Book picks similar to
Portrait of Passion by Lynne Barron


historical-romance
romance
free
historical

The Highlander's Lady (Highlands Forever Book 1)


Aileen Adams - 2019
     Olivia Smythe is the daughter an English earl and a Scottish woman. He has decided that his half-Scottish daughter should go to the Highlands for her own safety to avoid the border skirmishes that plague their area. He’s also pleaded her hand to a cruel Englishman. Laird Boyd MacPherson has no idea the Englishwoman he’s saved from cutthroats is the cousin of a Highland laird. He has no idea the courage and wherewithal that this young half-Scot can muster. He is quick to find out when she runs away and seeks to hide from her betrothed and the rest of the world. Boyd turns the Highlands upside down looking for her, only to find her in the least likely of places.

Taming a Wild Earl


Grace Sellers - 2018
     Amelia West, the highly independent daughter of a penniless gentleman, has no use for London society and the superficial cruelty of the marriage market. She prefers to spend her time on the estate of the Earl of Croftridge in rural Yorkshire, where she grew up, and which she’s managed since her father’s death. The current Earl is pursuing a life of dissipation in the city, leaving Amelia free to do as she pleases -- and it pleases her greatly to help the less fortunate and rescue neglected animals. He’s chosen devilry over duty... Haunted by his brother’s death, John Mowbray does his best to numb the pain with liquor, gaming, and women. He doesn’t deserve to be the Earl, and would rather pretend he isn’t. Until, that is, he learns that his estate manager may be swindling him. A meeting of the minds... John can scarcely credit the temerity of the upstart young woman who’s taken over his manor. Amelia wishes the reprobate Earl would go back to London and leave her to her good works. Can they both learn to see past their prejudices for the good of the estate?

Dodging a Bullet


Desiree Douglas - 2017
    Young Kelli had visions of having it all, but instead is left homeless and shattered by the heartless playboy. Unbelievably, Trish is forced to help Kelli get back on her feet. Meanwhile, Trish meets Jake Abbott, a widower with a six-year-old daughter, and imagines herself as part of his family. But that's not likely when Jake seems to be falling for her best friend, Laney. When things can't get any worse, her New Age, kooky parents drop in for a visit, and due to their interference, her love life dies an embarrassingly public death. A fast-paced, fun read with a sweet romance, this intriguing story will keep you turning pages as Trish heads toward her unexpected happily-ever-after.

What the Wicked Lord Desires


Henrietta Harding - 2019
    Yet all is taken away from her when she's left a widow. On top of that, she only then discovers her husband's wretched business deals--one, in particular, with the mysterious and arrogant Lord Timothy Langley, which ultimately cast her into debt. He has a bad reputation but to her surprise, Alice can't help but feel an electrifying connection with him. Will she be able to peer behind his darkness and perhaps find love again?Lord Timothy Langley has a dark past, one that made him a self-built, ruthless businessman. When he visits a widow to collect her husband's debt to him, he didn't expect to be mesmerized by her striking beauty. He has vowed never to be fooled by any woman again, but his desire for her is so uncontrollable that he's starting to believe that she's different. When she proves that she is strong and ready to take her life into her own hands, will it be too late for him to make up for their rocky first meeting? Alice will soon find herself at war with society and its dated rules, but only one man will show her the respect she deserves. Too bad it's the same man that led to her ruin! Will they be able to face all obstacles thrown at them and acknowledge the one thing that unites them? Will they finally succumb to the forbidden desire they feel for each other?"What the Wicked Lord Desires" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Reluctant Brides


