Harlequin Challenge 2011!
♥WELCOME TO THE FIRST HARLEQUIN CHALLENGE
AT harlequincepted!♥
There are three ways for you to participate:
- If you have a romance novel idea you want to write about/create art for, go for it! Let’s say you have that Nora Roberts’ book about the family of jewel thieves lying around in your attic, and you just can’t stop thinking how great it would be if it starred Ariadne and Yusuf. Have at it! Any genre of romance is fair game - contemporary, Regency, cowboys, paranormal… As long as it features sexy people falling in love, that’s fine!
- If you have your own "original" romance novel idea you’re dying to write, that’s cool, too! If you’ve been dying to write Arthur and Eames as rival scientists who fall in love (or rival bakery owners who fall in love, or rival evil counts who fall in love...), fantastic!
- OR if you’d like, we’ve collected some prompts! These are blurbs from the back of actual romance novels. You can use as much or as little of the prompt as you want. If, for example, the prompt is about a single mother of three who needs cash for an operation for the baby so she sleeps with her boss, and you want that to be Arthur and Eames minus the babies and operation, no problem! If you’d like to use one of the prompts listed below, drop a comment on this post and we’ll mark it as taken. (If they all get taken - eeee! - we’d be happy to go find more!)
THE RULES
♥ All Harlequin Challenge stories must be a minimum of 1,000 words. ART IS ALSO WELCOME!!
♥ When posting/linking your Harlequin Challenge story to the comm, please reference the prompt the story is based on OR the plot/romance novel summary you used.
♥ DEADLINE FOR CHALLENGE STORIES TO BE POSTED IS MARCH 6TH! AND VALENTINE'S DAY FALLS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE! PERFECT TIME FOR ROMANCE FICS. :DDDDDDD
AND NOW, THE PROMPTS...
CONTEMPORARIES
The Rebel
Subject: Finn O'Conner, Army Ranger.
Current Status: In between tours of duty. Oddly discontent with the way his life is going…
Mission: Getting his act together before the next assignment.
Obstacle: Sunny Ledbetter. The girl he's never managed to forget…
Finn has never questioned his life's purpose-to serve and protect, no matter how unorthodox the means. But since the unexpected deaths of his parents, he feels lost….
Until he runs into Sunny, the first girl he'd ever loved. Sunny's now all woman…and very interested in fanning the banked flames between them into blistering adult heat! And his libido is definitely game.
But once again, their timing is off. He'd like nothing more than to spend every waking moment in her bed…but he's leaving in a week! Unfortunately, the overwhelming chemistry between them isn't giving him a choice.
And every soldier knows there are some battles you just can't win….
I Still Do
Shy librarian Emily Garner needed to live a little. And a chance meeting with childhood love Will Dailey proved Sin City was the perfect place for a wild weekend. So wild, in fact, that they barely remembered getting hitched.
Will hadn't seen Emily in years ... and now she was his wife! She was every bit the schoolboy fantasy he remembered. But he'd spent the past seventeen years weighed down by family responsibilities, and now all he wanted was to enjoy the carefree bachelor life. He didn't want to be tied to sweet, beautiful, deliciously innocent Emily ... did he? CLAIMED by spyndisguise
Surf’s Up
After a crash meeting in the waves, surfer J. C. Wilcox and entrepreneur Zack Fanning practice daring moves that would make fish blush. But is it just sexy fun in the sun-or are they ready to risk their hearts? CLAIMED by angelgazing
Irresistible Fortune
Notorious womanizer and treasure hunter Gavin Fortune is after a local sunken ship-and Brenna McGary is determined to stop him. History shouldn't be sold off by the piece! Unfortunately, the infuriating Gavin knows how to use his best assets to get his way…and Brenna's fury is looking a lot like sweet, sweet lust.
Brenna could use that sizzling attraction to get her way, though. Until Gavin's scheming former mentor arrives to cause trouble for everyone! Now Brenna must join forces with Gavin, and if she's not careful, she'll be the next to fall for the irresistible charms of Gavin Fortune…. CLAIMED by cmonkatiekatie
Incognito
Do you have a forbidden fantasy? Shy author/research assistant Lily Hart does. Movie director Aidan Pierce has been the star attraction in Lily's steamy fantasies for more than a year. But when she unexpectedly runs into him for real, she doesn't know what to do…except slip into her alter ego-Lacey St.Clair, the pen name she's taken to write the deliciously racy The Ten-Minute Seduction!
Aidan Pierce is used to Hollywood starlets on his arm and in his bed. Fabulous yet authentic Lacey isn't like them-and he likes that. But when he finds out she's really Lily Hart, he wonders if he can trust her. But he's not ready to relinquish the mind-shattering sex just yet... CLAIMED by disquisitemind
Caught Off Guard
Runaway heiress Annemarie Prescott vowed never to return home. Until life interfered…
The Plan: Run like hell from the society chains of her past.
The Reality: Run into Blake Mitchell…the most seductive one-night stand of her life. Unfortunately Blake was hired by her mother. His job? To convince Anne she must embrace the legacy she never wanted, and keep her safe while he's at it.
The Bonus: Blake's touch still tempts Anne to sin! And how…
The Complication: Danger looms and Anne realizes Blake does make her feel safe. Especially in the bedroom! But as soon as the bad guy is caught, Blake will be gone…unless Anne opens her heart and admits her bodyguard is more than just a hot distraction. CLAIMED by ticketsthisway
The Fake Fiancée
Joe Riley is desperate. His well-meaning mother will stop at nothing to marry him off! With no time to date, let alone find a wife, Joe does the next best thing. He hires single mom Lisa Meyer to pose as his fiancée.
When Lisa says yes to Joe, the hardworking caterer sees their arrangement strictly as a business deal. She pretends to be engaged to him; he accepts her bid to cater his year-end company party. It's a win-win. Until their feelings start getting in the way. Feelings that have nothing to do with business. Can the town's most eligible bachelor convince his "fiancée" to take a chance on him and take that fateful walk down the aisle-together? CLAIMED by coulettes
Riding the Waves
All uptight workaholic Drucilla Robichoux wants is to experience incredible sex, at least once in her life. So she heads off to Mexico for some sun, sand and sin. And she finds the perfect playmate in sexy surf instructor Alex. Her temporary boy toy teaches Dru to ride the waves, all right…
…right into the most intense climaxes she's ever had!
But all vacation flings must end. When Dru heads home, she buttons up tight again. Might as well keep this delicious fantasy right where it belongs…in her naughty memories.
