Laurel Bancroft has lived for years as a recluse, isolating herself from a town that has branded her a murderer. But now, convinced people have finally forgotten, she is ready to resume her life.Then Laurel meets Alec Stanton. Hired to help redesign her garden, Alec is a stranger with a mysterious past. Though more than ten years younger, Alec is exactly what Laurel needs: intelligent, talented, passionate.But as their relationship grows, so does a dangerous threat against them. Someone wants Laurel to return to her seclusion and give up her younger lover--someone who hasn't forgotten that night so many years ago.

Wade Benedict has a job to do: infiltrate a treacherous land and rescue Chloe Madison. It was her father's dying wish—and Wade is taking it personally. The problem is, this stubborn, angry and courageous woman doesn't want to be saved.Her rage at the oppressive treatment of women has pulled Chloe into the dangerous world of an underground rebellion. She can't desert the women with whom she forged a daring alliance, and this self-appointed rescuer can't force her to abandon her friends or her commitments—even though her own life is at stake.But Chloe has met her match in Wade, a man as honorable and determined as she. As they make their escape through the treacherous mountains, unspoken passion wears away at the sharp edges that guard their hearts. And when deadly danger stalks them in Turn-Coupe, Louisiana, together they must face a battle that can only be won by the indomitable will of family...and of love.

Jennifer Blake, Heather Graham and Diana Palmer, well-loved voices of romance fiction, bring you three new stories of sultry Southern romance. With a Southern Touch will renew your faith in the power of love.An eighth-generation Louisianian, Jennifer Blake says "few things have stopped the women in my family from doing what we think is important. 'Steel Magnolia' grit and determination are in our blood." Married at fifteen, Jennifer and her husband recently celebrated more than four decades of happily-ever-after."My mom and dad are Irish and Scottish respectively, so I'm a first-generation Floridian," says Heather Graham. "South Florida has always been my home, and I love it--the sun, the water and the beach. My husband and I were high school sweethearts and we've raised (and are still raising!) five children here in the sunshine state.""The women in our family are traditionally strong and independent, thanks to our Scottish-Irish...

Sheriff Roan Benedict comes from a family of hardheaded men who have a habit of rescuing and falling for equally hardheaded women. And sure enough, he's falling for a woman he just shot....This mysterious stranger just helped rob a convenience store. But that doesn't explain the bruises on her jaw and rope burns on her wrist. Though intrigued, Roan is suspicious of her claim that she doesn't remember what happened. Two things are clear to Roan. One: she's lying. Two: someone is trying to hill her.There's only one place safe enough for a lady in danger. Right by his side. Because in Louisiana, a man holds on to what he wants....

Down in Louisiana, family comes first. In the delta town of Turn-Coupe, that's the rule the Benedicts live by. So when a beautiful redhead starts paying a little too much attention to Kane Benedict's grandfather, Kane decides to find out what the woman really wants.Kane's sure Regina Dalton's up to no good. She's either out to grab his grandfather's money or a spy for the company that's trying to put him out of business. Kane--who everyone calls Sugar Kane, 'cause he's sweet as sin...with all the consequences--figures he'll have no trouble getting answers from Regina. But he's wrong.She's not about to tell him the truth. Because her own family's in trouble and she'll do anything--and everything--to save it.

Lovely Amanda Trent hadn't known, when she came to the decaying Monteigne mansion to give her cousin Amelia a valuable family heirloom, that her cousin had recently died under mysterious circcumstances. Nor did she know that sheh so strongly resembled the deceased.But soon after her arrival, strange things began to happen to her. Inexplicable things that couldn't happen. And suddenly Amanda realized that she was slowly begin guided from beyond into a dead woman's life, a dead woman's romance - and, quite possibly, a dead woman's grave...

