Kirjahaku

Based on a Sioux myth, the past and the present collide when a shaman, a green-eyed wolf, and a ghost decide it's time to end a millennia-old curse. For Charley Winters love means loss and pain. She's spent the last five years struggling with her grief. Existing, not living, dreaming of the man she lost. Drawn to Saskatchewan, she travels west to take the job she's always wanted, a Transportation Technology teacher in a high school. This is her chance to prove that a female mechanic can do the job as well as a male one, but Mother Nature has a different idea as a string of vicious tornadoes work their way through the area. Since his near-death experience, Sergeant Bill Murdock of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has dreamed of a gorgeous woman, the fantasies so real that they leave him breathless. He's convinced she needs him as much as he needs her, but he has no idea where to find her. When he's called to Fort Qu'Appelle to get a statement from the Nakoda chief about the problems they've been having with bikers, the last thing he expects is to rescue the woman of his dreams. But getting her to accept him may not be as easy as he hopes. Can Charlie set aside her memories, release the man she loved, and find happiness in the arms of another?

Seeing is believing, or is it?When high-powered Santa Fe attorney Casey Stevens reluctantly returns to Fortune for Gold Rush Days, she is drawn to Cole Walker Junior, but he is no longer the shy, quiet boy she recalls. Then again, Cole isn't the only one who has changed. The town may be celebrating its past, but someone is trying to destroy its future. A hit and run accident leaves Fortune's only lawyer in a coma, forcing Casey to choose between helping innocent people and running away once more. Can she face the demons of her past or will they destroy her this time?Cole Warner has a secret identity, one he's determined to protect at all costs. The police officer, volunteer firefighter, and part-time store owner, is also popular western novelist, CJ Coleson, who uses Fortune and its people as the inspiration for his books. Having Casey walk into his life turns it upside down. When someone starts using the murders in Cole's books to stage a killing spree of their own, keeping his secret may be too costly, but admitting the truth could ruin any chance they have for a happily ever after.As the bodies pile up and the buildings burn down, Casey and Cole have to work together to stop a madman with gold fever before more people die. The answer lies on Superstition Mountain or is it all a desert deception?

Romance, mermaids, cursed treasure, and more.MJ's having a bad year. She's canceled her wedding, but refuses to give up the honeymoon. When she arrives on Paradise Island, she discovers her ex has changed the reservation. Stranded, she has to rely on her first love, a man who sees her as his kid sister, for help. When Paul discovers the man behind her plight is the bully who made his own teen years hell, he gets MJ to agree to pretend to be his fianc e. Reluctantly, she agrees. Add in mermaids, treasure hunters, and Quimbois magic, and anything can happen-even falling in love.

School's out and it's time to play with the grown-ups.Kindergarten teacher Cleo James is in a rut and needs a change. For the last three years, she's been at her widowed dad's beck and call, but enough is enough. When her best friend suggests a weekend in Vegas at a sci-fi convention, she sets aside some of her inhibitions, and agrees to visit Sin City. After all, it's just for the weekend. What could possibly go wrong?Multimillionaire Sam Mason is sick of gold diggers. He's looking for someone who'll fall for him, not his wallet. The opportunity to disguise himself and mingle might just be the distraction he needs before embarking on his next big job. And, what harm can come from playing make-believe for a few days?When he meets a shy, green-skinned slave girl, he's entranced, and it gets even better when he realizes she's mistaken him for a Chippendale. Between the sexual attraction and too much alcohol, he wakes up two days later married to his green-skinned beauty.Sam's head over heels in love with his bride, but she's vanished. Finding her will be a lot harder than he thinks, especially when she's played the name game, too.

What you see doesn't always tell the whole story.While escaping from her abusive fianc , Alexa O'Brien pulls into a gas station only to walk in on a gang-related execution that leaves her alive but severely injured. Alexa swears she saw the killers' faces, one of which tuns out to be Nicolai Zabat, Montreal's mob boss, a man the police have been after for years. The problem is her account of the events don't jive with the facts on record. But, someone did try to kill her, and where there's smoke, there's fire.Lieutenant Mike Delorme of the S ret Du Qu bec has spent the last eighteen months working undercover trying to take down Zabat, the man he blames for the death of his wife and unborn child. After his cover's blown and he's almost killed a second time, his boss wants him to lay low and gives him a new assignment. The last thing Mike wants to do is babysit a woman whose story is as full of holes as Swiss cheese-but he's a team player, and if she can somehow help take down Zabat, so much the better. Finding a feisty gun toting brunette in a wheelchair is a surprise, but discovering that her so-called safe house is a carefully crafted prison has him rethinking the situation.There's more to Alexa and what she witnessed than meets the eye, and Mike will do whatever it takes to keep her safe, but when the enemy is faceless, doing so maybe harder than he thinks. Personalities clash and hormones collide as they escape from one trap to another, knowing the fate of the world could be in their hands.