So it sure is a shock when she walks into work Monday morning and finds her secret fling is her new boss! And he's definitely still interested in catching the big one with Dru. CLAIMED by xxxholiclover
Heat of the Moment
Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Shane Rafferty knows how to follow orders. Especially those from mouthwatering Lieutenant Holly Durant! God, how he'd like to kiss her all over. But she deserves better than a guy like him….
Holly can't get hunky Shane out of her mind…so she follows him across the world to Iraq. When a supply convoy is attacked, she saves Shane's life. Soon after, he shows her his gratitude…during a night of blistering-hot sex!
But Shane can't stop thinking about the attack. Something doesn't add up. And he's right-a would-be assassin has followed Holly home. Now it's Shane's turn to prove that he can be the man she needs-in bed and out!
Take My Breath Away
FBI special agent Nicola Guthrie is on her first field assignment. Her job? To find security expert turned art thief Gabe Wilder. She knows this is her big break. She has to get her man.
And late one night, she does. Not to mention a whole lot more! Who knew her traitorous body would respond so strongly to Gabe's sensuous lips…his tall, strong body…her own irresistible need?
Gabe can't believe that Nicola still thinks he's the bad guy! Then again, he's almost tempted to fess up, just so he can keep tasting her incredible mouth.
Still, they have a job to do. A daring criminal is terrorizing the city's wealthiest art collectors. Gabe and Nicola quickly realize that the smartest way to catch their quarry is to join forces.
Of course, they'll have to find their way out of bed first…. CLAIMED by sobota
Call Me Irresistible
R.S.V.P. to the most riotous wedding of the year . . .
Lucy Jorik is the daughter of a former United States president.
Meg Koranda is the offspring of legends.
One of them is about to marry Mr. Irresistible-Ted Beaudine-the favorite son of Wynette, Texas. The other is not happy about it and is determined to save her friend from a mess of heartache.
But even though Meg knows that breaking up her best friend's wedding is the right thing to do, no one else seems to agree. Faster than Lucy can say "I don't," Meg becomes the most hated woman in town-a town she's stuck in with a dead car, an empty wallet, and a very angry bridegroom. Broke, stranded, and without her famous parents at her back, Meg is sure she can survive on her own wits. What's the worst that can happen? Lose her heart to the one and only Mr. Irresistible? Not likely. Not likely at all . . .
Two In, Two Out
Blake Hughes was comfortable being in the closet, especially at work while surrounded by macho firemen. A paramedic, still single at thirty, Blake kept his private life just that, private.
Hunter Rasmussen transferred to LAFD from San Diego. Twenty-six, powerful and fit, the handsome blue-eyed brunette just wanted to leave the past behind. No one had to know what he went through down south. And he didn't need history to repeat itself. Being 'out' was not a good career move for all jobs, and particularly not with the fire service.
When Hunter and Blake were assigned to the same shift pattern, they quickly became best friends. Partnered up on calls, hanging out together on days off, Hunter enjoyed Blake's company and Blake his. Until something, or someone, from Hunter's ugly past caused him problems.
In the fire department, men rely on each other for their lives. Two go into a burning building, and two stay out to serve as their rescue team in case of emergency. Blake and Hunter were two men deeply in the closet. And only with devotion and love would their secret lives come 'out'. And Hunter and Blake find that courage in a very unusual place. Two devoted LAPD cops help show them the way.
A Fostered Love
Foster brother to Jonah for a short time as teens, Christian developed a massive crush on his tough, older roommate. That all ended when the cops came and arrested Jonah, stealing him from Christian's uncertain world.
Jonah knew the kid with the crush on him would be better off forgetting that he ever existed. Jonah stayed in contact with their foster mother Marisol, but refused to hear news about Christian, and made the woman promise never to tell Christian anything about him.
Upon her death fifteen years later, Marisol leaves a request that Jonah come home and help Christian renovate her house. Jonah can't refuse, even though he knows he will have to face Christian once again.
Although they haven't seen each other in years, neither man has forgotten the other. Neither man will deny Marisol her final request...even if it means facing their past, working together, sharing the room they had as teens, getting to know one another now as men, and discovering that the brief friendship they shared has altered into a consuming, abiding love. CLAIMED by cobweb_diamond
Handyman
Handsome, sexy Will Spencer used and discarded lovers as easily as he made his Wall Street stock trades. He was used to taking what and who he wanted. Jack Crawford, a recently widowed handyman, never thought of himself as gay. Frightened by an erotic encounter years before, Jack had never embraced his deepest sexual longings. In an unlikely pairing, Will and Jack explore an incendiary relationship, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, always scintillating erotic. Jack is forced to confront feelings hes hidden for a lifetime. Will is faced with something he isn’t sure he can handle: love.
HISTORICALS
Taken By the Wicked Rake
Lady Verity Carlow is poised, charming, virginal. Her family's precious jewel. She will marry whatever titled bore is chosen for her. Yet sometimes, in the dark of the night, she wishes she weren't always so well behaved….
Then she is kidnapped by her family's enemy, Gypsy lord Stephano Beshaley. In this dangerously unsuitable man's arms, Verity is tempted to do wicked, wicked things. And, shockingly, she does not want to be rescued-not one little bit! CLAIMED by heavenly_rain
Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady
Determined not to enter into a forced marriage, Julia could see no way out-unless she were to become a ruined woman! Notorious rake Paine Ramsden was reputed to have no qualms about seducing innocents, so maybe he would help with her…predicament.
Certainly, Paine deserved his rakish reputation, yet Julia was so achingly pure, one night with her might just ruin him! Awakening Julia's sensuality aroused unfamiliar feelings in him-was it too late to make them both respectable?
Pickpocket Countess
It's Brandon Wycroft's duty as the Earl of Stockport to catch the "Cat," a notorious thief who is stealing from rich local homes to feed the poor. Discovering that the Cat is a woman, he changes his plan of action-to a game of seduction!
Mysterious and tempting, she teases him. And, as the net closes around the Cat, Brandon realizes he wants to protect her as well as bed her. But the only way to catch her is to spring the parson's mousetrap-and make her his countess! CLAIMED FOR ART by loobeeinthesky
The Admiral’s Penniless Bride
Sally Paul is down to her last penny. As she spends it on a cup of tea-to stave off being at the mercy of the workhouse-the last thing she expects is an offer of marriage…from a complete stranger!
Admiral Sir Charles Bright's seafaring days are over-and according to society, that must mean he's in need of a wife! Discovering Sally's in need of a home, he offers a solution…. They marry in haste-but will they enjoy their wedding night at leisure? CLAIMED by acquiescence_
An Impetuous Seduction
Moments after Persephone Hathersage stumbled upon a band of thieves, the terrified young lady was spirited away on horseback! But trepidation soon gave way to scandalous desire when her brooding captor tenderly nursed a feverish Phona back to health.