Romance ignites amidst the tumult of a territory striving to find its identity as it passes from pre-colonial rule to US statehood and beyond. Parts 1 and 2 of the Louisiana History Collection present these lush, politically tense historical romances in chronological order.SPANISH SERENADEPilar persuades a notorious bandit to abduct her as she travels to her arranged wedding. Everything goes wrong, and she is left to El Leon's mercy. But what if he has none...?PERFUME OF PARADISE Elene's perfume has Voodoo magic meant to captivate her groom. But when an island uprising halts the wedding, it's the ship captain trapped with her who feels its effects. Is the desire between Ryan and Elene real - or as false as those who surround them?PRISONER OF DESIREAnya abducts infamous duelist Ravel Duralde to save a young man from his deadly skill. Ravel is intrigued - and in no hurry to escape. Desire builds inside their intimate prison, yet danger lies outside, waiting for Anya to let him go....SOUTHERN RAPTUREStrait-laced Lettie arrives in Louisiana from the northeast after the Civil War - and her true nature flowers in the southern heat. She must be depraved that she can revel in the kisses of both the mysterious nightrider known as The Thorne and sweetly handsome Ranny who was brain-injured during the war....

Nov 21-25  -  Looking for quality FREE reads for the holidays? Romance, Thrillers, Fantasy and more: smarturl.it/HolidayFreeAnd check out our selection of 99 cent books: smarturl.it/SMP99c (Just copy/paste the urls into your address bar - they go to pages right here in the Amazon store)Blockade runners, soldiers and gamblers: Men of adventure who live hard and love harder, yet still crave the one thing these determined heroines have left to give. Three complete bestselling novels by one of the genre's true greats.SURRENDER IN MOONLIGHTDespair sends Lorna into the arms of a daring blockade runner in a deserted house, while Ramon's caresses are driven by retribution. Forced together during a harrowing flight from war-torn Louisiana, they discover the heart's-ease of passion--but can they escape the danger that awaits them on the high seas?NOTORIOUS ANGELEleanora is a respectable lady, widow of a Spanish grandee, former angel of mercy to the wounded in war-ravaged Central America--and keeper of a precious secret. She was also once the mistress of Colonel Grant Farrell. And the hardened soldier is coming for her....GOLDEN FANCYSerena never planned to wind up a gambler's woman and the toast of a gold rush town. Ward is beguiled by her innocence, but too scarred by the past to offer more than protection. Will their fragile bond survive as murder and madness close in around them?

The Three Graces of Graydon are well-born sisters bearing an ominous curse: any man betrothed to them without love is doomed to die.Much to her chagrin, Lady Isabel Milton has been given to Earl Rand Braesford—a reward from the Tudor king for his loyalty to the throne. The lusty nobleman quickly claims his husbandly rights, an experience Isabel scarcely hoped to enjoy so much. But youth and strength may not save Braesford from his bride's infamous curse...Accused of a heinous crime with implications that reach all the way to King Henry himself, Braesford is imprisoned in the Tower, and Isabel is offered her salvation—but for a price. She has the power to seal his fate, have him sent to the executioner and be freed from her marriage bonds. Yet the more Isabel learns of Rand, the less convinced she is of his guilt, and she commits to discover the truth about the enigmatic husband she never expected to love.

Carita Gray—daughter of a warlock who killed her mortal mother with the strength of his passion—has been lonely most of her life. The powers inherited from her father are a curse, for how can she risk love when she may be the death of any man who touches her?Renfrey approaches Carita in a New Orleans cemetery on All Hallows’ Eve. Sent by her father with matrimony as the object, he recognizes her passionate yearning. Yet he requires something more than to be the answer to her need.Carita dares not succumb to Renfrey’s allure—until she realizes he is a warlock. But Renfrey, now caring too much, fears his fierce desire may destroy this half-breed warlock’s daughter. So begins a battle of wills fought with power and magic, tumult and splendor. But who will be left alive when it ends?

Kerr Wallace has spent years studying swordplay, preparing to challenge his sworn enemy and avenge his brother's death. The scoundrel Rouillard, now living in Mexico as a profiteer, has decided to take a wife, and the lady requires an escort to Veracruz. Kerr seizes his chance--he will deliver the bride...and dispatch the groom.If only it were so easy. Headstrong Sonia Bonneval will do anything to escape this doomed marriage to Rouillard. Coquettish ploys cannot melt the iron resolve of her damnable escort, however, and the voyage with Kerr becomes an exhilarating battle of wills. But a very real declaration of war forces them into even closer quarters--and greater temptation--in a fight for survival. Before the end, both must choose between duty and freedom--vengeance and passion.

