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What happens when the goddess of seduction and love finds herself on the losing end of a romance...to a human no less? She packs up, summons her carriage, and sets off to unravel a mystery which has intrigued her for eons. Where are the deities of this realm? Have they fallen to their doom, never to be revived?Freya's odyssey takes her to far-flung temples, ancient ruins, and bustling cities, but she is no closer to resolving the riddle, until she arrives in Dublin. In a land where myth and legend are interwoven with everyday life, Freya teeters on the brink of achieving her goal and her happily ever after, only to flee to the very couple who triggered her quest. An unexpected discovery spurs a repeat performance but, this time, Freya no longer cares about the answer. As far as she is concerned, every last god deserves to be consigned to oblivion. All she wants is to find peace.Once again, it hovers... tantalisingly close.Only to be snatched away... ...for Freya's fate is inextricably linked to the one person she is determined to avoid and, to ignore the not-so-subtle summons for help will lead to tragedy. Some deities have not vanished, some prowl on the periphery preparing to pounce and, as ever when gods interfere in the lives of mortals, chaos ensues. It will take more than a touch of arcane alchemy to avert the looming catastrophe.

This is a pair of Christmas novellas, Heart Rescued and Catch a Snowflake. Heart Rescued (originally published in the Tales for the Season Anthology)Four years since Jasper lost the woman he was hoping to marry. Four years since he closed his heart, and withdrew from Society. He has no idea his reclusive existence is about to be shattered. Enter his sister's best friend, Harriet, a flame haired beauty, who needs his help. Reluctantly he agrees and as they spend time together, it is clear their feelings run deep. Although Harriet affects Jasper in a way no woman ever has, he believes her to be out of his league ~ but it's Christmas and she might just be the one to melt his frozen heartCatch a SnowflakeRomance often blossoms in the most unlikely of places - but in a ward full of wounded soldiers - surely not? When Lucas Withers comes face to face with Jemima Parsons - a young woman who blames him for her brother's injury - falling in love is the last thing on their minds. What neither of them anticipated, was the magic of snowflakes.

A pledge of eternal peace and prosperity sounds too good to refuse... unless, of course, the pledge comes from an immortal dragon. A contract established in exchange for a king's life and the protection of his lineage should have expired when a desperate queen, facing hordes baying for her destruction, loses faith in the oath... but evil has a long memory.Trapped for a millennium in a sarcophagus at the bottom of the Danube, death lay beyond the queen's grasp until the day nature, fate, and a mysterious archeologist joined forces to dredge her from her grave. A life revived. A liegeman doomed to be reborn until he saves his queen. A dragon who has not forgiven an act of betrayal.Can two souls, separated for a millennium, break the corrupt covenant, or are they fated to dance to the dragon's tune, for eternity?

Sela Helsdatter cannot catch a break. Relentless in his jealousy and wrath, Odin is determined that neither Sela nor her infant daughter will survive. Shattered by loss, and with no time to grieve, Sela has to rely on the one person she believes responsible for her current predicament. A lost friendship revived, the disparate trio seek refuge in a remote corner of Montana, with the uneasy awareness the child may be the key to their salvation. Vowing Odin will not harm a hair on her daughter's head, Sela has to use every trick at her disposal to thwart the Norse Deity. At the same time another fiendish subversion threatens the future of humanity. Will Odin be victorious... or is another power stirring which will prove to be his bane?

After ridding the world of her tormentor, and finding the love of her life, Sela Helsdatter could be forgiven for thinking she deserves a little peace. No such luck! Marriage to the God of Mischief is a walk in the park compared with the terror about to be unleashed from Valhalla. A diabolical edict from Odin himself sees the nine months pregnant, Sela fleeing from the entire Norse pantheon - with no clue why. A price on her head and a target on her belly, the only person she can trust is her husband, who is keeping her in the dark. Does her unborn child hold the key to this Conceived Chaos?

