What happens when Lady Amanda Gascoigne-Lake's father rejects the sailor's suit, and an ancient brooch with mystical power portends doom?

    Special presents are wrapped beneath the tree, mistletoe is hung, the smell of cookies is in the air, but what if you don't have someone special to share it all with?Will the magic of Christmas reach these characters? Or will they end up being a bunch of lonely grinches?Three up-and-coming young adult authors share their Christmas stories about hope and joy during the holiday season.Contents:Dirty Santa, by Kayla Tirrell.The Christ Redeemer Christmas Spectacular, by Daphne James Huff.The Night Sale, by M.F. Lorson.

    He discovers on his arrival that Lady Jane Thornton—his longtime friend from a neighboring estate to his parents’ home—is also in attendance. Since he has not seen her for two years, he is pleasantly surprised to find that she is all grown up, and he is more than happy with the result. Lady Jane Anne Thornton is also pleased at seeing her friend, Matt. Occasionally allowed to tag along with him and her older brother, Robbie, Janie has long held a tendre for Matt. And it’s not just because she saw him and her brother swimming at the hidden falls. Will their friendship turn into love? Will they be able to overcome the obstacle of a rival for Matt’s affections? And will Janie even survive the house party?

    A decade earlier, he fled to Egypt, seeking fame and fortune as an African adventurer. But his brother, the Earl of Milton, has died, and Jackson has been named guardian to the man’s young son. He’s chafing at the designation. He doesn’t want to assist his bumbling nephew, doesn’t want to deal with his scheming sister-in-law or domineering mother. Yet he can’t resist their incessant pull. When beautiful, alluring Grace Bennett arrives unexpectedly at Milton Abbey, she has a young boy with her who she claims is her ward. She tells a fantastical tale about Jackson’s brother. It’s the story of a secret wedding. Of a secret love child finally brought home where he belongs. Of one boy who isn’t the earl and one boy who is. Against his will, Jackson is attracted to Grace, and because he wants her so desperately, he can’t decide what is real, what is true. As their worlds collide and their ardor ignites, Jackson must separate fact from fiction, must learn the truth about Grace, despite where it might lead him. Enmeshed in a risky and clandestine affair, his passion for her grows, but so does the danger from those who would keep them apart.

     But Cait Grant is hardly dreaming of wedded bliss. For political reasons, she must marry Adam Cameron, laird of Bonniebroch. And then, as a duty to her clan, she must murder him... If only her new husband weren't so devilishly handsome. If only she didn't have to play the loving wife for one long, languorous month. If only she didn't surrender to his softly sensual touch, she would be able to fulfill her duty. If only she didn't fall in love...

    Her incredible beauty has engaged the attention of a lunatic admirer who sends her obsessive and threatening letters. After expressing their admiration for her, all her suitors are found dead. Amy is terrified for the safety of everyone around her, as well as for her own life. Her only hope to escape from this miserable situation is her childhood friend, Lord Daniel Nottage, the handsome Earl of Derby. Having lost his fiancée, he is determined to unravel Amy’s psychotic follower and keep her from harm. Daniel soon realizes that he is putting himself in grave danger since he’s falling desperately in love with Amy… Will he be able to discover the inconceivable truth and save both his and Amy’s life? *If you like seductive Earls, Dukes and Barons with a soft heart, and romantic stories depicting the romantic Regency Era, then The Earl’s Dangerous Passion is the perfect novel for you. Dive into the epic world of the Regency Era Ladies, Governesses, and Bluestockings while Ella takes you on a suspenseful journey full of passion and true love! "The Earl’s Dangerous Passion" is a Historical Regency romance novel of more than 80,000 words (around 440 pages). STANDALONE, no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

     When her father confides in her that he is not altogether well and, therefore, wishes each of his daughters to marry very soon, Amelia responds with her usual gravitas, knowing she must be the first one to find herself a suitable husband. Unfortunately, the one man Amelia finds herself drawn to, while dashingly handsome, is also arrogant and distant with a seemingly less than perfect reputation. However, no matter how hard she tries, she simply cannot stop her growing affections for Lord Northfell, even though he constantly confuses her. And somehow she cannot help the feeling that he is keeping something from her. Love grows yet whispered secrets threaten to separate them. A scheming cousin, blackmail and family responsibilities push Amelia into a spiral of confusion and a sense of betrayal. When all is finally revealed, she must decide what to do with the man who holds her heart – and choose whether love can forget the sins and mistakes of the past. Will Arthur and Amelia overcome their initial differences and reach out to help each other? Or will all their similarly-proud natures lead them to ruin? A story of conflict, courage and passion set in the ultra-sophisticated and unpredictable world of Regency London. “A Rogue for a Lady” is a work of historical romance fiction. It is the first book of a series of standalone romances set in Regency era London involving the Duke of Seaworth’s daughters. Every book is a guaranteed HEA and there are no cliffhangers.

