How could young Amber not fall in love with her big brother's best friend, Ray? Audacious, bold and exhale-worthy handsome, Ray Coleman was everything a teenage girl could hope for. And when he left town to become one of the world's most daring photojournalists, Amber followed his every photo...spending her nights dreaming of his adventures and praying for his safety.Now grown up and the director of a nursery school in Vermont, Amber is happy with her stable, if not slightly boring, life...until Ray comes home to recover from an injury he received from covering a potentially huge story in the Middle East.Not the gangly girl he knew when he left town, Amber has filled out and blossomed into a beautiful woman...Ray can't help but notice...and appreciate. As both of their hearts gently awaken to the possibility of love, it seems certain that they have both found the greatest passion of their lives. But suddenly, a violent crime causes Amber's world to come crashing down, and...

Bette Ford writes the kind of passionate, emotionally-charged romance novels that readers come back to again and again. In Can't Stop Loving You, she once again explores the risks we take for love and how far we're willing to go for a chance at happiness. Temptation in paradiseSmart, sexy, successful Laura Murdock never mastered the fine arts of loving and trusting. Taking a well-deserved vacation from her work at a Detroit women's crisis center, she's prepared for three glorious weeks in the Virgin Islands. What she's not ready for is Wilham Sebastian Kramer.A brilliant artist, Wilham is pure magic—as bold and bewitching as his remarkable paintings. When Laura agrees to pose for him, she realizes she's stoking a fire too hot for either of them to control. So she runs from his arms, driven away from quite possibly the perfect man by a lifetime of cruel lessons.But the flame will not die—and the memory of their sweet...

Funny, sexy, and hot, ex-NBA star Ralph Prescott is Vanessa Grant's dream lover. He's also a notorious, no-good player—the wrong kind of man for a woman with big responsibilities. But at a mutual friend's lavish wedding, passion and curiosity get the best of maid of honor Vanessa, and Ralph reveals himself to be the best man in more ways than one.Ralph has had more than his share of women, but none has captivated him like Vanessa. To convince her that his player days are behind him, he'll have to show her what kind of man he truly is. He'll have to fight every inch of the way to break through her defenses and claim the blazing ecstasy they both want . . . and show her why she can't—and shouldn't—say no.

Zachary McFadden has loved Amanda Daniels since the first moment he saw her, when she was just 17 years old. Knowing the love in his heart would hold up to the test of time, Zachary waited for Amanda to finish college and grow into a woman before pursuing her. But did he wait too long? Amanda Daniels hasn't had the easiest life. Her mother committed suicide and her father fell to alcoholism, leaving Amanda to be raised by her grandmother. Early on, Amanda decided that love wasn't worth it...the hurt in her life so far had told her that she needed to protect herself because few others would. Mandy didn't want to fall in love, didn't want to need anyone again...she knew how easily people fail each other. But when her grandfather is dying, Amanda calls on Zach and in her grief, she and Zach make desperate and passionate love. When Amanda finds out she is pregnant, Zach marries her, elated to be with the love of his life and full of hope for their future together. But life has a...

From the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award-winning author for Multicultural Romance, Bette Ford, a novel about true love, fate and a tropical paradise..."Island Magic is an emotionally intense read...a beautiful love story with a beautiful setting." –Romantic TimesWith hard work and perseverance, Cassandra Mosely has transformed a bland rooming house into a popular California inn. Now what she really needs is a long-deserved break from work—and from her strained relationship with the wealthy businessman, Gordan Kramer. Looking for time and space to ponder her life, Cassandra takes a vacation to the beautiful island of Martinique...never expecting to find herself in a new romance that challenges her in ways she never thought possible...But Gordan doesn't give up that quickly and is determined to get Cassie back into his life. Now, in the paradise of Martinique, Cassy and Gordan must rediscover each other if they really want their relationship to work...

High school counselor Heather Gregory is ready and willing to fight uphill battles with her students. She knows what's right and is prepared to stand up for what she believes in. When powerful Detroit attorney Quinn Montgomery comes into her office to talk about his troubled teen daughter, Heather finds herself standing up quite tall for what she believes in. But what she wasn't ready for was the tenderness she senses beneath the handsome widower's prickly exterior...and how Quinn's protected tenderness feels like it could just bring her to her knees...A consummate workaholic, Quinn knew the only surefire way to ease the sorrow of losing his wife – and that cure was work, lots and lots of it. But while work was always a welcome distraction from his grief, it also distracted him from something very important to him – his daughter. Until he meets the breathtakingly beautiful guidance counselor, Heather, and he might just be able to see past his grief to realize...

