Escaping the rat race and the lure of gold-digging women, wealthy businessman Vance Banning moves to a small, rural retreat, telling the townsfolk that he\'s an out-of-work carpenter. All he wants is peace, quiet and to keep away from women. So the last thing he needs is a charitable neighbor; especially a beautiful, gracious and persistent neighbor of the female persuasion - but there\'s something about Shane Abbott he just can\'t ignore.Vance is certain his cover story will stop his lovely neighbor from getting too friendly, but Shane is determined to break down his resistance. Vance has been burned once, so only a fool would fall for the same innocent act twice. And he\'s no fool. But he has no idea how relentless Shane Abbott can be when it comes to giving a helping hand; or a loving heart.He needed to simplify his life and mend his broken heart. She was searching for a place to finally fit in and a man who could love her for who she was. Together they discover that all they really needed was each other, and that love is the greatest Christmas gift of all.

A contemporary novel of romance and renewal from perennial bestseller Jude Deveraux, First Impressions is an emotionally charged story of one woman's bid to start over. Eden Palmer knows how to make it on her own. The forty-something single mother has worked hard to raise her beloved daughter, but sooner or later a woman must come into her own, and that's what Eden tries to do when she moves to Arundel, North Carolina, to take ownership of Farrington Manor. Arriving in the South's prettiest small town, Eden quickly learns that looks can be deceiving when her move is met with delight in some quarters and jealousy in others. Pursued by two eligible bachelors -- the rugged Jared McBride and Braddon Granville, small-town lawyer and town catch -- Eden is flattered and more than a little suspicious. Juggling the attentions of two men is hard enough, but soon Eden's bid to start over plunges her in the middle of a mystery that threatens not just her reputation, but her very life. Can she use one man to save her from the other?

Fresh from the curious and unsettling matter of Caroline Bingley (as related in Pride and Prescience), Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have every intention of enjoying their still newlywed status at Pemberly until they are confronted with another mysterious situation, ... one ofSuspense and SensibilityElizabeth Darcy and her beloved husband Fitzwilliam are taking on the responsibility of finding a suitable suitor for Elizabeth's younger sister Kitty, thereby assuring her a proper place in society.The angels smile on the young and a perfect match is found, and wedding plans are soon under way. Suddenly a change in personality occurs in Kitty's soon to be model husband-a change so striking as to jeopardize not just the Darcys' social standing, but their lives as well.A mysterious mirror, an insidious reprobate from the past, and matters far beyond the social circles around Pemberly all come into play in a dangerous puzzle, where the consequences may be the exchange of a soul for a soul.Once again the Darcys take center stage as the Regency era's answer to The Thin Man's Nick and Nora, searching for truth between tea times, amid the social whirl of Jane Austen's England.From Publishers WeeklyJane Austen fans who regret the author wrote only six full-length novels have reason to rejoice: Bebris's second Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mystery is even better than her strong debut, Pride and Prescience (2004).In the spring of 1813, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy agree to sponsor Elizabeth's sister Kitty for a season in London along with Darcy's 17-year-old sister, Georgiana. In the course of their social rounds, Kitty meets Harry Dashwood - a younger cousin of the Sense and Sensibility Dashwoods - and the courtship begins. Mr. Darcy makes inquiries into Harry's character, fortune and expectations, but no sooner does he receive favorable answers than the suitor begins to behave most strangely. Harry gives a friend the "cut direct" outside Boodle's Club, and there are rumors of gambling and worse excesses. It's up to Darcy and Elizabeth to discover the cause of these aberrations, and, if at all possible, see Kitty happily established. The author smoothly combines characters from Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility while remaining true to Austen's originals. A few elements of the paranormal help illuminate the mores of the period. Regency romance readers will also be delighted. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review"Thoroughly 'light and bright and sparkling'," in the best Austen tradition with a dollop of murder and mayhem to leaven the whole. A delight." --Stephanie Barron, author of the Jane Austen Mystery series on Pride and Prescience "Well crafted ...Bebris works her own brand of Austen magic, whetting the reader's appetite for a sequel...Taking a lighter approach than Stephanie Barron's sleuthing Jane Austen series this one should appeal as much to Regency readers as to Austenites." -- Publishers Weekly on Pride and Prescience "Charming" --Booklist on Pride and Prescience "Mannered prose, Regency backdrops, moody country houses, and delightful characterization place this new series high on the to-buy list." --Library Journal on Pride and Prescience

This is a few misunderstandings and other problems that begin setting the stage for an unfinished space epic.In the distant future, mercenary Samuel Parker is hired to help out an underground organization on a planet he's never been to. Kreft Way, the representative of these people is faced with unexpected problems brought on partly through his own group's lack of proper planning.

