They're fierce, wounded, and dangerous. The stakes were high and their love was strong. It was personal, and they went above and beyond the breaking point. Our brave heroes took on the world. For all of us. For those they loved. Five Degrees of heartwarming to melting stories ─ Five stand-alone swoon-worthy heroes that will leave you breathless from award-winning International, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors Pamela Ackerson, Debra Parmley, Teri Riggs, Maggie Adams, and Nia Farrell. * A Rosa for Russell ~ Trapped in desire and drowning in need; to fall in love with the enemy, there might as well be a mountain between them. "Well, then. That's something to help me sleep at night. Could you be sweet enough on me to let me give you a quick kiss on the cheek?"She tapped his arm. "No. Now out you go. I've got men over there who are trulysick and need me."She grinned. A kiss? The thought sent a cluster of warmth to her heart. Longing flared deep inside her.Yes, she liked the idea of kissing Russell.He looked back when he reached the door. He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. "It's Christmas in a few days. Perhaps it will be my gift from you." ** Two Step, New Steps ~ Healing from a gunshot wound, Leanne Bobbin brings out his protective instincts. "Not myself," he shook his head as he paced. "I need to be there. That's my girl.""I know, and that's damn hard.""It's not my nature to stand down," Len growled. "And sure as hell not when it's my woman in danger.""I'll let you ride with me; with the understanding you'll stay in the patrol car until I give the okay. Understand?""Yes," Len growled again. The only word he could get out through gritted teeth. *** Bringing Her Home ~ Can Thomas Raintree bring home the woman he loves, but had to leave behind? "Is it really you?""In the flesh." His lips skimmed over the inside of my wrist, and he brushed another light kiss on my forehead. "Tell me what hurts."Only everything. It took a minute to pull myself together before I spoke. "Besides the obvious, I'd say my heart."Panic blanketed Tommy's face. "Like a heart attack?""No. Like a broken heart." I shouldn't do this now, but I couldn't seem to shut my mouth. I'd wanted answers for so long. I didn't care if the timing was off. For all I knew, Tommy would take off again now that I was awake. **** As Time Goes By ~ Blake's determined to find out who killed his best friend, and his widow holds the key.Lizzie nodded. She figured he was here for a reason, not because of her. "Where were you when he died?"Like a burning ember shoved into his heart, her words pained him. Lizzie was always one to get right to the point. "I was doing my job. I thought I had everything under control. I had the proper vantage point where I could see Thomas and the meeting. They were at a local restaurant. Then I don't know what happened. I woke up in some prison overseas. My head was bashed in and my leg, well, let's just say it had seen better days. I was in and out of it for days. ***** Fallen ~ An Army chaplain's faith is tested when he falls for his PTSD therapist. He shouldn't be here. He was an imposter. An interloper. A sinner as in need of forgiveness as the other person who had come seeking it. He'd been alone in the church when he'd entered the confessional. Whoever had come in didn't know that Father Andrew had gone. He forced himself to stay silent. If they thought that no one was here, they'd leave him alone. If he pretended to be asleep, maybe they'd torture someone else. Just that fast, he was back in his pit, starved, dehydrated, with flea bites and burn marks covering his skin like the plague. He swallowed a whimper, choking on it, silently keening, praying to die.