, but I’m worried he just wants to take my body again and again. I can’t say no. If I do, the mafia will kill me, and he’s the only one trying to protect me. But worst of all, part of me wants him to do it . . . Bow Down I want to take on the world, but that arrogant bastard just wants to take me. Young, tall, and handsome, Wyatt Carter is no normal politician. He’s a notorious former bad boy turned State Attorney General, and I need his help if I’m going to crush my father’s mafia. I'll bow down to him, but first he has to lay the world at my feet.

    Only she has no idea he's a billionaire and he has no idea what to do with the sassy girl he needs to shelter until the storm ends.Snowed In with the Billionaire is book 1 of 4 in the Ashley's Billionaire Series. Cliffhanger ending.New college graduate Ashley Spencer has big plans. Now that she has her degree she's ready to conquer the world, but while driving to a new city she gets caught in a snowstorm. Not used to that kind of weather and on an unfamiliar road, she slides into a snowbank and gets stuck. Good thing Colton Drake comes along and rescues her.All billionaire Colton Drake wants is a quiet weekend at his cabin to work and relax, but when he comes across a woman who's about to freeze to death on the side of the road, his plans are thrown into disarray. Ashley is completely different from the women he's used to and he's not quite sure what to do with her.Snowed in together until the weather clears, will Drake and Ashley be able to resist their growing attraction, or will unexpected love blossom amidst a spring snowstorm?Snowed In with the Billionaire was originally titled Snowbound and was published under the pen name Noelle Stevens. A number of changes have been made.

     Small-town romance. Hot truck drivers/mechanics. First and forever love. TRUCKER ANGEL I know what you're whispering in the car as you pass me by. Hitchhiker. When you see me walking along the side of the road with my thumb out, you'll probably keep driving without giving me a second glance. You probably think I'm foolish. Naïve. You might assume I've made some bad decisions. You might think I'm too young to be on my own. You might be right. TRAVIS I love my job, but driving an eighteen-wheeler comes with a certain stereotype. When you hear I’m a trucker, a specific image might come to mind. Uneducated. Dirty. Perverted. Rough around the edges and a little bit dangerous. But the truth is, I’m not any of those things. In fact, I’m pretty far from it. You’d be surprised to find out I’m one of the good guys. DANCER BRIELLE Technically, I’m not a stripper. As a cage dancer, I don’t take all my clothes off and no one gets to touch me. I’m just the eye candy. And I can feel their eyes on me. I know they’re watching, but I don’t do this for them. This is my time. My life may not have turned out the way I thought it would, but I’m not complaining. From 9pm to 1am several days a week I get paid to feel sexy, to feel desired, to do what I love. I always knew I wanted to be a dancer—I just didn’t realize I’d be doing it in a cage. COLTON Erectile dysfunction—two words that can cause a collective cringe from men everywhere. The doctors can call it ‘performance anxiety’ all they want, but that’s just a fancy way of saying my d*ck doesn’t work. Just when I start to think there’s no hope for me, I see her. She’s gorgeous, sexy, and goofy as f*ck. She also looks really familiar but I can’t put my finger on it. When I find out who she really is, my world is turned upside down and everything seems to fall into place. She’s not gonna make it easy for me, but I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. She’s convinced I won’t stick around. I’ll prove her wrong. I’ll show her I’m one of the good guys. DROPOUT MACKENNA I have everything I need to live out my dream of being a reclusive songwriter—my guitar, my notebook, and blissful silence. At least, I did until Jimmy moved in next door. He’s got bad news written all over him. And last time I got with a bad boy, it ended with me pointing a gun and pulling the trigger. Talk about going out with a bang. Jimmy makes me want things I shouldn’t want, which means I have two options: avoid him or piss him off. But no matter what I do he isn't fazed, and I'm quickly realizing there's more to Jimmy than I originally thought. JIMMY Over the past year, I’ve been called a lot of things. Slacker. Troublemaker. Party animal. I thought I was on top of the world. Turns out, I was pretty close to rock bottom. Now I have a new title: college dropout. But I’ve got a chance to redeem myself—one summer of squeaky-clean behavior at Grandma Beverly’s. Two months to prove I’m not a complete f*ck-up. And four rules to follow with the gorgeous girl next door.

