Book picks similar to
A Noble Deception by Sara Blayne


romance
regency
historical-fiction
paperback-collection

Courting Trouble


Margaret Brownley - 2014
    This is one of those stories . . .He's a wild-West attorney and she's his beautiful client. Could she really be guilty of murder?Attorney Brock Daniels meets Grace Davenport in the least romantic setting he could imagine: the town jail. And yet her beauty and kindness capture his heart almost from the start.But Grace is facing a tough jury in this rough-and-tumble town. And the charges don't look good given her track record. This last one makes her a widow three times over, with each of her dead husbands worse than the last. Geoffrey ate poisoned mushrooms, Harry was so drunk he got thrown by a horse, and Billy Joe went missing after Grace chased him down and gave him what for at the saloon where he'd gambled away all their food money.Still, Brock is a skilled attorney. And Grace's son Jesse is determined to prove her innocence through researching case law at Brock's side until his mom is freed. In the end, Brock may be meeting Grace in front of a judge for an altogether more celebratory occasion . . . as soon as she's cleared.A delightfully romantic tale. --Maggie Brendan, author of The Jewel of His Heart (on And Then Came Spring in A Bride for All Seasons)"Brownleyhas a way with words that keeps the reader interested until the last page." --Romantic Times

The Unexpected Earl


Philippa Jane Keyworth - 2012
    With her heart still hurting and, more importantly, her pride, Julia must chaperone her younger sister, fend off fortune hunters, orchestrate a fake engagement, and halt an elopement--all whilst keeping the man who jilted her at arm's length. But what Julia doesn't know is that this time, the Earl has no intention of disappearing, and this time, he has more than an explanation to offer....

The Earl's Choice


Tania D. Shaw - 2014
    Her older brother is missing in revolution torn France, and her stepfather has agreed her marriage to a notorious rake and gamester of his acquaintance. A plea to her mother has no other effect than to cause that much tried woman a bad case of the vapours. Since Kitty knows from bitter experience that Lady Veris is unlikely to leave her rooms, much less recover before the planned date of the wedding, she decides on drastic measures. With no more than a bandbox and her maid, she runs to her godfather, her last hope in avoiding a future even worse than her present. The Earl of Layne has decided to escape the tedium of the London marriage mart to spend a few weeks at his estate in Cornwall. His aunt has again demanded that he marry, as is his duty, and kindly circled the most eligible ladies named on her shortlist. Considering the amount of time that was spent in compiling this list, not to mention carefully observing the virtues of each candidate, it is likely the earl’s aunt would have suffered an apoplexy if she’d seen it discarded to the fire after no more than a cursory glance, sharply raised eyebrows, and an indistinctly muttered, “Oh really, no, no, no!” So when Kitty’s godfather approaches the earl with a new candidate for his consideration, Layne decides he may as well meet the girl, as surely she can’t be any worse than his aunt’s selected ladies. And there starts an eighteenth century romp of romance and intrigue.

Lord Love a Duke


Renée Reynolds - 2013
    He hastily organizes a house party with a guest list that includes a wide-range of potential suitors, but unfortunately for the duke, his sister, Lady Miranda, has no desire to enter a union yet. Instead, her agenda for the dreaded party calls for the help of her closest friend, Lady Juliet Quinn, to thwart and confound her brother's plans by orchestrating a series of pranks meant to humiliate and confound him . . . if only he would cooperate and be the victim.Someone at the house party is in a marriage-minded way, despite his best intentions otherwise: the duke himself. He has secretly admired Lady Juliet for several years now, but she is off limits in many ways; not only is she friend to Miranda, she is also the sister of his close friend, Charles Quinn, Earl of Bristol. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is the tiny problem that Lady Juliet has vowed to avoid marriage, wanting no part of the typical unions of their set based on convenience, money, or titles and lands.With nothing at the party going according to anyone's carefully laid plans, and most of the guests participating in their own plots and schemes, the final prank yields even more surprises. Whatever is a duke to do?Lord Love a Duke is the first book in the Regency-based Lords of Oxford series, stories about the lives and loves of a group of five peers of the realm who met at university and formed a fast and lasting friendship.

