For the fourth anthology in the Fiction River line, paranormal romance writer Kristine Grayson invited a stellar lineup of cross-genre authors to tell heartwarming stories of love set in the holiday season. From Regency England to modern day Portland, Oregon, ghosts facilitate-or try to stop-true love in the dark at the end of the year. Featuring stories by bestselling authors Mary Jo Putney and Carole Nelson Douglas to fan favorites M.L. Buchman and Anthea Lawson, Christmas Ghosts provides the perfect beginning to the mid-winter festivities. "A sugary Christmas treat for those who love romance." -Publisher's Weekly "The beloved Victorian Christmas ghost storytelling tradition continues to thrive in modern day, and this multi-genre anthology of short stories is proof. Cuddle up next to a crackling fire with some holiday music playing softly in the background, and lose yourself in eight amazing Christmas stories by a gang of super-talented, cross-genre authors. Not only are they heartwarming, but they incorporate mystery, science fiction, romance and ghosts A few tend to be more animated than others, but each one is special, and guaranteed to jingle someone's bells." -RT Book Reviews "This title offers eight original love stories that will give romance readers several satisfying happy endings." -Library Journal "We thoroughly enjoyed every tale in Christmas Ghosts. The collection offers a unique cross-genre take all within one solid tome of tales. Enjoy it with a glass of your favorite eggnog by a roaring, crackling fire this holiday season... and hey, it goes great with Halloween ... as well " -Astroguyz "Each tale will take you on an eerie love adventure and all end up with a warm and loving conclusion gearing you up into the Christmas spirit. Kristine Grayson has chosen some of the best to be included in this anthology, guaranteed to give the reader thrills as well as an abundance of romance and love. Settle yourself down with a hot drink and entertain yourself with this wonderful book that will fulfill your desire for love sought during the amazing magical time of Christmas. This is a must read for anyone enjoying a little mystical adventure at this great time of the year." -Fresh Fiction

Nissa Kealoha helps control Santa's image-his brand. An Image Specialist with Claus & Company, she helps promote his positive image and deflect anything negative. This year, Nissa finds herself counting the days until she can return to the Greater World to goose holiday donations and remind people about the good Santa represents. Until a man on a mission threatens her holiday plans. Professor Ryan Palmer possesses the perfect voice in the perfect body. And he uses that perfection to launch an anti-obesity campaign against, of all people, Santa. Or as he sees it, Santa's image. Ryan thinks the mythology of Santa eating cookies and drinking eggnog contribute to the obesity epidemic-one he hopes to help reverse. Nissa must stop Ryan from tarnishing Santa's image, but when they meet, sparks fly-the magical, person-of-your-dreams kind of sparks. Can Nissa keep her objectivity? Can Ryan let himself believe in the impossible? Can they find their own kind of Christmas magic together? "Grayson's clever, humor-tinged writing is absolutely delightful." -Booklist

THE SIDEKICK'S JOURNEY Darius has been a sidekick forever. Always the best friend, never the hero. Known throughout the ages by a variety of names from Merlin to Sancho Panza, Puck to Andvari, Darius has kept his real identity secret. Three thousand years ago, he disrespected true love. So, as punishment, the Fates took away his good looks and forced him to unite 100 soul mates before he got his looks back. He just united his 98th and 99th couple. He has one left when he meets Ariel Summers. Ariel Summers, a world-famous triathelete, is hiking the Idaho Wilderness to come to terms with a career-ending injury. She falls off a cliff, but somehow manages to stop on a ledge halfway down. But she needs help, and a handsome man provides it-using magic. She meets Darius in his true form, which he can revert to once a year-and falls in love with him. Or does she? Because Darius's lifelong enemy, Cupid, lurks in the woods, and he's shot an arrow at Ariel. Did it hit? And does it matter? Because Darius knows Ariel is part of the final couple he must unite. He can't bear to unite her with anyone else. But Darius doesn't deserve true love. So he must break Cupid's spell, find Ariel's soul mate, and unite them. Even though he doesn't want to.

