Victim of an abusive marriage, Iana vowed in her widowhood never again to put her fate in masculine hands. But one man, Henri Gillet, heir to the Trouville dynasty, had aroused her slumbering desires–and endangered her deepest resolve. Love, Henri Gillet pondered, was simple. Noble obligations were not. And now he faced a royal-size dilemma–for though the Lady Iana had saved him from certain death, her shadowed past, so full of the darkest secrets, stood between them and threatened a future together…!

SHE WAS A WOMAN WITH IDEAS…AND THAT WAS TROUBLE! All the same, James Garrow found himself wildly attracted to Lady Susanna Childers. True, their wedded union arose from mutual need–with no mention of love. Yet the longer he knew his firebrand bride–the greater grew his desire…! She was deep in the Highlands, a long way from London Society. Still, Susanna Childers vowed to make the best of the bargain she had struck with the enigmatic laird who was now her husband. Besides, he had saved her life once and would again, if need be. So love didn't matter–or did it?

A prequel to Winter Is Past.

You can't go home again… But apparently Kimmer Reed had to. The government had hidden a young computer mastermind who held the key to the country's defense right in Kimmer's hometown. Now, if the Hunter Agency's top operative hoped to keep the government's secrets safe, she had to cozy up to the people she'd once left behind to discover just what the bad guys knew. And the good guys, too. Because mastermind Caroline Carlsen had a self-appointed bodyguard in her cousin Rio Carlsen. Ex-CIA Rio might have made a good ally–if Kimmer had been allowed to tell him they were on the same team. Instead, she had to shadow his every move, watching while he walked comfortably in a world that had been lost to her. A world of family and connection. A world Kimmer would do anything to regain.

Rookie agent Miranda Cutler had looked up to superspy Ray Ortega. Her thanks? He'd seduced her, then left her holding the bag for an ill-fated op that nearly ruined her career while he went into selfimposed exile. One year later, the CIA wanted Miranda to lure Ortega back for a mission so risky, they said only he could handle it. Miranda had a better idea. She would infiltrate the militant group suspected of creating a dangerous new weapon, salvaging her career and ridding herself of Ortega's ghost in one burst of glory. Her assignment to approach Ortega gave her a way in. But nothing could prepare Miranda for what would happen when it was time to get out….

Determined to stop a bitter man from decimating a mountain community, Special Ops agent Clay Senate pairs with FBI agent Vanessa Walker. Clay is a loner, but Vanessa's beauty and outgoing personality soon undermine his defenses. It's not long before her appreciation for their shared Native American heritage unleashes a long-denied need in him. Vanessa senses that Clay is hunting for more than just a killer. Accustomed to taming wild animals, she thinks she can tackle both his needs. But as the hunt grows deadly and passions flare, Vanessa faces her most challenging assignment–turning this temporary mission into a lifelong marriage.

HOW MANY BLONDES DOES IT TAKE TO BRING THE BAD GUYS TO JUSTICE? Only one, if you're talking about gutsy Cassandra Newton. She'd put worse criminals behind bars than the street thugs she now dealt with as a Kansas City cop. But her life as a secret agent was behind her–until Kane McNabb showed up. The agency needed her to take down a suspected drug lord with a weakness for leggy blondes. It was no mistake they'd sent her former partner and lover to persuade her. After all, she owed him. But after this, she and Kane were even–because no one gets Blondie for free….

It was a tragedy for the entire town: beloved high school principal Edith Potts collapsed and quickly died. For nurse Jill Cooper, it was a crushing loss–and the first of many shocks. Two former sweethearts have suddenly returned to town, reawakening all her youthful traumas, secrets and dreams. Then another death occurs. It appears accidental, but is it? Is everything a coincidence? Or could it all possibly be connected to another murder, three decades ago? Before it's over, Jill will have to look hard at her troubled history, question her sanity, her faith…and face the deepest secrets in her heart.

