There was the muffled sound of audience members standing up, and Baylee and Candice turned to look behind them. "Holy smokes!" Baylee breathed. "It's like a Navy SEAL convention or something," Candice added. And it was! Baylee couldn't believe that over twenty-five of the people in the orientation audience were tall, dark, handsome, buff guys dressed all in black. Each man stood with his feet apart and hands held at his back-similar if not exactly like a military "at ease" stance. "They're all packing heat too," Baylee whispered to Candice as she noted all the holstered sidearms. "I guess Mr. O'Sullivan wants to be prepared," Candice said. "I suppose you girls are all wowed now, right?" Tate said from the front row. "Let's see," Candice began, looking to Tate and feigning an expression of thoughtfulness. "Let's say I'm being assaulted by some weirdo in the street...and who am I going to look to for protection? One of these guys?" she said, nodding toward the security staff. "Or you, Tate? You...who freaked out in June when we were in New York and you thought some guy was looking at you funny. You freaked out and slammed Megan's finger in the door and cut it off! Who do you think I'm going to trust?" "It was an accident, and you know it," Tate grumbled. Baylee did know it. Still, she found her eyes glancing down the row of chairs in front of her to Megan-to the missing first joint and fingertip on her right hand. "Yeah, it was," Candice admitted. "But you still cared more about yourself than Megan. The guy was stalking Megan...not you. Real heroic, Tate. Way to go to instilling a sense of confidence in me that you would have my back." "Whatever," Tate grumbled, turning around in his seat to pout. "Thank you," Brian said to his men. Baylee watched as the security staff sat down in unison. "So there you have it...our extra security staff for the next two months. As I said, if you need assistance...just grab a chimney sweep." Baylee giggled. "Grab a cab, grab a snack...grab a chimney sweep." Candice giggled too. "And you know what? I just figured out what I want for Christmas." "Absolutely," Baylee agreed. "I'll never ring 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' with the same mental pictures again."

In the isolated villages of northern Scotland, the residents rely on chimney sweep Pete Ray. After Police Constable Hamish Macbeth finds a dead body stuffed inside a chimney, the entire town of Lochdubh suspects Pete. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens.

An Anthology of Three Premiere Novellas by Marcia Lynn McClure (Novella 1) THE UNOBTAINABLE ONE THE CHILD WAS STRAWBERRY-SWEET AND LOVING...BUT THE MAN WAS FORBIDDEN FRUIT. Annette Jordan had accepted the unavoidable reality that she must toil as a governess to provide for herself. Annette Jordan had accepted the unavoidable reality that she must toil as a governess to provide for herself. Thankfully, her charge was a joy-a vision of youthful beauty, owning a spirit of delight. But it was Annette's employer, Lord Gareth Barrett, who proved to be the trial-for she soon found herself living in the all-too-cliche governess' dream of having fallen desperately in love with the man who provided her wages. The child loved her-but could she endure watching hopelessly as the beautiful woman from a neighboring property won Lord Barrett's affections? (Novella 2) THE GENERAL'S AMBITIONS SHE HAD BEEN SELECTED TO MARRY AND BEAR THE PROGENY OF THE SON... Seemingly over night, Renee Millings found herself orphaned and married to the indescribably handsome, but ever frowning, Roque Montan. His father, The General, was obsessively determined that his lineage would continue posthaste-with or without consent of his son's new bride. But when Roque reveals the existence of a sworn oath that will obstruct his father's ambition, will the villainous General conspire to insure the future of his coveted progeny to be borne by Renee himself? Will Renee find the only means of escape from the odious General to be that of his late wife-death? Or will the son find no tolerance for his father's diabolic plotting concerning the woman Roque legally terms his wife? (Novella 3) INDEBTED DELIVERANCE SNOWBOUND AND ISOLATED...SHE HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO ENDURE THE WINTER IN THE COMPANIONSHIP OF THE BRUTAL RACE TREVELIAN... Chalyce LaSalle had been grateful to the handsome recluse, Race Trevelian, when he had delivered her from certain tragedy one frigid winter day. He was addictively attractive, powerful and intriguing-and there was something else about him-an air of secreted internal torture. Yet, as the brutal character of her emancipator began to manifest, Chalyce commenced in wondering whether the fate she now faced would be any less insufferable than the one from which he had delivered her. Still, his very essence beckoned hers. She was drawn to him and her soul whispered that his mind needed deliverance as desperately as she had needed rescue that cold, winter's noon."

