For the Marcelli sisters of California wine country, the season is ripe for romance!Francesca Marcelli married at eighteen – right on schedule, according to her warm, colorful family, who have always said a beauty like Francesca need never worry about finding love. But a few years later, finding herself on her own with a wide open future ahead of her, she pursues her educational passions – with a risky experiment that takes her straight into the arms of playboy CEO Sam Reese. Delighted by Francesca's interest in a no-strings relationship, Sam suddenly finds himself needing her outside the bedroom when a secret from his past lands on his doorstep. But Francesca soon has a secret of her own to tell – a bombshell that will force the diehard bachelor to show his true colors. Are there "I do"s in Sam and Francesca's future? Only if she can persuade him that home truly is where the heart finds happiness.

The Rules currently governing my life are these. Rule Number one: there is no justice. Rule Number two: contrary to a husband's hopes, a second wife does not have the Karma Sutra tucked into her handbag. It is more likely to be aspirin. Rule number three: never complain, particularly if you have been instrumental in demonstrating Rule number one. Rule number four: never serve liver or tofu. It is not clever. So says Minty Lloyd as she struggles to make her life work as Nathan's second wife. Mother to six year-old twins, sidelined at family gatherings by Nathan's hostile family, ostracised by his friends, she is haunted by the shadow of the glowing, successful Rose Nathan's first wife. The trouble is, 'she concludes, everything I do is second hand.' Yet, such is curious nature of fate, Minty finds herself united in loss with an unexpected ally the woman she once betrayed. Buchan's signature gift for capturing women's daily joys and struggles is beautifully deployed in "The Second Wife", an irresistible story of love, grief and renewal that explores that nature of friendship and the bonds that grow strongest when stretched to breaking.

Lady Gabriella March is the perfect domestic goddess-at least, that's what her editor at Milady magazine thinks! In truth she's simply Ellie March, cleaner and aspiring writer, who uses the beautiful mansion she is house-sitting to inspire her.When the owner returns unexpectedly, Ellie's fledgling writing career is threatened. But even more dangerous is the man himself! Gorgeous Dr. Benedict Faulkner is quite the opposite of the aging academic she imagined, and soon it is her heart, and not just her secret, that is exposed…

Colleen was the mistress of the house, beautiful, rich and romantic, with the lush, pliant body of an overly passionate woman, and a husband who didn’t appreciate her obvious charms.

Onofre was the newly hired handyman, sullen, opportunistic and blatantly virile — like a stud bull that accepts all comers.

Pansy, the maid, got the message at once and offered herself without reservations. Vesta, the housekeeper, fought her attraction for him and continued making passes at Colleen.

Colleen, torn between pressure from Vesta, loyalty to her husband and her desperate need for Onofre, resisted, wavered, then fell like a ripe plum into Onofre’s bed.

When agent Ellie Lanagan's "husband' was suddenly taken ill, she knew she needed a replacement, pronto. The least likely candidate for the job: seeming drifter McCall-no last name, just McCall-who had saved her neck three times already. So should she offer her…hero the chance to save her from the enemy? Or was he the enemy?Obviously McCall had a soft spot for the pretty tourist he called Cinnamon, but she was driving him crazy in more ways than one. Who was she, really? An innocent, married woman with incredibly poor judgment? Or part of the biggest scam this side of the Caribbean? And by getting involved with her, would he wind up in jail? Or in her arms?

All small towns have secrets. This one could be deadly. After her father's death, Cyndi Marks returns to Jamesville, determined to settle here and lay the ghosts of years ago to rest once and for all. But the past has a way of catching upand hanging on. When her car breaks down outside of town, a handsome stranger stops to help. He intrigues and attracts her, but then she discovers who he is. Shamus O'Rourke enjoys his job, his family and small town living. What he's missing is someone with whom to share it. Immediately drawn to Cyndi, he is determined to get closer to her, even as he senses her pulling away. But not everyone in Jamesville is happy to see Cyndi. People are hiding secrets. Secrets they would kill to protect. When violence erupts in her home, Cyndi turns to the only person in town she can trustShamus. In a situation where family loyalties are strained, Cyndi's life is threatened and everyone is a suspect, will their emerging love survive?

Meet Max Morgan. Unrepentantly sexy. Impossible to resist. He's broken countless hearts across the country – including Angela Weatherby's…When Angela first met Max, she'd been young, sweet and impressionable. But time and experience have changed that. Now she can see what kind of man he really is.Unfortunately, he's still the man she wants more than her next breath.And she finally gets him! Angela's night with Max is magical. He knows just what to do, where to touch, how to make her feel. He's the perfect man for her.Too bad she's not the first woman to believe that. But will she be the last?

FROM ROYAL NANNY TO PRINCESS BRIDE?Dedicated teacher Kayleen James was determined to safeguard the future of her orphaned students-even if it meant defying Prince As'ad of El Deharia himself! But the seductive ruler stunned her by offering to adopt the three little girls. On one condition…Suddenly As'ad was a single father in desperate need of a nanny, and Kayleen was the only woman for the job. Soon the palace was in an uproar-all because of the spirited redhead. Losing his heart wasn't part of the arrangement, until Kayleen showed the honor-bound sheik what he'd been missing. Could he convince her that she belonged in his exotic desert kingdom as his princess-and his wife?

Maggie Collins had come to the exotic kingdom of El Deharia to restore Prince Qadir's antique car…not to get married. The no-frills mechanic had been burned by love before, and marriage-even to a seductive sheik-didn't top her agenda. But then Qadir made her an offer she should have refused. It was meant to be a temporary engagement…until Maggie discovered she was pregnant. Now Qadir was honor-bound to give Maggie and her child the protection of his name. He never expected her to sweep him off his feet. Would there be a royal wedding after all?