Elizabeth Rose - 2017
     This set includes: Lord of Illusion - Book 3 (Legacy of the Blade Series) Wanting to live a different life, Lady Abigail uses a robbery on the road as an excuse to escape her guards who are taking her to marry a man she hates. Madac ap Powell is a thief, who uses his disguises to his advantage, trying to support his mother and brother. Although he hates the life he lives, he finds a young lady in the woods who hates her life even more. Can a lady and a thief help each other realize exactly what they are running from? Ruby - Book 1 (Daughters of the Dagger Series) Ruby de Burgh is furious when her father promises her hand in marriage to the Lord of Death, Nyle Sheffield. The man's last three wives have died and rumor has it, he's killed them. Lord Nyle Sheffield is on a mission from the king, and at the same time trying to flesh out the murderer of his late wives. So when he finds Ruby who is skilled with a sword and also able to protect herself, he makes a betrothal so he can use her as a pawn to draw out the killer. The Baron's Bounty - Book 2 (Barons of the Cinque Ports Series) The Scottish lassie, Isobel MacEwen, is sent as a proxy to marry the English lord, Conlin de Braose in her cousin's stead. But before she leaves, she is witness to the Scottish king's murder - but has only seen the shoes of the killer. Isobel is infatuated with shoes and has learned to identify people by their shoes and the way they walk. Lord Conlin de Braose is a widower, and also a Baron of the Cinque Ports. It's important to him to make an alliance with the Scots, as well as to secure a mother for his young daughter. But when he finds himself falling in love with a proxy, his life is turned upside down. Ian - Book 3 (MadMan MacKeefe Series) Kyla has grown up alongside her older brother, always having eyes for Ian - her brother's best friend. But Ian thinks of her as a pest and the furthest thing from a romantic partner. Ian is troubled by his secret, dark past. When he sees a face in the Samhain fire of an enemy he killed, he has no idea the dead will come back to life. And while he's worried about confronting an enemy again, what troubles him more is that his best friend's sister is in love with him - and now she's to be married off to his enemy to make an alliance with the clan. Will Ian's tarnished past come back to haunt him, exposing his secrets and taking from him a woman who holds a special place in his heart?

Scandalous Wager


Christy Carlyle - 2014
    Years spent on the shelf have taught her plain looks and a distinct lack of ladylike talents won't win a proposal from any of the eligible young constables or inspectors her Detective Chief Inspector father invites to their home. Most of them are too busy staring at her younger, prettier sister anyway. And Lizzy is content to be a spinster, especially if it means she can continue with her charity work in Whitechapel. But she has one lingering regret. She wants to experience passion at least once in her life and, most of all, she wants to experience it with Ian Reed. Detective Inspector Ian Reed has aspirations to ascend the ranks of the Metropolitan Police, and he hopes proving himself to his superior, Detective Chief Inspector Ainsworth, will help him get there. A series of brutal murders plaguing Whitechapel have him working long hours, so when Ainsworth's daugher shows up on his doorstep and offers herself to him, he fears he might be dreaming. Fascinated with Lizzy from the moment he meets her, Ian is determined to spend more than one night in her arms, despite what it might cost both of them. Scandalous Wager is a sensual novella of approximately 17,000 words.

Dauntless


Adele Clee - 2020
    It’s why he joined the Gentlemen of the Order, why he solves crimes committed against the vulnerable and needy. To his friends he’s known as Dauntless—a fearless fighter, a man with steely determination. And yet his strength is tested when he forms an infatuation for his new client.When a catalogue of strange events leaves Evangeline Dunn fearing for her life, she has no option but to seek professional help. Given the choice of four agents, she’s drawn to the enigmatic Mr. Ashwood. The gentleman commands respect, seems as competent as he is handsome. Who better to help her catch a thief, a blackmailer and find her wastrel brother? He’s the perfect solution to her problems. All she need do is overcome her inconvenient attraction.In an adventure that takes them from the lavish ballrooms of the ton to the dark depths of the rookeries, Noah and Eva must work together to unravel the mystery. Will their powerful attraction hinder the investigation? Will the suspenseful twists and turns send them racing into each other’s arms?

Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid


Maureen Driscoll - 2011
    After a night of passion, the two are separated. With nothing but the alias Jane used to protect her family, Lord Edward is unable to find the woman he cannot forget.Seven years later, Jane courts scandal by serving as the unofficial surgeon in the village of Marston Vale. When Edward arrives to formalize his betrothal to a viscount's daughter in accordance with his late father's wishes, Jane has no choice but to watch the match proceed. When a threat from the past emerges, Jane must join forces with Edward to safeguard her loved ones. But at what risk to her heart?

