Sweet And Clean

Sweet and Clean? challenges the widely held beliefs on bathing and cleanliness in the past. For over thirty years, the work of the French historian, George Vigarello, has been hugely influential on early modern European social history, describing an aversion to water and bathing, and the use of linen underwear as the sole cleaning agent for the body. However, these concepts do not apply to early modern England. Sweet and Clean? analyses etiquette and medical literature, revealing repeated recommendations to wash or bathe in order to clean the skin. Clean linen was essential for propriety but advice from medical experts was contradictory. Many doctors were convinced that it prevented the spread of contagious diseases, but others recommended flannel for undergarments, and a few thought changing a fever patient's linens was dangerous. The methodology of material culture helps determine if and how this advice was practiced. Evidence from inventories, household accounts and manuals, and surviving linen garments tracks underwear through its life-cycle of production, making, wearing, laundering, and final recycling. Although the material culture of washing bodies is much sparser, other sources, such as the Old Bailey records, paint a more accurate picture of cleanliness in early modern England than has been previously described. The contrasting analyses of linen and bodies reveal what histories material culture best serves. Finally, what of the diseases-plague, smallpox, and typhus-that cleanliness of body and clothes were thought to prevent? Did following early modern medical advice protect people from these illnesses?

She’s his first love and the one woman he could never forget. He’s the Cowboy she fell in love with… and the same man who left her at the altar years ago. Sierra Baxter’s life was thrown into turmoil when the man she loved bolted out of her life years ago. Since the day he left, she has worked hard to give her son the security he needs. She’s found love and acceptance from family and friends in their small town. When the town council volunteers Sierra to be the host of Refuge Mountain’s yearly Christmas Fair, she agrees. But, the day her ex-fiancé suddenly returns to their small town, the town council eagerly chooses him as her co-host. Sierra worries knowing the secret she’s hidden from him for the past six years is about to be uncovered. Denver Callahan returns home filled with regret at how he messed things up between them. He’d been far too young and made the worst mistake of his life when he left Sierra on the day he was supposed to marry her years ago. Everything had spiralled out of control back then and he wasn’t mature or wise enough to do the right thing. In truth, he didn’t start out with plans to become a famous Country Music Singer. He’d just written songs on the side, pouring himself into his music, when one day — shortly before his wedding day — his talent was discovered. Years ago, he chose the love of music over his first love. But, he’d never forgotten her — the scent of her or her beautiful smile. Now that he’d returned, it looked like they would be forced together, co-hosting their small town’s Christmas Fair. Seeing the woman he loves once more, Denver’s attraction to her is stronger than ever. But, years of neglect and betrayal sit in between them like unbreakable walls. Maybe it’s too much to hope that Sierra would forgive him for the pain and heartache he’s caused her. But, Denver’s determined to ask for forgiveness anyway. Will Denver pick up his cowboy hat and cowboy boots and return home to stay? Can he convince Sierra that he will choose her this time... his first and forever love?

Get ready for a heartwarming Christmas romance where he falls first in this grumpy sunshine sports novel featuring a curvy small town heroine and a hockey player hero! Because sometimes love doesn't follow the playbook… When sunshiney Jenny wished for more adventure in her life, she never thought she’d be sent a grumpy hockey player. But could Dylan’s gruff exterior be nothing more than an act? Does this hockey hunk secretly enjoy their spirited debates that upset their friends at Thanksgiving? (Oops.) Of course, men like him don’t go for curvy, small town women… Or do they? Dylan can’t help but be captivated by Jenny's feisty, direct charm. The catch? Despite being benched for an injury that might end his career, he’s deep in trade talks that could send him across the continent. But since meeting Jenny, the idea of a life off the ice isn’t nearly as unsettling. Then again, maybe his foot will heal, he’ll get the girl, stay with his team, and have it all. Either way, he needs to convince Jenny that all this big-shot wants this holiday season is her. Note: All of the books in this series can be read as standalones.

She was so innocent, lovely and gentle — and the one woman that stirred his heart towards love. But he’d hurt her. Would he get a second chance to right old wrongs? The day Dakota Callahan left their small town, Sarah was glad. He was the man she had secretly loved for years. He saved her from the horrible man who tried to kidnap her as a teenager. But the last time she saw him, Dakota had been facing so much grief, loss and pain that he had overstepped his boundaries with her. It had shaken Sarah to her core. Now two years later, Dakota was back. To her, this man was larger than life and twice as dangerous. Sarah was worried that she would fall for him a second time. This time she feared, the heartache would be more than she could bear. Dakota couldn’t believe he was back home. As he followed the trail of a missing child and her kidnapper, it led him straight to his home town. Worse, now he found himself on the mountain, hurt and in pain. As a former FBI agent, he was used to tracking criminals and finding missing persons. Being weak and vulnerable was something he hated. So, when the beautiful Sarah MacDonald finds him limping and in pain, trying to walk down the mountain, he chafes at having to depend on her for help. Sarah insisted Dakota come to stay with her grandfather Angus MacDonald and her in their small cabin until he was fully healed. When an angry man — a neighbor on the mountain — tries to force Sarah to marry him, Dakota steps in and offers the unthinkable… a marriage of convenience. Trouble comes their way and Dakota has to use all his skills to keep Sarah close to protect her, while still protecting his heart. Will being forced together tear Dakota and Sarah apart, or throw them towards true love?

Colleen O’Hara’s friend is playing matchmaker. Not only is her friend tossing her a bridal bouquet, but she has the perfect man in mind for her to marry. All she needs is Colleen’s permission to give Mr. Perfect her email address. And Drake Reed sounds wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, Colleen accepts his online proposal. But before vows are exchanged, she will visit him. Unfortunately, there’s one small snag preventing her from her happy ending. And that snag happens to be someone he used to have a crush on in high school.