Spellbound by the battle-scarred blackguard who kept her confined in an ancient fortress, Phona knew any impropriety with this nameless rogue would tarnish her reputation forever, not to mention plunge her into even further peril! However, appearances could be quite deceiving...
Surrender to an Irish Warrior
Trahern MacEgan-his body is honed for fighting, his soul is black and tortured. Women want to tame him, but he has loved once, and now is lost.
Morren Ó Reilly-she has known pain and shame, but holds her head high, even though she shrinks from a man's touch.
Can Morren be the light to Trahern's darkness, and can she be made whole again by her surrender?
In the Laird’s Bed
A deadly storm brings Duncan the Brave back to Cristiana Domhnaill's home, but the Highland laird is seeking more than shelter….
As their rekindled passion for each other heats up the long winter nights, Duncan is sure he can win Cristiana back and forge a much-needed alliance between their families.
But Cristiana is no longer the girl she was, and hidden secrets are about to be revealed….
Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife
Wealthy landowner Simon Clare shuns Northumbrian society. With his son gravely ill, the last thing Simon needs is an interfering woman assuming command of his household-no matter how sensuous her figure, or how tempting her luscious lips….
Phoebe Benedict knows what it is to struggle and isn't frightened of the badly scarred recluse and his gruff exterior. It's the man beneath the scars that makes her heart race….
Miss Winbolt and The Fortune Hunter
Respected spinster Miss Emily Winbolt, so cool and cynical with would-be suitors, puts her reputation at risk after tumbling into a stranger's arms. Suddenly, bleak loneliness is replaced with a wanton, exciting sense of abandon.
But Emily is an heiress, and her rescuer none other than Sir William Ashenden, a man of some distinction. He needs to marry, and she yearns to believe that William wants plain, upright, suddenly reckless Emily-not for her fortune, but for herself….
Married: The Virgin Widow
Her hands bound by blackmail and duty, Laura Penrose was forced to marry her sweetheart's ruthless cousin. Now a widow, her sweetheart has returned.
Ford Barrett, Lord Kingsfold, believes Laura betrayed him and has a debt to pay-she owes him a wedding… and a wedding night!
Laura sacrificed herself once out of duty-she won't be taken again for revenge. But this new, dark, dangerous Ford discards her pleas…. Can she tell him she never wronged him, before he discovers her more innocent secret?
Prelude to a Scandal
Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught….
The Officer and The Proper Lady
Major Hal Carlow was a fine soldier, but he was also a flirt, a rake and a scoundrel! In general, he tried to steer clear of proper young ladies-no fun at all-and spend time with the sort of women who appreciated his finer qualities….
Miss Julia Tresilian's duty was to find a husband, but her prospective suitors bored her to tears. Yet even talking to the incorrigible Hal Carlow was dangerous to her marriage prospects, let alone anything more…. CLAIMED FOR ART by neomeruru
Unlacing the Innocent Miss
Hardened thief-taker "Wolf" Wolversley has clawed his way out of the gutter to get where he is. No stranger to society's underbelly, he's met Rosalind Meadowfield's seemingly sweet type before.
Accused of a crime she didn't commit, fearful Rosalind begs Wolf not to turn her in. But Rosalind's fear soon turns to desire as the bitterness in Wolf's eyes turns to passion…. His touch is gentle for so fierce a man. Rosalind should be mortified by her wantonness. Instead, it's as if something else has taken over her body….
Her Banished Lord
Hugh Duclair, Count de Freyncourt, has been accused of sedition, stripped of his title and banished from all of King William's land. Proud and determined, Hugh vows to clear his name!
Childhood friend Lady Aude de Crèvecoeur offers her help-but how far will she go? Should she risk her reputation and her life, or save her reputation and become Hugh's wife? Turbulent times call for passionate measures….
How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother’s demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva’s would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva’s imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him. Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents’ deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles’s secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.
SUPERNATURAL/FANTASY
The Iron Daughter
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey-ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.
My Soul to Take
She doesn't see dead people, but...
She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next... CLAIMED by tellthemyes
Incubus
To save his kind, Meical Grabian agrees to participate in a dangerous experiment. One that takes his vampire's thirst for blood and leaves him hungering for something new. An incubus can be sated only with passion-but what woman could love what he's become?
Yet when Caroline Bengal finds him abandoned in a snowy wood, she senses his emotional turmoil and brings him to her desolate cabin. Caroline's compassion and earthy beauty tempt the hunger Meical has desperately been keeping at bay. And soon Meical is visiting Caroline's dreams, seducing his prey while she sleeps.
But another predator has set his sights on Caroline, with more sinister intentions. If Meical is ever to reveal his true nature to Caroline, he'll have to earn her trust…and keep her alive.
Beast of Darkness
Sarah is a mortal who hears the voices of spirits. Driven by tragedy, she chases sightings, investigating the supernatural. Called to Nowhere, Texas, she finds not ghosts, but terrible danger…and demons.
A soldier in the war between good and evil, Max is one of the oldest demons, stained by centuries of darkness, fighting to keep others safe without hope for himself.
Betrayal and loss haunt both of them, keeping them from finding peace. And yet to save an entire town, Max and Sarah must do the impossible: let go of the past, and find a future with each other.
Love is their only weapon. Nowhere is the battleground.
This is their last chance. CLAIMED by kellifer_fic
The Wolven
Someone-or something-is systematically murdering the members of Danyon Stone's werewolf pack. As Alpha, he knows that finding and punishing the murderous entity is his responsibility, and he's not about to rest until he sees justice done. But to stop the slayings he has to accept help from the most unlikely source-a wickedly sensual mortal woman.
Mystic-shop owner Shauna MacDonald has a special interest in the recent string of otherworldly deaths. As the Keeper of the werewolves, it's her duty to guard and protect the packs. Working by Danyon's side to stop an unknown killer-and trying to deny the potency of their illicit attraction-poses a threat to her heart unlike any she's ever known, ;and if she becomes the killer's next target, it could be the death of her….
The Vampire Affair
The world knew Michael Brandt as a playboy tycoon. The underworld knew him as a fierce vampire hunter. Armed with a wooden stake and superior strength, Michael targeted the most powerful overlords in a clandestine do-or-die operation…and then tabloid reporter Jessie Morgan uncovered his secret.
Only once before had Michael allowed a woman into his secret lair. Now he'd fight heaven and hell to keep Jessie from the same fate. But he couldn't fight the attraction that drew him to her like a bloodlust. An attraction that might prove deadly…or worse. For Michael was going up against the most powerful of the undead-and that vampire had his fangs bared for Jessie.
