Vicki had spent the intermission backstage, chatting with two of her favorite singers who would soon grace the stage once more as the booming baritone Magnifico and his daughter Angelina, a dazzling soprano whose career had reached new heights during these ten, high-profile New York performances.Vicki couldn’t conceal her delight at the absolutely full house. “I guess the new marketing firm really hit one out of the park,” she commented quietly to Martin as the lights dimmed. “All ten performances are sold out!”Her lawyer friend smiled. “It’s the inspired leadership they’ve been getting,” he replied. “New blood, new ideas. It’s just magnificent.” The maestro appeared at the edge of the orchestra pit and received enthusiastic applause. “Although even I would admit that Rossini’s genius might have something to do with it,” Martin said, raising his voice over the audience’s appreciation. “Still, you’ve broken the glass ceiling yet again, I would say. Bravo, Miss Vydra.”“You’re too kind,” she said, patting his hand as the strings stirred in a quiet but ominous tremolo, quickly ushering in a sudden and violent orchestral tutti, brassy and loud, which filled the huge auditorium with the dark ferocity of the storm it depicted. Vicki let the eruption pass through her, finding herself carried by its torrential force, allowing the moment to fill her with an awed respect for nature’s power. She knew that it could not last, and the audience was soon deposited kindly into the peaceful meadow of the storm’s passing. Horn calls signaled the all-clear and, as one can always expect from Rossini, the good humor and delicate, social fun-poking resumed.***Content warning: For adults only!***

    While it will greatly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the book, it is not intended to stand in its place.* From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes Dark Witch, the first book in the new Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy. Use this sidekick to complement and enhance your experience of Roberts’ epic journey, spanning centuries of magic, Celtic mysteries, and family bloodlines. We meet Iona Sheehan, who has traveled to Ireland from America determined to unearth her family’s legacy of witchcraft and magic. Upon arrival in county Mayo, she meets her cousins Branna and Connor O’Dwyer and begins to unravel her family history, which includes the story of their ancestor Sorcha, and that of an evil sorcerer named Cabhan, who tried but failed to steal Sorcha’s powers 800 years earlier. The cousins begin to understand that their inherited magical powers are rooted in bloodlines passed down over centuries. Dark Witch weaves a spellbinding tale of good vs. evil, combining myth, magic, and romance. This sidekick’s chapter-by-chapter analysis will guide you through Roberts’ deftly plotted romantic adventure, as Iona falls in love with the handsome horseman Boyle McGrath and eventually learns to harness the power of her innate magic. Explore the Dark Witch's deeper themes of love, family, magic, and legend, as the family members prepare for an inevitable confrontation with ancient evil. Compelling and engaging, Dark Witch skillfully sets the stage for the remaining stories in the trilogy.

    Simply smart, funny romance! If you like men who look hot in kilts, the allure of the Scottish Highlands, and funny, poignant romance, then you’ll love Simply Austin, the romantic conclusion of Gina Robinson’s light, fun contemporary romance Jet City Kilt Series.Seattle physician Blair Edwards and cosplaying entrepreneur Austin MacDougall are finally in Scotland to film their promo teasers for the upcoming season of Jamie, the wildly popular TV series about Highland laird Jamie Sinclair. Austin and Blair once again meet up with the charming, charismatic actors from the show and face some of their biggest challenges yet as they confront two of their fiercest enemies. Will they finally get their happily-ever-after in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands?Find out why readers love Gina Robinson’s good guy heroes, the strong women they fall for, and their funny, witty, romantic stories. Scroll up and grab your copy of Simply Austin today! The Jet City Kilt Series Reading order:Although the Almost and Simply books can be read out of order, for the most reading enjoyment, read the Almost books first, followed by the Simply books.These two books must be read in order: Almost Jamie Almost Elinor These two books must be read in order: Simply Blair Simply Austin

