Dreamspun Desires

When efficiency consultant Graden Baxter gets stranded at the Las Vegas airport, of course he starts to book another flight… until curt demands and disappointing news from his boss finally best his practical nature. If tireless dedication to the job only leads to being taken for granted, maybe he should reevaluate his life. A cross-country drive to New York City with fellow stranded traveler Cole Carmichael presents the perfect opportunity. He can have a little adventure but still make it home in a long weekend. Professional nomad Cole has other ideas for getting there, but the tension building between them isn't all down to Graden's overplanning and Cole's inconsiderate spontaneity. As they navigate the Southwest, exploring parks and endless starry skies, they begin to see themselves less as opposite and more as complementary. Unfortunately, adventures have to end-and theirs ends with Graden back at a thankless job, Cole solitary and rootless. Except that peculiar road-trip alchemy means they aren't the same men who embarked on the trip. Can they find their way together, even if it means going off the map?

When charged with embezzlement and kidnapping, will Jon let go of Charles and the family they've built together without a fight?

Can struggling novelist Chris handle being married to Jesse for a year to get to walk away with a million-dollar payoff?

A fairy-tale vacation-if he can get the ending right. American nurse Finch Mason steps beyond the comfort of his orderly life and takes a dream trip to England, complete with a National Trust Pass so he can visit numerous historical sites. At the first one on his list, he's warmly welcomed-and told he bought a pass good for two. Finch doesn't hesitate to offer the pass to Benedict, a handsome Brit also there on an outing. They spend a magical week touring the countryside, and while it's too soon to get attached, Finch wishes their time together would never end. Then Finch finds himself stuck abroad with no money, and he has no one to turn to but Benedict. Benedict is happy to help, but he also owes Finch some answers-such as who he really is and why he was at the estate where they first met.

It's dangerous diving for secrets. When a megacompany threatens to take over his family-owned business, programming prodigy Adam Preston escapes the stress with a much-needed vacation in the Dominican Republic. There he meets attractive, intelligent, insightful Jonah James, a scuba dive instructor, and what starts as a holiday fling soon blossoms into much more. But Jonah has a secret: ten years ago he woke up on an island beach with no idea how he got there… or even who he is. Their paradise may not be as perfect as it seems. When Jonah's memories come crashing back like waves on the sand, will it be Adam clinging to the proverbial life raft, or will the two men find a safe harbor to ride out the storm?

For a singer and a spy, love might be mission impossible. Jaxon Powers has what most only dream of. Fame. Fortune. Gold records and Grammy awards. Lavish hotel suites and an endless parade of eager bedmates. He's adored all over the world-even in the remote, repressive country of Vasnytsia, where the tyrannical dictator is a big fan. The State Department hopes a performance might improve US relations with a dangerous enemy. But it means Jaxon's going in alone… with one exception. Secret agent Reid Stanfill has a covert agenda with global ramifications. Duty means everything to him, even when it involves protecting a jaded rock star. Jaxon and Reid's mutual attraction is dangerous under Vasnytsia's harsh laws-and matters get even worse when they're trapped inside the borders. Romance will have to wait… assuming they make it out alive.

Hayden Owens is just a typical graduate student working his way through school as a barista for the Owens Coffee Company -- no relation. But he keeps the "no relation" part to himself when he meets dashing, older Neal Kirchner, a successful architect from an old-money family. Hayden doesn't exactly lie, but he figures it can't hurt for Neal to believe he's a rich kid. After all, Hayden doesn't want Neal thinking he's a gold digger. Neal Kirchner is Asian Indian and British decent. His parents became Christians, shoving their heritage to the side. Neal has returned to the customs and religion his grandmother cherished. On top of being a very successful architect he's heir to the Indian Rose Tea Company, a business that's been in his family for generations. Neal's passion is high performance cars and he meets Hayden at a fundraiser for the automotive engineering department of Clemson University. They are immediately smitten with each other. The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it's all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own, but will their relationship survive?

Can a swan make peace with his ugly duckling past? Chubby geek Jimmy Zebulon's heart broke the day his high school crush, Danny Parker, looked on as his teammates tormented Jimmy. Fifteen years later, Jimmy is long gone, and from his ashes has risen Graham Swann, a movie-star-handsome law firm owner. Graham thinks Jimmy and his past are long forgotten-until attorney Dan Parker shows up for his first day of work. Getting injured playing college ball was the best thing that ever happened to Dan. It turned his future in a better direction and allowed him to emerge from the closet that trapped him. Graham wants to believe his childhood dream can come true, but he can't bring himself to tell Dan who he really is-and their pasts might ruin any chance for a happily ever after….

