She oohed and aahed over gowns from Courtauld’s, never wore black unless in mourning, always minded her social graces, and never,  ever  indulged her inner bluestocking. Now her world has come crashing down like a thousands shards of glass. Her father is a dastard, her mother blames her for taking his side. (Rightly so, considering what Lexie has learned.) She’s home alone for the holidays, all alone, no siblings, no friends, and not a shred of pride remaining. But that’s all well and good, so far as Alexandra is concerned, because everything she thought she knew was wrong. Her best friend, Claire Wentworth had it right all along, and the Universe had seen fit to reward Claire with, of all things, a crown (quite literally). However, while Lexie once aspired to the same, she has changed. When she’s unexpectedly invited to celebrate one last holiday with her best friend, she can’t accept quickly enough… only how did one comport oneself after everything that was said and done?Benjamin W. Wentworth III, the seventh Earl of Highbury, has been through his own travails. He nearly drove his family to ruin, and now, after spending weeks in debtor’s prison because of Alexandra's father, and coming shockingly close to losing his life and endangering his sweet sister, he realizes that all that glitters is simply not gold. The last thing he desires is to saddle himself with a woman like Alexandra Huntington, with whom he once shared a passion for the Season. Now, he’d rather choke himself with a silk cravat than endure an instant with someone so vain, so self-indulgent, so giddy and witless. He only wishes his sister would leave off with the holiday matchmaking—must’t she realize how much he has changed?  When Lexie arrives to celebrate one final Christmas before his sister leaves for Meridian, it is all he can do to avoid the empty-headed chit. Unfortunately, his sister and her friends have festooned the entire house with mistletoe, and to make matters worse, Lexie is proving to be someone else entirely, and he’s about to remember the art of kissing beneath the mistletoe.

    Thanks to an impulsive request from Elizabeth Ann Everett, the Everett family from Omaha, Nebraska, become tourists on a vacation in newly created Yellowstone National Park. The year is 1877 and the weather is fine, . When the Nez Perce, fleeing the U.S. Army, charge into a tourist camp, pampered, wealthy Elizabeth Everett gets more than she bargains for. So do the Nez Perce.

     Gervaise Belmont, Viscount Woodridge, has sworn to no longer gamble – but giving it up is proving far harder than he had expected. He despairs of achieving his aims, especially as the reputation he created, two years earlier, persists, destroying his opportunities for change. Until a chance meeting with a young lady gives him a reason to hope. Miss Clarisse Weston is disconsolate. Her father has, after many, many years, married again – and her relationship with her stepmother is strained, to say the least. When she is encouraged to look for a husband, she feels trapped. Whilst her father has introduced her to a charming Earl, she finds herself uncertain – especially as the Viscount she met by accident wishes to court her too. But all is not as it seems, and a tangle of lies, deceptions and betrayals soon traps Clarisse. Is the Earl all that he seems? Is the Viscount truly a rake and a gambler beyond redemption? Is her stepmother as concerned for Clarisse’s wellbeing as she professes to be? And can Clarisse find her way through the web of deceit, to be with the man she loves, or will greed and manipulation steal her chance at happiness forever?

     The two families’ have been in a feud all her life though she has never thought to question why. It just is. More than anything she wants to win The Wakefield Chase. Only her best horse is nervous on the track. At each race meeting Elliot beats her and his attitude is insufferable. When the old Duke dies and Elliot becomes the new Duke of Shawcross his father tries to explain and end the long running feud. Only he left it too late and died before he could finish. On the reading of the will Elliot is told that he must marry Serena or lose his wealth. Suddenly he starts to see his spirited rival in a different light. As he uncovers the mysteries of the past the frivolities of the present are no longer so important. Can he overcome Serena's mistrust? When Elliot finds out another secret the old rivalry takes on a different meaning and more than just his own future is in jeopardy. Will he do the right thing or will an age old misunderstanding bring down two great families’? Find out if love can conquer distrust in this sweet and wholesome romance by bestselling author Charlotte Darcy.

