Get your fix of a hot alpha male and a sassy heroine today! An arranged marriage. He wants revenge. She wants her freedom. Jazzy. I’m going to leave everything behind and start over. I won’t bow down to anyone. The last thing I need is him; the shackles to my freedom. Gio. I will avenge my parents’ deaths. I will make those who are responsible suffer. All I need is her; the key to my plans. Game on... Disclaimer: - no cliffhanger - can be read as a stand alone. Topics: steamy romance series, FREE first in series, romance ebook, bad boy romance, top romance reads, strong heroine, alpha hero, romantic books, new adult romance for free marriage of convenience, romantic novels, happily ever after, no cheating, free mafia romance, guaranteed HEA. For fans of Natasha Knight, Julia Sykes, Aleatha Romig, Skye Warren, Anna Zaires, Renee Rose, Carrie Ann Ryan, Penelope Ward, Lauren Blakely, Meghan March, Vanessa Vale, Katee Robert, CD Reiss, Sienna Snow, Fiona Murphy, Emma Slate, Aurora Rose Reynolds, Natasha Madison.

"Jo Beverley strains the boundaries of political correctness . . . There is no denying Ms. Beverley is a master storyteller and perhaps because of this political incorrectness she delivers a powerfully fresh stage for her story." ~Tara A. Green Ruined through her vile brother's schemes, Eleanor Chivenham is offered rescue by marriage to a rake with an infamous French mistress. Eleanor accepts, determined to treat the arranged marriage with cool dignity. Then she meets Nicholas Delaney. Not only does he stir her senses, but the trouble and pain beneath his smooth exterior reaches her heart. Nicholas is indeed troubled. While serving his country by seducing secrets out of a French spy, he is persuaded to marry Eleanor to protect his family's honor. But such chivalry runs counter to his carefully wrought rogue image, and extends the life-threatening plots shadowing him to Eleanor. To assist, Nicholas re-assembles the Company of Rogues, a schoolboy group he started years before. But not even they can dampen Eleanor's fighting wit that is quickly unmasking their enemy and testing Nicholas' formidable will. From The Publisher: Author Jo Beverley is known for her consumate attention to historical detail that wisks the reader back in time to a near first-hand experience. Fans of Regency romance and historical British fiction set in the 19th century, as well as readers of Jess Michaels, Mary Balogh, Christi Caldwell, Stephanie Laurens, Madeline Hunter and Mary Jo Putney will want to read every book by Jo Beverley. Best Regency Novel, Romantic Times Bookrak Bestseller RITA, finalist "A splendid love story... a veritable feast of delight. Bravo!" ~Romantic Times

When I was sixteen, a gypsy fortune-teller told me my future held darkness and death. She was right. But what she didn’t tell me was I’d lose all my memories and I wouldn’t recognize the devil when he came to steal my life. Lucca Dyshekov—the Bratva assassin they call Merciless—rose from hell and turned my world upside down. On our wedding day, he taught me real monsters aren’t the ones who hide in the dark. They’re the ones who stare you in the face and steal your soul. On a quest for revenge, he takes me and unearths secrets from the past that will cause a war. When death lies on the horizon, the enemy of my enemy becomes my friend. In this instance, he’s my husband. The real question is when he finishes uncovering the truth, will he keep me or kill me. Merciless Vows is a dark mafia arranged marriage romance. It contains dubious situations, mature content, and graphic violence some readers might find offensive and/or triggering. This book is part of a duet and is not a standalone.

His brother's untimely death leaves him with an Earldom and a fiancée. Too bad he wants neither of them... Theodora Lawton has no need of a husband. As an independent woman, she wants to own property, make investments and be the master of her destiny. Unfortunately, her father signed her life away in a marriage contract to the future Earl of Stonemere. But then the cad upped and died, leaving her fate in the hands of his brother, one of the renowned Lustful Lords. Achilles Denton, the Earl of Stonemere, is far more prepared to be a soldier than a peer. Deeply scarred by his last tour of duty, he knows he will never be a proper, upstanding pillar of the empire. Balanced on the edge of madness, he finds respite by keeping a tight rein on his life, both in and out of the bedroom. His brother’s death has left him with responsibilities he never wanted and isn’t prepared to handle in the respectable manner expected of a peer. Further complicating his new life is an unwanted fiancée who comes with his equally unwanted title. Saddled with a hand-me-down countess, he soon discovers the woman is a force unto herself. As he grapples with the burden of his new responsibilities, he discovers someone wants him dead. The question is, can he stay alive long enough to figure out who’s trying to kill him while he tries to tame his headstrong wife

Marriage—it's all about love and understanding and being with each other for the rest of your days. For Elise, it means something entirely different. Thrown into a marriage on her father's orders, Elise isn't prepared to be married to the man known as Luca Pasquino. Luca is the next capo in line to take over his father's empire with an iron fist. He's cruel, he's evil, and he's ready to destroy anything and anyone that gets in the way of his plans for complete control. Elise has no idea what is in store for her. All she knows is that she can try to survive her life for the rest of her days with Luca. Update from author: I'm listening! In my zeal to tell my story, I relied on the expertise of others to ensure it went from my head to the printed page, which didn't go exactly as planned. Deadly Vows has now been re-edited to ensure the grammar and punctuation are now as they should be. Enjoy!