For Anne Olsen, new and improved is the only way to live. So how'd she fall for a secondhand man? Charlotte had the Malibu Barbie with a full wardrobe, Emily inherited a slightly used Barbie with two outfits and Anne was left with a one-armed, bald Barbie who enjoyed nudist colonies. It's little wonder that at twenty-nine, Anne drives a new car, eats only from freshly opened packages and thinks antique is a euphemism for moldy. After growing up in the shadows of her older sisters–one a swimsuit model, the other a pop-feminist–Anne's personality is one part sibling rivalry and two parts VD (stands for Vague Dissatisfaction, and yes, it itches). Now she's the self-professed underachiever in the family, determined to find happiness on her own terms. But when her sister's ex-boyfriend–seemingly perfect, potentially interested–reenters her life, Anne's got to ask: Could she possibly fall in love with a hand-me-down man?

You can take the girl out of Queens… Or can you? Because for five years, fashion assistant Ellie Levine was taking a halfhearted stab at it, commuting to Manhattan by day, trying desperately to keep secret her outerborough existence–that accent, that hair…that daughter. Until the day fate landed her back in her Richmond Hill neighborhood 24/7, the very place she'd sworn to escape. Now she has a business to run there–not the business she had in mind, perhaps, but a business nonetheless. And the boy next door, who for years had been the married-man-next-door, is suddenly available. And interested? Maybe there really is no place like home. So even if you can take the girl out of Queens, would you?

Dinah Nichols, PR chick for Green World International, knows how to spin a story. She has to, otherwise how else would rescuing loons get the media attention it deserves? But a visit from Higher Management guru Ian Trutch means she'll have to put some spin on the "fabulous work" she and the staff have been doing. Sure, her latest hobby of haranguing a cocky colleague is worthwhile, but it isn't part of GWI's mission statement or anything. So, how to convince the higher-ups she and the others are working hard for their higher purpose? Hmm. Dating Trutch seemed the obvious move, but now she's not so sure he is what he says he is, and the office is turned upside down as acts of local ecoterrorism are suddenly on the rise, and Dinah's famed mother–a bona fide well-known Jacques Cousteau type–makes an unforgettable appearance, putting Dinah's entire career in jeopardy. Will Dinah navigate her eclectic crew to safety, or will they have to swim for it?

New York socialite Jinni Fairchild would take care of her sister, even if that meant sacrificing, temporarily, her jet-set lifestyle for the wilds of Rumor, Montana. No limos, no parties, no haute couture–she was barely surviving. Until she met Max Cantrell. Tall. Dark. Gorgeous. And rich as Midas. Jinni knew how to handle men like him. With one flirtatious smile, she would have him eating out of her manicured hand. Except Max had his own agenda, one that involved long talks, gentle kisses and an unhurried sensuality that tempted this city girl to stop and smell the roses–with him!

When Ace Turner discovered that his biological daddy was the rich and powerful late cattle king Ford Carson, he vowed to make nice with his long-lost kin so the Carsons would serve him his rightful inheritance on a silver platter. However, his plans to strike it rich were diverted when sparks ignited with beautiful hospital fund-raiser Crystal Bennett. The feisty single mom was leery of roguish playboys, but Ace wasn't walkin' away–especially with a vengeful enemy from Crystal's past on the warpath at Mission Creek Memorial Hospital. Could love bring this sweet talkin' bachelor riches beyond his wildest dreams?

THE HOLIDAYS?–DON'T YOU JUST LOVE 'EM? Been overstressed at work? Ever wish the holidays would go on an extended vacation? Worried about finding the perfect gift? Or had unresolved conflicts with family that drive you up the wall? Detective Maggie Skerritt is every woman who's been there, done that. She also excels at her work, doesn't eat right or get enough sleep and loves to have someone else do her cooking. But her job is murder and she strives to make her city safe. In the process, she gathers her courage to risk loving again. But first she has to make it through Thanksgiving, Christmas…and another murder in Pelican Bay.

Angel Baker isn't your ordinary twenty-second-century gal. Just ask mom. Instead of joining the family fortune-telling business, Angel's busy saving the world. And dating? Why bother when she's got Humphrey Bogart, her sweettalking robot. Welcome to Chicago circa 2100. The legal system is in shambles, robots are a woman's best friend, and kung fu fighting Retribution Specialists like Angel bring justice to criminals who've slipped through the cracks. So when dear old Mom is kidnapped, it's up to Angel to save her. But when her search leads her into a bizarre underworld where human life is measured in dollars, she'll be put to the ultimate test–forced to use her hidden psychic powers and rely on the help of a stubborn detective who has her reconsidering falling for a living, breathing man.

