Best of
Regency

2002

Replenish the Earth


Anna Jacobs - 2002
    When her mother dies penniless, Sarah Mortonby is shocked to discover she has inherited a wealthy estate. Advised to sell the crumbling manor house to her neighbour, Matthew Sewell, she visits and decides to keep it instead. Sewell is furious – and he is a man known for getting his own way, no matter the cost.Unable to manage the land alone, and desperately needing help, Sarah proposes to her bailiff, Will Pursley – himself recently thrown off his farm by Sewell’s thugs. Can they save the estate together? Will the oppressed villagers help them, or be cowed by Sewell’s threats? And will the fondness growing between Will and Sarah turn into love? From Anna Jacobs, the much-loved author of An Independent Woman and Marrying Miss Martha, Replenish the Earth is a charming saga sure to appeal to readers of Annie Murray, Margaret Dickinson and Ellie Dean.

A Summer to Remember


Mary Balogh - 2002
    But Kit’s family has other plans. Desperate to thwart his father’s matchmaking, Kit needs a bride...fast. Enter Miss Lauren Edgeworth.A year after being abandoned at the altar, Lauren has determined that marriage is not for her. When these two fiercely independent souls meet, sparks fly—and a deal is hatched. Lauren will masquerade as Kit’s intended if he agrees to provide a passionate, adventurous, unforgettable summer. When summer ends, she will break off the engagement, rendering herself unmarriageable and leaving them both free. Everything is going perfectly—until Kit does the unthinkable: He begins to fall in love. A summer to remember is not enough for him. But how can he convince Lauren to be his...for better, for worse, for the rest of their lives?

The Husband Mission


Regina Scott - 2002
    With no means and few prospects, the spirited spinster is financially beholden to her stepsister Constance, who stands to inherit a large fortune--if she marries in the next six weeks. What better than to present Constance with the perfect husband, Alexander Wescott, Lord Borin? After all, Katherine has been spying on the handsome, wealthy viscount, just to make sure he’s the man she hopes. Alex cannot understand why he’s under surveillance, but it seems to have something to do with the intriguing Katherine. Rejected for service by England’s spymaster and encouraged to set up his nursery instead, he ought to be searching for a wife. But what wife can compare to the excitement of international espionage? Unless, of course, she’s up for a little espionage herself. First book in the Spy Matchmaker series, this sweet Regency romance was originally published by Kensington. The Spy Matchmaker: all the intrigue of love. Here’s a sneak peek: Katherine hurried to the front door and snatched it open. The gentleman standing there was obviously expecting trouble. His eyes were narrowed, and his shoulders were so tense that she wondered he didn’t rip free from the close-fitting grey coat. She had to admit, however, that his air of expectancy in no way detracted from his charm. His hair was nearly as golden as her stepsister’s, though not as wavy, being modestly cut around his oval face. He had high cheekbones and a determined chin. It was a manly face, a face a sculptor would love, with well-shaped angles and planes. But by far his best feature was his deep-set vivid blue eyes ringed by golden lashes. No woman could resist him, she was certain. What an excellent choice she’d made for Constance. She nearly sighed aloud with pleasure, but, realizing that would ruin all, she merely hid her delight beneath a deep curtsey. “Good afternoon, sir. Our servants are busy at the moment. I am the lady of the house. How might I assist you?” She rose to watch him and marveled at how easily she read his emotions on his face. The quirk of his firm lips told her he knew he was at a disadvantage. A puff of a sigh informed her he wasn’t sure what to do about it. She could understand his dilemma. The rules of polite society dictated that a gentleman could not simply introduce himself to a lady, even if he suspected she’d had a lad following him all about London. She decided to make it easy for him and achieve her own purposes in the process. “Most likely you are here to see my stepsister Constance Templeman. Any number of gentlemen visit for that reason. When one is the belle of the Season, one must expect adulation, I suppose.” His brow cleared. “Yes, that is exactly why I am here. Miss Templeman. Might I have a moment of her time?” He smiled. My, what a charming smile. The light shone from eyes bluer than a late afternoon sky, and the ends of his mouth curled up in the most beguiling manner. She fancied she even saw the beginnings of a dimple near one corner of his lips. Surely this was one suitor Constance wouldn’t refuse. Perhaps they might yet keep her stepsister’s fortune in hand. Six weeks remained until her twenty-first birthday, after all. But the stunning gentleman on her front step must never know that he had been chosen for the role of husband to the fair Constance.

