Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother's best friend since she was a teenager. Having earned an MBA, she is now going to work for her brother Michael at his new venture, America's fastest growing bakery empire. But some things never change: treated as a child by her family, and continuously out-shone by her three gorgeous siblings, Carina still feels like the ugly duckling. Max, the new CEO knows that his friend's little sister is completely off limits, but lust wins out at a conference they attend together - only to be caught at it by her mother! The Italian Mama insists on the two of them marrying, leaving a miserable Max and a furious Carina. Her new husband is about to realise that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed…

When rugged Captain Zack Fitzgerald sails into Santamaria, Shona McKenzie see's him as a ticket to freedom. But her sister-in-law's scheming places them in a compromising position. Zack is mesmerised by Shona, but marriage would destroy his plans to obtain guardianship over his child. So he devises a plan to make sure the wedding stays a sham. But weeks later Shona shows up on his London doorstep, and Zack must learn to deal with a very defiant wife.

WAKING UP WITH A STRANGER WAS THE LEAST OF HALEY CAUFIELD'S PROBLEMS A very official–looking license said she was married to one. And staring at the very male, very naked Adam Harrington, she knew the scandal she'd come to Sacramento to escape from was nothing compared to the one in store for her! The very practical Adam Harrington would have liked at least to have been introduced to his blushing bride before bedding her. Instead, he found himself wedded to Haley Caufield, an enticing surprise of a woman who just might beat him at his own game!

Novelist and poet Judy Goldman's inspiring account of the mishap that left her husband paralyzed, how it tested their marriage, and their struggle to regain their "normal" life. When Judy Goldman’s husband of almost four decades has a routine spinal injection to alleviate back pain, he is instantly paralyzed from the waist down—a phenomenon no doctor can explain or undo. She’s forced to take over, navigating the byzantine medical world they suddenly find themselves in. Her husband is forced to give in. This is the starting point for Together, which looks at the changes every couple faces—the slow, ordinary ones brought about by time and the sudden, dramatic ones that take us by surprise. Identities shift; roles switch. How do we adjust? How do we let go of the if-onlys? Together is a deeply honest story about the life we dream of and the life we make—an elegant and empathetic meditation on what happens to love, over time and all at once.

FIRST COMES DECEPTION...THEN COMES MARRIAGE When Captain Zack Fitzgerald sails into Santamaria, with his rugged, dangerous appeal, for Shona McKenzie he’s a ticket to freedom. And then her sister-in-law’s scheming places them in a highly compromising situation.

Maddy, a social worker, is trying to balance her career and three children, but her husband's verbal furies have made the family wary and frightened. Where once his fiery passion had been reserved for defending his clients, now he's lashing out at all of them. She vacillates between tiptoeing around him and asserting herself for the sake of their kids --keeping a fragile peace --until the rainy day when they're together in the car and Ben's volatile temper gets the best of him, leaving Maddy in the hospital fighting for her life.

Like life itself, marriage has moments of joy…and sorrow. As difficult as marriage can be, many who have said “I do” try to stick it out when problems arise because the alternative—being alone—is not very appealing. If the couple truly wants to save their marriage, they usually turn to counseling. Unfortunately, most marriage counseling ends with the couple dropping out and then, more often than not, ending their relationship. In some cases, the problem is not the couple but their choice of counselor. One who is poorly trained, disinterested, or obviously biased can destroy a marriage. Why Marriage Counseling Fails explores different scenarios that cause problems for couples as well as the different types of counselors who can help or harm a marriage. Dr. David B. Hawkins has more than forty-five years of experience as a marriage counselor and has helped thousands of couples save their marriages. “Sadly, when it comes to reaching out for help for marriage counseling, few have a sense of trust and confidence in their counselor,” he says. “Stories abound about how they came out of a counseling session worse than when they went in.” Dr. Hawkins defines the “five I’s” of a qualified marriage counselor as one who: Offers wise instruction Takes an active interest in the couple Offers insight into why problems recur Is willing to work intensively Works in-depth to help the couple find long-term solutions Why Marriage Counseling Fails offers insights into marital issues, the brokenness of the counseling system, how to find good help, and how to insist upon effective help when turning to a counselor.

As a young bride, Jennifer Smith couldn’t wait to build her life with the man she adored. She dreamed of closeness, of being fully known and loved by her husband. But the first years of marriage were nothing like she’d imagined. Instead, they were marked by disappointment and pain. Trapped by fear and insecurity, and feeling totally alone, Jennifer cried out to God: What am I doing wrong? Why is this happening to us? It was as if a veil had descended between her and her husband, and between her and God—one that kept her from experiencing the fullness of love. How did Jennifer and her husband survive the painful times? What did they do when they were tempted to call it quits? How did God miraculously step in during the darkest hour to rescue and redeem them, tearing down the veil once and for all? The Unveiled Wife is a real-life love story; one couple’s refreshingly raw, transparent journey touching the deep places in a marriage that only God can reach. If you are feeling disappointment or even despair about your marriage, the heart-cry of this book is: You are not alone. Discover through Jennifer’s story how God can bring you through it all to a place of transformation.