A second chance at first love-if he has the courage to take it. Alex can't think of himself as anything but a failure. In high school, he was on the fast track to a career in pro football when he forged an unlikely friendship with a half-Comanche boy from the wrong part of town, Ricky Lee Jennings. Their shared love of books could have grown into more-but a homophobic teammate attacked Ricky Lee, and Alex wouldn't risk his scholarship to defend him. Ricky Lee was kicked out of school, and Alex never heard from him again. Now Alex's glory days are nothing but a memory. An injury ended his football aspirations, his marriage fell apart, and his dreams of making a difference as an environmental lobbyist are as dead as his fantasies of sports stardom. But all that could change in one magical night, when Ricky Lee shows up at their high-school reunion.

Opposites come together for a spicy surprise. Bradford "Tully" Tolliver has everything-money, a great car, a beautiful condo, and a promising career as one of Portland's hottest young lawyers. Sure, he puts in long hours and has no social life to speak of, but who needs romance when corporations pay top dollar for his expertise? He hesitates when a colleague asks if her cousin can live with him, but the arrangement will last less than a year, and then the cousin-Sage Filling-will return to his tiny hometown. But Sage is handsome and intriguing, and his cooking makes Tully swoon. Sage has obligations back home, though, and Tully has offers he might not refuse from a persistent-and very wealthy-ex. Since Tully and Sage each have a full plate, can they make room for a side of love?

Love never goes out of style. Landry Bishop fled his tiny hometown and never looked back. Now his expertise in food, fashion, and décor has earned him all of Hollywood's glittering perks. But with his husband deceased and his personal assistant retired, Landry has nobody to rely on-and no one to help him indulge his secret cravings. Casual, plainspoken Jordan Stryker seems a dubious choice of a PA for someone as formal and self-controlled as Landry. Jordan's questionable fashion sense and limited kitchen skills don't exactly enhance his résumé. But as Landry soon realizes, Jordan has many attractive qualities too. With a strong pull toward Jordan, new career opportunities on the horizon, and a persistent tug from family back home, Landry is in a quandary. He can advise others on how to make their lives special, but what should he do about his own?

Mystery. Murder. Men in silk stockings. Hollywood nights are heating up. Hardboiled Los Angeles PI Cain Noble is hired by wealthy and gorgeous Camille Astor to find her husband and a priceless work of art, both of which have disappeared. At the nightclub owned by Mr. Astor, Cain encounters the mesmerizing Lily Lavender, who has the body of a goddess and the sultry voice of an angel-but is really a young man named Riley who attracts trouble like a magnet. What's a private dick in the vein of LA's bygone era and a cross-dressing burlesque starlet to do when faced with the hidden decadence and lethal dangers of the Hollywood Hills? They have their work cut out for them because they haven't even scratched the surface of an elaborate scheme more twisted than anyone could ever have imagined.

A happy ending worthy of a TV fantasy… in real life? Ashland Wells is an actor of sci-fi cult fame but with little direction for the future, when handsome grad student Remy Beaumont lands in his lap at a fan convention. Remy is everything Ash ever wanted and wished he could be-including out and proud. For twelve hours they're the best of friends. But the convention ends, and saying goodbye to Remy might be the biggest mistake Ash has ever made. A few months later, they're reunited on a new production-Ash as an actor, Remy a writer-and though Ash doesn't plan to let him go twice, being with Remy means going public about being gay. He's not sure that's a risk he-or his career-can handle, no matter how great the temptation. If only they could write themselves the romantic happily ever after they both need.

Can a fake engagement become a real marriage? Wiley Grey is stuck in a rut. He loves his picturesque hometown, helping in his best friend's bakery, and the house his grandmother left him. But something's missing. Holt Leydon never intended to become a reality TV show host. When his flamboyant brother, Kit, needed a handyman on the set of I Do!, Holt fell into the role, using his expertise to make Kit's wildest wedding designs come true. Now he's ready to move on. Kit has agreed on one condition: they rescue Kit's would-be ratings bonanza "coming home" episode by making Holt the groom. The problem is Holt needs someone to marry, and fast. Something compels him to ask childhood friend Wiley-and Wiley agrees to the pretense. Kit gets his dramatic last episode, Holt gets off the show, and Wiley gets some artificial excitement and a "honeymoon" on the show's dime. It's perfect-until the grooms start wishing their pretend engagement was more reality and less TV...

