Bachelor Battalion

BACHELOR BATTALION. ASSIGNMENT: FATHERHOOD! Captain Jeff Ryan fought a lot of battles as a marine. But daddy duty was his toughest assignment ever! When an infant was left on his doorstep, Jeff called in reinforcements-and temporary nanny Laura Morgan marched into his life. Suddenly, lovely Laura was giving the orders, and Jeff was under siege. Then baby Miranda captured Laura's heart and was ready to commandeer Jeff's. But he had never planned on being a career father-or husband! Was it only a matter of time before Jeff's reserve would weaken-and he'd forever surrender his heart? BACHELOR BATTALION: Defending their country is their duty; love and marriage is their reward! Don't miss the next irresistible military bachelor in The Oldest Living Married Virgin, in November.

COLONEL DAD...AND MAJOR MOM? Impossible! Could it be that Major Kate Jennings was going to be Major Mom? And the devastatingly handsome marine she'd had a long-distance relationship with was going to be a daddy-Colonel Daddy that is! Suddenly things were very complicated. Especially now that Colonel Tom Candello was her newly assigned boss.... Kate was sure the confirmed bachelor would offer her a marriage of convenience-after all, that was the honorable thing to do. Trouble was, how could Kate ever agree to an in-name-only union when her heart had secretly ached for Tom all along? BACHELOR BATTALION: Defending their country is their duty; love and marriage is their reward!

HER STAND-IN FIANCÉ? When Tracy Hall vowed to be the belle of her high school reunion, she thought all she'd need was a glamorous new look, a diamond ring on her finger and a fiancé-conveniently left behind, of course. Simple, right? Wrong! Once she met up with high school heartthrob Rick Bennet, her simple plan went awry. For after an unexpected night of passion with the gorgeous marine captain, Tracy suddenly found herself inconveniently pregnant. Now Rick no longer wanted to be her pretend fiancé...but her husband of convenience. But what Rick was willing to do for duty, Tracy could do only for love.... BACHELOR BATTALION: Defending their country is their duty; love and marriage is their reward!

Resist her charming neighbor's advances? No problem--even if Marine Sergeant Brian Haley's killer smile sent shivers up Kathy Tate's spine. No sir, Kathy had sworn off love and marriage, and nothing in the rugged marine's arsenal could break through Kathy's defenses. Nothing except...A baby? When Brian's surprise daughter ended up in his care, Kathy couldn't ignore the tiny tot's plaintive cries or the instant dad's S.O.S. And when the sexy marine proposed a marriage of convenience, Kathy couldn't say no. After all, the passionate dad had melted Kathy's resolve-but could she commit to a loveless union after Brian and baby had captured her heart?

No woman was going to spring her mantrap on Sergeant Nick Paretti! And that included Gina Santini. They'd agreed to publicly play boyfriend/girlfriend, and Nick had never intended to keep up the pretense in Gina's bedroom. But her luscious mouth left him poised before a pleasure-precipice he couldn't resist. So he dived in - and took Gina's virginity with him. The beautiful temptress claimed she was after experience - not marriage - but her heart obviously disagreed. Meanwhile, something told Nick the guards at his heart had thrown down all their weapons and surrendered... .

When Angela Santini felt the power of First Sergeant Dan Mahoney's smoldering gaze, she dared to throw caution to the wind. It had been so long since she'd be held, kissed, touched... But how was this straitlaced single mom supposed to know that one fantasy-filled night of passion with this mesmerizing marine would never be enough? Dan Mahoney knew the pitfalls of getting too close to soft-hearted Angela Santini and her lonely son. But if the elusive bachelor was so set on a life of solitude, why couldn't he just stay away? Was it because this Cassanova in uniform might actually be... in love?

A torrential hurricane stranded Karen Beckett in a tiny motel room with Gunnery Sergeant Sam Paretti, the one man she never wanted to see again! Just months before, Karen had severed all ties with the gorgeous marine but bittersweet memories of their love refused to vacate her mind. Now her rescuer demanded a hefty price for shelter from the storm. His eyes shimmered with a desire equal to the hunger clawing at Karen's control. But she had to resist! Because to surrender to their urgent need would mean exposing her past and admitting her fathomless love for Sam.

If someone had told her only yesterday that a perfect-in every way!-stranger would be delivering her baby, Annie Foster would never have believed it. But here she was, stranded on top of a mountain, with gorgeous Gunnery Sergeant John Paretti holding her newborn daughter in the crook of his powerful arm.... And the more time the single mom spent gazing into John's pale blue eyes, the harder it became to ignore needs that had been neglected far too long. Needs that only the right man could satisfy-or the right marine....

U.S. Marine Jeff Hunter never anticipated the five words Kelly Rogan greeted him with upon his homecoming. Learning he was a father shook him clear down to his military boots. But once he held his little girl in his arms, he knew he'd do anything to keep both mother and child. However, Kelly refused his proposal, claiming she didn't want to trap a husband. Still, Jeff had never felt about any woman the way he felt about Kelly. And one way or another, he'd prove his attentions weren't inspired by duty--but by love!

LILAH, A MILITARY WIFE? NO WAY! For years, Lilah Forrest had dodged her matchmaking colonel father's 'bachelor bullets.' But that didn't stop him from steamrolling Sergeant Kevin Rogan into playing Lilah's personal escort. She'd never marry military not even sexy soldier Rogan. But at the drill instructor's touch, her icy emotions did a swift about-face and the virgin found herself unable to resist his masterful seduction. Still, Lilah knew what she wanted in a man and gruff and solitary wasn't it. So why, after just one more night of loving, did she want to give this marine his marching orders to meet her at the altar?

When a marine rescue mission went awry, Staff Sergeant Travis Hawks realized he was in for the fight of his life. He and Lisa Chambers--the uppity heiress he was trying to save--were stranded and forced to race across the Arabian desert to stay alive. Despite their bickering throughout the blazing hot days, one sultry night Travis and Lisa ignited a scorching passion that neither could forget. But when they reached safety, would the bonds they forged disappear like a desert mirage...or endure to the altar and beyond?

Two romantic stories from USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child to warm your holiday season! Last Virgin in California: For years, Lilah Forest had dodged her matchmaking colonel father's "bachelor bullets." But that didn't stop him from steamrolling Sergeant Kevin Rogan into playing Lilah's personal escort. She'd never marry military-not even sexy soldier Rogan. But at the drill instructor's touch, Lilah found herself unable to resist his masterful seduction. Still, she knew what she wanted in a man-and gruff and solitary wasn't it. So why, after just one more night of loving, did Lilah want to give this marine his marching orders…to meet her at the altar? Marine Under the Mistletoe: Sweet and sassy Marie Santini learned long ago that the men around Camp Pendleton just didn't see the local tomboy as date material-even if there was a passionate heart beating beneath her cute coveralls. So why was devastatingly handsome marine First Sergeant Davis Garvey acting so interested? For Davis, there was no mystery-one look from the lithe, lovely and oh-so-sexy Marie Santini and his rugged body was jump-started well beyond high gear. But did the rootless marine dare take into his arms a woman whose eyes said commitment only?