Book picks similar to
The Study of a Rake by Kathleen Ayers


historical-romance
historical
novellas
novella

A Wallflower's Guide to Becoming a Bride


Eva Devon - 2021
    When she finds a mysterious guide in Hatchards she forms a plan!It just so happens that her brother's best friend is happy to help her practice the instructions in the guide. Until they're caught of course! Can the guide lead to happy ever after, or will scandal ruin Lady Ophelia's chances?A Brazen Agreement by Tamara GillMiss Sutton Howard needs to marry, and soon, there are only so many years a lady can endure the title of Wallflower. After a disappointing first season and the many that followed, her sixth will be her last and most successful. The Wallflowers Guide will ensure her season ends well. All she needs to do is find a gentleman suitable to be her husband.Logan Carleton, Earl Jersey, knows it’s time to find a wife, if only the one woman he had lost through no fault of his own several years ago, wasn’t still on the market and complicating his life in London. Their bickering is no use, and before they cause another scandal, they must work together to gain what they both desire, spouses, just not with each other.But when two people are thrown together with an entwined history, complications arise, along with desires that may not be smothered a second time no matter how hard they try.A Duke at Midnight by Stacy ReidMiss Sarah Bellamy hopes to meet a gentleman at midnight, before she settles into the respectable and lonely life of a governess to two little girls. And her dreams come true. In the dark of the night, she is willingly seduced by a devastatingly handsome gentleman.One night of bliss to discover he is not only a Duke but her future employer. A difficult adjustment to be so near and yet so far from the man of her dreams. She tries to suppress all hopes of more but finds herself inexorably drawn to the one man she knows she cannot have…

Sinjin


Julia Templeton - 2009
    But when they receive an ultimatum to wed or risk losing their inheritance, their search for brides takes them on a journey of carnal pleasure like none they've experienced before. . . His Needs Consumed Him. . .The oldest of the Rayborne brothers, Sinjin's insatiable appetite for sex has earned him the nickname -Sin.- But his frequent visits to London's most infamous pleasure houses must now come to an end. For a rogue who's accustomed to indulging his every desire, one woman can never be enough. . .until Sinjin locks eyes with Katelyn Davenport, and knows she is the one woman he can't get enough of. . .Until He Met The One Woman Who Could Satisfy Them All. . .Betrothed to a much older man in payment for her late father's gambling debts, Katelyn dreads her wedding day--and her wedding night even more. When she meets Sinjin at a soiree intended to introduce him to the eligible young ladies of the ton, she envies the lucky woman who will ultimately become his bride. But when Sinjin seduces Katelyn, giving her just a taste of his legendary sensual skills, she can only imagine herself in his bed every night. . .

Olivia and the Masked Duke


Grace Callaway - 2021
    They resigned themselves to a lifetime of boring, genteel activities deemed suitable for proper ladies. My name is Lady Charlotte...and I taught them a different set of skills." -Lady Charlotte Fayne, Founder of the Society of AngelsHe saved her life when she was a girl. Now, she is a woman determined to heal his heart...Spirited debutante Lady Olivia MacLeod, cherished daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven, has two interests: solving mysteries and winning the love of her secret girlhood crush, the infamous Duke of Hadleigh. When she joins Lady Charlotte Fayne’s charity for genteel young ladies and discovers that it is a front for an investigative agency, she is thrilled and dedicates herself to solving a deadly case. Little does she realize that the path to danger will also lead to her heart’s deepest desire.Notorious widower Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, has only one goal in mind: redemption. After his tortured past, he seeks salvation behind a mask, channeling his dark demons toward helping those in need. The last thing he wants or deserves is innocence. Yet temptation taunts him by delivering pretty young Olivia into his arms: she is everything he cannot have and everything he needs.Will Olivia and Ben succeed in defeating a menacing foe? Will succumbing to their dark and forbidden desires lead to their happily ever after?

My Duke's Seduction


Tammy Andresen - 2018
    When a tall, strong and handsome stranger helps to keep her safe, she agrees to keep their meeting, secret. She’s no interest in marrying a tall and darkly handsome stranger. Actually, she has no intention of marrying at all. Instead, she plans to dedicate herself to charitable pursuits. Ryker Pembroke, Duke of Landon, will marry eventually, as duty requires him to do. But it is a fate, he regards with a certain amount of dread. That is, until an auburn haired minx bursts into his life. Her warmth, charm and giving nature draws him to her even as he attempts to maintain a safe distance. She is entirely wrong for him with her impulsive nature and blatant disregard for her own safety makes her a terrible choice for a wife… doesn’t it? This is a stand-alone romance with a lovely HEA! The heroine does appear in the Earl of Sussex: Wicked Earls' Club. And the books that follow will all be connected with the Earl of Sussex and his lovely bride, Tabbie.

