With her sharp tongue, she has always known how to defend herself against bullies and aggressors, but she finds she is less adept at fending off the pilgrims who have set up a veritable tent city outside her hilltop home, convinced that she is Saint Garnet, healer of skin ailments and maker of miracles.Her grandmother, the indelible Nonna Diamante, believes that Garnet’s mystical gift can be traced back to the family’s origins in the Nebrodi Mountains of Sicily, and now the Vatican has sent an emissary to Sweetwater to investigate. Garnet, wanting nothing more than to debunk this “gift” and send these desperate souls packing, reaches back into her family’s tangled past and unspools for the Church a tale of love triangles on the shores of the Messina Strait; a sad, beautiful maiden’s gilded-cage childhood in blueblood Virginia; and the angelic, doomed boy Garnet could not protect.Saint or not, Garnet learns that the line between reality and myth is always blurred, and that the aspects of ourselves we are most ashamed of can prove to be the source of our greatest strength, and even our salvation.

    She’s convinced God’s made a cosmic mistake; after all, she’d rather discuss the color of her nails than break them on angelic weapons.It doesn’t help that her trainer, Logan, is as infuriating as he is attractive. And just when Audrey and Logan appear close to developing an amicable relationship, a decision made under duress pushes their hearts in a direction neither of them saw coming.Despite her sub-par fighting abilities, an ancient weapon of unparalleled power chooses Audrey as its wielder, attracting the cautious gazes of her fellow hunters and the attention of Satan himself. With Satan’s eyes now fixed on Audrey, a battle for the safety of the living looms in the shadows.

    Here are some of the most spectacular mismatches in five hundred years of royal history....In a world where many kings, queens, and princes lacked nothing but true love, marital mismatches could bring out the baddest, boldest behavior in the bluest of bloodlines. Margaret Tudor, her niece Mary I, and Catherine of Braganza were desperately in love with chronically unfaithful husbands, but at least they weren’t murdered by them, as were two of the Medici princesses were. King Charles II’s beautiful, high-spirited sister “Minette” wed Louis XIV’s younger brother, who wore more makeup and perfume than she did. Forced to wed her boring, jug-eared cousin Ferdinand, Marie of Roumania—a granddaughter of Queen Victoria—proved herself one of the heroines of World War I by using her prodigious personal charm to regain massive amounts of land during the peace talks at Versailles.Brimming with outrageous real-life stories of royal marriages gone wrong, this is an entertaining, unforgettable book of dubious matches doomed from the start.

     Eve Sawyer had a bright future ahead of her when a tragic accident cost her everything. Now, twelve years later, desperation for all she has been missing compels her to seek comfort and pleasure in the arms of strangers. A few hours indulging in anonymous sex with a man named Nate gives her more pleasure than she ever dreamed possible. Unfortunately, past experiences with men haven't given her any hope that incredible night could ever lead to anything more. After meeting Nate again and succumbing to his erotic coercion to enter into a sex-only affair, she soon discovers all the different ways a man with a very healthy sex drive and a creative imagination can give a woman with limitations the exciting, pleasurable adventures she has been craving. Nate Radcliff never had trouble forgetting a woman once he left her bed until he spent the night having sex with a woman who insisted on keeping her name a secret and her face hidden in the dark. The way she embraced everything they tried and that unique breathless gasp she made wouldn’t let him forget her. A few weeks later, a chance encounter has him coming face to face with the woman he has been obsessing about. He is stunned to discover the reason she hadn't needed a light that night; she is blind. Immediately struck with admiration for the lengths Eve is willing to go to to brighten her dark world, he becomes determined to give her the adventures she craves. For weeks, Eve basks in the decadent pleasures and adventures both Nate and his friends give her, making sure she keeps her heart guarded from hoping for more, even when Nate insists their sex-only affair has grown into something more for him. But Nate isn't one to give up, especially when he wants someone as much as he wants Eve. Just when his persistence starts to pay off and Eve becomes open to a future with him, her best friend, Holly, returns to town, her jealousy and possessiveness threatening to drive them apart. Eve refuses to believe anything bad about Holly, the only person who has stayed faithfully by her side through thick and thin, which drives a wedge between her and Nate. In the end, Eve’s refusal to see her friend’s true motives comes close to not only costing her the man she loves, but costing her her life. Will Nate be able to make her believe that he wants all of her—forever? Will Eve discover that she's been blind to the fact that this man loves her and that she loves him? This is a newly edited version of Blindsided which has been previously released by this author and is the first book in the Virginia Bluebloods series. Disclaimer: This book contains the spanking of adult women, explicit sexual scenes including exhibitionism, anal play and ménage. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase this book.

