Showing results by narrator "Loretta Rawlins" in All Categories

Where do you turn for hope when you already have the answer--but the answer isn't working? As a long-time Christian, Heather Kopp never expected to become an out-of-control alcoholic who kept private stashes of booze all over the place--tucked behind books in her study, zipped into a special...

Inseparable since childhood, I always assumed that we would grow up, escape our sleepy hometown of Pocketful, and live out a life of adventure together, away from our powerful fathers and the lure of money. But life as I know it changed two years ago when reckless Sketch broke my heart and dependable Chris picked up the pieces. Except now Chris is dead, and I’m the only one with the answers to what happened that night. I’m the only living witness. My connection with Sketch has been severed. 

They call me Big Pickle. It's not what you think. (Although that's true, too.) I happen to be the oldest Pickle in the family deli business. And we have the best salami. Take that one however you like. But when my father announces the franchise will go to the most profitable of the three brothers, I learn that even though I'm the eldest Pickle, I'm dead last. I hightail it to Texas to see what's happened to my restaurant, only to find a sassy little spitfire named Nova Strong in charge. She's amazing. She's sexy. She runs our deli like she owns it.

Pocketful of You: Evil is lurking all around us, and Sketch and I cannot escape the secrets of our past. A past that, up until now, neither one of us knew existed. Torn apart by our cruel, vindictive fathers, we face our biggest challenge yet: staying alive. Pocketful of Us: Loyalty. Family. Power. A code I never knew existed until now. A code that could destroy us all. Drowning in the sins of our fathers, everything is coming to a head. It’s sink or swim time. Too bad I’m already drowning.

Stay out of the forest, Gran had said: it’s no place to be at night. Especially, when it’s a full moon. Zoelle Baudelaire should have listened. Now she must navigate a world she’d only ever read about in fairytales, full of formidable witches and domineering werewolves out for blood. Yet no story could have prepared Zoelle for Aleksandr ‘Xander’ Adolphus - the volatile Alpha of the Adolphus Pack - or the seductive soulmark that bound their souls together. 

Carnage is a Gargoyle. He's also volatile, dangerous, unpredictable, and lonely. One evening minding his own business at the edge of the sanctuary he calls home, he spies a female. A human female, and she's running headlong into his swamps, with no regard for her own safety. Then he sees the reason; three men, and they're hot on her trail, torches in hand, hell bent on catching her before she can get away.  

Destroy is beautiful, strong, charismatic, and charming. He is also selfish, shallow, petty, and jealous - or is he? One misunderstanding centuries ago resulted in his being labeled as not good enough, untrustworthy, self-serving. To hell with them, he knew who he really was! A strong, dependable, good male of strong character who was very pleasant to be around and even more pleasant to look at. If only he had a female or even friends to notice those things. He'd been alone for so long the bitterness had begun to seep in.

Ellie: I married Jake Talley when I was 16 because I was an orphan left with a cattle ranch to run, and getting hitched was the only way to keep me out of a foster home. It was supposed to be easy; a marriage of convenience. Only I'm not a kid anymore and my husband is the hottest guy in Riverbend, Montana. The plan was to get divorced when I turned 18, but life got in the way. Life, my feelings...the kiss. Did I mention the kiss? Only now he won't let himself touch me. The right thing to do would be to divorce Jake. But I can't help wonder, what would it be like to be Jake's wife?

Marnie Somerset's new job at the Mystic Springs Library seems almost too good to be true. Yes, the small Alabama town is populated with more than its share of odd people, and she did have a flat tire on her way into town and hallucinate Bigfoot crossing the road, which made for less than a stellar start. But the library is fantastic, her new house is charming, and the hot local writer keeps crossing her path.

Wedding dress designer Daisy Willows always imagined marrying the man of her dreams. The fantasy did not include a fake engagement or a fake wedding. Or that her ex, Cole Benton, would be the groom. But as her mom's medical bills pile up, Daisy can't refuse the help of a well-known bridal show expo owner . . . or his plan for the fake wedding of the century.

