Book picks similar to
The Court of the Flowering Peach by Janet Louise Roberts
historical-romance
he-is-a-cheater
he-will-hurt-her-again
hero-deserved-ow
The Art of Seduction
Melanie George - 2002
Parris Sutherland cares little for the gossip swirling about her after she is left at the altar. She is far too busy with a new project: masquerading as "Lady Scruples" and exacting justice on philandering men. If only she could resist the desire aroused by her childhood protector, Dominick Carlisle, recently returned home after eight years. As the new Duke of Wakefield, Dominick has no interest in the aristocratic duties foisted upon him. He'd rather unmask Lady Scruples - especially if it distracts him from his long-suppressed feelings for Parris and the dreams that have haunted him since a sultry night with a mysterious girl so long ago. But when Dominick discovers that all the women on his mind are one and the same - Parris - he vows to teach her a lesson by seducing her all the way to the altar.
A Season to Be Sinful
Jo Goodman - 2005
When he discovers his wily pickpocket is a woman, now gravely injured, he takes his flame-haired attacker under his wing. Clearly, Sheridan's new "guest" is a lady of quality. So how did she become a common street thief? He finds himself irresistibly drawn to the clever, cheeky Lily, and determined to unlock her mysteries.The five years since she left the care of the French convent have been a nightmare for Lily. Her secrets are dangerous—as is the powerful man determined to find her. The handsome Viscount is clearly a gentleman with secrets of his own, but staying with him could mean the difference between life and death for Lily. With each passing day, her handsome host turns Lily's convalescence into an increasingly sensual escape. Now her greatest challenge may be imagining anything less than a future in his arms.
Once a Duchess
Elizabeth Boyce - 2012
Since then she's been a pariah, living in anonymous exile to escape the prying eyes and wagging tongues of the town. More than anything, Isabelle longs for a family of her own, and so has to marry again. But society is ruthlessly unforgiving. To clear her name, Isabelle must face down her past - and the man who broke her heart and ruined her completely.Marshall Lockwood, Duke of Monthwaite, was blindsided by his young bride's infidelity. After the divorce Marshall licked his wounds, throwing himself into his botanical studies to forget his disastrous marriage. Now his former wife is back in Town, as beautiful and enticing as he remembers. As the Season throws them together again, Marshall can't shake the feeling that Isabelle might not be the adulteress he took her for.
Untamed
Anna Cowan - 2013
She is more familiar with farmers and her blunt opinions and rough manners offend polite society. Yet when she hears the scandalous rumours involving her sister and the seductive Duke of Darlington, the fiercely loyal Katherine vows to save her sister's marriage – whatever the cost.Intrigued by Katherine's interference in his affairs, the manipulative Duke is soon fascinated. He engages in a daring deception and follows her back to her country home. Here, their intense connection shocks them both. But the Duke's games have dangerous consequences, and the potential to throw both their lives into chaos…
A Rogue's Pleasure
Hope C. Tarr - 2000
With no one to turn to, she resorts to highway robbery to raise the sum.Lord Anthony Grenville is bored.Viscount Montrose's coach is overtaken by a highwayman—who turns out to be no man at all! Anthony hasn't been this intrigued by anything, or anyone, since his return from the war. And when he catches the flame-haired thief breaking into his London house to further fill her coffers, he comes up with a plan to rescue her brother—and resolves to seduce her into his bed!Their passion is mutual.Chelsea accepts Anthony's aid, but she'll never become his mistress—even if the thought of it fills her veins with liquid fire.
Gypsy Lover
Connie Mason - 2005
To the astonishment of the ton, the late marquis had disinherited the petulant lord, leaving his vast estate to the darkly handsome Romany horse trader. Acres of land, fabulous wealth, rich manor houses --- all these were his for the taking, provided Dante would also take the bride his grandfather had specified."YOU STOLE A KISS FROM ME THE FIRST TIME WE MET."So claimed lovely Lady Esme Harcourt. The arrogant gypsy had swept her into his arms at a country fair, awakening both her desire and her disdain. Though her hand might be promised to the new Marquis of Alston, she swore she would never agree to wed a man whose birth put him so far beneath her. But no matter how she protested against Dante as her husband, her heart had already accepted the free-spirited Rom as her wild ... Gypsy Lover
As You Desire
Connie Brockway - 1997
Then she sees the man in black, galloping through the Egyptian desert on a pure white steed. Desdemona could not have conjured a more dashing savior in her wildest fantasies. But an unlikelier hero would be impossible to find: Harry Braxton is a rogue, a scoundrel, and a born opportunist—who has already broken Desdemona’s heart once before. As brilliant as she is beautiful, Desdemona still hasn’t learned how to stay out of trouble—which suits Harry just fine. Running from a painful past, and rumored to be involved in nefarious endeavors, Harry will never be a proper match for Desdemona. But when she catches the eye of his cousin, the irritatingly honorable Lord Blake Ravenscroft, Harry vows to claim his one true desire, once and for all.