    

    But weeks into their new college life, Abby drops the bomb- she is pregnant, and dropping out of college. Jasmine can't handle the fact that Abby is wasting her opportunity to get an education, and going back to her cheating, abusive boyfriend. She struggles to move on from her friendship with Abby, but befriends two new girls at college. Everything seems back on track for Jasmine- great new friendships and roommates, a strong relationship with boyfriend Nate, and excelling at her college courses. But Jasmine's newfound happiness is shattered when her pregnancy test comes out positive. Does she have to drop out of college now and become a young mother? Will Nate stay with her? How can she afford a child? Jasmine's life has been filled with obstacles and challenges along the way- from a missing father, sexual and physical abuse, and addictions that tore her family apart. With this latest setback, Jasmine fears her life will always be a struggle. Destined to Fail is one woman's story about overcoming adversity in life, about taking the negatives and finding a positive, and about never giving up hope.

    Exactly where I’d rather be. To me that world was anything but magical or fantasy, their lives under a relentless microscope, controlled by traditions and expectations. I was the girl dreaming about becoming a veterinarian and surrounding myself with animals instead of people.A wallflower who suddenly bloomed, I somehow nabbed the attention of the arrogant, but undeniably handsome, Theodore Alexander Philip Robert David Livingston. The Prince of Great Victoria. I never imagined falling in love with a prince, but I did.When Theo comes back from the Royal Air Force with an extremely sexy, but extremely arrogant new bodyguard, Lennox Easton, everything is flipped upside down. Tattooed, mysterious, and cruel, our mutual hatred for each becomes even more complicated when I move into the palace, becoming the official girlfriend of Prince Theo, and now under Lennox’s watch. Thrown in a society which controls my every move, social media viciously coming after me, and paparazzi looking for any juicy gossip, my world becomes a cage. Glided or not, my life becomes nothing as I imagined, I find myself turning to the very last person I should. When family secrets start to surface from the past, old enemies come for revenge, along with blackmail, forbidden love, and devastating revelations.Everything is set to bring me down and even take my life.I knew loving a prince would come with sacrifices, but when you give up everything …when does the fairytale become a nightmare?

    By making your own soup you control exactly what goes in. The soup recipes found in this book have been made in a Morphy Richards Soup Maker, but they can easily be made in any other soup maker, or even with a pot on a stove. Include an abundance of healthy ingredients that will do wonders for your health and well- being. Soups are a fantastic way to lose weight – they are usually high in fibre but low in fat and calories. In fact, I have included the calorie count of each of the 100 soup recipes found in this book. Why Get The Soup Maker Recipe Book? • Increase your energy levels and feel great about yourself • Improve your health • Look amazing with clear skin, vibrant eyes and be your perfect weight • Make economical meals – homemade soups are so much cheaper than shop bought ones! Make the very same recipes I have researched and tested out to; • Lose weight and look great • Improve mine and my children’s health. I never dreamt my hot dog crazy son would be requesting a vegetable soup for lunch! What Recipes Are Included? There is a soup recipe for everyone in this book. In fact there are lots for everyone! I’ve included classics like chicken soup, leek and potato soup, tomato soup, as well as more unique recipes. The following are a small taster of the 100 soup recipes included in the Soup Maker Recipe Book; Butternut Squash Carrot and Ginger Chicken and Asparagus Cauliflower Cheese Honey Roast Parnsip Caribbean Pumpkin Tomato and Basil Leftover Turkey Seriously Garlicky Chicken (it is!) Thai Green Curry Cod, Sweet Potato and Parsley

    Or, at least, that is the point Lady Alexandra is determined to prove. And she is more than ready to pose as a governess if it is to seduce the Marquess of her dreams.As a man that never wishes to wed, Simon Windsor, the Marquess of Pembley, accepts his horrifying reputation with gratitude. With very few people aware of his strange condition, he relishes the peace and quiet of the countryside.With the new governess for his hellion niece and nephew feeling disturbingly familiar to the masqued Lady he seduced at a ball, he fears that the worst side of his will be exposed. The one that should have remained hidden till his last drawing breath...

    Only...Just as her terrible uncle announces her betrothal to a very lecherous Earl, Lady Ivy Marple knows that her life cannot get any worse. And due to the tragic loss of her family, she stopped believing in miracles long ago...Burdened with an impossible task by his late friend, Charles Landon, the Duke of Nelson, has to ensure Lady Ivy is happy. The problem? How does a man with an illegitimate child save a damsel in distress?Just as he approaches her with his preposterous plan, Ivy is certain her brother’s friend has no moral qualms. But if she has to choose to become a governess over her upcoming nuptials, then that she will. Even if she is sure to lose more than her reputation in the process...