Jacob My father is dying, and I’ve been called back to Brooklyn to take my place as the head of the Italian syndicate. After a seven year absence, my first test of loyalty is to marry the granddaughter of the Irish mob’s leader. I may not want a wife, but I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm her. I only hope she doesn’t expect love in our marriage. I can’t—won’t—love her. Not ever. I don’t have it in me. Brenna My life has always been about duty. When my grandfather signs a marriage contract, I become a pawn in an alliance between the Irish and the Italians. Once again, I’m bound by duty. I’ve always been invisible—the person who fades into the background—except soon my new husband begins to see me. He’s a Brooklyn king, but will our enemies destroy my chance to become his queen?

What kind of happily-ever-after do you get when you're forced to marry a monster? A monstrous Bratva leader who bounds your wrists and promises to break you. Mikhail Dmitriyev is a beautiful devil with a villainous heart and a thirst for revenge. The choices he gave me when he stole me away from my home with an army of men were very clear—marry me or die. I chose to marry him and live. But there's one small problem with his grand plan to reign Armageddon on the Mexican Cartel. I'm not the woman he thinks I am. I'm not the cartel princess he thinks he took to make his enemies bow to him. When my captor finds out my secret and realizes he married the wrong woman, love won't be enough to save me. And neither will his obsession. Deceptive Vows is a dark mafia arranged marriage romance. It is a complete standalone.

HIM...I will avenge my parents' deaths.I will make those who are responsible suffer.All I need is her; the key to my plans.HER...I'm going to leave everything behind and start over.I won't bow down to anyone.The last thing I need is him; the shackles to my freedom.Game on...Disclaimer:*contains adult language and (explicit) steamy scenes.

Parishes are the missing middle in studies of American Catholicism. Between individual Catholics and a global institution, the thousands of local parishes are where Catholicism gets remade. American Parishes showcases what social forces shape parishes, what parishes do, how they do it, and what this says about the future of Catholicism in the United States. Expounding an embedded field approach, this book displays the numerous forces currently reshaping American parishes. It draws from sociology of religion, culture, organizations, and race to illuminate basic parish processes, like leadership and education, and ongoing parish struggles like conflict and multiculturalism. American Parishes brings together contemporary data, methods, and questions to establish a sociological re-engagement with Catholic parishes and a Catholic re-engagement with sociological analysis. Contributions by leading social scientists highlight how community, geography, and authority intersect within parishes. It illuminates and analyzes how growing racial diversity, an aging religious population, and neighborhood change affect the inner workings of parishes. Contributors: Gary J. Adler Jr., Nancy Ammerman, Mary Jo Bane, Tricia C. Bruce, John A. Coleman, S.J., Kathleen Garces-Foley, Mary Gray, Brett Hoover, Courtney Ann Irby, Tia Noelle Pratt, and Brian Starks

Continue the thrilling second installment of the Apparently, I’m the Infamous Earl’s Legendary Bride Series, a transmigration/time travel (isekai) romantic fantasy with a powerful heroine, badass hero warrior, arranged marriage, action and adventure, and kingdom-building by Alexia S. Praks. Join vivacious, modern-day, newly graduated scientist Quinn and her warrior husband Aldric in an impoverished, war-torn, medieval-like world of magic and monsters as they save lives, feed the populace delectable food, and build a kingdom! Now that they’ve moved into Norsewood Lodge, the only luxurious, modern buildings complex in this medieval-like, fantastical world that is Eseron, Quinn, her hunky husband Aldric, and the citizens are getting used to and loving their new living environment and lifestyle. Some go so far as to worship the very ground the lodge is on. While Quinn is off her feet assisting in rebuilding Norsewood and educating the people, with the aid of her sassy skill Vicky, a new discovery of deities and blessings comes into light, turning what has been passed down for centuries on its head. Mixed in with the excitement, Quinn is second-guessing where her relationship with Aldric stands. Their marriage is an arranged one, after all, and her fear of his indifferent feelings toward her grows as Aldric acts intimate one minute and distant the next. When Aldric’s brother Juan appears, along with news of hundreds of civilians being taken captive and enslaved in a mining dungeon, Quinn puts her relationship problems aside and embarks with Aldric and the Norsewood warriors on a rescue mission, one that unearths not only a dark, sinister plot to destroy Norsewood, but a behemoth beast of a dragon, too, one Aldric has a score to settle with. My Lord Saves the Citizens is the second book in Apparently, I’m the Infamous Earl’s Legendary Bride Series. It is a romantic fantasy series featuring a vivacious heroine with a determination to change and improve the lives of civilians in a medieval-like, war-torn world with the use of her modern knowledge and her magic and a hunky hero hell-bent on protecting his land and people and claiming his wife’s love. This series contains romance, magic, kingdom building, and food and cooking. Oh, and enough steam to fog up the other world’s medieval-era glass window in later books as the story progresses. Note: A kingdom-building fantasy series involves the protagonist/s working on building and managing their own village, town, city, nation, or even empire and gathering citizens and subordinates. Apparently, I’m the Infamous Earl’s Legendary Bride series is published in novel-length (80-120K word) serialized books format and needs to be read in order. Each book has its own little arc. Apparently, I’m the Infamous Earl’s Legendary Bride Books 1: A Girl in Another World 2: My Lord Saves the Citizens 3: My Lady Builds a Village 4: Title and Book Coming Soon