A HERO'S SURPRISE Bridesmaids Creek, Texas, loves weddings. So favorite son Ty Spurlock hatches a plan to bring his single cowboy friends to town to woo the local ladies...as long as they stay away from Jade Harper. Ty secretly wants the gorgeous redhead for himself...even though he's about to leave town to join the Navy SEALs. Jade refuses to stand in the way of Ty's dream of being a SEAL...but she also can't hide her precious surprise--two precious surprises!--when her hero comes home for Christmas. The whole town is in on a secret that's about to rock Ty's world. Head over heels for his twin girls, he's ready to do the honorable thing. But how can Jade say yes to a man who was never meant to be tied down?

New Zealand Driving Holidays (NZDH) provides the ultimate 'on the road guide' to NZ whether you're following the beaten track, taking the road less travelled, or simply enjoying the read from the comfort of an armchair. Spanning the nation from tip to toe, the 29 scenic routes detailed in this new practical guide appeal to both national and international visitors alike. Written by top NZ travel journalist Donna Blaber, NZDH is a true insider's guide, jam-packed with local information, travel tips, and humour, presented in an easy-to-read itinerary format with accompanying maps and stunning panoramic photography. All driving holidays enable visitors and self-drive enthusiasts to see the country at a pace that leaves time to savour the moment, with breakout options highlighting day trips of special interest. Alternatively readers can select highlights from different stories and create their own unique pathway through this fascinating land, meeting colourful local characters en route, absorbing cultural highlights and savouring regional food and wine.

“A treasure-trove of useful, well-organized information on sea-going parenting.” —Gary “Cap’n Fatty” Goodlander, Author of Buy, Outfit and Sail Choosing a boat that is right for your family; handling the naysayers; keeping your children safe, healthy and entertained afloat—this inspirational and comprehensive guide may be just what you need to turn your dream into a reality. The three authors, who have each voyaged thousands of miles with children on board, provide a factual and balanced look at the realities of family life on the sea. From their own experience and with information from interviews with dozens of other voyaging parents, they discuss caring for an infant on board, handling the changing needs of children as they grow, education options, ensuring parents find the private time to keep their relationships in tune, and helping children make the eventual transition back to shore life. Added to the authors’ voices are sidebars from other cruising parents with specialized information on subjects as diverse as handling special diets and how your children can keep in touch with friends around the world. A unique bonus chapter, written by a dozen former cruising kids, looks at the long-term effects of breaking away from shoreside normalcy. A substantial appendix of resources provides valuable further information on the subjects covered in this book. It is said that every parent inflicts their lifestyle choices on their children. Read this book to find why heading out to sea with your children may be the most rewarding infliction of all.

To Save A SEAL… When Navy SEAL Heath Stone's wife died, he thought his heart was closed forever. When he finds Libby Dewitt, eight months pregnant and stranded outside Bent Road, Oregon, he is drawn to her beauty, but also to her sweet and generous nature. But how can he even think about being with someone else? He had love once and lost it—and he's not sure he can take that kind of loss a second time. Alone and estranged from her family, Libby Dewitt always wondered what it would feel like to truly belong. She feels at home with Heath, but he just won't let her in. Despite her own troubles, her heart aches for everything Heath has been through. To save this SEAL, Libby is ready to fight—for love!

From San Francisco to the Ginza in Tokyo, Lefty O’Doul relates the untold story of one of baseball’s greatest hitters, most colorful characters, and the unofficial father of professional baseball in Japan. Lefty O’Doul (1897–1969) began his career on the sandlots of San Francisco and was drafted by the Yankees as a pitcher. Although an arm injury and his refusal to give up the mound clouded his first four years, he converted into an outfielder. After four Minor League seasons he returned to the Major Leagues to become one of the game’s most prolific power hitters, retiring with the fourth-highest lifetime batting average in Major League history. A self-taught “scientific” hitter, O’Doul then became the game’s preeminent hitting instructor, counting Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams as his top disciples. In 1931 O’Doul traveled to Japan with an All-Star team and later convinced Babe Ruth to headline a 1934 tour. By helping to establish the professional game in Japan, he paved the way for Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki, and Hideki Matsui to play in the American Major Leagues. O’Doul’s finest moment came in 1949, when General Douglas MacArthur asked him to bring a baseball team to Japan, a tour that MacArthur later praised as one of the greatest diplomatic efforts in U.S. history. O’Doul became one of the most successful managers in the Pacific Coast League and was instrumental in spreading baseball’s growth and popularity in Japan. He is still beloved in Japan, where in 2002 he was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Marshaling two decades' worth of painstaking research, Paul Longmore's book provides the first cultural history of the telethon, charting its rise and profiling the key figures--philanthropists, politicians, celebrities, corporate sponsors, and recipients--involved.

Iyana Smith never expected to meet a man like Commander Thayne Austin—let alone get pregnant with his baby. One night of passion together should never have had consequences, but it did. Not wanting serious ties to a career military man, she decides to keep her pregnancy a secret. Unfortunately, things don’t go as she plans, and when Thayne finds out, he proposes marriage. Iyana turns him down flat. Duty was not enough to build a marriage on, and Iyana refuses to be any man's ball and chain. Yet how can she deny her baby a father? And how much longer can she refute her strong attraction to the man who threatens to penetrate the wall of defense she’s built around her heart? For one wonderful night, Navy SEAL Thayne Austin allowed his quest for passion to overrule his typical stalwart rationale. Then he has to leave to attend a required training. Returning four months later, he’s surprised to find Iyana pregnant with his child. Even though marriage and children aren’t in his immediate plans, no way is he going to allow his child to grow up without a father.