After abruptly calling off her wedding to her Silicon Valley business partner, Summer Avila stumbles upon a long-forgotten reservation for a rustic cabin nestled in the snowy mountains and decides to take it, even if it means she'll be alone on Christmas Eve. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with rugged mountain guide and lodge manager Forrest Peters and his loyal one-eyed dog, Bodhi. His world of family values and nature is a stark contrast to the tech-driven world Summer's used to. For Forrest, a former Marine scout sniper, Summer's arrival stirs up emotions he's long buried. And as they spend time together, sparks fly, and emotions run high. Summer finds herself torn between the life she's always known and the unexpected feelings Forrest ignites within her. Forrest, too, must confront his fears of opening up his heart, even if it's to someone who may not belong in his world. Will Summer return to her planned, predictable life, or will she dare to embrace the uncertainties of new love? And can Forrest let go of his guarded past to take a chance on a future with someone so different, yet so right?

Meet the ladies of Charles Town, West Virginia, and let their sweet romance stories inspire you! The first three books in the Heartwarming Holidays Sweet Romace series are now compiled in this collection. Each book tells an inspirational story about one young woman looking for romance and letting her faith in God guide her to an everlasting love. Book One: Melody's Christmas Can Christmas magic help her hear the music again? Melody Murphy shared her love of music with her father, but after tragically loosing him on Christmas Eve two years ago, she no longer has any interest in music or Christmas. She returns to her hometown of Charles Town, West Virginia, to help her mother save the family antique business, content to stay focused on her work. However, when a chance encounter with an adorable five-year-old leads her to befriend an attractive single dad, Melody begins to realize she's been putting her life on hold, something her father would've never wished for her. Will she learn to hear the song in the falling snow again? Reid has recently moved to Charles Town to start over after his wife walked out, leaving him alone to raise their son, Michael. When Michael decides he needs Melody Murphy in his life, Reid needs to find out what it is that has his son drawn to the young woman like a magnet. The closer he gets to Melody, the more he begins to believe he might get a second chance at love after all. Book Two: Christmas Cocoa Can two people fall in love over the world's best hot cocoa? Christmas is a busy time of year for Delaney Young, owner of Delaney's Delights, a bakery in small town Charles Town, West Virginia, famous for award winning hot cocoa. When the son of a tree farmer from out of town stops by to sample her number one seller, Delaney realizes Christmas is the perfect time of year to fall in love. Josh Taylor spends every Christmas helping out his parents at the family tree farm, leaving behind his busy life as a computer technician in Washington, DC, for a few weeks every year. When he meets Delaney, he wonders if it's time to leave big city life for good and take over the family business so that he can be closer to the beautiful baker. Book Three: Winter Woods She's looking for peace and quiet in the winter woods, but will she find love instead? Olivia Kensington is an award winning author doing her best to finish her newest novel on time. A trip to the mountains over the New Year's holiday to write in solace takes a turn when she meets a handsome cowboy who keeps interrupting her progress. Will Memphis become a distraction--or something else entirely? Memphis Nix is broken-hearted when he sets out from Texas on a trip to West Virginia to spend some time alone with his family in the mountains, celebrating his grandfather's birthday. However, a knock on the wrong cabin door leads him to a beautiful young woman, and now he's intrigued. Will he celebrate New Year's Eve all alone, or will he start his new year with Olivia in his arms? The Heartwarming Holidays Sweet Romance Series is clean with Christian themes. Each novel tells the story of a new couple, so you do not need to have read the books from the beginning of the series, although it may make your experience more enjoyable to do so. Winter Woods is centered around New Year's Eve.

Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He's come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children. When danger descends on the cabin where they're huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection--and in the process he might just win her heart as well.

The engagement is fake, but the feelings are real. Gwen Alder is starting over. Divorced and broke, she's come to Billings, Montana for a new beginning. But waitressing at a roadside diner for the summer isn't paying the bills. Heath Montgomery almost has it all—fame, fortune and a mega-watt smile. The one thing he's missing is a date for his cousin's wedding. When Gwen and Heath cross paths, Heath has an idea: what if he paid Gwen to be his date? No strings, no complications, just a simple transaction to get his parents off his back about settling down. When the wedding date ruse goes well, Heath asks Gwen to play his fiancé...for an entire weekend. They're nothing alike. To them, it's just a business arrangement. They definitely don't plan to fall for each other. But sometimes love has plans of its own. Explore all the books in Vivi Holt's Make Believe collection: Make Believe Proposal Make Believe Fiancé Make Believe Wedding Make Believe Honeymoon Make Believe Husband Make Believe Marriage

The only way to secure her dream is to marry a handsome stranger . . . When Rose and Jack meet, she has just lost her uncle, and with him her dream of owning a coffee shop. Rose wanted nothing more than to open a café in her uncle’s building. But her uncle’s will is clear – the building goes to Rose’s husband. Not to her. Then, his lawyer, Jack, offers an unusual solution… she can marry him. She’ll get the café and he’ll get the building. For some reason, Rose agrees. It might be a marriage of convenience but it’s anything but simple. Despite it being his idea, Jack is unbearably surly... But then he does something that shows Rose he might just have a softer side. Maybe love can start with a contract… but will Rose still feel that way when she learns the full terms of their deal?

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.

Conveniently Wed Marriage for any reason but love was once unthinkable to Maryland councilman Henry Nash. But when an innocent encounter with a criminal puts Henry's reputation in jeopardy, he'll make any sacrifice to maintain custody of his orphaned nieces. And an alliance with a powerful politician's daughter could secure the little girls' futures. As long as gentle Rebekah Van der Geld never hears the rumors surrounding her new groom... Refusing her father's choice of husband wasn't an option for dutiful Rebekah. But Henry's kindness is a happy revelation, and she's quickly falling for his adorable nieces--so she allows herself to hope this unconventional arrangement could become much more. But can it survive a shattering revelation that puts their new family in danger?

Carter's fiancé is in love with someone else. Link has just been left at the altar. After bonding over mutual heartbreak at the would-be reception's open bar, Link and Carter pass out in the honeymoon suite--and are mistaken for the happy newlywed couple the next morning. Reluctant to deal with the fallout from their breakups, they embark on an exciting week of fake honeymooning, during which Carter starts to have real feelings for Link. A genderqueer artist who lives life by their own rules, Link inspires Carter to build a new future. Against the eclectic and electric backdrop of New Orleans, Carter and Link have to decide if a second chance at love is in the cards, or if they're only meant to be sidelined in someone else's story.

Elizabeth Rosseau and Abigail Lester were best friends. At twenty-one, they confess their feelings for each other before leaving for winter break. It should have been a love story, only Abigail never came back. Six years later, Elizabeth contacts her one last time, and to her surprise, Abigail answers. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Abigail is hesitant to see her in person. She was in an accident that left her a monster, a wendigo. Now she’s in a support group for other inhuman cannibals and is mostly convinced that she could avoid eating Elizabeth, but Abigail doesn’t trust herself, and even more, she’s terrified that if Elizabeth finds out the truth, she’ll never want to see her again. They want nothing more than to be together, but they belong to different worlds, different lives, and different food groups.