She's duty bound to a family dream. With a slew of struggles and surprises, can she make this holiday season one to remember? Claire Chandler's passion has just been put on hold. After her parents unexpectedly pass away, she turns down a coveted wildlife photography grant to move back to New Hampshire and run their inn. But when a face from the past whose vacation she ruined as a kid shows up as a guest, she vows to turn the grumpy author's stay into a fun-filled festive retreat. Struggling to keep up with everyone's never-ending demands, Claire does her best to help her prickly adversary reclaim his muse. But as she juggles a challenging cookie tour, an ex-boyfriend's sudden arrival and a powerful nor'easter cutting the power, she fears all the guests will unwrap is disappointment. Will the overwhelmed host survive a snowstorm of stress and restore the Yuletide cheer? Christmas by...

THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK Haunted by the demons of his past, hardened Seeker "Ace" Esteleone was the man least likely to mix business with pleasure. But the reckless behavior of the book-smart beauty he'd sworn to protect was threatening to ruin his investigation, and pretending to be her lover was the only way to keep them both safe. Desperate to find her missing sister, Aurora Cates hadn't counted on being dragged into the arms of the dark, unpredictable hunter. The passionate kisses meant for show soon shook them to the core -- and led Ace to tell her his deepest secret. But when his cover was blown, Aurora was put right in the line of fire....

SHACKLED HEART On a stormy Texas night, Tyler Blackwell awoke from a car crash to find himself in a castle dungeon, bound under lock and key by an ephemeral jailer with haunting eyes and virginal flesh that begged for a man's touch. Mysterious Melissa Carnes -- the woman Tyler had been sent undercover to defend from a deadly enemy intent on destroying her life -- was more tempting to Tyler than any assignment. And being her "prisoner" had its advantages. But could Tyler penetrate the cold stone wall Melissa had built around her heart before the past emerged like the grim reaper to sentence them both to life terms...?

PROTECTING HER WAS HIS JOB In the click of a shutter, heiress Abrielle Holbrook's life was changed forever when she captured her father's murder on film. But trying to stay alive long enough to testify against his ruthless partner only brought her face-to-face with the past. LOVING HER WAS HIS LIFE'S MISSION Special agent Gray Reed -- Abbie's childhood pal from Echo Falls -- looked as brave and handsome as she remembered. Except for the knowing look in his eyes that betrayed what they once shared. Now, with an assassin licking at their heels, dodging bullets almost seemed safer than facing the feelings stirred up by seeing each other again....

A lost boy caught in the cold a mother with nowhere to turn a soldier with nowhere to goWhen Nora Camden's son was kidnapped, Sabriel Mercer was the one man she could depend on. The valuable Seeker had lost his way, but rescuing Scotty Camden renewed his purpose, and would lead him deep into the White Mountains. He had become a man on its trails long ago, and again he found himself pursued by the tyrannical Colonel.The Colonel would do anything for sole custody of his heir. The men he'd dispatched to track Nora and Sabriel were even more dangerous than the unforgiving terrain. Sabriel would have to put his Rangers skills to the test if mother and son were to be reunited, but could even that put his restless soul at ease?

Whether reckoning or lovemaking -- it's more intense in the heat of a Texas night! Melinda Amery awoke to the double-barreled deep blue eyes of Lieutenant Grady Sloan. A more formidable -- or handsome -- man she'd never seen. And he wanted answers about a murder. Only, Melinda had none. She had no recall, except she knew nothing good would come from remembering.... Grady was the kind of cop who wouldn't let go until he got what he wanted. With his job on the line, he needed to break the case. But the only witness had amnesia -- and tormented dark eyes that needed healing. And Grady couldn't help his overwhelming attraction toward Melinda. But would her hidden memories reveal more than either of them wanted to know...?

THE HUNTER BECOMES PREY... U.S. Marshal Sebastian Falconer was a workaholic, dedicated to catching dangerous fugitives. But when his wife became the victim of a vengeful escaped felon who had vowed to destroy Sebastian, he knew he could no longer protect his beloved Olivia from the dark side of his job. Olivia's amnesia made her wary of the raven-haired man who called himself her husband. Was she attracted to the handsome stranger because of a need for security or a true calling of her heart? She joined in the search for her attacker, proving she wasn't as fragile as Sebastian had once thought. But could they find a way to rekindle their lost love in the face of danger?

