The eighth novel in the beloved Mitford series, by the bestselling author of At Home in Mitford and Somebody Safe with Somebody Good  Millions of Americans have found Mitford to be a favorite home-away-from-home, and countless readers have long wondered what Christmas in Mitford would be like. The eighth Mitford novel provides a glimpse, offering a meditation on the best of all presents: the gift of one's heart.Since he was a boy, Father Tim has lived what he calls "the life of the mind" and has never really learned to savor the work of his hands. When he finds a derelict nativity scene that has suffered the indignities of time and neglect, he imagines the excitement in the eyes of his wife, Cynthia, and decides to undertake the daunting task of restoring it. As Father Tim begins his journey, readers are given a seat at Mitford's holiday table and treated to a magical tale about the true Christmas spirit.

The real hero of this story is dead. You should have met him. He was a beautiful man. The love of my life. I didn’t deserve him. Now what’s left are the jagged edges of the person I am without him, and what I have to do to get by. This isn’t even a story about love. Not really. It’s a twisted tale of revenge and hate—a happily never after. The only man in my life now is the one I have to kill. I’m Savvy Raine. I used to be a wife. I used to be a mother. Now I am the Revenger.

Suncoast Society 53 (MMF, contemporary BDSM, HEA) Neil isn’t just Tamsin’s gay best friend and roommate—he’s her Dom and adopted family. While she jokes she’d love to watch him and Dexter, her fiancé and Dom, together in bed, she knows that’ll never happen. Dexter isn’t jealous of Neil. As a paramedic, Dexter frequently spends days away from Tamsin. Plus, the older Dom is as much a mentor to Dexter as he is a friend. Neil’s never made a secret about his attraction to Dexter, even though he knows nothing will ever happen since Dexter’s straight. Then a drunk driver shatters their world, leaving Neil to step in and pick up the pieces for Dexter and Tamsin. They might never get her “back,” but Neil’s sworn to take care of her. Now the men are forced to forge deeper, stronger bonds both to take care of Tamsin…and each other. As their love grows, one question remains unanswered: What happens to them if or when Tamsin wakes up?

Together again. It's been a year since Katie O'Roark, Chelsea James, and Lacey Duval shared a special summer at Jenny House. The girls have each spent the year struggling to fit into the world of the healthy. Now they're back, this time as "big sisters" to a new group of girls who also face life-threatening illnesses. But even as the friends strive to help their "little sisters" face the future together, they must separately confront their own expectations. Katie must decide between an old flame and an exciting scholarship far from home. Chelsea must overcome her fear of romance. And Lacey must convince the boy that she loves that the feelings for him can be trusted. When tragedy strikes Jenny House, each of the girls knows that things can never be the same again. Will Lacey, Chelsea, and Katie find a way to carry on the legacy of the Jenny House? Can their special friendship endure when they go their separate ways? From the Paperback edition.

Excerpt: ...beach, and oh, how empty seemed the sea far, far behind the breakers of Biscay Bay! At the sight of those breakers, whose sound had been growing in her ears, Olwen gave an involuntary "Oh! Look at them!" From the hotel windows they seemed nothing more than a crawling white line. Here they were rushing monsters that seemed to shake the shore where they broke. They broke and spouted not more than fifty yards away, then swirled and seethed almost to the feet of the women in surf, in the lines that would be taken by boiling milk. Olwen stood nearest with spray on her cheeks, thunder in her ears, and a storm of unimagined whiteness before her eyes, finding it all riotously beautiful. But the last thing in the world that she expected was what Mrs. Cartwright then said: "I say! Let's bathe. It would be too gorgeous in there!" Miss Walsh, behind her, looked as if she could not believe her ears. "In October, dear Mrs. Cartwright?" Dear Mrs. Cartwright laughed as she threw out her arm towards the waters, soaring to crash, soaring again to crash. "That," she cried, "was going on before the months had names!" "Oh, but I never knew any one dreamed of bathing after August," murmured Miss Walsh, still clutching her hat, "and, besides!" (as if that settled it), "you haven't brought your things with you." "That's just what I meant," declared Mrs. Cartwright, taking a deep breath. "I'm going in." "Oh, please don't!" protested Olwen. "I can swim quite well, but any one can see that's dangerous. Supposing you were caught in and swept away. Oh, I wouldn't." "I shouldn't dream of letting you, child," cried Mrs. Cartwright gaily. "I'm going in," and she stooped to unlace the brown thongs of her sandalettes. "Oh! I'll go on and gather shells, then," said Agatha Walsh (hurriedly turning her back as if she dreaded to let her eyes fall upon some repellent sight, reflected Mrs. Cartwright, with amusement). The elder woman was of the type that, under such circumstances, makes...

