Here, it is coupled with the short novel Lady Susan, in the epistolary form popularised by Samuel Richardson in the 1760s.

    Yet here he was, come to stay for the holidays in the very home where she was a governess...and bringing up the painful memories of their shared Christmas Charade by Lyn Stone Beth didn't want a husband. But when she agreed to marry handsome Jack as part of a scheme, she didn't expect to be playing with her heart. The Virtuous Widow by Anne Gracie Ellie was afraid she had no future. Left to her own devices now that her husband had passed away, she worried for her daughter's welfare as well as her own. But her world changed when a stranger landed on her doorstep.

    Could the earl resist a woman who wouldn't take no for an answer?Love at First Step by TERRI BRISBINWhile visiting friends in England for the holidays, Lord Gavin MacLeod cast his eye upon the mysterious Elizabeth. She was more noble beauty than serving wench, and Gavin vowed to uncover her past at any cost....A Christmas Secret by GAIL RANSTROMMiss Charity Wardlow expected a marriage proposal from her intended while attending a Christmas wedding. But when Sir Andrew MacGregor arrived at the manor, Charity realized she wanted no one but the Scotsman with the sensual smile....

    Trey swore never again to be beguiled by a beautiful face, but as governess Seraphina gets close to his unruly, motherless children, he wants the festive joy she brings to stay well beyond Christmas Day...."Governess to Christmas Bride" by Annie BurrowsLord Chepstow hasn't seen Honeysuckle Miller since she was a plain, awkward schoolgirl. Now she's not so plain and is looking after the host's children at a lavish Christmas house party. And the last thing Lord Chepstow expected to want on his Christmas list is the prim governess!"Duchess by Christmas" by Marguerite KayeMasquerading as a governess to help the brooding Duke of Blairmore find a wife is "not" how Regan Stuart expected to spend Christmas! Then he steals an unexpected kiss, endangering Regan's heart...unless Gabriel can see beyond her dowdy costume and realize "she's" his perfect Christmas bride!

    But be careful what you wish for . . . ADDICTED TO LOVEGrowing up in Valentine, Texas, can make anyone believe in happily ever after. Anyone except Rachael Henderson. After having not one but two grooms ditch her at the altar, Rachael commits an uncharacteristic act of rebellion-and gets arrested by sexy Sheriff Brody Carlton, her childhood crush. Rachael's sworn off of love . . . but now she's fantasizing about Brody. Can it be possible to have her wedding cake and eat it too?ALL OF MEWhen a searing betrayal leaves Jillian Samuels heartbroken and wishing for a fresh start, her newly inherited cottage in Salvation, Colorado, seems like the perfect place to find it. It has a fireplace, a mountain view-and the most gorgeous and infuriating man she's ever met already living inside! Tuck Manning won't give up his home without a fight, so until they can untangle who owns the cottage, the two resolve to live as roommates. But as the days-and nights-heat up, they find that sometimes salvation comes when you least expect it . . . (170,000 words)

    For him, Yuletide is just a reminder of all that he’s lost. Can enchanting Amalie Harlowe restore light into the festive season…and reignite the passion in his heart?“Christmas Promise” by Carla KellyNow that peace has broken out, Captain Jeremiah Faulk is at odds over what to do this Christmas, let alone with his life. Until a simple act of charity reunites him with his lost love—Ianthe Mears.“A Little Christmas” by Gail RanstromTending to a houseful of grieving relatives isn’t Viscount Selwick’s idea of a merry Christmas. But one stolen kiss under the mistletoe with spirited Sophia Pettibone is about to change everything!

    Nine USA Today or Internationally bestselling authors bring you their twist on the holidays using some of your favorite characters in A NIGHT OF ANGELS. This collection includes: Eleanor FitzHerbert’s Christmas Miracle by Maggi Andersen - Childless widow, Eleanor Fitzherbert has resigned herself to a life alone, because most unmarried gentlemen wish for an heir. But after a young sweep gets stuck in the Duke of Broadstairs’ chimney, and a handsome viscount comes to his rescue, surprising things begin to happen. Wicked Christmas by Mary Lancaster - Mystery, murder and the miracle of new love – it’s Christmas in Blackhaven! During a magical Christmas, Blackhaven welcomes a new birth and catches a murderer – and Dr. Lampton encounters the wonder and pain of an impossible new love A Midnight Clear by Chasity Bowlin - Stranded together by a freak winter storm, Sarah, the Dowager Viscountess Vale, must finally face her long buried feelings for Branson, the brother of her late husband. Can their secret feelings overcome years of animosity? If You Wished For Me by Meara Platt - Two hearts meant to be together, one secret keeping them apart. Is William Farthingale just the man to bring Meggie Cameron the Christmas miracle she needs? Season of Honor by Alexa Aston - In the midst of celebrating their first Christmas together, Geoffrey and Merryn de Montfort are summoned to their stables, where a young woman is about to give birth on the most holy of all nights. Will her baby be the Christmas miracle a couple at Kinwick longs for? The Viking’s Gift by Anna Markland - A heartwarming Yuletide story set in medieval England before the Norman Conquest. A Viking saves the woman he loves from the wrath of a vengeful king. Father’s Day by Elizabeth Ellen Carter - Privateer Captain Kit Hardacre is persuaded to learn more about his family. At the same time, Naval veteran and retired spy Adam Hardacre learns he has a son he never knew existed. Both reluctant, father and son must find mutual ground on which to come to terms with the past. A Joyful Song by Lynn Winchester - Seamus MacAdams needs a miracle--a woman who will love him as much as he'll love her. Joy Song is new in town and not looking for love, but it isn't long before love finds her in the form of a man in need of help, just in time for Christmas. A Sprig of White Heather by Avril Borthiry - A crusader knight, thousands of miles from his home in the Highlands, and the young wife he left behind, soon to give birth to his child. In this adaptation of an ancient legend, a token of eternal love gives hope and comfort to a family at Christmastide. From Dragonblade to you, we wish you a very happy holiday season!