    Marry the desperate Louisa Evans, saving her and her siblings from ruin, and produce an heir. But when he proposes, Nicholas doesn’t tell her the real reason they must wed so quickly.They are married when Louisa learns the Marquess doesn’t intend to father his future heir himself. Drawn to her new husband in a way she never expected, Louisa has no intention of agreeing to his scandalous proposition. Instead, she shows him that what is developing between them goes far beyond a typical marriage of convenience.Nicholas never imagined he would fall in love with Louisa. Despite the distance he tries to put between them, one thing soon becomes clear—he will never allow another man to touch her. Even if it dooms his family’s future.

     Three ladies share a temporary seaside residence in Brighton to escape the London season's gossip and matchmaking. These women are most assuredly not looking for flirtation--much less love--and they would all agree that dukes are a perishing lot of bother anyway. Fortunately for our heroines, three fellows who are not dukes come waltzing by with much more than casual flirtation in mind...

    At least that is what Lady Lily Ducat's mother continually said. As far as Lily could tell, she was correct. His Grace had a devilish air about him and a brooding silence that no debutante should attempt to tame and certainly not grow an affection for. He was too much man and beyond redemption. Except once they are tossed together after a winter storm, she is dangerously close to declaring her love, because in the dark of night, he was all Lily could see.Maximillian Masters learned long ago to stay far away from dewy eyed maidens. He was too cynical, too experienced, and much too adverse to marriage for such a lady. Which is why he must never see the lovely Lily again, no matter what some ridiculous gypsy predicted. Except, when he is stranded and at the mercy of winter, Lily is there, and the more he sees her, the harder it is to deny temptation.

    She thinks she has escaped undetected, but danger follows her. Lord Rivton is in search of a spy and must investigate Bethany’s family, his closest neighbor. Both at cross purposes, the sparks fly, and when he rescues her, he places her in a compromising position. They marry as expected, but their road is not smooth. She is still in mortal danger. He must find and capture the killer/spy while trying to save his wife. A tattered string weaves together this tale of murder, abduction, and espionage.

    She is far from taken with the baron, however, especially once she meets Niall Doherty, the impoverished, perceptive tutor to her host’s younger brothers. He shares her love of Irish fairy tales and seems to guard a troubled past…but neither quality will earn Caroline’s father’s approval.

    He is weary, cynical, and very bored. Known as the worst rake in England, he finds he has no interest in upholding that distinction, when his friend, the Marquis of Somerset, proposes a bet: "Five thousand guineas says that seducing Miss Elise Edwards will cure your ennui." Because his friend has just lost a packet to him, he agrees that the bet be posted in White's famous Betting Book.The following day, while walking in Green Park, he spies a mysterious young woman, veiled, and obviously grieving. A disembodied voice, sounding strangely like that of his late adjutant, informs him, "The jig is up. That is the girl you are going to marry!" He scoffs, but is nevertheless intrigued by something about the slight figure. He even sketches her and asks if he can be of assistance to her. She declines his offer kindly.At the opera that evening, he is captivated by a beauty across the Opera Hall. He hears the same voice, saying the same thing. The marquis informs him that the woman in question is Miss Elise Edwards. When he meets her, he recognizes her voice as that of the woman in the park. Now she is surrounded by a surfeit of ex-fiance's, one of them dangerously unbalanced. Ruisdell discovers an actual bond between them which renders him honor bound to protect her.Thus begins a train of unstoppable events--dangerous, humorous, devilish, and amorous--that carry his life along at such a pace that the duke soon knows not whether he is on his head or his heels. And then there is that bet . . .

    Add Scotland, an ace up a noble sleeve and a runaway card sharp and let the chase begin! Desperate for funds to protect her sister, Cassandra Marston wagers a kiss in a card game with incorrigible rake Lucien Hollier, Lord Graceton. Her plan to use him costs her far more than a kiss. When she and the handsome lord play their second game, she wins every hand and flees into the night with Luciens's money, regretting she will see him no more. Lucien races after her, only to find her alone and injured in her family's fallen coach. When she dares to feign amnesia, it's one bluff he's delighted to call. No matter what he must do, he will prove she's a cheat.

    When she meets Lord Daniel Ramsey, a notorious rake, she decides on the former course of action.Daniel has been given an ultimatum, marry before his father dies or lose the majority of his inheritance money. Rebecca seems the perfect candidate, especially once rumours about her start to circulate in the drawing rooms of Mayfair.When Newthorpe is found dead on the morning of their wedding, the people around them find themselves suspects in the case. Who murdered Newthorpe and can Rebecca ever get over what he did to her?