New Releases by Marie Higgins

Romance is ... complicated, but it also can be unexpected and amazing. With a foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Steven Barnes, on his hilarious adventure of landing the perfect woman as his wife, these seven stories in Rom-Complications should bring a little joy, fun and a lot of laughter. ★ Booked and Too Busy by USA Today Bestselling Author Naleighna Kai ★ Hungry for Love by Bestselling Author Traci Finlay ★ A Second Glance by Bestselling Author Ann Clay ★ Accidentally Yours by Award-Winning Author Marie Higgins ★ Anniversary Hell by National Bestselling Author Pat G''Orge-Walker ★ A Fool & His Honey by National Bestselling Author J. L. Campbell ★ Free Range Love by #1 Bestselling Author Darryl Benally ★ Unexpected Love by Debut Author Royce Slade Morton

A secret that could ruin her. A deception that might save them both. Tabitha Paget lives with a secret so dangerous, its exposure could destroy her future and reputation. And there is one man who must never learn the truth-Dominic Lawrence, Marquess of Hawthorne. Not only would scandal follow, but so would the stirrings of a past affection she's tried desperately to forget. Their worlds are too far apart, and Tabitha knows the devastation of a broken heart all too well. She won't risk it again. Dominic Lawrence is no stranger to regret-especially where Tabitha is concerned. Determined to right old wrongs, he agrees to impersonate his cousin, a country clergyman, to help catch a cunning thief. But maintaining the lie becomes far more complicated when he crosses paths with Tabitha once more. To protect her, he must keep his identity hidden... even if it means breaking her heart all over again. As secrets tangle and old wounds resurface, Tabitha and Dominic must decide if trust-and love-can survive the weight of the past. Tropes/Themes: ✅ Sweet Regency ✅ Second Chance Romance ✅ Secret Identity ✅ Social Class Divide ✅ Hidden Past ✅ Hero with a Mission ✅ Protective Hero ✅ Emotional Angst ✅ Unresolved Tension ✅ Lady with a Dangerous Secret ✅ Slow Burn Romance ✅ Regency Scandal Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader's imagination. Note: This story was previously published under the title The Sweetest Secret. It now has newly added content for you to enjoy.

Two strangers bound by fate-a duke haunted by distrust, and a woman with no memory-must unlock the secrets of her past to heal their hearts. Louisa wakes from a deep, heavy fog, surrounded by strangers and horrified to discover she's been the sole victim of a terrible buggy accident. Worse... she remembers nothing. But oddly enough, she trusts her rescuer and feels protected in his presence. Trevor Worthington, Duke of Kenbridge, can't trust women. Yet after nearly killing the amnesiac Louisa, he has little choice but to open his home to her. His heart softens to the straggly woman in beggar's garb as he strives to help her regain her memory. As proof of Louisa's scars, both physical and those lurking beneath the surface, come to light, Trevor finds himself more and more drawn to the mysterious woman. However, he is hesitant to enter another nightmarish entanglement like his first marriage. Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader's imagination. Note: This story was previously published under the title The Sweetest Touch. It now has newly added content for you to enjoy.

"A philosophical exploration of the value of aesthetics in loss and grieving. Loss and grief are destabilizing forces. As a bereaved person grapples with the reality that their loved one is gone and feels only shakily connected to the surrounding world, the tangibility of sensory objects can be grounding. In Aesthetics of Grief and Mourning, philosopher Kathleen Marie Higgins highlights the role of aesthetics in the grieving process, offering a guide for how being attuned to aesthetics can aid those experiencing loss. While some activities associated with loss-such as participation in funerals-are culturally scripted, many others are relatively everyday, including attending to sensory objects, telling stories, reflecting on artworks, experiencing music, and engaging in creative projects. Higgins shows how attending to these aesthetic practices helps those who have experienced loss, and she also sheds light on the importance of aesthetic engagement with the world for individual and community flourishing"--

Can the faith of a child and a sunflower be the answer to everyone''s problems? Single mother of two children, Nikki''s life is overturned when one of her daughters is bullied and the other one suspended from school. Then to add insult to injury, the rent is raised on both her home and the flower shop she owns-by the same irritable man, no less. Being a CEO of a big company, Drake is also dealing with his father''s Alzheimer''s disease and trying to handle his father''s businesses in a small Montana town, but he continually butts heads with the very pretty shop owner. Together, they must learn to forgive and forget... and have faith in God through the trials life throws at them.