    On a glimmering winter evening, she got to watch the photo shoot for her very first book and ended up on a magical date with the cover model himself—Colin Renwycke. Fast forward one year. This December, with a looming deadline, restless spirit and her creative spark long since gone, Maren is desperate to get unstuck. And she can’t get Colin out of her head…or his year-old open invitation to spend a couple weeks writing at his family’s farm. Drew Renwycke never planned to come home and take over the Renwycke family farm. But he’s spent too many years watching his siblings unravel, including his brother, Colin, after one terrible family mistake. If moving to Maple Valley, Iowa, renovating an old farmhouse and switching careers is what it takes to put the Renwycke family back together, he’ll do it. But his simple plan upends when a scrappy author lands on his doorstep. And she just might be the key to coaxing his brother home. But what if he wants her all to himself? Drew will have to choose between his Christmas wish and the enchantment of a holiday romance that just might be the happy ending they all long for.

    My career was all planned out running one of the hottest hotels in Miami’s South Beach. That was until our playboy owner broke a few rules, and my perfect opportunity crumbled underneath my feet.So here I am, headed to Lake Mistletoe, a quaint little valley town in Idaho of all places. My grandmother, and namesake, left her Inn to me, and I am now sentenced to the task of getting it prepared to sell at the end of this year's holiday season. My memories of this Christmas oasis have long since faded, but I’m determined to use this experience to further my career and get back into the hospitality game. When Keller Harris, Lake Mistletoe’s resident craftsman, and unofficial handyman, offers to help me with the neverending list of repairs and upgrades, it's the perfect opportunity for me to get hands-on experience. He’s talented, driven, and sexy as sin, but he's also a know-it-all and completely unimpressed by my business sense. I can learn a lot from him but his stubborn self can also learn a lot from me. As walls start to fall, literally and figuratively, I begin to realize that success comes in many forms and passion can be found in unexpected places. Will I be able to turn this season into a stepping stone to an exciting new career in Belize?Or will I discover that everything I ever wanted was tucked away in the Rocky Mountains?

    But the letters she received during deployment have captured her heart. Back home for the holidays, she awaits Christmas morning to meet the man who has turned her life upside down.When Zack Benson watched his best friend's sister Lena leave for Afghanistan, he knew he had to tell her he loved her. So he sent her anonymous love letters. Now that she’s home, he realizes he's made a tactical error. Lena has fallen for the man in those letters but still thinks of him as a brother. He has to convince her otherwise because if he succeeds, he’ll get the best Christmas present ever. But if he fails, he could lose her for good.

    In a rush of confusion, a creature appeared and demanded that she and others be handed over. In the blink of an eye, she is back in her bed, but she remembers the creature, she remembers being taken, she remembers everything. The day her nephew went insane, she had her suspicions, and when she ran a test, she knew. He had gone naughty right before the holidays, and she was the only person who knew why. She had a mission. She had a goal. She had to go talk to a monster known for abducting children.

    Then he meets Joy Pettigrew. The uptight real estate broker isn’t what she seems.Freaky and Joy Pettigrew no longer mix. She’s a corporate girl now. She plans to make the sale, get the commission, and never look back. So how does she keep the truth from Adam Taylor long enough to get him to sign on the dotted line? He swears he wants to sell his grandfather’s house and move on. She knows he’s lying to himself. He insists she throw off the façade she’s hiding behind. She knows she’s lying to herself. She also knows he’s going back to Houston. Nothing she does will change his mind…and even their shared passion won’t convince her to go with him.She’s already home. After all, Christmas is just around the corner and everyone knows you spend Christmas at home.

