THEY'RE BETTEROpen the pages of this superb book and enter the world of the bad boys of romance. Make a date with a bevy of colorful rakes and devilish rogues in five exquisitely sexy stories by some of the most beloved, highly acclaimed authors of romantic fiction. Here are men who are "mad, bad, and dangerous to know"--sly Romeos, devious dandies, sexy scoundrels, and darkly forbidding heroes--all outlaws of the heart who are used to getting their way ... until true love steps in. Let these five extraordinary talents introduce you to some of the most exciting and infuriating, passionate and unpredictable men ever to take your breath away. Includes:"The Wrong Door" by Mary Balogh"Hide-and-Seek" by Melinda McRae"Highway Robbery" by Anita Mills"Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know" by Mary Jo Putney"Cats-Paw" by Maura Seger

    However, it soon becomes strikingly apparent to Sophia that she is the true gem Bad Jack sought. Intrigued, she willingly submits to every tantalizing taboo he metes out to her.Dressed as a masked highwayman, Jack Badcock, Earl of Stafford, thinks he is acting out the fantasies of a woman he knows only through lurid letters. As Jack tames her with blindfolds, sensual spankings and an array of torrid toys, she plays her role as the abducted, submissive virgin convincingly--too convincingly. By the time Jack uncovers his fantasy lover's true identity, it's far, far too late.

    Cameron Montgomery comes to her rescue and takes special care of her. But how can she desire him when she is a woman with no past?Book 2 -Jenna Kernan: “His Brother's Bride”Only a desperate woman would marry a man she'd never met, even if it was her dying husband's last request. But with a young daughter to protect, Clara Justice is desperate, so she accepts the proposal from Nate, the black sheep of the family.Book 3 -Cheryl St. John: “Almost a Bride”The only unmarried woman in town, Charmaine Renlow has been waiting years for her beau to propose, and she's had enough. Maybe it's time to move on to greener pastures... like single father Jack Easton's homestead!

    He certainly doesn’t look like the gentlemen on her list—Grayson Finley, Viscount Stoke, is tall and sun-bronzed, muscular and blue-eyed. He wears dress so casual as to be unclothed—long coats, leather breeches, shirts without collar or cravat, and he carries pistols wherever he goes. The men who attend him are just as strange, exotic-looking, even. And the way Grayson smiles at Alexandra whenever they pass in the street—sinful, blood-warming—turns her inside out.In the middle of the night Alexandra hears shouting coming from the house next door, and the viscount’s life being threatened. She rushes over just in time to save Grayson from being hanged by his greatest enemy, his former best friend.Thus is Alexandra pulled into the adventures of Grayson Finley, former pirate and terror of the seas. Grayson has made a bargain with the devil (in the form of the pirate hunter, James Ardmore), in order to ensure the safety of his daughter. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, but when Alexandra saves his life, he looks into her eyes the color of water and starts to drown . . .

    . . A Lady Awakened.Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate and beloved servants from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. After all, if she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbor, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes . . . for a fee.Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. Should be appalled. But how can he resist this siren in widow’s weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Determined she’ll get her money’s worth, Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to the pleasures of the flesh—only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can’t resist him forever. But could a lady’s sweet surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all . . . love?

    . . a wounded beast. Can the curse threatening their happiness be broken?There is absolutely nothing improper about Hannah Foster, the vicar of Hartley's eldest and least pretty daughter, nursing the badly wounded Viscount Blackthorn back to health-that's if the returned officer can be saved. At twenty-seven, she is two years the man's senior, a confirmed spinster, and far too sensible to develop feelings for her patient. The fact he was once her childhood friend and has grown into a fine specimen of a man-his terrible scars notwithstanding-has no bearing on the matter. The viscount is unlikely to see past her plain exterior and recognise the caring, intelligent, passionate woman beneath. Even if he does, he's determined to break the curse that has plagued his family for generations by letting his bloodline die out. Her best friend Grace's warnings are moot; a man of Lord Blackthorn's wealth and position would never be interested in a woman like Hannah . . . would he? Returning to his childhood home, a place he'd vowed never to set foot in again, William doesn't expect to survive the terrible wounds he received while fighting the French at Arapiles-certainly not with all his limbs intact. Bullied into making what can only be described as a miraculous recovery, William can't decide if his nurse, the hazel-eyed woman with the lovely voice, is an angel or a devilish imp. She torments him, both with the foul-tasting concoctions she insists on coaxing down his throat, and by showing him a taste of heaven . . . of what might have been . . . if he were not cursed by the sins of his forefathers.

     I f*ck who I want. When I want. And I always leave them begging for more. I roll into town, take the best piece of ass I can find, and then move on before the sun rolls into the morning clouds. But not Lucy, the sunshine of a girl who works at the truck stop diner off Exit 276. She’s too sweet and too fragile for a bad boy like me to screw over. My past is mine to bear alone. Except one look at those gorgeous green eyes, and I’m toast. Hell, I’m only a f*cking man. And a man can’t resist what he wants no matter how hard he tries. LUCY I had big dreams for my life, but they flew right out the window when I used all my college savings to bail my brother out of an awful mess. So, now I work in the grimy truck stop diner every night, serving up greasy food to leering men. It’s the only way to get by. There’s one trucker I don’t mind so much though. Mysterious, rugged, dangerous. He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen, and he looks like he likes to f*ck hard. Turns out he does. Now I’ve had his baby. Too bad he’s disappeared without a trace. Even though I try to hate him, I can’t get him off my mind. I want him to come back and be a father to our child. But that’s not the only thing I want. I want to give him my heart. Enjoy this sexy standalone romance, HEA guaranteed!

