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.