She was promptly sent away by her philandering father, the colliery owner Robert Harvey, to become an educated and accomplished young woman - and to escape the beatings at the cruel hand of her vengeful stepmother, Hannah. As Bess finishes boarding school, a tragic accident strikes Robert Harvey, almost killing him, and the decline of the family's fortunes means Bess and her siblings must find spouses to provide for them. After a series of doomed arranged encounters with potential suitors, Bess's stepmother is forced to take drastic action against her to protect herself and her family. Who is the mystery fiancé Hannah Harvey has in mind? And how will Bess feel knowing the decision means she will never be free to marry her childhood sweetheart?

    How she wished at that moment she could blend into the leather seating of the booth. She had watched him over the years as he juggled women like a world-class juggler. She didn’t know when she had fallen in love with the junkie whore, but she had. So, she had to endure his escapades whenever they found themselves thrown together at the same venue. Lauren was now an A-list designer with her life pretty much mapped out. So why should she care what Semiyon James did and who he did it with? Semiyon James, former NBA basketball player and current coach of the Philadelphia Razors was on top of the world. He was rid of his philandering wife and could pull any woman he wanted with just a crook of his finger. Until he met the beautiful and shy Lauren Caldwell. She was totally immune to his handsome face and suave charm. He wanted her. For her he would give up his wicked ways if only she’d give him the time of day. Once the couple decided to give a relationship a try, evil steps in in the form of his ex-wife and Lauren’s man-loving cousin. Could Semi and Lauren endure the trouble that was in store for them or would they let it destroy the man with the compassionate heart?

    Her parents refuse to talk about where she is, but Elizabeth is certain they know. When Elizabeth accidentally overhears a clue, she investigates and finds Kathryn. Elizabeth can help her sister, but only with the cooperation of Elizabeth's long-time beau Stephen. But Stephen refuses to help. Why? The answer only leads to heartache.Now reeling with uncertainty, Elizabeth seeks advice from her friend, Caleb Kurtz. But Caleb offers much more than just advice. Stunned by his generous heart, Elizabeth doesn't know what to do. Her response could lead her to a completely different life than what she'd always planned. Dare she take Caleb up on his offer?

    For the first time since they met, she was seeing him in a different light. Determined to set boundaries, Dolcé finally sticks up for herself. However, the love that she has for Kaizer may be too much for her to fight. With pressure from Kaizer and those close to her; Dolcé is forced to make make a stand. Will she forgive the man that she loves or start a new life— all alone. With his relationship with Dolcé on the line, Kaizer is determined to prove himself worthy of her love. As he does his all to get things back on track with Dolcé, his ex, Kyra proves to be more of a challenge than he anticipated. In pursuit of the truth, Kaizer places his relationship with Dolcé on the line; in a desperate attempt to settle the score. Will his desire for vengeance overpower his love for Dolcé, and ruin everything they’ve built? Or will he finally realize that nothing and no-one is more important than his family The second installment is all about boundaries. Dolcé and Kaizer must explore the boundaries of their love for one another to determine if being together is worth it. With their relationship in turmoil, Kaizer & Dolcé each have to dig deep to determine if their love is worth the fight. Or perhaps too much damage has been done, and it may be time for them to cut their losses and move on…

    

    A native of Houston, Texas, Zuriah now lives in Chicago and is in her third year of internship to become an anesthesiologist, and things are going perfect. Great loft, awesome career, and a doctor boyfriend, Zuriah has all she needs and falling for another man is not on her Christmas wish list. Jesiah Bowman is single and content with his lifestyle. He tries to be a family man but, when he finds out that the child he'd claimed isn't his, he has no desire to be in a committed relationship with anyone. Busy with work and maintaining his businesses is satisfying enough for Jesiah, until he sees his best friend Zachory’s baby sister, Zuriah, again after several years. Instantly, he is attracted to her and he doesn’t hesitate to let her know, but not only does she have a man, she lives in an entirely different state. They say love conquers all, but will that be enough to bring these two together, or will the distance and commitment to Zuriah’s doctor boyfriend be the reasons why these two lovers toss in the towel?