The Christmas Ruse


Jennie Goutet - 2019
    Her dear friend, Miss Lavinia Dresden, has also come to stay. Nicholas is on his guard, but it’s hard to resist Miss Dresden’s luminous eyes—or her need for a savior. Lavinia Dresden is prepared to sacrifice her future happiness. Her father has arranged her betrothal to a wealthy but notorious baron to save himself from ruinous debt. Lavinia knows her fate will be sealed at the Cothill Christmas ball, but she never considered the cost of her sacrifice until the dashing Lord Cranleigh came into her life. With only five days remaining until Christmas, the question is not whether Nicholas wants to save Miss Dresden—but whether he is able.

The Diabolical Baron


Mary Jo Putney - 1987
    What he wanted, he got, and now what he wanted was to win a wager that he could make Miss Caroline Hanscombe his bride, after her name was drawn out of a hat.True, Caroline was an innocent compared to the baron. True, the ruling passion of her life was music, to which the baron turned a deaf ear. True, she found a perfect soul mate in the gallant Captain Richard Davenport, home from the wars and laying siege to her heart.But how could this chit of a girl defy the desires of this lord who so easily defeated her every defense as the day of her dreaded marriage came ever closer -- and her hopes of escape evaporated one by one...

A Garden Folly


Candice Hern - 1997
    Though courted by a wealthy earl, Catherine Forsythe finds herself falling for the handsome estate gardener and faced with the choice of marrying for money and security, or following her heart.

An Unacceptable Offer


Mary Balogh - 1988
    Michael Templeton, Viscount Fairfax, the handsomest lord in the realm and the catch of the London marriage mart, was actually proposing to her and not to her exquisitely beautiful cousin Honor Jamieson. Jane could believe her own response even less. Despite the viscount's looks, his wealth, his charm, his absolute perfection, and despite the fact that Jane madly loved him, she heard herself saying "No."Now would she be able to withstand his determined pursuit?

Bella's Band


Alina K. Field - 2014
    His brother’s murder has forced Steven into a new and completely unwanted role, and worse, he has no idea how to salvage his family’s depleted estate. A rumor that his brother had a son by a woman who may be a) the murderer, and b) his brother’s secret wife, sets Steven on a mission to find her, the boy, and—Steven ardently hopes—the proof of a marriage that will set him free. Confirmed spinster Annabelle Harris is a country heiress with a penchant for taking in orphans and helping the downtrodden. Her philanthropy hides her desperate search for her disgraced sister, the mistress to the Earl of Hackwell. When the Earl is murdered, her sister thrusts her child into Annabelle’s care and disappears. Now, with suspicion pointing at the sister, Annabelle has begun a new quest, to find the woman, and clear her name. When their paths converge, the reluctant Earl and the independent spinster find themselves rethinking their goals, and battling the real murderer together.

Discreet Madness


Sahara Kelly - 2015
    Each chooses to travel a different path; one that leads them toward an unexpected destiny and a lover who can match their strengths with his passion. Four Regency gentlemen of varying reputations; unattached and uninterested in meeting women who will turn their worlds upside down. Or so they believed. None realize that Fate has a surprise in store for each of them… And oh my goodness!!! The resulting collisions are funny, joyful and explosively sensual…shaking up the Regency in the most delightful of ways.

A Treasure Brought by Fate


Lorelei Brogan - 2019
    But when her sister dies tragically in a dreadful accident, she has to go west and pick up her nephew, the only survivor. And even though her plan for inexplicable reasons is to avoid being in close contact with him, she will find herself moved by the sheriff asking her to reconsider and let the boy stay with him instead. Soon enough Lyla will become confused by her conflicting emotions, but will she find the courage to face secrets from the past and eventually follow her heart? James, the local sheriff of Wheatberry, has forgotten what happiness means since his wife died in an unexpected manner. But when he suddenly witnesses a horrifying accident, he is quick to run to an orphaned little boy’s aid. All the more, what he would never expect is that he would end up loving and becoming attached to him. When the boy’s aunt - a beautiful troubled woman - arrives in town, he will do his best to convince her to let him raise the child. Will he succeed in changing her mind and finally creating the loving family he never had the chance to make?Just when Lyla and James come closer and start trusting and loving each other more and more, ghosts from their past will arrive to haunt them... Will this dreadful situation tear the couple apart? How much are the heroes willing to sacrifice so as not to give up on each other?