Collateral damage to her parents' toxic marriage, Maya Rayes isn't sure she believes in love. Short relationships are safer. She's surprised by a scorching encounter with her best friend's infuriatingly sensible and contained older brother, but they're complete opposites who struggle to find common ground outside the bedroom. There's no way they could turn into something more, no matter how tempting she finds him. Firefighter Jake Jacobs grew up fast in the wake of his parents' deaths. He doesn't regret putting his life on hold to help his younger sister, but once she graduates from college in a few weeks, he's going to be facing the future on his own. Or so he thought. His one-night stand with Maya is a revelation, and the freedom he finds with her is addictive. Maya's used to burning bridges, not crossing them, but Jake's never been afraid of running into the flames. When he offers to share his future with her, she'll have to decide if the chance...

“Former cop, Grace deHaviland is one tough cookie... fresh and appealing. She is the kind of woman every woman wants to be. Tough, savvy, and unafraid, Grace is a strong character to follow." -- Suspense MagazineA Thrilling Introduction to the Grace deHaviland Bounty Hunter SeriesWhen you're a bounty hunter, making snap judgments about people will often save your life. But what if those first impressions are wrong? When Grace deHaviland chases a bail jumper to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, a long way from her home turf of Columbus, Ohio, she may discover the answer -- with deadly consequences.

A first encounter with an alien race goes a little... oddly.As a recent graduate, Ryan Johnson is on the fast track to having a prestigious career and prosperous life. Then Ryan wakes up one spring morning and everything he cherishes becomes jeopardized. He finds himself left with only fragments of the prior night's events and covering his body are numerous strange injuries that he cannot rationally explain. As he learns of the painful experiences that took place the night his memory was deleted, his world is exterminated of all purpose and is instead replaced with abundant chaos. Did his destructive habits finally ruin his family or is someone else hiding in the dark? In search of answers, he begins peeling back the layers that surround his tragic demise. But answers are hard to come by, and the murder that turned his life into a nightmare takes an unexpected turn. His search leads him to the rediscovery of a piece of family history, the tale of an event his own ancestors buried, so that their family could move on from the past by hiding any remembrance of the lost "Gate's Fortune" from the public.Who does a person trust, when he can't even trust himself or his family? While excavating the corrosive details from his wrecked world, he uncovers a hidden relationship that brings him clarity. A relationship that removes the carnage from his mind and breaths life into his heart. But to find any true peace, he himself must not only protect himself and those he loves, but also avenge those he has lost, thus hopefully repudiating his own transgressions within his distraught reality. But, all hidden truth comes with a price. Some of these truths can take a person into a bottomless pit of despair, where things are best left untouched and forgotten. While other times, the only way to survive a life of trauma and pain is to engage the truths that the mind tries to hide. For Ryan, this struggle for regeneration will either lead him into the light or banish him to a bleak life of darkness inside his twisted mind. Because there is but one way to decipher the events surrounding that horrid night, he must dive head first into the raging hurricane within his subconscious, in search of the buried truth.

American doctor Michael and single dad and K9 officer Josh are both rebuilding shattered lives, and they have rules that will keep them apart... unless they find the courage to break them.

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women—under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager. Dazzle (n): Brightness that blinds someone temporarily. Position Vacant: Two ancient old women residing at Providence Retirement Villa seek male assistant for casual exploitation and good-natured humiliation. Duties include boutique shopping, fast-food fetching, and sincerely rendered flattery. Good looks a bonus—but we aren't picky. An advertisement has been placed (again!) by the wealthy and eccentric Parloni Sisters. The salary is generous and the employers are 90 years old, so how hard could the job be? Well, none have lasted longer than a week. Most boys leave in tears. Ruthie Midona will work in Providence's front office, and be at the Parloni's beck and...

Chance meetings. Unfair judgments. Accepting defeat. Does love stand a chance in the middle of all this?Samantha Rowell had the job she'd wanted since her teen years. She loved books and being a librarian was her dream job. What would be boring for most, made Sammie feel like she was where she was meant to be. Though she knew she didn't need a man to complete her life, she had to admit that Mr. July in a local calendar was a sight to behold. That being said, she felt certain any man who'd pose for a calendar was self-absorbed and couldn't share her wholesome Christian values.Blake Patterson had moved to the small town of Pine Ridge, Georgia to join the fire department after he left the army. He needed a change, but wanted to still be able to do a job he believed in. When his sister talked him into posing for the calendar sponsored by her employer, he thought nobody would ever know. He'd been very wrong.When these two opposites meet, there's immediate attraction. He can't get her out of his mind. She can't trust him to be the guy she was hoping he'd be. When they realize they're not really so different, will it be too late to build on the love that was starting to bud?

Will pride and prejudice keep the Blank sisters from finding love? With five daughters and no sons, Daed and Maem Blank are anxious to find their girls suitors who might eventually take over their family farm. When news arrives that Charles Beachey, the son of a prominent Amish farmer, will be returning from Ohio with his cousin Frederick, they are hopeful that the young men might be good matches for their daughters. The oldest daughter, Jane, starts courting Charles, a well-mannered and very respectful young man, but her younger sister Lizzie is not interested in either courtship or Frederick. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him, finding him full of pride and disdain for her family's way of life. But in a community and culture where pride is scorned, Lizzie must learn that first impressions can be dangerous and people are not always who they seem to be.  This Amish retelling of the popular Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice is a beautiful take on the power of love to overcome class boundaries and prejudices that will win your heart.

