Morgan Ranch

Love at first touch . . . Air Force pilot Shane Freemont will do anything for his foster sister, including taking a role as Man of Honor in her wedding. He has his misgivings about the hasty marriage, and so does the groom's "best woman," Meg Stoddard. It's about the only thing Shane and Meg, manager of a local dude ranch, do agree on. Until a tornado forces them to shelter in a cramped storm cellar together, and mutual attraction explodes. Love takes time-lots of it. Meg has always believed that. But something happened between her and Shane over the space of a few intimate, incredible hours. Her head says it's just spectacular chemistry. The rest of her is ready to take a chance on the deepest connection she's ever known. But if she does, will she be flying solo, or will her man of honor be by her side?

Make it a merry Christmas with four stories of the special way the holidays warm our hearts… CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING * Fern Michaels Former Air Force Pararescueman Kevin Matthews is back home in Texas, working at his family's Christmas tree farm while deciding his next move. Or maybe he won't move at all, if sparks keep flying with the town's new surgeon, Kate Stafford. . . AN UNEXPECTED GIFT * Kate Pearce Widower Billy Morgan wishes his grown children still needed him. Good thing his longtime friend, Bella, does. She's planning her son's Christmas wedding and Billy is happy to help. Along the way they just might discover their own occasion to celebrate. . . CHRISTMAS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS * Donna Kauffman Attorney Moira Brogan expects her brother's Christmas wedding to be a peaceful affair. She doesn't expect to be cornered by an unwanted lothario, rescued by a gorgeous Aussie chef-or be swept off her feet by said chef. Nursing a broken heart, the last thing she wants is a new romance. But Hudson Walker has other ideas. . . HOLIDAY HOMERUN * Priscilla Oliveras Event planner Julia Louisa Fernandez dreams of a life in Chicago. But her family in Puerto Rico expects her to take over the catering business. Former pro baseball player Ben Thomas knows what that's like-and when they meet, he might be the one to inspire a winning strategy, just in time for the holidays. . .

On the legendary ranch she can now call home, one woman searches for her place in her birth family-and finds so much more . . . Now that she's completed her engineering degree, Rachel Ford Morgan is trying to find her footing around her birth father and her four brothers. She gets a chance to prove herself when she discovers worrisome fault lines around an abandoned silver mine. But they're nothing compared to the cowboy who seems determined to shake up her world . . . Cauy Lymond doesn't take kindly to the woman nosing around his property-especially since she's a Morgan. He came home just to keep his father's failing ranch out of their super-wealthy hands. But he soon realizes that Rachel's skill-and admirable courage-may be the only things that can shore up the old mine that threatens both their futures. Still, it will take pouring all of their blood, sweat, and secrets into saving the land-and ultimately, themselves-to bring their true feelings for each other to the surface . . .

In Morgan Valley, two wary loners discover they're perfect together . . . Beth Baker can tell that her summer tenant wants to be left to himself, and that suits her more than fine. Conner O'Neil is a brooding, retired Navy SEAL whose only friend seems to be his pet half-wolf, Loki. But Beth becomes concerned when Loki turns up on her doorstep, demanding she follow him back to Conner's cabin . . . Ailing, Conner would rather stay holed up like a wounded animal than allow anyone to nurse him back to health. But he quickly learns that resisting Beth is futile. Another discovery: they have more in common than he expected. She's an irresistible blend of strength and gentleness, and soon enough, Conner wants to show her it's okay to trust him, because he'll never let trouble reach her side again . . . *Previously appeared in the anthology Lone Wolf