But would the cloak of anonymity she wore to escape a hellish marriage also protect her from the discerning gaze of the Earl of Beaulieu? Or would the famed Puzzlebreaker discover her deepest secrets as easily as he had the key to her heart?Desire filled the earl when looking upon the enigmatic Laura Martin. Reclusive as she was, he saw the tender heart she'd hidden beneath the chilly facade and recognized her as his destined bride. But could he teach her to trust him enough to let him into her life—forever?

    When handsome and brilliant inventor Nathaniel Chase joins her as a business partner, his optimism and unconventional ideas give new life to the company . . . and new hopes of love to Mara.

    Including enter into a wicked affair that lasts the length of the storm which traps them in her estate. But with every touch, both Cecilia and Julian want more than mere passion, but ghosts of the past may not allow it.Novella

    In competition with desperate homesteaders, ruthless land seekers, and a sheriff determined to see her fail, Mary rides out on a horse to strike her claim in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893. When she finally thrusts her flag into the dirt, 160 acres becomes her own. But with that claim, she risks more than she could ever imagine. A naïve school teacher and young mother abandoned by her hard-drinking, gold-seeking husband—whom she now believes to be dead—Mary is faced with letting go of a past riddled with loss, hardship, and reminders that a woman isn't capable of surviving on her own. Daniel McKenzie, an illustrative journalist sent on assignment to document the race, has his own past to forget. Bound by a lost love and guilt from a haunting event in the streets of Boston, he wonders whether he will ever know happiness again. Will Mary's and Daniel's stubborn and independent spirits keep them mired in the past? Or will two broken hearts find forgiveness and love in the wild plains of the Midwest?

    Maybe it’s the noble title or the chivalry. Perhaps it’s the dashing sense of danger. No matter your preference, prepare to fall in love with five heroes who know how to make a girl swoon in any century:Truth Within Dreams: Claudia’s plan to stage her own ruination and escape marriage to the churlish and elderly Sir Saint seemed foolproof. She was sure the kindly Henry De Vere wouldn’t mind helping her out … but somehow she hadn’t counted on him actually proposing. Can a fake scandal lead to real dreams coming true?The Winter Promise: In the fall of 1053, Lady Imma has one loyalty: to help her uncle, the king of Wales, win his war against the English. Lord Robert, the steward of Wessex, has one loyalty as well: to keep his beloved Wessex safe from enemies. When she is forced to seek shelter in his keep, they must decide if they can listen to their hearts – or if they would be wiser never to trust each other. Revolutionary Hearts: To complete his mission in India’s fight for independence, General Carton—aka U.S. undercover operative Warren Khan—must hide both his true objective and his heritage. But once he meets the captivating Parineeta, who holds the key to both his freedom and capturing her brother, a suspected anarchist, he finds the subterfuge more difficult than anticipated. Merry’s Wonderful Christmas Gift: The winter holidays used to be Miss Merry Damonson’s favorite time of year. Until her almost-fiancé Edward Everton abandoned her two days before Christmas. Now he’s returned to their country village, but is it too late to reignite old flames? A holiday ball might just offer these unlucky lovers a second chance. An Unconventional Courtship: George Fitzpatrick had boarded the new omnibus intent on nothing more than a ride from one point to another. Until a gorgeous young blonde named Charlotte Ashcroft suddenly claims he is her chaperone. What’s an up-and-coming young banker to do but help a lady out?

    . .Fifteenth-century Rome: The Borgia family is on the rise. Lucrezia’s father, Pope Alexander VI, places his illegitimate daughter and her only brothers, Cesare, Giovanni, and Goffredo, in the jeweled splendor—and scandal—of his court. From the Pope’s affairs with adolescent girls to Cesare’s dangerous jealousy of anyone who inspires Lucrezia’s affections to the ominous birth of a child conceived in secret, no Borgia can elude infamy.Young Lucrezia gradually accepts her fate as she comes to terms with the delicate nature of her relationships with her father and brothers. The unbreakable bond she shares with them both exhilarates and terrifies her as her innocence begins to fade. Soon she will understand that her family’s love pales next to their quest for power and that she herself is the greatest tool in their political arsenal. From the inimitable pen of Jean Plaidy, this family’s epic legend is replete with passion, intrigue, and murder—and it’s only the beginning.

    Not the fleeting, magical, mysterious death of resurrection, but truly, unequivocally, eternally dead. She knows she’s dead because Roman told her. And why would he lie when he is dying too?

    Stay in a 'home away from home'. But if it's someone else's house, then you're not the only one with the key.Lauren has finally dumped her dead-weight boyfriend, and what better way to celebrate a break-up than by going on holiday with your best friend?Except the holiday isn't turning out as planned - their cosy twosome has become a three and while Barcelona might be heaven, their rented apartment is anything but. It's small, shabby but, more than that, Lauren can't help but feel hunted.As the strange incidents escalate, Lauren and her friends decide to make their escape. But it's when they leave that the real danger begins.

    But no one except lackwits and fortune hunters is offering marriage. Then disaster strikes; Francine falls in love.Anthony Pierce is a far cry from a titled lord. A bookkeeper in her father’s shop, Anthony’s ambition is to revolutionize the family business. But, he's fallen for the boss’s daughter.When escaping passion proves impossible, Francine creates a new scheme. But can they have a future despite their families’ objections? Or will their desires destroy their only chance at happiness?

    But that doesn't stop Jess from noticing good-lookin', sweet-talkin' cowboy Johnny Jameson swagger into town. He's as wild and untamed as the stallions he trains....is where the girl who's stolen his heart is!The attraction between them is as fiery as a Texan summer and Johnny finds himself questioning whether he could finally put down roots - in Larkville, a place where two very special people have taken hold of his heart.

    No lady would allow the outrageous liberties Brodie took, but forced to pretend she was married to him to clear Nick's good name, Anna finds herself weakening to her brother-in-law's seductive appeal. Caught up in deceits and desires beyond her control, she knows only that her future happiness depends on learning which brother is an immoral criminal and which is merely a thief of hearts.

    But the sinfully charming Lord Mulholland was renowned for getting whatever, or whomever, he desired ...Paris Mulholland had long guarded his heart with a string of elegant, casual conquests, yet Clara's defiant pride enticed him in a way no coy flirtation ever had, and the prim and proper miss was proving a most engaging opponent in the war between the sexes ...

    Face-to-face with an oncoming army, he could decide matters of life and death. But now, face-to-face with one gentle woman, he was hopelessly confused and uncertain. Startled by Catherin's pale beauty when he first saw her, he was dumbfounded by her passionate radiance now, and he felt a desire far different from his usual impersonal need for a woman.

    She challenges the current Earl, Marcus Trevithick, to a wager - his island against her virtue! Marcus Trevithick is intrigued by the lovely incognita who throws down the challenge. Soon he is pursuing her, determined to learn more of her identity - and to tempt her into his bed. As both Beth and Marcus race to claim Fairhaven it seems inevitable that the chase can end only in each other's arms. But when it comes to a choice, which does Beth want more - the Earl of Trevithick, or her beloved island? A bold and determined hero meets his match in a heroine who is impulsive and intelligent. Passionate, fast-paced and original, this is a Regency historical not to be missed from award nominated, bestselling author Nicola Cornick. Look out for the sequel, The Notorious Marriage, coming in June 2003.

    But nothing is simple when courting under the glittering spotlight of the ton.Richard has always risen to any challenge, but Lady Jayne might just be the first to get the better of him….Let the games begin!