Book picks similar to
The Duke's Mistress by Ann Elizabeth Cree


romance
historical-romance
historical
historical-fiction

Captured for the Captain's Pleasure


Ann Lethbridge - 2010
    Captain Michael Hawkhurst relishes his fearsome reputation, for he lives only to wreak revenge on the Fulton family, who so cruelly destroyed his own.Spirited Alice Fulton knows a ship is no place for a lady, but she is determined to save her father's business….When fate delivers him Fulton's virginal daughter as his captive, Michael faces a dilemma—should he live up to his scandalous name and find revenge with sweet Alice, or will his honorable side win out—and win the girl…?

The Girl with the Persian Shawl


Elizabeth Mansfield - 2002
    A young woman looking to marry is always sweet and demure, charming and gracious, and, of course, deferential. But not Kate Rendell. An anomaly, Kate could not care less what people think of her and her tendency to speak her mind. Her suitors have all taken a disliking to this quirk of hers--and taken flight. And Kate has not minded. That is, until one man walks into her life...When Harry Gerard, Lord Ainsworth, calls upon Kate to view her family's much-admired painting of a girl with a Persian shawl, his hostess's rudeness takes him by surprise and he leaves confused. But for all the gall she displayed during his visit, Kate finds herself thinking about him more and more. And she would never let anything stand between herself and the object of her desire--even if the obstacle is her beloved cousin...

Noble Intentions


Katie MacAlister - 2002
    This time he intended to marry a quiet, biddable woman who would not draw attention to herself or cause scandal. Gillian Leigh's honest manner and spontaneous laughter attracted him immediately. It mattered little that she was accident-prone; he could provide the structure necessary to guide her.But unconventional to the tips of her half-American toes―toes that one of them was constantly tripping over―his new bride turned the tables on him, wreaking havoc on his orderly life. And worse, demanding he surrender his heart. Perpetually one step behind his beguiling spouse, Noble suffered a banged-up head, a black eye, and a broken nose before he realized Gillian had healed his soul and proved that their union was no heedless tumble, but the swoon of true love.

Miss Lattimore's Letter


Suzanne Allain - 2021
    Malcolm's List.Sophronia Lattimore had her romantic dreams destroyed years ago and is resigned to her role as chaperone for her cousin. Still, she cannot sit idly by when she becomes aware that a gentleman is about to propose to the wrong woman. She sends him an anonymous letter that is soon the talk of the town, particularly when her advice proves to be correct. Her identity is discovered and Sophie, formerly a wallflower, becomes sought after for her “expert” matchmaking skills. One person who seeks her out is the eligible and attractive Sir Edmund Winslow. As Sophie assists Sir Edmund in his pursuit of a wife, she wishes she could recommend herself as his bride. However, she vows to remain professional and uninvolved while aiding him in his search (especially since the gentleman surely does not return her affections).Three unexpected arrivals soon show up at Sophie's door—the man who once broke her heart, a newlywed who is dissatisfied with the match Sophie made for her, and the man madly in love with Sophie's cousin—all wanting her attention. But when her onetime beau and Sir Edmund both appear to be interested in her, Sophie can’t figure out if she’s headed for another broken heart­­ or for the altar. How can she be expected to help other people sort out their romantic lives when her own is such a disaster?

Then Came You


Lisa Kleypas - 1993
    She will break any rule to get what she wants . . . and she is determined to stop her younger sister from marrying Alex, Lord Wolverton, a handsome and arrogant earl who has vowed never to fall in love. A man who will do anything to possess her. To Alex's fury, the headstrong hellion presents a temptation he can't resist. He vows to make her pay dearly for her interference—with her body, her soul, and her stubborn, well-guarded heart. As Alex and Lily challenge each other at every turn, they are caught up in a white-hot desire that burns through every defence and exposes the mystery of Lily's past . . . and together they discover that love is the most dangerous game of all.

The Rake


Suzanne Enoch - 2002
    The plan is simple: She will use every seductive wile she knows to win Dare's heart...and then break it. But his smoldering gaze once again tempts Georgiana to give in to desire ― and when he astonishes her with a marriage proposal, she wonders: Is he playing yet another game...or could it truly be love this time?

The Beleagured Earl


Allison Lane - 2000
    But the new owner, the notorious Maxwell Longford, seemed genuinely interested in restoring her ruined estate -- and stealing her heart, as well...

Viscount Vagabond


Loretta Chase - 1988
    But her escape through the streets of London only seemed to lead her from bad to worse. First, she was robbed. And then, her supposed "rescue" by a kindly old woman stranded Catherine in a bordello -- where the handsome Viscount Rand was intent on sampling her wares! A dire predicament indeed-especially when the dashing aristocrat decided to assume full responsibility for the ravishing runaway by taking her, quite against her will, into his home. But little did Catherine know that her struggle to preserve her virtue had inflamed the debauched gadabout's heart ... and might well net her a husband worth desiring!

