Best of
Historical-Romance

1992

The Secret


Julie Garwood - 1992
    The dear Scottish friend of her childhood was about to give birth, and Judith had promised to be at her side. But there was another, private reason for the journey from her bleak English home to the Highlands to meet the father she had never known, the Laird Maclean. Nothing prepared her for the sight of the Scottish barbarian who was to escort her into his land...Iain Maitland, Laird of his clan, a man more powerfully compelling than any she had ever encountered.In a spirited clash of wills and customs, Judith revelled in the melting bliss of Iain's searching kisses, his passionate caresses. Perplexed by her sprightly defiance, bemused by her tender nature, Iain felt his soul growing into the light and warmth of her love. Surely nothing would wrench her from the affection and trust of Iain and his clan...not even the truth about her father, a devastating secret that could shatter the boldest alliance, and the most glorious of loves.

Highland Hearts


Sandra Dustin - 1992
    But it is not until she frees Sir Revan Halyard from her guardian's dungeon that she realizes the extent of the plot—and the deadly lengths to which he'll go to silence her and claim her considerable inheritance. When Revan abducts Tess in the course of his escape, she becomes his wary ally as well as his captive. For though Tess is loath to trust him and resistant to the desire he stirs in her soul, she cannot deny the destiny they share. Now, as they race against the traitors who seek to destroy them and betray the throne, Tess and Revan will risk everything for love of king, country—and one another...

Flowers from the Storm


Laura Kinsale - 1992
    Considered dissolute, reckless, and extravagant, he was transparently referred to as the "D of J" in scandal sheets. But sometimes the most womanizing rakehell can be irresistible, and even his most causal attentions fascinated the sheltered Maddy Timms. Then one fateful day she receives the shocking news - the duke is lost to the world. And Maddy knows it is her destiny to help him and her only chance to find the true man behind the wicked facade. But she never dreamed her gentle, healing touch would alter his life and her own so completely - and bind them together in need, desire...and love.

Man of My Dreams


Johanna Lindsey - 1992
    James, a man she has never met but has every intention of marrying. And no other suitor will satisfy her especially not the common, if uncommonly handsome, horse breeder, Devlin Jefferys.Posing as lowborn Jefferys to escape a potentially fatal confrontation, Sir Ambrose is enthralled by the brazen, duke-hunting redhead. Without revealing his true identity, he vows to seduce and tame her, thereby foiling Megan's plans to marry the man of her dreams. But the notorious rogue never imagined the enchanting schemer would turn out to be the only woman he would ever dream of marrying.

The Courtship of Chloe


Dorothy Mack - 1992
     Can Chloe bring order to the Montrose family? Regency England As a practical doctor’s daughter living in the countryside, Chloe Norris has had little experience among the aristocracy. But when she leaves her quiet existence to act as a temporary social secretary to the Montrose family, Chloe finds herself caught in a whirlwind of wedding plans, star-crossed lovers and unacknowledged family tensions. Amid the chaos, Chloe is surprised to find solace in intellectual conversation with the intriguing but aloof Lord Ivor Montrose, the family’s eldest son. And as their connection grows stronger, her cool-headed attitude is soon put to the test… The Courtship of Chloe by Dorothy Mack is a classic Regency romance full of twists and surprises.

Midnight Fire


Madeline Baker - 1992
    He told himself he needed the money as he agreed to escort her across the plains. But somewhere between Galveston and Ogallala, where the burning prairie meets the endless night sky, he made her his woman and vowed to protect her--no matter what.

Angel of Fire


Tanya Anne Crosby - 1992
    but the Silver Wolf has come knocking on their door and treachery is at hand. King Henry's blue-eyed champion has been sent to quell a nation's rebellion. He plans to seal their peace by wedding Gilbert de Lontaine's beautiful daughter, but though the girl with smoky eyes holds his heart in peril, the real danger lurks in unexpected quarters.This digital release of Angel of Fire is a special author's cut, with an extensive new edit and all new scenes.