Convincing a rogue to wed comes with a high price. Ellie Middleton has exactly one month to find a husband. If she doesn't, her father will betroth her to a vile man. Although her heart still belongs to the soldier who died in the war, she is willing to enter a loveless marriage. Out of options, Ellie does the unthinkable when she runs into her brother's friend, Vincent Wallace, the Earl of Trenton, and boldly makes him a proposal of marriage in name only. Will the rogue accept the bargain she is offered? Vincent Wallace has no desire to marry and tie himself to one woman. However, he doesn't like the idea of Ellie settling for just anyone, either. He can't get her off his mind, and he desires her more than any women he's ever known. But when he is threatened to stay away from Ellie or die, Vincent doesn't know whether to release her and allow her to be happy or fight for the woman he has fallen in love with. Love's Addiction A Wallflower to Love A Governess to Protect A Maiden to Remember

A story of hope, faith, repentance, and... LOVE! Pretending comes with a price. So does living on the run. Maggie Collings has been running for far too long from people who want to put her in prison. Finally, after two years, she finds a place to call home, and she's able to be herself - to a point, anyway. But when she realizes one of the bounty hunters who has been after her is now working with the town's sheriff, she is ready to run again. But then, he doesn't recognize her. So, perhaps she will stay and watch him closely. And just maybe she can convince him that she is not the criminal he has been hunting, but a woman who is lonely for love and acceptance.

She's hiding from her past. He's looking for his future. Together, will they find love - or will danger lurk in the shadows and make it impossible to find happiness? When Grey Hamilton becomes lost on his journey back home, he stumbles into a gypsy's camp and meets a beautiful woman who captures his interest immediately. The Texas Ranger part of him feels she is running from the law, but his heart tells him he is in danger if he allows himself to fall in love. Which feeling will he believe?

Rachael Swanson looks forward to becoming a mail-order bride, but before that can happen, she's kidnapped and injured badly. Now, with no memory, she must rely on the handsome, charming man who rescued her to help her find her way back home to her family. Edmund Fox was at the right place at the right time when he saved Rachael's life. Yet, he knows she is engaged to another. Can he confess his true feelings this close to the wedding she doesn't remember?

Whitney Brooks compares herself to Robin Hood. She steals from the rich to give to the poor. But she only takes money from bad people. However, after she is crippled in a carriage accident, she must change her ways. Now, she is righting the wrongs in her life, and she ends up in Fort Benton, Montana. When she recognizes a man from her past, she fears U.S. Marshal Jake Sterling might just arrest her. Although Jake Sterling is not a hero, he takes his job seriously and follows an outlaw to Fort Benton. Jake has a gut feeling that the outlaw will steal the rubies coming on one of the steamboats. But the more he gets to know the woman who is lovelier than a desert rose, the more he believes she is a thief and working side-by-side with the outlaw. How can he tell his heart that Whitney isn't the woman for him when her passionate kisses tell him differently?

Paige Whiting sets out to find her father, but she runs into the one man she hoped to never see again. Can absence truly make her heart grow fonder? Sheriff Jonah Garrison is determined to find those responsible for the disappearance of Paige's father. Stolen sapphires are on Jonah's list to find, but he never thought that this adventure with the woman who'd broken his heart would be so dangerous... and so wonderful at the same time.

Pinkerton agent, Dusty Sloan, isn''t just another cowboy who enjoys charming the ladies. He is dedicated to his job, especially when stolen diamonds and a stubborn woman are involved. Can he protect her and find the mystery of the stolen gems, or will his heart get involved? Miss Callie Beckman needs to find her missing brother. Bad men have kidnapped him, and they have threatened her not to involve the law. Yet, how can she shake off the Pinkerton agent who is determined to be her knight in shining armor? If only Dusty''s eyes weren''t so dreamy and his kisses so passionate, maybe she would be able to focus better on finding her brother.

Blaze Murphy needs to get married to help her family stay in Last Chance, Nebraska. Finding a mail-order husband doesn''t leave her much room for love. However, she has already given her heart to her childhood friend, Colt Masterson... a man who isn''t ready to settle down. Having him so near makes her realize that life without love is no life at all.

