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The Crown's Fate (Crown's Game #2)
by Evelyn SkyeThe gorgeous and darkly compelling sequel to The Crown’s Game—perfect for fans of Red Queen and Shadow and Bone.A New York Times bestseller!Magic is growing, shadows are rising, and the throne is at stake…Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected. Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.
The Crown's Game (Crown's Game #1)
by Evelyn Skye"Gorgeous and richly imagined."—Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series"Teeming with hidden magic and fiery romance."—Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the AshesPerfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and Red Queen, The Crown’s Game is a thrilling and atmospheric historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia about two teenagers who must compete for the right to become the Imperial Enchanter—or die in the process—from debut author Evelyn Skye.Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.
The Cruelest Mercy
by Natalie MaeIn this sequel to The Kinder Poison—which People magazine proclaimed a "delicious high-stakes adventure"—the magical kingdom of Orkena is on the brink of war, and the only person who can save it is Zahru, the girl they once doomed to death.After surviving the Crossing, Zahru has sworn off adventures. While Crown Prince Jet navigates the looming threat of war, she's content to simply figure out what the future holds for them. But they're dealt a devastating blow when prince Kasta returns with a shocking claim: he's the true winner of the Crossing and the rightful heir, and he bears the gods' mark as proof. Even more surprising—he's not the only one.Somehow, Zahru possesses the very same mark, giving her equal right to the throne. The last thing she wants is to rule beside her would-be executioner, but she can't let Orkena fall into his merciless hands. So Zahru, Jet, and their allies must race against the clock to find a way to stop Kasta, because once he's crowned, there's no telling what horrors he'll unleash to win the war. Zahru will do whatever it takes to keep Kasta from taking the throne...but to stop a villain, is she willing to become one herself?
The Crunch Factor
by Andaleeb WajidLove comes in all tastes and spices! Twenty-six-year-old Aliya loves almost everything to do with food ? eating it, styling it, photographing it. But while her career as a food photographer is on track, her personal life is entirely derailed. Determined to move out of her parents? house, she agrees to marry Kamaal, the hot owner of the trendy new restaurant in town. But why does she feel like she?s waded into a bowl of bland khichri? Where?s the papad, dammit? Where?s the crunch factor? Then, on the day of her engagement, she finds out that the celebrated chef at Kamaal?s restaurant is none other than Sameer, an old crush from her younger days. Aliya cannot believe that, even a decade later, he?s still as hot as jalapeno poppers and as charming as cheesecake, and that she?s as attracted to him as she was all those years ago. What is Aliya to do now? Should she go ahead with the wedding and settle for a Milky Bar-like relationship with Kamaal, or should she choose rocky road pie and explore her possibilities with Sameer?
The Crush
by Sandra BrownAfter she unwittingly frees a dangerous contract killer, a surgeon reluctantly joins forces with a tenacious detective obsessed with taking down their enemy at all costs.As a surgeon, Dr. Rennie Newton is the consummate professional. When she's summoned to jury duty, she brings competence and composure to the courtroom -- a skill she learned while performing surgeries. It is this commitment to precision that compels her to deliver a not guilty verdict in the murder case against notorious contract killer Ricky Lozada. It will be the most regrettable decision of her life. When a rival colleague is brutally slain, Lozada's menacing shadow looms over the murder, but the investigators pinpoint Rennie as the prime suspect. Soon, the police begin violating the privacy she has cultivated and protected at all costs. And when Lozada begins an earnest courtship, it becomes terrifyingly clear that he is obsessed with having her. Wick Threadgill is a detective on indefinite leave from the Fort Worth PD with a very personal agenda for the contract killer. Temperamental, bitter, and driven by loyalty and love, Wick is determined to destroy Lozada. In order to defeat him -- and save their own lives -- Rennie and Wick form an uneasy alliance. Mistrustful of each other, they know only one thing with absolute certainty: like one of Lozada's prize scorpions, they won't see it coming when this killer strikes. The Crush will take you on a tortuous path through a twisted sociopath's eerie obsession, a haunted man's fragile hopes for redemption, and a woman's heart as she struggles to face her greatest fear: to open herself to love.