He's watching, waiting...The last person disgraced reporter Faye Lewis wants back in her life is Detective Rob Halliday, her former fianc , the man she blames for ruining her career and breaking her heart. But when she discovers her best friend's mother murdered, she doesn't hesitate to call him.Breaking up with Faye after she unjustly accused him of sabotaging her career was a crippling personal blow for Rob, but he coped by burying himself in his work. For the past year, his team has been hunting the Harvester, a serial killer who ritualistically murders new mothers and vanishes with their infants. What Rob doesn't need is another case, especially one involving his ex-fianc e. But, when the killer's newest victim resembles Faye, all bets are off.When Faye is assaulted in her own apartment, Rob realizes that not only are these cases connected, Faye may be the key to finding the elusive killer, providing Rob can keep her out of the maniac's hands.Realizing her vulnerability, Faye agrees to set aside their past to work the case together, but the more they investigate, the more complex the situation becomes. The mad man has an agenda, one that involves Faye. Can they catch the Harvester before he finds Faye and reaps another prize?

All's fair in love and war...or is it?Eleni Baxter has always been the impulsive twin requiring rescue from one scheme or another. Avoiding relationships because of trust issues, Eleni throws herself into her wedding and party fantasy firm, Holiday Magic. When her designs for a Halloween decorating scheme win her a shot at being the exclusive special events coordinator for the Ocean Front Casino Resort, she jumps at it, without reading the fine print. As always, twin sister Georgia comes to the rescue. Reclusive millionaire casino owner Garth Joseph Smits Simmons has shunned publicity and gold-diggers for as long as he can remember, hiding behind a series of disguises to protect his identity. When beautiful, talented special events coordinator Eleni Baxter walks into his life, he's determined to find a way to make her fall in love with him without revealing his true identity. Designing a contract to hire her and keep her in close proximity for three months seems like a stroke of genius, but having a double life becomes more complicated than ever.With the holiday season in full swing, Joe decides it's time to come clean, but will the magic of the holiday season be enough for Eleni to forgive him his deception, or will he lose it all on one throw of the dice?

Native American stories don't always take place in the past, but the past affects the present, and sometimes the future as well.Born Mohawk, raised white, forensic pathologist, Michelle Thomas is trapped between two worlds-this one and the spirit world where the ghosts of those who've drowned speak to her. Haunted by crippling nightmares of her own drowning death and erotic dreams of a phantom lover, she strives to make sense of her life. When two suspicious deaths occur at the Lake of the Mountain Resort, she's sent to investigate. She'll face the greatest challenge of her career when her past and her present collide. One of these men is her future, but which one-the rich and powerful Mayor Ron Davies, or Tony Steele, the hydrology professor who may be responsible for his students' deaths? Charged by the spirits of her Mohawk ancestors to atone for her previous sins by protecting Lake of the Gods, can Michelle solve the murders, save the sacred waters, and fulfil her destiny?

DEA agent, Emily Shepherd, is after the Chef, a crystal meth cook, who sets up labs for the Mexican cartel and walks away-the same man responsible for the deaths of her husband and unborn child. Her search leads her to Braden, Iowa, a small town just right for the Chef's specialty. But identifying her quarry won't be easy when she's up against a woman who sees her as a threat, a male chauvinistic deputy sheriff, and an attractive school principal who might just be at the center of it all.Jackson Harris has sworn off women. Life is satisfactory, if lonely, until he meets a hazel-eyed damsel in distress who gets under his skin, and triggers that protective instinct of his. There's a killer in town, one who may or may not be a notorious drug lord. Finding him, and keeping his town, his students, and Emily safe, may be harder than he thinks.Love is breaking out in Braden, Iowa. Follow all the romance with this collection of stories. Secrets and Lies is part of the Hearts of Braden Series, a multi-author series Secrets and Lies stands alone for your reading enjoyment, but the story doesn't need to end there.

