But when the pillars of privilege topple, her fiancé's betrayal leaves Emma no choice. She must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dangerous and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn. To the marble halls of London... In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. Cynical and impatient with both worlds, Julian has never imagined that the place he might belong is in the embrace of a woman with a reluctant laugh and haunted eyes. But in a time of terrible darkness, he and Emma will discover that love itself can be perilous -- and that a single decision can alter one's life forever. Destiny follows wherever you run. A lifetime of grief later, in a cold London spring, Emma and Julian must finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned...and some passions never die.

    . .He is the most notorious laird of Scotland: fierce, cold, deadly . . . and maybe even worse. Yet Evelinde has just agreed to wed him. Anything, she thinks, is better than her cruel stepmother. Though Evelinde should be wary of the rumors, she can't help but be drawn to this warrior . . . for the Devil of the Highlands inspires a heat within her that is unlike anything she has ever known.They may call him whatever they wish, but Cullen, Laird of Donnachaidh, cares only for the future of his clan. He must find a wife, a woman to bear him sons and heed his commands. He has no need for beauty or grace, but one taste of his lovely bride's sweet lips and the sultry feel of her skin arouse an untamed passion. Perhaps there's more to marriage than he thought . . .

    A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything—even strike a bargain with the devil himself.Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.

    It's the latest model and makes her believe her cooking alone will encourage the Boss Man to let her stay until she has enough money to travel to California and be reunited with the man she promised to marry.Big John Thompson returns from the spring river drive to find the man he hired to cook for the lumberjacks is a slip of a girl—Danielle Jones. To make matters worse, Miss Jones decides John needs a wife, and sets out to find him one… This is a new release of a previously published edition.

    But Annique Villiers, elusive spy Fox Cub, is thrown in prison with British spymaster Robert Grey, ordered to enter France and bring her back. Their uneasy alliance holds, but passion builds as they flee.

    The product of une petite liaison between her French father and his African mistress, Zoé lives a life of comfort and love. However, Zoé's stepmother, jealous of the affections showered upon her by her father, has long resented having to raise a mulatto as her own in French society.At sixteen and the younger by two years, Zoé's sister, Marianne, has reached the age to marry. Thus the girls are presented to the mysterious, philandering Comte Julien La Roque de Toulouse. Soon Zoé herself falls prey to the Count's charms. Seduced by a glimpse of the man behind the title, Zoé finds herself deep in a passionate liaison beyond her youthful understanding.Desperate to cover her foolish lapse in judgment, Zoé races against time to keep her secret affair from being uncovered. When caught by her cruel stepmother, her hopes of rescue by her father cannot be realized, and she is forced into a bitter bargain. But even as she tries to return the attentions of the Count to her sister, Marianne, and her impending betrothal, she must fight the truths underneath her own feelings. Her only salvation is to trust the one person who has created the labyrinth of betrayal and tragedy she cannot escape.A Cinderella fairytale for all time, Zoé takes the reader beyond color and shares the true nature of humanity and passion in a page-turning erotic tale that will keep you reading—and believing that true loves knows no bounds.

    One last adventure abroad with her botanist uncle and his family, and then she will do as her parents bid and wed the proper (and boring) viscount her mother has selected as Lily's ideal husband.James Huntington is on a mission. Retrieve his grandfather's lost journals from the wilds of Tunisia, and win the estate and fortune he so desperately needs. This quest will be the making of him--or his ruin.Thrown together on a botanical expedition, James and Lily's attraction is immediate, and impossible. Despite every reason to keep their distance, the two find themselves inexorably drawn together as they race to reach a hidden valley before their enemies can bring all their dreams crashing down.      *Formerly published as PASSIONATE by Kensington Books

    Austin. Why the nobleman wishes to wed her and how her father brought about the match, Leah cannot imagine, yet the moment Richard takes her into his arms, undeniable passion flares between them. But Leah senses a darkness in Richard, and lingering wounds from a past betrayal that haunt him still. She vows she will heal his heart and win his love—and no one will stop her.As the spare heir, no one paid much attention to Richard and his affairs, but when life makes him a duke, he becomes the most sought after bachelor in London. That is, until a scheming miller discovers Richard’s darkest secrets, which he threatens to reveal…unless Richard marries the man’s daughter. Outraged, yet desperate to protect those he holds dear, Richard weds the lovely Leah, and vows to banish his unwanted bride the moment they leave the altar. But Richard’s anger quickly dissolves into desire…and passionate love. Now the greater danger he faces comes not from his enemies, but from his yearning to yield the secrets of his heart into Leah’s safekeeping.

    Set against the backdrop of the Denmark Vesey rebellion in 1860s Charleston, this passionate tale follows a black woman who is determined to be part of the uprising, and the man who vows to keep her safe.