    While the caring nursemaid is focusing on her role by teaching the Duke’s sister how to look after her infant, she is still dreaming of marrying a good man and having a household of her own. With the passing of time, her heart will start beating for the charming Duke, and she will realise that this encounter will prove to be the most fateful one in her life...Could Anna dare to fall for someone she knows she could never have?Matthew, Duke of Newcastle, is a stoic, scholarly man, who has set aside all of his dreams to bow to his duty. Prior to the loss of his brother-in-law and best friend, he was courting Lady Clara Whitman, but his family tragedy led him to an emotional withdrawal. Everything changes though as the enchanting nursemaid brings light not only in his shadowy estate, but also his broken heart... Will the kind hearted Duke find the loving wife he has always wanted and lead a fulfilling happy life or will the heartache continue?Needless to say that giving up on your dreams for the sake of duty threatens to throw you into a deep sorrow…Anna and Mathew soon find their hearts entrapped by the presence of each other. However, the combination of Lady Clara’s jealousy and society’s rules will jeopardize every chance at happiness they could possibly have. Will the two of them manage to go against the norms and defend what their hearts desire? Or will duty and manipulation make their love feel like an elusive dream?"The Nursemaid and the Stoic Duke" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

    When the challenge of hiking the entire 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine called out to him, he knew he had to show his scouts and others he had the perseverance to accomplish a dream. On a cold January morning, he set off alone from Georgia and started his nearly 5 month adventure to Maine. The challenges and tragedies he faced before and during his hike tested his resolve and changed his life. In Walking to Maine, readers join Glenn on the Appalachian Trail as he battles the mountains and the weather through 14 states seeking to push himself out of his comfort zone and to learn more about himself. He will meet interesting people from all walks of life and discover the goodness that stills exists in the hearts of total strangers. Along the way he will encounter brutal conditions and personal tragedy. Through it all he will follow the same lessons he taught his scouts and keep pushing north towards his goal. He will learn that the trail provides those who hike it everything they need and he will learn to enjoy the simple pleasures that we all take for granted in our daily lives.

    

    Follow Mira's story as she faces life as a single mother, wrestles with the constant call of the ocean to her mermaid nature, and joins an all-male salvage team who is less than thrilled to have her. When my mother died, I ran to the ocean like a coward. Its cradle of salt puckered my memories and withered my sorrow like a grape drying in the sun. I had cheated grief and was foolish enough to think I had gotten away with it.When Nathan died, I couldn’t run away. No matter how much I flinched, bending toward the Atlantic the way ivy strains for rays of light, I could not leave. Grief was back to take what belonged to it for the time it was allotted. I had everything I wanted a few short years ago. My mate. My daughter. A home, a family. It made my head spin to think how much could change so suddenly. I mused, wondering later if I was the only mermaid to ever walk fully through the five stages of grief. But I had my daughter.Targa had yet to turn, the color and shape of her fins were yet to be revealed, but she would. I had been so sure of it then. Siren genes are passed from mother to daughter, without fail. Young legs melded into a shimmering virgin tail in response to a salty sea. But Targa didn’t turn in response to ocean water, not the first time, not any time after that. Something was wrong. I shoved my fear down deep into some dark corner where Targa would not see it and said with a smile that we’d just have to keep trying. I had turned at the age of three, but if there could be late-bloomers in the human race, why not ours too?Her fifth birthday came and went, still she hadn’t turned. Concern sent its barbs into me like a thistle, then it rooted and grew.Targa and I had weekly late night secret swims in the Atlantic, which had once been fun but were now polluted with expectation and suspense. Coaching sessions (my idea), where I attempted human psychology exercises I’d found in outdated textbooks at the library; guided visualization, breathing techniques, and even a failed go at hypnosis. The memory of her skinny little frame sitting in a bathtub containing more salt than water (Targa’s idea) is still enough to fill my eyes with moisture.I don’t know exactly when she lost hope, but she hid it expertly, patiently participating however I asked.I ignored the creeping thoughts that whispered in my mind; she didn’t even like water, didn’t really want to go for swim, couldn’t hear the ocean calling her. I would shove the thoughts away violently, excusing them as nothing but my own anxiety. It was ridiculous. A daughter of a mermaid who disliked the ocean. Impossible. When I muzzled those fears, I became aware of others of a different kind. Not my own, but hers, for me.She could see the want in my eyes. Whatever mechanism bees and dogs used to smell fear, Targa had it for despair. She could sense it on me, reeking like cheap perfume. Her eyes dipped in desperation, her obvious desire not to disappoint me sliced through me like a white-hot blade from heart to gut. She thought she was my tormentor. The realization struck like a hammer and gave me the strength to do what was needed: Let it go.The ocean could call. I’d let the smell of it crucify me, the sound of its waves crash against me, echo through me, call me, beg me.Targa’s need and my love for her was greater. If she never turned and I was locked in a land-cycle for the rest of our lives, so be it.So be it.

    In the aftermath of the Great War, huge swaths of what was once the United States of America are uninhabitable. Every day is a struggle to survive.But Kaia doesn’t want to leave her family or her best friend Finn behind—not even for a chance at winning Crown Prince Dominic’s hand in marriage. Life in her home territory of Hilora is hard, but at least it’s hers.Her life. Her choice.Until, suddenly, it’s not anymore.Branded a criminal and sentenced to a punishment that amounts to death, Kaia is given only one way out.She must compete in the Royal Games… as a spy for the Queen of Palias herself.Perfect for fans of The Selection and The Hunger Games. Dive into this story of intrigue, danger, romance, and deception!