Haven Crest Series by Vicki Keener

RUSTY GATES, a military trained sniper, is partnered with CHASE CARR, a new team member in the auxiliary SWAT team that is called into action when the regular SWAT teams from the surrounding areas need help. During field exercises and debriefs afterward, Chase praises her abilities, but in private he taunts her with sexist remarks, leaving Rusty no avenue to denounce him publicly... moreRUSTY GATES, a military trained sniper, is partnered with CHASE CARR, a new team member in the auxiliary SWAT team that is called into action when the regular SWAT teams from the surrounding areas need help. During field exercises and debriefs afterward, Chase praises her abilities, but in private he taunts her with sexist remarks, leaving Rusty no avenue to denounce him publicly. In private she fights him with caustic words and deeds while, at the same time, wanting to succumb to his romantic overtures to her. When Chase moves into the apartment below hers, their meetings are inevitable and Rusty's resolve to remain uninvolved with Chase crumbles. Because she's heard him say many times that he's not the marrying kind, she knows their relationship won't stand the test of time. Rusty's mother who has never married raised her alone. Rusty was subjected to an ongoing parade of her mother's “visitors” which has made Rusty determined to never be promiscuous like her mother. As soon as Rusty graduated from high school, she joined the Army and didn't return to her hometown until seven years later with an honorable discharge, a college degree and pots full of money. She puts her money to good use by revitalizing the town, turning it into a tourist mecca. Chase is jealous of the new veterinarian in town that he thinks Rusty has a romantic interest in and pursues Rusty with more determination. When extenuating circumstances force Rusty and Chase into a committed relationship, she doesn't believe that Chase will stay with her. Will Rusty's actions force him away or does he love her enough to work through their problems? less

MEGAN O'BRIEN was raised to be prim, proper and set a perfect example for her two younger sisters. She's spent her twenty-seven years living up to that expectation until GREY DEVLIN saunters into her life. Megan opened her own law firm a year ago, but it is floundering and she needs to hire a lawyer who can bring in more business. With few experienced applicants, Megan is loath to partner with Grey when he applies... moreMEGAN O'BRIEN was raised to be prim, proper and set a perfect example for her two younger sisters. She's spent her twenty-seven years living up to that expectation until GREY DEVLIN saunters into her life. Megan opened her own law firm a year ago, but it is floundering and she needs to hire a lawyer who can bring in more business. With few experienced applicants, Megan is loath to partner with Grey when he applies. She considers him to be nothing more than an "ambulance chaser," since he specializes in personal injury law. She knows him slightly because they both worked for a large firm in the city right out of law school. When the junior associates went out as a group after an eighty hour week of work, she refused his offers to dance with him. She considers him a “smooth operator” and will not be a part of the group of women who hang all over him. Against her better judgment, she signs a partnership contract with him. When he takes her in his arms that very first night, he awakens the latent sexuality that she's been repressing all her adult life. Megan revels in what Grey has unleashed in her. Her father is appalled and their loving relationship is strained. Her sisters reveal that they have more experience with men than Megan ever had. Grey has a secret and her parents know what it is. Will her parents tell Megan and, if they do, will it destroy Megan's love for Grey? less

CARA O'BRIEN is an attorney at Devlin & Devlin, her sister and brother-in-law's successful law firm in Haven Crest. She's spent the last nine years getting her college degree, law degree and practicing law and realizes she doesn't like the work or the small town where she works. She's alone at the law firm late on a Friday evening, finishing some work so she can begin her nine day vacation... moreCARA O'BRIEN is an attorney at Devlin & Devlin, her sister and brother-in-law's successful law firm in Haven Crest. She's spent the last nine years getting her college degree, law degree and practicing law and realizes she doesn't like the work or the small town where she works. She's alone at the law firm late on a Friday evening, finishing some work so she can begin her nine day vacation. She has no concrete plans, but she knows all the hot spots in Philadelphia and she intends to make the most of her time off work. Her natural exuberance and quest for fun has been stifled too long. Cara hears a high-performance engine pull up out front and goes to the window to see who was on the quiet street at this time of day. She peeks out the window and sees a tall, dark and handsome man get out of his Lamborghini and walk up the steps to the front door. When he spots her and calls her Cara Mia, she thinks he knows her name. She lets him into the office. RICARDO FORTINI has gone to the wrong address to pick up the call girl he's arranged for to be his make-believe wife for a week while his mother is visiting from Italy. He's told his mother that he is married, because she harangues him about getting married and giving her grandchildren. The mistake soon becomes apparent. Cara scoffs when he suggests she play the role of his wife for the week, but when he takes her dancing and she melts in his arms, she reconsiders it, and as a lark, she agrees. They both soon realize the act they display for his mother has deeper roots than either of them want to admit. Cara learns that Ricardo travels the world for business and is seldom home. His extraordinary wealth affronts her when there are people in need. It's not how she's envisioned a relationship with a man she loves. Ricardo knows that a wife and children would be an encumbrance to his lifestyle, but he can't deny how Cara taught him to have fun in his life, something that's been sorely missing. Can these two opposites, with such diverse lifestyles and goals, resolve their differences? And if they can, will Ricardo expose a character trait that Cara cannot abide? less