And certainly what Melville did for whaling Austen does for marriage--tracing the intricacies (not to mention the economics) of 19th-century British mating rituals with a sure hand and an unblinking eye. As usual, Austen trains her sights on a country village and a few families--in this case, the Bennets, the Philips, and the Lucases. Into their midst comes Mr. Bingley, a single man of good fortune, and his friend, Mr. Darcy, who is even richer. Mrs. Bennet, who married above her station, sees their arrival as an opportunity to marry off at least one of her five daughters. Bingley is complaisant and easily charmed by the eldest Bennet girl, Jane; Darcy, however, is harder to please. Put off by Mrs. Bennet's vulgarity and the untoward behavior of the three younger daughters, he is unable to see the true worth of the older girls, Jane and Elizabeth. His excessive pride offends Lizzy, who is more than willing to believe the worst that other people have to say of him; when George Wickham, a soldier stationed in the village, does indeed have a discreditable tale to tell, his words fall on fertile ground. Having set up the central misunderstanding of the novel, Austen then brings in her cast of fascinating secondary characters: Mr. Collins, the sycophantic clergyman who aspires to Lizzy's hand but settles for her best friend, Charlotte, instead; Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy's insufferably snobbish aunt; and the Gardiners, Jane and Elizabeth's low-born but noble-hearted aunt and uncle. Some of Austen's best comedy comes from mixing and matching these representatives of different classes and economic strata, demonstrating the hypocrisy at the heart of so many social interactions. And though the novel is rife with romantic misunderstandings, rejected proposals, disastrous elopements, and a requisite happy ending for those who deserve one, Austen never gets so carried away with the romance that she loses sight of the hard economic realities of 19th-century matrimonial maneuvering. Good marriages for penniless girls such as the Bennets are hard to come by, and even Lizzy, who comes to sincerely value Mr. Darcy, remarks when asked when she first began to love him: "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." She may be joking, but there's more than a little truth to her sentiment, as well. Jane Austen considered Elizabeth Bennet "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print". Readers of Pride and Prejudice would be hard-pressed to disagree. --Alix Wilber

    MIRA brings you three full length novels in one collection! Welcome to Thunder point, a small town along the Oregon coast with towering cliffs, a picturesque bay, and the finest people you could ever hope to meet.This box set includes:ONE WISH (A Thunder Point Novel)By #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn CarrCome back to Thunder Point! From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River series, book 7 in her beloved Thunder Point novels, where second chances can be complicated, but finding love might be simple…A NEW HOPE (A Thunder Point Novel)By #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn CarrCome back to Thunder Point! From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River series, book 8 in her beloved Thunder Point novels, where second chances can be complicated, but finding love might be simple…WILDEST DREAMS (A Thunder Point Novel)By #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn CarrFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River series, Robyn Carr, rediscover the charming coastal town of Thunder Point, where hard work and determination are all it takes to make dreams come trueRead the Thunder Point Series by Robyn Carr:Book One: The WandererBook Two: The NewcomerBook Three: The HeroBook Four: The ChanceBook Five: The PromiseBook Six: The HomecomingBook Seven: One WishBook Eight: A New HopeBook Nine: Wildest Dreams

    Now Sam is putting down roots with his wife and daughter, and no amount of evil can stand in the way.Secure in their out-of-the-way stronghold, the proprietors of the criminal enterprises never planned on a man like Sam Blaylock—a man who would face the Devil himself to balance the scales. Sam never backed down from a bad situation.Rancho Diablo Western Series: Omnibus includes – Shooter's Cross, Hell On Wheels, The Hold Up, The Matamoros Bull, The Armadillo's Hole Saloon and Shooter York.

    He offers Sienna a ruthless deal: he will help her, but she must play by his rules – by giving herself to him totally for one night of passion…When Only Diamonds Will DoThe Theron dynasty once looked down at Reith Richardson – but now they need his help. In exchange, Reith demands Kimberley Theron as his wife. Yet Kim is no pampered princess…and the role of obedient wife isn’t one she’s prepared to play!

    Angry Birds, the world's favorite mobile game franchise, is now the world's favorite digital comic! This issue's featured story, "Propiganda" by Jeff Parker and César Ferioli is sure to slingshot it's way into your heart!

    Recently widowed, Darci Cunningham swims against popular current that she should take her time and heal after the sudden death of her husband. But in a bold turn, she decides to follow a dream set aside and moves to Mackinac Island to pursue her dream of writing.But as she prepares for her first winter on the island, she is unaware of the dangers that have washed ashore--one that may steal her heart, while the other may steal her life(*available in ebook and soon in paperback)

    A chance meeting. A life-changing outcome. Growing up in a brothel, Mara O'Sullivan battled public disdain and contempt, but always remained kind-hearted and gracious. After testifying against vicious bank robbers, her life is threatened and Mara must find sanctuary far from everything she knows. One train ride changes her life as she fatefully meets a half-sister and a niece she never knew existed. But when circumstances end her sister's life, Mara makes a promise that she'll raise her niece as her own and take her sister's place as Preston Kincaid's mail-order-bride. As Mara and Preston grow closer, their marriage no longer seems like a ruse, but a relationship of love, passion, and desire. Mara's past comes back to haunt her and she finds herself in danger—will her new husband forgive Mara's deceit and protect her as his own?

