To hotel manager B. J. Clark, the Lakeside Inn is more than just a historic New England landmark, it’s a place both staff and guests call home. So when wealthy hotelier Taylor Reynolds decides to add it to his global hospitality empire with plans to modernize its charm and character, B. J. prepares herself to resist this hostile takeover. But she didn’t prepare for their heated discussions to take place behind closed doors where more passionate desires would arise.

Ten years ago, Liz Palmer left Houston for the beautiful Caribbean island of Cozumel to mend a broken heart, raise her daughter in peace, and attract adventurous tourists with her Black Coral Dive Shop. Unfortunately, her new diving instructor Jerry Sharpe was only employed for two weeks when he vanished and was found dead. Now, Jerry’s twin brother Jonas is seeking answers, leading Liz on an investigation that reveals undeniable passion between them—and uncovers a criminal conspiracy that threatens their lives…

Legendary horror author Hunter Brown thrills fans with his tales of terror. But the master of macabre is also a marvel of mystery, maintaining a low—and reclusive—profile. It’s Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe’s job to lift the veil on popular personalities and she’ll stop at nothing to secure an exclusive one-on-one with Hunter. Intrigued by her relentless drive, Hunter agrees to an interview—but only if Lee joins him on a camping trip.

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Lindsay Dunne has devoted her whole life to ballet, pushing herself and her students to achieve the perfect beauty the craft requires. She loves her career, helping ballerinas grace the stage, and has never found her lack of a loving relationship to be a sacrifice. Until she meets Seth Bannion, the guardian of Lindsay’s most gifted protégé. An architect with his own ideas of the girl’s potential, Seth challenges Lindsay’s tutoring, opening her eyes to the possibilities of a future beyond dance—and opening her heart to the possibilities of love.

Abigail O’Hurley Rockwell’s husband was a racing car legend behind the wheel, winning championships with a fearless skill and speed that claimed his life in a tragic and—some would say—reckless crash. Heartbroken, Abby wants nothing more than to raise her two sons in peace, but journalist Dylan Crosby is penning a book about her infamous husband’s life, determined to expose the man’s hidden past. But Abby is not a spoiled trophy wife Dylan can easily charm. She is a woman of integrity and mystery desperate to keep him at arm’s length.

Hester Wallace is proud of her independence. She needs only one man in her life - her nine-year-old son, Radley. But when Rad starts idolizing their neighbor Mitch Dempsey, Hester wonders if her son needs a male role model. Hester would do anything for her boy, but inviting Mitch into their lives is dangerous. She might start to rely on Mitch…or worse, fall in love with him.

In the unbearable heat of another sultry Washington, D.C., summer, a serial killer is on the loose. Dr. Tess Court, one of the capital’s most successful psychiatrists, wants nothing to do with the case—until the police convince her to lend a hand to the lead investigator, legendary ladies’ man Detective Ben Paris. Scarred by his family’s history, Ben has even less use for shrinks than Tess has for him—but the forces of animal magnetism and a shared desire to catch the demented criminal known as “The Priest” inexorably erode the walls they’ve built.

Serena MacGregor had been looking for a little independence and some much-needed adventure, but Justin Blade was not what she had in mind. The stakes were high, and Justin was betting on changing Serena's mind about him. But when this fiery heiress upped the ante on the cool Comanche gambler, steamy didn't begin to describe the results....

Princess Gabriella had escaped captivity, but she'd lost her memory and her kidnappers were still on the loose. She needed a protector fast, and brash American Reeve MacGee was the perfect man for the job. The handsome ex-policeman could handle absolutely anything - except falling in love with the stunning, vulnerable woman in his care.

Screenwriter Nash Kirkland is in Monterey, California researching witchcraft for his latest script and finds himself enchanted by Morgana Donovan, who claims she comes from a family of magical practitioners. Skeptical of anything he can’t explain, and wary about trusting his feelings, Nash nevertheless finds his growing desire for Morgana nothing short of supernatural.

Catherine "C.C." Calhoun is determined to keep her family's estate, known affectionately as the Towers, in the family. She admits the cost of keeping up the crumbling mansion might be quickly exceeding what C.C., her sisters and her aunt can afford, but the only way to save the house can't be to sell it. Especially not to arrogant and handsome hotel magnate Trenton St. James III.

Once Phillip Kincaid fixes his mind on something, he sets about getting it. When he's pulled over for speeding in Friendly, New Mexico, he knows the town is the perfect locale for his next film. And no-nonsense sheriff Victoria Ashton looks pretty perfect to him, too! But Tori's all business. With no interest in romance, she's giving Phillip a run for his money - making him all the more determined to show her that even a lady of the law can surrender willingly…to love.

Liv Carmichael wants to make her name in television journalism, and Washington, D.C., is the perfect place to do it as co-anchor of the local evening news. T.C. Thorpe is the network's senior Washington correspondent - and Liv's biggest competition. If Liv wants a share of his turf, she's going to have to fight for it. And when they fall hard for each other, they'll have to protect their love from their own rivalry - and the hazards of their celebrity.