Can an awkward student and a closeted rock star make beautiful music together? Music composition student Chase Collins has always worn his heart on his sleeve. That's why it was so quick to break in high school when Chase lost Carter West, his best friend and first love, to an ill-fated kiss. Imagine Chase's surprise five-years later when Carter, now a rising rock star, admits to the world that Chase inspired his band's award-winning song-and that Carter was in love with him all along. Frontman Carter West has been closeted his whole life. Now that he's out in the most public way possible, he can finally indulge in the romantic impulses he's always had to keep stifled. Reconnecting with Chase gives him the opportunity to explore a whole new side of himself. But, the next tour draws inevitably closer, and Chase is wary. Carter left Chase once before. Can two gifted musicians write themselves a love song that will last a lifetime?

Hometown hero. Hockey superstar. Perfect boyfriend? When hockey star Caleb Carter returns to his hometown to recover from an injury, the only thing he's interested in is a little R & R. He never expects to run into his onetime crush at a grade school fundraiser. Seeing Aaron Price hits him hard, like being checked into the boards. The attraction is still there, even after all these years, and Caleb decides to make a play for the schoolteacher. You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take, right? Aaron has been burned by love before and can't imagine what a celebrity like Caleb could possibly see in a guy like him. Their differences are just too great. But as Aaron spends more time with Caleb, he begins to wonder if he might have what it takes to win the hockey player's heart. This is a second edition that contains no changes from the first.

An Inevitable Duets Romance When dance instructor Jamie Griffin choreographs a contemporary ballet pas de deux, to a love song by rock band Inevitable Thorns, he doesn't expect the band's keyboardist, Beau Davis, to witness it. He definitely doesn't expect the steamy one-night stand that follows. Beau leaves to continue touring, but he can't get Jamie or his passion out of his head... especially once a video of the dance goes viral. This leads to a chance for the two of them to reconnect on tour, with Jamie performing his dance, while the band plays live. The lines between a casual fling and a forever romance blur, as rock music and ballet join to create magic onstage. That magic suffuses their relationship too, but the price of fame is steep. When an explosive interview threatens the foundation of what they're building together, will Beau and Jamie set the record straight and define their relationship-and their art-on their own terms? Or, will the stars they're reaching for elude their grasp?

Crossing the border into love. Snap decisions and misguided ideas bring Portuguese national Mateus Fontes and businessman Crawford Hargrave together at the Canadian border crossing. Mateus is caught in a catch-22. With his almost-expired tourist visa, entrance to Canada is denied, but the US won't let him back in either. Crawford thinks he's solved things when he tells the border agent they're engaged, and it works-except now they have to actually get married before either of them can get back into the United States. But Crawford has been burned by marriage once, and he's determined not to make that mistake again. Neither of them expects real feelings to bloom out of their fake marriage, but they do. And the two of them have to learn how to be honest with each other to make things work, which is especially hard when their entire marriage is based on lies.

A billionaire and a Bedouin girl-each with a shocking secret. Billionaire Fathi al-Murzim is a workaholic businessman, too busy running the family's companies to even think about marriage. Too bad he never told his grandfather he's gay, because Grandfather just announced a childhood betrothal-to a Bedouin girl Fathi never heard about before. Ikraam din Abdel was raised as a woman by his avaricious and abusive older sister, who didn't want him to be their father's heir. He'd never thought to be married either, and is surprised when his sister informs him of his betrothal. When Fathi and Ikraam meet, they are drawn to each other in a manner neither of them expected. As the plans for their wedding progress, they both realize they need to tell the other the truth. But can they, with both cultural taboos and family pressures to deal with?

Can Aubrey manage until he can quit performing as a weekend stripper to save the family ranch and find love with Garrett?

If a stalker doesn't kill them, the heat between them might. Christopher Vincent is desperate enough for a job that he accepts an offer to entertain as a psychic in a friend's nightclub. Jackson Whitman, one of the club's co-owners, is less than thrilled by the new act. To him, psychics are ridiculous and a liability. But when they come face-to-face, attraction flares to life between them. Someone is watching Jack and Chris from the shadows. What starts as a series of creepy encounters leads to deadly attacks. Jack and Chris must set aside their differences and work together to survive a homicidal stalker. But can they survive their explosive connection?

A Stars from Peril Novel Painting themselves a life together will be a royal ordeal. Small-town boy Cal Walters doesn't know whether he owes his phenomenal success as an artist to talent or to his connections to famous people. Doubt leaves him secluded-until a lost bet lands him on yet another blind date. But this one is different. To Teofilo Vabriga-Kastav, playboy prince of the tiny nation of Porvunia and passionate art lover, Cal's paintings are as intriguing as Cal himself. When Teo invites Cal to his country for an art competition, a whirlwind romance sweeps them up. But it can't last-loyalties and obligations bind them to lives that are worlds apart. Cal and Teo might've found their perfect complements in each other, but to hold on to their happiness, they'll have to get creative.