As the owner of Pick-A-D*ck, New Orleans' premier hook-up website, my job is simple. Connect two people for a no-strings, no-expectations hook-up. The plus for my clients is that I'm the one who gets to sift through the d*ck pics - except this time, they're required. My problem? My brother, co-owner of Pick-A-D*ck's sister dating site, doesn't believe it's possible to hook up with someone three times and not fall in love. I disagree. I know it's possible. And my disagreement is exactly how I end up reconnected with my high school nemesis, Elliott Sloane.

A faceless name. That's all she was when I agreed to play a part in deceiving her. And then the unexpected happened. We met. I yearn for her skin against mine. I crave her scent on my body. I want to make her laugh and then moan. And I do...in secret. I promised my business partner I wouldn't touch his sister. But I broke that promise. Our little dirty weekends together are no longer enough. I want my bohemian girl in my bed every night. She wants a ring, marriage vows, and babies...all things that I can't give her. Our romance is explosive. Our ending, miserable...unless I bend.

Media mogul Cormac Sheenan had no desire to become a family man, but his newly-adopted goddaughter Daisy has a way of changing all his rules, including him moving back to Marietta, Montana. Now four, precocious Daisy strikes up an unlikely friendship with Marietta’s seasonal Santa Claus, and believes he’s the real thing, even though Cormac points out to her that this jolly old Kris Kringle is renting a room at Bramble House, not living at the North Pole. Daisy’s not worried. She’s made her Christmas wish for "a new mommy" clear—and she's got the perfect candidate in mind.

Business and Pleasure shouldn't mix. Yet, that's exactly what I'm contemplating after Seattle's most eligible bachelor strolled into the diner where I work and made me an offer I'm having a hard time refusing. Beckett Anderson has the looks and money to get the attention of any woman, and yet he wants me to be the one at his beck and call. If I accept, I'm to be his assistant in and out of the boardroom. In exchange, I'd finally have a chance to use my college degree and escape the cycle of poverty I've known my entire life.

Three novellas and an unforgettable short story, now available together in one festive package!

"Be careful, man. Don't be seduced by the bright lights of the city. Even the strongest of men find their weakness." When Jackson spouted his advice, I laughed. A man in my position doesn't have weaknesses. Or so I think. The night I meet Poppy Malone, everything changes. The breathtaking bohemian is an irresistible temptation I never saw coming. One night is all it takes for her to seal our fate. She's convinced the odds aren't in our favor. I've never backed down from a challenge. When someone from her past reappears, delivering the ultimate betrayal, the stakes grow higher.

His name was Kevin but his keepers called him Zoo Boy. He didn't talk. He hid under tables and surrounded himself with a cage of chairs. He hadn't been out of the building in the four years since he'd come in. He was afraid of water and wouldn't take a shower. He was afraid to be naked, to change his clothes. He was nearly 16. Desperate to see change in the boy, the staff of Kevin's adolescent treatment center hired Hayden. As Hayden read to him and encouraged him to read, crawling down into his cage of chairs with him, Kevin talked.

If anyone asks, I knew better than to flash my boobs for Mardi Gras beads. I still don't know why I did it. Maybe it was the dare from my two best friends. Maybe it was the guys on the balcony saying they'd throw Fireball shots with the beads. Or maybe it was the quiet guy in the corner of that same balcony with piercing gray eyes, wavy dark hair, and a smile so tempting I wanted to climb up there and lick it off his face. Maybe it was because I never thought I'd see them again. Not that it matters. Not today. Because the hotel I manage was finally bought.

Luke Benedict is Mystic Springs' very own Santa. He's also owner of the hardware store and the local handyman. Not everything can be fixed with magic. His gift is a handy one; he knows what those around him need before they do. What he can't see is what he needs. Jordan Carter's family has been making it snow on Christmas Eve for years, but this year there's a problem. She can't call up a single flake. Something within her is broken, and going to Luke for help is a desperate response. Maybe he'll see what she needs. Is it possible that what she needs is him?

Setting up a dating website with the guy I've been in love with since I was five wasn't my smartest idea. Especially since he's my best friend's brother - thankfully, she's okay with the fact I'm pulling a Sandy, and I'm hopelessly devoted to him. Which is why it's time to get over him. So I do something crazy and ask Dominic Austin to find me a date. He does - if I find him one, too. Since we own Stupid Cupid, it should be easy, right? And it is. My date is perfect. His date is perfect. Everything is perfect. Until he kisses me.