Book picks similar to
Melting a Duke's Winter Heart by Abby Ayles
historical-romance
regency
romance
freebie
The Scandalous Secret of the Tempting Duchess
Scarlett Osborne - 2019
With no prospects on the horizon, she has devoted herself to her family’s happiness instead of her own. But even though deemed utterly unmarriageable, her life changes when she meets the most unattainable gentleman in town. Timothy Wilson, Duke of Brentminster, is every lady’s dream. Betrothed to a lady he doesn't love and trapped in a life he hasn’t chosen, he finally finds happiness in the eyes of the town’s most gossiped-about spinster. Craving to court her, he is willing to give up everything for her. Until he accidentally unveils her well-kept secret...one that isn't just hers and can destroy the person she loves the most. When the father of her child suddenly shows up, Matilda must make a choice: sacrifice her family or forever crave a man she can’t have.
A Lord's Bet of Desire
Meghan Sloan - 2020
While working at the house of Norman Pembroke, the Duke of Bancroft, she has always dreamt of advancing her life from a humble maid to that of a governess. Despite knowing that this opportunity may never appear, her love for reading is enough to keep the dream alive. But little did she know that fate would bring an unforeseen twist that would make this dream a tangible reality... When Edward, the endearingly attractive brother of the Duke, comes to visit, the last thing she expected was to end up under his roof and away from the only place she's ever known. Laura will inevitably find herself seduced by his ravishing beauty, but will she allow herself to finally surrender to her burning desire for him?Edward Pembroke has always been the opposite of his brother. Being warm and dutiful himself, he was against his brother's love for gambling that was dwindling the Pembroke fortune every day. When he finally decides to confront him about his wayward habit, they both end up engaging in a fateful night of gambling, and Edward wins the prize of taking anything he wants with him. Without a second thought, he chooses Laura, as her fiery nature lightens a spark inside him. Once they move to his house, he can't help but be mesmerised by her every move, willing to do whatever it takes to possess her. Will he manage to turn this promising desire into an everlasting love?Laura and Edward's attraction is impossible to deny, but their evident class differences are threatening their undeniable lust. The more time they spend together, the more they lose their hearts and bodies to one another. Will their passionate connection prove strong enough to shatter the insurmountable obstacles? Or will their heated affair go down in flames before it even sets them on fire?"A Lord's Bet of Desire" is a historical romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Pride of Honor
Andrea K. Stein - 2020
She must ensure her marriage to a “suitable gentleman of the ton” before her twenty-first birthday or she’ll be destitute, per the terms of her ducal grandmother’s will. Close to having her own poems published, Sophia has her hopes dashed each time by someone revealing her secrets. That same someone so desperately wants her to fail the terms of the will, they’re willing to commit violent acts to ruin her reputation. Captain Arnaud Bellingham has ascended the ranks of the Royal Navy in spite of his half-French heritage by proving himself at the Battle of Algiers and with the West African Squadron. He seeks a simple marriage of convenience to a mature woman, a widow who has been his sometime mistress the last several years. The very thing he does not want, an exotic Italian innocent, literally falls into his life when he rescues her from kidnappers, although she disputes she needed saving. And now, honor and duty dictate he has to waste the rest of his leave guarding her through the mad whirl of the Season.
Seduced by the Devilish Lord
Lucy Langton - 2019
Her engagement to Lewis, the son of the Earl of Huntingdon was brazenly cancelled and her life spiraled down. All she was left with is her family and writing. Now, she has no option but to try and stand on her own feet again. Will she be able to overcome rejection and find true love again?Charles Scarsdale is the second son of the Duke of Richmond, but if he had not been born a peer, it would have made no difference to him. After meeting Emily in the most unlikely of situations there is an instant passion growing between them. Charles is desperately searching for a good manuscript, and he is lucky enough to finally find it. But, is it a coincidence that the manuscript is written by the passionate young Lady or pure fate?Life has meaning when love is in it but what happens when the demons refuse to leave, and the devil follows you wherever you go. Will Emily and Charles be able to overcome their obstacles and live happily ever after?
Dukes of War (Books 1-2): Historical Romance Collection
Erica Ridley - 2020
Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time—he needs her!The Earl's Defiant WallflowerOliver York returns from war to find his father dead, his finances in arrears, and himself the new Earl of Carlisle. If he doesn't marry an heiress—and fast!—he and his tenants are going to be pitching tents down by the Thames. He definitely shouldn't be trading kisses with a penniless debutante... no matter how captivating she is!
