It is impossible not to root for Ceti, almost fifteen, who tells her story of growing up in shelters, learning soccer from her Gramps, and sleeping in her Mom's red truck where they listened over and over to Rolling Stones discs someone left behind. Following in the steps of her hero, Lionel Messi, Ceti is a shooting star on the field. A U.S. scout is coming to watch her play in the State Championship; she has Ruby, her best friend since kindergarten rooting for her, and a crush on a boy who lives in her building, Will. But at home, she'll find a spoon in the sink, a ball of tin foil and a needle in the trash. Her Mom, who used to be beautiful with her long honey hair and green eyes is now wasted and track-marked. And she is pregnant. Ceti's life goes up and down with a mother who wants only the next high. Her Mom's menacing and goofy boyfriend Foxface is always hounding Ceti; their junky friends start a fire in Ceti's apartment; and on the day of the semifinals, Ceti finds her...

An unexpected matchLife is pretty good for champion bull rider Dustin Lincoln. Every week is a different town, a new woman and a fierce competition. Until he takes a job organizing a rodeo and meets his new boss, rancher Maxine Porter. She's brash, aggressive and wants to replace bull riding with a polo match.Working together won't be easy—they don't see eye to eye on anything! Yet Dusty can't help admiring Max's determination and commitment to those she loves, including her adorable eight-year-old son. For the first time in a long time someone is depending on Dusty, and he likes it. But that may change when Max finds out why he's really in town...

Community service never looked so good Monica Accord knows trends, not tractors...fashion, not fertilizer. But she's stuck working on Noah Cameron's farm after one mistake lands her with community service. Monica remembers Noah from high school, but she definitely never knew about the crush he had on her. Now it just feels as if she's some bothersome city slicker. Yet she soon realizes there's more growing between her and Noah than just crops--a lot more. As long as the revelation of a family secret doesn't ruin their chance of a lifetime...

A FAMILY HOUSEWARMING Visitors are rare at widower Michael Moreno's Rodeo, Montana, ranch. When Samantha Read and her two sons turn up, seeking shelter in a snowstorm, his kids are ecstatic. Michael is less enthusiastic. Sammy's sophisticated city vibe seems out of place in his country home. But even he can't deny that the bubbly beauty lights up the whole house. Though Sammy doesn't know much about ranching, she recognizes an aching heart when she sees one. Michael and his kids could use some cheer, and she's determined to make the most of their time together. But as the heat between Sammy and Michael threatens to melt the snow, Sammy wonders if Michael's heart could be thawing, as well...

Can you outrun your past?Angel Donovan can't. The moment she crosses the town limits of Ordinary, Montana, she feels the weight of who she used to be looming.But there's one person who sees beyond her former wild-child self—Timm Franck. Too bad he's also the one person she's wary of...with good reason. Thanks to his journalistic skills, the private details of her scandalous upbringing are a matter of public record.Despite her efforts, avoiding Timm is an impossible task. The man has made it his business to stay close. To make amends?Or to give them a shot at a relationship they never had? Whatever his motivation, Angel can honestly say this is the last place she expected to find something—someone—so extraordinary.

Shannon Wilson is on the fast track to the top. A DEA agent from the big city, she's simply passing through Ordinary, Montana, to settle a score. And no small-town sheriff will derail her plans simply because he flashes a badge and a great smile...no matter how sexy he looks in that cowboy hat.After all, Sheriff Cash Kavenagh is ready to settle into that white-picket-fence ideal. And Shannon isn't about to swap her fast-paced lifestyle for such an ordinary existence. Only problem is--wrapped in those big masculine arms of his, Shannon can't seem to shake the feeling that life with Cash may just be the most extraordinary thing that's ever happened to her.

