A life of misery looms ahead.But, no. There is hope. Deep in the Black Forest, in the Great Duchy of Baden, stands Celia's inheritance. Among fir trees so dark they almost look black, The Castle of Wolfenbach rises. It is a fortress of solitude, of secrets, of old wounds and older mysteries. But it is hers. And only one thing stands in her way: its former master, the hermit, the enigma . . . the man she is obliged to marry.

    En route to Washington she eludes a sinister pursuer by darting into a Pullman compartment, and there finds herself confronted with Van Tyler, a young Congressman and a 'rock-ribbed, girl-resistant bachelor.'

    Not until she herself came to Menfreya as a bride did Harriet discover the secret family legend of infidelity, jealousy and murder. And not until the legend seemed to come dangerously to life did Harriet begin to believe the old story that when the tower clock of Menfreya stopped, someone was about to die . . .

    -- The only major collection of criticism on widely studied fictional figures from world literature-- Brings together a diverse array of the finest critical writing from around the world-- Includes Harold Bloom's essay "The Analysis of Character" and introductory essays on title characters

    M. Kaye, Death in Kashmir is a wonderfully evocative mystery ...When young Sarah Parrish takes a skiing vacation to Gulmarg, a resort nestled in the mountains above the fabled Vale of Kashmir, she anticipates an entertaining but uneventful stay. But when she discovers that the deaths of two in her party are the result of foul play, she finds herself entrusted with a mission of unforeseen importance. And when she leaves the ski slopes for the Waterwitch, a private houseboat on the placid shores of the Dal Lake near Srinagar, she discovers to her horror that the killer will stop at nothing to prevent Sarah from piecing the puzzle together.

    Oh, the normal elements are there, hot alpha males who certainly aren’t shy in the bedroom, but as well as the usual adversaries, the bikers end up facing some of the social issues in today’s world.Disability, sex trafficking, grooming of young girls, racism, and overcoming the grief of losing a partner form the various backgrounds that these bikers have to face in order to win the woman they want to ride with through life.Each book has been written as a standalone, but the best experience is gained by reading the books in order.Turning Wheels:Turning Wheels is the introduction to the club, seen through the eyes of Sophie, a disabled Englishwoman who comes under their protection. Scared and nervous, still coming to terms with being wheelchair bound, she is forced into the world of an American MC, meeting the men and learning to trust them.Wraith, the VP, is determined to show Sophie her disability doesn’t define her. To do so, he has to protect her from enemies both from outside the club and within, as well as help her overcome the demons in her past.Drummer’s BeatThe president of the Satan’s Devils hasn’t yet found a woman strong enough to be his partner in life, until he meets Sam broken down by the side of the road. Drummer helps a fellow biker, though when he learns she’s claiming to be the daughter of one of his members, he doesn’t believe her. It’s well known Viper can’t have kids, so she must be lying.He fights his attraction, only admitting he wants her after she’s taken by a sex trafficking ring. It’s a race against time for him to find her, and claim her.Slick RunningElla had performed a service for the club, but no one knew how much it had cost her. Slick had claimed her a few months back, only for her to inexplicably leave him. When she needs help, he refuses. You only fool Slick once.But the club owes her, and as Slick learns what made her run from him, he becomes determined to fight to get her back. The Satan’s Devils are faced with breaking up a child grooming ring in order to rescue Ella’s young sister.Targeting DartA confirmed bachelor, Dart fights his attraction to Alex, a curvy black girl. All he can offer is friendship to the woman who’s fighting for the life of her sick child.But when her violent ex catches up with her. Dart has to face up to his feelings, and take on responsibilities he hadn’t expected, both in his personal life, and his role in the club.Heart BrokenDestroyed by the death of his wife, Heart goes on a journey from which he has no intention of returning. But the voice on the phone keeps him going. The voice of a cop who, strangely, seems to understand the emotional journey he’s going through.Months pass. When he gets the chance to join his wife, to his surprise, Heart wants to live. He owes that to the cop. But cops and outlaw bikers can’t possibly have a relationship.

