One Kiss

It was supposed to be one fun night of hot sex. It turned into a second. Then a third. Now Mother Nature is having the last word—with a secret baby surprise! Jade Dare has done everything in her power to overcome her mother’s unstable influence. Changed her name. Became a success. Vowed never to risk passing on the potential for inherited pain. What has it gotten her? One fiancé who wanted her for money. A second who cheated on her with his brother’s wife. Now she's sworn off men. Or at least off serious relationships. But when the chance to indulge in a one night stand with a man she’s secretly fantasized about arrives, she jumps in. Only to land heart-first into a case of the feels she can’t bring herself to trust. Knox Sinclair always suspected he liked his brother’s fiancé a little too much, that’s why he kept his hands to himself. But with ties broken and Jade all too willing, a no-strings-attached night sounds like a damned good idea. Except one night isn’t nearly enough. But while Knox is busy convincing Jade they have a chance at forever, the past is planning one last parting shot.

"Just One Kiss is my favorite story in the series so far. Barbara Freethy has once again shown that she is an amazing storyteller. I could not put it down. I loved every page. Just One Kiss is a second chance at first love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments." Patti - Goodreads Hannah Stark takes care of everyone else, from the patients she nurses back to health, to her family, who can never seem to get it together. She'd love to find someone she can trust, someone she can lean on, someone she can love, but that someone will not be Jake McKenna. The ruggedly attractive owner of Adventure Sports might still make her palms sweat, but Jake broke her teenage heart years ago. In the twelve plus years since they were a couple, Jake has given up on forgiveness from Hannah. He'd really like the chance to set the record straight, but that would mean revealing secrets he has sworn to protect. So, they dance around each other, never getting close enough to the lingering sparks to start another fire. A stormy Christmas eve at the lake changes everything. A woman in trouble and a death-defying rescue gives them a chance to start over as they are now—if they can find the courage to trust each other. Will these two enemies turn into lovers, or will they reject the fate that has once again thrown them together? Don't miss this heartwarming, irresistibly romantic holiday Christmas romance by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy. Also Available: Always With Me #1 My Wildest Dream #2 Can't Fight The Moonlight #3 Just One Kiss #4 If We Never Met #5 What the readers are saying about Just One Kiss… "I devoured this book in one setting! The story was captivating! As with all of Freethy's characters, they are so well developed that you become completely invested in their story. They are real, not perfect and each with their own flaws!" Booklovers Anonymous on JUST ONE KISS "Barbara Freethy is one of my favorite authors because her books have the perfect blend of romance and suspense in every book, and Just One Kiss was no exception! This story was a heartwarming tale about second chances and forgiveness, mixed in with a mystery that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. Right now the real world feels like a dark place to be sometimes, and this book was the perfect escape." Kate – Goodreads "Barbara Freethy does what she does best by giving you real people with real feelings, a lesson in forgiveness and a Christmas story with some zing to it." Lois – Goodreads "A wonderful Christmas time second chance love story with a side of second chance family reunion. Exciting, romantic and a bit of suspense create a great read." Peggy - Goodreads "Absolutely wonderful story! I fell in love with Jake and Hannah from the beginning. One of the best stories from the Whisper Lake series. I absolutely love the winding roads that Barbara Freethy has for her main characters. this book is no exception!" Karen - BookBub "This is a story of family, second chances, forgiveness, secrets and love with the wonderful residents of Whisper Lake during the Christmas season, a time for miracles to happen! A wonderful addition to this series!" Robin – Goodreads

When professional hockey player and single dad seeks help from a social media manager, their shared chemistry proves they'd be a perfect match, but they must navigate professional boundaries before they can find a happily ever after.

