But when she finds him standing before her at a country house party, as handsome as ever, old temptations prove difficult to resist. One stolen kiss is all it takes.A proper gentlemanThornton buried his past and his feelings for Cleo long ago. He's worked diligently to become a respected politician with a reputation above reproach. The only trouble in his otherwise perfect life is that he can't resist the maddening beauty he never stopped wanting, no matter how devastating the cost.A mad passionCleo is hopelessly trapped in a loveless marriage, and Thornton is on the cusp of making an advantageous match to further his political ambitions. The more time they spend in each other's arms, the more they court scandal and ruin. Theirs is a love that was never meant to be. Or is it?Length: Full-length novelA Mad Passion is the first book in the Heart's Temptation series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel or read as part of the series. Each Heart's Temptation book takes place in Victorian England, where passion burns, scandals abound, and love triumphs. From a wicked embrace in a country house maze to a kiss in the rain to a stolen moment in a carriage, these distinctive men and women aren't afraid to give in to the temptation of following where their hearts lead them. Nothing can keep them from a love that lasts forever.The Heart's Temptation Series1.A Mad Passion2.Rebel Love3.Reckless Need4.Sweet Scandal 5. Restless Rake

    . .D) all of the above

    Together, they embark on an investigation which brings them into grave peril—and makes the captain reevaluate the skinny maiden who has a most amorous effect upon him.Humorous Regency Romance MysterySensuality Level: SweetApproximate word count: 82,000

    She is nearly discovered but is rescued from certain social disaster by a seeming servant who is in fact the legendary Regency Robin Hood, the Saint of Seven Dials. Love is the last thing either of them needs just now, but when was love ever wise?NOBLE DECEPTIONSAn American shipping heiress and the new Saint of Seven Dials (who just happens to be a duke’s younger son) find themselves trapped into a marriage neither wants. They soon discover a powerful attraction between them, but even as passion turns to love, both are hiding secret identities that could lead to arrest if discovered. If they can admit to their growing love and trust each other with the truth, it could lead to a lifetime of happiness—or to disaster.INNOCENT PASSIONSFormer spy Noel Paxton takes on the role of the Saint of Seven Dials to hunt down a deadly traitor. He finds himself distracted in his quest by studious and opinionated Rowena Riverstone, newly arrived in London. But is Rowena the innocent bluestocking she appears, or the very traitor he’s been seeking? And which is in more danger - his heart or his life?SAINTLY SINSAfter the last Saint retires, a penniless beauty assumes the identity of the Saint of Seven Dials in order to rescue her young brother from the streets. Lord Peter Northrup is both smitten and intrigued by the lovely Sarah Killian, but when he digs beneath the surface, he learns she has a secret that could ruin them both. But perhaps love is worth the risk…

    You'll also get extra features, including a chat with the author, a Cynster family tree, a guide to the Bastion Club, information about Stephanie's novellas, and much, much more

    Has the lively heroine Miss Elizabeth Bennet met her match in aloof Mr. Darcy?

    Perhaps that's why she's turned to her stepson's friend, Lord Selwood, to help her find the perfect lover. Clean, experienced, and discreet, her delicious Frenchman is as exciting as she had hoped. But she never expected Selwood-a man ten years her junior-to disguise his voice and send himself to share her bed. Jonathan Oliver, Lord Selwood, came to his friend's house party to stake a claim on his future bride. However, he delays his pursuit of the eager debutant when he discovers Phoebe's intriguing need. Jonathan cannot resist the temptation to secretly spend a night in the widow's bed. Yet once he's tasted Phoebe's desire, will one night ever be enough? An erotic regency historical romance novella.

    Yet when she gains renown for a daring rescue, she finds herself thrust into high society. Innocent and adrift in a world of beautiful banquets, bejeweled gowns, and snobbish standards, Cora is quickly compromised into a marriage—to a frivolous lord whose interests seem to lie elsewhere. But could piercingly blue-eyed and well-mannered Francis Kneller turn out to be the most unexpected love of her life? THE PLUMED BONNET Alistair Munro, the Duke of Bridgwater, is looking for love outside the bounds of polite society. And that’s what he expects to receive when he rescues a seemingly disreputable girl in a colorful bonnet off the side of the road. Yet Stephanie Gray, a former governess, has recently come into money and is eager for a proper match with a well-born man. Sure that he’s sullied her name, Alistair offers marriage to make amends. And in this unlikely union, Stephanie and Alistair make a welcome discovery—that sometimes it’s possible to marry first, then fall in love.

