Don't Tempt Me

Allison St. Claire has the face of an angel. That’s part of the problem. She also sells quaint tea sets in the gift shop at Galveston’s Pearl Island Inn. It doesn’t exactly scream sexy! Years of having men treat her like a little sister is enough to drive a healthy woman crazy. Especially when a gorgeous hunk checks in and fails to recognize that Allison’s more than willing. She’s ready…

Frustrated author Scott Lawrence is hoping to get lucky in more ways than one when he checks into the Pearl Island Inn. A little fun in the sun with a beautiful woman may be just the inspiration he needs to cure his writer’s block. No fuss. No commitment. But a “good girl” like Allison St. Claire? No way!

When Allison makes her move, every bachelor bone in Scott’s body tells him to swim for safety. But stronger instincts prevail, and the heat climbs higher than the temperature on the Texas Coast. Now a four-letter word called love could turn a sweet spring diversion into the most unexpected and complicated fling of their lives.

“A fun, fast-paced, and fiery romance.”

–Road to Romance

“Ortolon’s protagonists must overcome some tough emotional issues before they can set their sights on the future, but their journey is laced with humor and even a little history (provided by the inn’s ghosts). Earnest and endearing, Ortolon’s newest is a heartwarming and at times heartrending read.”

–Publishers Weekly

“Readers will root for Allison and Scott to overcome the obstacles keeping them apart in this entertaining and touching story.”

––Booklist

Originally published by St. Martin's Press. From the back cover of the print edition:

What happens when Mr. Slow and Steady…

The forecast is smooth sailing for Oliver Chancellor, scion of Galveston’s premier financier. Destined to take his place in the hallowed marble corridors of his family’s bank, Chance is content with the future that’s been mapped out for him, right down to his upcoming engagement to a prim debutante enthusiastically approved by his socialite mother.

Finds himself on a collision course…

But when beautiful Rory St. Claire crosses his path, Chance recklessly plunges into uncharted territory with nothing but his heart to guide him-and a beautiful woman to tempt him…

With Ms. Full-Speed-Ahead?

Propelled by a lifelong goal to buy the island home reportedly haunted by her colorful ancestors, Rory desperately needs Chance’s help in securing a business loan, and she won’t take no for an answer. In the midst of convincing the hesitant blue blood to take a chance on her dream, Rory unexpectedly lands in Chance’s arms, stunned by his red-blooded passion-and her own awakened desire. Now, the mismatched pair can’t keep their hands off one another, and something tells Rory she’s headed for trouble-trouble in the name of love…

The Perfect Trilogy: Maddy, Christine and Amy are thrilled that their old college suite-mate has written a bestselling book, How to Have the Perfect Life—until they realize she used them as examples of how women let fear screw up their lives. The worst part is…it’s sort of true. Together they make a pact: they each have one year to face down their fears—and maybe show Miss Perfect a thing or two!

Book Two: Just Perfect

An Ice Princess and a Ski Bum -- a Perfect Disaster?

You have to be tough to work in the ER—but Dr. Christine Ashton’s courage doesn’t extend to riding a chairlift, no matter how much she loves skiing. Her challenge is to strap on a pair of skis and conquer her fear of heights. The bigger challenge, though, will be resisting the sexy ski instructor her friends have deemed off-limits.

Alec Hunter is more than just a fun-loving charmer and nothing like the users and losers, and strays Christine usually picks. But she’s still giving him the cold shoulder, and he’s determined to prove how wrong she is about him.

After helping the victim of a snowboarding accident, the two fall hard and fast—with enough heat to melt the mountains. And everything is just perfect—until Christine must face another kind of fear and choose between her dream job back home and her dream man in Colorado.

The Perfect Trilogy:

Maddy, Christine and Amy are thrilled that their old college suite-mate has written a bestselling book, How to Have the Perfect Life—until they realize she used them as examples of how women let fear screw up their lives. The worst part is…it’s sort of true. Together they make a pact: they each have one year to face down their fears—and maybe show Miss Perfect a thing or two!

Book Three: Too Perfect

A Wandering Duckling and a Two-Faced Beast -- a Perfect Fairy Tale?

Defying the terrible sense of direction that’s kept her form traveling, Amy ships out as a nanny on a Caribbean cruise–and promptly gets lost when they stop on St. Bart’s. Now she’s stranded without any money–or even a toothbrush!

Locals say that Gaspar, owner of the island’s crumbling fortress, is a hideous recluse. They call him La Bête, “The Beast.” But when Amy applies for a job at the fort, she meets only his charming assistant, Beaufort. In truth, the two are the same man–billionaire Byron Parks, who’s desperately seeking privacy and peace.

Amy aches for the miserable man secluded in the fortress tower. Through e-mail, they begin an imaginative exchange of romantic fantasies. Byron is hopelessly smitten with his sexy storyteller–but will his real-life make-believe ruin their happy ending?