With the sea at its side, the beautiful township of Bostchelan was home to many-including the lovely Coquette de Bellamont, her three sisters, and her beloved father. In Bostchelan, Coquette knew happiness and as much contentment as a young woman whose heart had been broken years before could know. Thus, Coquette dwelt in gladness until the day her father returned from his travels with an astonishing tale to tell. Antoine de Bellamont returned from his travels by way of Roanan bearing a tale of such great adventure to hardly be believed. Further, at the center of Antoine's story loomed a man-the dark Lord of Roanan.Known for his cruel nature, heartlessness, and tendency to violence, the Lord of Roanan had accused Antoine de Bellamont of wrongdoing and demanded recompense. Antoine had promised recompense would be paid-with the hand of his youngest daughter in marriage. Thus, Coquette found herself lost, thrust onto a dark journey of her own. This journey would find her carried away to Roanan Manor-delivered into the hands of the dark and mysterious Lord of Roanan who dominated it.

The foundling (desert fire): "She opened her eyes and beheld, for the first time, the face of Jackson McCall. Ruggedly handsome and her noble rescuer, she knew in that moment, he would forever hold captive her heart, as he then held her life in his protective arms. Yet, she was a nameless beauty, haunted by wisps of visions form the past. How could she ever hope he would return the passionate, devotional love she secreted for him -- when her very existence was a riddle?"--

Lark Lawrence was alone. In all the world there was no one who cared for her. Still, there were worse things than independence-and Lark had grown quite capable of providing for herself. Nevertheless, as winter loomed, she suddenly found herself with no means by which to afford food and shelter-destitute. Yet, Tom Evans was a kind and compassionate man. When Lark Lawrence appeared on his porch, without pause he hired her to keep house and cook for himself and his cantankerous elder brother, Slater. And although Tom had befriend Lark first, it would be Slater Evans-handsome, brooding and twelve years Lark's senior-who would unknowingly abduct her heart. Still, Lark's true age (which she concealed at first meeting the Evans brothers) was not the only truth she had kept from Slater and Tom Evans. Darker secrets lay imprisoned deep within her heart-and her past. However, it is that secrets are made to be found out-and Lark's secrets revealed would soon couple with the arrival of a woman from Slater's past to forever shatter her dreams of winning his love-or so it seemed. Would truth and passion mingle to capture Lark the love she'd never dared to hope for?

The anecdotes portrayed in this publication are the outcome of many years of dedicated service to the photographic industry, in particular the wedding sector. Some stories will tease the mind but they are all of a very true nature, some going back many years going back only a few. The names have been changed to protect the Guilty. The stories have not. This book is a vivid recollection of the strange and often bizzare things that have happened over the years, some believable and some very hard to swallow but nonetheless true. A few fascinating facts have been thrown in along the way to interest and amuse you. 'Quotes by the famous' 'Bet you didn't know' and 'Snapshots' including 'Funnybits' and 'Trivia'. Also information about matrimony that you probably didn't know featuring various traditions and cultures from around the world. Now sit back and enjoy the experience that has taken over forty years to achieve.

100 Bizarre customs, strange traditions and many facts out of Germany, will help entertain yourself and others about those two important days. Why not plan an entertaining evening and use exciting facts from all over the world for New Year's Eve (Sylvester) and New Year's Day.

Summary of Healers and Achievers (ID No. 110473) by Raphael S. Bloch, M.D. It is not widely known that throughout history physicians have contributed more than just medical care to civilization. Healers and Achievers is a series of biographies of doctors from ancient Egypt to the twenty-first century who distinguished themselves with lasting non-medical accomplishments. They include the architect of the first Egyptian pyramid, a pope, the "Fathers" of astronomy, geology, magnetism, and taxonomy, American Founding Fathers, French Revolutionaries, a buccaneer, world-class athletes, a spy, and an astronaut. Their life stories are told in the context of the eras in which they lived, and their fields of medical and non-medical expertise are explained in terms comprehensible to both laymen and physicians.