For many in war-torn 1944, love blossoms in the dance hall, and airman Arty Clarke is no exception. He’s a thinker and a dreamer; however, it’s not the beautiful, talented dancer in his arms—his best friend Jean—who inspires his dreams. For when his gaze meets that of Technical Sergeant Jim Johnson, Arty dares to imagine a different dance.For many in war-torn 1944, love blossoms in the dance hall, and airman Arty Clarke is no exception. He’s a thinker and a dreamer; however, it’s not the beautiful, talented dancer in his arms—his best friend Jean—who inspires his dreams. For when his gaze meets that of Technical Sergeant Jim Johnson, Arty dares to imagine a different dance.Their love is forbidden, by both the armed forces and the law, but with Jean’s cunning and support, Arty and Jim try to bridge the distance between them and find true love despite the danger and a life-threatening disaster that could destroy Arty’s dreams for good.Can the pair stand strong together, no matter how many skies have fallen?----Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Romance.Part of Love is an Open Road (Don't Read in the Closet 2015), based on the prompt:Life isn’t a fairy tale. These two know that better than most. These men are survivors. Against all odds, they made it through hardships, separation, and war. They clung to hope where little existed and, as the skies fell around them and the world was torn apart, found strength in loving each other.Suddenly, the war was over. Battlefields lay silent and troops prepared for the journey home. These two were more than ready. They had experienced enough loss, grief, and pain to last ten lifetimes. The country they left behind may not have been ready to accept them, but they were prepared to live no matter how many skies had fallen.You can tell me the story of how these men met, but what I really want to know is what happened to these men after this photo was taken. Did their love endure the trials of a return to civilian life? Were they able to overcome the trauma of war and find peace together?Sincerely,Tiffany

When Ellie falls for Ian, she thinks she has finally found her Prince Charming. Could she be right or does fate have something else in store for her?They're divine. They're almighty. They're about eight thousand years late.They're the Vessel, five living gods born to smite an ancient anomaly of death. That's what beloved pop legend Jesse Cannon is saying anyway--after claiming to be a Vessel himself. It's enough to make his long-suffering assistant Jordan hand in her two week's notice. She might not survive one week, however, because Jesse's divine vision is no myth. Something is stalking them both, and it's not a crazed fan . . .Book I brings the fledgling deities together (on a tricked-out tour bus, of course) for the ride of their immortal lives. There's Ghi, a sweet amnesiac who may or may not be a terrorist--or a devout lover of soap operas. Jackson, a smart-mouthed, firefighting mama's boy. Corin, a filthy rich philanthropist who cannot function without his smartphone. And Khan, a legally blind convict with a penchant for arson, nicotine, and prostitutes. Each remarkable in his own right, each born of questionably immaculate conception, and each, as far as Jordan is concerned, utterly unprepared to deliver anyone from evil. Unearthing the Vessels' calling will take them from the banks of a forgotten Nile tributary to a Toronto truck stop, from the set of Oprah to the gates of Hell and back. Along the way, they must survive not only one another, but flesh-eating tentacles, water gun assasins, prehistoric priestesses, undead groupies, powerful hangovers, cut-off jeans, and one very fed up celebrity assistant. Gird your loins: this armageddon is just getting started.

1193 is a dangerous and confusing place--especially if you're from 2009.When American twin sisters Jill and Joanna Mason are mysteriously transported to Sherwood Forest, they must solve a murder, tutor incompetent outlaws, and navigate matters of the heart. But as both sisters discover hidden talents, they wonder if their future lies in the past.1193 is a dangerous and confusing place--especially if you're from 2009.Life has not been going as planned for 25-year-old twins Jill and Joanna Mason. Jill, an engineer and secret thrill-seeker, longs for adventure. Joanna, a wedding planner and aspiring writer, is recovering from a bad breakup. A vacation is just what they need to lighten their spirits. But neither one expects what happens next.While horseback riding through Sherwood Forest, the sisters are mysteriously transported to the 12th century where they're caught in the middle of a deadly feud. Joanna is taken captive by Guy of Gisbourne. Young women in his castle are dying, and she must identify the killer before she becomes his next victim. Meanwhile, Jill enlists Robin Hood's aid in saving Joanna. But his incompetency may cost Joanna her life. As the sisters discover hidden talents and romantic entanglements, they must decide if their destiny actually lies in the past.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams at any given moment is getting tired. Especially the falling dreams, and the standing-in-front-of-the-class-naked ones. But then there are the nightmares, the ones that chill her to the bone… like the one where she is in a strange house…in a dirty kitchen…and a sinister monster that edges ever closer. This is the nightmare that she keeps falling into, the one where, for the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant…