My American Duchess


Eloisa James - 2015
    The last woman he would ever consider marrying is the adventuresome Merry Pelford - an American heiress who has infamously jilted two fiancés. But after one provocative encounter with the captivating Merry, Trent desires her more than any woman he has ever met. He is determined to have her as his wife, no matter what it takes. And Trent is a man who always gets what he wants.The problem is, Merry is already betrothed, and the former runaway bride has vowed to make it all the way to the altar. As honor clashes with irresistible passion, Trent realizes the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. In his battle to save Merry and win her heart, one thing becomes clear: All is fair in love and war.

Gifts of the Season


Miranda Jarrett - 2002
    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.

His Wicked Reputation


Madeline Hunter - 2015
    He was a man who could drive a woman senseless with desire. Gareth Fitzallen is celebrated for four things: his handsome face, his notable charm, his aristocratic connections, and an ability to give the kind of pleasure that has women begging for more. Normally he bestows his talents on experienced, worldly women. But when he heads to Langdon’s End to restore a property he inherited—and to investigate a massive art theft—he lays plans to seduce a most unlikely lady. Eva Russell lives a spinster’s life of precarious finances and limited dreams while clinging to her family’s old gentry status. She supports herself by copying paintings while she plots to marry her lovely sister to a well-established man. Everyone warns her of Gareth’s reputation, and advises her to lock her sister away. Only it is not her sister Gareth desires. One look, and she knows he is trouble. One kiss, however, proves she is no match for this master of seduction.

Rosalind


Jenny Hambly - 2018
    Targeting only those she knows won large sums of money from her father, bleeding him dry and causing him to take his own life, she decides to teach them a lesson. She takes something valuable from each, leaving her calling card with a bible quote behind her. On her last outing, she is caught red-handed. Her surprise that the old Earl had died and been succeeded by his handsome, much sought-after son, is only equalled by his amazement that the thief should be a young, beautiful lady of quality. Bored, restless and guilt-ridden over the death of his own father and with his accusations of him being a selfish whelp still ringing in his ears, Lord Atherton heads off a bow street runner who is pursuing Rosalind and in an altruistic act he engages her to be a companion to his mother, leading her to believe he is making amends for his father’s actions. Unaware that he has become the target of enmity from a desperate gambler from whom he has won a large sum of money, they are thrown into a series of increasingly dangerous situations. Her brave responses to danger in no way reflect the behaviour expected of a traditional sweet young lady and frequently clash with his increasing sense of responsibility towards her. Her resentment at his frequent disapproval is increased when she discovers he hired her under false pretenses. Recognizing that her own happy ever after is as far away as ever, her pride dictates that she must leave her position and the new-found warmth and friendship she has found in the Atherton household. Will they manage to overcome both pride and prejudice to finally find happiness or will an unexpected letter from a solicitor drive a final wedge between them?

The Captain and the Wallflower


Lyn Stone - 2012
    Who better than the homeliest young woman left over at the end of the London season? After all, she will require little attention to keep her happy….Lady Grace Renfair leaps at the only chance to escape her emotionally abusive uncle and accepts Caine's proposal. Soon she blooms with confidence and beauty, causing her husband's forbidding exterior to crumble.If she could only reach beyond his scars to the gentleman beneath….

The Duke's Disaster


Grace Burrowes - 2015
    Lady Thea’s mature, sensible and even rather attractive—what could possibly go wrong?As a lady fallen on hard times, Thea doesn’t expect tender sentiments from His Grace, but she does wish Noah had courted her trust, lest her past turn their hastily arranged marriage into a life of shared regrets. Is His Grace courting a convenient wife, or a beautiful disaster?

Rushed to the Altar


Jane Feather - 2010
    Not in the usual way, however. His wealthy uncle's will promises to divide his huge fortune among his nephews if each rescues a fallen woman ... by marrying her! And since Jasper's estates were already mortgaged to the hilt before he inherited them, when he catches a pretty young prostitute trying to pick his pocket, he immediately makes his proposal.Clarissa Astley is not at all what Jasper believes. The orphaned daughter of a prosperous merchant, she is searching the seedier districts of London for her young brother, abducted by their evil guardian, who wants the little boy's inheritance. But she needs powerful help, and the darkly handsome Earl of Blackwater is certainly that. So she pretends to be exactly what he assumed --- a risky charade for an innocent virgin. But when passion flares between Jasper and Clarissa, the deception becomes even more difficult to handle ...