9/11 is not simple a date on the calendar but marks a distinct historical threshold, ushering in the war on terror, various states of emergency, a supposed "clash of civilizations," and the putative legitimation of counter-democratic procedures ranging from extraordinary renditions to enhanced interrogation. Perhaps no date, since Virginia Woolf declared that "on or about December 1910 human character changed," has marked such a singular point in the perception of time, identity and nature. Women's writing has always been something of a counter-canon, offering modes of voice and point of view beyond that of the "man" of reason. This collection of essays explores the two problems of what it means to write as a woman and what it means to write in the twenty-first century.

Depend on a man? Never Emily McAllister wants nothing more than to control her own life, but when a vision of her best friend's murder grips her, Emily's forced to put her trust in the straight-laced sergeant responsible for closing the case. The police believe the drowning was accidental but Emily, haunted by dreams of the killer, knows better. Police sergeant Mark Thurgood is interested in facts, not premonitions, and he's tried to steer clear of the ocean since rescuing two lives from its icy clutches. But when danger threatens the free-spirited Emily, he's determined to stay by her side. It isn't until Emily finally begins to trust Mark that she realizes her reaction to him may be more than physical attraction. But when a detail emerges from the murky veil of her dreams she questions if the man she's fallen for is actually a killer.

Historical inn owner Rachael McCoy has one simple rule: Don't date guests. Ever. After having her heart broken by a string of sweet-talking visitors, Rachael has learned her lesson. But when dangerously sexy rock star Cole Turner rolls into town and rents every room in her hotel, she starts to rethink her rule. Cole's a rumored playboy with a sordid past, yet his touch is sinfully sweet... Rock star and self-proclaimed sex god Cole Turner lives by a simple decree: There are no rules in love or rock and roll. One week after botching his performance in Houston, Cole needs a quiet place to regain focus. All he wants to do is lay low and nail his two-concert show outside of Blue Lake, though a hot and heavy fling with the seductive innkeeper wouldn't hurt. But the stubborn little vixen denies his advances, and the more he gets to know her, the more he's determined to make her his. As desire flames into something more intense, will the two unlikely lovers be able to bridge a gap to happy ever after?