Petal, Georgia

Seven years ago, Lily Travis was only too glad to see her hometown of Petal, Georgia, in her rearview mirror. Thanks to her father running off with a twenty-year-old, though, here she is, trying to pick up the pieces. First order of business: meet with her brother's teacher in a quest to pull his grades out of a downward spiral. Nathan Murphy is pretty much resigned to his bachelor status-until he looks up from his desk to see an all-grown-up Lily walking into his classroom. Of all the women who turned out to be totally wrong for him, she's the only one who felt right. At least until his foolish, immature mistake drove her away. Lily has to admit that time has been more than kind to gorgeous, sexy Nathan. Except there's no room on her full plate for another complication. Especially with a man who broke her heart once before. With a little help from his friends, Nathan has a plan to rekindle the flame. It isn't long before they're burning up the sheets. Winning her heart? That's another matter.

It hasn't been easy for Joe Harris to live down his not-so-honorable past, but the military made him a better man. He's determined to make up for past mistakes, starting with coming home to care for his ailing father. Things are going as planned until his best friend's little sister comes barreling into his life. Funny, quick talking, smart, beautiful, she's a temptation he tries-and fails-to resist. When Beth Murphy hears Joe is back in town, she makes sure she's the first on his welcoming committee. Though he tries to pretend he's gruff and unworthy of her, she sees the man who spoils his dog, who touches her like she's precious. Cherished. But there's one wall she can't break down-the truth about what's happening at home. On the night the nature of his father's illness becomes painfully, publicly apparent, Joe does the right thing-push Beth as far away as possible. But if he thought she'd go away quietly, he's about to learn she's made of sterner stuff.

Welcome back to Petal, Georgia in this spin-off of the Chase Brothers series by Lauren Dane. A town divided. A family torn apart. Is one love strong enough to overcome it all? Caroline Mendoza left home to become a lawyer with one goal in mind: prove her father's innocence. Now she's back, and nothing will stop her from uncovering the truth-not the folks of Petal, who have their own ideas about the case, not her siblings and definitely not Royal Watson, who should probably stand trial for being indecently and undeniably hot. Contains mature themes.