What happens in Helheim never stays in Helheim.Sela Helsdatter wishes it would. Punished for allowing her quest for power to rule her actions, she has endured eons of torment. The flip of a coin seems to offer some hope of redemption but, tasked with ridding the world of her erstwhile captor and lover, escape does not mean freedom.No problem for a warrior queen... right? Wrong! Sela is no longer in ninth century Norðvegr, but twenty-first century New York with all its challenges, and where slightest misstep could spell her doom. Aided by the most unlikely hero, Sela scours the city for her adversary, who delights in taunting her, determined to drag her back to Hell. Will she prevail, or will A Flip of the Coin catapult her back to the abyss?¿ NB: This book is for adults only. It contains adult themes - which, although brief, are graphic, and some coarse language.

If we are part of a universe where moonbeams and mistletoe exist, nothing is insurmountable for, otherwise, what is the point? To Emily Livingston, spinster - this deceptively frivolous phrase was all she had left of her betrothed. To Henry Bartholomew, widower - the sentiment, while naïve, also serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of hours, light can be found... it was simply a matter of perspective. When four-year-old twins run into Emily - literally - she has no idea where their unexpected encounter will lead. Determined to ensure his children are not being schooled into something nefarious, Henry resolves to meet this mysterious lady who has enthralled the duo with her stories. One dull and otherwise ordinary autumnal morning, two disparate souls are brought together, and long-forgotten emotions are stirred. The question is whether Henry and Emily have the courage to follow their hearts or be forever trapped in the sadness of the past. Can moonbeams and mistletoe persuade them, the answer was there all along?

Nightmares come in many guises... but usually fade with the dawn... Not so for Bobbi Jo Fletcher. A witness to the massacre of her family, she had to escape the murderers in the middle of the worst blizzard in centuries... and she was only 5! Fast forward twelve years and Bobbi Jo dreams of starting a new life away from the trauma of her past and the antipathy of pitiless relatives. The nightmare isn't over... but perhaps the tables have turned... Vindicta - when death isn't retribution enough...

Twenty years after a global plague, the remnants of civilisation struggle to eke out an existence in a world where humanity is secondary to survival.On the outskirts of a once vibrant Rome, Gabriel tends his vineyard. From dawn to dusk, he strives to carve out a living, while caring for Bianca, his heavily pregnant wife.Life might be tough, but at least he had an income, meagre though it was. Trouble seemed a distant memory, until the day he notices their neighbours are not at work in the adjacent fields.A gruesome discovery sparks a chain of events to rival the conflicts Rome witnessed at the height of its power. Gabriel and Bianca must pit their wits and their lives against a formidable opponent, in an attempt prevent an atrocity none could have predicted.A bond, forged in a snowy field and strengthened in a city under siege, is put to the ultimate test.In a world of echoes and illusions, is their love strong enough to surmount the odds, or will it crumble to dust like the empire their enemies are striving to replicate?

An unremarkable family ring - lost when its owner was killed in the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius - is excavated after nearly two millennia buried under tons of lava, setting off an extraordinary sequence of events.A brazen robbery, and the ring is lost again. The theft and subsequent investigation, inspire twelve-year-old Cristiano Rossi to dedicate his life to the search and recovery of stolen artefacts. Fast forward twenty years. Whispers of a rare item being offered for sale on the black market, initiates a joint operation between the Italian and British branches of the, colloquially named, Art Squad. Hannah Vallier and her tech savvy assistant, Bryony Emerson - whose abilities to track down the untraceable, led to them assisting the UK Art and Antiquities Unit - have unearthed an intriguing thread. Reluctantly, Cristiano agrees to team up with the pair to thwart the traffickers, retrieve the artefact and, hopefully, dismantle the site. What ought to be a routine assignment is complicated by a rogue operative, an unexpected romance, an ancient connection, and a very angry ghost!

