Best of
Historical-Romance

2004

Devil's Bride and A Rake's Vow


Stephanie Laurens - 2004
    This volume contains the books that first introduced readers to the glittering, glamorous, passionate, and sometimes dangerous lives of the Cynster cousins and their ducal dynasty.In Devil's Bride, the head of the dynasty, Devil Cynster, 6th Duke of St. Ives, is caught in a compromising position with a governess. He astonishingly offers marriage, but Honoria Anstruther-Wetherby has no interest. Devil is convinced, yet someone is not so enthused, and accidents start to occur. Can Devil convince Honoria that marrying him will be a more exciting adventure than anything she's dreamed? And if he succeeds, will they both survive?In A Rake's Vow, Vane Cynster, Devil's cousin and closest friend, determined to avoid Cupid's dart, takes refuge at his godmother's country house, where fate throws Patience Debbington literally into his arms. Vane is impressed; Patience is not. But as both become embroiled in a mystery involving ghosts, thefts, and ultimately attempted murder, Patience learns that she can place her trust in this rake's vow, because it's one that comes from the heart.I hope you enjoy your first exciting taste of the Cynster world -- let the romance, adventure, mystery, and sheer passion sweep you away!WARNING: The Cynsters are addictive.Stephanie Laurens

Surrender/Seduction


Amanda Quick - 2004
    For dark and enigmatic Julian, Earl of Ravenwood, was a man with a legendary temper and a first wife whose mysterious death would not be forgotten. Now country-bred Sophy Dorring was about to become Ravenwood's new bride. Drawn to the glitter of desire that burned in his emerald eyes, Sophy had her own reasons for agreeing to a marriage of convenience. One was vengeance, and in its pursuit she would entangle Julian in a dangerous masquerade. The other reason was dearer to her heart but just as wild a quest: Sophy Dorring intended to teach the devil to love again... SURRENDERVictoria Huntington thought herself quite adept at fending off fortune hunters...until she came under siege from Lucas Colebrook, the darkly disturbing new Earl of Stonevale. For the earl would use her every weakness to woo her and ultimately to wed her. And soon Victoria would find herself ensconced in a crumbling mansion deep in the English countryside, where the real reason for her hasty marriage becomes all too apparent - and where the ghosts of her dark-stained past are waiting to rise in a terrifying plot that will threaten her life, her honor, and the only man she could even love...

Yours Until Dawn


Teresa Medeiros - 2004
    Abandoned by the fiancée he adored, the man who once walked like a prince among London's elite secludes himself in his family's mansion, cursing his way through dark days and darker nights. Prim nurse Samantha Wickersham arrives at Fairchild Park to find her new charge behaving more like a beast than a man. Determined to do her duty, she engages the arrogant earl in a battle of both wit and wills. Although he claims she doesn't possess an ounce of womanly softness, she can feel his heart racing at her slightest touch. As Samantha begins to let the light back into Gabriel's life and his heart, they both discover that some secrets -- and some pleasures -- are best explored in the dark ...

Again the Magic


Lisa Kleypas - 2004
    When their secret is suddenly discovered, their world is shattered. McKenna is forced to leave forever, unaware that the only reason Aline has given him up is to save him.Now McKenna has returned, a powerful man determined to take revenge against the woman who broke his heart. But the magic between them burns as fiercely as ever . . . and as McKenna uncovers Aline's deepest secret, together they discover a love that will defy Fate itself.

Secrets of a Summer Night


Lisa Kleypas - 2004
    . . no matter what it takes. Proud and beautiful Annabelle Peyton could have her pick of suitors—if only she had a dowry. Her family is on the brink of disaster, and the only way Annabelle can save them is to marry a wealthy man. Unfortunately her most persistent admirer is the brash Simon Hunt, a handsome and ambitious entrepreneur who wants her as his mistress.Annabelle is determined to resist Simon's wicked propositions, but she can't deny her attraction to the boldly seductive rogue, any more than he can resist the challenge she presents. As they try to outmaneuver each other, they find themselves surrendering to a love more powerful than they could have ever imagined. But fate may have other plans—and it will take all of Annabelle's courage to face a peril that could destroy everything she holds dear.

Legendary Warrior


Donna Fletcher - 2004
    She should have been afraid after all the stories she's heard at her father's knees, but from the moment she meets him, it is not fear she feels but fierce passion. Magnus has never known a lass brave enough to look him in the eye, let alone one who would plead for his help. Yet here was a sweet–spirited woman who inspires a deep yearning within him. He is willing to save her people, for a price. But once Reena uncovers his secrets, will she regret making a bargain with the devil, or find a sinful passion in his arms .?

The Eternal Highlander


Hannah Howell - 2004
    The ancient curse of their ancestry has fated them to live by night with an unquenchable thirst that neither can tame. The only thing that can save their souls is marriage to Outsiders--mortals whose untainted blood will weaken the curse in their children and break the chains of fear that have made their clan a breed apart.Bridget Callan and Eva Caxton are the women who will shape the clan's destiny. Marriage to these strange and mysterious men will rescue each of them from desperate circumstances--and draw them into a web of danger, desire, and intrigue. . .