    Chance brings him to Naples—where it's also raining. But the rain clears, and as he discovers the city, a pleasant young English governess rescues him from an altercation with a flirtatious girl and her protective family.Miss Elizabeth Walker is between jobs and taking a holiday in Naples when she meets the quiet, handsome Englishman. When he proposes that she act as his guide for the next few days, she accepts, because they enjoy each other's company. Elizabeth matter-of-factly recognizes that, of course, she'll fall quietly in love with him, and nothing will come of it, but she'll have some lovely memories to cherish in her old age. ...and finding a second chance at love... As they come to know each other better, Randolph starts thinking thoughts of forever, but that seems impossible—until fate takes an alarming hand.Author's Note: The hero of Sunshine for Christmas was a secondary character in my RITA winning novel, The Rake . A foolish youthful mistake had cost him the woman he loved. But doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?Originally published in the Christmas Revels anthology

    

    She’s got a fiancé, after all, who never bothered to come collect his bride. So when she decided to travel to England to track the rogue down, Fiona won’t be distracted by the rake, Thomas Mayweather. She’s dealt with rakes enough to last her a lifetime. The only problem is that he’s so handsome, he’s difficult to ignore and then his kisses? Well they make her wonder if rakes aren’t worth the trouble after all.He never intended to marry…Thomas Mayweather is a successful wool merchant which means he’s met his fair share of beautiful ladies. Many of which have wished to share his bed and then wash off the stench of the merchant class. He’s no appetite for another affair with a woman who’s set to be the wife of an earl. But one accidental kiss and he’s smitten. He had no desire to marry but he can’t deny that the innocent Fiona might be the most tempting woman of them all.

    She decides marrying a biddable groom is the only way to salvage her future and chooses her old friend, astronomer Henry Killam. But she soon realizes Henry isn’t quite as manageable as she first believed and her feelings for him are stronger than she ever imagined.A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth EssexMiss Tamsin Lesley desires above all else to be a bluestocking and lead an intellectual life. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s heir, who wants her along with her father’s estate. To foil him, Tamsin enlists the services of masculine wallflower Simon Cathcart to ruin her. But the road to ruination leads to far more pleasurable places than Tamsin could ever imagine, and her charming wallflower proves to have secrets of his own.

    Holy cow! The more I read of it, I’m literally blown away. Because my great (like quadrupled or something) grandmother and I have more in common than I ever could have imagined… It’s uncanny…MILTON COTTAGE, ENGLAND, 1828Mrs. Naomi Gilcrest believes her life is settled. She has a husband, a home. She is happily awaiting her husband to return from battle and after that, the birth of their first child. Until a late autumn visit from her husband’s commander shatters everything.Lord Major Lucas Cockfield solemnly travels to Arthur Gilcrest’s house to deliver the news, to honor one of his soldiers. He does not intend to stay more than a day, let alone a week, or a month, but when he meets Naomi, he finds it impossible to walk away.The timing is all wrong. The circumstances are unacceptable. But life is short and when secrets are revealed, the obstacles begin to fall away. Until the shadow of another man returns. Will he cast darkness on their love before it has the chance to blossom? Or will Lucas and Naomi beat unsurmountable odds and reclaim the love that fate tried to deny?

    She’s fancy high heels to his scuffed construction boots and soft pop to his hard rock, yet there’s an attraction that neither can deny. But he also recognizes a woman who wants forever, so he’s determined to keep his hands off until Gemma suggests one way to manage their combustible chemistry…a fling!Experience has taught Gemma to distrust commitment no matter how much she might desire it, so she’s on a guy hiatus when a handsome, sexy mountain of a man takes notice of her. All those muscles might be too hot to handle, but she finds herself compelled to give it a try…while still holding her heart safe. For as long as she can, that is…ALL IN is book one in the 7 Stud Club series and is a STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.

    For the men of Hawkeye, the line of duty between bodyguard and client isn’t meant to be crossed.He was supposed to protect her, not risk both of their hearts.Hawkeye Commander Garrett Young has an impossible assignment: protect heiress Charlotte Connelly—without letting the stunning beauty know he’s her bodyguard. Since she’s stubbornly refused protection, he can’t reveal why he’s romancing her on her secluded ranch hideaway.After her fiancé’s crushing betrayal on the eve of their wedding, Charlotte is determined not to trust a man again. She’s definitely not interested in another relationship. But when she meets devastatingly handsome Garrett, his mysterious, powerfully alpha ways melt her resolve.Charlotte soon finds herself opening the heart she swore was shattered, and she’s falling hard. Then Garrett’s dizzying web of lies crashes down, leaving her raw and hurt and unable to believe anything he says. But when her life is on the line, can Garett convince Charlotte that he truly loves her before it’s too late?