Beautiful, headstrong Pilar Sandoval y Serna will pay any price to escape the tyranny of her stepfather, Don Esteban. She turns to handsome, moody El Leon, a nobleman turned to a life of outlawry by the depredations of Don Esteban. Together in the hills, Pilar and El Leon find their wills in constant battle and their hearts in secret accord . . .

To prevent the duel she is sure will kill her sister's fiance, Anya kidnaps the handsome challenger Ravel Duralde. But in a small room on her lush Louisiana plantation, it is Anya who becomes Ravel's prisoner of desire. Anya returns again and again to Ravel's chamber to love and be loved, to experience pleasures she'd never dreamed possible.About the AuthorJennifer Blake was born near Goldonna, Louisiana, in her grandparents' 120-year-old hand-built cottage. She grew up on an eighty-acre farm in the rolling hills of northern Louisiana. While married and raising her children, she became a voracious reader. At last, she set out to write a book of her own. That first book was followed by more than forty others, and today they have reached more than nine million copies in print, making Jennifer Blake one of the best-selling romance authors of our time. Her most recent novel is Love's Wild Desire. Jennifer and her husband live near Quitman, Louisiana, in a house styled after old Southern planters' cottages. "From the Paperback edition."

Limited-time! FREE books from Steel Magnolia Press (up to 10 FREE titles) through Sept 15  -  New titles added daily! Find them on our Amazon free-book page atsmarturl.it/SeptFree Find more value-priced ebooks on Amazon's Steel Magnolia Press page atsmarturl.it/SMPAmelia "Melly" Bennington's dream of married bliss comes undone when she mistakenly kisses the wrong man -- not her staid, hard-working bridegroom but the dashing sea captain who is his twin brother. As the wedding draws near, she is torn by long-held affection for one man and sensual attraction to the other. Animosity between the two men reaches such a fever pitch that a tragic break seems inevitable -- unless Melly can force her unruly heart to decide which brother to favor and which to send away forever.Novella. 30,000 words -- about 100 pages.Originally published by Berkley in THE QUILTING CIRCLE anthology and by Jove in the WITH LOVE anthology.Review"... Jennifer Blake proves why she's among the classic authors of romance."~Affaire de Coeur"Tender, heart-warming love story ... priceless, precious ... a slice of American history. A keeper."~Rendezvous

When Lady Marguerite Milton is abducted by the enigmatic—and famously insatiable—Golden Knight, it is the stuff of fantasy. Or would be, if Marguerite weren't pining for her David, who pledged his devotion ten years before...and disappeared. But the only thing more heartbreaking than a man that does not keep his word is one bound by it....David is the Golden Knight, reaffirming his oath to protect Marguerite and, maddeningly, to love her, but chastely. More infuriatingly, Marguerite has been a pawn—bait to lure David into King Henry VII's latest intrigue. To divide Yorkist insurrectionists, David is groomed as a rival to their latest pretender to the throne.Marguerite is desperate. If David fails, the rebels will destroy him; if he succeeds, Henry will not scruple to execute the would-be king he himself created. Suddenly, love and life seem far beyond the reach of any mere curse....

