Book picks similar to
Dare To Cross The Water by Lorri Moulton


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Engaging Love


Abby Ayles - 2018
     John Radcliffe, heir to the earldom of Mountbank, must find a wife to show his father his seriousness towards his inherited responsibilities, or he will be disowned. When the two meet, they seem to hit it off—and they don’t have much of a choice when it comes to their hearts. They agree to marry, only later to realize that they are completely ill-suited for one another. Natalie is sociable, prone to gossip, and doesn’t take anything seriously. John takes things too seriously, thinks he’s always right, and is far more focused on his guilt about his past behavior than his new bride-to-be. As the two of them try to make do with one another, they find that they’re still drawn towards each other despite their frustrations. Perhaps they might even genuinely want to be with one another. But it’s all just for the sake of propriety… right? "Engaging Love" is a historical regency romance novel of approximately 90,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Enjoy!

Beneath a Blazing Sky


Amanda Hughes - 2020
    The dawning of the Twentieth Century, and it is a world in chaos. Raised on Coney Island among scoundrels, cheats, and dreamers, Piper Albrecht is apprenticed to violence at an early age. Not until she is rescued by her aunt and moves to the elegant Upper East Side of Manhattan does she experience a different life, the life of a well-educated, forward-thinking young woman. But the roller coaster ride is far from over. After building the most fashionable millinery house in America, Piper spearheads relief efforts in Belgium during The Great War, bringing food to civilians trapped behind enemy lines. Once again, she is immersed in turmoil, misery, and violence. Partnering with her is Bret Collier, a charismatic adventurer, who hides not only his past but his future. She is drawn to his easy charm and cavalier exterior, but this American is not who he appears to be. Choosing the right path can mean life or death for Piper, and she must move swiftly because the war is intensifying, and her entire world is on fire.Join Amanda Hughes with another host of unforgettable characters on a wild ride in Beneath the Blazing Sky.

Pursued


Elaine Manders - 2016
     Carianne Barlow never expected to leave her Philadelphia townhouse and travel to the wild-west, but when she inherits a fortune, conditions are attached. She must carry out her grandmother’s vision of a western culture center anchored by a library to rival those of the east. Such an undertaking requires political support, and no one is more influential than Rhyan Cason, a handsome rancher with the reputation of hardened businessman and rabble rousing lobbyist with a preference for the ladies. Carianne gets on the westbound train with no thought of the treacherous world awaiting her in the little prairie town near Rhyan’s sprawling ranch. When Rhyan asks her to catalog his library, Carianne jumps at the chance without considering the ramifications. She rejects any romantic notions. Rhyan is known to be a heart-breaker, and he is an atheist, which doesn’t set well with her Christian beliefs. But they are thrown together when events take a dangerous turn, and menacing undercurrents run through the town. Then Carianne learns too late Rhyan is pursued by a sinister enemy determined to destroy everything he cares for, including her. As they get closer to exposing the adversary, they realize he—or she—wants them both dead.

The Wedding Duel


Katy Madison - 2002
     A Holt Medallion nominee for Best First Book First published by Kensington Publishing Corp. THE WEDDING DUEL It was meant to be a duel like any other—defend a lady's reputation, teach a scamp a lesson in honor, and win the day. But from the first moment Keene Davies raises the cursed pistol things go awry. The shot goes astray, he wounds his best friend, and his displeased father threatens to disinherit him—unless he marries a scandalous little hoyden named Sophie. Unbeknownst to Keene, Sophie Farthing has grown into a lovely young woman, albeit one still inclined to fall into scrapes. Her high spirits and tendency to ride hell bent for leather lead her into more than one disaster, but she's bound to make the most of this unexpected marriage to Keene. She's determined to teach her husband that honor begins with the heart, not the handle of a pistol, and that passion should go hand in glove with love...

