"Are you his willingly?" Jackson demands, his blue eyes as dark as the clouds above our heads. "Tell me. Are you?"Jackson Vale. My boss's rival and the man I've thought far too much about since we were introduced last week. Of all the-- "I'm not his," I sputter indignantly. "I'm just his employee. He doesn't own me." And for some reason this sets off a flare of intensity and... satisfaction? in Jackson's expression. That's it, I officially give up trying to understand any of this. But then Jackson leans over and speaks so softly in my ear I can barely hear it above the falling rain. " If you belonged to me, Miss Cruise, you wouldn't look so disgusted. True ownership goes both ways. I would own you, but you'd own me, too. A concept I'm sorry to say Bryce Gentry's never understood." My breath hitches and I pull back from the intimacy of his voice on my ear, only to get lost in the dark blue of his eyes. "Let me go," I whisper. He does, but before he turns to go, those brooding eyes pierce me one last time. "I'll be seeing you again soon." And then he turns and is gone into the rain-soaked street, leaving me behind, breathless and confused.

Originally published: Honesdale, Pa.: Front Street, 2000.

Considered "slow" by his father, Lonzo tries his best to help his family in Culpeper, Virginia, during the Civil War and, in the process, comes to some decisions about how to live his life.

After many years of researching, studying and learning about simple everyday life situations we go through and listening to others, I finally made it to the point where I’m able to share a more personal look inside of my life and the lives of everyday normal people. As you read, “A Part Of Me, You & Us”, you’ll see life is not always a bed of roses as some would have You to believe, but it is a blessing. As I open up and expose a part of who I really am; a part I’ve kept hidden or at least I thought it was hidden; a part of Me that now wants to speak on its own terms. I realized my blessing isn’t just for Me, it’s also for those who God has brought and will bring into my life to assist Me in their own unique way and share their own stories. You’re going to read about some of the events that have helped Us get to this point in our lives. This is a look inside the minds of a few people who are willing to share their stories with the intent of helping others who may be on similar journeys. These are stories about Me, You and things we did together. That’s how Me and You became US and how our stories came into existence. So, here’s the next step to finding out who we really are and the journeys that got Us here. I hope when You read my book it enlightens your journey. Enjoy!

I'll do whatever it takes to get her back. She was mine and it was everything.That month with her was as near to perfect as I've ever had in my whole f'ed up life. But then I lost it all and I still don't know why. Though I suspect it had something to do with that rat b@stard, Bryce Gentry. One thing I do know: I'm not letting go of Callie Cruise without a fight. And it's time for Gentry to finally pay for his many sins.

Every family has favourite recipes that have passed down through the generations. I have spent a good part of my life wishing someone in our family would take the time to compile some of their favourites. As children we were encouraged to express ourselves through cooking. Many of these recipes have been tried, tested and loved by all. They have been expressed in a level that even the youngest reader can attempt their first creations without fear of failure. Take this book and make it your recipe box, mark the recipes you love, add your own to the extra pages provided and encourage future generations to pass them on. A small wish but a great demand. Our family is a circle of love and strength. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared adds more love. Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger. Memories have been cherished as well as our recipes.