So, she applies for the position of governess for the Earl of Haskett’s children, and takes it upon herself to bring the light back to their lives.Graham Gulliver, the Earl of Haskett, is still haunted by the loss of his wife. When he employs a new governess, he is glad to see the house slowly fill up with laughter again. But he wasn’t expecting her to capture his attention as well!As much as they try to hide their feelings, their hearts secretly yearn for each other. But the awfully familiar figure watching them from the shadows is willing to go to extreme measures to keep them apart. Caroline is forced to take a heartbreaking decision, and Graham needs to hurry, lest he loses the woman he loves for a second time...

    In the depths of the Great Depression, poor families like the Van Slotens are lucky to have a roof over their heads. Work is scarce, and there hasn't been enough of it to provide even the necessities, let alone a luxury like a holiday celebration. But when Tom, the oldest son, takes it into his head to provide a Christmas for his family, the stage is set for a story that will warm your heart and restore your faith in the true spirit of the season!

    Perfect for the fans of Jane Costello and Milly Johnson. Lizzie Greene is about to lose everything when her husband suddenly dies and his debts come to light. To make ends meet she opens up her quirky old house to be used as a set for a film based on a bestselling romance novel. Her life and household are turned upside down when a whole cast of colourful characters enters her family's lives: from an enigmatic author, a handsome location scout, a brooding director, to a heart-throb leading man, never mind her now ex-mother-in-law camped out in her drive. As Lizzie delves deeper into the film's book, all is not as it seems. Will her desire to save her house and unravel the secrets of the past lead to new love, or to mortal danger?

    This is to keep you on the edge with each turn in the alleys of the Labyrinth.Labyrinth: Short Stories is an array of fifteen tales that cover genres like adventure, romance, paranormal, fantasy, history, and many more.Summary Of The BookLabyrinth: Short Stories, published in 2012, is a collection of fifteen short stories written by various Indian authors. Each tale belongs to a different genre and era, thereby giving this book a unique and refreshing feel. Labyrinth: Short Stories starts off with The Martyr, which has been written by Mainak Dhar. It revolves around young Kemal who finds himself in the middle of a war in Afghanistan. Puppet Show, by Aditi Chincholi, explains how a doctor cannot find a way to break a spell that has been cast over the natives of a valley.Bagheera Log Huts takes readers into the heart of an Indian jungle, where the search for a wild cat turns into an unexpected adventure. Shawn Pereira’s I'll Be Back describes an out-of-body experience, which shows how things can take a downward spiral when one is caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Aditi Chincholi’s second story, Sym World, is set in a fantasy land which the protagonist Kyoto has willingly entered, but cannot find a way out. In Mortified, written by Jeevan Varma, readers will find themselves in a small Indian township where a mortified Sharmaji is going to be attacked. This is followed by Crashing Impacts, a tale of love and sacrifice that spans almost ten years.Rishabh Chaturvedi’s The Night Of The Wokambee describes how Revant is in a quandary when a strange creature visits his house every night. Both Mists of Time by Niharika Puri, and Russkaya Rulyetka by Shawn Pereira, illustrate how a person makes impulsive decisions when he is overcome with rage and jealousy. Candies shows readers that the pursuit of love is filled with ups and downs. Travel Through The Night, authored by Rishabh Chaturvedi, follows the protagonist into dense sugarcane plantations, where he encounters strange spirits who block his path. A Day of Battle is set during the great epic battle of the Mahabharata, and the author Abhishek Dwivedi shares stories of the bravery of some of the best warriors that this world has ever seen. The next story, Farming On Facebook by Sushant Dharwadkar, takes a huge time leap, and shows how the present generation is unaware of the real world, as their focus lies only on the screens in front of them. About The AuthorsLabyrinth: Short Stories has been written by Mainak Dhar, Richard Fernandes, Jeevan Verma, Rishabh Chaturvedi, Niharika Puri, Aditi Chincholi, Abhishek Dwivedi, Sushant Dharwadkar, Rohit Das, and Shawn Pereira. They are a part of the initiative by Litizen.com. Professionally they are accountants, chefs, media professionals, doctors, and students.

    She has a wonderful son and a business she loves. Though challenged to make ends meet, she’s come a long way from the tough times she endured as a teenage mom. With the busy Christmas season ahead, things are looking up, until Scrooge himself arrives intent on putting a huge resort next to her inn—a resort destined to put her out of business. Wealthy business developer Rob McKenna is coming back home to the tiny town of Pinetop, Colorado to tie up loose ends. After the death of his mother, he’s inherited her Victorian home, her dog, and hundreds of acres of land he plans to develop into a resort and sell. It all seems so simple until he runs into Celia Roberts. In high school, she was the “it” girl, and he was nobody. She dated the bully, and he was the target. Now he’s back, and she’s single, and as beautiful as ever. However, she’s the only thing standing between him and his plan to get in, get rich, and get out of town. He wants to move the small town into the future. She wants to preserve the past. Can the magic of Christmas leave them both with full hearts and bright futures or will one of them end up with nothing under the tree?

    Owning the bake shop my parents always dreamed of means everything to me. And when opening day happens, I think I've finally got everything I've ever wanted. Until he walks in and reminds me of what used to be. Tall, dark and dangerous - that's what Caleb has always been. For my heart, at least. But when he places a special, sweet holiday order for his mother, I can feel my defenses crumbling just like the biscotti I'm teaching him to make. Can I save myself this time? Or will my heart be broken all over again?CALEBAn unexpected trip home turns my holiday plans upside down - especially when the girl I can't forget has come home too.I should have known my mom was setting me up, but I walked right into her sweet little trap. When I see Melissa standing behind the counter of the brand new bakery in town, I can't help but remember that she's the one that got away. Her curves are still as delicious as they used to be and I can't deny I want a taste. Can I convince her to give our love another try? Or will she get away one more time?Sugar & Spice Nights is a multi-author series of holiday inspired instalove stories with curvy women and their hot guys. Come find out how steamy and sweet the nights can get today!Don't forget to meet ALL the hunky sweeties!