    . . especially Rose MacKenzie-Craddock When they were children, the willful girl was the thorn in the Earl of Strathyre's side. Now, as a beautiful woman, Rose drives the Earl wild with desire. But even grown-ups can play some most interesting games . . .

    Alexandria Prescott enjoys her untainted reputation. In private, however, her sexual appetites know no bounds. An encounter with Kane Huntington changes that. Alix finds she can't help herself or her desire to test his notorious reputation and invites him to prove his mettle in her bedroom.They enjoy their pleasurable games until jealousy's green eyes come between them in the form of Brent, the young Earl of Rowan. Unwilling to let themselves be bested in this game of passions, Alix and Kane use Brent as a pawn in their maneuvers against each other.However, Brent has other ideas about his future and what—and who—it'll involve. He skillfully turns the tables on them and, despite the games they play, creates an image of the perfect ménage. But things never go as planned and when their secret is threatened will the three of them run? Or will they be clever and strong enough, to hide their love in plain sight?

    Now, together for the first time as an ebook bundle, here are the novels that launched her captivating career. THE DEVIL’S LOVEAbigail Carrington sails to England to marry the man she has loved since childhood. At the altar, Michael Ingram, Marquis of Darfield, seems a dark, brooding stranger. With scandal shadowing his past, the Devil of Darfield has agreed to the marriage only to save his ancestral home. But Abigail’s charm bedevils him—just as the passion of Michael’s kiss gives her hope that theirs can be more than a marriage of convenience. WICKED ANGELShe may be the talk of the ton, but Alexander Christian, Duke of Sutherland, recognizes the ravishing Bavarian countess for who she really is: Lauren Hill, the widowed country girl who captured his heart—despite his pledge to another woman. Lauren needs to see the man who haunts her dreams. Alexander wants one night with his blue-eyed enchantress. They’ll soon discover that forbidden love is always a scandalous choice.

    Instead, Sophia Lamott must smile, curtsey and pretend she hasn’t just been jilted by her long-standing fiancé. When the relentless sympathy becomes unbearable, Sophie takes refuge in the privacy of the library and resolves to get good and drunk.But things get out of hand. Before she knows it, she’s being kissed by the most exciting man she has ever met. She must then face up to “the Summer Wildfires”–malicious gossips who would delight in dragging Sophie’s name through the muck–and convince them they only imagined the dark, mysterious stranger they saw disappearing into the shadows.And then, there is the morning after to contend with…---And, if you enjoyed An Immodest Proposal, be sure to check out The Clarendon Rose, Kathryn Anthony's other Regency Historical romance novel.