TWO SCARRED HEARTS As far as former CIA sniper Lucinda Taylor was concerned, her heart died the day she pulled the trigger that left her a widow and a single mom. Then fellow agent Dominic Skyralov came to town to hunt down a dangerous scam artist, and Luci was shocked to feel an exhilaration she hadn't felt in seven years...a feeling that made her think she and this brave, bull of a man might be more than old friends. But Dom had his own secrets about that tragic day. And now, with her family in growing danger, Luci had to decide if Dom was her last, best shot at redemption and love -- or just a terrible reminder of everything she'd lost.

A Romantic Suspense Novel:When a jewel thief kidnapped her daughter, jeweler Juliana Shales had no choice but to steal the Nadyenka Sapphire and trade the royal treasure for her daughter's safe return. What she hadn't realized was that she'd have to steal it from the only man she'd ever loved.When Special Agent Lucas Vassilovich sets a trap using a family heirloom to capture the jewel thief making a fool of the FBI, he had no idea he'd snare the woman who'd haunted his dreams for the past six years. With his career and proof of his royal heritage on the line, he'd do anything to protect her--and the legacy she'd hidden from him. But with all the hurt and secrets between them, can they learn to work together and earn the most precious treasure of all--love?About the Author:Flying an eight-hour solo cross-country in a Piper Arrow with only the airplane's crackling radio and a large bag of M&Ms for company, Sylvie Kurtz realized a pilot's life wasn't for her. The stories zooming in and out of her mind proved more entertaining than the flight. Not a quitter, she finished her pilot's course, earning a commercial license and an intrument rating. Since then, she's traded in her pilot's license for a keyboard, where she lets her imagination soar to create fictional adventures that explore the complexity of the human mind and the thrill of suspense. She has written 20 books. Visit www.sylviekurtz.com for the latest details.

MARRIED TO A STRANGER One steamy afternoon when the setting sun bled the raging Red Thunder River red, Texas sheriff Chance Conover forgot who he was. A trauma from 15 years ago resurfaced in his mind, creating muddy images of murder that stirred whirlpools of horror. Worst of all, Chance couldn't remember the beautiful woman who claimed to be his wife -- Taryn Conover. Traveling back up the river to confront his past and the danger that surely awaited him was the only way this lawman knew to protect the woman who loved him -- and his unborn child. But would Taryn's kisses help him remember the life he'd lost in time to save the one he'd found?

The Meadows heiress had been kidnapped 25 years ago. Vanished by moonlight, and CEO Nicolas Galloway was the last to see her. So when reporter Valerie Zea arrived at the Moongate mansion to dig up new dirt, Nick was there to watch her every move. And his smoldering eyes didn't miss much--especially her uncanny resemblance to the missing girl.... Now someone was stopping at nothing to ensure the real story remained buried--and that meant ending Valerie's probing questions. But the biggest question of all was the tall, dark Mr. Galloway himself. Could Valerie get him to open up before the opportunity to expose the truth disappeared?

she'd assumed her twin's identity, faked an engagement to a man she hardly knew.But only by becoming Alyssa could Brooke Snowden view life through her long-lost sister's eyes...to find the person who wanted Alyssa dead.The deception, she knew, was fraught with risk, but Brooke hadn't anticipated her dangerous attraction to the one man forbidden to her....It was Jack Chessman's duty as a cop to protect Brooke, and his debt of honor to her twin. But while his regard for Alyssa had never gone beyond brotherly affection, his feelings for pretend fiancée Brooke were of the forever kind.But first, he had to keep her alive....

EVERY MAN HAS HIS DAY OF RECKONING... With a new face and new life, Kevin Ransom vowed never to return to that small Texas town where an impulse of anger had destroyed his body and soul. But then, he never dreamed that his actions that day on the Red Thunder River had led a madman to keep the woman he loved in a drugged state, trapped as a prisoner in her body for 15 years. Kevin had caused Ellen Paxton enough pain, but for her sake he had to go back to make things right, especially when he found out that she and her horse ranch were in grave danger. He would keep his identity hidden.... But would he be able to hide the love still in his heart?