Every encounter begins with a greeting, and different cultures have developed innumerable ways of showing pleasure at someone's arrival. Humans have been greeting each other for thousands of years, so it should be the most straightforward thing in the world, but this seemingly simple act is fraught with complications, leading to awkward misunderstandings, intercultural fumblings, and social gaffes that can potentially fracture relationships forever.Why is that? Why are greetings so important? Is there a right and wrong way to say hello? In his illuminating book One Kiss or Two?, Andy Scott--a well-traveled former diplomat and no stranger to botched first contacts himself--takes a closer look at what greetings are all about. In examining how they have developed over human history, he uncovers a kaleidoscopic world of etiquette, body-language, evolution, neuroscience, anthropology, and history. Through in-depth research and his personal experience, and with the help of experts ranging from the world-famous primatologist Jane Goodall to top sociologist Erving Goffman, Scott takes readers on a captivating journey through a subject far richer than we might have expected. By the end of it, we are able to make more sense of what lies behind greetings--and what it means to be human in the modern, cross-cultural age.

A young veterinarian and a difficult man have been circling each other for over a decade. Under the southwestern sky, and with everything they hold dear in the balance, it’s finally time for one of them to make a move. Ever since graduation, when Santana Dark leaned over and kissed the brainy and shy Emma Glass, she has been smitten with the dark, brooding hunk. She thought about him while he served overseas, while she stayed home in Star Canyon, New Mexico and tended to its animals. Now he is back, ready to retake his place with his three brothers and his spitfire of a sister at the family ranch. He’ll have to be the man of his family now, as his father died in a mysterious fire that the police are still investigating. Nick Marshall comes to town, a cousin to the Dark family, though they’ve never met this wealthy stranger, and he claims to hold the legal title to the family ranch. Turns out Dad had more than a few gambling debts, including to the uncle his children didn’t know that they had. With his world spiraling out, Santana finds solace and comfort in Emma’s arms, and she finds heat and passion in his. Santana and Emma finally have ignited the spark that has always existed between them. Now the trick will be to keep the flame from consuming them both.

A broken carriage wheel at the base of the Scottish highlands is the last thing Sophie Grant needs on her trip to Scotland. Determined to make the most of her stay in the quaint village of Moy, she discovers some delightful attractions, including the Laird Mackintosh, who lives nearby. Upon an invitation to the Laird's home, Sophie is thrust into a world of decadence, privilege, and wealth–everything she never had. Laird Mackintosh is tempting and beguiling with his scandalously hot kisses. However, Sophie knows he's hiding something–something that could change everything. Brice Mackintosh is torn between his family’s expectations, and his newfound feelings for Sophie. What started out as a game, a distraction before he fills his obligations is turning into more. But when the truth surfaces, Brice worries that he may lose the only woman he's ever loved.

There's only one boy Celia would NOT want to be stuck sitting next to on this interminably long train ride. So guess who just walked on board… Clearly the universe has a sick sense of humor. That's the only explanation Celia can come up with when she finds herself alone on a train with her crush since second grade. Maybe some girls would call this fate. Destiny, even. But Celia knows better. This is cruel and unusual punishment, because Heath is also the one boy who turns her into a stammering, incoherent fool. And that's before he kisses her senseless. Heath's not exactly jazzed about this turn of events either. He's supposed to be on this trip with his girlfriend. But now his girlfriend is his ex and he's trapped on a train ride from hell with the one girl who apparently hates his guts. Cool. Looks like everyone is in for a good time. Except, one derailed train, a shared motel room, two unexpected detours, and a few steamy kisses later, and maybe, just maybe—they're both about to change their tune.

Just A Dream Cheated out of her inheritance by a willful stepmother, Lady Elizabeth Stanton follows Nathaniel O'Connor to America -- eager to accept the dashing shipbuilder's proposal of marriage. But it is a stranger who greets the penniless miss at her intended's door -- the true owner of the grand Boston mansion, Nathaniel's handsome, secretive and insufferable older brother, Morgan. Just One Kiss The cruel treachery of a disloyal sibling left Morgan angry and bitter -- but he takes in the cad's forsaken fiancee nonetheless. And when one stolen kiss threatens scandal, he offers to wed the proud, golden-haired beauty himself. But Elizabeth is devoted to a rogue. And Morgan must first conquer his own pain and suspicion to know a passion that can thaw a frozen heart...and a love that can heal all wounds.