Thanks to her anonymous sperm donor, a baby is about to be more than a gleam in Dr. Paige Brennan's eye. So why the Safe Harbor obstetrician just agreed to further complicate her life with a roommate, she'll never know. She still can't decide whether private detective Mike Aaron is irresistible…or just plain irritating. Though it is nice to have a man around the house.

Until Paige gets the sneaking suspicion that her baby's "anonymous" father is none other than her new roomie.

Helping out couples with fertility issues is one thing. Raising his own child is something Mike never envisioned. But the mother-to-be is bringing out his protective instincts. And some other feelings he didn't even know he had. Things are suddenly moving a little too fast. Or is Mike right where he belongs—on the fast track to fatherhood?

She may work at a fertility clinic, but the mommy track is definitely not in dedicated nurse Erica Benford's future. So when a one-night stand with hunky private detective Sherlock Vaughn leads to an unexpected pregnancy, Erica plans the only logical next step….

Becoming a father was the furthest thing from Lock's mind. But he'll be darned if he's going to sign away his rights to his own child! Lock knows how it feels to be unwanted, and no way is he giving up his son or daughter for adoption. If Erica isn't ready for parenthood, he'll go it alone.

Except—what does he know about being a dad? Nurse Erica will just have to train the single father-to-be. And hope she doesn't lose her heart to both of them in the process!

After selling 90 novels and teaching writing to more than 100 students, Jacqueline Diamond decided to share her knowledge of the craft of fiction in this 24,000-word book (that’s about 80 pages in conventional printing). You won’t find any one-size-fits-all schemes, just readable information with tips organized to help you no matter how much or how little writing experience you have.

This book is based on three articles previously published in Romance Writers of America’s monthly magazine plus Jackie’s workshop “Turning Your Weaknesses Into Strengths.” Everything has been updated and rewritten for this book. The author has also created study notes to help writers analyze techniques used in the first chapters of a mystery, a dark paranormal romance and a light Regency historical romance.

A former Associated Press reporter and TV columnist under the name Jackie Hyman, Diamond has won a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times magazine, has finaled twice for RWA’s prestigious Rita Award, and has hit bestseller lists including Waldenbooks and USA Today. Her novels have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, Turkish, Japanese, Norwegian, Greek, Swedish, Hungarian, Korean, Czech and Danish. She currently writes the Safe Harbor Medical romance series for Harlequin American Romance. A full list of her novels is available on her website, www.jacquelinediamond.com, along with free writing tips.

Jackie teaches writing for Long Ridge Writers Group, which is college accredited in the state of Connecticut.

Here are quotes from some of Jackie’s writing students:

Your assistance has helped me gain my footing and develop enough confidence to begin writing as I always dreamed I could.

You've been a most encouraging instructor. Your comments have been insightful and easy for me to understand and learn from.

It’s hard to believe how much I have learned about the craft of writing in such a short time. There is no way I could have done this on my own.

Mark Rayburn always admired Samantha Forrest's fierce dedication, even if it often caused heated disagreements between the two doctors. But making a lifetime commitment to three babies without a moment's thought? Unbelievable, even for Sam. None of her professional pediatric experience would prepare her for real-life motherhood—Mark knows Sam is in over her head.

Though he thought he swore off fatherhood years ago, Mark steps in to help Sam, and quickly falls in love with the adorable triplets. The former rivals make a great team, and soon Sam and Mark are giving off enough sparks to keep the whole town lit up through New Year's Eve. But when Sam's impulsive nature puts both their careers on the line, they find themselves fighting again…only this time, they're on the same side.

Surrogate mom Kate Evans, a widow with a five-year-old son, isn't looking forward to her upcoming delivery--not because of the pain, but because when it's over the doctor will place her baby in the arms of the couple who hired her. When Kate gets the startling news that Tony Franco's wife has abandoned him, it only makes her feel more conflicted.

Second thoughts or not, Kate signed a contract, and she won't go back on her word. Instead, she offers to help prepare Tony for single parenthood, never expecting to fall for him in the process. But once their baby is born, she'll lose both of them forever...unless she can convince Tony to give love another chance.

From the moment he arrives at Safe Harbor Medical, Ian Martin is on infant overload. But the story he's covering gets a lot more interesting when the adventure-seeking reporter meets Jennifer Serra, an intriguing PR director who has created a stir by taking home one of the center's unwanted newborns!

Jennifer has always wanted a child of her own. Her dream becomes thrilling reality when she agrees to temporarily-- permanently?--be a mother to a sweet baby girl. Ian could complete the picture--Jennifer sees how easily he bonds with little Rosalie.

But just when she begins to look at Ian as potential father material, the dashing journalist dredges up a scandal from Jennifer's past that could jeopardize her plans for adoption...and for a future with Ian.

Josh Lorenz is the last man Diane Bittner wants for a neighbor-he's the holdout juror responsible for letting her husband's killer walk. But she finds herself outvoted when their preteen daughters conspire to bring their divided parents together. Josh has always followed his conscience and hopes Diane can forgive him for doing what he believed was right. But he realizes he wants a lot more from the attractive single mother. With the help of their kids and their close-knit community, he and Diane have to decide what really matters. Reliving the mistakes of the past? Or planning their future-together?