Wild Ecstasy


Cassie Edwards - 1992
    Echohawk is the handsome, daring Chippewa brave sworn to avenge the wrongs done to his father and his people. But when Mariah and Echohawk meet, something wonderful happens: suddenly their bloodlines do not seem to matter, their differences are swept away. The two are inseparable...until a fiercely guarded secret is revealed and the shattering truth tears them apart. A future together would seem impossible, yet nothing can diminish the smoldering heat of their desire...the pure intensity of their passion that propels them over all barriers and lifts them to a love that defies all odds.

Golden Chances


Rebecca Hagan Lee - 1992
    But when the dark-eyed beauty responds to his ad, he cannot resist offering her more than just a contract to provide him with an heir to his fortune.As they travel west and struggle to guard their wounded hearts, Faith and Reese quickly discover just how easily business can turn to pleasure...and pleasure to love.Book 1 of the BORROWED BRIDES Series, which includes Golden Chances, Harvest Moon and Something Borrowed

Ravished


Amanda Quick - 1992
    Moving from the cozy confines of a tiny seaside village named Upper Biddleton to the glittering crush of a fashionable London soiree, Quick offers an enthralling tale of a mismatched couple poised to discover the rapture of love.There was no doubt about it. What Miss Harriet Pomeroy needed was a man. Someone powerful and clever who could help her rout the unscrupulous thieves who were using her beloved caves to hide their loot. But when Harriet summoned Gideon Westbrook, Viscount St. Justin, to her aid, she could not know that she was summoning the devil himself. . . . Dubbed the Beast of Blackthorne Hall for his scarred face and lecherous past, Gideon was strong and fierce and notoriously menacing. Yet Harriet could not find it in her heart to fear him. For in his tawny gaze she sensed a savage pain she longed to soothe . . . and a searing passion she yearned to answer. Now, caught up in the Beast’s clutches, Harriet must find a way to win his heart–and evade the deadly trap of a scheming villain who would see them parted for all time.RAVISHED is a retelling of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast.

Pirate in My Arms


Danelle Harmon - 1992
    In innocence, young Maria Hallett teases him, taunts him...and surrenders to a scorching seduction that leaves her in disgrace as his ship sails. But Sam cannot forget Maria--his golden-haired angel, a haunting beauty whose awakened sensual passion has seared his very soul with tormented longing. When he returns it is to claim her, to sweep her into his pirate's world--on a perilous voyage of daring dreams and dangerous desires...and a confrontation with a love that thunders with the raging passion of the stormy sea.

Midnight and Magnolias


Rebecca Paisley - 1992
    Now the wildly unpredictable Carolina mountain beauty has resolved to live the last of her life to the fullest - and sets sail for the tiny island kingdom of Aventine to marry herself a prince. But while Seneca, the heir to the Aventine throne, is wealthy and unbearably handsome, his aristocratic arrogance infuriates the flame-haired hellion. And Peachy is not about to let any domineering blue-blood have his royal way with her - not unless Seneca reveals the caring, gentle soul hidden beneath his princely mask... and learns to love the charming country miss, outrageous quirks and all, truly, passionately and forever.

Rainbows and Rapture


Rebecca Paisley - 1992
    But when a hardened Texas gunslinger comes swaggering into the saloon where she works, she can’t resist falling beneath the seductive spell of his midnight-black hair and glittering obsidian eyes.Santiago Zamora stopped believing in fairy tales—and happily ever afters—a long time ago. The last thing the reluctant bounty hunter needs in his life is a tart-tongued beauty who sings like a dying nanny goat, has a cat who insists on sleeping in his hat, attracts catastrophe wherever she goes, and makes his pulse pound with a dangerous desire he had hoped never to feel again.When Russia tricks Santiago into helping her track the villain with the power to destroy all of her dreams, Santiago must fight the temptation to surrender to a spell of a different kind—one woven of passion and tenderness…and the irresistible hope that it might not be too late for him to find a happily ever after of his own—in Russia Valentine’s arms.