Rogues Always Wear Black
Catherine Mayfair - 2020
Until he meets Constance. Her strong spirit, quick tongue, and virtuous smile has him question honoring his oath of protecting her or fulfilling his own growing desire …Fearing that her stepfather will find her, Constance decides to trust Stephen and accepts his offer of protection. He is brave, handsome, and his kiss has caused a passion to emerge she did not know existed.Yet, doubts soon arise in her heart, and Constance's faith in Stephen is tested by his lingering touch, for her mother had always warned that Rogues Always Wear Black.The Princess Bride meets Robin Hood in this Steamy Regency Romance adventure.
A Stubborn Bride For The Stoic Rancher
Evelyn Boyett - 2020
A stoic rancher. And a heartbreaking history that just won’t stay in the past.Jasper is a rancher through and through, a bachelor who is tough as nails, loyal, and hardworking. But when his brother and sister-in-law are killed after being ambushed by a gang, Jasper has to take in his niece, Daisy, while also coping with his own grief—or, rather, ignoring it.Realizing he needs help balancing his life and raising Daisy, he decides to take on a mail-order bride. When Georgia arrives, he’s overwhelmed by his intelligent and beautiful new wife. At the same time, he’s terrified of losing her or having her see him as weak, so he keeps his distance.Georgia is frustrated by Jasper’s lack of emotion and inability to open up. She wonders if she’ll ever feel like she’s in a real marriage. Maybe it was a terrible mistake for her to leave her family and come out west to get married.But when the gang behind the ambush comes back to town, both Georgia and Jasper will be forced to confront their pasts. Will facing their trauma bring them closer together or ruin their marriage forever?If you like fast-paced clean romance and action-packed stories, you won't be able to put down this addictive Novel by Evelyn Boyett."A Stubborn Bride For The Stoic Rancher" is a stand-alone Western Historical Romance Novel of approximately 500 pages.
What the Duke is Hiding
Edith Byrd - 2021
And so, he is given a job working the vineyards, despite the secrecy surrounding his fate and his past…Johnathan Bashford is grateful for the opportunity to hide in the small property of the Tillmans. A Duke he may be, but lately, the attempts of his life have been more frequent, and laying low is his only option…But in an unexpected twist of fate, Johnathan and Madeleine will turn out to be each other’s perfect match. The only thing standing in their way are the secrets of his past, and when those come to the surface it may be too late for them both…Johnathan and Madeleine might not get a chance to untangle this mess, as those on the hunt for the lost Duke have finally caught his scent and they are closing in…And this time they are determined to finish what they started.*If you like engaging characters, heart- wrenching twists and turns, and lots of romance, then you’ll love “What the Duke is Hiding”!
Montana Mail Order Brides Box Set: Books 7 - 9
Linda Bridey - 2014
Books 7 - 9 in the series that critics describe as “a wonderful blend of hope, humor, passion, romance, and forgiveness.” Westward Dreams When Hannah Fairbanks answers an advertisement for a mail-order-bride, she thinks she’s found the man with whom she’ll spend the rest of her life. Instead she finds that her prospective husband, Clive Laramie, has lied to her about everything he told her in the letters they exchanged. Now stranded in Dawson, Hannah decides to make the best of her situation. Unexpectedly she meets Owl a local Lakota brave who instantly captivates Hannah with his dark exotic looks and kindness. Owl ignites a passion in Hannah that she didn’t know existed. Owl has never been attracted to a white woman before, but when he saves Hannah from a disastrous fall in the mud, all of that changes. It only takes one look in her beautiful amber eyes for a connection to be made between them. The proud Lakota brave can’t get Hannah out of his mind and begins wooing her. Amid racial bias and societal conflict, an unlikely romance develops between them. Their relationship is put to the test by a horrible event that creates a terrible divide in the citizens of Dawson. Owl makes a decision that will endanger any future the couple could have together. Can they rise above bigotry and heartache to catch the dream of love they desperately desire? Westward Holiday Rebecca Walker has been plunged from the pinnacle of high society into a life of poverty and shame. Her reputation in Savannah, Georgia has been irreversibly tarnished. Forced into menial labor, she dreams of escaping the cruel fate that has befallen her. Rebecca never dreamed she’d answer a mail-order-bride advertisement, but it seems like her best option for creating a better life for herself. Jake Henderson owns the saloon in Dawson, Montana. Running the Watering Hole has been his life’s work, but it doesn’t keep him from being lonely. With no serious prospects for marriage available, Jake resorts to putting out an ad for a bride. Surely there has to be someone out there for him. Dawson isn’t what Rebecca had bargained for when she answered Jake’s ad. Neither is Jake or the Watering Hole. The handsome bar owner captivates her from the beginning, but Rebecca has a lot to learn about the way of life in Dawson. Jake isn’t sure that Rebecca is going to be able to adjust to the rowdy atmosphere of the Watering Hole, but her beauty and her gifted musical ability casts a spell on him. As Christmas nears, they’ll have to learn to compromise and listen to each other or be trapped in a loveless marriage. In the season of joy and good will, can they find it their hearts to let go of their pride and reach out to one another again? Westward Sunrise Abby Porter is energetic and vivacious. She dreams of finding the perfect man, but knows she won’t find him in Wabasha, Minnesota. Upon answering an ad for a mail order bride, she starts corresponding with a man she deems perfect for her. Elliot Bradbury owns the general store in Dawson, Montana, and it captivated by Abby’s unique letters. He finds her charming, amusing, and impulsive. She’s just what he’s been looking for to help ease his loneliness. When they meet they instantly form a strong connection full of passion and romance. Things are perfect until another man enters the picture and a major conflict within Dawson threatens to drive them apart. Can their perfect romance endure outside influence or will it be shattered and their love lost?