Book Three of the Fates Trilogy. Child psychologist Megan Kinneally answers an urgent message from her brother Travers: Come to Las Vegas immediately. He needs some kind of help. When she arrives, she finds her nephew alone with a dog and three strange women whom everyone calls the Fates. Her practical brother suddenly believes in magic and secretly, Megan does too. Otherwise the experience she just had on the interstate between Vegas and Los Angeles makes no sense. Rob Chapeau, aka Robin Hood (yes, the Robin Hood), has just made a mistake. He let one of the most beautiful women in the world see him hunting fake rabbits in the desert with his very real falcon. Rob still mourns the death of his true love eight centuries before. But if a woman can ever bring him out of mourning, it's the surprising Megan Kinneally who has no idea that she has the strongest magic of all-or that she's enchanted him. Can Rob and Megan save her family, rescue the Fates from a fate worse than death, and find true love? Their journey will take them into the bowels of Las Vegas, where the Faerie Kings rule and emotions vanish. And, to make matters worse, an old enemy of the Fates appears just as everything looks like it will resolve in a true happily ever after.

Kristine Grayson's twisted worldview shows itself in these five stories of love, geeks, and happily ever after. In "The Charming Way," a nerdy Prince Charming falls in love with an Evil Stepmother. "Geeks Bearing Gifts" shows that even Greek Gods need computer dating services sometimes. "Name-calling," the most "normal" story in the book focuses on a woman who won't get married until she figures out what to do about her last name. "Knowing Jack," and "Artistic License," are a change of pace for Grayson-not Greek Gods, but grifters in lighthearted romances set in the old West.

Julka is part of Santa's Advance team, but she's spending her days inspecting rooftop entrances for the Big Night. And she's traveling with an annoying elf who just happens to be on double secret forever probation. She hates her job. She wants excitement. She wants to explore the Greater World. She wants romance. Disgraced investment banker, Marshall, doesn't have a job. Not any more. He spends his days trying to ingratiate himself with neighbors who believe he's personally responsible for the Great Recession, even though he isn't. Then he sees a pretty woman dressed like an elf standing on a rooftop. He has no idea that entrancing vision will change his life-forever. Part of the Kristine Grayson Santa Series.

Travers Kinneally doesn't believe in magic. But ever since he picked up his son Kyle at his sister's house in Oregon, strange things have happened to him. First, his sister asked him to drive three strange women to Las Vegas. The women, whom he calls the Wyrd Sisters, seem to attract every weird thing to them. Kyle even calls them the Fates. The Fates need to find a detective named Zoe Sinclair. When Travers finds her, she's not what he expects. He thought he'd find an 80-year-old woman. Instead, he finds the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Zoe knows she's in trouble from the moment Travers appears. He has brought the Fates, who've been demoted by the Powers That Be. Worse, he has no idea that both he and his son control a powerful magic. She doesn't want to help them, but she can't avoid it-not just because of the magic, but because of Travers himself. He's handsome, smart, and in trouble, the kind of trouble that can get a savvy detective killed. Book Two of the Fates Trilogy.

Dexter Grant, the inspiration for the greatest superhero of all time, lives in reduced circumstances. Now he runs a pet store in Portland, Oregon, and privately calls himself a Kitten Superhero because he saves stray animals. He aspires to something greater, but his magic has been restricted-by the Fates. The Fates, three women who control the magical universe. Only they've lost their position, and they're on the run. They've turned to an old friend for help, but that friend is dead. Her niece, Vivian Kineally, runs her estate. Vivian, who doesn't even know magic exists. Vivian, who loves comic books. Vivian, who also happens to be psychic. The Fates steer Vivian to Dexter Grant. They want his help. He's not willing to give it. But now that he's met Vivian, he's not willing to give her up either. Dexter Grant must save the Fates-and discover his own fate, all at the same time. Book One of the Fates Trilogy. "With her series of magical romances, Kristine Grayson has carved out her own special and unique place in the romance genre." -Romantic Times "The reigning queen of paranormal romance." -The Best Reviews