Pathfinders

Anton Bateman made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the man he loved-faking his own death to shield Blake Graham from a lethal betrayal. Now, three years later, the shadows he tried to outrun have caught up with him. The cartel he helped dismantle is rising again, and they've stolen something even more precious: the children Blake was sworn to protect.Blake thought Anton was dead. Finding out he's alive-and at the helm of a covert fortress built by mercenaries-isn't even the biggest shock. As bullets fly and secrets unravel, the past they buried ignites into something explosive, tender, and terrifyingly real.With two vulnerable children caught in the crossfire, a team of elite soldiers with ghosts of their own, and enemies closing in from all sides, Anton and Blake must navigate a world built on lies to find something true. Love. Family. A second chance.But surviving the truth may be more dangerous than dying with the lie.Breaking Contact is a high-octane, heart-rending military romance full of sharp banter, deep scars, and a love worth fighting for-again.

Ricky Bowen isn't the kind of man who lets people in. Not into his head, not into his heart, and definitely not into his bed. But Ezra Navarro had a way of dismantling Ricky's defenses with nothing more than a steady look and a quiet promise. One night together changed everything. By morning, Ezra was gone-without a word, leaving Ricky shattered.Now, months later, an encrypted message drags Ricky back into the fight. Ezra is injured, on the run, and carrying proof of a cartel-backed child trafficking network-along with one devastating secret: one of the children on the list is the daughter of their fallen brother-in-arms. To save Ezra and protect the girl, Ricky must risk everything-including his heart-for the man who broke it.

They've both survived hell. Marsh Clarkson-the Pathfinders' brilliant, stubborn genius-was shattered by an explosion and chained to a chair he refuses to see as anything but weakness. Therapy is the last thing he wants. Eli Carmino knows scars don't make you weak-they make you a survivor. He comes to Obsidian Ridge to help others heal, not to fall for a sharp-tongued, magnetic man who's hurting in ways he recognizes all too well. When Eli's violent past resurfaces, the fragile trust between them becomes their only shield. Because sometimes holding the line isn't about the battle outside-it's about not letting go of the one person who makes survival worth it.

At Obsidian Ridge, combat instructor Dale Ricoh thinks he's unshakable-until a no-gloves sparring match with former Marine Ty Monroe ends in a kiss that feels like both contact and conquest. Oren Callaghan can't look away, even as the buried fragments of his captivity claw their way to the surface. Together, the three men are lethal; apart, they're unfinished. But when low-grade drones and a too-smooth recruit signal that the Ridge is being stalked, Dale, Ty, and Oren are forced to step across a new line. To protect the family they've built and the home that remade them, they must face the ghosts of the past-and choose whether to stand together or fall apart.

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Rennie walked into the house. He took one step and stopped dead in his tracks. The house was empty! Everything was gone. Kara and the kids were gone too. Kara has left Rennie for another man. "You're never home," Kara tells him. Rennie is a truck driver. It's the only way he knows to make a living. Rennie knows he hasn't been the best husband. He also knows he still has a crack at being a good dad. Does Rennie find a way to keep his job and get his family back together? Lexile level: HL490L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. The Hot Summer Race is only a week away. Bob's car is not ready. So he starts calling in sick. "Don't worry," says Bob to his wife. "You watch. I'm going to win the Hot Summer Race. We are going to be rich!" Instead, Mia, his wife, has to get a job. When Mia does not come home one night, Bob knows something has to change. Bob risks everything for the love of racing- his job, his marriage, and his life. Does he find a way to have it all? Lexile level: HL490L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. "I just got my first credit card. I love it! It's like play money." Terri is divorced. She is free to do what she wants. Shopping is what she wants to do most. "You will get a bill, you know," says he good friend, Brett. But Terri does not listen. Soon Terri is in trouble. She can't keep up with the bills. The credit card companies are after her. Terry looks for an answer to her money problems. Along the way, she finds love. But not without breaking someone's heart. Does Terri find a way to fix her money troubles and her love life? Lexile level: HL510L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Biff held up a big bottle. It was almost empty. "This bottle was full this morning!" he laughed. Something in his laugh was not funny. "You've been drinking all day?" Abby shouted. Abby loves Biff. But she beings to hate their life together. The alcohol. The fighting. Something has to change. Biff begins to go to AA meetings. He finds out that making a change is not always easy. Is Biff able to stay on the path to a better life? Lexile level: HL510L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Leena's children are older, so she goes back to school. All goes well until Omar, her husband, finds out. "Why are you doing this to me?" says Omar. "Are you trying to make me look like a stupid fool?" Omar wants Leena to take care of the books for his business. He wants her to take care of their kids and home. He wants to keep things as they always were. But Leena wants more for herself. She dreams of becoming a teacher. Does Omar find a way to rise above his fear as Leena reaches to touch the sky? Lexile level: HL510L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Charlie is a chef for a fancy restaurant. But Charlie is not as happy as the people she cooks for. One day, a customer says, "You are a fine chef. Have you ever thought of starting your own restaurant?" The customer's kind words give Charlie the confidence to follow her dream. Charlie opens up a restaurant. Soon she is in deep water. Money is short. Staff come and go. Her best worker lets her down. What else can go wrong? Charlie finds out. Will she give up? Or does Charlie find a way to follow her dream? Lexile level: HL510L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Lindy loves wood. She loves the look of wood. She loves the feel of wood. She gets a job in a furniture factory. Lindy loves her new job. But she doesn't like how the guys treat her. And the boss doesn't care about workplace safety. Lindy is the only woman on the shop floor. So Lindy doesn't say anything. One day Lindy gets hurt on the job. Does Lindy find a way to stand up for herself-- and keep the job she loves? Lexile level: HL520L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Mel is happy making sidewalks and going out for a beer with the boys. He's a good worker, but needs his buddy Adam to get the job done right. Adam does not want to be a concrete worker for the rest of his life. He wants to be a foreman. Soon Adam's wish comes true. When Adam becomes the boss, things begin to change. For one thing, Adam and Mel are not such great buddies anymore. Both men learn a lot about themselves in the weeks that follow. But do Adam and Mel find a way to stay buddies? Lexile level: HL500L

This high-interest, low-vocabulary novella is intended for adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers. Buzz, click. Buzz, click. "Sometimes I get real tired of this same old job," says Sonny. Sonny works on a line in a machine shop. All day long he drills holes into engine blocks. He doesn't love his job, but it feeds his family. Then Sonny gets bad news. He is laid off. His job is taken over by a robot. Sonny is angry at the company. He feels alone. He feels like nothing at all. Does Sonny give up hope? Or does he find a way to get his life back? Lexile level: HL510L