The Crush (An Oregon Wine Country Romance #1)
by Heather HeyfordIn Oregon&’s Willamette Valley wine country, the grape isn&’t the only source of intoxication . . . &“Heartwarming romance . . .lots of spark and great chemistry&” (RT Book Reviews, four stars). Juniper Hart has her dream job—or rather, her dream job has her. Under Junie&’s management, the winery her late father started is finally getting noticed. But she&’s lonely, deep in debt, and overwhelmed with work. Even if she had time to date, the only men she meets are smug, stemware-breaking hotshots like Lt. Manolo Santos, whose good looks and smooth charm don&’t half make up for the sour taste he leaves on Junie&’s palate. After years as an army engineer and a childhood in a restaurant kitchen, Manolo can see Junie&’s winery is about to go sideways—and he&’s bursting with ideas to help. Except Junie&’s far too magnetic for comfort. He left New Jersey to escape becoming one more Santos man shackled to a captivating woman and a failing family business. But in the misty hills of Oregon, with a sip of supple Pinot on his tongue, pulling away is the last thing he wants to do . . . &“Between all the rich wine and delicious food dangled so temptingly in front of readers, expect to develop a few cravings while devouring this novel.&” —RT Book Reviews
The Crush Revisited (Lincoln Hill Ser.)
by Shawn LaneTim Olfander escapes his busy, hectic life in LA to attend his ten year high school reunion in the city he left behind years ago, Lincoln Hill. There, at the resort the reunion has booked, his gaze falls almost instantly on the sexy, pretty guy behind the check-in counter. He chats up the guy only to learn he is the assistant manager, Brandon Collins.Tim instantly sets in motion his plan to spend the week at the resort with Brandon's sweet body under his. He has no clue he’s no stranger to Brandon. He went to the same high school and is also going to be at the reunion.Back then, Brandon was a shy, closeted nerd who had a big crush on Tim. Now’s Brandon’s chance to revisit that old crush from high school too. But he doesn’t want to give away his heart this time.
The Crush: The gripping thriller from #1 New York Times bestseller
by Sandra BrownObsession is about to get deadly . . .When Dr Rennie Newton is summoned to jury duty, she brings to the courtroom the same degree of dedication and composure that she displays in the operating room. And it is this commitment to duty and precision that compels her to return a not guilty verdict in the trial of notorious killer, Ricky Lozada. But it might prove the most regrettable decision of her life . . .When a rival colleague is brutally slain, Rennie is cast as prime suspect even though Lozada's menacing shadow looms over the murder. Not only does Lozada seem to be insinuating himself into every aspect of her life, but the police also seem intent on invading her privacy - particularly Wick Threadgill, an embittered detective with vengeance on his mind and a point to prove. As the stakes continue to rise, Rennie and Wick decide to forge an uneasy alliance - but what they both have yet to realise is that when the killer strikes, they won't see it coming . . .*********** Praise for Sandra Brown 'Suspense that has teeth' Stephen King 'Lust, jealousy, and murder suffuse Brown's crisp thriller' Publishers Weekly 'An edge-of-the-seat thriller that's full of twists . . . Top stuff!' Star
The Crushes
by Pamela WellsThe girls from The Heartbreakers are back, and in paperback! And this time, they're looking to fall in love. Alexia, Raven, Kelly, and Sydney have always been there for each other - through breakups and heartaches, good times and bad. But during one summer, their friendship will be tested in ways they never imagined. Sydney and Drew are back together, but there's some trouble in paradise. Raven loves Horace - but isn't sure she'll remember that when he's thousands of miles away.
The Crystal Call
by Jaimie N. SchockSequel to The Queen's PainDakota must track down his daughter Kenna, who has gone missing during the attack on the U.S. Capitol. But when he finds her, he is left reeling. Kenna has been chosen to save the world from talismans, and she intends to depart on a dangerous journey to accomplish the task. Moreover, she has no plan to include Dakota.As they go their separate ways, Kenna begins an adventure that will change and damage her. Meanwhile, Dakota and Terrell must rely on each other to continue on without her. Though each group have wildly different missions, they both must learn to survive in new environments and take on challenges that will help define them.Will Kenna finish her work and stop the talisman war for good? And what will happen to Dakota while she's away?
The Crystal Lake (Archangel Chronicles Ser. #5)
by L. J. LabartheSequel to The Wind-up Forest Archangel Chronicles: Book Five <P><P>The thief of the Grail has been identified and the Brotherhood of Archangels is moving to counter her evil machinations. But as demons flock to the side of the thief and betray Hell, monsters are enslaved and shifters and an angel turn traitor. The love between Gabriel and Michael is tested as they join the rest of the Brotherhood on the trail of Naamah. Danger makes strange bedfellows in the form of Lucifer, the Archdemons, and Lilith. <P><P>A traitor lurks among the angels and humans, and the Venatores are discovering vital new information. Lovers Liam, a Necromancer, and Baxter, a shifter working for Michael's Venatores unit, must face not just the living but the dead. Archangels Raziel and Uriel contend with demands on Raziel's power that wear him to the brink of exhaustion. The Brotherhood will need all their strength to prevail against the threats surrounding them.
