They are joined there by slaves fleeing cruel plantation owners. One such slave is Calida, who once saved the life of the war chief Panther, and who witnessed her master murder his wife. Soon, Panther and Calida are deeply in love--with enemies closing in on both sides.

    A road-weary gunslinger with a ruthless reputation, he focuses only on his next target—and his next payday. That is, until a young boy offers Chance everything he owns—a piece of string, a harmonica, and a bent penny—if he'll save his sister from a couple of thugs. Chance agrees, only to discover that the beautiful, fierce young woman in need of rescue is actually the very person he's been hunting: his next mark.But after he saves her, Lillian Madison awakens in him long-buried dreams and possibilities. Facing the demons of his past, Chance is forced to question his next move. Dare he risk everything by following his heart … and trust that the road to redemption begins with Lillian?Originally appeared in the print anthology To Tame a Texan, under the title Long Stretch of Lonesome.

    She is kind, but everyone fears her—her eyes being of two different colors—and she grows up concealing a rebellious heart. In the middle of a harrowing chase through the forest, Kate first meets Fire Hawk, who dispatches the pack of ravenous wild dogs that were attacking her. Fire Hawk lives on Kate’s fiancé’s property as an indentured servant and everyone treats him disdainfully as a savage. When Fire Hawk and Kate gaze into each other’s eyes, their souls become one. THE CHOSEN OF THE CHEROKEE Fire Hawk is a Cherokee prince who carries the destiny of being “Chosen of the Cherokee,” the one who must lead and defend his tribe. He has secretly been sent to England by his tribe on a mission to learn the ways of those they must someday fight. Fire Hawk must find a way to journey back to his homeland. But his heart will not let him leave without Kate, for their savage passion burns like forbidden fire. REVIEWS OF FIRE HAWK’S BRIDE 4.08 average rating, 72 ratings, 8 reviews, added by 206 people, 56 to-reads, 94% of people like it—Goodreads 4.5 out of 5 stars (45 customer reviews)—Amazon “Ms. French’s Indian romances are always wonderful, but FIRE HAWK’S BRIDE is her best yet!”“Usually Indian romances take place in the west and this was so different! This book was historically correct in the Native American research and had such a compelling love story... Having Cherokee blood in our family, I know that they were a beautiful people with an amazing culture. Kate and Fire Hawk fell in love from the first day they met, but had many trials and reasons that they could not be together. Four hundred years ago, Europeans hardly believed that American Indians were human. I loved the way that Kate and Fire Hawk saved each other over and over, and I wanted her to run away with him. Loved this book. The ending was exciting and left me thinking about the story for days. A real keeper!”—Az Val, Kindle Edition, Verified Purchase“A must read!”--Romantic Times“Wonderful…This powerful novel will leave you breathless!”Affaire de Coeur“Great storytelling with well-drawn characters and rich historical detail….”—Regan Walker, Goodreads ABOUT JUDITH E. FRENCH Judith E. French captures the essence of passion and brings her special characters alive in her award-winning and bestselling historical romances. She is the mother of bestselling novelist Colleen French. Judith’s novels have been translated into French, Spanish, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Bulgarian, and Mandarin. Many of her historical romances are inspired by her Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English and Lenni-Lenape ancestry rooted in the region around the Chesapeake Bay, where the French family has made its home for more than 300 years. Judith E. French’s novels appeal to readers of Christi Caldwell, Mary Balogh, C. J. Petit, Shirleen Davies, Karen Kay, Madeline Baker, Elle Marlow, Ellen O'Connell, Vonna Harper, Kathryn Le Veque, Colleen French, Julie Garwood, Cecelia Mecca, Caroline Fyffe, and Hannah Howell.

    Augustus King. He's got the brains and the muscle to keep the townspeople cowed, so no one stands up to him.Except The Black Ace.This masked vigilante swoops out of the hills with six-guns blazing, protecting the town from Mr. King's machinations and economic ruin. He's a local hero, a folk legend, and everyone—including Regina Vickers, the daughter of the town doctor—would love to know is identity.With her father under King's control, Regina is the only doctor available when Hart's grandfather falls ill. At his ranch outside of town, he's handed the opportunity to spend more time with the woman he's always loved.But between King's suspicions, a sick grandfather, the arrival of a mysterious child, and Hart's midnight masquerades as The Black Ace, there's not going to be anything "typical" about this courtship at all. If Hart wants to play such a dangerous game, it's time for him to ante up!******The Black Aces series is the sequel to the Sunset Valley series. If you've been anxious to discover all you can about this mysterious vigilante, you're in for a wild ride!

     When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice--even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him. Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost. Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle's suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there. Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man?

    But Hawk is no ordinary cowboy. He carries a powerful secret. A secret that leads to betrayal.Dark Warrior: To Tame a Wild Hawk is the first book in the Dark Cloth Series. It was 3rd in Amazon's Free Top 100 and was Amazon's paid Top 100 for over 3 weeks running.

    If she survived Uncle Jackson, she can survive anyone.When Sky Jordan hears that his nefarious cousin has sent for a mail-order bride, he knows he has to prevent the marriage. No woman deserves to be left to that fate. Still, he’s as surprised as anyone to find himself standing next to her before the minister.Brooke’s new husband turns out to be kinder than any man has ever been. But then the unthinkable happens and she holds the key that might save innocent lives but destroy Sky all in one fell swoop. It’s a choice too unbearable to contemplate…but a choice that must be made.A thirsty soul. Alluring hope. An Oasis of love.Step into a day when outlaws ran free, the land was wild, and guns blazed at the drop of a hat.

