Book picks similar to
What the Governess is Hiding by Abby Ayles


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Mending the Duke's Heart


Bridget Barton - 2021
    However, when her beloved father dies, she dedicates herself to working by her mother's side, to make ends meet. Her luck will finally change when a young lady becomes astonished by her talent and hires her as her personal dressmaker, spiralling her into a world she only dreamed of joining. It won't be long until Ella's world turns upside down once again, when she meets the lady's charming brother and becomes unable to stop daydreaming about his sparking gaze. Will Ella manage to survive and find love in a world that is totally unknown to her? Could she truly have the fairytale ending that any other girl of her class would die for?After the unexpected loss of his father, Ross Edmundson, The Duke of Winthrope, has become distant, burying himself in grief. Carrying the extra wound of a past love, he has refused to open up his heart again and much to his distaste, he must suffer through the upcoming season as chaperone to his young sister. Everything is about to change though when he sees the beautiful seamstress of his sister and day by day realises he is desperately falling in love with her. However, he knows that this love would be against society's rules and that he would have to clash even with his own mother, who would undoubtedly be against this romance. Will the lonely Duke find the strength to defy everything for the sake of love? Could Ella be the one to finally sew his broken heart back together?Ross and Ella cannot deny their blossoming feelings and they are desperate to make amends that will bring them closer to their happily ever after. However, a malicious figure who has set eyes on the Duke, tries to sabotage Ella and take her out of the picture once and for all. Will the honourable Duke manage to protect her from a world that keeps breaking her gentle heart? Will the two soulmates eventually beat the odds stacked against them or will they fail to break down the walls that keep them apart?"Mending the Duke's Heart" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

The Earl, the Lady and the Song of Love


Fanny Finch - 2021
    Through the pain and suffering, she finally saw clearly: love is not essential for a successful marriage. Or so she thought…Asking her father to secure a good match for her, since her choices had disappointed her so, and having resigned from the tiresome games of courtings, Imogen meets the handsome Earl of Kensington. Their arrangement seems to be smooth until her heart betrays her and she is close to breaking her vow never to love again…The undeniable attraction between them and the bright future ahead of them are hindered solely by the scars of her past until Imogen looks inside her and faces the truth that’s been right in front of her the whole time: this is the man she was always meant to be with…

The Enigmatic Lady in the Ivory Tower


Hazel Linwood - 2020
    Sent to live with a tyrannical Marchioness, she feels her life is ruined. But her confinement to the country turns out to be more than just lessons for proper manners.A life of toil as a stable hand is everything Gabriel Rowan has ever known. Though well aware of his place, Diana’s visits to the stables awaken in him feelings he is forbidden to express.With the appearance of Diana’s suitor, Gabriel’s heart is shattered and reminded of what he can never have. But a single truth is enough to make a castle of lies crumble. And that truth, hidden and concealed for decades, falls in Diana’s hands in the form of a letter. A letter from the late Marquess addressed to his second son...

A Protective Earl for the Spirited Beauty


Leah Conolly - 2021
    A heritage that Yvaine cannot help but want to explore. So, she must say goodbye to her beloved Scotland and delve into the unknown English society in search of answers. But she will find so much more there…Victor Grant’s main concern is the well-being of his family. His mother may have remarried, but the young Earl cannot help but notice the effect his stepfather has on both his mother and his half-sister. When a beautiful young woman enters their lives, Victor is helpless to resist her charm and wild Scottish spirit…In their attempt to unearth the secrets of the past, Yvaine and Victor can’t deny the attraction growing between them, but they cannot afford to be distracted, as one misstep and they will set in motion a chain of events that will either save their beloved ones or doom them all…

Letters from a Missing Lady


Hanna Hamilton - 2019
     Matthew Warren, Earl of Hardingham, never expected to find a letter in the middle of the road while on his way to see his long-time friend, Jonathan Ayles. Or to become so frustrated with his inability to discover the identity of the mysterious “Elizabeth.” With her wedding day approaching like a bad omen, Evelina makes one final request before her freedom is snatched away from her forever: a single meeting with the enigmatic “Percy”, whose poetic hand has captured her heart. What Matthew and Evelina never expected though is how inextricably connected their fates are. Or to what gruesome lengths a certain someone will go to tear them apart forever. And then Evelina suddenly goes missing... *If you like a realistic yet charming depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Letters from a Missing Lady is the novel for you. This is Hanna Hamilton's 30th book, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after. Pick up "Letters from a Missing Lady" today to discover Hanna's amazing new story!

