Зарубежная современная проза — Joan Pickart

An earth-shattering explosion…a mysterious call to duty…the woman he'd never forgotten. They all beckoned rugged Clay Callaway–one of the last of the family's bachelors–home to Texas. But in his search for a saboteur, he uncovered something long ago buried–his own demons. For Pam McCall, the childhood sweetheart who marred his memories, was suddenly at very close range, taunting his emotions and creating in Clay a temptation more threatening than any danger he'd ever faced in the line of duty….

FATHER…John Colton had searched a lifetime for the sense of belonging he'd never had. And now a secret son signaled the end of his elusive pursuit.LOVER…But what of Laura Bishop, the sensitive beauty who'd also entered his world, penetrating his barriers with no more than a willingness to listen, to understand…to warm his soul–and his bed?PRINCE…Then his lover revealed her bombshell: He was a king's son, long denied his heritage, and she was in the royal employ. A one-time mercenary, Jogn didn't...

Mom RequiredBefore Joey, his culinary repertoire was comprised of bad scrambled eggs, his spare bedrooms gathered dust and the master bedroom seemed destined to remain mistress-less. But when his nephew became his 24/7 responsibility literally overnight, Mark Chandler knew things had to change. And he needed help.Cedar Kennedy cured troubled kids, a reputation that prompted Mark to seek out the psychologist. Ordinarily their paths never would have crossed, she the silk-and-suits-wearing doctor,...

SHE' D LEFT HER HEART IN WILLOW VALLEYLaurel Windsong had thought leaving Willow Valley–and her first love, Ben Skeeter–would be the hardest thing she' d ever done. But returning home ten years later proved much more difficult. Rumors swirled around the small town about why she' d come home, if she' d returned for good and whether she and Ben would give in to the undeniable sparks that still flew between them. But she had secrets in her past, demons she needed to conquer, before she' d be able...

AND DADDY MAKES FIVEEvery woman at the Fuzzy Bunny Day Care Center secretly longed for handsome David Montgomery to look their way. But there was only one female in the single dad's life–his little girl, Sarah Ann–until he lost his memory in an accident and winsome mother of two Patty Clark made him an offer he couldn't refuse.Between her three-year-old and her infant daughter, Sophia, Patty never had a dull moment. But how could the day-care worker turn her back on this irresistible father and...

SOMETHING ABOUT JOE…Tall, dark… and arrogant-that was Polly Chapman's first impression of Joe Dillon. But then she took a closer look. Born with a sterling-silver spoon in his mouth, Joe chose instead to live modestly among the inner-city kids he taught… and took under his broad, protective wing.Drop-dead gorgeous, he had his pick of women… but he chose to pursue Polly, who considered herself well out of his league. Because Joe wasn't a man she could kiss, cuddle, then walk away from. He was her...

TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY… .Marriage and babies weren't what Andrea Cunningham wanted – but Brandon Hamilton was. The gregarious hotel owner had a head for business, a body for loving… and a heart as warm and welcoming as his strong embrace. Like Andrea, he knew two weeks was too little time to understand what was happening between them.But unlike Andrea, he was starting to want all the things she resisted. Andrea had thought these stolen weeks with Brandon would make for beautiful memories. But...

Mr. NovemberName: Forrest MacAllister – confirmed bachelor/family man MaritalStatus: Single (but who needed a wife with all the MacAllister babies around?)Honors: MacAllister family Baby Bet ChampionThe most important thing in Forrest's busy life was his family and their quirky traditions, from angels-and-elves assignments to complicated Baby Bets. Until his very pregnant, matchmaking sister asked him to take on a special assignment… Jillian Jones-Jenkins.One look at the sexy brunette had...

CELEBRATION 1000 THE MAN ON THE BEDROOM FLOOR… was straight out of Kathy Maxwell's dream.But she could only stare at the lone Apache, wearing nothing but formfitting buckskins and a scowl, who rose to stand at the foot of her bed. «I am Dakota,» he said. «Why have you brought me to this strange place?» Kathy was astonished at the sight before her.Somehow during the night the Native American dreamcatcher that hung above her bed had snuck into her sleep, stolen her dream man out of the 1870s and...