The Crystal Rose
by Rebecca BrandewyneEngland, 1850: As she makes her way through London's crowded streets, Rose Windermere is nearly knocked to the ground by a man who whispers a dire warning. . . ;and presses a letter into her hands before fleeing. The letter seems innocuous enough-merely plans for a gentleman to meet his lover. But for Rose, the mark with which it is sealed recalls her idyllic childhood in India and a world that was destroyed one terrible night, when an uprising left her dearest friend, Hugo, dead. Amidst a city enthralled by its Great Exhibition, Rose is pulled back into the exotic land of her youth, as the past comes unimaginably alive. Caught in a web of deceit and intrigue, she must unravel the strange machinations of a man whose lust for power will threaten a monarchy-and Rose's own heart.
The Crystal Run: Book 1 (Crystal Run #1)
by Sheila O'FlanaganThe gripping children's debut from the Sunday Times and Irish Times No. 1 bestselling author is a page-turning fantasy quest novel for fans of Cornelia Funke, Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman.'I am proud to die for Carcassia,' said Kaia. 'All Runners have a special place in our world, in our history.'Kaia Kukura has been awarded the great honour of protecting her country, and is determined to bring wealth and glory to her family. She must travel through enemy territory to replace the precious Kerala crystals that power Carcassia's protective shield. But no Runner is permitted to return after their mission. When Kaia hasfulfilled her Runner's oath, she knows her life must end.But sometimes it takes an outsider, someone from a different world, to question the truth.Fourteen-year-old Joe can barely outrun the school bullies who torment him daily. Cornered yet again, he tries to escape - and finds himself falling through a portal into another world. There, he meets fierce and strong Kaia. Together they discover that not everyone in Carcassia can be trusted - and that there are terriblelies at the heart of Kaia's beloved home.Can their combined strength and skill help Kaia save her country and herself? And will Joe ever find a way back to his own world?
The Crêpes of Wrath: A Pancake House Mystery (A Pancake House Mystery #1)
by Sarah FoxIn the debut of a delightful cozy mystery series, Sarah Fox introduces a charming new heroine who finds herself in a sticky situation: stacking pancakes, pouring coffee, and investigating murder.Bonus content: includes original recipes inspired by the Flip Side Pancake House menu! When Marley McKinney's aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it--and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff. After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy's workshop, Marley is determined to find out what's really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she's not careful, she's going to get burned by a killer who's only interested in serving up trouble.
The Cuban
by Kim RodriguezMiami billionaire Amanda Rose has never wanted for anything. Born into a lifestyle of exotic cars, couture gowns, private jets and oceanside mansions, the brainy beauty has always had the world at her fingertips. No was not a word Amanda ever had to learn. Just ninety miles across the water, devastatingly handsome Rafael De Leon grew up in the poorest part of Havana, where unforgiving streets taught him how to survive and relentless attention from female admirers turned him into a world-class lover. Simple pleasures were all he had. Now, amid the dark, misty straits halfway between Florida and Cuba, good girl Amanda can’t resist when a sexy, blue-eyed waiter named Rafa offers just one night dedicated exclusively to her pleasure, no strings attached. In between rounds of explosive lovemaking that take her to heights she never dreamed possible, the two form an unexpected bond after Rafa shares the details of his distinguished past. Amanda wants more, but Rafa, proud alpha male to the core, is unwilling to be a rich woman’s flavor of the month. Convinced she’ll only break his heart, he decides there’s no chance… until he opens the envelope she leaves behind. The Cuban is book one of the Magic in Miami series, the story of Rafa De Leon’s scorching hot love affair with heiress Amanda Rose and his dramatic rise to power as leader of a secret Santeria society with global political interests. Look for book two, The Santero, and book three, The Politico, coming soon.