Fortune’s Fool
The seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina is more than a pampered princess-she's also the family spy. Which makes her the perfect emissary to check out interesting happenings in the neighboring kingdom...and nothing interests her more than Sasha, the seventh son of the king of Belrus. Ekaterina suspects he's far from the fool people think him. But before she can find out what lies beneath his facade, she is kidnapped!
Trapped in a castle at the mercy of a possessive Jinn, Ekaterina knows her chances of being found are slim. Now fortune, a fool and a paper bird are the only things she can count on--along with her own clever mind and intrepid heart.
Bring It On
Wren Valere used to have a simple life. Her partner Sergei would negotiate the terms of the Retrieval-all right, the theft-and she would use her magical Talent to carry it out. Paycheck deposited, on to the next job.
Now? Her relationship with Sergei is even more complicated (sex will do that). Her fellow lonejacks are trying to organize against the Mage's Council. The nonhuman population of Manhattan is getting fed up with being ignored and abused. And the Council? Well, they have an agenda of their own, and it's not one the lonejacks are going to like.
When it comes down to choosing sides, the first rule of the lonejack credo is 'Don't get involved.' But when friends are in danger, and the city you love is at risk, sometimes getting into the thick of things is all you can do...
The Adversary
Colt Black has one enemy: Yellow Teeth-a Skin Walker who can transform into half coyote, half man. And he wants Colt dead. As a medicine man, Colt believes in dreams. So when he dreams of a mysterious woman who asks him to meet her, he goes. What he doesn't expect is a magnetic passion that could make him vulnerable to his foe....
After prophetic dreams, Shelly Godwin is searching for an emerald sphere. Her visions tell her she needs Colt's help. Trusting men doesn't come easily for Shelly. Yet she can't resist the desire Colt ignites in her. And when danger surrounds them, she must rely on Colt to protect her-and save their future.
Time Raiders: The Seeker
Delia Sebastian is a trained historian and psychic. Former army captain Jake Tyler is her swaggering ex-lover, who can read her most intimate thoughts--and desires. Together they will make the risky leap back to 44 BC to infiltrate the court of Julius Caesar by posing as Grecian mercenaries. But with assassins everywhere, will old passions reignite to undermine their cover...leaving them trapped in history forever? CLAIMED by viva_gloria
Bloodsucking Fiends
Jody never asked to become a vampire. But when she wakes up under an alley Dumpster with a badly burned arm, an aching back, superhuman strength, and a distinctly Nosferatuan thirst, she realizes the decision has been made for her.
Making the transition from the nine-to-five grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowlings is going to take some doing, however, and that's where C. Thomas Flood fits in. A would-be Kerouac from Incontinence, Indiana, Tommy (to his friends) is biding his time night-clerking and frozen-turkey bowling in a San Francisco Safeway. But all that changes when a beautiful undead redhead walks through the door...and proceeds to rock Tommy's life -- and afterlife -- in ways he never thought possible.
Every Demon Has His Day
In her wildest dreams, Constance Plyd never thought she'd see dead people. Then again, she never thought she'd be hit on by her ex-husband at his own funeral...or be the prime suspect in his murder. Fortunately for Constance, irresistibly sexy sheriff Nathan Garrett wants to believe her explanation - that a card-carrying demon in a black suit killed Jimmy in the garage - or maybe he wants something more. Either way, all signs are leading to a showdown of hellish proportions, with Constance at the heart of the battle, when the Devil and would-be mother of the Antichrist (a pop princess wannabe) descends on Crockett County. Sure, she'd rather be cooking up a storm for the next state fair, but if she's going to be the Chosen One, at least Constance can give a few demons a Texas-style butt kicking....
WESTERNS
Outlaw Bride
Bridget Callaghan was willing to do anything to save her family, stranded in the Cascade Mountains. The only man who could attempt such a treacherous rescue mission was Cole Ellis, but he was behind bars--and condemned to hang!
Bridget's boldness in breaking him out of jail was the jolt Cole needed to give his life purpose again. But with a posse at their heels and the mountain looming, she couldn't help but wonder if putting her trust in this tough, life-hardened man wasn't the biggest danger of all... CLAIMED by thursday_kat
The Cowboy and The Lady
Seven years ago Amanda Carson watched her affluent, well-respected family lose both face and fortune. Then her childhood crush-ice-cold cowboy Jace Whitehall-made her an offer she had to refuse. Now Amanda has returned to Casa Verde, Jace's luxurious home. And Jace isn't about to let her forget who she is or what she's lost.
Yet beneath their heated words, something simmers, waiting. For what once drove Amanda from this land may be the one thing that can make her stay. CLAIMED by arglikeapirate
The Wyoming Kid
Rancher Lonny Ellison is an ex-rodeo cowboy who's used to the adulation of women. But that's something he doesn't get from Joy Fuller. In fact, they argue constantly. His sister, Letty, says it's because he's interested in Joy...and Lonny figures she's right. Can he convince Joy that marriage to the Wyoming Kid will be as exciting as an eight-second bull ride and as sweet as the cookies she likes to bake? CLAIMED by i_m_pk
Mail-Order Groom
Fleeing scandal, stage sensation Savannah Reed swaps sparkles and satin for calico and wool to be Morrow Creek's telegraph operator. Through the wires she finds her new leading man, but when he arrives-shot and left for dead on her doorstep-Savannah suspects she's jumped out of the limelight and into the fire….
Detective Adam Corwin awakens to Savannah's bewitching smile, but she's mistaken him for her mail-order groom! Now Adam must tell Savannah that her future husband is a wanted outlaw and the danger's barely begun….
Platinum Cowboy
A true diamond in the rough, self-made man Flint McKade was one of the wealthiest men in the world and one of the hottest bachelors in Texas. So when his beloved Diamondback Ranch was sabotaged, Flint had a long list of suspects to choose from. His new veterinarian, Lora Leigh Whittaker, seemed to have an agenda, but he couldn't imagine the gorgeous blonde was out to get him. Then she was attacked, and Flint appointed himself her personal bodyguard. Standing beside her day and night, the chemistry that had been there from day one became unbearable. As a billionaire he was used to getting what he wanted. And he wanted her safe, in his arms…and in his bed.
Cowboy
Marcus was just passing through Texas when he met Kent. In his cowboy hat, low-riding jeans, and black boots, Kent looks like the type of guy Marcus desperately wants to love.
But two years later, he's discovered Kent is cold and distant, the quintessential American cowboy, and spends more time drunk than sober. Marcus can never predict his mood and blames himself for the flailing relationship.
Then, one day when Kent rides into town, Marcus finds a young runaway hiding in their barn. Luke is warm, loving, and quick to please...everything Kent is not. Though the answer seems obvious, Marcus finds himself torn between the boy who demands his love and the man whose love he craves.