Dangerous ghosts, beautiful witches, hot dragonshifters and sweeping time travel--they're all here in this 4-book collection by some of today's most popular romance authors. HAUNTED ON BOURBON STREET -- Deanna Chase Empath Jade Calhoun loves her new apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street--until a ghost joins her in the shower. When the ghost starts terrorizing Pyper, Jade's new exotic dancer friend, Jade needs not only her unique ability but the help of Kane, her sexy landlord, who's already betrayed her with a secret of his own, to save Pyper. (Novel) A DRAGON'S SEDUCTION -- Tamelia Tumlin A rogue dragon terrorizes New Orleans and firefighter cum dragonshifter Brayden is hot on its tail. But other Magik's at play too, and his sworn enemy, a sorceress battling her past, will need to help quench the fires burning his city--along with the one she's ignited in his heart. (Novella) THE WARLOCK'S DAUGHTER -- Jennifer Blake Carita Gray has inherited her father's gift: the ability to kill through the strength of her passion. It means she can never fall in love. Until the powerful warlock Renfrey who shares her gift declares his desire for her--desire to which she dares not succumb. Can they survive each other's ardor? (Novella) FALLEN -- Christina Skye On a night of dreams and danger, a Crusader knight is torn from the past on a mission of honor--and deadly revenge. Only through magic can he protect the innocence of a stubborn woman who has learned to trust no one. (Category-Length Novel)

Legendary duelist Lucien Roquelaire, known as the Dark Angel, is intrigued by shy Anne-Marie Decoulet. She disdains his lethal reputation, has little to say to him--and calms the ballroom where they meet by luring an injured panther to eat from her hand. Lucien alone seems to recognize the strength and beauty behind her retiring nature; only he has the power and the will to claim her.Anne-Marie is desperate to save the big cat she has tamed; the magnificent animal will be hunted down if she cannot protect him. The Dark Angel promises his aid for a price--but the man may prove more dangerous than the panther...25,000 words; about 100 pages (novella)This ebook edition also includes a 1200-word preview sample (about 6 pages) of "The Warlock's Daughter," a paranormal historical romance by Jennifer Blake.

From Publishers WeeklyBlake draws a powerful portrait of a mother who will risk everything, including imprisonment, to save her eight-year-old daughter's life in the fourth installment of her Louisiana Gentlemen series (after Roan). Janna Kerr's daughter, Lainey, has end-stage renal disease and will die if she doesn't receive a kidney transplant. In desperation, Janna turns to a doctor who deals in black-market human organs and moves Lainey to a secluded fishing camp owned by her friend, Denise, a member of the Benedict clan of Turn-Coupe, La., to await the shady doctor's summons. A short while later, Clay Benedict shows up at Janna's door to check on the new guests. Janna, for reasons never made entirely clear to the reader, drugs Clay and ties him to the bed. It doesn't take long for Clay to realize that Lainey is his deceased twin brother's child or to fall in love with his adorable niece and her mother. When two teenaged boys are found murdered, their vital organs harvested, Janna begins to understand the price that she has agreed to pay for her daughter's life. At times, this poignant tale treads the fine line between drama and melodrama, but the lush setting of the Louisiana marshlands and Blake's vivid prose will send newcomers back to the shelves to pick up the first three books of the series. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

For the sake of her infant nephew, Elizabeth has assumed the identity of her dead sister, Ellen Marie. She arrives at the grand Louisiana plantation of Ellen Marie's late husband, wearing traditional black widow's weeds and carrying the baby -- determined that the boy will reach maturity and inherit his rightful fortune... The family at Oak Shade doesn't suspect they're harboring an imposter; still, they treat her with only frosty politeness. More disturbing are the unusual accidents that seem to be following in her wake, as if planned for her. And now, the dark Creole, Bernard Delacroix, seems to be seeing through her assumed persona, right into her soul -- where passion and desire war with her "widow's" dark masquerade.Review-Blake-s style is as steamy as a still July night on the bayou, as overwhelmingly hot as Cajun spice- -Chicago Tribune -Blake is a skilled writer...Romantic scenes that are marvelously effective.--New Orleans Times-Picayune

