Cara is so ugly that mirrors would rather break than show her reflection. not even her own parents can deny her ugliness, and nothing can make up for the cruelty of her schoolmates. Tormented and tortured by the shallow people of Flock's Rest, Cara has a miserable life. Then she receives a shimmering note from some exotic place suggesting that there's more to her than meets the eye. Cara wonders if her destiny has something to do with her recurring dreams of beautiful green valley where the people are so accepting that her ugliness doesn't matter. Soon, Cara discovers that her valley of dreams is real. It's a place where the ugliest of ducklings can become swans. A swan, however, can have a serious taste for revenge...deadly revenge. Views: 40
With a past that haunted her, the last thing Peyton Somers ever expected was to fall for any man. She vowed to live her life happily alone, dedicating her time to a career she loved with a passion. Peyton had everything she could ever need... amazing friends, loving parents and the control over her life she worked damn hard to get. But what do you do when fate steps in and makes other plans for you? He's a successful COO of a family owned commercial development company. Liam Powers has every advantage in life growing up in a privileged and influential family. He has access to all the women he could ever want, unlimited funds and endless freedom. He can do, say and be whoever he wanted... until the day he met a woman he simply couldn't forget. A stranger who captured his attention, consuming him with the need to know more. A woman like that never comes without a story. What he didn't anticipate, was how much of her story was never told. When reality goes head to head with fate... Who will come out the winner? Views: 40
Suspecting that his estranged wife is having an affair with a famous artist from a renowned American art dynasty, Scottish Police Superintendent Terrence Reid, heir to a whiskey fortune and Scottish title, travels to the small California seaside town of Bodega Bay to try to win her back—only to discover that her lover's six-year-old daughter has just been kidnapped. Anne, a talented historic garden designer, doesn't know whether to bless or curse the luck that had her husband show up on her doorstep just as disaster strikes the Grainger Art Colony. Moving on after he left her was hard, but she'd done it with Andrew Grainger's help. When Anne and her lover become the F.B.I.'s chief suspects, Reid, compelled to exonerate the woman he still loves, steps in to investigate — and in the process, uncovers a shocking web of deceit and danger. Views: 40
Linked by tragedy, Avery and Dylan have shared women for more than a decade. As owners of The Easton Company, they have the world at their feet, money and power at their fingertips, and a private sex club at their disposal. Mistresses have come and gone, yet when they meet Payton Calloway, they see a woman to love, one who can tame their untamable ways and heal their tortured souls. Will this virgin be theirs to share for a lifetime or will she run from their past? Views: 40
Jed and Horse ride again in this sequel to sci-fi Western VULTURES' MOON. When a shuttle crash leaves a young boy orphaned, Jed strives to find who's responsible. During the investigation, the gunslinger and his miraculous steed encounter a host of unsavoury characters and dangerous situations, and the resurgence of an old enemy causes Jed to question his understanding of right and wrong. Fans of the first book will enjoy this fast-moving, action-packed adventure from author William Stafford. Views: 40
An Unexpected Partnership Quaker Rachel Woolsey dreams of having her own bakery and her own homestead. But the odds are stacked against her—until the handsome ex-soldier she nurses back to health offers to help her. Like Rachel, Brennan Merriday is an outsider. But he'll be the temporary ally she needs, and her foolish attraction will fade once he's gone. At first, the only thing Brennan wants to know about Pepin, Wisconsin, is how fast he can leave it. Perhaps in Canada he'll find peace after a bloody war. Yet repaying his debt to the pretty baker offers unexpected solace. She saved him once. Now he longs to rescue dreams of family—for both of them. Wilderness Brides: Finding love—and a fresh start—on the frontierAbout the AuthorSince her first Love Inspired romance debuted in 1998, Lyn Cote has written over 35 books. A RITA finalist and a Carol Award winner, Lyn writes contemporary romance and historical. Her brand is "Strong Women, Brave Stories." Visit her website/blog at http://www.LynCote.net and find her on Facebook, GoodReads and Twitter.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Pepin, Wisconsin June 2, 1871In the dazzling sunshine, Rachel Woolsey stood on the deck of the riverboat, gazing at her new home, its wharf and huddle of rustic buildings. After all the lonely miles, she'd accomplished her journey. Relief flooded her when she recognized her cousin Noah standing near the dock, his wife and children at his side.But she stiffened herself against this warm, weakening rush. She didn't want to dissolve in tears at the sight of family. She would make a life for herself here, fulfill her ambition of independence, start her own business, own a home-no matter what anyone said.Her empty stomach churning, she smoothed her skirt, calming herself outwardly, and prayed silently for the strength to accomplish all she hoped. With God's help, I will. Otherwise why did I leave my father's house in Pennsylvania?Finally, at the rear, the