The Winter Duchess


Jillian Eaton - 2017
    A shy wallflower, Caroline hasn’t the faintest idea why the Duke of Readington chose her to be his bride. She could ask, but that would mean speaking to him... and truth be told she’d rather have a conversation with the devil. Her new husband may be one of the most powerful men in all of England—not to mention the handsomest—but he’s also cruel, callous, and has a heart colder than ice.But it was never meant to be a love match... Eric married Caroline for one simple reason: he wasn’t in love with her. Having seen firsthand how love can bring a man to his knees, he’s determined not to make the same mistakes his father did. Which is why he’s going to spend just enough time with his new bride to assure himself of an heir before he leaves her and returns to London. At least that was the plan until a winter storm leaves them stranded. Now every time Eric turns around he finds himself stumbling over the wife he never wanted... but is slowly beginning to desire....or was it? As cold winds howl outside the manor, inside of it a duke’s heart is finally starting to melt as he finds himself falling for the one woman he was never supposed to love... but can she love him in return?

Lords, Ladies and Babies: A Regency Romance Set with Little Consequences


Meara Platt - 2020
    Cheyne Lyon, Duke of Mar isn’t surprised when his wastrel brother dumps a wife and baby on his doorstep, but Jennifer is intelligent, nurturing, and sweet, just the sort Cheyne could love, if only she wasn’t already taken. When unsavory strangers come around looking for a runaway young lady, Cheyne realizes Jennifer isn’t who she claims to be, and he isn’t about to give her up.THE SCOT'S BAIRN by Tabetha Waite... Damaris Honeywell suffers from an unwanted betrothal. Her solution? Ruin her reputation. But one night with a handsome Scotsman leads to certain…complications that can’t be ignored. When Callum Murray, Laird O’Donogue encounters her again, he intends to show her that they are meant to be.THE DUKE AND THE GOVERNESS by Tammy Andresen... The Duke of Chance is tired of leaving his life to fate. When he becomes ward to his niece, he knows he needs a governess to raise the girl right. But is Miss Lucy Frank the answer to all his troubles?THE PERFECT LITTLE MARQUESS by Annabelle Anders... His grandfather dies before turning forty. His father turns up his toes at the age of two and thirty. And this year, his older brother gets shot in a duel at the tender age of nine and twenty. Things aren’t lookin good for this spare turned heir. The new duke of Warwick needs a son... And Quickly!THE SUBSTITUTE LOVER by Merry Farmer... Lord Benedict Killian needs an heir of his own blood as fast as possible, but he has no intention of marrying. Disgraced Miss Meg Wallace needs money, and a lot of it, to start a new life. Agreeing to a deal to conceive a child for Benedict to pass off as his own seems like an easy solution for both of their problems. Until the red-hot passion between them proves irresistible.WOOED IN WINTER by Scarlett Scott... The Marquess of Haven has finally decided to do his duty and settle upon a bride, preferably before the new year begins. What better place to find her than a country house party? There’s just one problem, and she’s the beautiful widow who once owned his heart. Surely there’s no harm in indulging in one night of passion with her to get her out of his mind. But Haven is about to discover old habits are hard to break, especially when the consequences last forever…

Claimed by the Viscount


Anya Cade - 2021
    Between balls, soirees, and musicales she’s having almost as much fun as her sister. There’s just one fly in the ointment; the rakish Viscount Thornton, who seems determined to tempt her into his bed.But she didn’t count on her brother not being able to stay away from the card tables and losing everything but the clothes on his back. Forced into an impossible situation, she’ll do anything to avoid the scandal… even agree to the viscount’s decadent proposal.A month is long enough to get her out of his system. Surely…Luke, Viscount Thornton, is known for his rakish ways and his love of widows. However, the beautiful Lady Pembrooke is not the kind to fall into his bed, mores the pity. When her arrogant pup of a brother challenges him at cards and loses everything, Luke sees a way to make the lady his at last. For a month at least…However, the feeling she stirs in him is not what he expected. When forces plot to come between them, will he let her slip through his fingers, or will he fight for the woman he loves?

Love Me, If You Dare


Alyssa Clarke - 2021
    He has everything planned: his sister is engaged, and now plans to select his duchess from a list of eligible debutantes. The last thing he expects is his sister to go missing a few weeks before her wedding!Lady Theodosia Winfern is upset when a devilishly attractive duke accuses her of persuading his sister to run from her duties. He declares that Theo won’t leave his side (even if it means sleeping in his chamber) until his sister is found Theo has little choice but to go along with his scandalous demands. The last thing she wants is the powerful duke as her enemy, especially as he knows about her secret lady’s club!Both are quick to deny the increasingly fiery attraction between them until temptation becomes irresistible and passion can no longer be denied…

Wishes in Winter


Scarlett Scott - 2020
    She must settle upon a husband or face a future life of drudgery as a companion. Dreading either fate, Lydia attends a Christmas country house party to settle upon a match. But much to her dismay, her brother's rakish best friend is also in attendance. The Duke of Warwick is the one man she doesn't dare trust, and the only one she can't resist.Alistair, the Duke of Warwick, has two problems. The debt his father left behind is about to swallow him whole, and the woman he wants to marry has been avoiding him. In an effort to prove his sincerity and win her hand, he inveigles an invitation to the same house party where she will choose a husband.However, Lady Lydia isn't about to succumb to his practiced seductions, and she leads him on a merry chase. When he wins her hand at last, deception tears them apart. Can Alistair prove his love and claim his duchess's heart for good?Publisher's Note: Wishes in Winter was previously released in the collection A Lady's Christmas Rake . It is part of The Wicked Winters series world and can be enjoyed in any order.Length: NovellaHeat level: Scorching