    If anyone discovers her writings, they'll find scandalous fantasies involving the newest rake in Town alongside entirely-too-candid thoughts about her typical dreary suitors. Aurora will either be forced into a loveless marriage with the first nodcock to make an offer, or she'll be assigned a permanent position on the shelf. What catastrophe will God smote down upon her next?If Niles Thornton, Baron Quinton, desires to maintain any semblance of his current lifestyle, he must fulfill the requirements his grandfather, Lord Rotheby, has set for him. When he is nearly barreled over by a racing curricle and a journal lands at his feet, his troubles are over. Inside the journal’s pages, Quin discovers a scandal waiting to happen. Surely a young lady who would write such brazen things in a journal must recognize the necessity of a hasty marriage, even if the gentleman making the offer is less-than-honorable.In a drunken haze, Quin kisses Aurora on a crowded ballroom floor, necessitating their immediate marriage. His troubles are only beginning, as Aurora's writings are soon the focus of both gossip rags and drawing room conversation. When word arrives of an even greater scandal following in his wife's wake, will he prove himself a drunken abuser like his father or the loving husband of Aurora's fantasies?SAVING GRACEThe blasted man will not stop following her. Well, he isn’t following her…not exactly. They are just always thrown together, and he is everything she wants but can’t have. It is downright infuriating—especially when he kisses her.Lady Grace Abernathy has been ravished and left pregnant. This would not be such a gargantuan problem if Lord Alexander Hardwicke would simply stay away from her as she asked. But leave it to her meddling Aunt Dorothea to continually thrust the two into each other’s company against both their wishes. These distractions are more than a lady should be forced to bear.Alex left London to visit his deceased father’s oldest friend, Lord Rotheby, and to get away from his mother and her matchmaking schemes, only to run into more of the same at every turn. But the more time he spends in the company of Lady Grace, the less he finds himself able to ignore his growing attraction—and his burgeoning need to protect her. Must he cause a scandal in order to protect her from one?MERELY A MISSMiss Jane Matthews feels completely out of place amongst the finery of the ton. She’s the daughter of a country vicar, for goodness sake, and nearly a spinster to boot. But when her distant cousin—a dowager duchess, of all people—offers to sponsor her for a Season in London, she agrees, but only so she can search for a storefront for her business. Perhaps, in that regard the Season won’t all be in vain.The widower of a loveless marriage, Peter Hardwicke, the Duke of Somerton, has already done his duty and provided an heir for his dukedom, so he sees no reason to remarry. Taking a wife would only mean adding a new responsibility to his already too-full schedule. He’s more than busy enough keeping his family in line—not to mention sorting out the myriad problems plaguing one of his estates.But when Lord Utley, a childhood friend who has been on the wrong side of Peter’s ire for many years now, takes an unlikely interest in Jane, Peter has to intervene. He’ll be damned if he’ll allow Utley to ruin yet another life.

    Oh, how she adores Christmastime!How he abhors Christmastime! Lord Frostwood lives up to his name, freezing out everyone since a childhood tragedy hardened his heart. Everyone, that is, until a spirited wench falls at his feet and proceeds to warm his cold existence, thanks to some strategically placed mistletoe and their resulting Christmas kisses.

    And Dr. John Blackmore can't take his eyes off her. The Countess of Randolph is the most striking woman he has ever seen. . .and the most infuriating patient he has ever tended.Mired in responsibility, Bathsheba doesn't have time to convalesce in the country. She should be in London, hunting for a wealthy new lover to pay off her late husband's vast debts, not dallying with a devastatingly handsome doctor. But it is only a matter of time until the good doctor and the obstinate countess will have to contend with the sparks that fly between them. And once their bodies surrender, their hearts may follow. . .Praise for Vanessa Kelly and Sex and the Single Earl"A sensual treat!" -Anna Campbell"Successfully marrying the tart wit of a traditional Regency romance with the steamy passion of today's Regency historicals isn't easy, but Kelly proves to be more than capable." –Booklist "Guaranteed to satisfy even the most passionate romance reader." --Teresa Medeiros, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears PlaidTheir marriage was convenient. . .Simon St. James, fifth Earl of Trask, knows he could do worse in the marriage of convenience department. Sophie Stanton may be a bit of a social liability, with her ungovernable ways and flighty nature, but Simon has responsibilities as an earl that far outweigh happiness in the household. And as for happiness in the bedroom. . .he has to admit he sees Sophie's potential in that arena. . .Their passion was not! But Sophie isn't some bargaining chip to be traded, and she's not about to let Simon St. James tell her how to live her life--even though she has nurtured a crush on the handsome young earl for as long as she can remember. If his idea of courtship is telling her what to do, then she is not interested, or at least she is trying not to be. But when his scolding words turn to scorching kisses, suddenly Sophie starts paying attention. . .Praise for Vanessa Kelly and Mastering the Marquess"A rare gem." --Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author "Fast paced and difficult to put down." --Romantic Times"A delectable treat." --Sharon Page, author of The Club Since the loss of her parents, Meredith Burnley has contented herself with a solitary life looking after her half-sister, Annabel. But Meredith's peace is shattered when her uncle schemes to marry her off to his son in order to gain her inheritance. Desperate, Meredith has only one choice: to flee with Annabel to their estranged grandparents' home. But their arrival soon reignites a family scandal--and kindles unexpected romance. . . Happily reunited with the girls, Annabel's grandmother resolves to convince her nephew, Stephen Mallory, the Marquess of Silverton, to abandon his rakish lifestyle and wed Annabel. Stephen is clearly captivated--but with the wrong sister! Determined to make Meredith his own, Stephen embarks on a seduction that will leave her with no choice but to surrender to his touch. . .

