This is a collection of short stories that have been published over a particular span of time that I decided to put into one neat little collection.They include;"The Journey Toward Hope""Love's Frozen Kiss""Love Out of the Ashes""The Magic Shield""Thistles & War""Wands at the Ready""A Bluestocking for Christmas"I hope that you enjoy all of these short tales! From fantasy to contemporary and historical, and mild to steamy, this is definitely a collection for every pallet!

It's a battle of matrimony, but who will win in wedlock? Miss Dulcenia Hargrove is a bespectacled wallflower, who never thought that she would be fortunate enough to find a prospective husband. However, when she is approached by a celebrated matchmaker, she decides that it wouldn't hurt to take her advice. When they travel to a house party to meet the suitor the lady has in mind, sparks immediately fly. But is his regard in truth?Lord Carew Fernvine, Marquess of Dalhousie, is a rake. He decided to attend a ridiculous house party to humor an older lady for his own amusement. He has no intention of marrying anyone, particularly a mousy woman that is known for being dull. However, he soon finds that Lady Dulcenia has much more to recommend her than he originally believed. It isn't until his resolve is tested by a newcomer vying for the lady's hand, that he has to decide if he's as against marriage as he once thought.

Kiernan is the rightful heir to a world that has only been ruled by men, heirs that have been specifically chosen by the High Oracle and the Elders of the Spirit Realm. As she nears her sixteenth birthday, she is struck by a vision that changes everything and sets her on a quest that will change the very course of her life. But she is not alone. Garrett, the brother she always imagined him to be, vows to stay with her at all costs. Together, they must face untold challenges of strength and honor, where more than their loyalty is tested. Reign is a former elf who has been reborn into the Chaos Realm. Imprisoned for his crimes and no longer the same man he used to be, he imagined he would die in captivity, but when he's approached by a Spirit Walker who claims he is the Protector to the Queen, Reign dares to attempt a daring escape in order to fulfill his destiny. Armed with a powerful sword, he embarks on a dangerous journey that is fraught with allies and...

She's only ever wanted one thing... Lady Isabella Resenfeld thought she'd found happiness with Lord Wistenberry, but when she's abandoned two days after their wedding, her hopes are crushed, her youthful fantasies destroyed. She tries to find a way to come back to the surface, refusing to become a jaded bride, but on the journey to rediscovering herself, she never expected to be drawn to a man who is completely wrong for her. As the horror of the man she married finally comes to light, is it even possible to truly entrust her love to another? He yearns to fulfill the longings of her heart. Ridge Claymoore was born a common bastard. Raised in a brothel, he's always craved something...more. The life of a spy runs through his veins, but even that has started to become stale and unfulfilling. When he's tasked with securing Isabella's welfare, he faces not only his immediate attraction to the copper-haired beauty, but his own growing...

Lady Mercy Granville never wanted to marry a man that was chosen for her, even if her parents had made a promise to the prior Viscount of Westbrook before his death. Why should she have to suffer a lifetime of unhappiness because of a vow she hadn't even agreed upon? But since she knew her duty to her family as a gently bred lady, she acquiesces to the match, but not without vowing to have a bit of fun first. So, after convincing her ladies' maid to take her place for a fortnight, she heads to Brighton to enjoy the last of her freedom, never knowing what awaits her there. Malcolm Grant, Viscount Westbrook, has always found marriage rather distasteful, but since he's the sole heir, he has no illusions that his mother might cease about honoring some long ago pact that was made. He agrees to marry Lady Mercy...just not yet. He coerces his valet to take his place to entertain the lady in London while he hies off to Brighton. However, both of them quickly...

He is the bastard son of an earl...Cornell Reed was raised as a commoner by his mother, a maid who had been dismissed from service after it was discovered she was carrying an illegitimate child. Because of his modest upbringing, Cornell had never cared to be recognized by his father, Lord Haverton. He is content with his simple life as a cordwainer in London, a skill he'd learned during his years as a sea-faring naval captain. It isn't until he advertises for an apprentice for the busy Christmas season, does Cornell realize what he's been missing. She is a poor, Irish immigrant...Miss Pleasant Hill moved to London after the death of her cobbler father in Ireland. When she isn't trying to help raise her three, younger siblings, or toiling as a washerwoman, she assists her ailing stepmother as a seamstress. She always dreamed of something more, but soon realized it was pointless to wish upon stars. However, when she sees the sign in the shopkeeper's window,...