Romance

Have yourself a merry little meltdown

Roberts, Sheila, 1951- author.

Jordan Frost had to do it. Her family was simply too perfectly eccentric not to put in a novel. She was thrilled when she got an agent and then a publishing deal. For two books. Two! Then reality set in. The book about an oddball family's holiday adventures is coming out in November. Just in time for her trip home to Holly Bay, Washington, from the big city. Jordan is desperately hoping she can keep her pseudonym a secret so she can stay in her family's good graces. She wrote the book under a pen name and when it was time for an author picture, she wore a wig and glasses. No one will know it was her, right? Wrong. Charles Pine, her high school friend who always hoped for more, recognizes the woman he's never gotten over as soon as he unpacks her book to shelve at the bookstore where he works. He knows this is the perfect opportunity to get Jordan to see him in a new light and he makes sure to run into her when she arrives home. She never thought of him as anything more than a shoulder to cry on back then, but he's determined to make her see him as boyfriend material. Can he be her hero and help her get through the season with her secret intact? Or at least save her from a holiday meltdown? When a series of minor family emergencies threatens to add even more chaos to Jordan's already hectic life, Charles tries to help her find the true meaning of the holiday. Maybe coming home wasn't a bad idea after all.......

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Darling Daffodils Farm

Nicole, Brittanée, author.

When aspiring pastry chef, Tally Darling, returns home to her family's daffodil farm, the last thing she expects to find is a hot--half-naked--farmhand living in her childhood bedroom and running her late daddy's business. Jesse Walker might be gorgeous but he's also infuriatingly grumpy. Walker has no time for Tally and the feeling is mutual. That is, until Tally hears him moan over one of her signature salted honey cupcakes. And then discovers how good it tastes when they kiss. As dewy April days turn into warm May evenings, Walker and Tally soon realize that there is a thin line between love and hate. But will their budding connection grow into something that lasts beyond one season?....

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Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore : a novel

Nicole, Brittanée, author.

These old flames are ready to catch fire. For Penny Darling, love is best enjoyed between the pages of a book. After a very public failed engagement, she’d rather cozy up by the fire with a book boyfriend than a real one any day. And as the owner of Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore, she has her pick. Then Jake “Monty” Montgomery returns home. Her high school best friend, now a struggling author with inked forearms and wicked green eyes. And he needs her help. His proposal is simple: She’ll teach him to write the perfect book boyfriend and he’ll pose as her real boyfriend, keeping Hope Harbor’s busybodies—and their obsession with Penny’s love life—at bay. But when their lessons begin, the line between fiction and reality grows dangerously thin. As pretend kisses in the apple orchard turn into searing ones beneath the autumn moon, Penny begins to wonder if Monty could really love her, or if she’s destined for another broken heart.....

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Bad words : a novel

Robinson, Rioghnach, author.

Parker Navarro's debut novel was meant to define his career--until critic Selina Chan's blistering review made it the flop of the decade. Four years later, his new book is his shot at redemption; for Selina, reviewing him again is a professional risk she can't refuse. When her second takedown ignites a viral feud, both their fortunes shift overnight. But as the literary world feeds on their public sparring, a quieter dialogue begins--one that challenges everything they thought they knew about success, sincerity, and each other.....

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A married little Christmas

Jimenez, Abby, author.

Tis the season to fall in love! Anna thought only the food would be a disaster at her Christmas dinner―until her high school ex shows up and they quickly have to hatch a fake-dating scheme to save face with their families. For Matty, the idea of sitting in a diner all day dressed as a zombie Santa after losing a bet has zero appeal. But his cute and funny server might just make him change his mind. And finally, will Lauren be able to convince her best friend that getting married after a three-day relationship is absolutely ridiculous? Or will the town called Little Christmas pull her in with its happily-ever-after magic once she meets the best man?....

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Bad bishop

Shen, L. J., author.

Contains content warning. Reader discretion is advised.....

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Grim tidings : a novel

Borison, B. K. author.