I Kissed an Earl (and I Liked It)


Merry Farmer - 2021
    And when Marie lands herself in a scandalous amount of trouble, she ends up as the first sister doomed to whatever marriage of convenience her brother can arrange.Bad boy Christian Darrow is having too much fun to be tied down...And as the younger son of an earl, he isn't expected to amount to much. Which is why playing pranks and getting into trouble with Marie the moment they meet is his idea of a good time. Sparks fly between him and Marie and the scandal is totally worth the risk......until one prank goes too far.Can Marie save Christian from the consequences of what was supposed to be a bit of fun? Or will a twist of fate prove that life is more serious than either Marie or Christian ever expected?A friends to lovers romance that will make you laugh and cry.PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam level – very spicy!THAT WICKED O’SHEA FAMILY series is a spin-off of THE MAY FLOWERS series.

A Rogue's Downfall


Mary Balogh - 2017
    Now, one year later, he has returned home to his wife and young son, wondering if it is too late to woo her properly and make amends for a year of shameful neglect. The Wrong Door During a dull evening at a particularly tedious house party Viscount Lyndon, a notorious rake, makes an assignation to spend the night with a willing widow. In the darkness, however, he opens the wrong door and enters the wrong room. He soon finds himself honor-bound to offer for the young lady who was the unfortunate victim of his error. She, however, does not react with predictable meekness. Instead, she sets out to bring him to his knees. Precious Rogue Miss Peabody and her mother are ecstatic when Mr. Bancroft, London's most elusive bachelor, accepts an invitation to a house party at their country estate. They boast that he is about to offer marriage. However, it is upon Patricia Mangan, the quiet, unremarkable, impoverished niece Mrs. Peabody treats more as a servant than a relative, that Mr. Bancroft finds himself turning his attentions, surprising himself as much as he surprises her and everyone else.

Forbidden


Tracy Cooper-Posey - 2012
    Elisa wants her son back. Neither expected to want each other.… Elisa’s determined to have her son back at any cost, even if it means marry a vicious stoat of a man like Rufus Wardell, but her plans and her life are turned upside down by the sudden reappearance of Rufus’ grown and estranged son, Vaughn.Lured by the contrast of Elisa’s sweet beauty with the wicked rumors of her wanton past, Vaughn embarks on a seduction as scorching as it is daring. What he finds is not at all what he sought: Elisa is an innocent, but with a sensuality so raw he cannot resist her......even though their passion is forbidden. WARNING: This book contains frequent sex scenes and sexual language.

The Duke’s Scandalous Bluestocking: Historical Regency Romance


Lorena Owen - 2021
    His rakish lifestyle has provided him with every pleasure possible, but now it’s time to settle down. To find his future duchess, he decides to hold a secret dinner party. But the ladies have an impossible task; leave their homes unchaperoned. Certainly from those brave enough to attend, he will find a woman worthy of his attention.Alice Egerton is a helpless romantic. Reading her books and keeping a low profile is her cup of tea. But when her sister decides to leave their house unchaperoned, she is ready to do anything to prevent her ruination.This roguish duke is definitely one to stay away from.Surprisingly, the only lady who catches Henry’s attention is neither a debutante, nor a diamond of the first water, but a bluestocking hiding inside his library, making fun of his eccentric way of choosing a bride.As the only woman who has ever resisted his charm, he decides that he should win her. What a task it would be to unplug the wallflower…He set her body on fire, she burned his rakish past…

What a Difference a Duke Makes


Lenora Bell - 2018
    The only problem is the children have chased away half the governesses in London. Until the clever, bold, and far-too-enticing Miss Mari Perkins arrives.Lost: One heart to an arrogant dukeMari knows how to wrap even the most rebellious children around her finger. But their demanding, wickedly handsome father? He won't be quite so easy to control. And there's something else she can't seem to command. Her heart. The foolish thing beats so wildly every time the duke is near.Found: A forbidden passion neither can denyAs his employee, Mari is strictly off-limits. But what if she's the one breaking all his rules? In the game of governess versus duke, how can Edgar maintain his defenses when the only thing he wants to do is let the tempting beauty win?

Duchess by Day, Mistress by Night


Stacy Reid - 2017
    She meets the enigmatic and ruthless Mr. Rhys Tremayne, a man known to low and high society as the Broker. The attraction between them is impossible to deny, but she cannot be feeling it for this man. Rhys Tremayne has built his wealth and empire by dealing secrets on the black market of the London underworld. He is determined to take his sisters away from the depraved world they’ve known their entire lives, and the duchess is the perfect woman to help sponsor his sisters into society. The only problem is that he wants more from Georgiana, even if the social divide between them ensures she can only ever be his lover in secret.