Don't let the knockout looks fool you. Jackie "Jack" Rooney packs a punch, and it's made her the top boxing trainer in Vegas. But when an old friend shows up on her doorstep, daughter in tow, Jack gets thrown into the fight of her life. Suddenly Jack becomes guardian to Destiny, the little girl who witnessed a mob hit. The same mobsters who framed Jack's father years ago. Together with her hunky cop beau,Jack is determined to protect Destiny, bring the criminals to justice and clear her father's name. Seems like a lot for one girl to handle? Well, you don't know Jack….

Get command of your organizational Big Data using the power of data science and analytics About This Book ? A perfect companion to boost your Big Data storing, processing, analyzing skills to help you take informed business decisions ? Work with the best tools such as Apache Hadoop, R, Python, and Spark for NoSQL platforms to perform massive online analyses ? Get expert tips on statistical inference, machine learning, mathematical modeling, and data visualization for Big Data Who This Book Is For The book is intended for existing and aspiring Big Data professionals who wish to become the go-to person in their organization when it comes to Big Data architecture, analytics, and governance. While no prior knowledge of Big Data or related technologies is assumed, it will be helpful to have some programming experience. What You Will Learn ? Get a 360-degree view into the world of Big Data, data science and machine learning ? Broad range of technical and business Big Data analytics topics that caters to the interests of the technical experts as well as corporate IT executives ? Get hands-on experience with industry-standard Big Data and machine learning tools such as Hadoop, Spark, MongoDB, KDB+ and R ? Create production-grade machine learning BI Dashboards using R and R Shiny with step-by-step instructions ? Learn how to combine open-source Big Data, machine learning and BI Tools to create low-cost business analytics applications ? Understand corporate strategies for successful Big Data and data science projects ? Go beyond general-purpose analytics to develop cutting-edge Big Data applications using emerging technologies In Detail Big Data analytics relates to the strategies used by organizations to collect, organize and analyze large amounts of data to uncover valuable business insights that otherwise cannot be analyzed through traditional systems. Crafting an enterprise-scale cost-efficient Big Data and machine learning solution to uncover insights and value from your organization's data is a challenge. Today, with hundreds of new Big Data systems, machine learning packages and BI Tools, selecting the right combination of technologies is an even greater challenge. This book will help you do that. With the help of this guide, you will be able to bridge the gap between the theoretical world of technology with the practical ground reality of building corporate Big Data and data science platforms. You will get hands-on exposure to Hadoop and Spark, build machine learning dashboards using R and R Shiny, create web-based apps using NoSQL databases such as MongoDB and even learn how to write R code for neural networks. By the end of the book, you will have a very clear and concrete understanding of what Big Data analytics means, how it drives revenues for organizations, and how you can develop your own Big Data analytics solution using different tools and methods articulated in this book. Style and approach This book equips you with a knowledge of various NoSQL tools, R, Python programming, cloud platforms, and techniques so you can use them to store, analyze, and deliver meaningful insights from your data.

