Marcus Gries has loved Miss Laura Kemper for two years. The poor man has never actually spoken to her, but he knows what he wants and it’s Laura. One night at a barn dance he resolves to ask her for a dance. A dance, a walk, and soon enough, he’ll might even have the nerve to ask her to be his wife. Laura Kemper has no intention of marrying—her mind is too much occupied with her father’s decline and her family’s woes. So when the handsome farmer she’s never noticed much before asks her to dance, she accepts, thinking it will go no farther. But when the dance turns into a blossoming affection, Laura finds herself the recipient of an unexpected proposal. She must decide which is more dear: her duty to her family or her feelings for Marcus.

Catarina Merrill has had quite a year—with the shotgun marriage and the baby on the way—but she certainly never expected to desire her husband as much as she does. Dreaming up naughty, sensual things she'd like to try with him is easy, but actually telling him about her fantasies is hard. So Catarina comes up with a plan to act out her deepest desires—only not as herself... Jace Merrill knows his wife is itching for something. Trouble is, he can't figure out what that is. But when just before Christmas he finds a stranger in his bedroom—one wearing his wife's face—he's eager to play a game of seduction with her, just so long as they play so that they both win... But Jace and Catarina will discover that desire—and love—can't flourish behind disguises. And that Christmas is a time for giving, not games—no matter how sinful...

As far as her illustrious Old California family’s concerned, no man is good enough for beautiful Catarina Moreno. She’s been obedient through all the years of waiting, but now she wants a little excitement before her inevitable spinsterhood. When a handsome American cowboy rides onto her father’s rancho, Catarina sees her chance—as long as she doesn’t get caught and dishonor her family. Jace Merrill’s worked thirteen years to earn a ranch of his own and prove his all-too-respectable father wrong. He only needs to work a little longer on Señor Moreno’s ranch for his hard work to pay off—as long as the Señor never learns his real name, or just how hard it is for Jace to resist his alluring daughter. When Catarina and Jace finally give in to temptation, her father catches them, and they’re marched to the altar for a shotgun wedding. But ancient vendettas run deep in Old California. There’s unfinished business between the two families, business neither Jace nor Catarina know anything about until it’s too late. Now they’re battling against a blood feud, and each other, to save a marriage neither of them wanted.

Señorita Isabel Moreno always has a plan, as an accomplished and intelligent lady should. But a brutal attack shatters her ambitions to leave the little town she hates. With the outlaw still on the run, Isabel finds herself agitated, adrift—bringing the fugitive to justice is the only thing that will restore her peace of mind and faith in herself. Even if she is suspicious of this marshal’s motives in hunting him. US Marshal Sebastian Spencer is as coldly determined as the criminals he tracks. He’s spent years perfecting his iron self control—perhaps the most important work of his life. Because when he unbends, things break. People bleed. But no one has ever tempted him to unbend as much as the fiercely brilliant Isabel does. He plans to apprehend this outlaw in record time before he’s provoked into something he’ll truly regret… like falling in love. When more than just one lone outlaw threatens Isabel, Sebastian must keep her closer than ever to ensure her safety. As the twin forces of justice and vengeance close in on them, they’ll discover they’ve found in one another a kindred soul—and each other’s downfall.

Sheriff Joaquin Obregon has spent the last year in a mountain sanatorium, recovering from an attack that cost him his fiancée and livelihood. He hates what his life has become, but can’t seem to find a way to break free. Until a nurse who never liked him decides to make his resurrection her mission. Mary Margaret McCallahan spent a childhood in the slums of New York, so being a respected nurse at the most famous sanatorium in California should be ambition enough. But Mae has even bigger dreams—dreams that require her to leave for Los Angeles. But before she goes, she’s determined to rouse one handsome, arrogant sheriff out of his sick bed and back into the world. Joaquin can’t imagine leaving. Mae is determined to go. The battle lines are drawn—and only love can win.

Franny was born to rope and ride on the rancho she loves. But she can’t escape her mother’s attempts to lace her into the corset of propriety. So she makes one last grab for a grand adventure—and lands square in the path of the one man who’s never thought of her as anything but a pest. Felipe is friendly and open to everyone he meets—and attached to no one. Loss has taught him that love can shatter a man. He’s spent half his life ensuring his best friend’s little sister never breaks her neck doing a man’s job. But when Franny stows away on a dangerous hunt for a cougar menacing the ranch, they are trapped together in the mountains of California… alone. One long night by the campfire, the two crash into a passionate encounter and discover that familiarity can breed more than contempt. Much, much more. As their repressed desires dare Felipe to step from the shadows of the past, the two will discover how much they must risk for the one person they were never meant to love.