Love Under Construction — Laurie Kellogg

Architect Justin Riverá doesn't know a thing about raising a fifteen-year-old girl. Nor does he have the slightest clue how to cheer up his orphaned goddaughter, Haley, who's facing her first Christmas without her parents. When his brother's family (which includes Haley's best friend), are invited to a Christmas Eve destination wedding--which involves a three-day vacation at a mountain ski resort--his brother insists they should join them for the holiday. For Haley's sake, Justin agrees, never suspecting one of the other guests is his first and only love, who, for some mysterious reason, disappeared sixteen years ago, deserting her family and all of her friends--including him.

When high school counselor Trisha Mason sees her unforgettable college boyfriend at a wedding, she's tempted to run the other way. Much to her dismay, he's hunkier than ever, and his goddaughter is a determined matchmaker. Consequently, when Justin attempts to resume their relationship by seducing Trisha, she can't resist falling into bed and in love with him all over again.

Trisha has always had a soft spot for troubled teens, and would love to be Justin's wife and Haley's stand-in mom. But despite being eager to spend more time with her in and out of bed, Justin still seems as anti-marriage as he was in college. Regrettably, Trisha has no choice but to end their fling after their vacation. Otherwise, she'll be forced to confess her secret.

KISSING JESSIE (Book Seven in the Return to Redemption series)

A Reluctant Groom

Just one kiss and he knew . . . he'd made a terrible mistake

Growing up unwanted left contractor, Mike Danvers, unwilling to risk his heart. Despite wanting marriage less than an incurable disease, he yearns for the family he never had. At nearly thirty-eight, he feels time running out and reluctantly proposes to his uptight girlfriend, Tracy, fearing he may regret settling. When he meets his fiancée's much younger sister, Jessie, he's enchanted by her exuberance and wishes there weren't thirteen years between him and the bubbly pixie.

Twenty-four-year-old culinary school graduate, Jessie Perkins, is hesitant to accept Mike's offer to turn the old Victorian she's inherited in Redemption, PA, into a B&B. The heart-thumping attraction she feels for her sister's hunky intended could become a big problem. The last thing she wants is to provoke Tracy's perpetual jealousy. Unfortunately, with an extremely tight budget, she'd be a colossal idiot to turn down Mike's help and expertise.

Within weeks of starting the renovation, they forge a precious friendship. Mike is bummed when Tracy suddenly breaks their engagement, but he and Jess are both confident she'll change her mind about wanting children. Then, one night, Jessie's innate sensuality shatters his resistance. He kisses her and realizes he made a huge mistake proposing to her sister. Despite that he would never ask Jessie to give up her youth to become his wife, there's no going back with Tracy--especially after his sizzling, unforgettable night with the girl who taught him to trust a woman's love.

Jessie couldn't care less about their age difference. Even so, she refuses to destroy her relationship with her sister. Somehow, she must convince Tracy Mike isn't right for her. Meanwhile, she won't hesitate to use all the secrets he shared--about what men want and how to tempt them--to lure him back into her bed and persuade him to stay there for a lifetime.