An Affair to Remember


Karen Hawkins - 2002
    Unfortunately, the only person willing to deal with the adorable little terrors is Anna Thraxton, governess "extraordinaire" --- and the one woman Anthony can't abide. She's too outspoken, too opinionated, and far too beautiful for his peace of mind. A woman should be meek and mild --- words that perfectly describe his prospective bride, not the flame-haired temptress who haunts his dreams.Anna knew this job would be trouble the moment she set foot in the door --- but it's Anthony who's the problem, not the children! He's too arrogant, too sure of himself, and far, far too wonderfully big and masculine. The young girl he's courting will never be able to handle him, so someone clearly needs to teach Anthony a few things about women. But when lectures turn to kisses, igniting a passion they can't ignore, how will they resolve the battle between honour and their hearts.

The Wedding Journey


Carla Kelly - 2002
    A battlefield is no place to wage a campaign of love, and even if it was, Jesse is far too shy to ever confess his love to Nell, who helps the surgeons in the field hospital.Her father is a compulsive gambler, and when Nell's mother dies, he desperately agrees to marry her to the despicable Major William Bones to relieve his crushing gambling debts. To prevent such a fate, Jesse hastily weds Nell. He doesn't dare hope she'll ever return his devotion.A marriage on the front lines of the Napoleonic Wars would be difficult enough, but now Major Bones is out for vengeance. As the British army retreats from Burgos for Portugal, Jesse, Nell, and a handful of the sick and stragglers are left behind to fend for themselves. The newly married couple must now draw on all their strength to survive and save their small band, and somehow nurture a love that can endure the most trying of journeys.

The Dashing Debutante


Alissa Baxter - 2002
    But her series of rollicking adventures changes when the Duke of Stanford unmasks her ... and proceeds to turn Alexandra into the newest darling of fashionable London Society. Regency Romance by Alissa Baxter; originally published by Regency House Publishers.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Splendor of Poland: A History of Collecting and Patronage


Laurie Winters - 2002
    A testimony to the remarkable history of collecting and patronage in Poland, the book showcases Leonardo da Vinci's magnificent Lady with an Ermine (Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani), but also includes important works by Hans Memling, Jusepe de Ribera, Bernardo Bellotto, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-LeBrun, Johann Friedrich Overbeck, and others." In addition to commentary on each painting, the book brings to light Poland's long-overlooked cultural history.

Queen Elizabeth I Paper Doll


Tom Tierney - 2002
    The Queen's seven magnificent gowns of silk, satin, and brocade are accented with pleated ruffs, pearls, and polished gemstones. Sir Walter Raleigh and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, two of her admirers, are also included.

Ride the Winter Wind


Christina Kingston - 2002
    But how can he know that as he rides through the blizzard—back to the confines of his estate—he might find just what he needs to make his life worth living: someone who needs him.Lady Alissa Alana Collington is in quite a bind. To escape the clutches of her unscrupulous uncle, she has decided to hazard the storm—only to get her carriage caught in an icy ditch. But when the handsome Kantwell comes to her aid, he may be just the man she needs to prevail over her family—and just the man she desires to one day start her own

Lord Leister's Daring Rescue


Carolyn R. Scheidies - 2002
     Katherine was an unfledged chit, newly arrived fro India, with her whole life ahead of her. Until the fire. Until Lord Leister's rescue. Lady Elizabeth was spoiled and vengeful. She didn't care about the harm she'd create with her scheme, only about saving face and her vaunted position in London society. Lady Elizabeth extracts her revenge on the innocent Katherine and against Lord Leister, creating the scandal of the season as she destroys Katherine's new found hope, new found love. How far will Leister go to once more claim his heart? Will he be able to rescue his Katherine one more time, or is it already too late? Lord Leister's Daring Rescue is a story of intrigue, betrayal, fear, faith...and love.