The Byram Succession: A Regency Romance


Mira Stables - 1978
     Albertine 'Tina' Newton knows her worth. The most beautiful girl of the Season, she knew she was born to grace a nobler establishment. And she has her sights set on the perfect husband: Lord Skirlaugh, the heir to the Duke of Byram. Scarred, disillusioned, and cynical, Skirlaugh must nonetheless marry to ensure the succession. He neither expected nor desired love; just a well-bred conformable wife with a reasonable dowry. Tina is certain that there is no one to outshine her. But when her cousin Thea inherits a fortune, she also becomes a contender for Skirlaugh's attention. Then, after meeting on a roadside when both stopped to aid a young man with a badly injured horse, it seems that Thea and Skirlaugh have more potential than Tina thinks... But which aspiring débutante will please his critical taste? Mira Stables is the author of many historical fiction novels, including The Swynden Necklace and Golden Barrier.

Lawfully Courted


Laura Beers - 2019
    many secrets. But when they are unexpectedly attacked, she must fight her way to the only man her father says she can trust… Lord Harington. Edwin, the Earl of Harington, is one of the best spies the Crown has. When his partner’s infuriating daughter shows up injured on his doorstep, he's forced to ensure her protection while he searches for Lord Rawlings. As Marianne stumbles into his world of espionage, Edwin struggles with his growing attraction towards her, while still maintaining his own secrets. As traitors are revealed, can they learn to trust each other before it's too late?

Wicked Love: Seven Wicked Historical Love Stories


Christina McKnight - 2017
    As the illegitimate daughter of London's disreputable Craven House Madame, Miss Samantha Pengarden has never had to face society alone--until now. When Samantha is named Elijah's mistress in White's betting book, her reputation is in ruins--and only Elijah can save her.Surrendering to My Spy by Dawn BrowerA rogue, a marquess and a spy... Each an integral part of Dominic Rossington's life and he does them all rather well. Love throws him off balance and he'll do everything in his power to protect the one who holds his heart, Lady Rosanna. Danger lurks on the horizon and he'll have to put it all on the line to save her.Scandalous Redemption by Amanda MarielCan two wary people overcome past hurts, an old scandal, and social strictures to embrace true love?For The Love of A Viscount by Callie HuttonBluestocking Lady Elise Smith and content bachelor Lord St. George made a pact to thwart Lady Elise's father's plans for her to marry. What they don't understand is a pretend courtship can only if work if you don't fall in love . . .Beauty and the Rake by Erica MonroePolice inspector Michael Strickland sees the beauty inside Abigail Vautille, not the scarred beast she believes herself to be--and he'll do anything to protect her from the blackguard who left her disfigured.Wicked Designs by Lauren SmithEmily, a rebellious debutante, is kidnapped by a devilish duke and his infamous league of rogues as part of a revenge plan, but Emily gives the duke more than he's bargained for.Mad About the Marquess by Elizabeth EssexLady Quince Winthrop has been robbing from society's rich and giving to the poor for years--but when the Marquess of Cairn returns to Edinburgh, Quince discovers love is even harder to resist than temptation.

Tessa's Touch


Brenda Hiatt - 2004
    and touched his heart. Tessa Seaton has a special gift with horses; with a word and a touch, she can tame and train even the most unbroken and unmannerly of beasts. But when handsome Lord Anthony Northrup gallops into her life, she finds herself faced with a far greater challenge than any horse ever posed.Anthony first assumes Tessa is helping her unscrupulous uncle to sell half-broken horses to unsuspecting gentlemen, but as he comes to know her, he realizes she is motivated by love —for her crippled father and for the horses she trains. Charmed by her spirit and independence, Anthony determines to free her from the trap her uncle has woven so he that can claim her for himself.Tessa’s Touch is loosely linked to my “Saint of Seven Dials” series, featuring some of the characters you may have met in those four books, though not technically a part of that series. It was originally published under the title Taming Tessa.