The Dark Side of the Earl


Ella Edon - 2020
    Being a wallflower, dedicated to philanthropy, was her choice and she was happy with it.When her father sells her hand to settle his debts, Eleanor is shocked. Mainly because she has met her betrothed before. All alone, in secret, in the dark.Captain Nathan Reynolds, Earl of Brixton, was a soldier, who didn't need a bride. Upon his return to England, he is thrust, by his mother, into an arranged engagement to a heavenly creature who has never seen before. What confuses him more is that his intended seems to know him already.Despite their attraction and his sinister thoughts for Eleanor, Nathan cannot go through with the marriage until he discovers why his future was orchestrated behind his back. What begins as harmless research, quickly turns to a dangerous path.For a man with the same face as Nathan may destroy their lives before they ever walk down the aisle…Torn between light and dark, she must choose the side she belongs to…

The Hidden Duchess


Bree Verity - 2021
    Set in 1789 in the years leading up to the French Revolution, it is full of intrigue, romance and adventure.────Celeste, Duchesse de Saint Tours, is forced into hiding when she is falsely accused of the murder of her husband. She flees to the south of France, where her distant cousin, Marcel Daunou reluctantly agrees to hide her in plain sight on his farm. However, she must learn to live as a peasant farmer to complete the deception, a feat which appears next to impossible to the haughty Duchess. Especially knowing that the unsettling Marcel is watching over her at every turn. She can’t wait to return to her beloved Paris, and the exquisite, hedonistic lifestyle she has left behind.Marcel knows that he places his loved ones in danger when he agrees to hide Celeste. However, his committee has agreed to hide her in exchange for a large sum of money that will assist their gravely poor community, and since she is his family, he takes responsibility for her. But Republican fervor is running high and Marcel knows if the Duchess is found out, she will be marched back to Paris, and to the guillotine. And his family will face harsh retribution from the agitating revolutionaries for hiding a member of the despised nobility.Forced to work together, Celeste and Marcel discover a passion that they cannot resist. And Celeste discovers a feeling of belonging and acceptance from the people of the village that she has never felt before. She begins to dream about a future with Marcel.When her well-meaning lawyer appears in the village and gives her identity away, it isn’t only Marcel that Celeste stands to lose – it’s her life as well.How can a noble Duchess and a peasant farmer find their happily ever after?

Clara's Song


Kitty Margo - 2015
    This much she knows. What she doesn’t know is what other gifts will be revealed when she turns eighteen in a few months. While her grandmother has been diligent in her efforts to prepare her for the inevitable changes to come, Clara can focus on precious little besides the devilishly handsome man she met at her coming out ball. Secure in the knowledge that she has a bright future ahead of her, the future Clara discovers is one that she could never have conjured in her wildest dreams.