    Being a duke’s daughter had brought Lady Jane de Montfort nothing but misery and the prospect of a loveless marriage. So she had run away to pursue the only passion she had ever known – a love of horses! As master and groom, they had been trusty companions. Companionship now turns to desire, resulting in a compulsive affair that must at all costs be kept hidden from Polite Society."He wanted this woman in the most absolute way, stripped to the soul, stamped with his name, shackled and subordinate to his will, never permitted to leave his side."70,000 words.

    She soon finds herself in the position of governess for Lord Jared Fairfield, who inherited five little girls along with the title. Of all gentlemen she met in London, Lord Fairfield is the only one she has ever desired.Jared has wanted Elizabeth since he first saw her in London two years ago, but only managed to secure two dances. When he stumbled across her on the street he offered the position of governess to get her into his home. Now he intends to get her into his bed.

    Before him stood beautiful, unattainable Pandora Effington, the ton's most scandalous beauty. Max believed the fiery heiress would make a most satisfactory bride, and now she was making him a most tantalizing offer. If he wanted to take Pandora's hand--and the rest of her irresistible body--in marriage, he had to play a game of her devising--one he had no intention of losing ...After seven glorious seasons, Pandora knew it was time to wed, but most of London's eligible bachelors left her cold. She longed for a true hero ... a man who would do anything in his power to win her love. Maximillian's very touch sent shivers down her spine and made her dream of long nights spent in his arms. But was he willing to risk everything to prove his love?

    When Matthew Ritchie appears unexpectedly into Emily's organised life she feels things she has never experienced before not to mention the sex! The timing couldn't be worse however as she has just agreed to become a surrogate for her sister and husband to give them the one thing they cannot have. Things do not go to plan when her brother in law calls a halt to the procedure to allow Emily to continue her affair with Matt. Emily refuses to accept this and breaks things off with Matt regardless as she concentrates on this one last thing that she needs to do for her sister before embarking on her own life aspirations. However, It appears fate has its own idea for Emily’s future.

     She was too young, too pure, too beautiful and I didn’t even mention the part about being her ex-step-father. It was taboo, uncalled for, and so very wrong… But I couldn’t stop myself when she came running to me from her piece of crap ex-boyfriend. She needed a place to live, protection and I needed, no wanted a woman to call my own. I could see the curiosity in her gaze as we passed in the hall and I knew she was just as tempted as I was to find out what I was packing… What she didn’t know was that I had everything she needed and more… ...and after pushing me to the limits one too many times she was going to find out just how good I could make this for her. I was going to have her, keep her forever, and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do about it. **Things get a little crazy in this book so push your rational thinking to the side and dive right in. This is one taboo treat you don't want to miss out on. Grab a drink and get ready to quiver with need. Panties not required. HEA certified.**

    Bored by the few suitors who have called on her, Annis is resigned to a future of serene solitude until adventure enters her life in the person of Miss Lucilla Carleton, an heiress seeking to escape an arranged marriage. Opportunity follows in the person of Mr. Oliver Carleton, Lucilla's guardian. Oliver is the rudest man Annis has ever met—and the only one who has ever provoked strong feelings from her. Sparks fly from the friction between them, and neither is prepared for the romance they ignite. Charity Girl is the tale of another runaway, Miss Charity Steane, who is in flight from her aunt's household when the Viscount Desford encounters her on the road to London. Chivalry dictates that Desford help the naïve Charity, and propriety demands that he lodge her with his dear friend Henrietta Silverdale. With Charity in the picture, Henrietta's feelings toward Desford warm, and the Viscount soon finds himself torn between two women in a gentle comedy of manners and mishaps.Full of charm and delight, Lady of Quality and Charity Girl are two jewels in the crown of the writer regarded as the Queen of Regency romance.Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) wrote her first novel when she was fifteen and saw it published when she was nineteen. In a career that spanned more than half a century, she wrote more than fifty novels, including historical and modern romances and detective fiction. She was highly respected for her research, historical accuracy, and extraordinary plots andcharacters.

    Now, he thinks she’s someone else. After a long-distance, internet romance, his deployment is over and he's ready to meet his woman face-to-face and claim her once and for all. The truth's about to come out. And consequences will be paid.With F-16 butterflies dive-bombing her belly, Amelia nervously awaits her soldier and the promises he made over the net—promises that make her tremble with need. Promises she’s afraid he’ll withdraw when he learns she lied to him.After months away, Keon's ready for some one-on-one action with the woman who's captured his heart through cyberspace. Too bad, she’s not who he thinks she is. Either way, she’d better be ready for his special force. He’s been dreaming of this night for months, and her sweet behind is his.

    Her mother passed away when she was only five, and her father can’t seem to hold down a job. She does everything she can to keep it together, but she wishes for once she didn’t have to be the responsible one. When her father’s gambling addiction threatens their family, she ends up under Wyatt’s care. Wyatt’s the polar opposite of Isabelle’s father, and for the first time in a long time, there’s someone willing to put Isabelle first. She never intended to fall in love with him, but the longer she stays, the more she knows that love at first sight isn’t just a fairytale, and what’s meant to be will happen… one way or another. No matter how much he tries to fight it, Wyatt can’t stop his attraction to Isabelle. He promised her father that he would protect her, but the biggest threat isn’t from the world outside, it’s from the desire inside his own heart. How long can Wyatt last? And would Isabelle understand? The wait for these two is so, so good and so, so hot that it may just send your tablet up in flames. You’ve been warned! (Lila Younger writes hot, steamy romance with no cheating and a HEA every time because love stories are always a little better when they’re naughty. If you’re looking for a novella that’s guaranteed to leave your heart - and your panties!- melting, then start reading!)