paddle wheel stilled, dripping and running with water. Porters carried her luggage onto shore where she tipped them and turned to her cousin. When she told him all her unusual-for a woman-plans, would he be a help or hindrance?Holding his daughter, Noah enveloped her in a one-armed embrace. "Cousin Rachel!"The intensity in his joyful welcome wrapped itself around her like a warm blanket and went straight to her lonesome heart. "Cousin!" She could say no more without tears.Then he released her and his pretty blonde wife handed their little son to him and hugged her close. "We're so happy you have come. It's good to have family near."Rachel sensed a breath of hesitation in Sunny's welcome. And Rachel guessed it must be because she knew of Sunny's unhappy past. How could she let Sunny know she would never, never reveal what she knew? She wouldn't tell anyone here that before marrying Noah, Sunny had borne a child out of wedlock."I'm so happy, Cousin Sunny," she said with heartfelt sincerity. "I'm so happy thee and Noah look…good together."And they did. The two children looked happy and well fed. Noah looked healed, content and Sunny touched his arm with obvious affection. Then tears did come.Maybe this place would be good for her, too. She realized that she did feel welcome, more than in her stepmother's home where she'd been an unpaid servant instead of a beloved daughter. She tried to shake off the bittering thought.At sounds behind Rachel, Noah looked up and frowned. Speaking past her, he asked sharply, "What are you men doing?""The captain say bring this man on shore to the doctor," the black porter said.Rachel swung around and saw that two porters were carrying an unconscious man, one holding his shoulders and one his ankles. A third porter followed with what looked like a bulging soldier's knapsack."We don't have a doctor here," Sunny said, sounding worried."Well, then we suppose to leave him anyway," the porter said, appearing abashed. "We got no one to nurse or doctor him and his fare run out two stops south."Rachel's sense of right balked. "So thee's just going to abandon him?"The porters looked ashamed, helpless. "That's what the captain order us to do."Rachel struggled with herself. She couldn't take out her umbrage on these innocent men. She would tell the captain what she thought-The boat whistle squealed. The porters gently laid down the shabby man and his travel-worn knapsack and then hustled onto the boat, which was already being cast free.Within moments the boat was far from shore, heading north, the paddle wheel turning again. Rachel fumed at the departing craft as she dropped to her knees beside the man.Thin, with a new beard and shaggy chestnut hair, he appeared around Noah's age, in his thirties, and would have been handsome if not so haggard looking. Drawn to help him, Rachel touched his perspiring forehead. Anxiety prodded her. "He's burning up, Noah."Her cousin knelt on the man's other side. "We can't leave him.""Of course we can't," Sunny agreed, holding her little girl back from going to her father.Rachel rose with new purpose. "I'll help thee carry him, Noah." She bent and lifted the man's ankles and Noah quickly grasped his shoulders. They carried him to the wagon and managed to arrange him on a blanket Sunny kept under the wagon seat. Rachel should have had a harder time carrying a man's weight, but he must have lost pounds already, not a good sign.Some of the shopkeepers and customers had come out to watch and a few helped wedge Rachel's luggage on the other side of the wagon bed along with the man's knapsack. They kept a safe distance from the feverish, unconscious man, evidently fearing contagion.A man whom Sunny addressed as Mr. Ashford said, "He doesn't look good. Be sure you don't catch this from him."Rachel understood this sentiment, but didn't let it sway her. Her father hadn't raised a coward.Noah voiced what she was thinking, "We'll do what we can for him. It's shameful to just drop a man off to die.""Irresponsible," Ashford agreed, though he backed away. "But not every river man is to be trusted."Rachel couldn't decide if the man was speaking of the captain who'd abandoned the man or warning them that this man might do them harm-if he lived. Indignation stirred within her.Noah helped Rachel up onto the wagon bench to sit beside Sunny. Rachel accepted Sunny's sweet little girl to sit on her lap. Noah turned the wagon and headed them home.Rachel's attention was torn between the beautiful thick forest they drove into and the man moaning softly behind her. As they rolled into and over each rut and bump, she hurt for him. After traveling alone for weeks, she was moved by the man's plight. If she had become sick, would this have happened to her? "What does thee think he might be ill with?" she asked Sunny."I don't know. I have some skill in nursing the sick, but he might be.. " Sunny's voice faltered.Beyond our help, Rachel finished silently. A pall hung over them and the miles to Noah's homestead crawled by. Rachel mentally went over the medicines she'd brought with her and where they were packed. She questioned Sunny and found that her stock of medicines was meager, too.Rachel closed her eyes, praying for this stranger, for all traveling strangers. The man's dire situation overlaid her joy at arriving here. Pepin was her new beginning. Would it be this man's ending?Brennan Merriday groaned and the sound wakened him. He heard footsteps. Someone knelt beside him. A cool hand touched his brow. "I have broth and medicine. Open thy mouth, please." A woman's voice.His every joint