A Bit of Heaven on Earth


Lauren Linwood - 2014
    Robert is quickly set free, but Gavin’s father refuses to pay for his son’s release, leaving him to rot in a squalid French prison. Aided by a sympathetic priest, he escapes and returns home to England, only to find he has been proclaimed a bastard and disinherited. With nowhere to turn Gavin journeys to Kentwood, where he fostered as a boy, hoping Lord Aldred will take him on as a knight in his guard. The old warrior is close to death, but he soon realizes Gavin is his son. Aldred plots to have Gavin inherit Kentwood and marry his much younger wife, Elizabeth, a famed and opinionated beauty who remains a virgin after a decade of marriage.Will the king recognize Lord Aldred’s first request of a marriage between Elizabeth and Robert, uniting Robert’s estate with Kentwood—or will the temperamental Edward reward Aldred’s years of service and honor a dying man’s final request?

Confronting a Rake


G.L. Snodgrass - 2016
    Opposites most definitely attract.Devlin Beaumont liked being a rake. Whiskey, women, and fun, what more could a man want? All that ends with an unexpected title, three young wards, and a beautiful governess. If that wasn't enough, there is the minor detail that someone is trying to kill him. Rebecca Jones has to be ever mindful of society’s expectations. As the governess to three young girls, she must set an example. A requirement that is sorely tested with the arrival of the new Duke.

The Lady's Wicked Proposition


Vivienne Westlake - 2014
    charity anthology** Length: 20 pages A late night game of cards turns into something far more intriguing when Edwina Merriweather confesses a secret to one of the most charming and debauched men in London. Contrary to popular opinion, Dina is not in town to find a husband. Instead, she’s resolved to find a rake. Francis Chevalier is fascinated by the drunken spinster offering up her virginity like a piece of cake. Torn between the need to have her and the desire to protect her from her own stupidity, he politely declines. Undeterred, Dina returns with a proposition so daring even Chevalier cannot refuse.

The Viscount’s Vow


Collette Cameron - 2013
     Ian’s a vengeful lord… Notorious for his stern demeanor and inflexible honor, he journeys to London for one purpose—the permanent and irreversible downfall of the siren who caused his brother’s death. Instead of an immoral seductress, he discovers a soft-spoken, raven-haired beauty. Against all reason, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to the last woman in England he could ever love. Evangeline’s a spirited gypsy lady… She endures the bon ton’s disdain and numerous indecent propositions with grace and poise. But when a dastardly lord plots her ruination, she’s finished with propriety and politeness. To make matters worse, he becomes caught in his own snare, forcing them into a marriage neither wants…or do they? A love that transcends betrayal… When their lives are suddenly in danger, Ian and Vangie must trust each other and their love. But can she forgive Him? Will his regrets keep them from finding the happiness they both crave?

A Fool Again


Eloisa James - 2011
    Now, a few years later, she attends the funeral of her elderly husband (not the man she ran away to marry) and who does she see but The One Who Got Away! Can they make their love work this time around or will Genevieve be A Fool Again?

A Michaelmas Wager


Emily Murdoch - 2017
     So when a tipsy party joke becomes a wager on Rufus’ marriage, he knows he should said no. But Juliana Honeyfield, the unwitting and unknowing focus of the gamble, is not the simple and malleable young woman that Rufus’ friends take her for. She demands a lot more from her acquaintances, and the challenge of understanding this intriguing woman and keeping the truth of the wager from her starts to wear thin on Rufus. Especially when his belief in marriage has already been so greatly rocked, and his family history is sunk in crime, alcoholism, and prison. Will it be possible for Rufus to charm the winning Juliana? Does he owe her the truth about his initial interest in her? And who will eventually win the Michaelmas wager? A Michaelmas Wager is a charming Regency romance novella about the unlikely consequences of spur of the moment decisions.

It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book


Sheridan Jeane - 2014
    Gone is the boy who could capture her heart with a word or a glance and in his place is a man who has made it clear that to be a proper barrister's wife, the exciting and impulsive Cecilia must change as well. Although Devin Montlake loves his orderly life as a barrister, he's determined to follow his roadmap to achieve his goal of becoming a judge. His biggest obstacle seems to be convincing his headstrong fiancée to fulfill her social obligations with a modicum of propriety. But when the jewelry collection belonging to Cecilia's family is stolen the night before it is to be auctioned off and Devin is framed for the crime, he discovers that following his much-loved rules won't solve this particular problem. He'll need the inventiveness of his irrepressible fiancée to catch the thief.