When Victoria Swanson discovers her sister is going to be a mail-order bride, Victoria does what any older protective sister would do... kidnap the prospective groom in order to make sure he will be a good match for her sister. However, there was one problem with her plan that she didn''t foresee. How could she fall in love with the man who her sister wants to marry?

Terrick Wentworth has loved Bella Walsh since she was sixteen-years-old. Unfortunately, she has no memory of this. Years ago, an accident left Terrick horribly scarred, and he knows the possibility of rekindling their love is hopeless. After all, he is nothing more than a beast. When the opportunity to bring Bella into his employ presents itself, he cannot resist extending an offer.Bella Walsh desperately needs money to help her ailing father. Almost as desperately, she desires answers. Seven years ago, she was abducted - and blessedly recovered - but she has no memory of the experience. The answers she craves lie with the Wentworth Estate, and when the scarred and brooding Terrick Wentworth extends an offer of employment, the offer to satisfy both needs is irresistible. However, a monster lurks in the forest surrounding the estate, and when Bella arrives, the beast follows her relentlessly with its steely eyes. Bella is told this isn't the first time she's encountered the creature, and that she was discovered in it's lair after she was abducted all those years ago.Can Bella uncover the true identity of her beast and slay it before it destroys her once and for all?

Carefree billionaire, Thomas Powers, is slacking in his duties. He''s living a wild lifestyle and letting the family winery business slip away from his priorities. It''s not until he meets a headstrong photographer when he realizes this is the first woman who doesn''t melt whenever she looks at him. It''s a challenge, but he''s determined to change her mind. He''s also determined to get rid of a problem in his life - the pesky imaginary man who proclaims to be Thomas'' guardian angel.Morgan Foster is a photographer for a tabloid paper, and when she suspects there''s more to the story on one of her assignments, she''s determined to find out what is really happening. Unfortunately, that means she must work with the arrogant man who enjoys playing with women''s hearts. Being nice to him is difficult, only because she doesn''t want him to eventually capture her heart.

All Callie Cartwright knows is that she''s got to get out of town fast. Her husband is dead and she''s pregnant. If the truth comes out to how her husband died, she won''t live to see the day her baby is born.Thankfully, she had previously gone through an agency to find a man in search of a mail-order-bride. Callie is a city girl, but perhaps living out in the country on a horse ranch is what she needs right now. One week later, she travels to meet the man she has arranged to wed but is sidetracked when the train she is riding breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Time is running out and she''s desperate, but can she rely on the handsome stranger with the dreamy eyes to help her?

As a physical therapist, Christine McKenna is committed to helping her patients find their healing path. Coming off the end of a nasty divorce, however, she may be the one in need of healing. When she meets Aedan, it's clear he'd be happy to help her in that regard, but her heart isn't ready to trust men again. With the skeletons hiding in her closet, she may never open her heart to another again.Aedan Donovan has a bad habit of pursuing women that he can't - or shouldn't - have. His penchant for unavailable women has a tendency to land him in a lot of trouble, and this time it's gotten him hurt and in for a long haul of physical therapy. The moment he lays eyes on his therapist, he's smitten, and for once, the girl he's attracted to is available. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to feel the same way about him. Despite her initial rejection, Aedan can't deny that there is something in Christine's eyes that tell him she's worth fighting for.

"Higgins'' love of music and cultural variety is evident throughout. She writes in a relaxed, accessible, sophisticated style...Highly recommended."— Choice From our first social bonding as infants to the funeral rites that mark our passing, music plays an important role in our lives, bringing us closer to one another. In this book, philosopher Kathleen Marie Higgins investigates this role, examining the features of human perception that enable music''s uncanny ability to provoke—despite its myriad forms across continents and throughout centuries—the sense of a shared human experience. Drawing on disciplines such as philosophy, psychology, musicology, linguistics, and anthropology, Higgins''s richly researched study showcases the ways music is used in rituals, education, work, and healing, and as a source of security and—perhaps most importantly—joy. By participating so integrally in such meaningful facets of society, Higgins argues, music situates itself as one of the most fundamental bridges between people, a truly cross-cultural form of communication that can create solidarity across political divides. Moving beyond the well-worn takes on music''s universality, The Music between Us provides a new understanding of what it means to be musical and, in turn, human. "Those who, like Higgins, deeply love music, actually know something about it, have open minds and ears, and are willing to look beyond the confines of Western aesthetics...will find much to learn in The Music between Us."— Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