Recently widowed, Amelia Ingram - Countess of Gresham, decides to shake off the fetters from her arranged and loveless marriage. Exploiting her new-found independence, Amelia indulges her yearning to explore - incognito. Her ploy works so well, she receives an offer of employment from the dangerously handsome, Rupert Latimer - Earl of Badlesmere. On impulse, she accepts and finds herself governess to Cate, a delightful scamp of a child. What began as a bit of a game on Amelia's part, evolves into something far more profound, and a flame she presumed impossible to ignite, is kindled. An unexpected turn of events leads to yet another offer. This time there is far more at stake and, determined history not repeat itself, Amelia confesses her ruse. Rupert has been burnt once. Will he douse the spark, or take a risk and trust his heart?

Randolph Craythorpe - earl, covert operative, and occasional highwayman - believed his dalliance with Lady Felicity Hartwich would lead to marriage. It did, but not to him! The fortuitous arrival of an unwelcome guest provides the perfect opportunity to indulge in a little retaliation. Emma Newbury accompanies her cousin, Lady Charity Anscombe, to London for the Christmas Season. Once there, she comes face to face with the three men who witnessed the humiliating aftermath of her father''s disgrace - one of whom, to her irritation, has taken up residence in her dreams. Their infrequent encounters only serve to confuse, but while winter tightens its grip on the city, what was inconceivable becomes the one thing for which they both yearn, yet bound by Society''s rules, cannot admit. As the snow falls, Randolph begins to understand that to win Emma, he will have to surrender. NB: This book includes a short excerpt from ''The Highwayman''s Kiss - the first book in the Surrendered Hearts trilogy, and part of A Regency Duet.

Ged Mowbray will do anything to avoid being married off to the suitable prospects his parents insist on parading in front of him.Melissa Bouchard is under no illusion her sizeable dowry is the attraction to suitors, not her. An overheard conversation leads to an offer too good to refuse, but what happens when a lady''s wager, becomes a gamble on the happily ever after, you did not even realise you wanted?NB: This book includes a short excerpt from ''Winning Emma'' - the third book in the Surrendered Hearts trilogy.

After witnessing his mother's grief at the loss of his father, Nick Drummond resolved never to cause someone he loved such distress. Even the happiness of his siblings would not sway him - until he met Rose.Rose Archer was almost content, assisting her doctor father in a tiny fishing village in the north of Yorkshire. To experience the world beyond, a tantalising dream - until she met Nick.Unexpectedly, the impossible becomes possible, and the renounced - desired above all things, but the shipwreck that brought them together, may yet tear them apart. Will Nick learn to trust his heart, or will his love for Rose remain forever hidden?

Jessica Drummond, a bright and cheerful young woman, rarely gives romance, let alone love, a thought. Long hours working in her brother's shipping office affords little chance of her ever meeting an eligible bachelor. Duncan Barrington, veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, believes himself wounded in both body and soul. He has no intention of inflicting his demons on anyone, certainly not a beautiful and, in his opinion, irresponsible city lady.One cold & snowy morning, the plight of a bedraggled puppy throws Jessica and Duncan together and, as a spark of something indefinable yet wholly unquenchable begins to burn, it is unclear who rescued whom.

Lady Helena Trevallier was, to outward appearances, a social butterfly. She wandered the museums and art galleries, took long horse rides and enjoyed brisk constitutionals - weather permitting - around the many city parks. She flitted here and there, rather like an exotic butterfly and had several men trailing in her wake, in the hope that she might favour them with a dance or better still allow them to escort her to one of the many social gatherings.Unusually for a young woman of the elite, Helena is in no hurry to marry, unwilling to allow a man to dictate her life, for she has a secret; one which, had her social set known anything about might see them throwing up their hands in horror and one which any prospective suitor would surely demand she curtail. Every day, Helena disappears into a world few acknowledge, to help the poor, the downtrodden and the abused. Hugh Drummond, a wealthy shipping magnate, moves in quite different circles. He rarely mixes with Society and is happy spending his days working on his beloved ships. He takes great pains to avoid the extravagant events to which he occasionally receives invitations, for mamas looking to marry off their daughters usually stalk them and, a state of wedded bliss is something in which Hugh has no interest. He is too busy managing the shipping line and has no need of a wife whose only joy is dancing and frivolity. If - and it was a huge if - he ever marries, it would be to a woman as capable as he, not some giddy society miss. Then, quite unexpectedly, Hugh meets Helena and despite his resolve not to fall under her spell and her determination to maintain her independence - fate, it seems, has other ideas. Attraction quickly becomes something far deeper, but dark clouds appear on the horizon, heralding a storm that may yet tear them apart. Skullduggery abounds, testing their wits and forcing them to an agonising decision, as one with nefarious intent threatens to destroy all they hold dear.