ANOTHER MACALLISTER BLESSING?He was just passing through town, when his life changed forever. Jack MacAllister, tried-and-true bachelor, suddenly found himself a little boy's #1 daddy pick. But the adorable tyke's single mom didn't seem as sold…and Jack sensed she was keeping secrets. But something about Jennifer Mackane made him believe he could trust her–could even love her–but he'd learned never to trust a lady.Then he discovered that not all of Jennifer's secrets were old. One involved a...

Years have gone by, but I've never forgotten David Westport. His skill on the playing field–his star quality–was legendary.However, his heart belonged to a girl named Sandra. It was too bad they dropped out before graduation to become parents, yet they appeared to have built a good life. But I wonder, does David regret the choices he made? Judging from the shadows in Sandra's eyes, it would seem so. Too bad David is blind to all that he has. I had such hopes for them.Perhaps a blast from the...

MRS. MARSHALL…AGAIN?The stranger at her door swore he was family, brother to the man who'd broken her heart and left her pregnant with twins. Before long, Uncle Mack had won her daughters' affection…and made Heather feel like a woman. But experience had taught her that to love was to lose, and though Mack wanted to form family ties, he didn't seem the type to stay….He was world famous…wined and dined beautiful women. She wore secondhand clothes, pinched every penny and hadn't dated in years....

THE WIFE HUNT Glory Carson couldn't believe she'd actually agreed to sexy Texan Bram Bishop's unorthodox proposition. For two weeks she would «act» as Bram's wife so the determined wanna-be-groom could learn the husband ropes and lasso himself a real bride. Glory herself had no intention of ever getting married.As a marriage counselor, she was only in this ruse for its research value – certainly not because she found the blue-eyed, blue-collar Bram husband material. And although she thought...

MR. FEBRUARY NAME:Tux Bishop GAME: Private Investigator AIM: Find a suitable wife and settle down DAME: Not woman-in-jeopardy Nancy Shatner! Tux can't explain how he knows trouble is stalking a beautiful stranger. He just knows . He figures he must be destined to protect the unwilling Nancy Shatner, but he can't be destined to marry her!No red-blooded Texas relies on fate to find a woman. That, Tux will do on his own. Just as soon as he can keep his mind – and his hands – off Nancy… . MAN OF THE...

A Bride by ChristmasPotently sexy businessman Luke St John had a reputation for getting what he wanted – and he wanted pretty Maggie Jenkins. In fact, he was hearing wedding bells; could a determined Luke convince Maggie to marry a stranger by Christmas?Christmas LullabyWhen “Santa” left three tiny tykes in his care, Riley McCabe assumed it was just a joke. The good-natured MD administered payback by daring the pretty joker to say “I do”. That’s how the sparring partners are now hitched,...

The Marrying MacAllister by Joan Elliott Pickart She couldn’t leave her baby behind. Caitlin Cunningham was fiercely independent, but when a mix-up at a Chinese orphanage led her to a choice between two orphaned baby sisters, she was glad another solution presented itself: marriage to strong, steady Matt MacAllister!That Blackhawk Bride by Barbara McCauley Days before Clair Beauchamp’s wedding, investigator Jacob Carver told her that she was a member of the Blackhawk family. He reunited her with...

The Reluctant Princess by Christine Rimmer Elli Thorson, displaced princess, was surprised at the sight of the handsome man in her apartment. Hauk FitzWyborn, the king’s right-hand man, said he’d come by order of her father, the king – to bring Elli home by any means possible. And the idea of a journey with this ‘warrior’ was strangely appealing…Princess Dottie by Lucy Gordon Prince Randolph would do anything to save his precious country. He’d given up the throne, tracked down a long lost...