Laird McLaren is as large as he is annoying... Lady Sophie Everclear doesn’t regret fleeing the rake who attempted to trap her into marriage, But perhaps she should not have stowed away on a ship bound for Scotland. The problems? There are too many to count. But the largest, most annoying one is Captain Ewan McLaren. The tall and brawny Scot says exactly what he thinks and he doesn’t think much of Sophie. Still. He’s all she’s got and fortunately for her his heart is even bigger than his lectures. Which makes her wonder. What else, beside talking, might his mouth be good at? The woman has got to be daft... Any woman as beautiful as Lady Sophie ought to know better than to attempt to hide out on a ship full of men. If Ewan were smart, he'd drop her at the nearest port because having a woman like her on board is nothing but trouble. But one look into her large blue eyes and he knows he can't. He's always had a soft heart for a woman in need and Sophie manages to be as endearing as she is annoying. And then there's the fact that she steals his breath with every wayward glance. He doesn't want a woman in life but the longer he's with her, the more he wonders if Sophie might just be the one who makes him break all the rules.

THE DOUGLAS LEGACY The Douglas sisters, beauties all, are valuable pawns in their family's bitter struggle to control the Scottish Crown. But when powerful enemies threaten, each Douglas lass will find she must face them alone. CAPTURED BY A LAIRD Haunted by his father's violent death, David Hume, the new laird of Wedderburn, sets out to make his name so feared that no one will dare harm his family again. The treacherous ally who played on his father's weakness is dead and beyond David's vengeance, but his castle and young widow are ripe for the taking. The moment David lays eyes on the dark-haired beauty defending her wee daughters, however, he knows this frail-looking lass is the one person who could bring him to his knees. Wed at thirteen to a man who tried daily to break her spirit, Lady Alison Douglas is looking forward to a long widowhood. But when the fearsome warrior known as the Beast of Wedderburn storms her gates, she finds herself, once again, forced to wed a stranger. Alison is only a pawn to serve his vengeance, so why does this dark warrior arouse such fiery passion and an unwelcome longing in her heart? With death and danger looming, these two wounded souls must learn to trust each other...for only love can save them.

Finalist for the 2021 National Book Award (Fiction) “A virtuosic portrait.” –New York Times Book Review “A tender, glowing novel.” –Anthony Doerr, Guardian, “Best Books of the Year” “Pages that are polished like jewels.” –Scott Simon, NPR, "Books We Love" "Lit from within.” -Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, “Best Fiction Books of the Year” "A touching, tightly woven story from an always impressive author." -Kirkus (starred review), “Best Fiction of the Year” “Radiates the heat of a beating heart.” –Vox “A poignant, unforgettable novel.” –Hernan Diaz From prize-winning, acclaimed author Laird Hunt, a poignant novel about a woman searching for her place in the world and finding it in the daily rhythms of life in rural Indiana. “It was Indiana, it was the dirt she had bloomed up out of, it was who she was, what she felt, how she thought, what she knew.” As a girl, Zorrie Underwood's modest and hardscrabble home county was the only constant in her young life. After losing both her parents, Zorrie moved in with her aunt, whose own death orphaned Zorrie all over again, casting her off into the perilous realities and sublime landscapes of rural, Depression-era Indiana. Drifting west, Zorrie survived on odd jobs, sleeping in barns and under the stars, before finding a position at a radium processing plant. At the end of each day, the girls at her factory glowed from the radioactive material. But when Indiana calls Zorrie home, she finally finds the love and community that have eluded her in and around the small town of Hillisburg. And yet, even as she tries to build a new life, Zorrie discovers that her trials have only begun. Spanning an entire lifetime, a life convulsed and transformed by the events of the 20th century, Laird Hunt's extraordinary novel offers a profound and intimate portrait of the dreams that propel one tenacious woman onward and the losses that she cannot outrun. Set against a harsh, gorgeous, quintessentially American landscape, this is a deeply empathetic and poetic novel that belongs on a shelf with the classics of Willa Cather, Marilynne Robinson, and Elizabeth Strout.

Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the practice of inner vigilance or awareness. But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for radical openness to God in the depths of the heart. Laird's book is not like the many presentations for beginners. While useful for those just starting out, this book serves especially as a guide for those who desire to journey yet deeper into the silence of God. The heart of the book focuses on negotiating key moments of struggle on the contemplative path, when the whirlwind of distractions or the brick wall of boredom makes it difficult to continue. Laird shows that these inner struggles, even wounds, that any person of prayer must face, are like riddles, trying to draw out of us our own inner silence. Ultimately Laird shows how the wounds we loathe become vehicles of the healing silence we seek, beyond technique and achievement. Throughout the language is fresh, direct, and focused on real-life examples of people whose lives are incomparably enriched by the practice of contemplation.

She calls herself Ash, but that's not her real name. She is a farmer's faithful wife, but she has left her husband to don the uniform of a Union soldier in the Civil War. Neverhome/.i tells the harrowing story of Ash Thompson during the battle for the South. Through bloodshed and hysteria and heartbreak, she becomes a hero, a folk legend, a madwoman and a traitor to the American cause. Laird Hunt's dazzling novel throws a light on the adventurous women who chose to fight instead of stay behind. It is also a mystery story: why did Ash leave and her husband stay? Why can she not return? What will she have to go through to make it back home? In gorgeous prose, Hunt's rebellious young heroine fights her way through history, and back home to her husband, and finally into our hearts.