    When a last-minute customer brimming with holiday spirit invites her to a candlelight service and a late-night family dinner, Hannah reluctantly accepts. She has no idea this kindhearted woman is the mother of Jason McKenzie - leader singer of Out of the Blue, the hottest band in the country - and Hannah's childhood idol. The evening ends with an innocent kiss (sans mistletoe) as Hannah is swept away by Jason's unpretentious manner.Over the holidays Hannah and Jason's relationship grows, but when turmoil and tragedy strike at the very heart of his famous band, their newfound love is put to the test in the glare of the paparazzi spotlight. Throughout her rollercoaster of experiences with Jason and his friends, Hannah comes face to face with her own beliefs. Who knew she could learn more about prayer and faith by hanging out with a bunch of rock stars than she ever learned in church?The author first wrote Blue Christmas as a gift for her then-teenage daughter in honor of her affection for a wildly popular band in the late 90s. The short story grew into a full-length novel, eventually surfacing on one of the band's fan fiction websites where it became quite a phenomenon. More than 80,000 readers stopped by to read the story, with over 1000 of them sending personal emails to the author who still enjoys reading them today. Though the story's details have been changed, its band and all characters now fictional, the story line remains the same. Author Diane Moody has dedicated Blue Christmas to her now-grown daughter, Hannah Moody Schmitt.

    But was it meant to be theirs? The Great Depression's shadows were deepening over the Midwest, and Horace and Wilbur began to worry that Santa might not stop at their farm. But with a little faith and their parents’ love, the boys just might discover the true spirit of Christmas. (Approx. 12,000 words) And there's more: At the end of the story, you'll discover three holiday recipes handed down in the author's family.

    It’s a loneliness she nurtures, finds comfort in even, except at Christmas, a time of dread.Then comes an invite, an offer from an old friend, to join him for ‘The Damned Season’ at his house on an island off the coast of Anglesey, for Christmas with a difference. Intrigued as well as desperate, Beth accepts, arriving there a few days before Christmas Eve.She’s not the only one invited, however, there are four others, all strangers to each other, all crossing murky, choppy waters to meet their host, a much changed man that seems not only surprised to see them, but dismayed, and weary too. Who is nothing but a husk.With the boatman gone and the mists closing in, Beth finds herself in a solitary house of ever-changing rooms and never-ending corridors, of people disappearing and then reappearing, of feasts and famine. And then there are the doors, constantly multiplying, and locked…aren’t they?The Damned Season. It’s coming.

    She’s fell for veterinarian Cameron McKenzie’s good looks, caring nature and especially his devotion to his young daughter. For months Cameron’s pushed away all thoughts of taking Rina in his arms and kissing her, unwilling to risk their friendship. But when a kiss under the mistletoe unlocks the simmering passion between them, Rina and Cameron may just find love for the holidays after all...YOURS FOR CHRISTMASFamous former NFL stars don’t date single working moms like Bailey Voss. She’ll allow herself to daydream about Kenny Scott’s muscles and killer smile, but wanting more would lead to post-holiday regret. Then Kenny volunteers to run a toy drive with Bailey, and she learns that he’s not just hot…he’s also generous, funny, nice. And as festive spirit spreads, Kenny gets wrapped up in Bailey’s kisses — and decides to make this the first of many Christmases together…Previously published.

    

    When his mentor suggested he find a wife, only one woman’s name came to mind. Lisbeth Stanfield cut herself off from the world when her husband passed away three years ago. She secluded herself on her farm, but her money ran out and she needed to find a new livelihood. Hours after she prayed for direction, Erich Samuelson appeared at her door and proposed a marriage of conveniences. As they come together for the sake of two young children, will love be the greatest gift this Christmas? In this heartwarming, historical Christmas novelette, USA Today Bestselling author Leah Atwood delivers an inspirational story of triumph over tragedy through faith, love, and Christmas joy. All Is Calm is a shorter story, just the right length to inject hope and cheer into your busy holiday schedule.

    I fell apart.I had lived to work before, but when my husband left my job became my entire life. Then I went for coffee and my life changed. Days before finalizing my divorce, my past sat down across from me and it was like life had been breathed back into me. It was only the beginning of a crazy, not at all planned out adventure with him ... much like our escapades when we were kids.BrianTwenty years ago my parents moved our family to Tennessee. My heart stayed behind in Western New York.On a well-planned whim, my best friend and I packed up and headed north to begin realizing our dream of owning a business — a coffeehouse — in the small college town I spent my childhood exploring. It took me years before I had the courage to go home, set up shop, and find her, though. I needed to be certain I could give her everything.That day finally came.When she walked in, she stole the air from my lungs.This is our story.

    (The Posse Comitatus Act is the United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385, original at 20 Stat. 152) that was passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction and was updated in 1981. Its intent (in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807) was to limit the powers of Federal government in using federal military personnel to enforce the State laws.) The training and armament of our civilian police has led to many abuses of power where the police don't believe they are above the Law, but that they ARE the Law". This has culminated in the deaths of many Americans who have reacted to middle of the night break-ins by law enforcement, reached for a weapon to protect his or her family, and been executed. The 'no-knock' rule must go and civility towards the public must return. Barring that, I see a time when this story line will become the common occurrence. People will say, "Enough!" and will say it with force, if needed.