    Should she trust her own flesh and blood? Or rely on someone else, someone from her past, to keep her son safe?Convincing the Countess by Alina K. Field: When a business-minded aristocrat encounters a fetching widow he met years earlier as the bride of a ne’er-do-well earl, temptation steers him along a track that may derail all his plans. Can he convince her to set a course for her future that includes him?Rescued by a Rake by Wendy Vella: Miss Ivy Redfern’s life is thrown into turmoil when her brother disappears five days before Christmas. Desperate for help she turns to the devilishly charming Mr. Haddon. He agrees but it comes with a price: her heart!Unwise But Not Dishonorable by Barbara Monajem: A spymaster’s beautiful daughter crashes a Christmas house party to steal back a precious medallion, but finds that one of her father’s men is already there on a secret mission. Can they work together to unmask a traitor despite the distraction of falling in love?Meet Me at the Mistletoe by Donna Cummings: Desmond Mayfield enlists the Matchmaking Earl to find his perfect match, hoping for a love like his parents' legendary romance. He meets an enchanting temptress, but she is only amenable to a brief affair, unwilling to risk another loveless union. Can mistletoe—and the kisses they inspire—convince her their passion will last through every season? While You Were Roguish by Samantha Grace: When a roguish neighbor breaks into her cousin’s house seeking shelter from a winter storm, Bess decides to teach him a lesson. Instead, the wild and reckless Lord Julius reignites a fiery passion in her that almost led to her ruin years ago—and threatens to consume her now. Wedded to the Welsh Baron by Sasha Cottman: With little more than a ruined castle in Wales to his name, the last thing Welsh baron Rhys Morgan wants is to inherit a rundown English estate. With no money and no prospects, Wister York’s greatest fear is that when Lord Carno arrives at Kington House, he will throw her out. Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong by Bree Wolf: Always has Anne looked at her childhood friend Tobias Hawke with love in her heart. Only now, she no longer sees Little Toby when those chocolate-brown eyes meet hers and she cannot help but wonder, what if he kissed her?A Rogue and Some Mistletoe by Lana Williams: A lady fearful of risking her heart meets a handsome rogue who tempts her to find the courage to love with the help of mistletoe and the magic of Christmas. The Duke’s Christmas List by Bronwen Evans: Ignored all season, Lady Harriet Rondell is affronted by Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow’s sudden Christmas visit proffering marriage. Armed with a copy of Blade’s disgustingly traditional list of requirements he is looking for in his wife, Harriet sets about convincing him she is not—and never will be—his Christmas bride.Publishers note: If you adore steamy Christmas and Regency romance, you’ll love this anthology!

    Instead of claiming his place in society, he became a physician to help the less fortunate. So, when he sees a patient mistreating her sweet, bright-eyed companion, Brandon is determined to help bring some holiday cheer into the poor girl’s life. It’s the least he can do. But in truth, he’d like to do much more for the kind-hearted beauty who so easily captured his attention...and his heart. She guards a scandalous secret... Joy Winterborne can’t afford to take risks. If anyone found out about her past, she’d lose everything. And getting fired from her companion job would deprive her of the only bright spot in her otherwise dreary life—the time she gets to spend with the charming and oh-so-handsome Dr. Morrisette. Of course, nothing can ever come of her attraction to him. He’s nobility, and she’s nobody. But that doesn’t stop her silly heart from wanting...more.With a little luck, some mistletoe, and maybe even a Christmas wish, can Brandon convince Joy to take the greatest risk of all—falling in love?Sweet Regency Romance

    No man is harder than police chief Theodore Graves, and no man is more determined to keep his uncle's ranch in the family instead of being sold to developers—but one woman might be. The ranch was coowned by Jillian Sanders's uncle, and she's just as resolved to stay on the ranch. The only problem is she and Theodore fight like cats and dogs. And their uncles' wills stipulate that in order to keep the land, they must be married…  FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME!  Texas Wild by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson Megan Westmoreland needs answers about her family's past, and Rico Claiborne is the man to find them. But when the truth comes out, will Rico offer her more than a shoulder to lean on?