    Meet the Wilds, four sinfully sexy billionaires who’ll burn up the sheets, stealing hearts one leading lady at a time.If raw emotions, cursing, dirty-talk, or intense, passionate sex that sometimes includes a silk tie, turn you off, then the After Dark books are not for you. *NO CLIFFHANGERS* BOXED SET CONTAINS: Four (4) novella-length steamy love stories featuring alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. Please note that the follow-on series, BAD BOYS AFTER DARK are all full-length novels.WILD BOYS AFTER DARK: LOGAN (Book 1)WILD BOYS AFTER DARK: HEATH (Book 2)WILD BOYS AFTER DARK: JACKSON (Book 3)WILD BOYS AFTER DARK: COOPER (Book 4) LOGAN:Navy SEAL vet turned private investigator Logan Wild has a thirst for justice — and one-time flings. But when he meets Stella “Stormy” Knight, he finds himself craving more from the mysterious beauty… Stella “Stormy” Knight is an expert at hiding—her feelings, her past, and her identity. Sometimes all that hiding takes its toll, and she needs to come out from under that heavy suit of armor and cut loose—but it never takes her long to put it right back on and disappear without a trace.Navy SEAL vet turned private investigator Logan Wild is relentless in his pursuit to discover the truth for his clients. He works hard, plays even harder, and always walks away unscathed and untethered. Until he meets mysterious and sexy-as-hell Stormy, who leaves him craving more than a one-night stand.Passion ignites, secrets are shared, and their deep connection is impossible to ignore. But in order to have a future, Logan must uncover Stormy’s dark past—and when he does, he’ll hold her fate in his hands.HEATHNo last names. No strings. No ties.Except of the silk variety.Dr. Heath Wild and Allyson Jenner only wanted a simple tryst. But Heath couldn’t live with just one night, just one taste, of Ally—and Ally couldn’t escape the memory of his hands on her skin, the way he looked at her like she was his obsession, or his seduction, which had pushed her to the edge and had made her want to do things she never had before.One night leads to one tantalizing phone call. Can one phone call lead to forever?JACKSONReceiving a marriage proposal is supposed to make a women happy, but when Erica Lane receives a beautiful marriage proposal from her perfect boyfriend on the eve of her annual camping trip with her best friend, Jackson Wild, the first thing she does is jump into bed with Jackson.Jackson’s all too happy to screw the annoyance out of Erica. After all, they’ve always screwed the hell out of each other when they were bored or angry, lonely, or too damn drunk to see straight.But the marriage proposal changes everything, and their annual camping trip takes unexpected turns. Will a few nights in the wilderness set these friends with benefits free, or lead them on a path of destruction?COOPERFour years ago at a film festival, Cici Fine met Cooper Wild, a man who turned her world upside down in the span of one deliciously perfect week. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of: sinfully sexy, intelligent, and incredibly loving. When the festival ended, they returned to their own hometowns with promises of forever. But Cooper disappeared, and Cici was left to raise the daughter he never knew about alone.Cooper is finally thinking straight after years of being lost in grief from the tragedy that killed his father and left his mother blind. Now he’s on a mission to find the woman he left behind—the only woman he’s ever loved.But Cici Fine is no longer a naive young girl. She’s a savvy businesswoman with big responsibilities, on the cusp of a life-changing move. When fate brings the two together, they’ll put the old adage to the test and find out if love really can conquer all.Read the whole Billionaires After Dark series:BAD BOYS:DylanMickCarsonBrettThe BILLIONAIRES AFTER DARK series are part of the LOVE IN BLOOM big family romance collection. Each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, or as part of the series.

