Big Heart, Small Town Address Series by Sandy Appleyard

A woman he hates. A man she hates more. An unwanted child. And a man who tries to take it all away with one signature.As soon as Zack Walters walked into that sticky bar, I knew he couldn’t put a sentence together without effort. To my surprise, I’ve learned that he’s not a man of many words. His actions speak much louder. He didn’t know what he was getting into when he mixed with me. Truth is, I didn’t know, either. That’s been my life... moreA woman he hates. A man she hates more. An unwanted child. And a man who tries to take it all away with one signature.As soon as Zack Walters walked into that sticky bar, I knew he couldn’t put a sentence together without effort. To my surprise, I’ve learned that he’s not a man of many words. His actions speak much louder. He didn’t know what he was getting into when he mixed with me. Truth is, I didn’t know, either. That’s been my life. A laundry list of troubles isn’t what anyone wants, especially when it comes to one pint-sized person. It isn’t what I signed up for. It isn’t what Zack signed up for, either. But most important, it isn’t what a child should have to go through alone.She’s silver-tongued, audacious, and a huge pain in my ass. But I was raised to help when help’s needed. It’s what I do. She thinks I’m a fool, and sometimes I believe her, but falling in love twice in the same week doesn’t prove anyone wrong, least of all me. Despite the alarm bells going off all over, I can’t stay away from these girls, and one of them won’t let me leave. I just wish there were more guarantees. My brothers think that he’ll take her away, and if he doesn’t, with Kate’s troubles, something else might. It’s like a Euchre game. I just hope that my heart can trump their spades.…little do I know that the Euchre game is going to be trumped by a blast going off on the day that my brother says his vows.HEA (Happily Ever After)Hate to love romanceRanch romanceCowboy romanceMedium heatCourse languageCliffhanger ending less

She returns home. He watches over her. Then they both find out the truth, amongst a killer…a day too late.Years ago, I left Clarkstown with a sour puss on my face and better hopes for the future. But what I ended up with was extra baggage, in more ways than one, and even more reasons to leave. Now that I’m home, I’m not sure if Austin Walters looks at me with pity, hatred…or something else, as most of the town folk do... moreShe returns home. He watches over her. Then they both find out the truth, amongst a killer…a day too late.Years ago, I left Clarkstown with a sour puss on my face and better hopes for the future. But what I ended up with was extra baggage, in more ways than one, and even more reasons to leave. Now that I’m home, I’m not sure if Austin Walters looks at me with pity, hatred…or something else, as most of the town folk do. But when he figures out the real reason why I left, he looks at me in a different light. Even more importantly, he realizes more of what I need now that I’m back. And now I seem to look at him and everyone else differently, thanks to him.Whinny has changed a lot. It’s too bad that my family and my hometown can’t see that. Never the thorn in anyone’s side, as she thought she was, Whinny left. But now she’s back, and she needs help. Mama always says that there’s no point existing if we can’t help each other. So, I do, regardless of the warnings and looks I get in the process. As I’ve told her many times before, Whinny is one of a kind. I just wish she’d believe it.With a new baby arriving in the family, another wedding, and a renewed hope for Whinny, none of us realizes that a stranger from Whinny’s past is on his way to Clarkstown…with a gun in his hand and a score to settle.HEA (Happily Ever After)Ranch romanceCowboy romanceMedium heatCourse languageCliffhanger ending less