The Rogue and The Earl's Temptation


Emma V. Leech - 2019
    The notorious Rogue that began it all. Set in Cornwall, 1815. Wild, untamed and isolated. Lawlessness is the order of the day and smuggling is rife. Henrietta always felt most at home in the wilds of the outdoors but even she had no idea how the mysterious and untamed would sweep her away in a moment. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“This book has lots of twists and turns in the plot, and many giggle-making moments - I thoroughly enjoyed it.” ~ Amazon customer review Bewitched by his wicked blue eyes. Henrietta Morton knows to look the other way when the free trading 'gentlemen' are at work. Yet when a notorious pirate bursts into her local village shop, she can avert her eyes no more. Bewitched by his wicked blue eyes, a moment of insanity follows as Henrietta hides the handsome fugitive from the Militia. Her reward is a kiss, lingering and unforgettable. In his haste to flee, the handsome pirate drops a letter, a letter that lays bare a tale of betrayal. When Henrietta’s father gives her hand in marriage to a wealthy and villainous nobleman in return for the payment of his debts, she becomes desperate. Blackmailing a pirate may be her only hope for freedom. The Earl’s Temptation ROGUES & GENTLEMEN: BOOK TWO Alexander Sinclair, Fourth Earl of Falmouth, has a reputation for revelling in vice. Wine, women and gambling are only one side of this dangerous man, for the Earl has a second life, leading a criminal gang, smuggling contraband between France and Cornwall. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A fabulous historical romance […] Ms. Leech has provided readers with a well-written book with amazing characters. Alex and Celeste's story is loaded with drama, action, sizzle, humor and suspense. The Earl's Temptation is book 2 of the Rogues & Gentlemen Series but can be read as a standalone - this is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.” ~ Amazon customer review Seeking ever more risk Alexander often leads his men on their night-time missions. One unlucky night the revenue men appear, and the smugglers sail into a violent storm in an effort to escape, but the ship and all aboard go down. Barely alive Alexander washes ashore on the coast of France. Enter innocent beauty, Celestine Lavelle, the daughter of a noble French family forced to flee their estate during the revolution. Having lost everything, she must work in the kitchens of a coastal brothel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I loved the characters so much they are so complex and share a wonderful chemistry. Emma Leech created a world so passionate that evokes so much emotions you cannot put down this amazing steamy story” ~ Amazon customer review Desperate and alone, her future is besieged by sin. The discovery of a half-drowned English smuggler on the shore will lead her heart in directions she never dreamed of. Alexander determines to save his beguiling rescuer. He plans her future should be full of everything that is good and honourable… but will the temptation to take her as his own be too hard to resist? The first and second book of the acclaimed Rogues & Gentlemen historical romance series from Emma V Leech, the multi-award-winning Amazon Top 10 romance writer.

Tempted By Trouble


Christa Wick - 2019
    Sure, she’s taken a few risks to try to stop the expansion of Skipjack Bay. And yes, okay, the first time she met with Austin to plead her case, she’d technically been trespassing. But this? His bed, his rules, his massive, let’s just say confidence. Not to mention his uncanny ability to make her come... completely undone. It’s all beyond crazy. Still, the chance to help the families in her hometown is something she can’t turn down. So, she agrees to his terms. Total surrender. Hers. To him. A simple business deal where they both get what they want. The absolute last thing Gina expects is for Austin to want her to surrender her heart to him, too. Previously published as Black Gold 1 & 2, (c) 2012 & (c) 2014 revised throughout with newly added content and an extended ending. Story Note: This steamy standalone includes cameos by a few characters from Tempted Beyond Reason (formerly titled Waking Up Her Curves, which has similarly been republished with revisions and new content), but not to worry, both stories are completely independent from each other.

Beauty and the Beastly Highlander: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance


Kenna Kendrick - 2021
    

Rakes Always Kiss First


Catherine Mayfair - 2020
    The man is boastful, rude and devilishly handsome. Worst of all, he has stolen a kiss that causes Mary to desire more.Lord Anthony Greyson knows the rumors concerning him and his rakish ways and cares not. He has spirited many women to his bed, and his eye is now on Mary. Wooing the innocent woman with a kiss, he has no doubt he will soon add her to his list of conquests, and he is certain she will not have the strength to resist.Upon learning of several unsavory rumors, Mary is tasked to spy on Anthony, and she readily agrees. Doing so will prove she is more than a pretty thing for others to admire. More importantly, she will be able to prove to herself she can resist the rake’s charms.Anthony soon becomes enchanted with the secretive woman and desires to know more about her and what she is hiding…And for Mary, she begins to wonder if Anthony is the cruel man about whom the ton whispers. Or is he the gentleman she secretly wishes him to be?