    Breakups, makeups, drama in the halls, it’s all in a school day’s work. Jack is your all-American teenager experiencing the usual woes of his generation. Crazy parties, locker scenes, immaturity, and if that wasn’t enough, he’s got serious girl problems. It just so happens that Jack’s friend, Lidia, is having her own dating issues and the two of them come up with a plan to get back at their exes. Pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend and flaunt their incredible happiness to make their past loves jealous. The plan is brilliant and they put on the performance of their young lives. They have high hopes the ruse will be successful and they’ll be back with their original partners before too long. Things are going good for the new, happy couple. But over the course of the faux relationship, they discover each other's true personas and are drawn together despite the false pretenses. Their affection toward one another becomes something neither one expected; genuine. Growing in Love is a tender, coming-of-age story about forgiveness, loss of innocence; self-discovery; relationships of all kinds–including abusive–and teenage love and romance.

    and all night! A reclusive mountain man finds a beautiful amnesia victim in his cabin … A rancher helps a curvy city girl discover buried treasure … And it all wraps up in a heartwarming Christmas tale in which the Pinerock clan celebrate their bonds and get a chance to bring happiness to a new couple! This boxed set collects Mountain Guardian Bear, Hired Bear, and A Pinerock Bear Christmas. Watch the boys of Pinerock County's hard-living, hard-loving Circle B bear shifter clan and their curvy mates fight for their happy endings in this convenient boxed set from Zoe Chant! Inside you'll find steamy heat, thrilling action, and a guaranteed HEA for every couple.

    Read the first three books in the series: Maid for Love, Fool for Love and Ready for Love in this special offering. Book 1: Maid for LoveMaddie Chester is determined to leave her hometown of Gansett Island, a place that has brought her only bad memories and ugly rumors. Then she’s knocked off her bike on the way to her housekeeping job at McCarthy’s Resort Hotel by Gansett’s “favorite son,” Mac McCarthy. He’s back in town to help his father with preparations to sell the family resort and has no intention of staying long. When Mac accidentally sends Maddie flying over the handlebars, badly injuring her, he moves in to nurse her back to health and help care for her young son. He soon realizes his plans for a hit-and-run visit to the island are in serious jeopardy, and he just may be “maid” for love. Book 2: Fool for LoveJoe Cantrell, owner of the Gansett Island Ferry Company, has been in love with Janey McCarthy for as long as he can remember. At the same time, Janey has been dating or engaged to doctor-in-training David Lawrence. When things go horribly wrong between David and Janey, she calls her “fifth brother” Joe, one of the few people in her close circle who lives on the mainland. Janey decides a few days with Joe is just what she needs before she goes home to the island to face her parents and family with the news of her broken engagement. It was bad enough for Joe loving Janey from afar, but having her in his house is pure torture. Will he take advantage of this opportunity to show her what they could have together? And what will Joe’s best friend and Janey’s protective older brother Mac have to say about it? Book 3: Ready for LoveFor four of the best summers of his young life, Luke Harris was in love with Sydney Donovan, a wealthy seasonal visitor to Gansett Island. Then Sydney went off to college and never came back. She married another man and had two children while Luke remained on the island, working at McCarthy's Gansett Marina and wondering what had gone wrong between him and the only woman he ever loved. Fifteen months after Sydney suffers the tragic loss of her husband and children, she's returned to Gansett to figure out what's next, and that may very well be a rekindled love affair with the one man from her past she’s never forgotten. But is she ready for a second chance at love?Gansett Island Reading OrderMaid for Love (Mac & Maddie)Fool for Love (Joe & Janey)Ready for Love (Luke & Sydney)Falling for Love (Grant & Stephanie)Hoping for Love (Evan & Grace)Season for Love (Owen & Laura)Longing for Love (Blaine & Tiffany)Waiting for Love (Adam & Abby)Time for Love (Daisy & David)Meant for Love (Jenny & Alex)Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie)Gansett After Dark (Owen & Laura)Kisses After Dark (Shane & Katie)Love After Dark (Paul & Hope)Celebration After Dark (Big Mac & Linda)Desire After Dark (Slim & Erin)Light After Dark (Mallory & Quinn)Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)Kevin & Chelsea (Episode 2)A Gansett Island Christmas NovellaMine After Dark (Riley & Nikki)Yours After Dark (Finn & Chloe)Trouble After Dark (Deacon & Julia)Rescue After Dark (Mason & Jordan)

    Both are sweet, "clean" romances, and are prequels to the first full-length novel in the series - LOVE AT FIRST CLICK. HEARTS OVER BELLHAM - Hillary Johnson secretly admired handsome fellow firefighter, Tim Jacobs, for years. When the fire chief asks for volunteers to hang Valentine’s decorations over Main Street, Hillary’s hand shoots up immediately after Tim’s. Why pass up a golden opportunity to spend time with the guy she’s crushing on, just because she’s afraid of heights? Hillary battles her fear to prove to Tim, and to herself, that she can conquer it. After observing Hillary’s courage, Tim notices her – really notices her – for the first time. VALENTINE'S MAGIC After a dozen years of marriage, financial woes, and the possibility of losing their alpaca ranch, the honeymoon is over for Carol and Christopher Ridge. But the couple reconnects on Valentine’s Day, rediscovering their love for one another under the magical glow of the lighted hearts strung over Bellham’s Main Street. Could this be the launch of a new honeymoon phase for Carol and Christopher?