    But she demanded to be married on her own terms, not as punishment for a romantic indiscretion, and especially not to a common merchant. Yet she was in for a shock when she met David de Abyndon, a tradesman of extraordinary poise—and baffling indifference to her social status. For Christiana has no idea that she is but a prize in a royal deal between the king and a passionate man who now realizes that by winning her body, he may have lost his heart…. By Posession For years she thought he was dead. Then Addis de Valence strode into Moira Falkner’s cottage. Returned from the Crusades, the young squire who was once her hero was now her lord, a hardened man determined to reclaim the lands usurped by his stepbrother. Addis cannot afford to be distracted by a woman—even one as tempting as Moira. Yet his desire for her may be more dangerous than his deadliest battles. For by law, Moira belonged to him—but possessing her heart is another affair.…

     Captain John McClain finds himself on the wrong end of a shotgun when attempting to find his child. Heading west to find the mother of his son and the outlaw who shot him, John is forced to escort an enticing woman whose lifestyle goes against his moral standards, yet she calls to every part of him. Heading west to meet the dying father she never knew, and possibly starting a new life, Mae Hawkins didn’t expect the added complication of traveling with the one man she always loved. When they're joined along the road by a minister and his wife, things get beyond complicated for John and Mae who awaken to the lesson that sometimes differences are more imagined than real.

    So she brings holiday joy to others: repairing her grandmother's nutcracker and commissioning a dollhouse for the girls at the orphanage. Yet one knock at the woodcarver's door unexpectedly brings Arley a gift of her own: love.A Blessed Season by Jillian HartAn abandoned girl asks bounty hunter Rafe Jones to track down her long-lost mother for Christmas. The holiday wish breaks through his hardened heart, and he easily finds Cora Sims in Montana Territory. She's definitely the woman Rafe has been looking for. But is she actually the girl's mother?

    She’s ready to make the best of her new life, but when faced with a gruff, uncaring husband and a lonely ranch in need of repair, she’s not sure she’s up to the task. Abraham knows life on his ranch is hard. In fact, it’s even scared off several brides already. While every man needs a wife to help with the home and children, he’s not sure what woman would want him to share it with. But when Cora's life is in danger, Abe is forced to admit what he knew all along, and find a way to open his heart to this kind and lovely woman.

    Can he help her regain her sense of self-worth? Or will she condemn them both to live a life without each other? The Duke's Christmas Promise by Sandra Masters The Duke of Abington returns to England after 20 years, and finds himself at a house party in the presence of the woman who broke their engagement, and his heart. Noelle Fenwick, now a widow, has never stopped resenting the man who left her pregnant, then abandoned her, 20 years ago. They meet again, and it is clear that their attraction still exists. When a decades-old secret of deceit and betrayal is revealed, can they forgive the past and rekindle the flame of their love? Prince of Frost by Angelique Armae When a bearish prince stirs from hibernation, he sets his eyes on a very beguiling prey, only to realize that true love never comes without a cost Prince Leopold of Countavia has a secret that keeps him isolated from the world. When he encounters Miss Juliana Radcliff, a spinster raised by nuns, everything he believes gets called into question. Is love possible? Or will circumstances destroy all hope? A Merry Wicked Christmas by Gina Danna Lady Marina Lockhart's dreams died when her father arranged a marriage for her. A Christmas house party is her last hope of meeting a man who will save her. Reclusive Phineas Carrollton, the Marquis of Huntington, previously betrayed, faces a conflict of passion and honour when a snowstorm traps him with Marina at a hidden cottage. Can he forget the past in time to save Marina? Or is their love doomed? The Gift of a Christmas Scandal by Arietta Richmond A Duke who has no wish to marry the woman he was promised to from childhood, a Lady who has no wish to do as her father requires, a Christmas House Party. When they meet, there is an intense instant attraction – but both are promised elsewhere. There seems only one solution – the gift of a Christmas scandal. The Christmas Gift by Sandy Raven A Lady who hopes for more children, a Viscount who returns to his wife, injured in service to the crown, and despairing of ever being whole again. Can enduring love overcome the obstacles they face, and allow them to fulfil each other’s desires? Will Christmas bring joy, or misery? Yours by Yuletide by Victoria Oliveri Lady Beatrice Cunningham, jilted lover of the villainous Lord Greyson, escaped to the peace of Scotland and has kept her past a secret for nine long years. Now, a mysterious Duke has come into her life setting her heart to racing. Can she allow herself to love again, risking her past coming to haunt her, or should she run as she did so long ago? One fateful night at a holiday party will change everything. A Holiday Code for Love by Jacki Delecki A Christmas house party becomes a covert operation to trap a French spy. Can the Honorable John Bonnington protect his wife from their guest’s murderous intentions? Can Abbie Bonnington protect her husband from his spy/ex-mistress' intent to seduce him into revealing Crown secrets? Can Abbie and Jack continue the charade of hosting the perfect party as danger, treachery, and treason swirl in the ballroom? Doubt Not by Tracy Edingfield A Viscount, a schoolteacher, a ca