Proud Eagle


Cassie Edwards - 2004
    Unfortunately, the land her father razed may have belonged to another... Makah Chief Proud Eagle has every reason to despise the Shaughnessys. Billie's late father broke treaties, stole land, and caused mudslides which killed a number of the Owl Clan, including Proud Eagle's beloved wife. Proud Eagle is determined that Billie not take the last thing he holds dear. Rivals for the land, now they must find common ground before old hurts can be buried--and a mighty passion can take root.

Under Apache Skies


Madeline Baker - 2004
    For in the eyes of this raven-haired, half-Indian loner, Martha sees the hint of danger, the depths of sorrow—and the tiniest spark of untold passion. Indeed, tragedy forced Ridge Longtree to leave the Apache stronghold at a young age. But when Martha's father is murdered, and Apache kidnap her younger sister, he cannot bear to see her distraught. Reluctantly, he agrees to lead her to the stronghold to save her kin. But somewhere along the jagged mountain trail, the two discover a passion that threatens to set their hearts aflame and endanger their mission of rescue.

Reflections from the Past


Audrey Howard - 2004
    Helens' largest glass works, her whole life is turned upside down. Torn from her poverty-stricken family and forbidden to see her childhood sweetheart, Roddy Baxter, she is forced by her tyrannical grandfather to become a lady. Then Roddy disappears and soon, it seems inevitable that Abby will have to marry her grandfather's chosen successor. Trapped in a marriage where she is little more than a possession, Abby is determined that no matter what else might change, nothing will stand in the way of her steadfast passion for Roddy. But is she prepared to give up everything she has now for a love from the past?

Three Heroes


Jo Beverley - 2004
    From a New York Times bestselling favorite comes two beloved novels and one extraordinary novella, brought together for the first time in this special trade edition...

Brazen


Bobbi Smith - 2004
    Working alongside her pa to keep the bank from foreclosing on the Bar T, she had no time for the frivolous things of life, no time for romance. But all that was about to change.Michael Donovan had had a burr under his saddle about Casey for years. Ever since she caught him skinny-dipping in the river and stole his clothes, making him the laughingstock of the whole Circle D. The last thing he wanted was to be forced into marrying the little hoyden, but it looked like he had no choice if he wanted to safeguard the future of the Donovan ranch. Their families had been bitter enemies for years, but now his parents were urging Michael to court Casey, to treat her like a lady. He'd do his darndest, but he could never let on that underneath her pretty new dresses, Casey was as wild as ever, and in his arms she was positively...Brazen.

The Kadin/Love Wild And Fair


Bertrice Small - 2004
    Historical romantic fiction.The KadinAbducted from a life of privilege, she was sold into slavery in a distant land. For Lady Janet Leslie there would be no escaping the harem of the wealthy and powerful Sultan Selim. But from the moment the handsome ruler spied his breathtaking "Cyra," was captivated -- by the fiery desire that coursed through his veins. She belonged to him, body and soul -yet it was he who was enslaved.Praised for her keen sense of history and remarkable storytelling powers, the bestselling author of The Spitfire displays the passionate magic that has made her a national favorite -sweeping the reader into the romantic past, from the magnificence of Renaissance Europe to the perfumed splendor of a Sultan's court.Love Wild And FairShe is Catriona, Countess of Glenkirk, the dazzling green-eyed beauty whose silken sensuality fires the passion of men's very souls -- making her a pawn in a dangerous game of royal intrigue. wife to a count, unwilling mistress to the king, she has the undying live of the most courageous lordin all of scotland. . .He is Francis, Earl of Bothwell, who defies his king to possess the woman he loves. Theirs is a romance in the grand tradition of bestselling author Beatrice Small -- and epic tale of love and betrayal that sweeps from the snowy Scottish highlands through the glittering palaces of Europe and exotic pleasures domes of Constantinople to find its magnificent conclusion inthe exquisite fulfillment of love's most passionate desires.

The Pirate Prince


Connie Mason - 2004
    Her hair shone like newly minted gold, and her skin was as smooth and iridescent as an exquisite pearl. Her lips were lush and pink, made for kissing. She was a pirate’s prize, yet he could not so much as touch her.Virgin TroubleDestined for the harem of a Turkish potentate, Willow wondered whether she should rejoice or despair when her ship was beset by a sinfully handsome pirate. Now it seemed she was a helpless pawn in a power play between two brothers. Fortunately for Willow, neither Ibrahim nor Dariq realized that a clever woman is never without resources. No matter how much he tempted her, she would teach her captor a thing or two before she gave her heart to…The Pirate Prince.