How to Cook your Way into an Earl’s Heart


Edith Byrd - 2021
    

The Scandalous Secret of the Tempting Duchess


Scarlett Osborne - 2019
     With no prospects on the horizon, she has devoted herself to her family’s happiness instead of her own. But even though deemed utterly unmarriageable, her life changes when she meets the most unattainable gentleman in town. Timothy Wilson, Duke of Brentminster, is every lady’s dream. Betrothed to a lady he doesn't love and trapped in a life he hasn’t chosen, he finally finds happiness in the eyes of the town’s most gossiped-about spinster. Craving to court her, he is willing to give up everything for her. Until he accidentally unveils her well-kept secret...one that isn't just hers and can destroy the person she loves the most. When the father of her child suddenly shows up, Matilda must make a choice: sacrifice her family or forever crave a man she can’t have.

A Lord's Bet of Desire


Meghan Sloan - 2020
    While working at the house of Norman Pembroke, the Duke of Bancroft, she has always dreamt of advancing her life from a humble maid to that of a governess. Despite knowing that this opportunity may never appear, her love for reading is enough to keep the dream alive. But little did she know that fate would bring an unforeseen twist that would make this dream a tangible reality... When Edward, the endearingly attractive brother of the Duke, comes to visit, the last thing she expected was to end up under his roof and away from the only place she's ever known. Laura will inevitably find herself seduced by his ravishing beauty, but will she allow herself to finally surrender to her burning desire for him?Edward Pembroke has always been the opposite of his brother. Being warm and dutiful himself, he was against his brother's love for gambling that was dwindling the Pembroke fortune every day. When he finally decides to confront him about his wayward habit, they both end up engaging in a fateful night of gambling, and Edward wins the prize of taking anything he wants with him. Without a second thought, he chooses Laura, as her fiery nature lightens a spark inside him. Once they move to his house, he can't help but be mesmerised by her every move, willing to do whatever it takes to possess her. Will he manage to turn this promising desire into an everlasting love?Laura and Edward's attraction is impossible to deny, but their evident class differences are threatening their undeniable lust. The more time they spend together, the more they lose their hearts and bodies to one another. Will their passionate connection prove strong enough to shatter the insurmountable obstacles? Or will their heated affair go down in flames before it even sets them on fire?"A Lord's Bet of Desire" is a historical romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Courting A Sinful Stranger


Emily Honeyfield - 2021
    Sarah yearns for so much more, secretly lusting for an enthralling adventure... When she attends a masquerade ball, she is allured by the raven-haired seductive stranger, who whispers shockingly tempting things into her ear, without revealing his identity. She knows all this is far from how a lady should behave, but she finds this game of seduction simply irresistible. After all, what hope can a respectable young lady have in finding any kind of tantalizing excitement? While trying to unveil this captivating masquerader's identity, will she indulge in an adventure of inappropriate promises and lustful desire?Arthur Colton, the Viscount Nordarken, is a bored gentleman, ready to risk it all for the sake of pleasure. While visiting his father in the district, he is on the hunt for a rousing distraction. Sadly, not even one of the eligible young ladies sparks his interest after the whirlwind of excitement that London was. Little did he know that everything was about to change with the announcement of a masquerade ball and the appearance of an enticing dark-eyed beauty into his dangerous path. Being used to always getting what he wants, he comes up with a wicked plan, to make her succumb to his sinful passion. How far is he willing to go in order to conquer her fiery heart?Against all odds, their lives and their feelings get tangled and challenge everything they have ever known. That is when a game of false identities and flaming desire begins... A game that must end soon, or it could otherwise lead to their destruction. For Sarah it is being in the midst of a scandal and losing her gracious place in society. For Arthur it is being targeted and risking turning into a social pariah. Will an arising old scandal threaten their affair to its very core? Will their untamed passion for one another be enough to thrive, in spite of all the hardships or will they drift apart after all?

A Fiery Lady's Accidental Affair


Lucy Langton - 2021
    Even though this is her safe, familiar environment, a part of her is missing. While she is desperately trying to find herself in a place far away from home, she ends up in distress, when her carriage is violently wrecked. Thankfully a vigorous man appears to rescue her and she instantly knows that accepting the seductive stranger's offer for temporary hospitality is her only option. However, little did she know that the most passionate and fulfilling chapter of her life was about to begin...Laurence Gillingham has always been a fierce young man, known for his love for the countryside and his roots. Being a farmer and having spent all his life close to nature, he appreciates rural living more than anything else. Will his peaceful and isolated life change after hosting the high-society lady that fate threw in his arms? Laurence will soon realize how much the world of London high-society collides with his rural retreat... Could Alison be the woman that will finally stimulate the mind and hidden desires of the distant Laurence?When Laurence and Alicia come closer than they could ever imagine, they realise they may have found their missing halves in each other. However, they are struggling to leave their prejudice behind and they soon find themselves torn between love and social status. Alicia should now decide whether she is willing to sacrifice all she has held dear for a lifetime of incomparable bliss and lust. Is love enough to keep these two passionate lovers together against all odds? Do they have the courage to overcome themselves and surrender to their deepest desires?