Snatched from a quiet, peaceful life in the forest, Lucia suddenly finds herself staring into the jaws of an horrific death in the Roman arena from which escape seems impossible. Meanwhile, Rufius Atellus, a veteran Roman soldier, is appalled when he recognises Lucia among the victims about to be executed. Surely this is a ghastly mistake? But what can he do to save her? As the crowd roars in the arena, Lucia draws on her abilities to communicate with animals to reach out to the she-wolf leading the pack of ravaging animals to save herself, but in doing so has she simply avoided one gory death only to find herself facing another? In an unexpected twist, and as danger threatens, the lives of all three become inextricably entwined. Was it chance brought them together in that theatre of bloodshed, or simply a prelude to fate? Author's Note: This is a stand-alone book, however, there is a loose connection to the Hannah's Heirloom Sequence.

On her penultimate day at University, Kassandra Winters inadvertently overheard herself described as ..".too shy, too plain, a bit ungainly if you must know and rather on the plump side, not at all what's needed for such things...Kassandra would be far more suited to a job in an archive office..." Worse still she was subsequently knocked flying by the exceedingly tall and drop-dead gorgeous man to whom this description had been delivered. Adding insult to injury she ran into the same man the next afternoon and, justifiably upset by what she had heard, refused to indulge his somewhat perplexing determination to engage her in the oddest conversation and gave him short shrift.Fast-forward two years and contrary to expectations, Kassie is not hidden away in an archive office. She is in Rome; employed by one of that city's famous International Schools, as well as a tourist agency. One day, while escorting a group of visitors around the ancient Roman port of Ostia, she bumps into the same man - the man whose seemingly random remarks still puzzle her - and he introduces himself as Gabriel St Germain. This unexpected encounter leads to a job offer, the role of assistant tour guide for a three-week tour of ancient sites in and around Rome. Unable to resist such an opportunity, and against her better judgement, Kassie agrees.Kassie has intrigued Gabriel St Germain since he ran into her, literally, outside her professor's office. Despite her rushing off the following day, giving him no chance to apologise for what she had heard, Kassie left a lasting impression and her face haunts his dreams. Never expecting to see her again, Gabriel is astounded when she appears right in front of him - as though destined to do so - in the middle of a ruin and, resolved not to lose her a second time, he concocts a plan to win her heart. Gabriel's old-fashioned courtship touches something deep inside Kassie and, although struggling to believe that someone as handsome as Gabriel could possibly be interested in her, she soon realises she has fallen irrevocably in love with him. It seems he returns her feelings and for a brief moment, Kassie allows herself to trust that they have a chance at a happily ever after. However, just as Kassie shares everything of herself with Gabriel, her world comes crashing down and those callous words uttered that fateful day return to torment her. Can Gabriel save their romance or will it fall in ruins, like the relics of antiquity that brought them together.