"Introducing Philosophy : A Text with Integrated Readings is a topically organized hybrid textbook, introducing core philosophical problems and the many ways they are, and have been, answered. The authors combine substantial selections from significant works in the history of philosophy with excerpts from current philosophy, clarifying the readings and providing context with their own detailed commentary and explanation. Spanning 2,500 years, the selections range from the oldest known fragments to cutting-edge contemporary essays. The chapters present alternative perspectives-including analytic, continental, feminist, and non-Western viewpoints-alongside the historical works of major Western philosophers; this juxtaposition encourages students to carefully evaluate the theories themselves"--

When you wish upon a star... All romance novel photographer Payton Fox really wants is a hero in her life. A man that is dashing and honorable... a man worthy of his own fairy tale! One particularly frustrating evening she casts a fleeting wish upon a shooting star. She doesn't actually believe anything will happen, but in the blink of an eye the man from her fairy tale wishes-a regular Robin Hood-materializes right before her. He even claims to be the legendary Lord of Loxley, and goes by the name of Archer. Uncertain what to believe, Payton is shocked when this hero rescues her time and again, and she can't help but be swept off her feet. Slowly she accepts that this strange and noble man might truly be the fairy tale character of her dreams. Unfortunately, Archer isn't connecting with the modern-day world and longs to return to his time. She also discovers that if he stays with her, his story will cease to exist. Can she send him back, knowing he'll take her heart along with him? Can she deprive the world of his story? How can she do that to those looking for their Champion - the perfect hero?

Lord Malcolm Thornton is probably the only man attending Queen Victoria''s Winter Festival not looking for romance. His life as an agent for the crown is far too busy for women, much less a wife. He simply can''t afford the distraction. But... when he finds himself stealing kisses with the charming and irresistible Miss Lizzie, he realizes she is a major distracted indeed. He cannot get her out of his mind. Unfortunately, she is the suspected French spy he''s been searching for. As he works to get close to her, a forbidden friendship begins to bud, and he isn''t looking forward to exposing her for the treasonous liar he knows her to be.Miss Elizabeth Benson has had enough of lying men stomping on her heart. Did no man exist who could be honest? One evening, when a handsome stranger came across her crying and tenderly took her into his arms, she believed she''d finally found the one. Unfortunately, his interest in befriending her seemed to involve some very strange questions and behavior. Yet again, like so many men before Lord Malcolm, she begins to doubt his intentions and honesty. She''s ready to be done with the lying lot of men altogether.Can Lizzie and Malcolm find happiness at Queen Victoria''s Winter Festival? This event will either bring them together - or ruin their lives forever...

On secret assignment from President Grant, Nicole Bastian is tasked with investigating a string of train robberies in which government money was stolen. The stakes are high and she is utterly devastated when she uncovers information that indicates the man of her dreams, Ashton Lee, one of the wealthy owners of Conrail is the number one suspect. Desperate to remain cool and impartial, Nicole strives to keep her suspicions quiet until she learns what Ashton is keeping from her. At the same time, she''s determined to keep her own secrets from Ashton, hoping he never finds out.Ashton Lee is immediately attracted to the woman he''d met at the masked ball. Unfortunately, there''s something not right about her, and he can''t put his finger on why he thinks this way. She''s mysterious, beautiful, but very secretive. Dare he allow her to soften his heart? And more importantly, will she understand why he keeps secrets from her?

Kurt Hamill has traded his police detective badge for a small county sheriff''s badge, and he''s living the easy life in Big Sky, Montana. His plan is to keep the heartaches and inadequacies from his past locked away so he doesn''t have to deal with them. But when an old friend from Seattle wants him to stop her daughter from marrying the wrong man, Kurt is sucked into a dangerous roller-coaster ride. If he can''t face his fears, they could all die. Riley Peterson lives a simple life-thanks to the way her wealthy parents sheltered her-but once she meets the gorgeous sheriff, she knows her life will never be the same. Instead of going to the church to get married, she is dodging bullets and running away from the bad guys. The problem is, she''s not too sure who the bad men really are...

