Shortly after the end of war with Mexico, Kathleen Adams disgraces her family when she travels west to the New Mexico territory to teach school. In the midst of her travels, the notorious desperado Black Bart holds up her stage and unexpectedly steals something very personal from hera kiss. With that kiss, their bond is forever sealed. As they become inseparable and their lives inextricably intertwined, they realize they are meant to be together. They attend a Mexican fiesta in the nearby settlement of San Pedro and visit an infamous gambling hole called El Diablo. Meanwhile, she has aroused the suspicion of Hiram Brown, the town banker, who was also on the stage when it was intercepted by Black Bart. Kathleen has also befriended Brigitte, the Swedish lady who runs the boarding house where she gets her meals and in whom she feels she can confide. Suspecting that the banker has a plan in place to take Bart down, Kathleen tries to warn the desperado before it happens. Now that she has left behind a quiet existence for the excitement of the Wild West and found the love of her life, will she get to him in timeor lose him forever?

Konrad Ventana throws open the curtain to a perennial drama with a depth of language that can only be described as symphonic. Blazing with eye-opening drama, keen psychological insights, and layers of linguistic pyrotechnics, the reader is at once awed and entertained. This riveting drama follows the trail of a western outlaw biochemist of the subterranean territories through the neo-shamanistic dystopia, neo-contemplative hoo-ha, and blatant neoteny of the 1970's New Age movements on the hunt for more profound and sublime naturalistic roots. The reader will be stunned by the enduring power of 'artistic ideals' vis--vis wan and vapid 'philosophical idealisms' in molding the indomitable traditions of society. With this first Post-Lux Swan Song, Konrad Ventana manipulates language in a timeless theme as elegant as a classical ballet, as poignant as our heartfelt emotions, and as enduring as the resonance of a new and illuminating apperception. This most remarkable book is truly a picture window to behold.

SHELTER FROM THE STORM The leather-jacketed stranger was clearly as dangerous as any man Randi Cullen had ever set eyes on. But she couldn't abandon him—or the defenseless baby with him—to the rainswept Texas night… She offered them both a refuge on her isolated ranch. And when she learned that Manuel Sanchez was an undercover federal agent hunting a ruthless killer, she even agreed to marriage—in name only—to protect his cover… But having this man in her life was touching off a storm of desire in an untouched woman's heart—a storm from which she feared she would never find shelter…

Araminta Winthrop had dreaded her wedding night. Then a band of black-clad desperadoes burst into her wedding reception and the green-eyed beauty found herself captive of her husband's bitter enemy. But the darkly handsome Rigo del Castillo heated her blood like no other man: The notorious bandolero had awakened a passion within her. Soon Araminta found herself aching for Rigo's sweet kisses and yearning for his tender caresses. For when the brazen outlaw had stolen her from her life, he had carved out a future filled with love for them to share.

As human beings, we are created with universal longings. Where can our restless hearts find fulfillment? Philosopher and apologist Greg Ganssle argues that our widely shared human aspirations are best understood in the light of the Christian story, and that the good news of Jesus Christ makes sense of—and fulfills—our deepest desires.