    As bad luck would have it though, the orphaned young woman lives with her aunt and uncle who absolutely detest this natural way of living. Thankfully, Ellie still has her precious refuge to hide away in, the cottage that she lived in with her beloved parents before they passed away. Her happiness is even further challenged, when her aunt threatens her with an unwanted marriage that puts her own dreams in jeopardy. Yet, in an unexpected twist of faith, a mysterious and handsome man appears, making Ellie wonder if she can still hold on to hope and know true love. Will Ellie escape the grim future her aunt has planned for her and claim the man her heart had always waited for?Lord Jonathan Cornwall, the Third Duke of Danby, can hardly bear to be pestered by his overbearing mother who is desperate to see him married. Out of sheer desperation, he frequently rides out in the woods, in an effort to find his much needed inner peace. While riding in his most casual clothes, Jonathan stumbles one day upon a dreamy cottage and a charming young woman. As he gets to know the spirited Ellie, he holds onto the secret of his identity, worried that she would not accept his companionship if she knew the truth. As his profound feelings for her deepen into sparkling love, he knows that he has to tell her the truth. Will he manage to redeem himself for all the lies and win Ellie’s trust about them being a match made in heaven?Right when the two soulmates discover an everlasting connection between them, they have to face the heartbreaking reality that everyone else is against them. From Ellie’s aunt who has arranged another match, to Jonathan’s mother who insists that he must only marry for wealth and status, no ally seems to be in sight. Torn between their growing love and the hopelessness around them, they soon realise not only the lack of support, but also the sheer adversity on every side. Will the depth of their romance manage to overcome the endless obstacles and guide them towards their happily ever after? Or will they find themselves lost in the wilderness of the threatening shadows, away from the final destination of eternal love?"The Duke's Blooming Love" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

    When Eliza sets foot in the Scottish lord’s carriage, she faces the most dangerous foe a woman can face: a charming rogue. The danger is not only to her heart, however, but to her life, as well. In an effort to deny her son’s illegitimate children, Alistair’s stepmother insists on a dour governess who will break their rebellious spirits. Alistair, however, decides that the pretty lass with a colorful French vocabulary who shows up in his stepmother’s drawing room is exactly what the children need. If the notion offends his stepmother, all the better. If the lass is what he needs…well, a man can’t ask for more. His stepmother doesn’t intend for Alistair to open his heart to her grandchildren, or the woman who cares for them. Her plans include forcing them onto the streets.

    All but one of them are left penniless and about to lose their homes, and all of them are too shocked to grieve.Finding out they'd been deceived was bad enough, but coming face to face with each other at the funeral home wasn't quite what they'd expected. Before the day was over, the first wife--the only legal one--made them an offer they couldn't refuse...From Sharon Sala, a winner of numerous honors including the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, this is a poignant, funny story of four women wrestling with betrayal, grief, and anger--and finding hope for the future in their unexpected friendship.Praise for Sharon Sala's novels: "A well-written, fast-paced ride." --Publishers Weekly"There are not many authors who can write a story with such depth and emotion." --RT Book Reviews

     Kate decides to become a governess and she and her sisters are delighted when she is hired by the Duke of Chelmsford, who agrees to let the Sawyer sisters live on the estate. But the Duke has his own motives for his decision. When he tries to force himself upon her younger sister, Kate threatens to kill him. Two days later, the Duke is dead and his grandmother wants a quick trial and hanging, with Catherine on the end of the rope. But the new Duke, Marcus Creighton, the black sheep of the family, is unconvinced that the lovely, gentle governess is a murderess and he’s determined to solve the murder and save Catherine from the gallows. As he delves deeper into past family secrets, his efforts to save the woman he has fallen in love with puts his own life in danger.