The obscene sum of money he’s offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger. Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke’s castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul. But the Duke’s steely determination to protect his heart at all costs is challenged by his growing attachment to his lovely and gentle bride. With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke’s armor and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without.A regency romance novel you won't want to put down.

    But he couldn't be more mistaken--the maid is not only a lady of birth, she's the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentlemen, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle.Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine's utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife's transformation from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted. As a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

    Wealthy landowners are enthusiastically improving their vast country estates. When Sir Eustace Lawrence, renowned King's Counsel, invites Cabot to visit his Berkshire home, Cabot plans to apply his talents to a modification of the grounds. But he soon discovers that other skills are called for. All is not well with the amiable Lawrence family. One daughter, Margaret, has for years drawn the unwelcome, jealous attentions of the powerful Earl of Sutcliffe. The earl has essentially placed Meg under siege. Meg has had ample proof of Sutcliffe's deadliness. She has not dared to bestow her hand or her heart on any suitor for fear of what may befall him. But she is unaware of the lengths to which their new family friend, Charles Cabot, will go in order to protect her. When her family visits London for the season and a confrontation looms, Meg and her awakened affections must face the ultimate test.

    . .To Gabriel Devine, Duke of Wolverest, the bonds of marriage are nothing more than shackles. But if he's to remain a lifelong bachelor, that leaves only his younger brother to carry on the family name. Inviting the ton's most eligible ladies to an elegant ball, Gabriel is certain any one of them would be all too eager to become the next duchess and provide an heir—leaving Gabriel to continue his ecstatic pursuit of pleasure.To Catch a Rogue . . .Her social-climbing stepmother would give anything to have Madelyn Haywood betrothed to a future duke. But Madelyn believes the brothers Devine to be nothing more than heartless rogues—especially Gabriel, whose rakish reputation precedes him. He is nothing more than a slave to passion, and she will not be conquered by his caresses—and yet his wicked ways tempt her so . . .

    Forced to betray her own country or watch her brother die, Dominique Dawson, arrives at the London home of Admiral Randal as a governess for his son, but her real purpose is to steal valuable Admiralty documents for the French. She soon discovers, however, that she faces more enemies besides her own fear. Will Dominique find the strength she needs in God to risk the gallows and save her brother? But will it be enough to betray the man she has come to love? Admiral Chase Randal no longer believes in God. After the death of his wife, he threw himself into a career at sea and spends most of his time away from home sailing a fleet of HMS warships. Much to his dismay, he suddenly finds himself landlocked in London, forced to temporarily fill a position on the Admiralty Board left vacant by an ailing member. Bitter and angry, he longs for the day he can return to sea and escape the memories of his wife. When the new governess arrives, Chase finds her too weak and nervous to mentor his son, but soon discovers that her sweet nature and strong faith fill his home with a love and joy he has not felt for years. Though he must battle his sister's constant disapproval, a would-be-lover's jealous flare ups and his best friends infatuation with Dominique, his biggest fight is with his growing affections for the lady. But what will this staunch British Admiral do when he discovers Dominique is a French Spy?

    Desperate to save her family from debtor's prison, Alicia vows to marry the first wealthy man to propose. She meets the dashing Lord Amesbury, and her heart whispers that this is the man she is destined to love, but his tainted past may forever stand in their way. Her choices in potential husbands narrow to either a scarred cripple with the heart of a poet, or a handsome rake with a deadly secret.Cole Amesbury is tormented by his own ghosts, and believes he is beyond redemption, yet he cannot deny his attraction for the girl whose genuine goodness touches the heart he'd thought long dead. He fears the scars in his soul cut so deeply that he may never be able to offer Alicia a love that is true.When yet another bizarre mishap threatens her life, Alicia suspects the seemingly unrelated accidents that have plagued her loved ones are actually a killer's attempt to exterminate every member of her family. Despite the threat looming over her, learning to love the stranger she married may pose the greatest danger to her heart.

    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.