The single mom's new job: chauffeur to the sheikh!Zahir was surprised to find he had a beautiful new driver. This chauffeur did not blend into the background. Oh, no. Diana Metcalfe talked. She laughed. She took him on unplanned detours. And he had more fun than he'd had in years.But back in his desert kingdom, a dynastic marriage was being brokered for Zahir. Crazy though it seemed, he wished that this wonderful, vivacious, thoroughly unsuitable woman could be his bride instead…

All Frances wanted was an interview with Sheikh Ali Ben Saleem. Ali obliged – on the condition that she accompany him to his kingdom. Soon Frances found herself imprisoned with his concubines! But was Ali serious when he insisted on marriage?

HE HAD HIS PRIME SUSPECT IN CUSTODY, BUT SOMETHING DIDN'T ADD UP…Small-town sheriff Roan Harley arrested plain-as-all-get-out Mary Yancy because he couldn't afford not to. She'd had motive, means and opportunity to kill the son of a senator – plus a gun. And yet…Clearly, Mary had something to hide – those shapeless clothes covered a knockout figure; damned if her dirt-brown hair wasn't the result of a botched dye job; and her name just didn't check out. Not to mention her lovely eyes couldn't disguise the fact that she was not only innocent, but in dire need of protection. His protection?

SECRETS, LIES…AND MONEYSocialite Emma Dearborn's future was all planned out for her: the perfect wedding, the perfect husband, the perfect life. Then Garrett Keating returned.He wasn't about to let Emma go through with her farce of a marriage, and he set out to stop her…seduction being at the top of his list. But if Emma didn't walk down the aisle by her birthday, she stood to lose an inheritance worth millions.Just how far would Garrett be willing to go to have Emma? All the way to the altar?

Leandro Carrera Marquez, Duque de Sandoval, was as aristocratic, proud and arrogant as his name.and darkly handsome in an impossible, breathtaking way. What would this billionaire Spanish banker want with a struggling, impoverished waitress like Molly?But Leandro did want Molly – and he took her, accidentally making her pregnant with his child. In Leandro's traditional world, there was only one option – marry the mother of his heir. After all, none of his noble ancestors had actually married for love…

A party planner extraordinaire, Katie Marcelli loves her big, boisterous family – even when their chronic matchmaking drives her crazy! In the Marcelli household, fine wine and good food are as celebrated as true love, so when her eighteen-year-old sister announces her engagement, Katie promises her the perfect wedding. There's only one hitch: the father of the groom, Zach Stryker, who is adamantly opposed to his son marrying so young. Now, despite her instant attraction to the handsome, arrogant attorney, Katie must approach with caution: Zach, who hired Katie for a major fundraiser, holds the fate of her business in his hands – and how can she trust a man who is willing to break her sister's heart? It will take a passionate battle of wills to determine if wedding bells will ring for a Marcelli bride, and to unlock the deepest desires – for family, love, and home – inside a strong-willed man's heart.

After his ward calls off their wedding, Sebastian Santiago decides that since the girls tutor, Maggie Cortez, corrupted her, Maggie should take her place as THE STAND-IN BRIDE. Maggie is torn. While there is a volatile chemistry between her and Sebastian, she is carrying a deep secret about the death of her husband that could tear her new marriage apart if she lets it.

Women in uniform weren't usually Cristos Stephanides's thing. But seeing Betsy Mitchell in her chauffeur's outfit… What harm could there be in trying to bed her? However, the tycoon hadn't bargained on being kidnapped, along with Betsy, and held captive on an Aegean island! And since their captors had thoughtfully provided them with a luxury villa, what was to stop Cristos continuing with his seduction plan in comfort?

South Village was safe… or so she thought! The secure world that Rachel Wellers has carefully constructed is crumbling around her. Her sweet twelve-year-old daughter is turning into a sullen teenager before her eyes. The injuries she's just sustained in a hit-and-run accident are jeopardizing her career as a cartoonist. And worst of all, Ben Asher – the man she sent away thirteen years ago – is back, tipped off by her daughter that they need him.When Ben hears that Rachel has been injured, he panics. In an instant, he drops his obsession – photojournalism – and returns to the city he swore he'd never visit again. He doesn't want to question his movies for doing so… he only knows he has to protect Rachel. Suddenly he's convinced the hit-and-turn wasn't an accident. Rachel might have been hurt because of him.But he doesn't count on the feelings that get stirred up being with her… or how hard it will be to leave her again.A thrilling emotional read by award-winning author Jill Shalvis!

In the quiet Basque countryside in 1914, Jean-Marc Montjean, a handsome young doctor, is bewitched by the seductive, beautiful Katya. He is driven to know everything about her. He is devastated by the unspeakable secret horror buried in her past.

Margot's reservoir of romantic feelings for her husband, Drum, is running dry. But while the family is on vacation in Nantucket, Margot finds an opportunity to potentially regain her romantic love for her husband – in the form of Hadley Axelram, his ex-girlfriend. She is counting on jealousy as a relationship defibrillator.But after forcing her surfing-god husband to make plans for a surfing lesson with Hadley and her son, Margot is left to reminisce about the summer she fell in love with Drum, and the unexpected blossoming of their relationship. When she sees Drum and Hadley spending time together, will the spark reignite – and will her marriage be saved? Or will she find that love is truly gone from this relationship?This touching short story about a poignant stage in a marriage explores the backstory of Margot Carmichael, one of the stars in Elin Hilderbrand's new novel, Beautiful Day.