    From her burning desire to sing to her desperate pleas for her mother to love and accept her, she has always felt the need to fight for what she wanted and accept what she could not have. At the tender age of sixteen, she finally thought she had everything she wanted in Skylen, her very first love, who happened to be an aspiring musician, much like her father. Lyric quickly learns that having a man in the music industry isn't what it's cracked up to be, when she finds Skylen in an uncompromising position, more than once. After three life-altering events happen to her all in the same day, Lyric's life gets much harder, much faster. Not only is Lyric having to grow up faster than she desires, but in doing so, she loses sight of herself, realizing that her hopes and dreams of singing are not only far-fetched, but a terrible idea. After all, two musicians have hurt her, leaving her with unbearable pain and emptiness - her father and Skylen. Feeling as if no man is worth her time or energy, a decade has passed and Lyric is still very protective of her heart, not wanting to be hurt again. In her opinion, it is better to be without love, since love can always change. Therefore, her focus is on herself and her daughter Harmoni, only. But, since she had to put her hopes and dreams aside for the sake of raising her daughter, Lyric tends to struggle, just a bit. But, no matter how hard things get for Lyric, she's too prideful to ask for help, but when she bumps into a music producer from the past, his acts of kindness prove to her that some men actually come in to restore. But, will she let him? Beatz, a music producer and serial entrepreneur, is all about two things - music and money. Beatz has suffered heartbreak at the hands of both an ex-girlfriend and a family tragedy, so he believes that everyone and everything in life is temporary, except music and money. The only other thing that Beatz is passionate about is helping those in need, since he grew up in the poorest projects South Carolina had to offer. Therefore, when he runs into Lyric, Beatz feels obligated to look out for her, not expecting to fall in love. Lyric doesn't quite expect it either, which causes her to resist him, although he may be the one thing she never knew she needed. Will Lyric allow Beatz to love her past her pain, or will she allow her views of men in the music industry to cause her stray from the one person who is willing to help her and love her, at all costs? Will Lyric realize she can't run from music and the men who love it, forever?

    He also happens to be the man she’s loved forever, so the stakes couldn’t be higher to clear his name.Simon Blane is royally screwed. Framed as an international kingpin to hide the activities of the actual criminal ring, he faces life imprisonment. Worse still, he’s fallen for the brilliant, determined Evelyn Thorne, a powerful witch with a not-so-law-abiding family, and he’s unwittingly dragged her into the center of a maelstrom. Now they both have a massive target on their backs. Simon and Evelyn will have to throw away the FBI rule book and tap into the Thorne Witches’ power if they have any chance of survival—because the real culprit is determined to keep the truth hidden by any means possible. And as Simon and Evelyn hunt for the evidence to save them, maybe, just maybe, they can find a little Valentine’s Day magic of their own.

    

    

    His luck changes when Shelia Carmichael walks through his office door with a can of pepper spray and an offer he gladly accepted. The friendship is just the beginning of this romantic story as Shelia learns to trust and throw away her list of deal breakers in a relationship.

    Buzz Central is The High Point of Beauty hair salon owned by Dixie Harper who happens to be the mother of Creighton’s ex sweetheart, Brandy. In order to forget Creighton, Brandy attended NYU, moved to Alaska, and then to Key West. Back in Gemini, Brandy’s cousin, Frangelico Reeves, and jet setter Fi Lipscomb are also faced with their own star crossed love affairs. As fate would have it, Brandy returns home to renovate her mother’s 1950’s era kitchen the same week as her ex-boyfriend Creighton’s engagement party at his family’s estate “Allegra”. The engagement party of the year is suddenly changed to the wedding of the year. The whole town is ensnared in the twists and tangles of old flames, late-night happenings at “Fran’s Booze and Bands” bar, and salon gossip. Throw in the president of the Magnolia Garden Club – Miss Evelyn Wellington, Bobbie Lee Whitt - “Miss Plains Peanut”, and “Lucky”, a homoSEKshul according to Miss Evelyn, who happens to be Gemini’s triple-threat cosmetologist, wedding director, and pageant coach, and you’ve got comedy, romance, suspense, and a southern novel to capture your heart. If you like the novels of Mary Kay Andrews, Jennifer Crusie, or Jill Connor Browne’s Sweet Potato Queens, you’ll love Going Home to Dixie!

    

    

    Kate Meyr continues to be charmed by the beauty of Borna, Missouri. Now, after encouragement from her friends Clark and Ellie, she decides to turn her home into a guesthouse, which East Perry County desperately needs. Wanting to acknowledge Dr. Paulson and his wife, Josephine, whose spirit still haunts the home, she names her new business Josephine’s Guest House. Kate also commissions a quilt to be made by her friend Ruth Ann to hang in the entry hall for guests to sign. Everything seems to be coming together and guests are intrigued by Josephine’s presence, but why do some of the guests’ names disappear from the signature quilt and some remain?