He’s been given a mission… The Earl of Infamy must escort one mourning lady out of London and hide her away in the country. Should be easy. But from the moment he steps into her life things get…complicated. Not only is she far too pretty for his liking but she’s got a knack for telling him no. "No, I don’t want to go to the country with you." "No, I won’t share your room." "No, I won’t marry you, I don’t care that we’ve been alone." Is the woman daft? What lady in her positions turns down an offer liked his? He’s an earl and she’s all but ruined? Still, the more she resists, the more, he has to confess, he’s intrigued. How can he get her to say…YES.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes delivers another passionate Regency romance... He left his bride to go to war... After years of soldiering, Michael Brodie returns to his Highland estate to find that the bride he left behind has become a stranger. Brenna is self-sufficient, competent, confident-and furious about Michael's prolonged absence. Now his most important battle will be for her heart Brenna is also hurt, bewildered, and tired of fighting for the respect of those around her. Michael left her when she needed him most, and then stayed away even after the war ended. Nonetheless, the young man who abandoned her has come home a wiser, more patient and honorable husband. But if she trusts Michael with the truths she's been guarding, he'll have to choose between his wife and everything else he holds dear. "Burrowes delivers powerful and moving romance." -RT Book Reviews Praise for The MacGregor's Lady: "Consistently excellent writing, deep and layered stories." -Publishers Weekly "Engaging, deliciously sensual, superbly written romance." -Library Journal "Absolutely enchanting." -Romance Junkies

In the third of Martin Laird's best-selling books on Christian contemplative life, Laird considers the deepening dynamics of contemplation for those who have settled into a maturing practice of meditation. Drawing on the works of writers ranging from St. Augustine and St. Teresa of Avila to Flannery O'Connor and David Foster Wallace, Laird grounds his methodology in both ancient practice and contemporary language. With characteristic lyricism and gentleness, he guides readers through new challenges of contemplative life, such as the danger of using a spiritual practice as a strategy for personal gain; making ourselves the focus of our own contemplative project; dealing with old pain; and transforming the isolation of loneliness and depression into a place of liberating solidarity with all who suffer.

In his sequel to the best-selling Into the Silent Land, Martin Laird guides the reader more deeply into the sanctuary of Christian meditation. He focuses here on negotiating key moments of difficulty on the contemplative path, showing how the struggles we resist become vehicles of the healing silence we seek. With clarity and grace Laird shows how we can move away from identifying with our turbulent, ever-changing thoughts and emotions to the cultivation of a "sunlit absence"--the luminous awareness in which God's presence can most profoundly be felt.

In this Highland Regency romance by USA TODAY bestselling and HOLT Medallion winning author Bree Wolf, a reticent Scottish laird and a young woman banished from her own clan are swept into a romance neither one of them ever expected. Scotland 1808: As laird, CORMAG MACDRUMMOND knows his duty to his clan. All his life, he's put their needs before his own, silencing his heart's deepest desires. But then an allied laird makes a request that Cormag cannot refuse. Duty-bound, he offers the man's fair cousin a place among his people, vowing to keep her safe from the dark rumours that follow wherever she goes. However, the moment he lays eyes on MOIRA BRUNWOOD, Cormag knows that he's made a grave mistake. Her soulful, blue eyes and unyielding pride soon steal into his guarded heart, and before long, Cormag finds himself falling under her spell in a way he would never have expected. Moira has the Sight. Always have her dreams shown her glimpses of the future, and always has she acted upon them. However, one wrong step sees her banished from her own clan, her family, her home, and thrust among strangers, who look at her with suspicion and mistrust. Whispers abound of her otherworldly abilities, and some even believe she's a witch. Moira is determined not to cower, not to yield, and yet, she finds that loneliness is a fate worse than death. Her heart aches for comfort, for closeness, longing for a chance at redemption...but even more so longing for the laird who granted her sanctuary. Despite the cold distance that rests in his grey eyes, Moira soon learns that a warm and caring heart beats in his chest as Cormag comes to her aid time and time again. His strength makes her feel safe while his gentleness unwittingly steals her heart and stirs her pulse. However, not all are willing to see past Moira's transgressions, and soon Cormag finds himself torn between claiming the woman he loves and staying true to his people. Love's Second Chance Series: Highland Tales #1 Tamed & Unleashed - The Highlander's Vivacious Wife (Claudia & Garrett) #2 Dared & Kissed - The Scotsman's Yuletide Bride (Emma & Finn) #3 Banished & Welcomed - The Laird's Reckless Wife (Moira & Cormag) #4 Haunted & Revered - The Scotsman's Destined Love (Deidre & Alastair) #5 Fooled & Enlightened - The Englishman's Scottish Wife (Maggie & Nathan) Love's Second Chance Series #1 Forgotten & Remembered - The Dukes Late Wife (Rosabel & Graham) #2 Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife (Anna & Edmond) #3 Despised & Desired - The Marquess' Passionate Wife (Ellie & Frederick) #4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife (Henrietta & Connor) #5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife (Charlotte & Sebastian) #6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (Beth & Tristan) #7 Deceived & Honoured - The Baron's Vexing Wife (Madeline & Derek) #8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed - The Solider's Daring Widow (Meagan & Edward) #9 Condemned & Admired - The Earl's Cunning Wife (Violet & Oliver) #10 Trapped & Liberated The Privateer's Bold Beloved (Alexandra & Antoine) #11 Oppressed & Empowered - The Viscount's Capable Wife (Evelyn & Richard) #12 Destroyed & Restored - The Baron's Courageous Wife (Adelaide & Matthew) Each love story in this series can be read as a stand-alone. However, most readers prefer to read them in order. Also check out Bree's A Forbidden Love Novella Series which is FREE with Kindle Unlimited!