    That's what she really wanted to write. By the time her best friend, Josie, edited and clicked "Send," her personals ad was more fantasy than reality.OR WOULD SHE GET MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR?When two different guys -- Dylan Stanwyck and Mike Pine -- replied within two days, she seemed doubly blessed. After a first date with model-turned-firefighter Dylan that ended in bed -- and with a huge misunderstanding -- Laura came home from her Walk of Shame to an invitation for a hike with ski instructor Mike. The Great Outdoors became the setting for so much more...Caught between two men -- literally -- who turned out to be roommates and secret billionaires, Laura makes a startling discovery about her own capacity for passion.And, maybe, long-term love in an unconventional romance with two men that pushes every boundary.Including her own.This 122,000 word/450 page boxed set includes all four parts of the Her Billionaires series (Her First Billionaire, Her Second Billionaire, Her Two Billionaires, Her Two Billionaires and a Baby).

     Get all four books for a limited time. Each book is an interconnected standalone. Blitzed: “I brought Laurie back to meet her father. I brought her back to meet you.” I’m normally not into jocks, but when Troy Wood asks me out, I feel like I’m the Chosen One. After all, he’s hot as hell and Silver Lake’s best athlete, practically the King of Campus. God’s gift to women—that’s what they call him, but I’ll make a gentleman out of him. Everything is perfect, and he already practically has his ticket to the Big Leagues. There’s just one little problem . . . I’m hiding a secret that could destroy him and his future. I can’t tell him . . . I can’t tell him that I’m pregnant with his baby. Over the Middle: O. M. G. That’s the only thing on my mind when I’m assigned to help superstar tight end, Duncan Hart, rehab his elbow. With a body that looks like a sculpted masterpiece, his chiseled features melt the hearts of women everywhere, including mine. There’s just one problem. Duncan’s an jerk, with an ego the size of our football stadium. He lives for the roar of the crowd. He thrives on it. And he wants to let me experience the Hart Attack — yes, he has a name for it. But that’s not going to happen. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself… All’s fair in love and war, and I have two choices — take him down, or let him score. Rushed: They say opportunity doesn't knock twice… Yet here comes Tyler Paulson, crashing through the door of my life. I know he’ll be trouble, but I can’t escape that smile… He's our new hot shot quarterback, and I’m supposed to show him around the city, but what I really want to do is show him how much I’ve grown up. Except there's one little problem. If I screw this up, I'm out of a job. So I have to be professional. No frisky business, and no mixing business with pleasure. But Tyler doesn’t play by the rules. He’s used to getting what he wants. I’ll have to resist and not give him the upper hand, but it’ll only be a matter of time before he scores his second chance. Fourth Down Baby: He tempted me and I couldn’t resist. Now I’m having his baby. It all started out innocent. Cory helped me around the house, and I mentored him, but then things changed. I started to see desire in his eyes, and I have to admit, I liked it. I know it isn't right, but I can't help myself. He makes me feel alive again. But being with him isn’t healthy. We come from different worlds. I should let him go—let him live his life. I’ll only hold him back and keep him from achieving his dreams. It was supposed to be a fling with the forbidden. I only wanted to indulge, nothing more. I planned to say goodbye before anything got out of hand. But now I can’t… because I’m pregnant with his baby.

    I just didn’t realize how tangled up it would become with the one man I was supposed to avoid at all costs… Ashley: Working for an eccentric boss in his mansion while I’m trying to finish college? It’s a piece of cake. But I never expected my new boss to be my best friend’s ex-fiancé—the one man who dumped her and left her hurt and broken. I’m prepared to hate him. I’m prepared to be cold to him. What I’m not prepared for is a man who is the complete opposite of what I’d always expected. He loves his daughter with all his heart. He’s warm. He’s caring. He’s sinfully sexy. And he’s interested. Suddenly things are not as easy as they seem—especially when a certain situation has us pretending to be a couple, and I’m no longer able to fight the temptation… Scott: Personal assistants are supposed to be bland, no-nonsense nerds. They’re not supposed to be pretty, sweet ladies that distract you beyond your wits’ end. My personal assistant is gorgeous. Efficient. Fierce. And forbidden. She’s my ex-fiance’s best friend. She’s too young for me. She’s a complication I don’t need. Except she’s the one complication I can’t seem to resist…