When Taylor Hendricks met the basketball superstar and uber-successful businessman, Donald Williams - she couldn't help but melt with heat at his sexy good looks.But she also knew that his success represented some very real fears she had for her brother - a talented basketball player and top NBA draft choice.While being in the same room with Donald made Taylor's heart race and skin tingle, she was not impressed with his celebrity or money.But Donald, on the other hand, was impressed with Taylor, a down-to-earth beauty like he'd never known before - and he was determined to show her how wrong she was about him.The game between the two of them began the moment they saw each other - victory being love takes all.

When legal secretary Anthia Jenkins needed someone to talk to about her son's problems, her friend, Dexter Washington, director of the local Detroit community center, was always there to lend an ear. Long without a trusted man in her life, Anthia doesn't know if she could have gotten through her son's troubles without Dexter...and before long, Anthia starts to see all the kindness behind Dexter's rugged exterior. Sparkling chemistry tells Anthia that Dexter is just as passionate, so she can't understand why Dexter is keeping her at bay...But Dexter has a troubled past...one that convinced him romantic love wasn't in the cards for him. Yet—Dexter's growing attraction and admiration for Anthia blossoms into a passion like he's never known before...When Anthia discovers Dexter's secret, will he be able to convince Anthia of the truth...or will she walk out on love before she has a chance to discover the real Dexter Washington...and the redemptive power of love?

Mama's Pearl is a novella that was originally published in the anthology, A Mother's LoveFrom the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award-winning author for Multicultural Romance, Bette Ford, a novella about a second-chance romance for two high school sweethearts..."A poignant, sensual story showcasing the best qualities of romance: grace, forgiveness and healing." –Romantic TimesOnce, Sarah Dean and Kurt Rogers were high school sweethearts with their whole future together planned out. But circumstances beyond their control forced them to go their separate ways. Now, many years later, the secret that Sarah has harbored for so long is about to be revealed as Kurt returns to rekindle their long-ago passion—and a love that still burns in both their hearts.

Tormented by dark family secrets, lies and deception, the beautiful Diane Rivers had to struggle to make a life for herself. Though a successful career in teaching finally awarded her the long-fought-for independence she craved, it came at a price...a future with the man she loved the most, Charles Alexander Randol, III.Charles Randol, Vice President of Randol Pharmaceuticals is shocked when he discovers that Diane's promiscuous reputation is utterly false...Diane is a virgin. When Diane finally gathers up the nerve to share her true feelings with Charles, he immediately whisks her away to the island of St. Thomas for a private wedding, luxurious honeymoon and the intended happily ever after...But when they return to the States, Charles' whole world is rocked when he learns that Diane's virginity isn't the only secret she's kept from him. Faced with his wife's traumatic past, Charles finds himself torn between his deep love for her and the bitter betrayal he feels at...

Who needs love?Not Anna Prescott . . . she says. A smart, successful woman of substance, she is willing to be a friend to Gavin Mathis, who plays pro football for the Detroit Lions and is the finest specimen of the African-American male she's ever laid eyes on. Gavin's been tight with her brother Wesley for so long he's almost family.So Anna's happy when she can help Gavin out of a personal jam -- and the fact that he's setting fires inside her has nothing to do with it.Gavin feels the heat too, but he can't trust himself to love Anna. Her folks, who've always been good to him, would be enraged. Besides, if he marries, he's afraid he'll become an irresponsible deadbeat like his dad, who just dumped Gavin's little brother on the ballplayer's doorstep. But sparks are definitely flying and this sexy lady's got his heart pumping like mad -- and it's telling him to go for it . . . and to hell with the consequences.

No rebounds. . .Jenna Gaines has her Ph.D., a great teaching job at her alma mater, everything she ever wanted in life . . . almost. Once upon a time she wanted Scott Hendricks, but the NBA called and he left her to become a hoops star. Now hiscareer is over, and the only man Jenna ever loved is back at her school and in her life—too many years too late, as far as she's concerned.Jenna would have given up her dreams to follow Scott, which was the last thing he wanted. All Scott can think about now is the taste of her lips and how it feels to caress her silky ebony skin, but Jenna won't give him a second chance to break her heart. She will, however, let him be her backup and support when she reconnects with her long-lost brother.But anything could happen on their fateful trip—because Scott still has the moves . . . and the magic.

Her Second Chance is the long-awaited contemporary African American romance from Romantic Times Career Achievement Award winning author, Bette Ford.A fiercely independent woman...Trenna McAdams's main goal in life is independence. After a tragic (and tragically wrong!) marriage, she's finally realized her dream of running a prestigious preschool, bringing her closer than she ever thought possible to being truly happy. If only she wasn't constantly distracted by the attentions of the charming, dynamic Darrin Morgan. Sure, she likes the way he fills out the shoulders of his custom-made suits, but there're also those rumors in their office building about his womanizing ways. Surely, he could get any woman he wants. And Trenna isn't interested in being a notch on anyone's bedpost.A successful, smooth-talking man...Four years ago, Darrin Morgan's life changed the moment he laid eyes on Trenna McAdams. With every fiber of...