The Cuckoo's Calling: Cormoran Strike Book 1 (Cormoran Strike #1)
by Robert Galbraith'The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place' VAL MCDERMID-----Now a major BBC drama: The Strike seriesWhen a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.Strike is a war veteran - wounded both physically and psychologically - and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model's complex world, the darker things get - and the closer he gets to terrible danger . . .A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London - from the hushed streets of Mayfair to the backstreet pubs of the East End to the bustle of Soho - The Cuckoo's Calling is a remarkable book. Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.*** The latest book in the thrilling Strike series, TROUBLED BLOOD is out now! ***-----PRAISE FOR THE STRIKE SERIES: 'One of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years' MARK BILLINGHAM'The work of a master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Unputdownable. . . Irresistible' SUNDAY TIMES'Will keep you up all night' OBSERVER'A thoroughly enjoyable classic' PETER JAMES, SUNDAY EXPRESS
The Cuckoo's Calling: Cormoran Strike Book 1 (Strike #1)
by Robert Galbraith***The 7th novel in the Strike series, THE RUNNING GRAVE, is coming in September 2023. Pre-order now and be the first to read it***'The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place' VAL MCDERMID-----Now a major BBC drama: The Strike seriesWhen a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.Strike is a war veteran - wounded both physically and psychologically - and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model's complex world, the darker things get - and the closer he gets to terrible danger . . .A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London - from the hushed streets of Mayfair to the backstreet pubs of the East End to the bustle of Soho - The Cuckoo's Calling is a remarkable book. Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.*** The latest book in the thrilling Strike series, TROUBLED BLOOD, is out now! ***-----PRAISE FOR THE STRIKE SERIES: 'One of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years' MARK BILLINGHAM'The work of a master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPH'Unputdownable. . . Irresistible' SUNDAY TIMES'Will keep you up all night' OBSERVER'A thoroughly enjoyable classic' PETER JAMES, SUNDAY EXPRESS
The Cuckoo's Child
by Marjorie EcclesA young woman comes of age and discovers her hidden past in this gripping historical mystery set in the north of England. England, 1909. When twenty-one-year-old Laura Harcourt accepts a position in Wainthorpe, a small Yorkshire town, to catalog books in an old manor house owned by wealthy local Ainsley Beaumont, she does not dream that it will change her life forever. But she arrives to find the Beaumont family still torn apart by the death of Ainsley&’s son in a disastrous fire twenty years past. Worse still, the damaged wing of the house remains untouched. When a dead body surfaces in the water at Beaumont&’s mill, long-buried secrets soon follow—including Laura&’s unexpected connection to the Beaumont family. Rendered in exquisite period detail, Cuckoo&’s Child is a moving, suspenseful mystery of love, lies, and murder. &“Eccles&’ latest enjoyably blends historical romance and suspenseful murder mystery in a keep-&’em-guessing plot with revealing insights into English society at the time and authentic period ambience. Entertaining reading for fans of British historicals.&” —Booklist
The Cul-de-Sac War
by Melissa FergusonAll&’s fair in love and prank wars. Bree Leake doesn&’t want to be tied down. She&’s had more jobs than she can count, and she plans to move as soon as the curtains fall on her less-than-minor stage role at The Barter—the oldest live performance theater in the US. But just when it&’s time to move on again, Bree&’s parents make her an offer: hold steady for a full year, and they will give her the one thing she&’s always wanted—her grandmother&’s house. Her dreams are coming true . . . until life at the theater throws her some curve balls. And then there&’s Chip McBride—her handsome and infuriating next-door neighbor. Chip just might be the only person whose stubborn streak can match Bree&’s. She would move heaven and earth to have him off her cul-de-sac and out of her life, but according to the bargain she&’s struck, she can&’t move out of her house and away from the man who&’s making her life miserable. So begins Bree&’s obsessive new mission: to drive Chip out of the neighborhood—and fast. Bree isn&’t the only one who&’s a tad competitive, and Chip is more than willing to fight fire with fire. But as their pranks escalate, the line between love and hate starts to blur—and their heated rivalry threatens to take a hilarious, heartwarming, and romantic new turn.
The Cultured Handmaiden: A Novel
by Catherine CooksonJinny Brownlow was labelled by her exboyfriend as 'a cultured handmaiden'- someone so agreeable, so polite, so eager to please, she let people wipe their boots on her. Working with a marked lack of job satisfaction in the typing pool of a large Tyneside engineering firm, Jenny's only outside interest was amateur dramatics. The label was appropriate until the day she was suddenly called upon to stand hi as secretary for the firm's formidable boss, and later the same day the leading light from the Fellburn Players invited her to Sunday lunch. Both these older men had demands to make of her, and each would prove a catalyst in the reshaping of Jinny's future pattern of life.
