Bøger af Sandy Loyd

Mary Ann Murphy has become overly picky about dating since her break-up with the person she thought was the one. She has no intentions of making the same mistake again, especially when the man in question is one of her mother's set-ups. Kyle Davidson has sworn off relationships and considers himself a bad catch after his last girlfriend accused him of using his work and causes to avoid intimacy. To return a favor to a wily matchmaker, Kyle unwittingly agrees to be Mary Ann's partner when she wins ballroom dancing lessons. As the two step their way through the first class, an attraction flares between them, melting the ice around Mary Ann's heart. Still, she knows better than to fall for her sexy leading man with the killer gaze. He's made it clear he's not looking for long-term and she won't settle for anything less. Despite the passion that ignites every time he takes the angel in his arms to the dance floor, Kyle is determined to keep things light. Mary Ann's girl-next-door persona is enough of an enticement to draw Kyle away from his work temporarily, but it can't last. She's the type who deserves a Happily-Ever-After. She certainly doesn't need him and his baggage messing up her life.

Disguised as a maid, Lady Penelope Lytton sails to America to escape her abusive guardian with secret plans to meet and marry her childhood sweetheart in order to regain her inheritance. US marshall Parker Davis is a self-made man who toiled as a boy in the coal mines after losing his father to those same mines. He disdains those with power and wealth, like aristocrats, who suck the life out of laborers for profit. As a special agent for President Grant, his life now revolves around ferretting out secrets. Determined to uncover Penny's, Parker decides she needs his protection. He offers marriage, but to Penny, Parker is as controlling as her guardian and no better a choice for a husband. She's intent on keeping her plans. After discovering Penny is a noblewoman who owns one of the biggest coal mines in England, Parker believes she's snubbed his offer because he's common. Despite the temptation Penny stirs, Parker wants nothing to more do with her. As they work their way toward happily-ever-after, Penny's guardian tracks her to America. He's not about to leave his heiress behind, even if it means killing Parker to achieve his goal.

Romance and adventure...and a trip to where an American tradition began... Libby Edwards, a gifted horsewoman, unwittingly wishes herself back in time to Louisville, Kentucky just before Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby become a reality. During Libby's journey in the past, she stumbles upon her destiny. Unfortunately, he's in the wrong century. In 1874, there's no electricity, no internet, no modern medicine, no antibiotics-no Starbucks! And even worse than that, women have no rights. Libby has no desire to stay. Widower, Colin Thorpe, a renaissance man of his time, has big dreams. He is a horse breeder who names his thoroughbreds after Mythological Gods because he has a reverence for past cultures and an appreciation for the unexplainable. Libby and Colin can't resist falling in love with each other. After all, Colin accepts Libby for who she is and she understands Colin's dreams better than his deceased wife ever did. Yet he grasps early on that Libby doesn't belong in 1874. And because his wife never adapted to the move from Virginia to Kentucky, becoming bitter and unhappy in the process, he won't take the chance of the same thing happening to Libby. Can these two lovers find a way to be together despite their challenges?

PI Lucy Maddox, former thief, liar and have-not, spent her formative years as a runaway on the streets. She's worked hard to rise above her past, and now leads a respectable life using her survival skills in a more honest way. Yet when the reporter responsible for getting her off the streets goes missing, she risks her respectability to steal a thumb drive. Lucy believes the drive, belonging to her missing friend, holds incriminating evidence against the last person the reporter interviewed before vanishing. The same man also confiscated the drive to begin with. Unfortunately, Jack Finnegan, nemesis and royal PITA, catches her leaving the scene of the crime, the office of a judge who is announcing his candidacy for governor in three days. Jack is the man's top aide and campaign manager. Jack dealt with Lucy during her years on the street when he interned for the judge. Back then Lucy was a lying hothead who acted before thinking and refused to let the system work for her. Her accusations have come at the worst time. Jack's not about to let lies and innuendos ruin his employer's good name. He believes, like everyone else, the missing reporter is on an undercover assignment and isn't checking in for obvious reasons. Jack joins forces with Lucy, mainly to prove her wrong and to keep an eye on her. From the reporter's thumb drive they uncover a ring of high school girls whose behavior could only be characterized as bullying. Then things get crazy, starting with a harrowing near-miss that's just too coincidental to be accidental. Plus, they're being followed. Jack and Lucy's mutual dislike for each other disintegrates into mutual respect and their attraction builds. As both are drawn deeper into the mystery, they struggle to keep their emotions in check. And when they uncover the truth about the games the cruel girls were playing, Jack and Lucy realize they have fallen victim to Deadly Misconceptions.