Darcy Moore is tired of death. Which would be fine and good... if she wasn't a Grim Reaper. Determined to outrun her designation as the villain, Darcy decides she won't be dragging her next assignment to the underworld. She'll be saving him instead. Unfortunately for Darcy, there's a complication in her plan. Guardian Angel Gabriel Aetos doesn't tolerate threats to his little corner of the world, and a Grim Reaper showing up at his bar is as deadly as it gets. But when he realizes Darcy is not as she seems, Gabriel must decide if he can trust his growing feelings or hold on to his long-standing grudge. But magic doesn't come without consequences. And the Department of Hauntings & Spirits will eventually come calling for their missing Reaper. ....

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A date with Santa : a Christmas novel

Macomber, Debbie, author.

For single career woman Sage Madison, Christmas means premade cookies and artificial trees. But when her sister needs her help, Sage volunteers to care for her five-year-old nephew, Ricky. Determined to give Ricky a memorable Christmas, Sage enlists help from her assistant and close friend, Erica, who loves kids, and her colleague Ethan, who agrees to dress up as Santa—if Sage and Ricky join him in holiday fun to get in the spirit. As Sage navigates the challenges of caring for her nephew  and the prospect of romance with Ethan, she begins to discover the true magic of the season. Ethan’s bond with Ricky and his kindness toward Sage bring unexpected joy and new adventures—filled with ice skating, baking, and a sense of fulfillment she never expected. But when her old life threatens to interfere with the festivities, Sage must decide what she truly wants before the season’s magic slips away.....

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Fair are the meadows

Snelling, Lauraine, author.

When her carefully ordered life is shaken, the path forward requires finding the courage to trust again. Helen Stenerson has planted her roots in the community of Green Creek, Iowa, and poured her heart into teaching. She's determined to avoid romantic entanglement--her teaching contract forbids it, and a broken engagement has taught her the dangers of opening her heart. But thoughtful seminary student Ødger Gunderson begins to weaken her resolve with his genuine interest. When an urgent letter from Ohio is delivered to Helen, the quiet life she's built is shattered. The letter brings news of her aunt's failing health, and when Helen rushes back to be with her, her aunt reveals secrets about Helen's past that upset everything Helen thought she knew. Returning to Green Creek with more questions than answers, can Helen embrace love and the path God has for her?....

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Semantic error : the novel. 2

Chŏ, Su-ri, author.

CONFIGURING SYSTEM UPDATES… Sangwoo Choo’s life is falling apart. Trying to function normally while dealing with intense sexual urges for the first time is hard enough. It’s infinitely worse when the object of both his heart’s and body’s desire is everything he wasn’t looking for in a partner. Jaeyoung Jang is a man, a slob, a serial procrastinator, and someone who seems to get angry at the strangest things…but he’s also drop-dead gorgeous and the most talented designer Sangwoo’s ever had the pleasure of working with. Not that Jaeyoung is faring any better. He’s never met anybody more infuriating yet adorable, and if he’s being honest with himself, it’s obvious the feeling welling up inside him is way more than simple lust—in fact, it might be another “L” word altogether. However, with Sangwoo drawing a clear line in the sand between the two of them, is there any point in hoping for something more? As Jaeyoung’s departure for grad school overseas draws closer, it’s becoming harder to ignore the fact that their relationship was never meant to last. Faced with their impending separation, Sangwoo and Jaeyoung must confront the future they each had planned for themselves—and decide whether it’s one still worth living.....

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House of Rayne

Laroux, Harley, author.

SALEM: I was supposed to be marrying my fiancé, looking forward to a tropical honeymoon. Instead, I found myself on a ferry headed for historic Balfour Manor on Blackridge Island, in the Pacific Northwest. Now I’m stranded, with a woman I’m irresistibly drawn to. Rayne holds secrets as dark and mysterious as her old house. Crimson shadows stalk the halls and strange voices call out in the night--but it's she who haunts me most. Following a gruesome murder, the island's true nature is revealed, and every night becomes a fight for survival. Something is stalking the forest, killing indiscriminately . . . And this time, we're its prey. RAYNE: Death has followed me since childhood. My mother's murder and father's violent death changed me, teaching me just how cruel the world could be. I never got what I wanted, until Salem showed up at my door. She's adventurous, beautiful, and doomed if she stays here. Now, I suddenly have something to lose: the woman who broke down my walls and saw through my mask, who showed me I'm worth loving. My family has long been buried, but even the vilest of secrets must be dug up again to survive the evil that hunts us. I finally have something to fight for, and I'll do whatever it takes to save her.....