    As sole heir to the late Duke of Penrith's vast estate, she can only surmise that her fortune is her aggressor's objective but cannot accept that any of her relations are culpable.In desperation she turned to the nortorious rake, Lord Sebastian Denver, for help. Unable to deny a lady in distress, Sebastian inveigles his way into Abbey's hunting lodge, where all the prime suspects are gathered. Distracted by his growing attraction towards Abbey, Sebastian is unprepared when a further daring attempt is made on her life.Determined not to be found wanting for a second time, Sebastian delves into Abbey's past, looking for clues. Satisfied he knows who is behind the plot to kill her, although not why, he lays a daring trap for her aggressors in a race against time to keep her safe...

    Marc takes his place with the utmost reluctance, and sets about finding a suitable wife in order to produce an heir. Caught in a compromising position with Miss Harriet Aston, Marc proposes to possibly the only woman in England with no interest in becoming a duchess.Marc soon discovers that Harriet will be anything other than a biddable wife. She appears determined to make him fall in love with her, even though he makes it perfectly clear that theirs will be a marriage of convenience. It can’t be any other way because every time Marc allows his emotions free rein, something unfortunate happens to the recipient of his affections.In spite of his efforts to ignore his growing feelings for his feisty wife, Harriet is still brutally attacked. The duke and duchess join forces to unearth the identities of those seeking to undermine all Marc is striving to achieve. As they do so, Harriet recklessly disregards her husband’s orders and throws herself in the path of danger in an effort to protect him.Can Marc ensure the safety of the woman he is absolutely determined not to allow beneath his guard before the curse attaching to him strikes again…

    Escaping slave traders—no problem. Captaining a ship on storm-tossed seas—piece of cake. But putting on a gown and attending a ball for the crème de la crème of London Society—now that terrified her. Especially if she had to dance with the new duke of Worthington. He held her way too close, made her heart beat way too fast, muddled her thoughts with his silken kisses.Worthington knew Alex was trouble the minute he laid eyes on her. She was stalked by a relentless enemy and enmeshed in a powerful prophecy, but even that couldn't keep him away from the captivating heiress. To earn her love, he'd risk his life—again and again—and completely surrender himself to the...Siren's Song.

    

    They hoped it would be over by Christmas... Britain is at war and the proximity of the docks means that life in and around London's Turnbury Buildings is hard and dangerous. Chances are taken, people have secrets, hearts are broken. And feelings about foreigners are running high. Sixteen-year-old Freddie Jarrett is secretly seeing a girl from the local Chinese community - a relationship that would be frowned on by both families, despite the fact that they all support the fight for freedom from oppression. And his sister Grace has her own secret to hide. A secret that no one outside the immediate family must ever know. As the threat of the Luftwaffe looms over the docks, the community is threatened with being torn apart by prejudice, fear and separation, and the disturbing loss of stability that brings with it the feeling that it is only what happens today that counts for anything...

    Her life is no longer lavish with entertainment, beautiful clothes and surrounded by a loving family. Soldiers, physically and mentally wounded now fill her home. The smell of disinfectant replaces her mother's perfume and gone are the friends and acquaintances - instead nurses roam the hallways. Captain Jake Harding, a doctor training in psychiatry arrives at Twelve Pines. Audrey immediately finds herself attracted to the Captain, but he is remote towards her. Puzzled by his cold behaviour, Audrey tries to learn more about the handsome Captain. He reveals that he's lost a wife and baby in childbirth and refuses to ever remarry. However, despite this, Audrey believes she can change his mind and make him aware he doesn't have to spend his life alone. The ice around Jake's heart begins to melt. For years he has rejected the possibility of finding love again because of the pain it caused him before, but the beautiful Audrey shows him her love and she needs someone to love her in return. Could he honestly walk away from her, from the love that could be his?

    He needs a mother for his infant nephew, and good women are few and far between in the logging community. Unaware that Julianne's present predicament resulted from her unwillingness to remain a nanny to her uncle's twins, Caleb offers her his home and name in exchange for the care of his child.On the run with no viable options, Julianne accepts Caleb's offer--but only until she can earn enough money washing clothes to repay her debt. But God has other plans for these newlyweds. Will they both be able to put aside their fears and find shelter and guidance from the Lord?