    Yet Penelope is anything but a typical ton miss - forceful, willful and blunt to a fault, she has for years devoted her considerable energy and intelligence to directing an institution caring for the forgotten orphans of London's streets.But now her charges are mysteriously disappearing. Desperate, Penelope turns to the one man she knows who might help her - Barnaby Adair.Handsome scion of a noble house, Adair has made a name for himself in political and judicial circles. His powers of deduction and observation combined with his pedigree has seen him solve several serious crimes within the ton. Although he makes her irritatingly uncomfortable, Penelope throws caution to the wind and appears on his bachelor doorstep late one night, determined to recruit him to her cause.Barnaby is intrigued-both by her story, and her. Her bold beauty and undeniable brains make a striking contrast to the usual insipid ton misses. And as he's in dire need of an excuse to avoid said insipid misses, he accepts her challenge, never dreaming she and it will consume his every waking hour.Enlisting the aid of Inspector Basil Stokes of the fledgling Scotland Yard, they infiltrate the streets of London's notorious East End. But as they unravel the mystery of the missing boys, they uncover the trail of a criminal embedded in the very organization recently created to protect all Londoners. And that criminal knows of them and their efforts, and is only too ready to threaten all they hold dear, including their new-found knowledge of the intrigues of the human heart.

    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…

    

    As a result, there is nothing to prevent Edmund from marrying Mary Crawford, or Henry from continuing his pursuit of Fanny with more determination than ever.~46,000 words.

    Ross Benson is quite the opposite. Though she knows better than to surrender to his persuasive charm, things just could not have gone more wrong in a reckless moment... * * * * * A Most Scandalous Position: Regency] Colin Maxim knows it is his duty to take an injured young woman into his care, especially since he is the one who saved her life. What he doesn't count on is the mystery that surrounds Catherine, and very suddenly he finds himself immersed in both scandal and grave danger... * * * * * Beautiful Assassin: Regency] It isn't enough that he is attacked by a furious young woman in the middle of the night, but someone is apparently out there using his identity. Jonas Maxim knows that besides his beautiful would be assassin, he has a vested interest in discovering the villain. If only he can stay alive long enough to find the blasted man... * * * * * 5 Hearts: "Fabulous " The Romance Studio. 5 Angels: "Remarkably breathtaking." Fallen Angel Reviews. 5 Roses: "Superbly written." My Book Cravings. 5 Blue Ribbons: "Delightfully fun and wicked." Romance Junkies. 5 Stars: "Ms. Wildes did not miss a beat." Just Erotic Romance Reviews. 5 Kisses: "Enough heat to warm you on the coldest nights." Two Lips Reviews.

    King Arthur, the round table, and Merlin’s magic are not myth, but history.In the Camelot inspired Regency fantasy, Thwarting Magic, a rogue wizard threatens the stability of the world. It is magician Adrian Hughes's quest to find and stop the wizard before magic holes destroy the atmosphere. It is his dream to win Margaret Ridgemont.But in 1814, the fathers decide. Margaret and James Treadway will marry. Period, end of discussion. It promises to be a hell of an arranged marriage.With magic holes forming in the most unexpected places, Adrian’s quest throws him into the deepest pit of all, the void of a loveless marriage. A Regency fantasy romance, Thwarting Magic is the prequel to Round Table Magician, but both books stand alone.

    Though one of the most widely-loved and written about writers in academic history, Jane Austen continues to fascinate and regale us with her comic whimsy and moral depth, making Life in the Country a welcome addition to the Austen canon. Life in the Country features pithy quotations by Jane Austen on life in the English countryside—where Jane enjoyed lengthy stays at the family cottage with her mother and sister—alongside charming silhouette engravings by her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh, who brought the fine art of the silhouette form to new heights with his dramatic and evocative interpretations of the landscapes and the creatures that made the country home. Edward’s silhouettes vividly evoke the countryside of Austen’s novels and though they have brought pleasure to the Austen family for generations, they remain little-known. This beautifully produced collection makes them available to all of those touched by Jane Austen’s words and opens up an unforgettably alluring new perspective on her world.

    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.

    It contains 'The Duke's mistress' by Ann Elizabeth Cree and 'The rebellious bride' by Francesca Shaw.

    115 hand-colored fashion plates and descriptions from 1800-1819 from magazines such as Ladies' Monthly Museum, Costume Parisien, La Belle Assemblee, and Ackermann's Repository.