    

    To Kill a MockingbirdThe Shoes of the FishermanSeven Days in MayTo Catch an Angel

    Book One – Forever Mine, Ren & MayaBook Two – More Than Forever, Luke & IslaBook Three – Until Forever, Cole & EbruBook Four – My Forever, Cole & Ebru pt 2 This is a box set of the Providence Series books 1 to 4

    Shortly after a second murder in Sinful had been solved, Fortune believes she has recognized a woman, now going by the name Georgia Fame, who has been using her affections to prey on well-to-do elderly men, leaving them heartbroken, penniless and sometimes even... dead. Ingeniously clever, the woman has alluded authorities for decades and Fortune soon begins to understand why. With Ida Belle and Gertie at her side, the swamp team begin to build their case but the woman always covers her tracks and stays one step ahead of them. Fortune gets close but Georgia always manages to stay just out of reach. When she realizes her suspect may get away forever, she tries one last act of desperation. “Fortune and Fame” is fast-paced, filled with humor, romance, twists and turns. From KindleWorld’s Mark Len Mayfield, author of the Wayward Pines novel, “The Journey of Peter McCall.”

    Now he has a second chance. All he has to do is keep her alive.Ex-SEAL Chase “Frost” Brennan was sure he’d never again see the only woman he’d ever loved. Faith Murdock was the civilian psychologist who’d brought him back to life three years ago, and now she was a seductive, alluring, burlesque dancer who’d hypnotized him. She had a story to tell, but before he could ask, all hell broke loose at the club.Faith started dancing for release but when her fan mail turned threatening, it terrified her. When Chase showed up her relief was staggering. He was the one man she trusted with her life. She’d never gotten over the pain of having to push him away for his own good, even though it broke her heart.Faith wasn’t the same woman he’d known, and Chase wanted to know why. He was determined to break down the barriers to her heart, but first he had to catch a killer and it quickly became clear he was no ordinary stalker. Even with the help of his ESP team and his best friend, Chase would have to put his life on the line for his woman. But he was willing to do anything to give Faith the happily ever after she deserved.

    so using her to avenge his sister’s death will be sheer pleasure! Until he discovers that Lexie is a virgin. Now, out of duty and honour, he must propose... PRINCE OF SCANDALPrince Raul of Maritz resents the duty by which he must wed Princess Luisa Hardwicke. But the princess unexpectedly heats Raul’s blood... and he anticipates their wedding night with an excitement he never imagined he’d feel... WEIGHT OF THE CROWNNotorious playboy Prince Lysander Kahani is putting his bad ways behind him now he’s caring for his orphaned nephew. But one glance at buttoned-up nanny Alyssa Dene and he’s determined to make Alyssa a royal offer she won’t refuse...

    Can she trust the man who’s come home in his place? Felicia Swift can’t believe it when she hears a sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool’s Gold—it takes her right back to the hottest night of her life and the dangerous man she shared it with. And just when unlucky-in-love Isabel Beebe walks out on romance, who walks in but her teenage crush! Can she give the spark between them the chance it deserves?Collected here for the first time, the fourth volume of Fool’s Gold romances—plus the bonus novella Halfway There—makes the wonder of Fool’s Gold come alive.Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Collection, Volume FourHalfway There (bonus novella)Just One KissTwo of a KindThree Little Words

    Can an orphaned baby bring them back together? "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" in the NICU.RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN: What's a girl to do when she whispers another man's name in her fiancé's arms? A comedy novel set in France.NO MORE LIES: A lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing tears? Secrets and second chances with humor.HOLIDAY BABIES SERIES: A box set of three bestselling books at Amazon.com Books in this series can be read in order or as stand-alone reads.1. Christmas Babies: A sweet and powerful Christmas Story2. Valentine Babies: Can he love a woman expecting another man's baby?3. Mother's Day Babies: Never too late to find love and happiness.4. Wedding Baby: Is it the worst or best wedding surprise?5. Christmas Papa: Who's my Papa, Mommy?HER CHRISTMAS CRUISE: The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the fabulous Christmas wedding is off. But the would-be honeymoon cruise may fulfill the dreams of Julia and her unexpected companion.AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS: Running away from Christmas celebrations and the demons of her past, Dr. Jillian has dedicated her life to saving third-world children. In Belarus, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor may teach her the true meaning of Christmas.FOREIGN LOVERS: Set in romantic or exotic international places, the romance novels in this box set are sizzling with passion, emotion and sensual tension.Her Greek Tycoon:A sexy and humorous Romeo and Juliette Greek style, set in Mykonos Island.Her French Count:A Da Vinci Code in a French Chateau.Her Russian Hero: Clash of cultures and intrigues between an American scientist and the Major General of Belarus.Neighbors and More: Too close for comfort for condo owners in a Florida High Rise after a man drowns in a hot spa.