High school sports can be more dangerous than you think Ivy Hill's track star, Liam Howard, has his future all mapped out: date Hannah Connors, win the New Horizon scholarship, get a spot on the next Olympic team, and then go to medical school. Sounds simple, especially when he's well on his way to achieving his dream. But someone else has other plans. Ignoring the most recent threatening note, Liam goes out for his regular practice run and is struck by a vehicle and left for dead.Hannah refuses to believe Liam will never walk or run again, especially when she learns the person behind the accident may be her own track coach. Working with Erik Jenkins, Liam's best friend, she searches for proof, but Erik vanishes on his way to see the coach. Now, it's up to her, Liam, and their friends, to find Erik and the evidence they need to put a hit and run driver behind bars. But time may be running out for both Erik and Liam as someone tries to finish the job they started, regardless of collateral damage.

Four years ago, a car accident robbed Nancy Frost of her child and her mother, taking what was left of her marriage with it in the process. A forensic accountant, she agrees to look at a company's books in a divorce case, trying to find hidden assets, but her meeting with the lawyer goes terribly wrong when the restaurant is attacked.The moment US Marshal Neil Copeland discovers his wife has been shot in a Baltimore restaurant, he rushes to her side, determined not to let her down again. As the police investigate, evidence suggests the attack was a ploy to hide a specific hit. When a professional assassin tries to kill Nancy a second time, it's clear that she was the target and whatever's going on is a lot more complicated than they think.When Nancy awakes after a month in an induced coma, not only does she not remember the attack on the restaurant, she doesn't remember marrying Neil.Faced with the challenge of protecting his wife from a powerful, faceless enemy, Neil must bring her up to date, dredging up all the sorrow that tore them apart in the first place, hoping something will jar her memory.As he races against time, can he save her from an unknown assassin and convince her to give the love they once had a second chance?

Everything happens for a reason.Criminal profiler Jake McKenzie returned from Afghanistan minus a leg, determined never to let anyone get close enough to hurt him again. When his old friend asks him to help with a serial arsonist case, he jumps at the chance to prove his worth, but as the bodies pile up, he realizes he needs help. He convinces the chief to bring in a fire investigator, stunned to discover that the woman is none other than the girl who vanished from his life twenty years ago.Alexis Michaels fled Paradise and an abusive uncle only to almost die in a fire that left her scarred not only on the outside, but on the inside, leaving her with psychic abilities. With that gift, she's climbed to the top of her profession. Her abilities may be the only thing that can find and stop the Fire Angel, a pyromaniac turned revenge arsonist serial killer who's slowly turning a peaceful town into Hell on Earth. The problem is, to do the job, she has to return to the one place where she swore she would never set foot again.Faced with confusing emotions and a killer who's made it clear he wants her to stay out of his business, Alexis must deal with the past before she can move on. But things may get too hot even for her as the Fire Angel moves toward the final act in his revenge drama.

Widowed, her dream of starring on Broadway in ashes at her feet, Misty Starr yearns for a happy, healthy, normal life for herself and her four-year-old daughter, Debbie. Settled in Pine Falls, New York, a sleepy little town filled with friendly people, she believes she's found it and feels safe enough to sing in an amateur theater revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. She'll do anything to keep this life even if it is built on lies, because revealing her secret is impossible. When Nick Anthony joins the cast as music director, Misty is attracted to the man who stirs up feelings she thought long dead, but can love grow on a bed of deceit?A former concert pianist and secret CIA courier, Nick lives in darkness ever since the accident that killed his wife. The doctors say there's nothing wrong with his vision, so why can't he see? Hiding from his former life, he reluctantly agrees to help with the musical and is drawn to the young singer with the voice of an angel. When a mysterious fire destroys her home, Nick vows to keep her and her daughter safe. After one suspicious event leads to another, Nick is determined to protect them from an unknown assassin, but in order to do that, he needs to know her secrets. With his money and connections, he'll do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, but does she love him enough to reveal the truth?

Going home for Christmas can be deadly.Candy Kayne agrees to go to Black Oaks, the Georgia plantation her ancestor reluctantly left after the Civil War, to meet the family she's never known and help Steve set a trap for his wife's killer. Even the wildest tales have a kernel of truth in them and as she learns more about the family's history, she realizes that coming here may have been the biggest mistake of her life.Losing Amy almost destroyed Steve Anderson, but when Candy steps into his life, her sweetness chases the dark gloom away. But when he realizes the man who murdered his wife may have set his sights on Candy, he'll do whatever he has to in order to keep her safe.