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HAVE FUN, EVERYONE! ♥
AT harlequincepted!♥
There are three ways for you to participate:
- If you have a romance novel idea you want to write about/create art for, go for it! Let’s say you have that Nora Roberts’ book about the family of jewel thieves lying around in your attic, and you just can’t stop thinking how great it would be if it starred Ariadne and Yusuf. Have at it! Any genre of romance is fair game - contemporary, Regency, cowboys, paranormal… As long as it features sexy people falling in love, that’s fine!
- If you have your own "original" romance novel idea you’re dying to write, that’s cool, too! If you’ve been dying to write Arthur and Eames as rival scientists who fall in love (or rival bakery owners who fall in love, or rival evil counts who fall in love...), fantastic!
- OR if you’d like, we’ve collected some prompts! These are blurbs from the back of actual romance novels. You can use as much or as little of the prompt as you want. If, for example, the prompt is about a single mother of three who needs cash for an operation for the baby so she sleeps with her boss, and you want that to be Arthur and Eames minus the babies and operation, no problem! If you’d like to use one of the prompts listed below, drop a comment on this post and we’ll mark it as taken. (If they all get taken - eeee! - we’d be happy to go find more!)
THE RULES
♥ All Harlequin Challenge stories must be a minimum of 1,000 words. ART IS ALSO WELCOME!!
♥ When posting/linking your Harlequin Challenge story to the comm, please reference the prompt the story is based on OR the plot/romance novel summary you used.
♥ DEADLINE FOR CHALLENGE STORIES TO BE POSTED IS MARCH 6TH! AND VALENTINE'S DAY FALLS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE! PERFECT TIME FOR ROMANCE FICS. :DDDDDDD
AND NOW, THE PROMPTS...
CONTEMPORARIES
The Rebel
Subject: Finn O'Conner, Army Ranger.
Current Status: In between tours of duty. Oddly discontent with the way his life is going…
Mission: Getting his act together before the next assignment.
Obstacle: Sunny Ledbetter. The girl he's never managed to forget…
Finn has never questioned his life's purpose-to serve and protect, no matter how unorthodox the means. But since the unexpected deaths of his parents, he feels lost….
Until he runs into Sunny, the first girl he'd ever loved. Sunny's now all woman…and very interested in fanning the banked flames between them into blistering adult heat! And his libido is definitely game.
But once again, their timing is off. He'd like nothing more than to spend every waking moment in her bed…but he's leaving in a week! Unfortunately, the overwhelming chemistry between them isn't giving him a choice.
And every soldier knows there are some battles you just can't win….
I Still Do
Shy librarian Emily Garner needed to live a little. And a chance meeting with childhood love Will Dailey proved Sin City was the perfect place for a wild weekend. So wild, in fact, that they barely remembered getting hitched.
Will hadn't seen Emily in years ... and now she was his wife! She was every bit the schoolboy fantasy he remembered. But he'd spent the past seventeen years weighed down by family responsibilities, and now all he wanted was to enjoy the carefree bachelor life. He didn't want to be tied to sweet, beautiful, deliciously innocent Emily ... did he? CLAIMED by spyndisguise
Surf’s Up
After a crash meeting in the waves, surfer J. C. Wilcox and entrepreneur Zack Fanning practice daring moves that would make fish blush. But is it just sexy fun in the sun-or are they ready to risk their hearts? CLAIMED by angelgazing
Irresistible Fortune
Notorious womanizer and treasure hunter Gavin Fortune is after a local sunken ship-and Brenna McGary is determined to stop him. History shouldn't be sold off by the piece! Unfortunately, the infuriating Gavin knows how to use his best assets to get his way…and Brenna's fury is looking a lot like sweet, sweet lust.
Brenna could use that sizzling attraction to get her way, though. Until Gavin's scheming former mentor arrives to cause trouble for everyone! Now Brenna must join forces with Gavin, and if she's not careful, she'll be the next to fall for the irresistible charms of Gavin Fortune…. CLAIMED by cmonkatiekatie
Incognito
Do you have a forbidden fantasy? Shy author/research assistant Lily Hart does. Movie director Aidan Pierce has been the star attraction in Lily's steamy fantasies for more than a year. But when she unexpectedly runs into him for real, she doesn't know what to do…except slip into her alter ego-Lacey St.Clair, the pen name she's taken to write the deliciously racy The Ten-Minute Seduction!
Aidan Pierce is used to Hollywood starlets on his arm and in his bed. Fabulous yet authentic Lacey isn't like them-and he likes that. But when he finds out she's really Lily Hart, he wonders if he can trust her. But he's not ready to relinquish the mind-shattering sex just yet... CLAIMED by disquisitemind
Caught Off Guard
Runaway heiress Annemarie Prescott vowed never to return home. Until life interfered…
The Plan: Run like hell from the society chains of her past.
The Reality: Run into Blake Mitchell…the most seductive one-night stand of her life. Unfortunately Blake was hired by her mother. His job? To convince Anne she must embrace the legacy she never wanted, and keep her safe while he's at it.
The Bonus: Blake's touch still tempts Anne to sin! And how…
The Complication: Danger looms and Anne realizes Blake does make her feel safe. Especially in the bedroom! But as soon as the bad guy is caught, Blake will be gone…unless Anne opens her heart and admits her bodyguard is more than just a hot distraction. CLAIMED by ticketsthisway
The Fake Fiancée
Joe Riley is desperate. His well-meaning mother will stop at nothing to marry him off! With no time to date, let alone find a wife, Joe does the next best thing. He hires single mom Lisa Meyer to pose as his fiancée.
When Lisa says yes to Joe, the hardworking caterer sees their arrangement strictly as a business deal. She pretends to be engaged to him; he accepts her bid to cater his year-end company party. It's a win-win. Until their feelings start getting in the way. Feelings that have nothing to do with business. Can the town's most eligible bachelor convince his "fiancée" to take a chance on him and take that fateful walk down the aisle-together? CLAIMED by coulettes
Riding the Waves
All uptight workaholic Drucilla Robichoux wants is to experience incredible sex, at least once in her life. So she heads off to Mexico for some sun, sand and sin. And she finds the perfect playmate in sexy surf instructor Alex. Her temporary boy toy teaches Dru to ride the waves, all right…
…right into the most intense climaxes she's ever had!
But all vacation flings must end. When Dru heads home, she buttons up tight again. Might as well keep this delicious fantasy right where it belongs…in her naughty memories.
So it sure is a shock when she walks into work Monday morning and finds her secret fling is her new boss! And he's definitely still interested in catching the big one with Dru. CLAIMED by xxxholiclover
Heat of the Moment
Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Shane Rafferty knows how to follow orders. Especially those from mouthwatering Lieutenant Holly Durant! God, how he'd like to kiss her all over. But she deserves better than a guy like him….
