Red Hot Rival

When my father died, I lost a hero and a role model — and inherited a floundering furniture company. So I do what any dutiful (and slightly guilt-ridden) daughter would do — I leave behind my burgeoning fashion label and come home to Chicago to sit at the helm of Bailey Living, the company my father spent his life building. But righting a sinking ship is hard work, so when I meet an unbelievably hot guy at an industry party, it seems like a perfect (and perfectly innocent) way to let off a little steam.

"A vivid portrayal of the time when western Missouri was part of the Wild West. Larry Wood has enhanced his careful historical research with graphic details and meaningful commentary. His account of these little-known bad men and women gives a true picture of the wild and brutal side of the era." -Ellen Gray Massey, author, The Bittersweet Ozarks at a Glance The battle between the Blue and Gray had ended, but the Ozarks were still witnessing a war. Divided loyalties gave rise to rampant lawlessness and debauchery, plaguing this region with robberies, shootouts, and showdowns. In twenty-five compelling chapters, Larry Wood meticulously compiles his research from the shocking incidents that took place in the Ozarks during the late 1860s through the 1950s. The author includes haunting portraits of the corrupt criminals, snapshots of Western towns where the events took place, and excerpts from previously published magazine articles. Wood recalls the notorious Springfield, Missouri, showdown between Davis Tutt and Wild Bill Hickok, which ushered in the era of the Wild West. He remembers the biggest railroad-settler dispute in Kansas history and the Roscoe shootout that resulted in the murder of a Younger brother. The author also mentions the not-as-well-known, but equally as scandalous crimes, such as the bank holdup by female bandit Cora Hubbard and the bloody Benders' massacre. Bonnie and Clyde, Bill Cook, Henry Starr, and other infamous outlaws make an appearance in this revealing volume. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Larry Wood is an award-winning author who has published several books on the Civil War and the Ozarks. He is an instructor for the Long Ridge Writers Group of West Redding, Connecticut, as well as a member of the Joplin Writers' Guild, the Missouri Writers' Guild, the Ozarks Writers League, and the Joplin Genealogy Society. Wood earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from Missouri State University and served two years in the U.S. Army. He resides in Joplin, Missouri.

Have you ever sat around the dinner table discussing religion and politics? If you grew up in my family you tended to just eat your food, discuss how your day went, and then be excused from the table. There was the occasional, you are going to vote for this guy or that guy is an idiot in my house, but there really were no deep descriptions of politics in general, unless my grandmother was present. I remember my father implying that I should never go to the dark side as he called them. As with any teenager, I tended to do the opposite of what their parent implied. This book will explore personal experiences and experiences from dinner tables across the country. We will also look at the years from 1962-2015, which I contemplate as the years our freedoms died. Plausible deniability from our government regarding matters of Constitutional rights, which were guaranteed from our founding fathers, will be explored. Should we as a nation, sit idly by as our government continues to garnish our freedoms? What will you do if and when the economy crashes? Is there a reason why we have internment camps set up by the government that was created to protect its citizens? These are a few of the questions that I explore throughout the pages in the book. This will be a true testament to the will of our country, which is utterly protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Together we will have a better understanding of where our country is headed and where we came from as a society. I question how many families do sit down and eat and congregate together each evening in their homes, the data would probably be staggering to say the very least. If you were to walk into virtually any establishment around the country, you might see several men and women drinking coffee and discussing politics. If you were to walk into a home in the evening from the time period of 6:00-7:00 p.m. would you see a similar situation?

She wants a career and a baby… Can her sexy boss give her both? Darby Brogan has goals: single motherhood and a successful career. And she won’t be distracted…even if rival architect Judah Huntley is the stuff of fantasies. But when Darby accepts a job with Judah, there are strings—caring for the baby on his doorstep! But when playing house gets hot and heavy, will temporary turn into having it all?

This piece of Americana is packed with vibrant signs straight from Route 66, the road known for its in-your-face advertising for wild attractions.

Brooke I don't like Kathryn Pease. I could pretend everything's fine between us. I could be nice to her face, then trash her behind her back. But I think it's better to be honest. I don't like Kathryn, and I'm not afraid to admit it. Kathryn I saw a commercial where singers used their voices to shatter glass, but the whole thing is pretty much a myth. The human voice isn't that strong. Human hatred is. Anybody who doubts that should feel the hate waves coming off of Brooke Dempsey. But I don't shatter; I'm not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren't on the outside. Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends . . . until the night when Brooke ruthlessly turned on Kathryn in front of everyone. Suddenly Kathryn was an outcast and Brooke was Queen B. Now, as they prepare to face off one last time, each girl must come to terms with the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.