Jo Ann Algermissen

Cassie Tremaine Montgomery: The stunning lingerie model with a tough-as-nails attitude and a sheriff in her sights.Sean "Tag" Taggart: The sexy-as-sin sheriff who is more than willing to play Cassie's game...his way.Cassie intends to use all the seductive powers she has to entice Tag as part of her revenge on her hometown. Tag, however, isn't cooperating. He's more than willing to set the sheets on fire with her, but he's asking for more than just sizzling sex.... He knows she's not as tough as she pretends. And he knows she cares about him—even if she won't admit it. That's fine. He'll just turn up the heat until she concedes there's more between them than this red-hot passion.

Jury consultant Alana Benton had made sure she was so busy traveling that she barely had time to think. Then a desperate plea from a childhood friend brought her back to Galveston, the memory-laden hometown she had fled so long ago. Attorney Sylas Kincaid was an excellent judge of character. Working with Alana, he quickly detected the pain behind her gutsy facade and brittle poise, and he sensed that masculine cruelty had put it there. But surely the love of a better man would bring her vulnerability-and her heart-out of hiding...

Hank Collins was strong, sensitive, handsome--and a carpenter. Construction supervisor Catherine McGillis thought the whole package was terrific. Her family disagreed. Their "baby" should marry a man with more prospects--starchy white-collar prospects. The icy disapproval of Cat's protective parents and four brawny brothers was nearly enough to chill any heated longings. But Hank was a man whose passions burned hot, and he loved the sexy, sensual woman he found beneath capable Cat's coveralls. Still, he had to wonder about the McGillis clan's ambitions for Cat, and her ambitions for herself. In her own way, she was very much a lady--and he was just a carpenter.... Would she marry him anyway?

Rebekah Donovan's perfect life has just hit a small glitch. As the relationship columnist for a trendy New York magazine, Rebekah created the wildly popular duo, "Bekka and Griff." Now her readers want to meet the happy couple, and she knows she'll have to admit the truth -- that there is no "Griff." Rebekah doesn't know what to think when a gorgeous man shows up claiming to be Griff to her Bekka. And she's furious when she discovers he's really Jackson Montgomery Stone, her publisher's grandson. But soon, their pretend romance is heating up tabloids all over town... and lighting a very real fire in their hearts....

Marianne Clark was "family friendly." Her temp agency was designed to meet the needs of her working parent employees, and her personal life was centered on her son, who was just the wrong age to want a man in his mother's life. So when she met Nick King, Marianne was determined to keep things ... friendly. Tragedy had taught the charismatic entrepreneur that he was better off without domestic entanglements. Marianne, with her focus on her career, seemed the perfect match--a woman he thought preferred her love life light and painless. But Nick soon discovered that his own growing feelings for her were far from light. Could he allow the joy that Marianne so freely offered to teach him to become--"family friendly"?

FLASH OF GENIUS It was brilliant! One look at her cluttered shop, one ride in her temperamental car, one gourmet dinner of peanut butter and jelly, and one long visit to her "when's the wedding?" parents would send Jack Martin running! Serendipity Samantha, inventor extraordinaire, strikes again. She didn't cook, clean, or care to learn how. She was an inventor, period. And when a flash of genius struck, she centered her complete attention on inventing. Nothing could distract her from the task at hand--until she met Jack. His hot kisses made her senses reel as he applied for his own patent... on desire.

WINNING WAYS... Dr. Kristie Fairbanks had spent a lifetime trying to gain her father's respect and admiration. When he reluctantly let her assume management of the Fairbanks Care Centers, she saw her chance to prove herself. But then he hired hospital administrator Joshua Hayden to replace her. Kristie swore to fight the interloper tooth and nail, but her treacherous body had joined the other side. Every time she confronted Joshua, his blatant masculinity sent all her arguments flying from her head. Despite her fierce intentions, she could feel her determination crumble under his assault on her senses. Kristie had thought to regain a usurped career -- but found she was struggling to retrieve a stolen heart.

Dr. Mark Abraham didn't want amethyst-eyed Halley Twain on his pediatrics ward. He knew all about nurses like her - beautiful heartbreakers who'd turn a man's thoughts away from his work. Mark had found out the hard way that nurses like Halley were trouble. But Mark wasn't expecting Halley's extraordinary skills, nor was he prepared for the way her radiant smile cut straight through to his heart. Before he knew it, Halley had reopened all his old wounds... but she had the healing touch that just might save him.