Once upon a time, there was a redhead named Kate Bradshaw who naively believed Happily Ever After lay a heartbeat away. One kid, one divorce and a stack of bills later, Kate’s sour attitude isn’t winning any points with the love-struck readers of her Dear Cupid advice column. If she’s gong to keep her job, she needs a man to remind her that romance can be fun. Someone attractive. Someone easygoing. Someone with whom she can polish her rusty flirting skills—and absolutely nothing more. Enter Michael Cameron…

One might think a drop-dead-handsome movie animator would have no problem finding a wife. As Kate soon discovers, one would be sorely mistaken. A little too attached to his shabby bachelor pad couch and rumpled Hawaiian shirts, Michael is counting on Dear Cupid to turn him into husband material. Little does Kate know Michael’s secret plan: Convince Kate to give love a second chance.

TOP PICK –Romantic Times Magazine

“Endearing, emotional, and romantic. Will make you melt!” – Virginia Henley, NYT Bestselling Author

“Filled with clever wit and funny scenes.” – Huntress Reviews

“An absolute delight! Ms. Ortolon has created wonderful characters, thrown in some spicy romance, and blends it all together with her fantastic humor.” – Reader to Reader Reviews

The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 3 For four of the best summers of his young life, Luke Harris was in love with Sydney Donovan, a wealthy seasonal visitor to Gansett Island. Then Sydney went off to college and never came back. She married another man and had two children while Luke remained on the island, working at McCarthy's Gansett Marina and wondering what had gone wrong between him and the only woman he ever loved. Fifteen months after Sydney suffers the tragic loss of her husband and children, she's returned to Gansett to figure out what's next, and that may very well be a rekindled love affair with the one man from her past shes never forgotten. But is she ready for a second chance at love?

The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 4 Since he won the Academy Award for best original screenplay a few years ago, Grant McCarthy's personal and professional lives have fallen apart. Abby, the woman he was supposed to marry, is engaged to someone else, and Grant is back at home on Gansett Island helping to run the family marina business while his father recovers from a serious injury. While all Grant's focus should be on winning back the love of his life, pesky Stephanie, who runs the marina restaurant, is working her way under his skin and into his bed. As Tropical Storm Hailey cuts off Gansett Island from the mainland, Grant suspects Stephanie is hiding something big from her past. When he finds out what it is, what will be more important to him? Winning Abby back or helping Stephanie to right a terrible wrong?

His idea of permanence is the VW van that takes him from one gig to the next. . .Owen Lawry has made a living as a traveling musician and enjoys his footloose and fancy free lifestyle. But after meeting Laura McCarthy and helping her to land the job as manager of his grandparents' hotel on Gansett Island, Owen decides there's something to be said about a roof over his head and a warm, sexy woman in his bed.Laura, a newlywed who discovered that her husband never quit dating, came to Gansett for her cousin's Janey's wedding, but ended up staying after she met Owen and took on the renovations to the dilapidated Sand & Surf Hotel.As Owen and Laura's attraction simmers during months of close proximity, they form a tight bond that will be tested when her estranged husband refuses to grant her a divorce. As summer turns to autumn and Laura and Owen take baby steps toward love, favorite characters from past Gansett Island stories continue to live their happily ever afters.With the McCarthys of Gansett Island, Marie Force makes you believe in the power of true love and happily ever after. Over and over again. Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author of the Serendipity series

The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 5 All her life, Grace Ryan was the fat girl. Taunted and teased and ignored by her peers, she tried every diet ever invented to no avail. Desperate to change her life as her twenties slipped away, she decided it was time for drastic measures and had lap-band surgery. More than a year later, she's lost 130 pounds and is venturing into the dating world for the first time. During a boat trip to Gansett Island with the new guy in her life, Grace refuses to have sex with him and finds herself abandoned without a dollar to her name at McCarthy's Gansett Island Marina. At home for the summer awaiting the launch of his debut CD, music star-in-the-making Evan McCarthy is performing at the Tiki Bar when he notices Grace looking lost in a sea of happy people. Evan comes to her aid and quickly finds himself smitten. But the last thing Grace needs after all shes been through is a guy who doesn't do relationships. Will Evan change his ways to win Grace's heart?

In the third book of the Bluegrass Series, Paige Davies finds her world turned upside down as she becomes involved in her best friends' nightmare. The strong-willed Paige doesn't know which is worse: someone trying to kill her, or losing her dog to the man she loves to hate.

FBI Agent Cole Parker can't decide whether he should strangle or kiss this infuriating woman of his dreams. As he works the case of his career, he finds that love can be tougher than bringing down some of the most powerful men in America.

Books by Kathleen Brooks:

Bluegrass Series
Bluegrass State of Mind
Risky Shot
Dead Heat

Bluegrass Brothers Series
Bluegrass Undercover
Rising Storm
Secret Santa, A Bluegrass Series Novella
Acquiring Trouble
Relentless Pursuit