Under a Wild Sky


Sasha Lord - 2004
    . . and as tender as the sun's caress.She is Kalial, golden princess of a legendary forest. Living among the trees, her female form disguised in male garb, a jaguar at her side, she has the power to speak with wild animals . . . and halt all intruders in her forbidden land.He is Ronin, laird of the McTavers, a battered warrior whose family has been cruelly murdered, his castle destroyed. With the enemy hard on his heels, he ventures into the dense wilderness from which no man has returned.When forest dwellers attack Ronin, he does not hesitate to claim their boy leader as a hostage to ensure his safe passage. Little does he suspect that the small, fierce boy he calls his squire and promises to protect is actually a beautiful woman whose unbridled passion for life and love matches his own. Together, they will defy their enemies, soar to pinnacles of exquisite pleasure . . . and discover a love that will bind their souls forever.

Maybe This Time


Anna King - 2004
    It was she who ended Rory’s relationship with the poor but pretty Josie Guntrip, and then broke his heart leaving him for the better-off Barney.Having snagged herself a rich man, no one was expecting her to return to the slums. With Rory under Cathy’s spell once again, he hasn’t the time to give Josie a second thought. Which is a shame, because Josie never stopped loving him… An unputdownable saga and brilliant read for anyone who enjoys Dilly Court, Sally Warboyes and Katie Flynn.

The Marryin' Kind


Nancy J. Parra - 2004
    Unfortunately, her father disagrees and comes up with an ingenious plan. To curb the love life of his youngest, Robert Morgan proclaims that neither of his younger daughters can marry until Maddie does. This causes a stir and a generous pot is set up for whoever can take Maddie off the market.Aghast at being hounded by sweaty bachelors anxious to win the pot and her hand, Maddie turns to her brother for help. Her brother's solution is to spread the story that Maddie was pining away for the love of her life, Evan Montgomery, who left for the war and has never returned. Things go from bad to worse when the ladies in town, struck by the romance of long lost love, demand that Maddie's father rescind his proclamation and that the mayor give Maddie the deed to the dilapidated Montgomery ranch.When Maddie protests that her brother has gone too far, he replies with a shrug and the carefree statement that she needn't worry because after eight years, it's unlikely that any Montgomery would show up.As luck would have it, two years later Trevor Montgomery returns home to find a beautiful stranger living there, claiming to be his brother's fiancé. A fiancé Trevor wishes were his own. Torn between his loyalty to his brother and the love in his own heart, Trevor works to uncover the truth behind the woman who has stolen more than his family home.

The Keeners


Maura D. Shaw - 2004
    Her family is well and thriving, farming Ireland’s staple crop. She expects to marry handsome Tom Riordan, raise their children, and live in a cottage across the lane from her best friend, Kitty Dooley. She has found her calling and is apprenticed to the old keener Nuala Lynch. Together they keen for the dead, wailing the grief and pain of the bereaved in hopes of healing their sorrow. Margaret’s life is full of hope, full of purpose.But the year is 1846. The potato blight has returned. Pitiful harvests rot overnight and the people are dying. Ireland is dying. And Margaret cannot keen for an entire country.Out of devastation, Margaret Meehan’s tale begins. Leaving her decimated family, the tragic Kitty, and the death of dreams behind, she flees with her husband, now a wanted man, to America. In Troy, New York, where pig iron, starched collars, and union banners herald the success of Irish immigrants, Margaret discovers something even more precious than a new life and modest prosperity. She finds the heart and soul of Ireland. And she finds it in the voice of… the keeners.

The Independent Bride


Leigh Greenwood - 2004
    Fort Lookout: It was a rugged outpost where soldiers, cattlemen and Indians lived on the edge of open warfare, the last place any woman in her right mind would choose to settle. Abby: She is everything a man should avoid—with a figure made for temptation, a face of beauty and an expression of stubborn determination. Colonel Bryce McGregor knew there was no room for such a woman at his fort or in his heart. But no matter how many obstacles he put in her path, Abby was determined to make a go of her father's store. And as she received proposal after proposal from his troops, Bryce realized the only man he could allow her to marry is himself.

Rachel


Irene Carr - 2004
    In the depths of despair she is delighted to learn that her eccentric Uncle Joshua has left her his house in Sunderland. But it comes with a strict proviso: she must marry her sworn enemy Martin. Otherwise, her dangerous cousin Saul Gorman will inherit the lot. And Saul will stop at nothing to claim inheritance...

Twilight Time


Emma Blair - 2004
    Among the fluttering female hearts are sisters Maggs and Crista Fletcher. And though Maggs frequents the local pub in the hope of a chance meeting with the young doctor, it is Crista to whom Jamie has taken a shine. Not that Maggs is exactly drinking on her own. Her admirers include Dickie Trippett, her childhood sweetheart, now scarred for life in the First World War, and handsome, confident, and rich Rupert Swain, son and heir to the local paper mill. As Maggs and Crista's lives progress, they come to realize that those young, seemingly carefree days have in fact shaped their entire destinies.