    BUT THE ONE WHO KNOWS THEM BEST MAY HAVE OTHER PLANS ...Abigail Stanton's whole life was rooted in her faith, a faith she now clings to solely to survive. In the wake of losing her husband and young son, Abby sets out alone, bereft and heartsick, to discover what God wants her to do. When he leads her to Conor MacKay's doorstep, though, the very foundation of her beliefs starts to shift.As the volatile rancher's new housekeeper, Abby is supposed to keep his affairs --- and his equally capricious little girl --- in order. Why, then, does she feel confusion, passion, desire, and anything but order every time they are together? Conor tries to hide his own seething emotions beneath a cold facade, but there is something about his prim new housekeeper that sets him on edge. And the more ruthlessly he attacks Abby's faith, the more his defenses crack.As Abby and Conor draw closer to the flame of their attraction, they must grapple with their deepest beliefs and fears. In opening their hearts again, both risk even greater loss for a chance at the greatest love of all.

    It’s an attempt to regain her self-worth after years of a loveless, repressive marriage to her late husband. But the private portrait puts her directly in the path of Morgan St. Claire, one of the Marlborough Set’s most notorious seducers. A man who doesn’t take no for an answer.From the first moment Morgan sees Julia’s portrait, he’s determined to have her. But the woman he meets is a far cry from the image on canvas. What starts out as a simple exercise in seduction quickly evolves into a quest to reveal the true Julia. With each sensual encounter, he employs every erotic weapon at his disposal in hopes of making Julia see she really is the woman in Love's Portrait.

    When her would-be hero turns out to be an impostor, that doesn't make him any less dangerous, because now rather than losing her assets, she's in danger of losing her heart!

    But after a vengeance-seeking Indian attacked her stage threatening her with a fate worse, than death, the tempestuous girl yearned for her parents' overbearing rules....until the savage's cruel grip changed to a tantalizing touch! His sensuous caress banished all ties to the past, the exciting things he did with his lips made her yearn for an unknown fulfillment. From that moment the spirited innocent knew that her future was bound to his - and she'd cherish whatever relationship the uncivilized brave decided to have with her. FORBIDDEN DESIRES From the years he was forced to live in Texas, the handsome half-breed Iron Knife knew how deceptive palefaces could be. Surely this creamy-skinned, blue-eyed beauty was no different. But even as he tried to brutally punish her for her heritage, he was ensnared by the hip-length strands of wheat-hued tresses, enchanted by the firm curves of her nubile white body. Before the ruthless warrior could control himself, he was whispering of love, swearing there'd be no others. He could never marry this ignoble slave, but he'd sooner slay her than ever give up his bewitching....CHEYENNE CAPTIVE.

    His neighbor Rosamund tries desperately to bring him back from the brink of despair, but the beastly young duke fights her every step of the way. His feelings for her deepen, and when she departs for London, he vows to regain his health and woo her properly. Unfortunately, she disappears before he has the chance.Rosamund is admired and praised as a mannequin for an exclusive London modiste, but her life is empty without the man to whom she gave her heart. Now, just when happiness seems within her grasp, jealous rivals conspire to ruin her dreams.Can a beastly duke and a beautiful mannequin ever achieve a fairytale ending?

    He's been too busy helping to provide for his family. Now that he's heading west, Dex is hoping to start a family of his own. However, his attempt to acquire a mail-order bride fails miserably when the lady writes back ridiculing his terrible spelling. Rachel Oliver may be the last person he wants to know what a dunce he is, but she's also the smartest woman in town--and it's clear he needs her help.Rachel Oliver has lingered in town for three years secretly mooning over Dex Stanton, but now she's done. If the fool wants to write to a mail-order bride company, so be it. Once she begins giving Dex lessons, however, Rachel realizes she may not be prepared to give up just yet.As their time together runs short, can two of the most stubborn people in town set aside their pride long enough to find love?Love by the Letter is a companion novella to A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears's full-length debut novel available fall 2013. Includes an extended sneak peek at A Bride for Keeps.

    Although the proud Yankee was prepared to face any hardship on her journey to Fort Bridger, she was horrified to learn that single women weren't welcome on any wagon train. Desperate to cross the plains, Ashley decided to pay the first bachelor willing to pose as her husband. Then the fiery redhead came across a former Johnny Reb in the St. Joe's jail, and she couldn't think of any man she'd rather marry in name only. But out on the rugged trail, Tanner MacTavish quickly proved too intense, too virile, too dangerous for her peace of mind. And after Tanner stole a passionate kiss, Ashley knew that, even though the Civil War was over, a new battle was brewing -- a battle for the heart that she might be only too happy to lose.

    There she meets Fire Dancer. A red man. A savage. The most glorious man she has ever laid eyes on. She dares to paint Fire Dancer’s portrait against his wishes and scandalously meets him at a cool brook nearby...HIS PROUD BEARINGFire Dancer, Prince of the Shawnee Nation, is at Fort Belvadere to negotiate peace with the King’s Army during the French and Indian War. He has never met a portrait artist, let alone a white woman like Mackenzie, and now a war rages within him. He forbade her to paint his portrait, lest she steal his soul. But he cannot stop her from stealing his heart.When a King’s soldier is murdered outside the Fort, Fire Dancer is imprisoned and beaten. After Mackenzie reveals she was with Fire Dancer at the time of the murder, she is locked in her room.THEIR FIERY PASSIONFire Dancer escapes and goes to say goodbye to Mackenzie. “Let this man in,” he whispers. “There is not much time, woman of my heart.”Mackenzie watches as Fire Dancer comes in through the window. “What have they done to you?”“Shhh, it is nothing,” he murmurs. “We must speak softly.”“Fire Dancer,” Mackenzie whispers. She kisses him softly on the mouth.“This man will never forget you.” He kisses her back, harder, and pulls her closer.