Taylor Marshall and her daughter need protecting, yet the bodyguard assigned to her is the one man she fears the most. Five years earlier, Taylor gave her heart to a stranger - and married him in a quick Bermuda ceremony. A week later her hopes were crushed when she discovers he's a hitman, and then he falls over a cliff and dies. Now he is back as the bodyguard her father hired. How can she trust Cory with her life if she can't stop remembering how much she had loved him?

Mercedes Maxwell is devastated when her twin sister is driven to take her own life by none other than her husband, William Braxton. Determined to make her brother-in-law pay for the injustice, Mercedes travels to Dorchester, England, to find him. She is shocked to find that William is unaware of his wife''s death, and when Mercedes is mistaken for her sister, she decides to pose as her twin to gleam some answers. Mercedes embarks on an adventure she never dreamed of in hopes of bringing justice to her sister. Instead of justice, Mercedes uncovers a plethora of secrets and mystery. As she works to unravel the mystery and discovers who she can trust, Mercedes finds that all is not as it seems, and that William Braxton might be the one man she can trust.

In 2009 Marie left corporate America after more than 15 years in Human Resources Management to pursue life. Before long she found massage therapy and became a nationally certified, state-licensed massage therapist. Having only one previous experience with receiving massage before choosing her new career, she began school with no real understanding of the body, mind and spirit connection. With massage, she came to quickly believe in the healing power of touch. At the same time, she felt a partial hardening of the heart (figuratively and spiritually). She found a coach to give her spiritual direction. During this time, she learned different spiritual disciplines (ways to pray) which helped her to develop a more personal relationship with God*. It was during 2009 when she became an active journaling person. This activity has grown and changed over the years, but the most constant thing she has put into practice is that, after writing what's on her heart, she writes both this question: God*, what else should I know? and the answers that result. In 2015, she "broke ground" by setting up a blog site and then, beginning in 2016 and continuing, regularly shares some of the insights that come from a journaling practice. With these posts, she also poses questions that offer others some journaling prompts. More information can be found at CardinalTouch.net. Marie is also a speaker. She presents on a variety of topics concerning the body, mind and spirit connection. For example, as a small business owner and provider of healing touch, she speaks about smart practices for leading a balanced life. Most recently she has been teaching spiritual journaling and other ways to pray and develop our inner spirit wisdom. Venues include schools, especially colleges and universities, women's groups (large and small), and holistic centers. * NOTE: Marie uses the term God as a universal term. You may decide that Great Spirit, Allah, Higher Power, Sensibility, etc. better suits you today. It is not for anyone else to decide.

Mercedes Maxwell is devastated when her twin sister is driven to take her own life by none other than her husband, William Braxton. Determined to make her brother-in-law pay for the injustice, Mercedes travels to Dorchester, England to find him. She is shocked to find that William is unaware of his wife's death, and when Mercedes is mistaken for her sister, she decides to pose as her twin to glean some answers. Mercedes embarks on an adventure she never dreamed of in hopes of bringing justice to her sister. Instead of justice, Mercedes uncovers a plethora of secrets and mystery. As she works to unravel the mystery and discovers who she can trust, Mercedes finds that all is not as it seems, and that William Braxton may be the one man she can trust.

Once upon a time... The time had come for Princess Clarissa to find a husband-or so her parents told her. The shy and somewhat clumsy, Prince Ormond from a neighboring kingdom, is a contender. Clarissa knows she''ll never fall in love with him much less accept him as a husband. And yet... seemingly in a split second, she changes her mind. Ryder Grey has known Clarissa since childhood and cannot understand the sudden change from the girl he once adored, to the woman he sees now. How can she be in love with the meek Prince Ormond? Ryder begins to investigate and discovers that a reclusive witch has Clarissa under a spell. When Ryder interferes with Clarissa''s budding romance with Prince Ormond, she takes action and locks her childhood friend in a secluded tower in the east forest until she and Ormond can marry. Forgotten in the tower by all but the rats can Ryder enchant Clarissa and break the sinister spell? His chances do not look favorable.

After three years of only remembering pieces of his life, Tristan Worthington is kidnapped by the one woman he wishes to forget. Wanting revenge against the man who ruined her life, Diana Hollingsworth wants Tristan to suffer as she has. But fate has other plans... When both Tristan and Diana are accused of murder, their worlds crash down around them. Their only hope is to find the true killer so they can be together. Will they be able to find true happiness once again?