Holly can't get hunky Shane out of her mind…so she follows him across the world to Iraq. When a supply convoy is attacked, she saves Shane's life. Soon after, he shows her his gratitude…during a night of blistering-hot sex!
But Shane can't stop thinking about the attack. Something doesn't add up. And he's right-a would-be assassin has followed Holly home. Now it's Shane's turn to prove that he can be the man she needs-in bed and out!
Take My Breath Away
FBI special agent Nicola Guthrie is on her first field assignment. Her job? To find security expert turned art thief Gabe Wilder. She knows this is her big break. She has to get her man.
And late one night, she does. Not to mention a whole lot more! Who knew her traitorous body would respond so strongly to Gabe's sensuous lips…his tall, strong body…her own irresistible need?
Gabe can't believe that Nicola still thinks he's the bad guy! Then again, he's almost tempted to fess up, just so he can keep tasting her incredible mouth.
Still, they have a job to do. A daring criminal is terrorizing the city's wealthiest art collectors. Gabe and Nicola quickly realize that the smartest way to catch their quarry is to join forces.
Of course, they'll have to find their way out of bed first…. CLAIMED by sobota
Call Me Irresistible
R.S.V.P. to the most riotous wedding of the year . . .
Lucy Jorik is the daughter of a former United States president.
Meg Koranda is the offspring of legends.
One of them is about to marry Mr. Irresistible-Ted Beaudine-the favorite son of Wynette, Texas. The other is not happy about it and is determined to save her friend from a mess of heartache.
But even though Meg knows that breaking up her best friend's wedding is the right thing to do, no one else seems to agree. Faster than Lucy can say "I don't," Meg becomes the most hated woman in town-a town she's stuck in with a dead car, an empty wallet, and a very angry bridegroom. Broke, stranded, and without her famous parents at her back, Meg is sure she can survive on her own wits. What's the worst that can happen? Lose her heart to the one and only Mr. Irresistible? Not likely. Not likely at all . . .
Two In, Two Out
Blake Hughes was comfortable being in the closet, especially at work while surrounded by macho firemen. A paramedic, still single at thirty, Blake kept his private life just that, private.
Hunter Rasmussen transferred to LAFD from San Diego. Twenty-six, powerful and fit, the handsome blue-eyed brunette just wanted to leave the past behind. No one had to know what he went through down south. And he didn't need history to repeat itself. Being 'out' was not a good career move for all jobs, and particularly not with the fire service.
When Hunter and Blake were assigned to the same shift pattern, they quickly became best friends. Partnered up on calls, hanging out together on days off, Hunter enjoyed Blake's company and Blake his. Until something, or someone, from Hunter's ugly past caused him problems.
In the fire department, men rely on each other for their lives. Two go into a burning building, and two stay out to serve as their rescue team in case of emergency. Blake and Hunter were two men deeply in the closet. And only with devotion and love would their secret lives come 'out'. And Hunter and Blake find that courage in a very unusual place. Two devoted LAPD cops help show them the way.
A Fostered Love
Foster brother to Jonah for a short time as teens, Christian developed a massive crush on his tough, older roommate. That all ended when the cops came and arrested Jonah, stealing him from Christian's uncertain world.
Jonah knew the kid with the crush on him would be better off forgetting that he ever existed. Jonah stayed in contact with their foster mother Marisol, but refused to hear news about Christian, and made the woman promise never to tell Christian anything about him.
Upon her death fifteen years later, Marisol leaves a request that Jonah come home and help Christian renovate her house. Jonah can't refuse, even though he knows he will have to face Christian once again.
Although they haven't seen each other in years, neither man has forgotten the other. Neither man will deny Marisol her final request...even if it means facing their past, working together, sharing the room they had as teens, getting to know one another now as men, and discovering that the brief friendship they shared has altered into a consuming, abiding love. CLAIMED by cobweb_diamond
Handyman
Handsome, sexy Will Spencer used and discarded lovers as easily as he made his Wall Street stock trades. He was used to taking what and who he wanted. Jack Crawford, a recently widowed handyman, never thought of himself as gay. Frightened by an erotic encounter years before, Jack had never embraced his deepest sexual longings. In an unlikely pairing, Will and Jack explore an incendiary relationship, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, always scintillating erotic. Jack is forced to confront feelings hes hidden for a lifetime. Will is faced with something he isn’t sure he can handle: love.
HISTORICALS
Taken By the Wicked Rake
Lady Verity Carlow is poised, charming, virginal. Her family's precious jewel. She will marry whatever titled bore is chosen for her. Yet sometimes, in the dark of the night, she wishes she weren't always so well behaved….
Then she is kidnapped by her family's enemy, Gypsy lord Stephano Beshaley. In this dangerously unsuitable man's arms, Verity is tempted to do wicked, wicked things. And, shockingly, she does not want to be rescued-not one little bit! CLAIMED by heavenly_rain
Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady
Determined not to enter into a forced marriage, Julia could see no way out-unless she were to become a ruined woman! Notorious rake Paine Ramsden was reputed to have no qualms about seducing innocents, so maybe he would help with her…predicament.
Certainly, Paine deserved his rakish reputation, yet Julia was so achingly pure, one night with her might just ruin him! Awakening Julia's sensuality aroused unfamiliar feelings in him-was it too late to make them both respectable?
Pickpocket Countess
It's Brandon Wycroft's duty as the Earl of Stockport to catch the "Cat," a notorious thief who is stealing from rich local homes to feed the poor. Discovering that the Cat is a woman, he changes his plan of action-to a game of seduction!
Mysterious and tempting, she teases him. And, as the net closes around the Cat, Brandon realizes he wants to protect her as well as bed her. But the only way to catch her is to spring the parson's mousetrap-and make her his countess! CLAIMED FOR ART by loobeeinthesky
The Admiral’s Penniless Bride
Sally Paul is down to her last penny. As she spends it on a cup of tea-to stave off being at the mercy of the workhouse-the last thing she expects is an offer of marriage…from a complete stranger!
Admiral Sir Charles Bright's seafaring days are over-and according to society, that must mean he's in need of a wife! Discovering Sally's in need of a home, he offers a solution…. They marry in haste-but will they enjoy their wedding night at leisure? CLAIMED by acquiescence_
An Impetuous Seduction
Moments after Persephone Hathersage stumbled upon a band of thieves, the terrified young lady was spirited away on horseback! But trepidation soon gave way to scandalous desire when her brooding captor tenderly nursed a feverish Phona back to health.