    Only she has no idea he's a billionaire and he has no idea what to do with the sassy girl he needs to shelter until the storm ends.Snowed In with the Billionaire is book 1 of 4 in the Ashley's Billionaire Series. Cliffhanger ending.New college graduate Ashley Spencer has big plans. Now that she has her degree she's ready to conquer the world, but while driving to a new city she gets caught in a snowstorm. Not used to that kind of weather and on an unfamiliar road, she slides into a snowbank and gets stuck. Good thing Colton Drake comes along and rescues her.All billionaire Colton Drake wants is a quiet weekend at his cabin to work and relax, but when he comes across a woman who's about to freeze to death on the side of the road, his plans are thrown into disarray. Ashley is completely different from the women he's used to and he's not quite sure what to do with her.Snowed in together until the weather clears, will Drake and Ashley be able to resist their growing attraction, or will unexpected love blossom amidst a spring snowstorm?Snowed In with the Billionaire was originally titled Snowbound and was published under the pen name Noelle Stevens. A number of changes have been made.

    The MEN'S bathroom.No stalls were available in mine. I'd be in and out before anyone noticed.Except someone walked in.And, oh, he was so gorgeous.Four months later we moved in together.Two years later I can't imagine living without him.He's the love of my life, to the absolute bottom of my heart.So why are we breaking up?The Christmas Cadeau has NO cheating and a happily ever after!

    And in the last 48 hours I have: 1) Fired two of my trusted employees. 2) Defaced the office Christmas tree. 3) Completely blown it with the first man I’ve really liked in the last ten years. But it’s worth it, because I’m about to earn the promotion of a lifetime. Unfortunately, my former boss and mentor, Marley Jacobs, is determined to show me the error of my ways before midnight. Except I’m not about to let anyone get in my way—even Marley. Especially since Marley is dead.

    She’s stuck in a dead-end job and struggling to make ends meet when a fateful ice cream disaster results in her meeting Charlie Evans, a well-off photographer with the cutest little daughter she’s ever seen.Charlie Evans was thrust unexpectedly into fatherhood. With his roots in Pecan Grove, but an itch to get back on the road, he’s shocked when he meets the flame-haired widow. Sparks and tempers fly at their first meeting, but as time goes on, he realizes Cleo is getting under his skin. When he tries to pursue her, though, he realizes her heart is buried under layers of icy protection.Can Charlie chaw Cleo’s frozen heart in time for Christmas? Or will Cleo continue to hide her true feelings away in order to protect herself from tragedy again? Find out in this sweet Christmas romance!

     ‘Tis the Season hits the spot with romance readers looking for a light and sweet holiday read. Small Town Rural, Magical Midnight Rides, and First Kisses bringing joy, happiness, and unforgettable romance with this group of award-winning and talented authors.

    Jackson Gilroy is a widower with a smart mouthed little girl that seems to get away with everything as of late. Until they meet one night over a shared glance from their prospective windows, Jackson didn’t think he’d ever feel anything again. But with Christmas, anything's possible!

    Marriage was never in the picture. But when her grandfather is tricked into signing a binding marriage contract to a man she finds repugnant, she has one choice: Run away. Her flight ends with a fortuitous meeting with Zayid Hasan, Crown Prince of Raihan, who offers the perfect solution to Laila’s predicament: marry him and solve both their problems. Zayid’s younger brother must marry his pregnant fiancé, and ancient laws dictate the oldest brother is required to marry first. Desperate for a way to protect both her grandfather and herself, Laila agrees. After all, their marriage will last only until Zayid’s brother can marry—and her marriage to the brooding, handsome prince isn’t much of a sacrifice. It’s not like she’s going to be foolish enough to fall in love…Zayid doesn’t know what to think about his new half-American wife. He doesn’t really want to think about her at all, but for some reason, he can’t stop himself. Strangely enough, all the royal functions that used to bore him silly are now entertaining with Laila by his side—even though he knows she’d much rather be alone creating her art. Though the marriage of convenience was his idea, he can’t help but start to wish it was the real deal. No way can he ignore the simmering chemistry that’s driving them both a bit crazy. He’s much better at ignoring what’s in his heart—until he realizes it just might break if he can’t convince Laila to stay with him forever…