Moonstruck Madness
Laurie McBain - 1977
She's one thing by day, something else altogether by night...After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the Duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened...He's so disillusioned, he's completely vulnerable...With his inheritance at stake, Lucien, Duke of Camareigh, sets a trap for the Scottish beauty with the piercing violet eyes, never imagining what will happen when the trap is sprung...As their lives become irreversibly entangled, Lucien and Sabrina become each other's biggest threat, as well as their only salvation...
When the Marquess Falls
Lorraine Heath - 2017
Expected from birth to adhere to decades of tradition, he plans to marry a proper young woman from a good family. But when a beautiful, and completely unsuitable, woman snags his heart, he begins to realize that to get what you want, sometimes you have to break the rules.Linnie Connor dreams of the independence of running her very own bakery. And while she may be allowed to be a marquess’ childhood companion, the baker's daughter never ends up with the handsome nobleman. Determined to achieve at least one of her dreams, Linnie makes plans to leave her sleepy village for London, intent on purging him from her heart. And yet, when an invitation to the Marsden annual ball arrives, she can't refuse her one chance to waltz in his arms.It will be a night that stirs the flames of forbidden desires and changes their lives forever.
Miss Quinn's Quandary
Shirley Marks - 2007
After the day-long journey, the only place for the weary travelers to sleep is the barn of an over-booked inn with only a single vacancy. Larissa, who has no intention of sleeping on a pile of straw, steps forward, claiming to be newly wed to Sir Randall Trent, baronet and unwitting accomplice in Larissa's scheme for adventure, in order to claim the last empty room. Convinced they will never see one another again and that no one will be the wiser about their little white lie, Larissa and Sir Randall part ways, though not before Sir Randall can bestow upon Larissa a passionate kiss that sends her reeling. Both are surprised to be thrown together again so soon in London for the Season. When their secret is discovered, Larissa and Sir Randall are forced to band together in the face of a crime spree in which Sir Randall is implicated. Life is about to offer Larissa an adventure unlike any she had ever imagined.
Marriage of Mercy
Carla Kelly - 2012
But everything changes when she's the beneficiary of a surprise inheritance. Her benefactor's deal comes with a catch: give up her life of toil and live in luxury only if she marries his illegitimate son, a prisoner of war. It's an offer she can't afford to refuse. But her husband-to-be is dying, and he begs her to take one of his men instead—to marry purely out of mercy….A marriage of convenience with a complete stranger… Could this arrangement ever work?
A Duchess in Name
Amanda Weaver - 2016
An American heiress and graduate of Lady Grantham's finishing school, she's been groomed since birth to marry an English title—the grander the better. So when the man chosen for her, the forbidding Earl of Dunnley, seems to hate her on sight, she understands that it can't matter. Love can have no place in this arrangement.Andrew Hargrave has little use for his title and even less for his cold, disinterested parents. Determined to make his own way, he's devoted to his life in Italy working as an archaeologist. Until the collapse of his family's fortune drags him back to England to a marriage he never wanted and a woman he doesn't care to know.Wild attraction is an unwanted complication for them both, though it forms the most fragile of bonds. Their marriage of convenience isn't so intolerable after all—but it may not be enough when the deception that bound them is finally revealed.
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.
Indiscretion
Jude Morgan - 2005
So when Captain Fortune, a well-meaning but profligate ex-soldier in Regency England, tells his daughter Caroline that they are ruined, she automatically starts seeking employment as a governess. Her father, however, has far grander designs for Miss Fortune.…Caro is to become the companion of Mrs. Catling, the rich, fierce widow of her father's old colonel. As Mrs. Catling amuses herself by tormenting her relatives and servants, Caro resolves to make the best of the situation, and soon her beauty and intelligence attract the attentions of male admirers. Surrounded by people with an alarming readiness to reveal each other's confidences, Caroline is exasperated to find herself implicated in their indiscretions. But will Miss Fortune be able to avoid losing her reputation without losing her head? And will she find at least one good man amongst the genteel set who will take her side, and, indeed, her fancy?
Mistress by Arrangement
Helen Bianchin - 1999
For Michelle, their pretend affair would certainly help her escape the suitable marriage she was being pressured into...But Nikos was formidably sexy and Michelle found it hard to control her powerful attraction to this arrogant stranger. If she agreed to be his mistress by arrangement, could she stop pretense turning into reality?