Learn the techniques for object recognition, 3D reconstruction, stereo imaging, and other computer vision applications using examples on different functions of OpenCV. About This Book ? Learn how to apply complex visual effects to images with OpenCV 3.x and Python ? Extract features from an image and use them to develop advanced applications ? Build algorithms to help you understand image content and perform visual searches ? Get to grips with advanced techniques in OpenCV such as machine learning, artificial neural network, 3D reconstruction, and augmented reality Who This Book Is For This book is intended for Python developers who are new to OpenCV and want to develop computer vision applications with OpenCV and Python. This book is also useful for generic software developers who want to deploy computer vision applications on the cloud. It would be helpful to have some familiarity with basic mathematical concepts such as vectors, matrices, and so on. What You Will Learn ? Detect shapes and edges from images and videos ? How to apply filters on images and videos ? Use different techniques to manipulate and improve images ? Extract and manipulate particular parts of images and videos ? Track objects or colors from videos ? Recognize specific object or faces from images and videos ? How to create Augmented Reality applications ? Apply artificial neural networks and machine learning to improve object recognition In Detail Computer vision is found everywhere in modern technology. OpenCV for Python enables us to run computer vision algorithms in real time. With the advent of powerful machines, we have more processing power to work with. Using this technology, we can seamlessly integrate our computer vision applications into the cloud. Focusing on OpenCV 3.x and Python 3.6, this book will walk you through all the building blocks needed to build amazing computer vision applications with ease. We start off by manipulating images using simple filtering and geometric transformations. We then discuss affine and projective transformations and see how we can use them to apply cool advanced manipulations to your photos like resizing them while keeping the content intact or smoothly removing undesired elements. We will then cover techniques of object tracking, body part recognition, and object recognition using advanced techniques of machine learning such as artificial neural network. 3D reconstruction and augmented reality techniques are also included. The book covers popular OpenCV libraries with the help of examples. This book is a practical tutorial that covers various examples at different levels, teaching you about the different functions of OpenCV and their actual implementation. By the end of this book, you will have acquired the skills to use OpenCV and Python to develop real-world computer vision applications. Style and approach The book is a practical tutorial that covers various examples at different levels, teaching you about the different functions of OpenCV and their actual implementation.

Transform yourself into a Kubernetes specialist in serverless applications. About This Book ? Get hands-on experience in installing, configuring, and using services such as Kubeless, Funktion, OpenWhisk, and Fission ? Learn how to launch Kubernetes both locally and in public clouds ? Explore the differences between using services such as AWS Lambda and Azure Functions and running your own Who This Book Is For If you are a DevOps engineer, cloud architect, or a stakeholder keen to learn about serverless functions in Kubernetes environments, then this book is for you. What You Will Learn ? Get a detailed analysis of serverless/Functions as a Service ? Get hands-on with installing and running tasks in Kubernetes using Minikube ? Install Kubeless locally and launch your first function. ? Launch Kubernetes in the cloud and move your applications between your local machine and your cloud cluster ? Deploy applications on Kubernetes using Apache OpenWhisk ? Explore topics such as Funktion and Fission installation on the cloud followed by launching applications ? Monitor a serverless function and master security best practices and Kubernetes use cases In Detail Kubernetes has established itself as the standard platform for container management, orchestration, and deployment. It has been adopted by companies such as Google, its original developers, and Microsoft as an integral part of their public cloud platforms, so that you can develop for Kubernetes and not worry about being locked into a single vendor. This book will initially start by introducing serverless functions. Then you will configure tools such as Minikube to run Kubernetes. Once you are up-and-running, you will install and configure Kubeless, your first step towards running Function as a Service (FaaS) on Kubernetes. Then you will gradually move towards running Fission, a framework used for managing serverless functions on Kubernetes environments. Towards the end of the book, you will also work with Kubernetes functions on public and private clouds. By the end of this book, we will have mastered using Function as a Service on Kubernetes environments. Style and approach A clear, concise, and straightforward book that will empower you work with clusters and run serverless functions effectively.

