At long last, Jakral Konyngrr—lowly sailor, gambler, and sometime rogue—has won the heart and hand of Princess Stella of Avonlidgh. Never mind that Stella’s mother is determined to make their wedding the event of the century, he’s happy to endure any trial to marry the love of his life and his guiding star. Very soon they can sail away together into the rest of their lives. Unfortunately the wedding becomes delayed for several months, until midwinter. Stella—sorceress, empath, and bearer of the mark of the Tala—has been through great trials. But nothing has tested her as sorely as her passionate and flamboyant mother planning their wedding. Even Jak’s steady love and companionship isn’t enough as Stella finds herself crumbling under the pressure of being snowbound in a castle with the press of so many minds and emotions. When she lashes out, she hits the worst possible target, jeopardizing her chances for happiness. With several kingdoms and a former enemy empire bearing down on them, Jak and Stella’s wedding on the longest night of year might not happen at all… Unless they can create their own happy ever after.

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?

The Temptation of Power No longer a princess and not yet a queen, the sorceress Oria welcomes the rush of power the ancient mask brings her—though the obsessive connection to it frightens her and alarms her barbarian husband, Lonen. But retreat is not an option. She must wrestle the magic to prevent an annihilating war, even if she must make the ultimate sacrifice. A World in Flames If Lonen wants to reclaim his throne—and save his people from destruction—he must return by sunset on the seventh day. What he thought would be a short and simple journey, however, leads them deeper into the mountains—and Oria deeper into the thrall of foul magic. Until he must choose between two terrible paths. A Heart-Wrenching Choice Struggling with conflicting loyalties, Oria and Lonen fight to find a way to be together… lest they be separated forever, and their realms go down in flames with them.

“A wonderful end to this series. Love it.” ~ Amazon Reader A Looming Threat The sorceress Oria has finally come into her own—able to wield the power of her birthright and secure in the marriage she once believed would bring her only misery. But the past she escaped still chases her, and the certainty of war promises to destroy everything she’s fought to have. An Impossible War Once before Lonen led an army in a desperate attempt to stop the powerfully murderous sorcerers of Bára—and he nearly lost everything. Now he must return to the battlefield that took the lives of so many of his people. Only this time he has more to risk than ever. The Final Conflict With guile, determination—and unexpected allies—Oria and Lonen return to the place where it all began… and only hope that it won’t also be the end of them.

"Farmer's daughter, sister to seven, and a Sister to many, Joyce Rupp is a planter, grower, and spiritual midwife. She is a writer and speaker, a retreat giver who has inspired thousands on five ontinents. A lifelong Catholic, she sings both chant and golden oldies, teaches theology and practices transpersonal psychology. She is appreciated by people of all faiths and criticized by some in her own faith as being 'out there.' Drawing on key themes from her many influential books, 'Joyce Rupp : essential writings' shows you where Joyce is at, where she came from and where she's going, who she is, what she is like, and what she knows for sure--all in her own words."--Back cover