What is the price of honor? For Isabelle de Caen Gaudier, it's disobeying the king, leaving her home, and giving up her identity.When King Louis orders Isabelle to marry the Chevalier d'Angrignon, she's appalled. There is no way she can obey and wed the man she believes may be involved in her husband's murder and her father's poisoning. Add to that, the monster may be paving his way to the throne of France for the children she'll bear him by killing all those ahead of her in line, something she can't allow. For the sake of her honor, Isabelle de Caen must die.Hoping everyone will believe she drowned in the millpond, Isabelle disguises herself and sneaks aboard the ship taking her beloved cousin Sophie to the New World. That's where the charged of treason against her husband originated, and that's where Isabelle hopes to find the answers to clear his name and implicate the chevalier. But her plans threaten to fail when Guy Poirier, an old friend and her first love, finds her hiding under his bed.Guy knows Pierre Gaudier isn't a traitor. The man was on an errand for the governor-general of New France, bringing him critical information, but he was killed before he could deliver it. Someone doesn't want the king to know what's really happening in the colony. When Guy finds Isabelle hiding under his bed, he jumps at the chance to help the woman he's always loved and clear his friend's name, and if Isabelle can some day return his affections, that would be the best reward he could get.But things are far more complicated than either of them suspects. After examining information found aboard a vessel attacked possibly by pirates and a wampum belt pointing to an alliance between the Iroquois Confederacy and tribes to the south, Guy fears for the lives of all those in the colony. There's more than one conspiracy afoot, and with Isabelle at his side, he seeks to find the men behind it all to save not only the woman he loves, but the place he now calls home.

If she isn't Melinda Crites, who is she? And why is someone trying to kill her? Can she trust anyone? Especially the stranger who makes her heart sing. When a family Christmas present among siblings backfires, Melinda Crites faces an identity crisis. Not only is she not a real Crites, but she also has no idea who her biological parents are, beyond the information in the DNA analysis. Struggling with this new knowledge, Melinda decides to join the platform and see what comes of it. Within a month of retesting to make sure there hasn't been an error made, she's contacted by a man who claims to be her biological brother and invites her to visit him and the rest of his family in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Desperate to find herself once more and discover her roots, she agrees to go, hoping that by learning the truth, she'll be able to find her center once more and get on with her life. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love with her brother's partner. When Marc Mason, CFO for Mason-Scott Aquaculture, the largest seafood growing and processing enterprise on Cape Breton, learns that his business partner and best friend, Darcy Scott may have located his missing twin, he agrees to help his best friend discover more about the mysterious Melinda Crites. If she really is his sibling, Darcy plans to give her a share of the business and the family wealth. If she isn't, then he'll expose her for the fraud she is. But not everyone is excited to welcome a long-lost relative, and when a car tries to run down Melinda outside her hotel, quick action on Marc's part saves her life. The last thing he wants from her is hero worship. She may or may not be a fraud and has no reason to trust him, but how can he let anything happen to the woman who calls to his soul?

When a body identified as her own washes ashore near the Pointe au P re Lighthouse, it throws Evelyn Chambers's life into chaos. Professional diver Evie Chambers gave up working with the Underwater Retrieval Team when the last body she recovered hit too close to home. Now, she works as a private detective to fill her days and keep the nightmares at bay. The last thing she expects is to become a victim of one of her most frequently investigated crimes, identity theft. While that's problematic in itself, having the thief die mysteriously turns the theft of her identity into a tricky situation. The police inspector in charge of the case doesn't trust outsiders and warns her to stay out of police business. Not satisfied with that attitude, Evie goes to Rimouski, Quebec to discover the truth for herself. She intends to find out why the stranger stole her identity and nothing, especially not a crusty old inspector, will stop her. Alphonse Binette, the handsome Parks Canada employee who oversees the Empress of Ireland Museum piques her curiosity in more ways than one. In his spare time, Al runs a licensed dive company, one of the few allowed to go down to the wreck, and knows a lot more about the body found on the beach than she expected. Al offers to help her with her investigation, and while Evie is cautious, she accepts. There are strange things going on in Pointe au P re, starting with a break-in at the museum, rumors of people rising out of the water, strange lights, sounds, vanishing boats, roads that appear where they shouldn't, and a suspicious fire where another body is discovered. The police inspector is determined to solve the case without Evie's assistance or interference, but when circumstantial evidence makes Al the prime suspect in both the murder and the arson, it's up to Evie to discover the truth and clear Al's name before someone else dies.