Can men and women ever really be friends? Lucy and Max have been best friends forever. Lucy, a bored beautician with a sad Jamie Oliver obsession, is determined to find kite-maker, Max a girlfriend. Someone who will meet up to her own high standards. In the name of 'True Love' and with the help of Jamie's 'The Naked Chef', Lucy decides to hold a 'Meet Max' dinner to find Max the right woman, in the form of her beautiful friend, Jenny. Food, wine and romance go hand in hand after all. But soon easy-going Max is running scared of man-eater, Jenny. He decides he'd much prefer to be out flying his power kites than falling into the dating pit again. However fate works in mysterious ways...

Widowed single mom Amanda Emory wants a fresh start—far away from Los Angeles and her troubling past. All she wants out of her new job is a secure income and a safe haven for her kids. But her matchmaking nine-year-old has other ideas…. Horse trainer Robbie Preston has never shied away from risks. And the sparks between Robbie and Amanda are definitely dangerous. Yet her past—and his reputation—stand between them. It will take some serious courting to change Amanda's mind, but Robbie is up for the challenge…even if it does give everyone something to talk about!

A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance. Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time—threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie. As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a “source” is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is “no comment”. With the launch of Jo’s film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all…but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames?

Sexy is as sexy does. And in Plum Orchard, sugar, it does! Emmeline Amos is sick of her ex saying she's boring and prissy. After all, she works for a phone-sex company! (As general manager, but still.) On a rare girls' night out, fueled by blender drinks and bravado, Em accepts a shocking dare—to handle a call herself. But it's tipsy Em who gets an earful from an irate single father on the other end of the line. Awkward. But not as awkward as discovering that same mad dad is Call Girls' gorgeous new programmer. Jax Hawthorne is still upset that his daughter called the "girlfriend store" on his behalf, but he can't deny he'd choose a hot-librarian type like Em if he were looking for love. Which he's not. Em wants to do more than just talk the talk. So she makes a bawdy bargain with Jax. They've both been burned before—this time, they'll keep it strictly physical. Except as soon as they settle on no strings attached, things start to get tangled….

JUST A LITTLE R & R… All wounded detective Jess Fargo wanted from reclusive widow Kate Mulholland was a place to rest, recover…and try desperately to connect with his estranged son. The last thing he wanted was any kind of involvement, and he had a feeling his lovely landlady felt the same… And she did. Because long ago, Kate realized that motherhood was never going to happen to her, and getting involved with the devastatingly attractive, if prickly, detective—not to mention his needy little boy—was not wise. But then she was forced to trust this strange but compelling man with her life. Could her heart be far behind?

This is the first book to focus solely on booktalking to adults. Here is an instruction manual and a material sourcebook in one; providing the reader with both step-by-step instructions on how to write a booktalk and 88 samples to use when creating a booktalk program for an adult audience.