    To Daniel Morgan, self-made millionaire and reluctant playboy, young Liza Hanford was that rarest of all creatures - an efficient, compassionate and discreet private secretary. So discreet in fact that he never knew that for eight heart-wringing years Liza had been in love with him.It was hardly the kind of proposal to set a girl cloud-walking, but to Liza it opened the door to a new life . . . and perhaps he just might learn to love her.To all appearances it was a true Cinderella story. But underneath the pleasant surface dark shadows of Daniel's past began to emerge. Suddenly this unspoken menace exploded and threatened not only Liza's marriage but her husband's life.

    — He was the last Lord of Eden Castle, Thomas Eden, a man of brooding desire and sudden passion ... — She was his servant girl, Marianne Locke, the fiery young beauty who would rather submit to the cruel kiss of the whip than suffer the lust of a man she did not love...From the wild Devonshire coast to the glittering literary salons of London, the tumultuous union of these two proud people hazed a raging tempest of enduring love.

     On a storm-shrouded island, ghosts of the past threaten to kill again. Sheeva Desmond always believed she’d marry for love. But when she’s left penniless after her parents’ deaths and her fiancé cancels their wedding, she’s convinced love is a fairy tale. Desperate to find a way to support herself, she takes a position as governess to a troubled mute boy. She never expects to lose her heart to the boy’s handsome father. Or to become entangled in a deadly mystery.Ronan Quinn, Master of Rathlin Island, spent years in an unhappy marriage. When his faithless wife threatens to leave him and is later found dead, he blames himself for not keeping her safe. He’s left with a hardened heart and a devastated young son. The beautiful governess he hires may have the courage to help his son and to heal Ronan’s soul. But a murderer from his past haunts the shadows and threatens them all. ˃˃˃ Warning: Mistress of Raghery contains restless ghosts, misty cliffs, mysterious smugglers and a woman who will challenge them all to win the heart of the man she loves. Novel length, approximately 77,000 words. Scroll up and grab a copy today.

    It is appropriate that it gives its title to these tales ranging from horror and the supernatural to science fiction, from the writer who has been justly termed "Princess Royal of Heroic Fantasy."Here you will find unforgettable encounters of men and beasts - of dragons and unicorns, cats and seals, virgins and vampires. This is truly a feast of treasures for everyone whose taste runs to a gourmet imagination.

    But suddenly, their father was dead--and worse--revealed as a notorious jewel thief.Forced from their home, shamed, and virtually penniless, they began their lives again in London, unaware that they held the secret to a fabulous fortune...

    However the passions of the white masters and their restless slaves, on the brink of emancipation, are at boiling point. As hurricane winds and forbidden drums sweep the island, all secrets are laid bare.

    I could barely put the book down until its equally heart-wrenching and heart-warming ending. A wonderful, smart and funny book - I know readers will absolutely love it' Louise Fein, bestselling author of People Like UsThe Willows have been through a lot. Louise has devoted her life to caring for her disabled youngest daughter. Pete works abroad, almost never seeing his loved ones. And their eldest, Eliza, is burdened by all the secrets she's trying to keep from her overloaded family.Meanwhile, Patience observes the world while trapped in her own body. She laughs, she cries, she has opinions and knows what she wants. But those who love her most - and make every decision about her life - will never know.Or will they? When the Willows are offered the opportunity for Patience to take part in a new gene therapy trial to cure her Rett syndrome, they face an impossible dilemma. Are the very real risks worth the chance of the reward, no matter how small?'An extraordinary novel about love and hope and family and what happens in the space between the words. I adored it' Kirsten Hesketh, author of Another Us

    But Meredith Starling will hear none of it. Instead she finds it enchanting. Though prone to accidents and mishaps, Meredith rides by the Hall at every opportunity. For her the rundown manor evokes a grander time. She looks past the broken gate and moss covered statues and sees the imposing facade’s elegant lines and graceful charm. In fact, she is determined to see inside. But Colonel Alistair Thorne rebuffs all callers without exception—and not for the sake of being a recluse. He avoids women because of his family curse. The master of Dredthorne is doomed to fall in love with a lady who spends a night at the Hall. Though love would be welcome, its consequences would not. All of the mistresses of Dredthorne have vanished, gone mad, or suddenly died.