     ... Nell Kydd’s brother is missing, her father is dead and her loathsome uncle is ruining the family estate with his mismanagement. Add a perturbing lack of funds, an unwelcome proposal of marriage and a mother who lives in a reality of her own and it is easy to see why Nell is at her wits' end. It is at this point that the enigmatic Captain Hugo Derringer comes to stay in the district. First he blows hot, then cold, and is discovered in odd places, at odd times, asking some very odd questions. Just how far can Nell trust him? This is a revised version of the original hardback, published by Robert Hale in 2011. It was shortlisted for the RoNA Rose award in 2012.

    HOW TO TAME A RAKEViscount Dangerfield had no desire to tie himself down at all, let alone to Wilhelmina-a skinny urchin, barely out of the schoolroom, with mousy hair, no bosom, and a hoydenish disposition.It was plain to see from the moment Wilhelmina Corbet arrived at his country estate that the devastatingly handsome Blake, Viscount Dangerfield disapproved of almost everything about her.STIRRING PASSIONSLord Laurence, Katherine Kilgarth's childhood best friend, has grown up into a very stuffy young man! Time was when he would've been intrigued by the strange goings on at Broughton Hall as she was, but she had no intention, whatever he said, of simply ignoring the intriguing mystery.LOVE AND WAR Selena Wakefield couldn't accuse Lord Devereux of paying her Spanish coin! Gyles had made it clear he had no wish to marry at all, but was constrained by his circumstances. She could not be expected to keep refusing Lord Devereux, she thought crossly. She was only flesh and blood after all. What woman on earth could resist the pleas of a man such as Devereux?

    Determined to find her way home, Kathryn befriends a mesmerizing stranger. While she has no choice but to accept aid from the brooding war hero, Kathryn learns that thawing the crusty exterior of England's newest and most eligible Duke may just have rewards beyond her wildest dreams. Captain Michael Stafford is reluctantly returning home to step into his role as the Duke of Asterleigh, an unexpected title. After meeting the completely improper American on the last leg of his journey home, Michael quickly determines that Kathryn is destined to be his. Fate, in the form of mortal threats on Kathryn's life, forces him to fight unseen enemies while he must face his own fears of sharing his life with someone, again. Determined, Michael sets out on his most difficult campaign... to show Kathryn he can be the man of her dreams.

    Nor has he ever gotten over her. But now thirteen years later, time has come for him to finally settle down and do his duty as far as both his title and his dragon of a mother are concerned. Everything would be so much easier if Chet’s heart didn’t still belong to the enchanting Scot he gave it to once upon a time.After following her late-husband’s regiment from one end of the continent to the other, Lady Hannah Campbell returns to London a very different woman than the naïve lass she once was. With her two sons in tow, she now has to navigate the waters of the ton, which seem more foreign than the lands she has traversed the last dozen years. And all the while, she has to keep hidden the scandalous secret that made her flee England so very ago.

    But is attempting the resurrection of a dead man, Alexander West, on the whim of a cloaked stranger, within her abilities?Craving (MMF Ménage)Impoverished lord, Simon Tate, needs a solution to his financial woes and he thought tonight’s meeting would provide him with the answer. Turning to his happily married friend, Neil Hunter and his new wife Annabel, as his envelope suggests, goes against the grain until they make an offer too good to refuse.FallingThe ton likes Victor North for his wealth, but not necessarily for their daughters to wed. When the mysterious lady at the Almack’s Alternative meeting suggests he wed Lady Regina, he’s sure it’s a cruel joke because the lady is reputed to be as far from England as it was possible to be.Irresistible (MMF Ménage)Adam Clarke needs two things in his life; a wife to make his family happy and provide him with an heir, and Ethan Rudhall in his bed whenever they can meet. When Adam and Ethan meet stumbling wallflower, Lady Millicent, they discover what lies beneath her blushes and clumsiness is everything they need.RenditionThe mastermind behind the Almack’s Alternative meetings, Lady Mary, enjoys matchmaking for those who’ve fallen from society’s good graces. An outcast herself, she’s content to live in the shadows bringing until fate brings Andrew Drake, brother to the man who caused her downfall, sneaking through her door.Warning: This title contains five erotic romance short stories featuring encounters sure to ruin any lady’s reputation, and ménage sex scenes involving male/male sexual practices.

