In 1863, Natchez, Mississippi, peacefully surrendered to the Union Army - but not everyone surrendered peacefully, especially not Shaelyn Cavanaugh. With both her brother and her intended off to war, her home, Magnolia House, and her beloved steamboats are taken over by Major Harte and his small contingent of men. Shae will use every mischievous weapon at her disposal to show Major Harte he has chosen unwisely. She begins by putting vinegar in his coffee. But instead of being upset with his doctored drink and later molasses in his boots, Major Remy Harte is intrigued. Actually, he finds Shae’s attempts to make him leave her home amusing and he doesn’t feel slighted in the least. What the major does feel is a growing attraction, one that Shae shares as well, despite the fact she is a spoken for woman of the South and he is most definitely an available man from the North. Making circumstances worse, Shae is accused of espionage and they are ultimately betrayed - by one of Remy’s own men. Sensuality Level: Sensual
When Ryder Marsden and Jemma Cafferty return to Magnolia Branch for Christmas break following their first semester at their respective universities in New York City, their secret relationship is revealed—they’re literally caught under the mistletoe, kissing. Unexpectedly, their parents—who’ve spent their entire lives pushing them together—are somehow less than thrilled, especially when they realize the depth of their deception. Tensions mount as the Marsden and Cafferty families struggle to come to terms with Jemma’s and Ryder’s feelings for each other. At the same time, Jemma and Ryder must face their own problems that have arisen as a result of attending different schools—there are jealousies to be sorted out and hurt feelings to mend if their relationship is going to stand the test of time. Will their love last, or are they star-crossed lovers, after all? "...just what I was looking for: fun, light, with plenty of hot moments." --Kirkus Reviews on MAGNOLIA
Doggone it, it’s hard to beat a southern boy when it comes to charming the ladies. Crimson rounds up nine sassy romances so hot, you’ll want to slap your momma. Misbehaving in Merritt: When Dr. Maxwell Ellis Buchanan IV’s privileged life tailspins out of control, he’s sentenced to volunteer his time at Merritt’s local arts center. Even worse? He’ll report to Audrey Evans, a former ESPN reporter, who turned the arrogant golden boy down for a date. Working side by side, Max and Audrey find surprising common ground and breathless chemistry—but will their differences divide them? From One Night to Forever: Trucker Aaron Henderson rolls into Resilient, Tennessee, for business, but his one-night stand turns out to be his new partner’s baby sister. When Kacey Randal learns Aaron has a list of conquests as high as his big rig’s mileage, she’s ready to pretend their night together never happened. Can he prove to Kacey he’s ready to reform his roaming ways? What a Texas Girl Dreams: They are opposites in so many ways, but the more veterinarian Trickett Samuels gets to know footloose and fancy free Monica Witte, the more he wonders if he can convince this Texas girl that having roots will only help her soar higher. Fool for You: Sports journalist Melanie Foster is loving her high-flying career, now she just has to convince her best friend, Damien Richards, to put a ring on it. But Damien’s trying to save the non-profit where he volunteers, even if it means sacrificing personal happiness. When he finally realizes Mel is the girl for him, can he convince her he’s worth a second chance? Flame Unleashed: After Ruth Blackstone’s husband repaid her sacrifice with betrayal 150 years ago, she’s not willing to trust Cajun rogue Odie Pierre-Noir’s risky plan to win freedom for all Indebteds. Soon, however, she’ll need to choose: continue to lived a damned life but with Odie as her lover or risk their eternal souls for one chance to break the curse. Bride by the Book: Small-town Arkansas attorney Garner Holt badly needs an assistant to sort out his cluttered office, but he didn’t expect a super-secretary like Miss Angelina Brownwood. But an online search reveals Angelina isn’t actually a secretary. Does her secret mean he can’t make this unique woman his for life? Blue Moon: On a mission in Florida, Gabriel Rayner rescues a beautiful, drowning mermaid who is searching for a champion to fight an evil warlord and save her people. If they fall in love, Gabe will be enslaved to the Merfolk for eternity. In a clash of culture shock and heat, Gabriel and Ephyra battle those odds, but will they have to sacrifice their love to save her life? Carolina Love Song: Bix Bullard was Judy’s childhood sweetheart. Unfortunately when he returns home and his city friends descend on the estate, it’s clear that the beautiful, wealthy Marise considers him her exclusive property. Can Judy dare hope she could rekindle his lost love for her? Mischief and Magnolias: Natchez, Mississippi, peacefully surrendered to the Union Army—but Shaelyn Cavanaugh didn’t. Major Remy Harte has taken over her home and her beloved steamboats, and she will use every mischievous weapon at her disposal to drive out the Union soldier. But their growing attraction is unavoidable. Can their budding romance survive when a common enemy accuses Shae of espionage?