Half Apache and all man, Jake Redman was more than a match for the wild Arizona Territory. Sarah Conway, on the other hand, was an Eastern lady who belonged anywhere else but on the rugged land Jake loved. But beneath Sarah's ladylike demeanor beat the heart of a true pioneer, a woman he yearned to make his own.

Serena MacGregor had been looking for a little independence and some much-needed adventure, but Justin Blade was not what she had in mind. The stakes were high, and Justin was betting on changing Serena's mind about him. But when this fiery heiress upped the ante on the cool Comanche gambler, steamy didn't begin to describe the results....

Lumi Santana is a chef with the gift of synesthesia - she can perceive a person’s emotions just by tasting their cooking. Despite being raised by a single mother who taught her that dreams and true love were silly fairy tales, she decides to take a chance and puts her heart and savings into opening a fusion restaurant in Inwood, Manhattan. The restaurant offers a mix of the Dominican cuisine she grew up with and other world cuisines that have been a source of culinary inspiration to her.

A driven workaholic, CEO Caasi Crane has sacrificed all semblance of a personal life to build a West Coast hotel empire. But business as usual will never be the same when the man Caasi trusts with all her heart abruptly resigns. Having to replace her top manager isn’t the end of the world - or at least it shouldn’t feel like it. So why does it hurt so much to lose him?

When her life falls apart on the eve of her 40th birthday, Kate Parker finds herself volunteering at the Lauderdale House for Exceptional Ladies. There she meets 97-year-old Cecily Finn. Cecily's tongue is as sharp as her mind, but she's fed up with pretty much everything. Having no patience with Kate's choices, Cecily prescribes her a self-help book with a difference.

Idealistic good girl Madelyn Grayson believes in doing what's right. Even as a high-powered executive in the mad world of advertising, she doesn' t cut corners, making her ad campaigns sizzle without having to burn anyone along the way. Rival exec Zack Douglas never wastes an opportunity to land the next big deal - especially when it benefits him. A bad boy with a reputation to match, he has no qualms about doing whatever it takes to get ahead, no matter who gets in the way.

One magical summer, Megan Hallberg met - and loved - Prince Stefano Barrali. But his royal duties took him home, and when she discovered she carried his child, she also discovered he was engaged...to a beautiful, worldly aristocrat.

Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she's dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard Award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back...even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.

Sasha Adams has it all. Fulfilling career, loving family, great friends, and . . . Who's she kidding? She lives at home with her aging mother, Fleur. She works as a massage therapist, and spends all her time with her best friend, Bobbi. But damn it, she's happy. Well, okay, maybe not happy, but she's content. It's enough. Until the well-meaning but meddlesome women in her life, Fleur and Bobbi, team up and enter Sasha into a writing competition with the potential to change her life.

Twelve months after her younger sister Anahita's death, Mitra Jahani reluctantly returns to her parents' home in suburban New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom of "The One Year." Ana is always in Mitra's heart, though they chose very different paths. While Ana, sweet and dutiful, bowed to their domineering father's demands and married, Mitra rebelled, and was banished.

Sadie is a single mum, nursing a broken heart. Her best friend from childhood, Cat, is burned out from working long hours as a chef in Paris. In need of a change, they decide to invest in their dream - running their own handmade biscuit shop in gorgeous Castle Court, a three-storey food court tucked away behind Chester's bustling streets. They soon discover that Castle Court has its own community - a little haven of delight against the stresses of the outside world. But not everyone welcomes the new business.

Literary editor Antonia Harper had it all - the career, the man, the future. That was then. Now Antonia is jobless, alone, and at a crossroads. What better time to travel the world? A solo honeymoon on the Emerald Isle will be like hitting the reset button. No distractions, no drama. Aiden Byrnes may be a literature professor, but words fail him when he meets the woman staying in the cottage next door. Tully Cross is meant to be a sleepy little village, and he's meant to be on a working holiday - not a vacation, and most definitely not with his beautiful neighbor.

In this first ever short story collection, New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray takes us on five steamy, sexy adventures. From a timid, dowdy duckling who turns into a confident, sexy swan which sends her into the arms of a handsome artist; to a bridesmaid’s explosive encounter with the best man; to an unproven actress who is being wooed to the stage by a handsome Broadway director.

Amy Ryan strictly defined herself in three ways: successful businesswoman, devoted mother, and grieving widow. Wild certainly never entered into the description. That is, until she met powerful Australian businessman Harry Griffith. Suddenly, Amy was doing all kinds of wild things - enjoying romantic dinners, taking spontaneous luxury vacations, falling in love. And yet, a part of her was still devoted to her husband, still wanted to touch him, hold him, talk to him. But Harry demanded nothing less than all of Amy.