    . . and nothing was ever the same again!Once upon a time, four superstar storytellers—New York Times bestselling authors Stephanie Laurens and Mary Balogh, along with Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern—came up with a delicious idea. What if they each wrote a story about a proper young lady stranded at a remote inn away from society's constraints? What would happen? And how long would it take for her to give in to desire?In these four amazing tales, four heroines will come face-to-face with the men who got away . . . only to discover that, instead of anger, there is still a passionate connection that cannot be denied. And while each of their lives is quite different, and their pasts utterly unique, they will all make a common discovery—that one night can change everything . . . forever.

    The scandalous son of a disgraced mother, he has no time for the pretty niceties of the ton, nor the simpering debutantes who populate its ballrooms. He has returned to England to aid an aging spinster facing an undefined danger. But Miss Latimer's dark and sultry beauty, her fascinating mix of knowledge and innocence, arouse far more than his protective instincts.Can such an improper aristocrat learn to be the true gentleman Miss Latimer deserves?The Mistress of Hanover Square by Anne HerriesAmelia Royston has made a name for herself amongst the London ton as a brilliant matchmaker. Forever generous, she will do anything to help others' dreams come true.But the society miss is beginning to give up hope that her own feet will ever be swept off the ground. Then the charismatic Earl of Ravenshead returns, and his disturbing presence tips Amelia's world upside down.

    Fresh from the Paddington Charitable Seminary, softhearted Prue expected to see little of her new employer, Mr. Julius Rookham, and was prepared for a life of lonely independence.However, Julius's willful niece continually threw Prue into his path, and the more she got to know the dashing confirmed bachelor, the more she found herself wishing for the impossible. So when Julius began actively seeking out her company, she couldn't help but wonder if perhaps dreams did come true...Lady Lavinia's Match by Mary NicholsWhen their parents married, James, Earl of Corringham, and Lady Lavinia Stanmore became as close as brother and sister. Now, years later, James has outgrown his rakish ways and is burning with a love for her that he longs to reveal.However, he faces a rival in the mysterious Lord Wincote. Torn between James and the handsome stranger, Lavinia's feelings are thrown into turmoil. But is this man really what he seems? The more Lord Wincote persists, the more Lavinia wonders if she should be looking for love a little closer to home....

    In her straitened circumstances, Miss Juliana Wrenn needed this post. She knew what was said about her employer and was determined not to fall under his spell. But then, sometimes those harsh features could soften to something so much more attractive...Wicked Captain, Wayward WifeWhen young widow Evelina Wylder comes face-to-face with her dashing captain husband - she's shocked, overjoyed... and furious! So, whatever his explanation for his outrageous deception, she'll keep Nick firmly out of their marriage bed.Now Nick will face his biggest challenge yet - proving to Eve that his first duty is to love and cherish her, always!The Earl's Runaway BrideFelicity's husband, dashing Major Nathan Carraway, has disappeared into war-torn Spain. Left alone, Felicity discovers a dark secret behind her whirlwind marriage and flees to England!Five years on, Felicity has just taken the hand of a dangerous handsome dance partner. she's about to come face to face with her commanding husband - back to claim his runaway bride!

    Both stories tell the storiy of cynical rakes who are surprised to find that their hearts become engaged - in the most difficult circumstances

    And then he betrayed her by marrying someone else. At seventeen, Frances had possessed an inner fire, a joy of life. Now, years later, Marcus, Duke of Loscoe, is confounded by the ice-cold society hostess she has become.Having learned how to suppress her youthful dreams and desires, Frances, Countess of Carringham, can't deny she's pained to hear that Marcus is looking for a new wife to care for his motherless child. Nor can she disguise that she is still susceptible to his charm...Tavern Wench by Mary NicholsAlone in the world, too proud to accept charity, vicar's daughter Emma Lynn earns her living by cooking - in a tavern! But her independence has a heavy price: a tavern wench isn't fit to mix with the gentry, and Emma has turned her back on the Polite World.Mr. Benedict Grantley, amateur sleuth and baronet's heir, isn't going to let Emma's principles stand in his way. As Ben uncovers the startling truth about a series of murders, Emma is thrust into Society...thrown into danger...and plunged into love!