The Cupcake Diaries: Recipe for Love
by Darlene PanzeraFor fans of Debbie Macomber comes Recipe for Love, the second installment in the Cupcake Diaries series. Relationships can be tricky, but will Mike the magician convince Rachel to break her two-date rule?Rachel Donovan believes first dates are fabulous, second dates are fun, but third dates? She never sees a guy three times in a row for fear hell break her heart, but shes tempted to make an exception when her coworkers, Andi and Kim, hire Mike Palmer to drive their Cupcake Mobile. Mike meets Rachel when hes wearing his black-masked magician costume at a Creative Cupcakes birthday party and then tries to saw her in half. He draws closer while helping Rachel devise promotion plans to outsmart the arrogant new French pastry chef threatening to put the shop out of business. When a rat runs through the middle of her glitzy promo party and the video is uploaded to YouTube, Rachel fears she wont be able to save the shop, help her mother pay for her grandfathers medical treatment, or win back the heart of the one guy shes come to love . . . or will she?
The Cupcake Diaries: Spoonful of Christmas
by Darlene PanzeraFor fans of Debbie Macomber comes Spoonful of Christmas, the fourth installment in the popular Cupcake Diaries series.Andi, Rachel, and Kim each have their own reasons for wanting this Christmas at Creative Cupcakes to be special.Andi is scared that Jake's job offer with another newspaper will move them to a different state.Rachel, set to marry Mike on Christmas Eve, is afraid her cousin Stacey will ruin the wedding.Kim fears she'll never get a ring and Nathaniel will leave her after the holidays are over.What they didn't count on was having a modern-day Grinch try to steal Christmas away from them. Can they unmask the culprit before it's too late ... or will this be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons?
The Cupcake Diaries: Sprinkled with Kisses
by Darlene PanzeraFans of Debbie Macomber will adore the fifth installment in Darlene Panzera's sweet Cupcake Diaries series ... a tale of sand, sun, and summer love!Stacey McIntyre thinks she'll pay off her debt in no time when Andi, Rachel, and Kim ask her to manage Creative Cupcakes' stand on the beach. But selling cupcakes isn't as easy as it seems. Especially when Dave Wright, the handsome owner of an ice cream truck, proves he's as determined as the dive-bombing seagulls to take away her sales.Dave's done with dating and done with beautiful, headstrong women like Stacey. Then the refrigeration system in his truck breaks, and instead of gloating, Stacey helps him out of a tight spot ... and is rewarded with a kiss.Now Stacey isn't sure where they stand. Will Dave push her back into the role of rival? Or can she convince Mr. Wright that working together will lead to sweeter rewards?
The Cupcake Diaries: Sweet On You (The\cupcake Diaries #1)
by Darlene PanzeraEveryone knows business and pleasure don't mix . . . or do they?Andi Burke has a dream—a kitchen big enough to dance in, regular income to support her daughter, and a chance to find true love. So when she enlists her sister Kim and their bubbly best friend Rachel to help open Creative Cupcakes, it all seems perfect.Especially when hunky local reporter Jake Hartman offers to finance the store for them. Andi hasn't dated since her divorce, but the way Jake keeps looking at her might make her change her mind. After all, what could go wrong?Plenty! There's a shady tattoo parlor behind their shop, a crowd of crazy Zumba dancers out front (chanting "Lose the fat, dance with Pat!"), and about the only thing going right is Andi's romance . . . until Jake's media crew captures a story that could shut the two of them down forever.
The Cupcake Diaries: Taste of Romance
by Darlene PanzeraFor fans of Debbie Macomber comes Taste of Romance, the third installment in the Cupcake Diaries series. Kimberly Burke has avoided all types of risk since her mothers deadly plane crash--including risky relationships. Seems like everyone is always leaving her behind: her ex-boyfriend, her mother, and now her sister Andi and best friend Rachel--who have each found the man of her dreams. Then she meets Nathaniel when she mistakes his backyard for the new community park. He loves her passion, and when he learns of her wistful desire to travel, he takes her up in a hot air balloon, hoping to overcome her fear of flying so that she can accompany him abroad. But before he leaves, they must catch the Cupcake Bandit and replace the money stolen from Creative Cupcakes before the shop is shut down. Will discovering the thiefs identity persuade Kim to take a risk on love . . . or will she stay behind and let Nathaniel fly off without her?