Find more Steel Magnolia Press books FREE in October on our special promotion page right here in the Amazon store! Just copy and paste - or type - the following url into your address bar: smarturl.it/SMP-OctFreeRevenge can indeed be sweet...When her brother's car plunges off a cliff with him and his fiancée in it, Amanda Davies gets the news personally from the fiancée's brother. The devastatingly handsome Italian businessman appears in Atlanta and whisks Amanda off to Italy to be with the hospitalized couple. But could his motive be more?Nicholas de Frenza never approved of his sister's choice in husband to begin with, and now that Carita is in a coma due to her fiancé's reckless driving, it seems the perfect time to resurrect an ancient Italian custom of revenge: the seduction calls for a similar seduction in return, a sister for a sister. But Nico is too civilized for such vengeance -- or is he? Even as Amanda falls for the Tuscan's charms, she knows his code and his family would never approve of her as more than a simple dalliance. But then the secret about the car wreck comes out -- and that's when everything changes...A brand-new contemporary romance by one of the legends of the genre.Category-length novel.

In some small Southern towns the old ways still exist. Breeding counts and the old boys hold court. Everyone has a place and no one's supposed to cross the line. But rules are made to be broken...In Southern Gentlemen, authors Jennifer Blake and Emilie Richards deliver two contemporary stories of family, love and betrayal, all set against the colorful backdrop of the Deep South. This is their South--filled with old families, old money and old grudges. A place where the finest women are ladies and the best men are gentlemen. And where men from the wrong side of town have more honor than all the blue bloods combined.

In some small Southern towns the old ways still exist. Breeding counts and the old boys hold court. Everyone has a place and no one's supposed to cross the line. But rules are made to be broken...In Southern Gentlemen, authors Jennifer Blake and Emilie Richards deliver two contemporary stories of family, love and betrayal, all set against the colorful backdrop of the Deep South. This is their South--filled with old families, old money and old grudges. A place where the finest women are ladies and the best men are gentlemen. And where men from the wrong side of town have more honor than all the blue bloods combined.

Romance ignites amidst the tumult of a territory striving to find its identity as it passes from pre-colonial rule to US statehood and beyond. Parts 1 and 2 of the Louisiana History Collection present these lush, politically tense historical romances in chronological order. FIERCE EDENReynaud, half Natchez Indian, requires that Elise share his bedroll in exchange for saving her friends during an uprising. Widowed after a brutish marriage, Elise fears intimacy more than the Natchez. How can she view Reynaud as an enemy after his tender introduction to love?LOUISIANA DAWNCyrene rescues a handsome rake from drowning for the sake of his silver lace. In return, she requests he relieve her of her tiresome virginity. She expects to be her own woman afterward...but fails to reckon with René's skill or her own lonely heart.EMBRACE AND CONQUERFélicité despises the Irish colonel who marches into New Orleans with the Spanish conquerors; pride demands she escape from his beguiling embrace. Will he let her go, or follow into the trap of a pirate's lair?

All Clare Thornton wanted was a relaxing vacation in the mountains learning how to ski, but a snowstorm causes her to wreck her car and seek out shelter in a seemingly abandoned cabin. But when the famous movie star Logan Longcross walks through the door of the cabin, Clare finds herself on trial by a man who fiercely guards his privacy and does not accept her innocent explanations of the car crash as her reason for showing up on his doorstep. When the snow clears and a famous movie producer shows up at the door of the cabin expecting to find his wife in the arms of the famous star, Clare suddenly becomes Logan's faux fiancÈe. They both must do the acting of their lives if they are to convince the producer that he should consider Logan's movie proposal and that Clare and Logan are lovers. But is the love they display really an act?

The Tudor king issues Lady Catherine Milton a most unusual command: seduce Scottish loyalist Ross Dunbar. The son of an ornery borderland laird, Dunbar would make an advantageous match, but King Henry cannot force him to wed. So Cate must ensnare him...A rush of courtly parties and passionate nights in Dunbar's embrace leaves Cate breathless...and confused. She desires a proposal for the sake of propriety and politics, but she longs to be truly loved. Tortured loyalties are not hers alone—though Dunbar is enchanted by Cate, he cannot bind himself to England and abandon his people.But when a pretender to the throne ignites a rebellion, the choice is made for them: to solidify northern alliances, Dunbar and Cate must wed. Suddenly Dunbar's death appears certain—either by his bride's curse or by a war he did not choose...

Romance. 128912 words long.