War is hell, especially for those left behind. When an IED explosion devastates the lives of Roberto 'Cam' Camareno and Nicole Murphy, both believe their promise of tomorrow has been shattered. Field medic Cam helplessly watches his fatally wounded friend die in his arms, wishing he could take his place. Cam is the one who should have died, not his friend with a fiancée waiting back home. Instead of getting his wish, Cam promises to watch over Nicole. How on earth can he do that when survivor guilt paralyzes him? After losing the love of her life and having her future blown away with his death, Nicole fears her broken heart will never heal. Even now, a year later, she still grieves. Then she meets Cam and her life changes for the better. Love has the ability to heal, but only if the heart is open to accepting love. As these two struggle to come to grips with the past, can they find the promise of tomorrow with each other?

In this fun, flirty beach read, Pepper Grady is in charge of her own destiny-one that doesn't include being ruled by an over-bearing man like her father. She vows that she will never accept marriage to a man who can't remain faithful. Yet when she meets a hunky Latino dynamo, she allows herself to indulge in a romantic fling-since an arrogant alpha-male has no place in her new life. Ñico Guerrero doesn't believe in love. But in order to please his dying father, he travels to Grassy Key to convince his runaway betrothed to return with him to Isla de Diablo where he'll take her as his wife. When he realizes he's been seduced by the beautiful heiress, he has to make a choice. After all, passion fades and he is his father's son, so he's not sure he can promise what she desperately wants...a lifetime of love and fidelity.

Tired of living in fear of an abusive ex, Cat Tyler takes charge of her life by learning to fly. When her cross-country flight ends in a forced landing, she finds herself trapped in the Montana wilderness with her flight instructor, Josh Buchannan-a jerk who's been riding her butt since she first stepped into the cockpit, and she doesn't appreciate her growing attraction to him. To make matters worse, someone is trying to kill them. While spiriting Cat away to safety, ex-CIA operative, Josh Buchannan, discovers that their pasts connect. A failed mission, one he's tried to forget, killed Cat's parents, and he wonders if this is her twisted way of getting revenge. Josh can't trust Cat, but he will protect her. As they work together to uncover the truth, they must stay alive long enough to reveal the newest threat to western civilization. If they make it out alive, they'll have to come to grips with their pasts in order to create a relationship built on mutual trust for their future.

Jeffrey Sinclair has a thief in his midst. One of his highly sensitive prototypes has gone missing and in his search he finds himself in the middle of a deadly game, where trust is a luxury he can't afford. The last person to have the devices has been killed, and now his only link to the stolen property is the man's widow. Avery Montgomery is a woman heroes marry and protect for life, but Sin's never been the protective, hero type - not like her late husband. When her life is put in danger, Jeffery must follow the twists and turns to uncover the truth before it's too late. It doesn't take long before he realizes he wants the impossible...to be her hero.

Las Vegas bound for a destination wedding, Terry and Des have promised to be friends thanks to their relationships with the bride and the groom. When the ex-lovers unwittingly stumble near a murder scene, their gambling getaway takes an unexpected turn. And when Terry gains a stalker and is almost kidnapped, the stakes rise. Terry and Des are forced to run. Their mutual animosity creates enough fireworks to add to the already glitzy Vegas skyline. Can they stay alive long enough to figure out the mystery? More importantly, can these two work through their differences in order to become true friends...or go a step further and realize they still care for one another?

They met at a wild party and neither forgot the experience. Each came away with a completely different perception of what happened when Judith Reid, an ill at ease seventeen-year-old college student, captured Dev McAllister's attention. He succeeded in breaking through her icy demeanor, but the minute things heated up, she ran. He tried everything he could think of to get her to go out with him, only to be rejected. Finally, he admitted defeat and accepted the truth as he saw it. Judith Reid was a snob, no different from all those other women he'd met through his wealthy college roommate. In fact, she was worse because she had him believing in love at first sight, when in reality, she seduced him and left him wanting. He swore to even the score no matter how long it took. Judith, a commercial interior designer, is lured into his grasp with the prospect of remodeling an office-building Dev knows holds significance for her. However, his plans backfire, and from the moment he sees Judith again, he's captivated, and struggles against another empty seduction. PROMISES, PROMISES is the second in the California Series where four friends, caught in a time warp, can't move on because they're stuck on their idea of their perfect dreams. But sometimes life works in mysterious ways and they are forced by circumstances to change.

Guilt now rules Dillon Kane's life. He's the one who should've died, not his father's favorite son. Plus, he carries added guilt of silently watching his brother live a lie with the one woman Dillon could never forget. Lauren Kane is also no stranger to guilt. Her attraction to and dependence on Dillon during her marriage still haunts her long after her husband's tragic death, especially since her biggest wish was that her husband could be more like his brother, Dillon. Facing the man after more than ten years is the last thing Lauren wants to do. Yet when Lauren and her son are threatened, Dillon pushes his way into her life to protect them. As he tries to figure out the mystery of who and why, Lauren and Dillon's earlier attraction resurfaces. At this point, neither can ignore their actions of the past. Kicker's Legacy has all the right ingredients for an old fashioned romantic suspense, starting out with a touch of mystery that builds to a harrowing suspense filled conclusion. But most of all, it's a warm love story where the main characters have a chance to resolve the hurts of the past by facing the truths and admitting their mistakes.