ached, excruciating. His body burned with fever. He couldn't speak, didn't have the strength to shake his head no. A spoon touched his lips. The only act he could manage was letting his mouth fall open. Warm, salty broth moistened his dry throat. Then something bitter. And then more broth. He let it flow into his mouth and swallowed.He moaned, trying to lift his eyelids. Couldn't. Swallowed. He began to drift again. A face flickered in his mind-Lorena's oval face, beautiful as ever with black ringlets around it, a painful memory that lanced his heart. He groaned again.The same firm voice summoned him back. "A few more mouthfuls, that's all I ask."The gentle words fell soft on his ears. He made the effort to swallow again. Again. And then he felt himself slipping away.Half asleep, Rachel sat in the rocking chair, the fire very low on the hearth, keeping a small pot of chicken broth warm. Every time the stranger surfaced, she spooned as much into him as she could, along with willow bark tea for his fever. She was trying to keep him alive till his fever broke.Still he looked emaciated and beneath his eyes dark patches showed signs of his decline. Would she succeed? Or would they bury him without a name? The thought lowered her spirits.She had cared for him around the clock for nearly a week. Weariness had seeped in as deep as her bones, but her overall worry, that they might bury this man never knowing his name, pressed in on her more. Noah had gone through the man's knapsack but had found nothing marked with a name.Even sick, the stranger beckoned. Something about him drew her-more than merely the handsome face obscured by a wild, newly grown beard and mustache and the ravages of the fever. He looked lost somehow. Would he remain a mystery? Who was he? Why had he boarded the same riverboat as she? Was some woman pacing, worrying about him?She'd thought she would quickly put her plans for her business into motion. But once again the needs of others took precedence. Just a little longer. I don't begrudge helping this man, Father. Her chin lowered and she slipped into that fuzzy world of half sleep.A loud groan woke her fully. Pushing away the dregs of a dream about home, she sat up straighter and looked down. In the light from the hearth, she saw that the stranger was awake. And this time he opened his eyes. She quickly moved into her routine. She knelt by his pallet and felt his forehead. She pressed her hand there again. Was she imagining that he seemed cooler?With the top of her wrist, she touched her own forehead and then his. She stared down into his dull eyes. "The fever has finally broken." Cold relief coursed through her.The man tried to talk, his dry lips stuck together.She held up a hand. "I'll get the broth." Soon she spooned more into his mouth. This time he didn't fall asleep while she was feeding him. His dark eyes followed her an... Views: 40
Hope Manson ruled her school senior year. When a girl in her class, Jenny, spreads a rumor about Hope, an attempt of getting even ends with Jenny dead and Hope in prison for man-slaughter. Six years later, she is let out with one goal in mind- to make a difference. A difference for Jenny. Hope will be anything but selfish.Wes Styles is a arrogant and rude. He is controlling, self obsessed, and just plain mean. And Hope likes it. She wants someone to treat her like dirt, as a reminder of what she did. Plus, if someone treats her like horribly, she can't fall in love- right? Because falling in love is the most selfish thing you can do.Wes Styles loves women. He loves when they're calling his name, making him come, or digging nails into his back. He does not fall in love with women. When Wes meets Hope, he is immediately intrigued by the fact she likes being treated like nothing more than a pile of dirt. And he knows she is holding a dark secret. But he doesn't want to know what this secret is, because when he finds out the truth, he may leave. And for the first time in his life, he doesn't want to.Warning: This story deals with topics not suitable for everyone, including self harm and bullying. Recommended for mature adults, 18+ in age, due to intense sexual situations, violence, and strong language. Views: 40
At the age of seventeen, Reiss Chambers knew he was in trouble the moment he realized that Ava was never going to marry someone like him—the poor gardener’s son. Even though everyone was against them, Reece stood his ground, knowing that the only thing that mattered was Ava. As long as she stayed true to their love, he could endure whatever life threw at him. Her family opposed the relationship from the beginning. The more Ava’s parents meddled, the difficult it got. When Ava’s ex came back into her life, the worse things became. Witnessing Ava betray him, he walked away vowing to never look back. Ten years later, they crossed paths again. This time, Reiss was no longer poor nor was he easily recognizable. Young love. Betrayal. Agony. After all that, could a man truly forget his first heartbreak and move on without some form of closure? Views: 40
Age range 7-14:Deadly D and Justice Jones return in their most exciting and funny story yet!The action-packed, rugby league adventures of Deadly D and Justice Jones just got a whole lot deadlier. As Deadly D continues to be the NRL's hottest superstar, Dylan's secret has fallen into the hands of a nasty newspaper reporter who can't wait to tell the world! How will Dylan and Justice stop the curse from being revealed? If you liked the first book, this story will get you lacing up your footy boots again! Views: 40