By the French author, who, along with Flaubert, is generally regarded as a founding-father of realism in European fiction. His large output of works, collectively entitled The Human Comedy (La Comedie Humaine), consists of 95 finished works (stories, novels and essays) and 48 unfinished works. His stories are an attempt to comprehend and depict the realities of life in contemporary bourgeois France. They are placed in a variety of settings, with characters reappearing in multiple stories.

Augusta J. Evans was a Southern writer in the late 19th century who was instrumental in writing historical fiction that depicted and romanticized life in the South during the 1800s.

It was almost as if time had not touched the village of Cornwall Coombe. The quiet, peaceful place was straight out of a bygone era, with well-cared-for Colonial houses, a white-steepled church fronting a broad Common. Ned and Beth Constantine chanced upon the hamlet and immediately fell in love with it. This was exactly the haven they dream of. Or so they thought. For Ned and his family, Cornwall Coombe was to be come a place of ultimate horror.

Unemployed and living with her grandma, plus-sized Cassie applies for a job at the local strip club. When she’s passed over in favor of the skinny girls, she thinks all hope is lost. Until a sexy ballroom dancer shows her that her body is meant to follow an entirely different tune.Thanks to the economic downturn, Cassie lost her job months ago and is living with her grandmother. Desperate to get her life back on track, she applies for a job as a stripper. But Cassie is plus-sized and competition is fierce. When the skinny girls are hired, Cassie's heartbroken. Until mysterious dark haired dancer Joaquin shows her what her body can really do - if she'll only follow his lead.This is a short, free, PG-13 read.

“Hex Addict” Short story #1 from Magic Flirts!Vicky is a witch who enjoys that special feeling she gets when casting love spells on humans. Handsome Drake is an enforcer in the witching world who opposes her work. When he accuses her of being a hex addict, her love spell backfires and hits the two of them. Now that these enemies are smitten, Vicky wonders whether she wants the spell reversed.“Hex Addict” is short story #1 from Magic Flirts! which features five short, fun romances laced with enchanted elements. The stories stand alone, but are connected when read together. “Hex Addict” Short story #1: 9000 words Vicky is a witch who enjoys that special feeling she gets when casting love spells on humans. Handsome Drake is an enforcer in the witching world who opposes her work. When he accuses her of being a hex addict, her love spell backfires and hits the two of them. Now that these enemies are smitten, Vicky wonders whether she wants the spell reversed.Check out the rest of the stories in Magic Flirts! And look for Lisa's other collections: Flirts!, Beach Flirts!, Holiday Flirts!, Fairy Tale Flirts!, Wedding Flirts!, More Flirts!, Reunion Flirts! Fairy Tale Flirts 2!, and Office Flirts! Look for another Flirts! collection in late 2014 and check out Lisa's Willowdale Romance series.

Collection contains 'Rydia, Daughter of Mist' and 'Kain, A Hero's Destiny' (f.k.a. The Story)*events take place after those of FF4-Rydia, Daughter of Mist-Though instantly overcome by Rydia's beauty and spunk, the Prince of Eblan has never confessed an attraction. Rydia is the perfect match for his rebellious attitude, ditching dirt and smart-ass quips and taking the same . . . but has never admitted to a fluttering heart. Now they have given themselves one last chance for a no-holds-barred admittance.-Kain, A Hero's Destiny-Kain. A soul manipulated to dark deeds, forever separated from the honor he one time cherished as a dragoon knight. How have these dark deeds tortured an honorable soul? How has this betrayal affected what could have been a hero's future? Silence surrounds him, feeding the darkness and manipulating a lonely spirit troubled by a strange past. But though evil has an uncanny instinct about weaknesses, honor and love have a way of finding even the smallest strength.