Hawk's Lady


Sharon Gillenwater - 1992
    Pretending to be mad--in a harmless sort of way--works well. Until she meets Hawk Martin. When her cousin demands that she marry Hawk, she assumes the handsome architect is an accomplice in the plot--not a dashing and charming protector. Despite Lora's resolve to keep her new husband at a distance, his comfort and tender touch make her yearn for a true marriage and lasting love. Hawk Martin... A self-made man, he never dreamed he would marry the daughter of an earl, even one who might or might not be slightly unhinged. But he is determined to keep her safe. If they outwit her nefarious cousin, will this new life--and his heart--be shattered when she learns of his past? Or can an orphan from the slums of London find enduring love with a lady of quality? Author Note: For fans of my Christian romances, please note that this is a general market book. It contains more sensuality than my Christian books, though nothing explicit. Readers' reviews place it in the Clean Read category. Hawk's Lady is a revised version of Secret Splendor published by Berkley in 1992. The Ladies of Quality Collection-- A maid, a governess, and a mad heiress. But are they truly what they seem? Three stand-alone Regency historical romances. Hawk's Lady Ryland's Love Blackthorn's Heart

The Black Beast of Belleterre


Mary Jo Putney - 1992
    When he learns that a neighboring girl, the exquisite young Ariel Hawthorne, is about to be sold into marriage with a revolting lecher, he offers her the only protection he can: his name. Of course it will be a marriage in name only, because what woman could want him? A talented artist, Ariel is cursed by her beauty and vulnerability. Though she never sees her husband's face, she is drawn to his kindness and generosity, but he is determined to push her away. Will he allow her to love him before it's too late? Perhaps the magic of Christmas can bring them together… This seasonal stand-alone Regency novella is also published in the author's Christmas Revels collection.

The Marriage Mart


Teresa DesJardien - 1992
    She knew she was no great beauty, and at the ancient age of 28 she was prepared to settle for an older gentleman, one happy to settle down and start a family of his own. Yet, one glimpse of the incomparably handsome Marquess of Rothayne put every practical plan to rout. Mary would be less than a woman if her heart remained unaffected by such a man, but more the fool for giving in to such folly!Nothing intrigued the Marquess of Rothayne more than a challenge, particularly where women were concerned. And Lady Mary Wagnall, with her quick-witted banter and forthright nature would certainly provide enough sport to alleviate his increasing sense of ennui. But as he helped to plot her course to matrimony, he began to wonder if it was to be his sworn bachelorhood which would succumb to her charming nature and lively smile!

Just Deserts


Elizabeth Bailey - 1992
    Double trouble plagues the baron when he seeks his fortune via the hand of the nabob’s daughter. Elizabeth Bailey is the author of historical fiction, including 18 romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon and the Lady Fan mystery series with Penguin’s Berkley Books. JUST DESERTS A stormy encounter in the park sets Baron Chiddingly firmly against the newly arrived heiress from India. But Miss Winsford in company is charming, and his friend Fitz is enchanted by her unconventional manners. A startling revelation at the lady’s come-out ball changes everything. Chiddingly hopes to fund his search for a racing champion, but his pursuit of Penelope Winsford is hampered by the wild antics of her horse-mad sister Persephone. When his new stallion is endangered, there is hell to pay, and not only for the horse! Is there any way through the ensuing disastrous tangle?

Under the Desert Moon


Marsha Canham - 1992
    Disguised as a prim schoolmarm, she hid more than her alluring beauty. For no one could see her fierce determination, her able sharp-shooting, her survivor's heart. No one except the one man determined to claim her as his own...HIS PAST WAS A SECRET...Christian McBride sought justice for the misguided verdict that wrongly jailed him years before. Traveling westward with his stoic Ute companion, Sun Shadow, the rugged, bold plainsman knew the perils of the West better than his own heart - which was about to fall hostage to the mysterious, raven-haired woman who boarded the stage he was riding - and who, it would turn out, was not at all what she seemed...

Temptation


Catherine Hart - 1992
    TempestuousRavishing but tough riverboat gambler Amanda Sites wants to be a proper lady and her newly won half of a Kentucky horse farm seems the answer to her prayers with a magnificently handsome partner thrown in to sweeten the pot!TemperamentalFirst his fool brother loses half of the family estate in a poker game and now Grant Gardner has to put up with a brazen hussy who thinks she has the right to run things turning his house upside-down, his servants against him and worst yet, driving him crazy with desire!TemptationCome hell or high water, Grant is determined to get the lovely, willful wildcat off his back and out of his life if only he can resist her scandalously lush body and the soul-searing fire that blazes in her eyes!