A story, invented to keep a little girl distracted, marks the beginning of another tale. One destined to remain unfinished for twenty years. At thirteen, Adam Marchmain became Kitty de Wilton's 'Knight of the Garden' - a title bestowed following an accident which resulted in six-year-old Kitty having her knee sutured. Kitty never forgot his gallantry, but pledges made as children rarely survive into adulthood. Their paths separated until Fate decreed they meet again. Widowed badly disfigured and his sight ruined, Adam returns to his family home, a shadow of his former self. Similarly afflicted, although her scars are invisible, Kitty - against her better judgement - is persuaded to help Adam banish his demons. This requires a subterfuge which, if discovered, might shatter more than the bonds of friendship forged two decades previously. To Kitty, determined to break through the shield Adam has erected, the risk is worth it. To see his smile and hear his laughter. To rescue the knight of her childhood. Just when a fairy tale ending is within her grasp, Kitty is threatened by the man who murdered her husband. In a cruel twist the tables are turned, and Kitty is the one who needs rescuing. NB: This book contains adult themes and situations which, although minimal and not graphic, might be a trigger for some.

Etched in Starlight MaxentiusOnly eighteen years of age, army recruit Lucius Maxentius Valerius, arrives in Armenia, a world away from the comforts of Rome. Rather than a career in politics, as his family would have preferred, he has chosen a life in the military. Being a soldier in the Roman Army is not for the faint hearted; there is no such thing as an easy campaign and, here in the wilderness of Armenia, they face the Parthians, a formidable enemy, one whom the Romans underestimated once before - to their downfall. This does not deter Maxentius; he has long wanted this life.It becomes apparent, that Maxentius is a born solider. His uncanny ability to anticipate the actions of the enemy, desire to understand and empathise with the local populace and reasoned perspective on any given strategy, gains the young man the respect of comrades and his superiors and he is promoted with unusual rapidity. A soldier with such instincts is a desirable commodity and, after four years in Armenia, Maxentius is dispatched to Masada, an isolated outpost in the middle of Judaean Desert, taking command of the local garrison. Although a rather mundane assignment, it would be a welcome respite after several years of warfare. HannahHundreds of miles away in Jerusalem, a city descending into chaos, a young girl is training to be a healer under the watchful eye of her uncle. Not your conventional Hebrew maid, Hannah bat Avigail, forgoes traditional feminine pastimes, spending her days treating all manner of wounds and ailments. Relishing the challenge, Hannah dreams of becoming a physician. The city is rife with dissent and clashes between advocates and opponents of Roman rule are commonplace. Every day Hannah and her uncle deal with injuries more typical of a battlefield than a civilised society. Worse, her brother and his friends are caught up in the violence and she fears for their lives.Deprivation and disease add to the increasing instability, inflaming the agitators and encouraging radical groups to join forces hoping to oust the Romans once and for all. In a desperate bid for weapons, a band of rebels venture into the desert, to a fortress guarded by a Roman garrison.Hannah's brother refuses to leave his sister alone in an increasingly lawless city and so she travels with him, accepting that, if nothing else, her skills as a healer will probably be required.MasadaIn the aftermath of the attack on Herod's citadel, Hannah finds and, against her brother's wishes, treats three badly injured soldiers. Unexpectedly, one of them touches something deep inside her; something that, despite him being an enemy and a captive, she cannot ignore. Maxentius regains consciousness to the knowledge that this impregnable citadel has fallen and that he is likely one of only three of his garrison to survive the ambush. Uncertain of his future and in a haze of agony, he realises he is in the care of a young woman. A young woman, whose startling green eyes and impish smile, will turn his world upside down In the days that follow and against impossible odds, they come to realise that they are more than healer and captive, their fate already etched in starlight.Etched in Starlight is the prequel to the Hannah's Heirloom Trilogy.