Spellbound by the battle-scarred blackguard who kept her confined in an ancient fortress, Phona knew any impropriety with this nameless rogue would tarnish her reputation forever, not to mention plunge her into even further peril! However, appearances could be quite deceiving...
Surrender to an Irish Warrior
Trahern MacEgan-his body is honed for fighting, his soul is black and tortured. Women want to tame him, but he has loved once, and now is lost.
Morren Ó Reilly-she has known pain and shame, but holds her head high, even though she shrinks from a man's touch.
Can Morren be the light to Trahern's darkness, and can she be made whole again by her surrender?
In the Laird’s Bed
A deadly storm brings Duncan the Brave back to Cristiana Domhnaill's home, but the Highland laird is seeking more than shelter….
As their rekindled passion for each other heats up the long winter nights, Duncan is sure he can win Cristiana back and forge a much-needed alliance between their families.
But Cristiana is no longer the girl she was, and hidden secrets are about to be revealed….
Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife
Wealthy landowner Simon Clare shuns Northumbrian society. With his son gravely ill, the last thing Simon needs is an interfering woman assuming command of his household-no matter how sensuous her figure, or how tempting her luscious lips….
Phoebe Benedict knows what it is to struggle and isn't frightened of the badly scarred recluse and his gruff exterior. It's the man beneath the scars that makes her heart race….
Miss Winbolt and The Fortune Hunter
Respected spinster Miss Emily Winbolt, so cool and cynical with would-be suitors, puts her reputation at risk after tumbling into a stranger's arms. Suddenly, bleak loneliness is replaced with a wanton, exciting sense of abandon.
But Emily is an heiress, and her rescuer none other than Sir William Ashenden, a man of some distinction. He needs to marry, and she yearns to believe that William wants plain, upright, suddenly reckless Emily-not for her fortune, but for herself….
Married: The Virgin Widow
Her hands bound by blackmail and duty, Laura Penrose was forced to marry her sweetheart's ruthless cousin. Now a widow, her sweetheart has returned.
Ford Barrett, Lord Kingsfold, believes Laura betrayed him and has a debt to pay-she owes him a wedding… and a wedding night!
Laura sacrificed herself once out of duty-she won't be taken again for revenge. But this new, dark, dangerous Ford discards her pleas…. Can she tell him she never wronged him, before he discovers her more innocent secret?
Prelude to a Scandal
Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught….
The Officer and The Proper Lady
Major Hal Carlow was a fine soldier, but he was also a flirt, a rake and a scoundrel! In general, he tried to steer clear of proper young ladies-no fun at all-and spend time with the sort of women who appreciated his finer qualities….
Miss Julia Tresilian's duty was to find a husband, but her prospective suitors bored her to tears. Yet even talking to the incorrigible Hal Carlow was dangerous to her marriage prospects, let alone anything more…. CLAIMED FOR ART by neomeruru
Unlacing the Innocent Miss
Hardened thief-taker "Wolf" Wolversley has clawed his way out of the gutter to get where he is. No stranger to society's underbelly, he's met Rosalind Meadowfield's seemingly sweet type before.
Accused of a crime she didn't commit, fearful Rosalind begs Wolf not to turn her in. But Rosalind's fear soon turns to desire as the bitterness in Wolf's eyes turns to passion…. His touch is gentle for so fierce a man. Rosalind should be mortified by her wantonness. Instead, it's as if something else has taken over her body….
Her Banished Lord
Hugh Duclair, Count de Freyncourt, has been accused of sedition, stripped of his title and banished from all of King William's land. Proud and determined, Hugh vows to clear his name!
Childhood friend Lady Aude de Crèvecoeur offers her help-but how far will she go? Should she risk her reputation and her life, or save her reputation and become Hugh's wife? Turbulent times call for passionate measures….
How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother’s demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva’s would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva’s imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him. Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents’ deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles’s secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.
SUPERNATURAL/FANTASY
The Iron Daughter
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey-ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.
My Soul to Take
She doesn't see dead people, but...
She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next... CLAIMED by tellthemyes
Incubus
To save his kind, Meical Grabian agrees to participate in a dangerous experiment. One that takes his vampire's thirst for blood and leaves him hungering for something new. An incubus can be sated only with passion-but what woman could love what he's become?
Yet when Caroline Bengal finds him abandoned in a snowy wood, she senses his emotional turmoil and brings him to her desolate cabin. Caroline's compassion and earthy beauty tempt the hunger Meical has desperately been keeping at bay. And soon Meical is visiting Caroline's dreams, seducing his prey while she sleeps.
But another predator has set his sights on Caroline, with more sinister intentions. If Meical is ever to reveal his true nature to Caroline, he'll have to earn her trust…and keep her alive.
Beast of Darkness
Sarah is a mortal who hears the voices of spirits. Driven by tragedy, she chases sightings, investigating the supernatural. Called to Nowhere, Texas, she finds not ghosts, but terrible danger…and demons.
A soldier in the war between good and evil, Max is one of the oldest demons, stained by centuries of darkness, fighting to keep others safe without hope for himself.
Betrayal and loss haunt both of them, keeping them from finding peace. And yet to save an entire town, Max and Sarah must do the impossible: let go of the past, and find a future with each other.
Love is their only weapon. Nowhere is the battleground.
This is their last chance. CLAIMED by kellifer_fic
The Wolven
Someone-or something-is systematically murdering the members of Danyon Stone's werewolf pack. As Alpha, he knows that finding and punishing the murderous entity is his responsibility, and he's not about to rest until he sees justice done. But to stop the slayings he has to accept help from the most unlikely source-a wickedly sensual mortal woman.
Mystic-shop owner Shauna MacDonald has a special interest in the recent string of otherworldly deaths. As the Keeper of the werewolves, it's her duty to guard and protect the packs. Working by Danyon's side to stop an unknown killer-and trying to deny the potency of their illicit attraction-poses a threat to her heart unlike any she's ever known, ;and if she becomes the killer's next target, it could be the death of her….
The Vampire Affair
The world knew Michael Brandt as a playboy tycoon. The underworld knew him as a fierce vampire hunter. Armed with a wooden stake and superior strength, Michael targeted the most powerful overlords in a clandestine do-or-die operation…and then tabloid reporter Jessie Morgan uncovered his secret.
Only once before had Michael allowed a woman into his secret lair. Now he'd fight heaven and hell to keep Jessie from the same fate. But he couldn't fight the attraction that drew him to her like a bloodlust. An attraction that might prove deadly…or worse. For Michael was going up against the most powerful of the undead-and that vampire had his fangs bared for Jessie.