When Michelle Matthews decides to quit running from her past and meet it head on, nothing goes as planned. She's hurled into a deadly mystery when her ex-best friend collapses in her arms after making a puzzling statement. Shelly then survives three near fatal misses too coincidental to be accidents and has no choice but to run again. Only this time she's running with Jacob Collier, the man she's always loved, who she originally left behind, and the last person she intended to see. Jake Collier hasn't got time to worry over Michelle Matthews's hesitance to accept his protection. Women are dying of drug overdoses, his ex-wife included. He's the lead DEA agent on his case, an intriguing mystery that has him stumped. He believes the attempts on Michelle's life are somehow related to his case, so Michelle is stuck with him. Sexual tension runs high after another fiery attempt sends the two into deeper cover, yet the hurtful truths about their pasts come out, derailing any romance that could develop. Neither is guilt free. At this point, both Shelly and Jake wonder the same thing. Even if they do survive, can they find enough forgiveness in their hearts in order to love again?

Three couples find their way to love and happiness in these first three heartwarming stories in the California Series all set in the San Francisco Bay area. Cozy up to the fire and fall in love with Winter Interlude. Experience a flirty, sexy & fun romance on a San Franciscan night in Promises, Promises. And read about JAMES, a man women love with one flaw - he can't commit.

Do you remember your mother telling you when you were little that you'd never meet Mr. Right if you were spending all your time and energy with Mr. Wrong? And what about the book out a few years ago that created such a hoopla with the single crowd - He's Just Not That Into You? The two main characters in Winter Interlude either didn't heed their mother's advice or haven't read the book. Now, add into the plot that the two in question are enemies who regularly run into each other, given their current relationships. Paul Morrison, a hunky, blond, financial planner, has been putting time and energy into winning the heart of Kate Winter's best friend for almost as long as Kate, a strong willed antiques dealer, has been dating James Morrison, Paul's brother. The sparks start to fly when the two get stuck together for a three-hour drive to the mountains and years of misconceptions about each other are slowly being wiped out. It is in the confines of the BMW that the two begin their journey, taking them from being mortal enemies to lovers. Winter Interlude tells the story of their adventure - of how they finally find love. Kate and Paul's story is the first one in a series of four friends caught in a time warp. They can't move on because they are stuck on their idea of their perfect dreams. But sometimes life works in mysterious ways and they are all forced by circumstances to change. Show More Show Less

An uplifting short Christmas story to warm the heart on this cold holiday season... Megan Jenkins isn't looking forward to Christmas. The holidays will forevermore remind her of what she had and lost. Her husband, and love of her life, died a few days after Christmas the year before, leaving her a young widow with a fatherless son to raise. During the course of this Christmas Eve, Megan experiences her own Christmas Miracle as she learns the true meaning of giving with the help of Kevin Murdock, a long-time friend who's always been there for her. A Christmas Miracle is based on a true story-a Christmas Eve adventure that had to be immortalized in this short story so it would never be forgotten.

Life is but a game to be played and all the characters are playing theirs in different ways. The principal game that Giselle Franklin and Simon Harrington engage in is the one of seduction and love. Neither has any idea how quickly flirtatious fun evolves into something more serious...and more deadly. Simon Harrington, a US marshall on special assignment for President Grant, loves the excitement and the danger his job provides and has no intentions of being tied down with love and a family. He's come to Louisville to investigate a series of incidents involving the new thoroughbred racetrack being built. It's up to him to ensure that the first running of the Kentucky Derby will take place without a hitch. Giselle Franklin, a coquettish, French American whose self-appointed task is to reel in every available man in the area, also craves excitement and adventure. She's determined to help Simon, but doing so only lands her into bigger trouble. Twists and turns abound in this fun, fast-paced, suspense-filled story where Giselle and Simon work to stay a step ahead of another, more devious game player intent on ending their journey to finding love and happiness.

James Morrison is a man women love. Good looking. Talented. Great fun to be with. And of course he loves women. But he has one flaw. He can't commit. Samantha Collins is determined not to make the same mistakes her mother made...no ambition, living day to day off the government and loving the wrong, loser men who only brought on more misery. Since the age of 16, she's had her life outlined better than any AAA roadmap. Her plans include marrying Charles Winthrope III and bearing Charles Winthrope IV in three years. But fate has a way of intervening and changing the best-laid plans. Sam always thought she had too much sense to fall for James. Unfortunately, she discovers she's no more immune to him than any woman after spending time with him while he helps her improve her relationship with Charles. She tumbles. Hard. He's sexy, fun and likes to play. But when an incident forces Sam to realize he doesn't fit into her plans, she find out that she and her motherhave more in common than she'd thought. They both chase after the impossible. James and Sam's story is the third in the California series of friends caught in a time warp. They can't move on because they are stuck on their idea of their perfect dreams. But sometimes life works in mysterious ways and they are force by circumstances to change.