AD80 It is a year since Hannah and Maxentius escaped from the cataclysmic eruption of Mt Vesuvius and, after a pleasant interlude in Rome, they must now embark on a new journey. This time to the troubled frontier of Northern Britannia, recently subjugated, yet maybe not quite pacified. This harsh borderland is a far cry from the luxuries and relative security of Rome, and danger lurks where least expected. A garrison of soldiers, some rather disgruntled with their isolated posting and it's new commander; local tribes people, although outwardly accepting of their erstwhile enemy, may still harbour a burning resentment that their lands have been occupied. Meanwhile, in the modern world and now married to Max, Hannah Vallier is working in the archives department of a museum on Hadrian's Wall; cataloguing artefacts from some of the original wooden forts, recently discovered following a series of aerial surveys. While most of the finds are mundane, Hannah is shocked when she comes across an all too familiar item. It is her, or rather her ancestor's pomegranate; the one carved by Maxentius in the aftermath of the massacre at Masada, carried from there to Pompeii and then on to Rome. Confused as to how it could be here in Northumberland, Hannah searches a new database for answers, finding a fragmented inscription indicating that Maxentius and Hannah had indeed been posted to Northern Britannia; that Maxentius had been commander of a garrison, the fort for which, coincidentally, had been almost exactly where she was now sitting. Realising what this might mean, Hannah needs to talk to Max, who is away on business. Before they get the chance, disaster strikes! Believing the love of her life to have been killed and unable to deal with her grief, Hannah retreats into the past, re-connecting with her ancient family. Unfortunately, scant historical evidence for this period means that Hannah is unaware of what might be looming, instead she must trust that any information she holds will be enough to save them once again. Adjusting to a world on the frontier of Empire, Hannah meets the local wise woman and, as they share their love and knowledge of healing, a tentative friendship blossoms. The burgeoning cordiality between the garrison and the locals is jeopardised however, as a multitude of challenges conspire to undermine the fragile peace. Hannah realises that the threat might come from a most unexpected quarter, for there is one within the fort whose enmity will have dire consequences. At the same time, Hannah's heart whispers that maybe, just maybe Max is still alive and that he is calling her home. Will Maxentius be able to preserve the hard won trust of the locals, or will everything descend into madness? Is there any hope of discovering who is inciting such hostility before it's too late? Can Hannah learn to trust her heart, or will she remain forever caught out of time, her destiny floating away like embers on a breeze.

Pompeii was once a bustling port nestling under a forbidding mountain. Then in AD79, the mountain erupted, smothering the town under a thick blanket of ash and volcanic debris, leaving it lost for thousands of years. Now, rediscovered and a world renowned heritage site, archeologists from across the globe yearn for an opportunity to uncover to the town's past. Some things though, are best left alone - revealing the secrets hidden beneath the stones could prove perilous. Eighteen months have passed since Hannah and Max left Masada, Herod's isolated fortress in the Judaean desert. The place where, just as they admitted their feelings for each other, they were wrenched apart. Hannah slipped into an ancient world, discovering how her ancestor had received the ruby clasp - her talisman. Somehow she survived the ensuing tragedy and Max's love was strong enough to bring her home. Since then, Hannah has had no awareness of her ancient counterpart and wonders whether the slender thread that united them had been broken, lost beyond time, leaving only a memory. On a spur of the moment trip to Rome, familiar dreams recur. Unable to recognise where her ancestor is, but realising that she is not on Masada, Hannah struggles to understand the reason behind her visions. Then, a chance meeting with two friends sees Hannah and Max invited to join an excavation team, one whose goal is to determine what lies beneath the ruins of Pompeii. Although excited to be a part of such an investigation, Hannah experiences a growing sense of unease, an unnamed fear circling at the edges of her consciousness. Her worlds being to converge and Hannah realises to her horror, that her fear, this reconnection of minds, must be related to Vesuvius and that the woman she is bound to was actually in Pompeii before the eruption. Hoping she can somehow warn her ancestor without being drawn back into her other life, Hannah tries to convey her knowledge through her dreams. As before however, fate intervenes. After entering a house which bears a Hebrew inscription, Hannah falls back through time. Although familiar with this fusion of souls, she still has to rely on her instincts to adjust to life in ancient Pompeii. A world where her ancestor is a physician to gladiators engaged in mortal combat, where riotous mobs run amok and where a ghost from the past returns to haunt her. All the while knowing she needs to save her family from the devastation that will befall this town. Will Hannah escape the cataclysmic eruption? Can she persuade her loved ones to flee before burning debris engulfs the town? Will she ever find her way back to Max the love of her life waiting, not so patiently, millennia away? Or will echoes be all that remain?