Carl Lewis has little joy in his life. He’s recently struggled through a painful divorce, has partial custody of his two kids, and is learning to rearrange his schedule so work as a detective is no longer first. It’s not easy. Then he meets his new neighbor, Vincent Androse, an openly gay firefighter who just went through a bad break-up of his own. He gives the man a hand moving furniture, and they strike up a friendship that starts to fill holes in Carl’s life he didn’t even know were there. Vincent moves to get away from his cheating ex-boyfriend, Lonnie. His new house is big and empty, and he finds himself enjoying the Friday night BBQs with his new friend, Carl, even with the man’s kids there. When Lonnie shows up, begging for him to come back, again, and refuses to leave, Carl steps in, pretending to be the new boyfriend. Vincent discovers Carl can kiss—really kiss, and he starts wanting things the straight cop can’t give him. Can he?

    Life is tough, but thankfully, her ex father-in-law (formerly the town sheriff) remains her staunchest supporter, always lending a hand to assure Holly and her children have what they need.When handsome new undersheriff, Matt Sanders, moves to town, she is embarrassed that their initial meeting happens on the roadway, when he pulls her over for speeding. He’s stern-faced and all-business, but Holly discovers there’s a heart of gold behind the badge.Thanks to her former father-in-law, who has known Matt’s family for years, the undersheriff becomes a fixture in the family’s lives. Holly finds herself relying on him more and more, but soon decides it’s unfair to cast him in the role of “knight in shining armor.” She is determined to stand on her own two feet and ultimately pushes him away. Matt wants a future with Holly, but wonders, can he convince her he’s ready to commit? And if he does, will she ever be able to fully trust again?

    Two problems-he doesn't remember a thing that happened and now she's pregnant. Toni Langston has been in love with Simon, her best friend, for years. The night Simon breaks up with his long time girlfriend, he and Toni make love. Toni is devastated and humiliated when, in the heat of the moment, he calls her by his girlfriend's name. The next morning, Simon remembers nothing of the previous night and Toni is only too relieved not to remind him. Two months later, she discovers she's pregnant. She wants Simon to love her, apart from any obligation he might feel because of the baby. So she embarks on a quest to seduce her best friend, to make him see her as more than a little sister, to make him love her as much as she loves him. It works. Maybe too well. Now when things are perfect, she faces telling him of the secret she's kept.

    He can’t resist doing a body shot—or six—and a fiery night leads to a morning filled with questions. Like who is she and where can he find her again?Following a bad breakup, Hanna works hard to keep men at arms’ length, but she can’t get Jagger out of her head. Showing up at firehouse’s building repairs fundraiser definitely isn’t a good idea. Neither is winning his services, which happens to be a day of yard work. Or maybe she’s made the right decision after all—she does have a bush to be trimmed.Two nights with Hanna leads to more, and he’s distracted enough to make a critical error in judgment on a five-alarm blaze. He walks right past the arsonist, believing the man a victim. Throwing himself into finding the criminal means Hanna is back to feeling neglected and unimportant in the only relationship she’s taken a chance on forever.As more and more arson fires pop up over the city, Jagger has no choice but to fight them. Which leaves Hanna worried for his safety and wondering why she took a chance on a fireman of all people. But he can’t ignore the blazing inferno of lust raging out of control between him and Hanna either. Can he strike a match of understanding in her before she runs out of his life, or will his superhero ways sever his chances forever?

     Meg Alexander has temporarily—and reluctantly—returned to her home of Crescent Cove, California. Last time she’d been on this beach she’d called herself Starr and saw only bright skies ahead. Then tragedy struck and she’d run from all that was familiar, the happy-go-lucky girl becoming a sadder-but-wiser woman. Now family obligations have brought her back and she’s determined to make it through the month with grit and grace. She only falters when one day she looks up—and loses her breath. Caleb McCall has never forgotten the summer he spent at Crescent Cove and the beautiful girl who’d laughed and played there. Eager for a break from his workaholic ways, he rents one of the surfside bungalows and discovers his landlady is none other than the one woman who has never faded from his memory. Clearly, though, Meg is wary and even their instant chemistry doesn’t let down her guard. But Caleb has learned there’s no time like the present to grab the opportunities life presents, so he’s willing to fight for what he wants…the total surrender of Meg’s heart. Get the whole series! Almost Wonderful (Almost Book 1) Almost Always (Almost Book 2), coming soon! Almost Everything (Almost Book 3), coming soon! Almost Paradise (Almost Book 4), coming soon! Christie Ridgway is the author of over 50 novels of contemporary romance. All her books are both sexy and emotional and tell about heroes and heroines who learn to believe in the power of love. A USA Today bestseller, Christie is a six-time RITA finalist and has won best contemporary romance of the year and career achievement awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews. A native of California, Christie now resides in the southern part of the state with her family. Inspired by the beaches, mountains, and cities that surround her, she writes tales of sunny days and steamy nights.

    And the worst part is, it's sort of true. Together they make a pact: they'll face down their fears—and maybe show Miss Perfect a thing or two!A Free SpiritMaddy was always the artistic one of the group, alive with color and mischief from her saucy red curls to her vintage hippie skirts. Her challenge, the friends decide, is to get her artwork accepted at a gallery. A job as arts director at a summer camp near Santa Fe—with its multitude of galleries—seems like a start in the right direction.A Reformed Bad BoyThere’s just one catch: The camp is run by Maddy’s high school flame, Joe, whose heart she broke—okay, smashed—and his anger towards Maddy hasn’t cooled one bit. But neither has their attraction.A Perfect Match?Old desires burn hotter than ever as Joe makes it clear there’s only one way back to his heart: She has to get serious about her art. But will falling in love help or hinder Maddy as she struggles to meet her challenge?

    Everything would be perfect if it wasn't for the tiny detail that his bride-to-be is freaking out big time. And trying to hide it from him. Tate Cooper is losing it. She loves James with all her heart and wants to be married to him; it's the getting married that's killing her. Still grieving the loss of her father and brother,and totally overwhelmed by the wedding arrangements, she's in full emotional meltdown. But James deserves a happy bride, not a high-maintenance, sorrow-filled, guilt-stricken one, and, by God, she's going to give him that, even if she has to paste on a smile and fake it till she makes it. James doesn't know whether to be amused or pissed. He understands she's running scared, but there is no way in hell he's going to allow this to continue; he's going to push her to confront her fears until she happily embraces their ever after.

    Nevada wilderness. Ignoring posted No Trespassing signs and the property's angry owner, she dismisses his threats and demands that he reveal her missing brother's location.Nicholas Benteen, ex-mercenary and former CIA covert operative, assumes she is yet another adversary intent on exacting lethal revenge for his past deeds. He will fight to the death to protect the sanctuary he has created for himself and those from his past he has vowed to safeguard. Even as Hannah penetrates Nicholas's isolation and melts the ice that encases his weary heart, she is seduced by the sensual, battle scarred veteran and the dark secrets of his past.

    She's much more comfortable playing the romantic lead in front of a packed house onstage than in her own life. So when NFL star and alluring ladies' man Brandon McKenna acts as her personal white knight, she has no illusions that he'll stick around. However, a misunderstanding with the press throws them together in a fake engagement that yields unexpected (and breathtaking) benefits.Every time Brandon calls her "Sugar," Emily almost believes he's playing for keeps—not just to score. Can she let down her defenses and get her own happily ever after?