Getting His Man. A love story worthy of an old movie… with a new twist. Artie needs a hero, a man like those he's always revered in Golden Age films. His drug-dealing jerk of a roommate got him arrested, and since his savior isn't likely to sweep in and save the day, Artie calls a bail bondsman. August has always imagined himself a hero from a black-and-white movie, but he's never found a man willing to let him play that role-at least not until he gets the call from Artie. Both of their dreams might come true, but not before August must use his skills as a bounty hunter as well as a bondsman. Artie is on the run for his life, and August must protect him and help him clear his name. Only then can they both finally get their man.

After Ondrej marries Archie so Ondrej can stay in the US, can they prove to each other their love is worth fighting for?

Sparks of passion ignite between the lord of the manor and the hot, new firefighter. But when Ben's home goes up in flames, will Dale be in time to save his life? Dale runs from the big city to a rural fire station to nurse his broken heart. But he immediately incurs the wrath of the handsome lord of the manor when he knocks over the village maypole.Ben is used to people avoiding him. But the sexy, new firefighter is not like everyone else. Everywhere Ben goes; Dale is there too, and Ben can't ignore the magnetism between them. Will Ben ever forgive Dale for knocking over the maypole? Will Dale wait for Ben to disentangle himself from a relationship he was forced into? Will the villagers, the firefighters, and the staff at the manor house, stop interfering in their relationship?So many questions and no time to answer them, as an arsonist's crimes are escalating, and Dale is worried that Ben could be his next target.

I'll marry you. Professor Valentyn Shevchenko isn't sure how to react when, after months of ineffective flirting, the cute barista's first words to him are a proposal. In many ways, Peter Grunberg is the solution to all his problems. With his work visa inexplicably denied, Valentyn is running out of options to keep from being deported. But is a green card marriage really the answer? Is it still a marriage of convenience when he's this attracted to his potential spouse? Peter came to his uncle's coffee shop in Boulder, Colorado, to reset his life after his struggles with selective mutism returned with a vengeance. He never meant his first words to the handsome ecology professor to be an offer of marriage, but he's not backing out now. It doesn't matter that Peter struggles to find words. He can say everything he needs to with his body. Though this relationship may have started out back-to-front, Valentyn and Peter are determined to make their fake marriage real. But one misstep in their immigration interview could bring everything crashing down. They'll have to hope that their love is enough to overcome all their obstacles and give them the prize they've both been dreaming of: a certified happy ever after.

A second chance born of love. Pat Corrigan and Edgerton "Edge" Winters were ready to start a family-or so Pat thought. At the last minute, Edge got cold feet and fled. Pat didn't bother telling him the conception had already gone through and little Emma was on her way. He didn't want a relationship based on obligation. He'd rather raise his daughter on his own. Nine years later, Emma and her Poppy are doing fine. Edge isn't. He realizes what he threw away by leaving, and he's back to turn his life around and reclaim his family. It'll take a lot to prove to Pat that he's a new man, and even if Edge succeeds, the secret Pat has hidden for years might shatter their dreams all over again.

Can the trusted town handyman rebuild a broken pianist's heart? When a freak accident ends Aiden's career as a world-renowned classical pianist, he retreats to his New Hampshire hometown, where he finds the boy he liked growing up is even more appealing as a man. Dean Cooper's life as handyman to the people of Springhaven might not be glamorous, but he's well-liked and happy. When Aiden drifts back into town, Dean is surprised to find the bond between them as strong as ever. But Aiden is distraught over the loss of his career and determined to get back on the international stage. Seventeen years ago Dean made a sacrifice and let Aiden walk away. Now, with their romance rekindling, he knows he'll have to make the sacrifice all over again. This time it may be more than he can bear.

Can administrative assistant Jonah dare to believe his boss, millionaire cattle rancher Linc, feels something for him?

It can take losing everything to realize what you had all along. Up-and-coming London chef Marcus Vine is poised on the edge of success, but the only men courting him are investors. That leaves Marcus with some free time-which is fortunate, because his godchildren need him. A year ago, a horrible accident killed Marcus's best friend, Raine, leaving her children without a mother and her husband, Tom, without a partner. Consumed by grief, Tom has been going it alone, refusing help, but when Marcus sees him out with the children, it's obvious that Tom and his two daughters need someone. His persistent caring finally wears Tom down, allowing him to accept the comfort Marcus offers. Soon Marcus is up to his elbows in homework, home-cooked meals, and after-school activities. Over time he helps them rebuild their world, until soon their lives are approaching normal. Then the unexpected happens: Tom confesses he has romantic feelings for Marcus, and nothing can ever be the same.