Tempting the Ruined Duke
Olivia Bennet - 2019
Something that tells her he is the one.
Talented artist Louisa Notley finds herself in the awkward position of having to paint the portrait of the new Duke of Munboro. When she sees his face for the first time, her life changes completely. Having no other choice but to accept his duties as the new Duke of Munboro, Jeremy Harper must say goodbye to his only mistress—the sea. The scars marring his body and face, though, are always there to remind him of his time of freedom. That is until he meets the artist meant to create his portrait, who, like a true siren of the land, keeps him ashore. The attraction between them is strong but the minute Jeremy realizes he is in love, he finds a thief in his manor. When all fingers point at Louisa, he is determined to solve the mystery. What he discovers, though, is that the only clue that can prove Louisa's innocence can also destroy her... *If you like a realistic yet steamy depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Tempting the Ruined Duke is the novel for you. This is Olivia's 10th novel, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a strong happily ever after.
Sins of an Intoxicating Duchess
Violet Hamers - 2019
When she sees her cousin’s betrothed for the first time, her life is besieged by a mixture of dread and excitement... While ready for his much-talked-about engagement party, Jasper Munro, Duke of Gillingham falls madly in love for the very first time. The object of his desire is not his intended but, rather, her utterly ravishing younger cousin… A romance doomed by the Fates before it even starts, meant to drown them in longing... Suspicious murders around the Dukedom see the wedding postponed, and Jasper realizes that betrayal starts with little lies and wears a smile. Standing before his very own nemesis, Jasper must make a choice: save himself or the one he loves most...
The Lost Heiress Of The Ruby Valley: A Clean Western Historical Romance Novel
Felicity Wells - 2021
A Bride of Convenience for the Broken Earl
Hazel Linwood - 2020
Left alone with just her uncle after her father’s tragic death, she must marry in less than a year to inherit her dowry.There are two things Matthew Walsh, newly-appointed Earl of Paxton, will never forgive: his parents for sending him into exile, and Lydia for not writing to him. Determined to get his life back, he makes a bewildering proposal: a fake marriage to Lydia.When old feelings return with a vengeance, their reunion nearly costs them their lives. A woeful wail is all Lydia manages before she’s forced on a carriage to Gretna Green with a man she now hates. For the sins of the father, shall be visited upon the daughter.
Betrothed
Elsa Holland - 2019
Fourteen years later the Petroski brothers arrived in London setting it alight with their breathtaking presence, bone melting accents and heart fluttering masculinity; eligible women were all interested in their availability. And yet the Prince’s betrothed, Miss Georgina Franklin, was yet to receive a visit.
Never Play with a Rakish Duke
Emily Honeyfield - 2020
What she wishes for is a gentleman of staid propriety, who can take care of her and provide her with a life full of love and passion. But, when a devilish Duke puts in an offer for her hand in marriage, she is forced to reconsider her position entirely. The prospect fills Isabella with horror as the rumours of the Duke's wicked past run wild; rumours that have been the fodder of society gossip for years...How can her father just hand her over to such a rake? When she gets to know his real self, will she be able to lay aside her doubts for a chance at love?Jasper Blackbourne's life turned upside down when his childhood best friend and his mother died one after the other. With his life shattered into a million pieces, he took these losses to heart and has never been the same ever since. No matter how hard his father tried, he could barely manage to keep public opinion in his favor. Jasper knows he has no choice but to give up his life as a bachelor and settle for something less than a passionate affair. But when he finds out he is about to marry a very seductive young Lady, he finds himself trapped in a painful dilemma. Could this fiery Lady be the salvation he has been looking for? Or will he be condemned to live in pain forever?As Isabella gets to discover the most magnetic man she has ever met, she is petrified that her heart could be fooled. Even though he makes her blood run like fire whenever he touches her, it takes time to see his old ways slowly turning into love and affection. Can she ever hope to win his trust, along with his heart? Or are they doomed to a life of perpetual longing?