When aspiring musician Izzy is knocked off her motorbike, she doesn't just lose her dignity - she loses both long-term boyfriends, her job, and her beautiful apartment. Gina, who caused the accident, has more important things to worry about: Her husband has just deserted her for his pregnant mistress. Why should she care about Izzy? Yet, somehow, Gina finds herself opening her home to Izzy and her spirited teenage daughter.

After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte's customers turns up dead, there's much ado about murder.

Legendary horror author Hunter Brown thrills fans with his tales of terror. But the master of macabre is also a marvel of mystery, maintaining a low—and reclusive—profile. It’s Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe’s job to lift the veil on popular personalities and she’ll stop at nothing to secure an exclusive one-on-one with Hunter. Intrigued by her relentless drive, Hunter agrees to an interview—but only if Lee joins him on a camping trip.

Kate Hardesty’s late father spent his life exploring the waters around North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island, hunting for sunken treasure. Now, it has fallen to his daughter to decipher his detailed notes, charts, and maps to complete his quest—but Kate knows she needs the help of deep-sea diver Ky Silver. Once, she’d given him her heart, only to break his when she left the island. That was four years ago, and Ky’s the only one she can trust to help her locate the gold.

Lindsay Dunne has devoted her whole life to ballet, pushing herself and her students to achieve the perfect beauty the craft requires. She loves her career, helping ballerinas grace the stage, and has never found her lack of a loving relationship to be a sacrifice. Until she meets Seth Bannion, the guardian of Lindsay’s most gifted protégé. An architect with his own ideas of the girl’s potential, Seth challenges Lindsay’s tutoring, opening her eyes to the possibilities of a future beyond dance—and opening her heart to the possibilities of love.

Aurora Fields protected her clients like a mother tigress—especially when one was her own mother! So it was going to take a lot more than charm to get her on side with David Brady's plans. Aurora could see he was a smooth operator, used to getting what he wanted, and she was usually immune. What was it about him that left her uncomfortably vulnerable? As for David, he'd always considered himself a good judge of people. So why did each moment with Aurora leave his head and heart reeling? She was an enigma, and he was determined to find the key.

Lawyer Keane Prescott goes from courtroom to center ring when he inherits his late father’s family business—a circus. Working with acrobats and clowns hold no appeal for him, but his curiosity about animal acts is piqued after meeting lion tamer Jovilette Wilder. As bold and unpredictable a force of nature as the big cats she trains, Jo is wary her new boss intends to cage her passion. But to her surprise, Keane is more than willing to join Jo for a walk on the wild side.

To hotel manager B. J. Clark, the Lakeside Inn is more than just a historic New England landmark, it’s a place both staff and guests call home. So when wealthy hotelier Taylor Reynolds decides to add it to his global hospitality empire with plans to modernize its charm and character, B. J. prepares herself to resist this hostile takeover. But she didn’t prepare for their heated discussions to take place behind closed doors where more passionate desires would arise.

Mode Magazine is one of New York City’s premier fashion glossies and Hilary Baxter has just been contracted as one of their models. The culture shock she experiences between her small-town Kansas life and the glamour of the Big Apple is nothing compared to the thrill she gets when Mode’s charismatic publisher Bret Bardoff takes a personal interest in guiding her career. Unable to resist Bret’s seductive allure, Hilary’s infatuation turns into love—a love she hopes is strong enough for Bret to see the person behind the beauty.

The first time single father Spence Kimball set eyes on Natasha Stanislaski, he was floored by her exotic beauty. But the former ballet dancer turned toy shop owner had a fiery temperament that kept men safely at bay. Sensing a hidden wound, Spence and his little girl joined forces to find a way into her closely guarded heart. For Spence realized he'd do anything to tame Natasha's fears...and show her how to love.

Ten years ago, Liz Palmer left Houston for the beautiful Caribbean island of Cozumel to mend a broken heart, raise her daughter in peace, and attract adventurous tourists with her Black Coral Dive Shop. Unfortunately, her new diving instructor Jerry Sharpe was only employed for two weeks when he vanished and was found dead. Now, Jerry’s twin brother Jonas is seeking answers, leading Liz on an investigation that reveals undeniable passion between them—and uncovers a criminal conspiracy that threatens their lives…

Abigail O’Hurley Rockwell’s husband was a racing car legend behind the wheel, winning championships with a fearless skill and speed that claimed his life in a tragic and—some would say—reckless crash. Heartbroken, Abby wants nothing more than to raise her two sons in peace, but journalist Dylan Crosby is penning a book about her infamous husband’s life, determined to expose the man’s hidden past. But Abby is not a spoiled trophy wife Dylan can easily charm. She is a woman of integrity and mystery desperate to keep him at arm’s length.

Master magician Pierce Atkins has made a career conjuring realistic illusions and escaping elaborate traps, mystifying audiences around the world. Mesmerized by his seemingly otherworldly abilities, Ryan Swan is desperate for a peek behind the curtain of the brooding, attractive genius—only to uncover a personal tragedy his magic cannot fix. And as she watches Pierce engage in one death-defying act after another, Ryan finds herself becoming spellbound by the man, not the magician.