When Luke Van Dam unexpectedly gets custody of his young daughter, the busy obstetrician has a new mission: to be the best dad he can be. Except he can't do it alone. So he turns to his good friend and new partner--fellow ob-gyn Jane McKay.

Ten years ago Jane and Luke were more than med-school buddies. Until Jane realized Luke wasn't ready to settle down. Now the ultimate babe magnet is becoming the ultimate baby magnet. He just became guardian of an infant girl!

Luke knows it takes two parents to make a family...and now Jane's planning to start one of her own! Is the cautious single dad ready to risk his heart with the woman he loves--and who is changing him baby step by baby step?

After being stripped of her wealth by a conniving con man, Sherry LaSalle may be down, but the suddenly broke socialite is far from out! She may not be used to having a job, but she's just landed the ideal position with sexy single dad Rafe Montoya. How hard could it be to take care of a pair of irresistible four-year-old twins?

The beautiful ex-heiress is the last person Rafe expected to bond with his orphaned niece and nephew. But Sherry is confounding the Harmony Circle mechanic with her down-to-earth, gingerbread-baking ways. She's clearly the perfect nanny for his kids. Is she also the woman Rafe wants and needs to complete their instant family?

When Brooke Bernard learns she's pregnant, she knows exactly what's missing from her soon-to-be family.

A daddy.

That certainly isn't Oliver Armstrong, Brooke's new roommate. Oliver may be gorgeous and caring, but the ambitious developer definitely isn't father material.

When Oliver agreed to let Brooke temporarily move into his condo, he should have known the free-spirited beauty would promptly turn his life upside down. Now she wants him to help her find a suitable husband! But weeding out all the Mr. Wrongs is just making Oliver realize that Brooke's ideal mate is closer than she realizes-right under the same roof!

The scars from Marta Lawson's near-fatal accident have faded, but she still doubts her ability to attract a man -- never mind one as handsome as the Villazon police department's Derek Reed. But when the sergeant comes up for auction at a charity event, her friends have the winning bid -- and a dream date with the blond poster boy turns out to be her birthday gift.

Finding herself in the arms of the charismatic cop is so intoxicating she throws caution to the wind, and she's not totally surprised a month later when her doctor gives her some (doubly!) electrifying news she dreads sharing with the elusive bachelor.

But he's hiding a surprise, too. Will it break them apart - -or bring them closer together?

In The Surgeon's Surprise Twins, high-handed surgeon Dr. Owen Tartikoff arrives at Safe Harbor Medical Center to head the new fertility program. He's also looking forward to the birth of his brother's baby, for whom he donated sperm. But surprise! His sister-in-law isn't pregnant. Instead, they recruited a surrogate who's unaware of Owen's involvement. Nurse Bailey Wayne isn't at all impressed with the arrogant physician, especially when they find themselves reluctantly sharing a house. Then Owen’s brother and sister-in-law get into trouble with the law, and Bailey has to make some tough decisions about her babies…and their father. 

Protecting the citizens of Safe Harbor is what gets cop-turned-P.I. Patty Hartman up in the morning. So how can she say no to a four-year-old who needs her help? Even if domestic detail isn't Patty's strong suit. Even if the little girl's father happens to be Dr. Alec Denny, the man Patty's loved since she was seventeen.

Alec came home to California for his career, but safeguarding his daughter's future trumps everything else. Hiring his high school sweetheart as her bodyguard is risky, especially with all that unfinished business between them.

With her maternal instincts—and a few other hot emotions—kicking in, Patty's got some serious soul-searching to do. It's not a choice between love and duty. It's about not letting the guy who broke her heart become the one who got away…again!

Safe Harbor obstetrician Nora Kendall longs to have a baby, but en route, what's wrong with a fling with a handsome young police officer who's not ready to be a dad? Well, nothing -- until their night of passion results in a pregnancy. Nora's determined not to rope Leo into anything, but he's beginning to wonder if his next big case shouldn't involve serving on diaper detail.

An eerie house … a malevolent ghost … and Ian Fanning, a brooding ex-cop obsessed with painting the woman his grandfather murdered. Into their midst arrives Sharon Mahoney, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the dead woman. When past and present collide, will Ian save or destroy her?

Through a rain-dashed window, a watcher observes as Sharon Mahoney drives up to the Victorian house where she has rented rooms.

As she and her seven-year-old son run to the front door in a flash of lightning, the watcher smiles at the knowledge that a role has already been written for her in the tragic history of this house, a role scripted to end in Sharon's death.

Could the watcher be Ian Fanning, a former policeman whose grandfather killed his grandmother in this house sixty years ago? Since being injured on duty, he has become obsessed with painting the murdered woman – a double for Sharon.

Or is the watcher Pete Gaskell, a would-be mystic who, with his wife, has rented an apartment here in hopes of contacting a vengeful spirit?

Could it be Jody Fanning, the elderly spinster who raised her nephew and then her grandnephew, Ian, after both sets of parents died violently? Or is it the spirit of Ian's murderous grandfather, stalking the house and planning to kill again?