Deploy and manage VMware vSphere 6.5 components with ease. About This Book ? Simplified and to-the-point theory and practical recipes to deploy and manage vSphere 6.5 ? Discover the best ways to deploy stateless and stateful ESXi hosts and upgrade them ? Storage and network resource management ? Certificate management using VMCA ? Monitor the performance of a vSphere environment. Who This Book Is For If you are a system administrator, support professional, or anyone interested in learning how to install, configure, and manage a vSphere environment, then this book is for you. This task-oriented reference guide will also benefit consultants or infrastructure architects who design and deploy vSphere 6.5 environments. What You Will Learn ? Upgrade your existing vSphere environment or perform a fresh deployment. ? Automate the deployment and management of large sets of ESXi hosts in your vSphere Environment ? Configure and manage FC, iSCSI, and NAS storage, and get more control over how storage resources are allocated and managed ? Configure vSphere networking by deploying host-wide and data center-wide switches in your vSphere environment ? Configure high availability on a host cluster and learn how to enable the fair distribution and utilization of compute resources ? Patch and upgrade the vSphere environment ? Handle certificate request generation and renew component certificates ? Monitor performance of a vSphere environment In Detail VMware vSphere is a complete and robust virtualization product suite that helps transform data centers into simplified on-premises cloud infrastructures, providing for the automation and orchestration of workload deployment and life cycle management of the infrastructure. This book focuses on the latest release of VMware vSphere and follows a recipe-based approach, giving you hands-on instructions required to deploy and manage a vSphere environment. The book starts with the procedures involved in upgrading your existing vSphere infrastructure to vSphere 6.5, followed by deploying a new vSphere 6.5 environment. Then the book delves further into the procedures involved in managing storage and network access to the ESXi hosts and the virtual machines running on them. Moving on, the book covers high availability and fair distribution/utilization of clustered compute and storage resources. Finally, the book covers patching and upgrading the vSphere infrastructure using VUM, certificate management using VMCA, and finishes with a chapter covering the tools that can be used to monitor the performance of a vSphere infrastructure. Style and approach This book will quickly get you started with managing VMware components.

Take a deep dive into building data-driven test frameworks using Selenium WebDriver About This Book ? A comprehensive guide to designing data-driven test frameworks using the Selenium 3 WebDriver API, AppiumDriver API, Java-Bindings, and TestNG ? Learn how to use Selenium Page Object Design Patterns and D.R.Y. (Don’t Repeat Yourself) Approaches to software development in automated testing ? Discover the Selenium Grid Architecture and build your own grid for browser and mobile devices ? Use third party tools and services like ExtentReports for results processing, reporting, and SauceLabs for cloud-based test services Who This Book Is For This book is intended for software quality assurance/testing professionals, software project managers, or software developers with prior experience in using Selenium and Java to test web-based applications.This book is geared towards the quality assurance and development professionals responsible for designing and building enterprise-based testing frameworks.The user should have a working knowledge of the Java, TestNG, and Selenium technologies What You Will Learn ? Design the Selenium Driver Class for local, remote, and third party grid support ? Build Page Object Classes using the Selenium Page Object Model ? Develop Data-Driven Test Classes using the TestNG framework ? Encapsulate Data using the JSON Protocol ? Build a Selenium Grid for RemoteWebDriver Testing ? Construct Utility Classes for use in Synchronization, File I/O, Reporting and Test Listener Classes ? Run the sample framework and see the benefits of a live data-driven framework in real-time In Detail The Selenium WebDriver 3.x Technology is an open source API available to test both Browser and Mobile applications. It is completely platform independent in that tests built for one browser or mobile device, will also work on all other browsers and mobile devices. Selenium supports all major development languages which allow it to be tied directly into the technology used to develop the applications. This guide will provide a step-by-step approach to designing and building a data-driven test framework using Selenium WebDriver, Java, and TestNG. The book starts off by introducing users to the Selenium Page Object Design Patterns and D.R.Y Approaches to Software Development. In doing so, it covers designing and building a Selenium WebDriver framework that supports both Browser and Mobile Devices. It will lead the user through a journey of architecting their own framework with a scalable driver class, Java utility classes, JSON Data Provider, Data-Driven Test Classes, and support for third party tools and plugins. Users will learn how to design and build a Selenium Grid from scratch to allow the framework to scale and support different browsers, mobile devices, versions, and platforms, and how they can leverage third party grids in the Cloud like SauceLabs. Other topics covered include designing abstract base and sub-classes, inheritance, dual-driver support, parallel testing, testing multi-branded applications, best practices for using locators, and data encapsulation. Finally, you will be presented with a sample fully-functional framework to get them up and running with the Selenium WebDriver for browser testing. By the end of the book, you will be able to design your own automation testing framework and perform data-driven testing with Selenium WebDriver. Style and approach A comprehensive approach to designing data-driven test frameworks using the Selenium 3 WebDriver API, Java-Bindings, and TestNG Technologies