True Love's Surprise


Aurora Hanson - 2021
    Her refusal to marry certainly hasn't done her any favors, but having her life controlled by a man is something she simply wants no part of. So when her father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, she's left with no choice but to flee to her Aunt's farmhouse in Wyoming. There, in an unexpected turn of events, her powerful connection with a kind rancher tempts her to reconsider her harsh preconceptions about love and marriage. Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, will her growing attraction to him be strong enough to overcome such deep-seated fears?Humiliated and heartbroken after his fiancé leaves him at the altar, Joseph Smyth refuses to fall victim to his emotions again. Swearing off romance once and for all, but still needing a wife to help him run his ranch, he seeks out a mail-order bride. When Joseph meets the town's charming new teacher, however, it feels like a ray of light has appeared in the darkness of his life. As he gets to know her better, his cynical attitude toward love begins to thaw. Before too long though, forgotten obligations come knocking on his door when his betrothed arrives. With his sense of responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders, will Joseph be forced to sacrifice his second chance at true love and happiness?Life in Wyoming brings Charlotte and Joseph closer than they would have ever expected to be, and undeniable feelings grow between them. Joseph is torn between duty and true love, while Charlotte worries that he may prove to be just another man who will let her down. Yet, when the line that separates right from wrong becomes blurred, will they decide to follow their reason or their hearts? Will they find a way out of the tangled web they've found themselves in?"True Love's Surprise" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Surrendered to the Lust of the Duke


Ava MacAdams - 2020
    Rescued from the workhouse by a kind Duke, his charity school is the only home she knows. Until the day his son, the man she loves, announces his intention to shut it down.David Wearwood, the Duke of Lentingdale, could never live up to his father’s expectations. Now returned from his travels to attend his funeral, he stumbles upon Teresa. In the place of the little girl stands a woman he seems unable to control himself around.In a desperate attempt to save the only home she’s ever known, Teresa mingles with the wrong crowd. Abominable agendas born in the slums of London decades ago, that not even David can protect her from. Attending a disastrous ball leads them to a peculiar clue: a pink handkerchief. The one Teresa has been seeing in her nightmares...

In Love with the Rogue: Historical Regency Romance


Lisa Campell - 2021
    

Saved by The Duke's Embrace


Aria Norton - 2020
    Her new identity as a widowed Englishwoman should give her the protection she needs, but suddenly it's her heart that is left unguarded from the duke's mesmerising gaze. Will she surrender to his liberating embrace, even if that means risking it all, including her valuable disguise?Gordon Ashbrook, the Duke of Clement, immediately distrusts his sister's choice of chaperone. Bryana may be a widow, but she is still far too beautiful and young to be anything but trouble. The more time he spends with her, the more the lines between servant and master blur, until he finds that he can no longer trust his own judgement. His heart has a winning shot of convincing him to surrender to his feelings... but will he ever manage to set his own pride aside?When the fate that Bryana so desperately tried to avoid finds her, she is forced to choose between the man she secretly loves and her duty to her family. To make matters worse, Gordon is also torn between the traditional world he grew up in and the enlightening one he discovered through his love for Bryana. With so many obstacles threatening to tear them apart, can they overcome them all to be together? Will their love prove strong enough to shatter every piece of threatening prejudice and intimidation around them?"Saved by The Duke's Embrace" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

A Duke's Garden of Love


Abigail Agar - 2020
    Unfortunately, she is engaged to be married to Horace Filbert, a man with no respect to her abilities or the work she does for her father. Just when life starts feeling meaningless, she gets a surprising invitation by a mysterious Duke and instantly packs all her belongings. Moving to the brooding Duke's mansion, the last thing she expected was to fall for him and get herself into trouble... Soon, she finds herself determined not only to save his precious garden, but the Lord himself. Will this bright Lady find her soulmate in this magical garden of love?Lord Albion Brightling, the Duke of Somerfield, is a lonely soul. After the death of his entire family during the war, he dedicated his garden to those who mattered most to him. He would rather die alone than love and lose again, so he chose isolation and he decided to spend his days at his estate far away from everyone... But when Albion's roses grow sick, his butler calls in the only person in England who can save the garden, Rosamund. What he would never expect, though, is that this charming lady will soon threaten to destroy the walls he has built to protect his broken heart with her soft tenderness. Will this compassionate Lady help him fight the demons of his past and start all over again by believing in true love?As Rosamund brings his flowers back to life, love and hope are also finding their way back into the Duke's life. The more the two of them emotionally connect within this magical garden, the more the Duke's reputation as an isolated madman is challenged. When Rosamund's betrothed discovers this unexplainable connection, he will do anything he can to stop the two from growing closer... With everyone set against them, will their love come up roses? Or will they be pricked by society's hurtful thorns?