    Four years later, she is well on her way to spinsterhood.Will Forsyth, a veteran of the Peninsular War, retreats to Worcestershire in hope a quiet, solitary life will heal more than his physical wounds. But it’s the Christmas season, and he finds himself faced with a damsel distressingly in need of help to gather mistletoe for her aunt’s Twelfth Night Ball. As an officer and gentlemen, he has only one option.

    Town had beckoned and her season came on the heels of the end of the war against the tyrant.All the handsome men were returning heroes. What better year to come out. Her father thought it all nonsense. Her mother believed that it would be the best showing of any of her daughters.More lords available and luck that Bridget was just the perfect age.All is fun and frivolity until Bridget literally crashes into Sir Patrick Hampton as he limps along the high street.A man she knew once well, now a stranger with dark and foreboding eyes.

    They delight in the blush of newfound love until Meghan learns that Black William is actually William Bruce, cousin to the self-proclaimed king of Scotland, and enemy to her own clan. But when Meghan’s father is captured by the English, she must swallow her pride and appeal to King Robert and his cousin William for help in freeing her father.Forced into each other's company, can they conquer their differences and rekindle their love?War disrupts their tenuous bond as they find themselves pawns in the deadly battle between Scotland and England.

    Luke is also the man she almost eloped with eight years before – the man she still loves.Maude doesn’t want Luke’s charity, but agrees to stay as his paid housekeeper, inviting her friend Eliza to act as her chaperone. Following several strange ‘accidents’, Anna is kidnapped and Maude turns to Luke for help – with surprising results.

    Yet he also knows that a gentleman doesn't inflict his passionate desires on a wife. The marriage bed is for begetting heirs, not animal lust. No matter how much he desires his wife. But under Lady Lockhart's shyness is a determination to tempt her handsome husband, to satisfy them both and spend every night together in her bed.Innocent waltzing lessons in their chambers soon become passionate, and may lead the newlyweds to overcome their preconceptions and learn to be lovers, as well as man and wife.Dear Readers: Waltz of Seduction was my debut novella published originally with the Ellora's Cave "Quickies" line. I wrote it to fit the guidelines they prescribed for a very short novella. It is not the same style as my longer works and does not have the same depth of development of relationships or character. I have decided to re-release it as is and not to expand it. I hope you enjoy this short story for what it is, a snapshot of one moment of time between a young misinformed husband and an innocent and shy but eager young wife. As always it is Scorching Hot Romance.

    She never expected the lord next door and an unknown assailant to throw all her plans into chaos, never thought she might lose either her heart or her life.Lord Ryder Ashford has decided the time is now for him to wed. He knows he’ll need a woman of elegance, refinement and purity. Having resigned himself to a life of vanilla sex and boring conversations, he’s shocked to find the scandalous Sophie Turner catching his eye … and his heart. Together, they will uncover secrets best left alone, embark on a quest for treasure and create a bond steeped in sensual love-making, daring forays into the world of dominance and submission and a love that will defy Society.Reader Alert!: Sophie Turner is no stranger to scandal but when Lord Ryder Ashford offers her a naughty bargain, she finds herself intrigued and aroused. Soon, he leads her into a world of bondage, submission and delightful spankings.To My Readers: I love Ryder Ashford. He’s such a great guy, so charming and unabashed in his adoration of all things female. In fact, he had it a little too easy, I thought. So when I decided to write his story, I found the absolute perfect heroine for him – a woman so tainted by scandal and sex, he couldn’t help fall in love with her.Sophie and Ryder’s story was a lot of fun to write. Not only did I get to come up with an adventurous sexual scavenger hunt, but I learned a huge secret about one of the recurring characters. In a word, wow. I hope you feel the same!