The millionaire. The orphaned Texan woman. The deadly night that changes everything. The contract that nobody bargained for. This rich guy and his friend show up, one’s drunk as a skunk, the other has an accent matching mine. I wonder why this stranger is here, dressed to kill, hanging with the usual vagrants that patronize my fifty-dollar-a-night motel. When he leaves his wallet here by mistake, I end up learning a whole lot more about this Terence Daniels fellow than I ever dreamed... moreThe millionaire. The orphaned Texan woman. The deadly night that changes everything. The contract that nobody bargained for. This rich guy and his friend show up, one’s drunk as a skunk, the other has an accent matching mine. I wonder why this stranger is here, dressed to kill, hanging with the usual vagrants that patronize my fifty-dollar-a-night motel. When he leaves his wallet here by mistake, I end up learning a whole lot more about this Terence Daniels fellow than I ever dreamed. Unfortunately, he doesn’t shed all the light, but when Ruby, his former lover, does, I realize why he kept mum…but I’m not about to keep my mouth shut. I don’t trust her to keep my wallet safe, or to send it via courier, so I drive, from Louisiana to Dallas, again, to get it. In the few minutes that I talk to her, this time sober, I wish like hell that I didn’t make the mistakes that I did. Before I know it, I’m emotionally involved with this woman, who runs a dilapidated motel, but has so much more promise. And days later, her world falls apart. Kobie is guarded, rightfully so, although what I offer her makes her eyes twinkle. ​But can what I’ve given her be the glue that holds us together? Or will Ruby’s fate darken Kobie’s future… less

She takes her secret to the grave. He can’t live again until he knows. But will the person he trusts tell him before he loses everything…again? Nope, I won’t do it. I’ve been offered many jobs over the years and stubbornly, I turn them down. But the what and when of this job offer may be too much to turn my cheek, especially when my boss is trying to sabotage me. And Jacob, damn, he’s the reason I want to turn the job down, but he’s also the reason I want to accept it... moreShe takes her secret to the grave. He can’t live again until he knows. But will the person he trusts tell him before he loses everything…again? Nope, I won’t do it. I’ve been offered many jobs over the years and stubbornly, I turn them down. But the what and when of this job offer may be too much to turn my cheek, especially when my boss is trying to sabotage me. And Jacob, damn, he’s the reason I want to turn the job down, but he’s also the reason I want to accept it. It’s written all over his face. It’s written in the contract. And the writing is all over the wall…in my guest bedroom. I’ve given her everything she could want. Sloane is the star employee, but Ruby warned me that she wouldn’t cave for me. Not even for the tidy sum I’m offering her. A woman like that…I’ve only seen once before. Never thought I’d see that type again. But she’s not for me, for so many reasons, and then something crazy happens, something that changes everything. And when Sloane is in my life, I have to stop myself. It’s not what you think. I can’t love anyone else. That part of me is dead. …but what if it was all a lie? …and what if I ruin everything, when the truth is only a screen touch away? HEA (Happily Ever After) Ranch romance Cowboy romance Office romance Medium heat Course language Cliffhanger ending less

Two people bad at relationships. Two criminals at large. As authorities vie for peace, two hearts struggle to unite. It seems like it will take a miracle…and then one happens. My brother Will, as much as I love him, he’s a thorn in my side. I feel like I’m spending more time visiting him at the jail house than I am at my own house. He’s becoming more cocky, unappreciative, and then he grows a pair and becomes downright sneaky, right under my nose... moreTwo people bad at relationships. Two criminals at large. As authorities vie for peace, two hearts struggle to unite. It seems like it will take a miracle…and then one happens. My brother Will, as much as I love him, he’s a thorn in my side. I feel like I’m spending more time visiting him at the jail house than I am at my own house. He’s becoming more cocky, unappreciative, and then he grows a pair and becomes downright sneaky, right under my nose. But the man behind the counter at the courthouse is no fool. I soon find out that he’s also Kate’s brother, Clay, and if I thought my brother Will’s life was a mess, Clay is no match. Until I learn something about him that I didn’t think any other man could teach me. And then there’s no turning back. There’s something about this jailbird that rubs me the wrong way. He’s got his sister wrapped around his scrawny little finger and it irks me to no end. Denice is not to be played with, and she’s got nerves of steel. I only wish I did, too. Making matters worse, I find out that my estranged sister Kayla is coming home, and I’m suddenly cloaked with the burden of watching her. It’s tough when adults behave worse than children, and it seems like Denice and I have common ground on that front. But no matter what they do, nothing can prepare me for the stunt that Will pulls next, and for what Denice tells me moments before that. …am I ready to fight this time…or will I run away faster than Will? HEA (Happily Ever After)Ranch romanceCowboy romanceMedium heatCourse languageCliffhanger ending less