HE'S CALLING IN BACKUP As the law in Rodeo, Montana, Sheriff Cole Payette can handle just about anything. Taking in his orphaned niece and nephew, though, puts him out of his depth. Grief-stricken himself, Cole turns to bar owner Honey Armstrong. Cole's longtime crush on Honey has always made him tongue-tied, but now she's the only one he can ask for help. Honey is shocked by Cole's request. He rarely says two words to her and now he needs her to help care for the children? She's willing to pitch in, but bonding with the kids starts to feel a lot like being a family. And that's not something Honey has ever let herself dream about—no matter how tempting Cole is...

C. J. Wright has a simple strategy for his life. Get his ranch going. Sell the family's candy shop. And fix his relationship with his young son. Nowhere in his plan is there room for a woman like Janey Sweeter-than-She-Looks Wilson, his new employee. A tempting mix of contradictions, she's a puzzle he'd love to solve. More, her city-girl exterior calls to his wild side—that rodeo-riding guy he turned his back on. The one who could jeopardize all he's working for now. But things get interesting when his son becomes attached to Janey. C.J.'s forced to look beyond her surface to the woman inside. Could the emotional connection he finds persuade him to change all his plans?

This time, it has to be forever Emily Jordan has been in and out of Salem Pearce's life for years. As an archaeologist, her work often took her far away--even when he asked her to stay. She called it bad timing. He called it running away. Now she's back and asking for one last chance. But Salem is a single father with more than himself to think about. If he gives Emily another shot and she takes off again, it'll hurt his daughters, too. He can't take that risk. But deep down, he needs Emily. He always has. Maybe this time she'll stay....

A timely, eye-opening novel showing how war affects families on both sidesEver since her brother Sef left for Iraq, Cassie has felt like her life is falling apart. Her parents are fighting over her brother having gone to war. Her smart, beautiful sister is messing up. Her little brother, who has Down syndrome, is pretending he's a Marine. And her best friend no longer has time for her. In her loneliness Cassie turns to a surprising source of comfort: Blue Sky, an Iraqi girl she meets through her blog. The girls begin a correspondence and Cassie learns that when Blue Sky says "I want my life back," she means something profound, as she can no longer venture out in her destroyed city. Cassie takes strength from Blue Sky's courage and is inspired to stop running away from the pain, and to reclaim her life.

Coming home is never simple! Audrey Stone and her floral shop are thorns in Gray Turner's side! He's in Accord, Colorado, trying to focus on wrapping up his family's business affairs. Instead, thoughts of Audrey and her tempting Hollywood beauty keep filling his head. How can he be this preoccupied with someone whose goals conflict with his? Then suddenly, he needs Audrey's support. Digging into his family affairs has revealed secrets that could ruin everything. With her help, he might be able to stop that. Funny how he once thought she stood in the way of his plans. Now he thinks Audrey could be the answer to his future!

Coming back has just raised the stakesA single encounter with the gorgeous Laura Cameron and Nick Jordan knows he has a lot to make up for. What he did to her years ago changed their lives dramatically. Unfortunately making amends isn't easy, especially when this sizzling attraction keeps interfering with his good intentions. He's torn between the strong urge to get out of the hometown he despises and exploring what could develop between them.The longer Nick's in Colorado, though, the more he seems tied to this place. His daughter insists he reconcile with his estranged brothers. And the project that brought him here has hit a roadblock. But the one thing that could tip the scales in keeping him here? When Laura announces she's pregnant...with his child!

A SMALL TOWN. A BIG SURPRISE. Handsome, strange men are not on Violet Summer's radar—especially ones sitting in her diner in too-new cowboy gear. She'll eat an old boot if Sam Michaels is a real cowboy. Nope, there's a reason Mr. Phony Cowboy and his teenage daughter are here in Rodeo, Montana...and she'll find out the truth. Sam just wants to get back to New York. He doesn't need complications, like the gorgeous diner owner who irritates and intrigues him at the same time. Or a simmering attraction that results in one unforgettable night—and an unexpected bun in the oven! Now he's torn between his big-city life...and becoming a real cowboy for good.