Favourites

Lorna... at 15 the vibrant daughter of a Maryland farmer... at 30 the mistress of Russian's mightiest Tsar. From colonial America to the dazzling court of St. James and the barbaric splendors of St. Petersburg, here are the riveting adventures of Lorna, who was mistress and plaything to three monarchs. They called her the Tsar's mistress, but she was her own woman and she loved only one man. What she really wanted was to find the young Swedish lieutenant who once saved her life and from whom she first learned the meaning of love.... The crisp thud of the axes echoed in the still morning air and was suddenly overtaken by a tearing sound, as of the entire universe being wrenched from its place. Sean MacMahon gave a hasty upwards glance and shouted, "Timber!"

Caro knew she wasn’t as beautiful as the glamorous Miranda. She also knew that dynamic Gil Martell only wanted her so that he could retain control of Westbrooks – the family department store her father was determined to buy. She wouldn’t be part of any business deal. All she had to do was resist his advances…

The drama and passion of Scotland filled every page of Jillian Hunter's "funny, touching, sexy, and tender" (Romantic Times) novel Delight. Now she brings a twist of intrigue to an enchanting Highland love story of heartfelt desire and mist-shrouded secrets. The scandal of Anne Kerr's foolish, stormy affair with a Scottish nobleman's son was averted when her parents quickly married her off to the scoundrel's cousin, a respectable English baron. A widow now, Anne has never forgotten Patrick Sutherland, who had seduced and abandoned -- and indeed, disgraced -- her, no matter how she tries to lose her feelings in her furious horse rides across the heath. But even a woman of Anne's spirit can't ignore a royal summons that reunites her with Patrick under dire and mysterious circumstances. The suspicious death of a relative calls for a clandestine investigation inside a Highland hunting fortress. Anne and Patrick find themselves commanded by Queen Victoria to lay rumors of murder to rest. Anne sees nothing but trouble and temptation in the Queen's order to work with the rogue who shamed her. To Patrick, however, the chance to serve as Anne's bodyguard is a dream come true. But even the best dream can take a wicked twist...and when he learns he is not to pose as her ladyship's protector, but as her butler, the proud Highlander must helplessly submit as Anne exacts the delicious revenge he deserves for breaking her heart.

John Bidwell (1819-1900) was born in Chautaugua County, New York, and was living in Ohio when he decided to seek his fortune in California in 1841. He journeyed west as part of the first emigrant train going overland from Missouri to California, where he found work at Fort Sutter. He sided with governor Micheltorena in the 1844 revolt but aided the Bear Flag rebels in 1846. After serving with Frémont, he returned to Fort Sutter. Among the first to find gold on Feather River, Bidwell used his earnings to secure a grant north of Sacramento in 1849, and he spent the rest of his life as a farmer at "Rancho Chico," becoming a leader of the State's agricultural interests. A Democrat and Unionist during the Civil War, Bidwell served in the U.S. House, 1864-66, and was the Prohibition Party's candidate for governor (1890) and President (1892). Throughout his life in California, he was a friend to Native American tribes. John Steele (1832-1915) traveled overland from Wisconsin to California in 1850 and remained for three years. Returning east, he taught school, served in the Union Army, and became an Episcopal minister after the Civil War. Echoes of the past about California and...In camp and cabin (1928) reprints works by Bidwell and Steele published earlier. Bidwell's narrative was composed in 1889 and first published in 1890 in the Century Magazine. The version published here as "Echoes of the past," however, was based on a somewhat different version published in pamphlet form by the Chico, California Advertiser after Bidwell's death in 1900. This version does not include Bidwell's "Journey to California," the journal that he kept in 1841 and which was published in Missouri in 1843 or 1844 (and appears as part of his Addresses, reminiscences..., 1906). The memoir focuses on Bidwell's overland journey to California, with some attention to his early years in the West: acquaintance with Johann Sutter, and early gold discoveries. Steele's In camp and cabin, first published in 1901, recounts Steele's experiences mining in camps near Nevada City and the American River, with tales of trips to Feather River, Los Angeles, and an expedition to San Andres and camps on the Mokelumne, Calaveras, and Stanislaus Rivers. He provides numerous anecdotes of the people of the camps and their varied national and ethnic backgrounds with many tales of crime and lawlessness. He also discusses contrasting mining methods and gives special attention to Hispanic and Native American Californians whom he met.

She'd been taught never to trust anyone Wealthy socialite Cathy Durrant had grown up in a family where the ability to dominate was regarded as an art. Eventually her acquired ruthlessness had led to a failed marriage and wreaked havoc with innocent lives. But after five remorse-filled years, Cathy had changed. Try telling that to New Zealand playwright Jake Ferrers, though. He was sure she was still a predatory siren--and bent on destroying his sister's marriage to a childhood friend of Cathy's. Faced with Jake's suspicions, Cathy was distressed by the sizzling currents flowing between them. She knew that she and Jake were scarred souls for whom trust would come slowly--if ever.