Pinkie, Former Things, It's Up to You, New York, Fire Boy, and Chemistry Lessons: five heartwarming, second-chance-at-love short stories. A wounded divorcee taking a wintry train ride along the Hudson River. A young housepainter grieving in a small-town Virginia church. An empty nester from Wisconsin making a long-postponed visit to Far Rockaway, Queens. A new cook traveling through a dark and stormy night to start work at an old-fashioned Adirondack resort. A recent divorcee attending her 30th high school reunion and reconnecting with one man she'd been looking forward to seeing and one she'd given up hope of ever seeing again. Whether recovering from betrayal, heartbreak, bad choices, or just the fact that life can be so difficult, the characters in stories test their willingness to leave the familiar behind, trust in themselves and their future, and risk their vulnerable hearts.

Finding the strength to face up to your past is much easier with the love of a good man. Surly artist Jez can hardly believe his good fortune in ending up in domestic bliss with a warmhearted man like Steve, but one morning a letter arrives, stirring up old hurts. Jez finds it hard to believe Steve will still want him when he reveals his sorry history. Steve, however, is determined to prove that he loves Jez just the way he is — and he’ll even do it before he finishes knitting his first pair of socks… 

Fresh from the curious and unsettling matter of Caroline Bingley (as related in Pride and Prescience), Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have every intention of enjoying their still newlywed status at Pemberly until they are confronted with another mysterious situation, ... one ofSuspense and SensibilityElizabeth Darcy and her beloved husband Fitzwilliam are taking on the responsibility of finding a suitable suitor for Elizabeth's younger sister Kitty, thereby assuring her a proper place in society.The angels smile on the young and a perfect match is found, and wedding plans are soon under way. Suddenly a change in personality occurs in Kitty's soon to be model husband-a change so striking as to jeopardize not just the Darcys' social standing, but their lives as well.A mysterious mirror, an insidious reprobate from the past, and matters far beyond the social circles around Pemberly all come into play in a dangerous puzzle, where the...

From one of the genre's best-loved names, a delightful tale of second chances and unexpected romance. Having been recently widowed in her forties, shy Jane Redfern has finally plucked up the courage to head off on holiday by herself. Embarking on a ten-day coach trip to Germany, the last thing she anticipates is to meet someone new and fall in love. But gradually she finds herself drawn to her fellow passenger, Shropshire farmer Dave Falconer, who has also lost his partner.As Jane's shy English reserve begins to melt away in the stunning surroundings of the Black Forest, her friendship with Dave looks set to blossom into something more serious. But can they really contemplate a future together? Riddled with guilt at having to leave her cantankerous 85-year-old mother in a retirement home, Jane finds it impossible to imagine beginning a brand-new life with someone else. And there's something Dave hasn't been telling her about his own family circumstances ...

A thrilling literary mystery costarring Jane Austen from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookman's Tale Charlie Lovett first delighted readers with his New York Times bestselling debut, The Bookman's Tale. Now, Lovett weaves another brilliantly imagined mystery, this time featuring one of English literature's most popular and beloved authors: Jane Austen. Book lover and Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of Little Book of Allegories by Richard Mansfield. Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice—and ultimately threaten Sophie's life. In a dual narrative that alternates between Sophie's quest to uncover the truth—while choosing between two suitors—and a...

When ugly socks attract. Surly artist Jez just can't help staring at the brightly colored socks of the businessman who sits opposite him on the train every day. He weaves a whole history for the mysterious stranger in a vain attempt to stave off his attraction, but it only ends up feeding his bizarre obsession. Then one hot morning, Jez finally snaps and starts sketching...

When Jez gets home early and discovers his incapacitated lover hiding something under the sofa cushions, he expects it to be porn, but what Steve's really hiding is something both embarrassing and strangely sensuous!This is a free short story in the First Impressions series, but can be read as a standalone.

Lawyer Eddi Boswick tries out for a production of Pride and Prejudice in her small Texas town. When she's cast as the lead, Elizabeth Bennet, her romantic co-star is none other than the town's most eligible—and arrogant—bachelor.

Will pride and prejudice keep the Blank sisters from finding love? With five daughters and no sons, Daed and Maem Blank are anxious to find their girls suitors who might eventually take over their family farm. When news arrives that Charles Beachey, the son of a prominent Amish farmer, will be returning from Ohio with his cousin Frederick, they are hopeful that the young men might be good matches for their daughters. The oldest daughter, Jane, starts courting Charles, a well-mannered and very respectful young man, but her younger sister Lizzie is not interested in either courtship or Frederick. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him, finding him full of pride and disdain for her family's way of life. But in a community and culture where pride is scorned, Lizzie must learn that first impressions can be dangerous and people are not always who they seem to be. This Amish retelling of the popular Jane Austen classic Pride and...