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The heart's most wanted

Connealy, Mary, author.

When a mysterious threat follows their every step, can two wounded hearts find refuge and love? US Marshal Morgan Sawyer rides into the treacherous Rocky Mountains on a mission to find fellow Marshal Tex, who vanished while they were escorting a dangerous prisoner. But ranchwoman Roz Beck insists on riding beside him, despite Morgan's protests. Joined by newlyweds Owen and Delaney, and Roz's young son, they push deep into the wilderness. Widowed Roz was wounded in love when her now-deceased husband abandoned her, leaving her alone to raise a child. While her heart longs for love, for her son's sake, she'll settle for a man she trusts like Morgan, her childhood friend. When a shadowy figure begins prowling the search party's camp at night, the group realizes that something more than the wilderness poses a threat to their quest of bringing Tex to safety. Will the looming danger strengthen Morgan and Roz's growing feelings and faith in each other, or will it be their breaking point?....

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The forbidden caller

Gray, Shelley Shepard, author.

She finds belonging in the Amish Widows Club--but will she dare to love across an impossible divide? Twenty-four was too young to become a widow, but Jenna Graber is learning that grief doesn't follow anyone's timeline. Nearly two years after losing her husband, Jimmy, in a workplace accident, she's still struggling to make ends meet while raising her five-year-old daughter. When Jenna is invited to join the Amish Widows Club, blooming friendships stir hope in her heart. And thank goodness for Nelson Harper, the Englisher who runs the mill where Jimmy worked. His steady friendship and generous help have been a lifeline. Nelson knows he's treading on dangerous ground having fallen for Jenna and her precious daughter--their worlds couldn't feel further apart. Religious differences and Jenna's grief make the divide almost impossible to cross, and Nelson carries a burden that could destroy the trust between them. As long-buried secrets surface, Jenna must face hard truths about the past--and decide what her heart can accept for the future.....

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It's beginning to look a lot like murder

Carter, Ally, author.

Ella Chambers didn't kill Liam Montgomery. If she had, she certainly wouldn't have done it outside his family's mansion during the Christmas party of the year. She definitely wouldn't have loaded his body into the trunk of her car. And she absolutely would not have announced to the town that the boy who ruined her life ten years ago was "so dead to her." But now Liam is missing--nothing but a bloody spot on the drive and a host of unanswered questions--and Ella is the only person who knows he's still alive. So it's up to her to prove it. Liam Montgomery didn't want to die. But, it turns out, when you're the sole heir to a billionaire, someone might want you dead. Luckily for Liam, being dead works for him. Now he's on the hunt for a killer. Unfortunately, Ella is on the hunt for him. She'll have to prove he's still alive to clear her name, but that's easier said than done in a quaint mountain town where everyone knows your story but no one knows the truth. Can the billionaire's grandson and the housekeeper's daughter join forces to catch a killer? Or is their past too steeped in secrets and lies? As the storm of the century blows in, every step will bring these two childhood rivals closer to a killer--and each other. Because, this Christmas, only one thing is certain: it's beginning to look a lot like murder. ....

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The lost guardian

Hernandez, Natalia (Fiction writer), author.

The stories we’re told aren’t myths. They’re warnings... Santiago Rios didn't plan to leave his quiet life in Los Angeles. But when his grandfather sends him a map to the lost tomb of the final Incan emperor, the young archaeologist is thrust into a brutal race across the Andes, pursued by ruthless tomb raiders who will stop at nothing to steal the emperor's treasure. His only hope is Ali, a fierce Peruvian woman whose secrets could unlock Santiago's map -- or spell his doom. The closer they grow, the more certain Santiago becomes. Ali is trouble... just the kind of trouble he likes. To save their world, Santiago and Ali must solve ancient riddles, outwit deadly enemies, and lay a spirit to rest before it's too late. Because if they fail, the past won't stay buried -- and neither will the curse.....

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