Jancy's world lay in ruins She was just twenty-three--and she had cancer. Her successful modeling career would be over now. As would her engagement to Duncan. Duncan. He was an honorable man and would no doubt refuse to call off their marriage. But you couldn't expect a man to love someone who was only half the woman he'd desired. And if she couldn't have Duncan's love, she certainly didn't want his pity. So Jancy ran away to Yorkshire and hoped that Duncan would forget her. She soon realized, however, that Duncan wasn't the type to let go quite so easily....

Heaven in his arms...? Khalil claimed that he never took what wasn't offered! But despite that claim, wasn't Khalil a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted? Kidnapped and held prisoner by Khalil, Joanna determined to escape. But she hadn't counted on this "Hawk of the North" fulfilling all her secret desires. Now Joanna had to discover if Khalil was simply using her as a political pawn. Or should she hope that the "hawk" wanted something more from her...?

The wedding brought them together again For Kate it was a shock to meet the man she'd loved and believed had betrayed and abandoned her. What was he doing at her daughter's wedding? Joss Bennett was an unexpected guest. And Kate's world shattered when he looked at the bride and said, "Sophy is my child." But was he only interested in the daughter whose childhood he'd missed, or had he other motives? Was it possible to go on loving when so much time had passed? Certainly Joss was still a disturbingly attractive man--and Kate knew she was as susceptible as ever to his charms....

After ten years away, Prue was returning to her native Yorkshire. Since her parents' marriage had broken up, Prue had lost touch with her father; but now she intended to put that right. And she also wanted to find out the truth about the past; had her mother been right in her suspicions about her husbands relationship with Lucy Killane, the lady of the manor? Prue felt certain that she could cope with the situation; after all, she had her fiance David with her, to give her confidence. So why should Josh Killane seem so threatening ... and yet so attractive?

It was hard to keep a distance between them Because her late husband had made no secret of his hatred for Quinn Fraser, Camilla had tried to keep away from the man. But Quinn Fraser was an arrogant, superior aristocrat-not the sort to respond to that sort of treatment. He was used to taking what he wanted. And it appeared he wanted Camilla. However hard she fought the attraction between them, she knew that the end result was inevitable. Perhaps she should just give in and save herself the struggle.....

A man, they said, who knows his own mind and is about as tough to crack as a granite wall. Surprisingly, Candace's visit to the South Pacific island of Fala'isi was going better than she'd expected. Saul was a charming, attractive man who actually seemed to like her. Yet Candace was uneasy--his reaction could be just a facade to hide a deeper purpose. For she had no idea what Saul had in mind for her immediate future...

Polly didn't expect to be happy Family loyalty and the knowledge that her love for Chris would never be returned led Polly to accept marriage to Prince Raschid, heir to a desert kingdom. The problems she thought she'd face were practical ones--such as how she'd adjust to life in a very different culture. What a shock it was to discover that the handsome autocratic man she'd married was a complex and wonderful companion--and that her emotions were certainly involved!

One man in a lifetime was one too many Ross Maclean was as male as they got, filled with everything Helen Andrews hated and feared: masculine aggression, sexual power, unbending strength. Defense mechanisms went on full alert the moment she laid eyes on her new boss. Helen had a family to protect, a job she needed and a past that left fear and uncertainty where there should have been flesh-and-blood woman. But Ross dared to tread where her door had closed, unable to quell his longing for this fragile beauty with the strength often. Was he strong enough to crack that fortress around Helen's heart--and offer refuge in his own?

She was much more than his secretary Theirs seemed the perfect boss-secretary relationship. He was all hard-nosed business; she was efficient and anticipated his every need. But the roles Max and Clea played so well in the office underwent a radical change after hours. Then they were passionate lovers--a situation Clea found both fulfilling and agonizing. For while Max was capable of turning his passion on and off at will, Clea, with her youth and idealism, had fallen inescapably in love. She either had to hide her feelings--or get out. Suddenly, unexpected circumstances gave her no choice.

Seven faced a real problem It didn't really matter to the quiet librarian that her Aunt Jane had become Madame Zoe, medium and spiritualist. Nor that she often enlisted Seven's aid. But that was before Jake Jackson's mother wanted Madame Zoe to trace her missing grandchild. Jake, editor and owner of a crusading newspaper, wanted no part in their plan. Seven knew that any future she dreamed of with Jake was in jeopardy. Trying to extricate Aunt Jane while maintaining her own anonymity was going to be next to impossible. Especially when this forceful abrasive man turned up at every corner..