A value-priced collection featuring heart-tugging historical romance stories of love and hope, set against the backdrops of war-torn battlefields and the home front. Love is a battlefield in these four romances starring courageous patriots called to duty for their country. With emotions running high and lives placed bravely on the lines, will they have the strength to fight for love as war wages on? The Forgotten Debutante: Saffron Fitzpatrick spent her teenage years mourning the dead rather than dancing at her debutante ball, with the exception of one forbidden kiss with solider Ezekiel Boone. Fate reunites the couple three years later, and they discover unexpected common ground and begin to build a relationship. But though the war is over, a future together may still elude them…especially if Saffron’s brother and the U.S. Army have anything to say about it. Mischief and Magnolias: Natchez, Mississippi, peacefully surrendered to the Union Army—but Shaelyn Cavanaugh didn’t. Major Remy Harte has taken over her home and her beloved steamboats, and she will use every mischievous weapon at her disposal to show the Union soldier that he has chosen unwisely. But he finds the attempts to make him leave Magnolia House amusing and his growing attraction to Shae unavoidable. Can their budding romance survive when a common enemy accuses her of espionage? Revolutionary Hearts: To complete his mission in India’s fight for independence, General Carton—a.k.a. U.S. undercover operative Warren Khan—must hide both his true objective and his heritage. But once he meets the captivating Parineeta, who holds the key to both his freedom and capturing her brother, a suspected anarchist, he finds the subterfuge more difficult than anticipated. The Winter Promise: In the fall of 1053, Lady Imma has one loyalty: to help her uncle, the king of Wales, win his war against the English. Lord Robert, the steward of Wessex, has one loyalty as well: to keep his beloved Wessex safe from enemies. When she is forced to seek shelter in his keep, they must decide if they can listen to their hearts—or if they would be wiser never to trust each other. Sensuality Level: Sensual
Can the eldest MacDermott brother put his family trauma at the hands of the Logan gang aside once and for all to make room for love? Find out in the emotional and satisfying conclusion to this heartfelt series. Sheriff Teague MacDermott’s life has been on hold since the Logan gang rode through Paradise Falls, killing and wounding his loved ones in an attempt to break one of their own out of jail. Now, four years later, he fears history is about to repeat itself as the last of the Logans is due to be released from prison and their ringleader vowed to return and put a bullet in his back. Teague has not forgotten Jeff Logan’s promise to return to Paradise Falls and put a bullet in his back. He failed to protect his family once; he cannot let Logan get anywhere near his niece—or the spirited, new-in-town reporter who has found her way into his heart, despite his better judgment. In order to win a coveted position on her father’s newspaper, journalist Ryleigh Steele needs to write an in-depth story about how Sheriff MacDermott stopped the most notorious gang in Colorado. There’s just one problem—the enigmatic sheriff won’t open up to her, despite the growing attraction between them. With Logan’s release from prison looming, they must make tough choices. Ryleigh wants the story and the sheriff, but she can’t have both. And Teague wants Ryleigh’s love, but accepting her into his life means putting her in Logan’s crosshairs. Can they risk it all for a brighter future together? Sensuality Level: Sensual
Jenna and Ryder are far from friends—until a storm stirs up their passion in this contemporary southern romance from New York Times bestselling author Kristi Cook. In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, The Cafferty and Marsden families are practically royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when the families finally have a baby boy and girl at the same time, the perfect opportunity seems to have arrived. Except Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen—oh, and also? They hate each other. Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would prefer it if stubborn-headed Jemma didn’t exist. And their communication is not exactly effective: even a casual hello turns into a yelling match. But when a violent Mississippi storm ravages through Magnolia Branch, it unearths feelings Jemma and Ryder didn’t know they had. And the line between love and hate just might be thin enough to cross…
From the acclaimed author of Michief and Magnolias, Marie Patrick’s second MacDermott Brothers novel is a stellar western historical filled with heartwarming emotion. Former US Marshal Eamon MacDermott failed to prevent the death of his brother, sister-in-law, and young nephew at the hands of the Logan gang. Wracked by guilt, he’s hung up his guns and turned his back on life altogether. That is, until he meets Theodosia “Theo” Danforth. Widowed and running Morning Mist horse farm with the help of her extended family and friends, Theo harbors an unshakable belief that everyone needs kindness—even the town’s founder who is determined to claim her lands. But how can she convince Eamon he is worthy of happiness? When the outlaw gang resurfaces and join forces to destroy Morning Mist, Eamon must choose between picking up his guns again to extract vengeance or letting the past remain in the past and forging a new future with Theo. Sensuality Level: Sensual
"In his posthumous memoirs, Braz Cubas, a wealthy nineteenth-century Brazilian, examines (from beyond the grave) his rather undistinguished life in 160 short chapters that both cover the basics of his existence and open out into philosophical explorations that sometimes follow meandering paths of thought to unexpected places, at times exuberant and hilarious, at other times cynical and utterly at odds with the world around him. In the tradition of Laurence Sterne and Jonathan Swift -- and as a clear forerunner of the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jorge Luis Borges -- Epitaph of a Small Winner, first published in 1880, is one of the wittiest self-portraits in literary history, as well as quite possibly the greatest novel you have never heard of"--Page 4 of cover.
When Ryder Marsden and Jemma Cafferty return to Magnolia Branch for Christmas break following their first semester at their respective universities in New York City (Columbia and NYU), their secret relationship is revealed--they're literally caught under the mistletoe, kissing. Unexpectedly, their parents--who've spent their entire lives pushing them together--are somehow less than thrilled, especially when they realize the depth of their deception.Tensions mount as the Marsden and Cafferty families struggle to come to terms with Jemma's and Ryder's feelings for each other, especially as they prepare to send them back to New York City together. At the same time, Jemma and Ryder must face their own problems that have arisen as a result of attending different schools--there are jealousies to be sorted out and hurt feelings to mend if their relationship is going to stand the test of time.Will their love last, or are they star-crossed lovers, after all?