Fortune’s Fool
The seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina is more than a pampered princess-she's also the family spy. Which makes her the perfect emissary to check out interesting happenings in the neighboring kingdom...and nothing interests her more than Sasha, the seventh son of the king of Belrus. Ekaterina suspects he's far from the fool people think him. But before she can find out what lies beneath his facade, she is kidnapped!
Trapped in a castle at the mercy of a possessive Jinn, Ekaterina knows her chances of being found are slim. Now fortune, a fool and a paper bird are the only things she can count on--along with her own clever mind and intrepid heart.
Bring It On
Wren Valere used to have a simple life. Her partner Sergei would negotiate the terms of the Retrieval-all right, the theft-and she would use her magical Talent to carry it out. Paycheck deposited, on to the next job.
Now? Her relationship with Sergei is even more complicated (sex will do that). Her fellow lonejacks are trying to organize against the Mage's Council. The nonhuman population of Manhattan is getting fed up with being ignored and abused. And the Council? Well, they have an agenda of their own, and it's not one the lonejacks are going to like.
When it comes down to choosing sides, the first rule of the lonejack credo is 'Don't get involved.' But when friends are in danger, and the city you love is at risk, sometimes getting into the thick of things is all you can do...
The Adversary
Colt Black has one enemy: Yellow Teeth-a Skin Walker who can transform into half coyote, half man. And he wants Colt dead. As a medicine man, Colt believes in dreams. So when he dreams of a mysterious woman who asks him to meet her, he goes. What he doesn't expect is a magnetic passion that could make him vulnerable to his foe....
After prophetic dreams, Shelly Godwin is searching for an emerald sphere. Her visions tell her she needs Colt's help. Trusting men doesn't come easily for Shelly. Yet she can't resist the desire Colt ignites in her. And when danger surrounds them, she must rely on Colt to protect her-and save their future.
Time Raiders: The Seeker
Delia Sebastian is a trained historian and psychic. Former army captain Jake Tyler is her swaggering ex-lover, who can read her most intimate thoughts--and desires. Together they will make the risky leap back to 44 BC to infiltrate the court of Julius Caesar by posing as Grecian mercenaries. But with assassins everywhere, will old passions reignite to undermine their cover...leaving them trapped in history forever? CLAIMED by viva_gloria
Bloodsucking Fiends
Jody never asked to become a vampire. But when she wakes up under an alley Dumpster with a badly burned arm, an aching back, superhuman strength, and a distinctly Nosferatuan thirst, she realizes the decision has been made for her.
Making the transition from the nine-to-five grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowlings is going to take some doing, however, and that's where C. Thomas Flood fits in. A would-be Kerouac from Incontinence, Indiana, Tommy (to his friends) is biding his time night-clerking and frozen-turkey bowling in a San Francisco Safeway. But all that changes when a beautiful undead redhead walks through the door...and proceeds to rock Tommy's life -- and afterlife -- in ways he never thought possible.
Every Demon Has His Day
In her wildest dreams, Constance Plyd never thought she'd see dead people. Then again, she never thought she'd be hit on by her ex-husband at his own funeral...or be the prime suspect in his murder. Fortunately for Constance, irresistibly sexy sheriff Nathan Garrett wants to believe her explanation - that a card-carrying demon in a black suit killed Jimmy in the garage - or maybe he wants something more. Either way, all signs are leading to a showdown of hellish proportions, with Constance at the heart of the battle, when the Devil and would-be mother of the Antichrist (a pop princess wannabe) descends on Crockett County. Sure, she'd rather be cooking up a storm for the next state fair, but if she's going to be the Chosen One, at least Constance can give a few demons a Texas-style butt kicking....
WESTERNS
Outlaw Bride
Bridget Callaghan was willing to do anything to save her family, stranded in the Cascade Mountains. The only man who could attempt such a treacherous rescue mission was Cole Ellis, but he was behind bars--and condemned to hang!
Bridget's boldness in breaking him out of jail was the jolt Cole needed to give his life purpose again. But with a posse at their heels and the mountain looming, she couldn't help but wonder if putting her trust in this tough, life-hardened man wasn't the biggest danger of all... CLAIMED by thursday_kat
The Cowboy and The Lady
Seven years ago Amanda Carson watched her affluent, well-respected family lose both face and fortune. Then her childhood crush-ice-cold cowboy Jace Whitehall-made her an offer she had to refuse. Now Amanda has returned to Casa Verde, Jace's luxurious home. And Jace isn't about to let her forget who she is or what she's lost.
Yet beneath their heated words, something simmers, waiting. For what once drove Amanda from this land may be the one thing that can make her stay. CLAIMED by arglikeapirate
The Wyoming Kid
Rancher Lonny Ellison is an ex-rodeo cowboy who's used to the adulation of women. But that's something he doesn't get from Joy Fuller. In fact, they argue constantly. His sister, Letty, says it's because he's interested in Joy...and Lonny figures she's right. Can he convince Joy that marriage to the Wyoming Kid will be as exciting as an eight-second bull ride and as sweet as the cookies she likes to bake? CLAIMED by i_m_pk
Mail-Order Groom
Fleeing scandal, stage sensation Savannah Reed swaps sparkles and satin for calico and wool to be Morrow Creek's telegraph operator. Through the wires she finds her new leading man, but when he arrives-shot and left for dead on her doorstep-Savannah suspects she's jumped out of the limelight and into the fire….
Detective Adam Corwin awakens to Savannah's bewitching smile, but she's mistaken him for her mail-order groom! Now Adam must tell Savannah that her future husband is a wanted outlaw and the danger's barely begun….
Platinum Cowboy
A true diamond in the rough, self-made man Flint McKade was one of the wealthiest men in the world and one of the hottest bachelors in Texas. So when his beloved Diamondback Ranch was sabotaged, Flint had a long list of suspects to choose from. His new veterinarian, Lora Leigh Whittaker, seemed to have an agenda, but he couldn't imagine the gorgeous blonde was out to get him. Then she was attacked, and Flint appointed himself her personal bodyguard. Standing beside her day and night, the chemistry that had been there from day one became unbearable. As a billionaire he was used to getting what he wanted. And he wanted her safe, in his arms…and in his bed.
Cowboy
Marcus was just passing through Texas when he met Kent. In his cowboy hat, low-riding jeans, and black boots, Kent looks like the type of guy Marcus desperately wants to love.
But two years later, he's discovered Kent is cold and distant, the quintessential American cowboy, and spends more time drunk than sober. Marcus can never predict his mood and blames himself for the flailing relationship.
Then, one day when Kent rides into town, Marcus finds a young runaway hiding in their barn. Luke is warm, loving, and quick to please...everything Kent is not. Though the answer seems obvious, Marcus finds himself torn between the boy who demands his love and the man whose love he craves.
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