Lady Phaedra Northampton is a proper English miss -- but burdened by a dark secret. She's buried her shame in running her wealthy brother Lord Nash's household while hiding behind a sharp wit and dull wardrobe...until a reckless village maid's disappearance pulls her into London's seedy underworld. A former mercenary and jaded spy-for-hire, Tristan Talbot, Lord Avoncliffe, now does little, and manages to do it scandalously. Though Tristan's an out-and-out rogue, when his dying father begs him to delve into the secrets behind a notorious brothel -- a perfect task for his talents! -- Tristan can't refuse. Is the brothel a front for a notorious Russian spy ring? Tristan is on the hunt -- until his path collides with the oh-so-tempting Lady Phae. Soon what should be a simple assignment becomes deliciously complicated...when deception and desire lead to an explosive passion -- and deadly foes!

A comprehensive guide that defines the literature and the outlines the best-selling genre of all time: romance fiction. More than 2,000 romances are published annually, making it difficult for fans and the librarians who advise them to keep pace with new titles, emerging authors, and constant evolution of this dynamic genre. Fortunately, romance expert and librarian Kristin Ramsdell provides a definitive guide to this fiction genre that serves as an indispensible resource for those interested in it—including fans searching for reading material—as well as for library staff, scholars, and romance writers themselves. This title updates the last edition of Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre, published in 1999.While the emphasis is on newer titles, many of the important older classics are retained, keeping the focus of the book on the entire genre, instead of only those titles published during the last decade. Specific changes include new chapters on linked and continuing romances, a new section on "Chick Lit" in the Contemporary Romance chapter, an expansion of coverage on the alternative reality subset. This is THE romance genre guide to have.

In the tumultuous 1970s, four twenty-five-year-old female friendsBeth, Connie, Michael, and Aprilnewly divorced with children had no idea how their lives could change so radically and so quickly. The somewhat ordinary, Chicago suburbanite housewives became willing participants in escapade sex, some drugs, and more alcohol than needed. They liked men, just not the ones theyd been married to, and though not fully fairy tale dreamers, a little romance would be nice. They experimented dating men, not acceptable before, tried some drugs, often drank too much, but danced their cares away. With new male attention, they grew more brazen and confident exploring the gamut of men for dalliance or clandestine. Also, some bikers and even a mnage trois with a famous movie star for Connie and Beth that empowered them more than expectedall about laughing and learning. They took college classes, started a house-cleaning service, and thought about their changes as the friendships shifted. Dilemmas and decisions of children choices, real careers and the biggie of remarriage came up, with a sense of wiry satire and sarcasm in situations to handle whatever hit them. Life separated them when Beth and April moved out of States then Beth overseas; still they reunited frequently. Twenty-plus years later, they became definitely changed women in so many different ways. Yet some things did not changehow they supported each other through thick and thin and other circumstances that would have torn weaker women apart. Their history together was the foundation that kept them moving forward through lifes harshest realities. They changed their lives and encouraged many other women to do the same, sharing their experiences of the wild and crazy times of their younger years.

Life is unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Not all dreams come true. We lose people. We fail people. And when we encounter the inevitable struggles of life, we may be tempted to ask God Why me? as we try to reconcile our pain with God's promises. But a far more helpful and life-enriching question for us to ask God is What are you trying to teach me in this? Tackling ten common struggles, such as isolation, fear, rejection, failure, insecurity, temptation, and more, Landra Young Hughes shows you how to have peace even when life doesn't make sense. Speaking with great empathy born from her own losses and years in ministry, Hughes doesn't suggest you "get over" your hard times. Instead, she helps you recognize that, while you will always live in a broken world this side of heaven, your pain has much to teach you about God and yourself. With her empathetic help, you'll discover how to grow through grief and thrive despite adversity.

Originally published in 1837 in two volumes, this is the 1845 edition which combines both into one handy volume. It is the account of Norbert Landsheit, late sergeant in the York Hussars and 20th Light Dragoons, who saw service in the Peninsular War. He related his military life to the Rev. George R. Gleig, whom he met whilst an inmate at Chelsea Hospital in London, where the Gleig was rector at the time. Landsheit had an amazingly long career, and his memoir provides a fascinating insight into the experiences of a German soldier within the British Army.

Game designer Emily Bartwell is in hiding. Fleeing online trolls that ruined her career, marriage, and life—pretty much in that exact order—she’s made a new life on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, it’s lonely, but she has her online community for company. And she has her work: Labyrinth, a wildly popular role-playing game, one she’s created under the male alias, Phoenix. When sexy writer, Fox Mullins, rents the beach house next door, however, he entices Emily out of her isolation. Flirting, teasing, igniting desires she’d forgotten she had, Fox tempts Emily into playing games of a very different sort—ones where he makes the rules. Fox is delighted by his luck in discovering his gorgeous, single neighbor’s simmeringly passionate nature under her oh-so-private exterior. Playing with her, pushing the lovely Emily’s boundaries, gives him relief from the painstaking, frustrating task of tracking the brilliant gamer, Phoenix—and discovering his elusive prey’s true identity. Exposing Phoenix will be the biggest scoop of his career as an undercover tech reporter. As Fox and Emily push the limits of intimacy, they discover that their fling is leading to something much deeper. They’re both keeping secrets that could devastate the other, but which of them will win the game in the end?

Freddie Sullivan, having failed to persuade his cousin Julia to marry him, goes to Bath in desperate search of a rich wife so that he can pay off his debts. Clara Danforth, plain and wheelchair-bound, seems the ideal choice, and Freddie sets about wooing her with his good looks, flattery, and considerable charm. Clara is not deceived for a moment, but she encourages him anyway as for once she wants to possess something beautiful in her life. The path to love between these two after they marry is a rocky one. Freddie struggles to overcome his gambling addiction and his shame over the deception he perpetrated against Clara, and she struggles to overcome her physical handicaps and low self-esteem. Can Freddie ever be forgiven? Can he ever forgive himself? Can Clara ever trust his fragile love?