The Marquess' Temptation


Jessie Bennett - 2016
    A naive maid waiting to be loved. A temptation hard to resist. Secrets to hide or regrets for life. Lord William is a rebellious man that defies all including his wife, but that doesn’t stop him from romancing the ton. His brother is faced with the impossible—admit to a dalliance he didn’t have, or risk shaming is younger brother. Lord Fairfield, William David Montgomery only choice—or so he assumes—is to use another man’s name in order to philander freely at society’s functions. However, the name he uses is the worst imaginable: his own older brother’s name. Lord Abraham Montgomery is also a happily married man, the firstborn son of the Duke of Fairfield and standing to inherit his father’s title. If his brother’s escapades continue though, he will be forced to give up everything, as the scandal will ruin the family name forever. He must choose between loyalty and doing the right thing, especially when a young woman in the household is found to be with a Montgomery child. Abigail is just a simple maid, working hard in a place where she is cherished, and sought after by the young and brash William. The handsome and charming young man manages to seduce her, but she believes that he’s his older brother, the heir to the family name. Will Lord William stop to his roaming ways and mend things with his pretty wife before it’s too late to salvage the Montgomery name? How will Lord Abraham get out of his predicament without sullying his own name—and that of his beloved father? This is a clean historical regency romance novel.

House of Catesby - The Complete Collection


Sunny Brooks
    On the day of his death, in the blink of an eye, the lives of one woman and her six grown children changed irrevocably. The matriarch Countess Margaret Lilias Catesby was now a dowager countess; her strength and maternal duty the sole driving force pushing herself through the grief. Each of the Catesby children are left to carry on their father’s legacy, shown physically through their father’s green eyes and spiritually through his impassioned attitude for living. Eldest son Francis had barely a day to cope with his father’s death before the title of Lord Catesby was immediately thrust upon him. With Francis assuming ownership of the estate and his five siblings left to sort out the pieces, each must now find a way to navigate the world without their dear father’s guidance. Will siblings Francis, Emily, Helena, Sophia and the twins, Charles and Henry, be able to move forward into society and proudly carry on the Catesby name? There’s only one way to find out…---Book 1: ”Lady Emily’s Escape”Book 2: ”Charles and the Intruder”Book 3: ”The Mysterious Lord Livingstone”Book 4: ” Lady Sophie and the Proper Gardener”Book 5: ” Mr. Henry Catesby and the Rebellious Redhead”Book 6: ” Dilemma of the Earl's Heart”EXCLUSIVE BONUS! Book 7:” The Scandalous Dowager Countess”

Immigrant Bride


Jean Dunstan - 2021
    Devastated, Sophia, a naïve farm girl, is forced to marry a young man named Domenic and leave for the United States. As part of a large Italian exodus heading to the United States looking for a better life, Sophia must adjust to being in a strange country and build a life as a young immigrant bride in New York City. Can Sophia overcome her fears and learn to build a life for herself and the ones she loves when fate steps in and steals her happiness away once more? And will she be strong enough to move forward when destiny hands her a new adventure?

The Duke's Return and the Lady's Rebuttal


Charlotte Darcy - 2017
    The Duke of Millington will lose everything unless he marries. Both will only marry for Love. Benedict Astor, the Duke of Millington has returned from 6 years of war only to find his father dead and his title and land soon to be given to another. He has but a few months to find a wife if he wishes to keep his home and his title. Only Benedict would only marry for love. Can he now give up on his principles and marry for duty? Juliet Morgan is nursing her dying father knowing that on his death she will lose her home. The property is entailed to her cousin and he is a man she does not know. When her solicitor suggests that she marry the Duke of Millington she is insulted and reacts with anger. How dare this man presume that she is desperate? Benedict is knocked form his horse one day by a daring woman taking a hedge too quickly, when he finds out it is Juliet he is suddenly interested. Not only did she have the courage to turn him down but she is beautiful, intelligent and of strong character. Everything he wants in a woman. While his own sister plots and schemes for him to lose his inheritance all he can think of is Juliet but she will not accept even the smallest word from him. In despair, Benedict decides he must marry a title hunter or lose all he has. Yet there is trouble for Juliet, her cousin has decided she will be his. Can Benedict come to terms with giving up on his principle or will he walk away from his home? Will Juliet lose all, even her freedom?