Comanche Flame


Madeline Baker - 1992
    But if his reputation as an outlaw didn't warn decent women away, his Comanche blood did... Heartbreaker He saved Jessica's life out on the desolate plains, then made her a willing captive of his savage desire. But even when he had left her behind to rejoin his people, Jesse found she could not forget him. Safe and respectable once again, she longed for her once-in-a-lifetime love, knew she would give up everything for just one more night of ecstasy with the man called Dancer.

In a Renegade's Embrace


Cynthia Wright - 1992
    Struggling with survivor's guilt, Fox takes refuge in a place where he's a stranger - the raucous gold town of Deadwood, located deep in the Black Hills, sacred land to the same Sioux Indians who decimated Custer’s troops.BECOMING A WOMANMadeleine Avery, raised to be a lady in Philadelphia, is appalled when she arrives in unrefined Deadwood with her family. Slowly she learns to bend, coaxed out of her shell by a powerful attraction to Fox and a journey into the world of the Sioux Indians.IN A RENEGADE'S EMBRACE is an unforgettable tale of cultures colliding and the passionate, tender journey of Fox and Maddie as they discover the secrets of their own hearts.The ROGUES GO WEST series:1. BRIGHTER THAN GOLD (Jack & Katie)2. IN A RENEGADE'S EMBRACE (Fox & Maddie)3. THE DUKE & THE COWGIRL (Geoff & Shelby)Author's note: Maddie's grandmother, Susan Hampshire O'Hara, is the daughter of Lion & Meagan from TOUCH THE SUN. She also appears in HER DANGEROUS VISCOUNT as a young woman.IN A RENEGADE'S EMBRACE was originally published by Ballantine Books as FIREBLOSSOM.

Only My Love


Jo Goodman - 1992
    But when the gang is finally brought to justice and Mary bolts, Ethan can't seem to get the feisty reporter out of his dreams.Overjoyed to be back in New York with the story of a lifetime, Mary comes face-to-face with the gang's cunning leader who has escaped federal custody. Now Mary can only hope that the man who once attempted to save her will try again.Previously Titled: Wild Sweet EcstasyREVIEWS:"Goodman has a real flair…Witty dialogue, first-rate narrative prose, and clever plotting." ~Publishers WeeklyTHE DENNEHY SISTERS SERIES, in series order:Only My LoveMy Heart's DesireForever in My HeartAlways in My DreamsOnly in My ArmsTHE MARSHALL BROTHERS SERIES in order:Her Defiant HeartHis Heart's RevengeTHE THORNE BROTHERS TRILOGY, in series order:My Steadfast HeartMy Reckless HeartWith All My Heart

Surrender The Night


Colleen Shannon - 1992
    He offers her all of London's treasures - save his love. But Katrina refuses to become any man's mistress - even one she adores beyond reason.

Sweet Deception


Colleen Faulkner - 1992
    With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, Thomasina makes a new life for herself on the London Stage as Ellen Scarlet. Having vowed to never love again, Ellen channels her passions into her acting--until she meets a dashing patron who awakens her burning desires.

Wild Texas Loving


Catherine Creel - 1992
    But she hadn't bargained for the handsome cavalryman's steely sense of honor that would allow nothing--not even his feelings for her--to color his judgment. Nor had she taken into account the longings of her own heart in the face of Cameron's complete mastery of her body all through the hot Texas nights.

Silver Flame


Hannah Howell - 1992
    Original.

The Prisoner


Cheryl Reavis - 1992
    Now he was saddled with his own prisoner, the sad, stubborn Amanda Douglas, on a journey that would change their lives forever..Even her previous spartan existence had not prepared Amanda for the dangerous trek she was now making--entirely against her will. But when John gazed at her through his beautiful, haunted eyes, bright with fever, she was lost. Could a privileged Yankee son and a poor, proud Rebel girl keep their love safe from the rest of the world?

The Eagle's Song


Marylyle Rogers - 1992
    Only after he had scaled the battlements and entered her chamber, did Linnet realize the handsome, golden-haired stranger she had desired from afar was the infamous Eagle, her father's sworn enemy, who had come to abduct her.