    She Never Expected to Find Romance Especially While Dressed as a Man. When Kate Tanner witnesses the murder of her parents, the wealthy Virginia Sen. Murphy Tanner and his wife, Abigail, she knows she needs to disappear - and fast - until the killers are behind bars. So she dons what she thinks is a foolproof disguise - masculinity - calls herself Billy Ingram, and travels to the country to find work. It's her way of laying low until justice is served, but it isn't long before she's getting more than she bargained for. Now, on a North Dakota farm, this former city girl struggles to convince her employer, the handsome Chad Walker, she has what it takes to handle demanding farm chores. Meanwhile, the men who killed her parents are searching for her, a woman named Lacy Montgomery is infatuated with her, and Kate's fallen in love with Mr. Walker. Then she's seen without her disguise - and the excuses start to really make things interesting. Can Kate survive long enough for the charade to reach a happy ending? In the spirit of Shakespeare's As You Like It, Ruth Ann Nordin's An Unlikely Place for Love might just convince you the oddest circumstances make the perfect settings for Romance.

    This leaves him with one choice: Live or die. Until Serene Moneto risks her family and her freedom to give him shelter. But as he recuperates, Miles finds himself fighting to liberate Serene from a life worse than any death. As the world crumbles around them, can the strength of their forbidden love be enough to win the biggest battle of all?

    bc.com #50

    When betrayal and a violent Awakening transforms her own magical Dragonstone Black, she vanquishes it, rendering her virtually powerless. Now, after a three year sojourn, she returns to claim her crown and discovers sinister forces are working against her. Though able to handle a weapon as well as any man, Katerina reluctantly agrees to a personal guard. Amongst the candidates, one man emerges, the handsome but infuriating knight, Sir Logan Shepherd. Can she trust him with her secrets? Logan harbors secrets of his own. He needs to break through Katerina’s defenses to earn her trust. However, Katerina is proving to be maddening as well as captivating. Can he fulfill his duty and keep his heart? Unless the prophecy is fulfilled, Latharia will be destroyed. To fulfill the prophecy, the truth must be revealed. Revealing the truth could destroy everything.

    The midnight peace is shattered when monastic knights invade the camp to reclaim a treasured chalice stolen by a Gypsy. The attack sets in motion a string of deadly pursuits, a mystery murder, and a political crisis involving the most prominent bishop in England.In the center of the chaos, the beautiful half-Gypsy, Kadriya, yearns for true love. Raised by English nobility, she has passed the threshold of womanhood. Spurned for her mixed blood, she is now twenty and longs for acceptance. With one foot planted firmly in each of her ethnic shorelines, Kadriya struggles to find her place in the world. Teraf, an impetuous Gypsy tribal king of surpassing charm, proposes she choose her Romani legacy. When Kadriya accepts, she starts a wild journey that challenges her loyalties and tests her courage.This historical adventure unfolds when Kadriya arrives at the horse fair, where Teraf will announce their betrothal. Kadriya stands at his side, basking in the warmth of her realized dream.The dream becomes a nightmare, though, when Teraf is accused of stealing an emerald chalice and a powerful knight, John Wynter, delivers her fiancé to the gallows. Sir John hates foreigners, but it is this man alone who holds the key to Kadriya’s freedom. His bigotry blinds him, and if this fierce knight cannot regain his vision, he may fail in his duty. This rousing adventure is as tantalizing as the arousing love story within for, in a single bell’s toll, their life and happiness rest on finding the power of love—and one elusive chalice.

    She is trying to keep the handsome Prince Mefist at arm's length and at the same time protecting her friends. Villagers, partisans, refugees, and Jews all come to her for help and she cannot refuse. Only by cooperating with the Prince can she and the sisters survive. And if that means running a bordello for the Army officers, then that is what she will do.But it is not easy to resist Mefist, and as the two of them struggle to hold back a violent world, he becomes a friend and more.

    The journey is full of danger to both her life and her reputation. Marco Galleazzo is on his way to Rome on an important mission. When he saves Isabella from a group of drunken mercenaries, she begs him to take her with him. Even after he discovers his newly acquired body servant is really a woman, the fear in Isabella's eyes compels him to help her even as he fights his growing attraction to his mysterious companion. During the long journey their mutual desire eventually ignites passions neither of them can deny. Isabella longs to tell Marco the truth about herself, but Paolo's treachery still haunts her. If she doesn't find the courage to trust Marco, the web of lies she's created is sure to destroy the love blossoming between them. And in the middle of that web -- Paolo waits. Contains several explicit love scenes.

    But when Cliff offers her his last piece of change, a worthless wooden nickel, her life changes forever. The Depression era coin proves to be worth far more than the five cents etched beside the wooden buffalo as it becomes a symbol of faith, hope and love, weaving in and out of their lives time and time again.The Wooden Nickel is an emotional gripping tale about a bond between two young lovers trying to find their way in the world. An intense drama, unfolding amid the backdrop of war torn Europe and a naive America, desperately in need of new hope, The Wooden Nickel is an unforgettable romance full of mesmerizing characters, deep longing and eternal hope