Book picks similar to
The Earl of Rayne's Ward by Anne Ashley


historical
historical-romance
regency-romance
guardian-ward-trope

Murder at Locke Abbey


Catherine Winchester - 2014
    When Lady Thea Copley arrives with her detective father, Cole is immediately taken with her. He soon realises that she is not a typical lady, and that her beauty is only surpassed by the sharpness of her mind. As they work together and expose the secrets and lies at the heart of his household, Cole is left reeling from the revelations. Can Thea overcome her past hurts to be his anchor, or will she hide behind her intellect, afraid to take a chance?

A Captivating Lady's Love Storm


Bridget Barton - 2020
    After her first dance with a charming gentleman, her instinct tells her that he might be the one. While she can't stop daydreaming about her life by his side, everything is about to change when she discovers that his family is her father's lifelong feud. When her father announces that he will never allow her to see him again, Marianne's life falls into pieces. Desperate to escape her grim future, she tries to find the cause of her father's hate and soothe his resentful heart. Will she manage to put an end to an endless clash? Will she finally have the happy ending she has always been dreaming of?Edmund Stapleton is a kind gentleman with an intrepid mind. Even though he has never enjoyed balls and such social events, he has no choice but to fulfil society's expectations. When he first sees Marianne, he cannot help being smitten by her beauty. But a storm is brewing when he learns that the woman who is about to haunt his dreams would be the daughter of his father's most obnoxious enemy. Will Edmund stick to his father's demand to forget about Marianne, or will he start a relentless pursuit of claiming the woman he loves?Against all odds, Marianne and Edmund do everything in their power to spend a few moments together. But when her father finds out about their secret meetings, furious as he is, he forces her back to the countryside. To make matters worse, he finds an eligible man to betroth her at the earliest opportunity. In the end, will the two romantic souls escape from a terrible fate? Will their love withstand the obstacles that keep them apart?"A Captivating Lady's Love Storm" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Captive


Joan Johnston - 1996
    Her new guardian immediately made her a prisoner in her own room—until she agreed to learn the lady-like arts. Furious, she complied. Anything to buy her freedom from Denbigh. She'd even marry a man she didn't love to get away from her domineering guardian. In fact, love was the furthest thing from her mind...He was the Earl who vowed to tame her.Lionel Morgan, Earl of Denbigh, had been betrayed at the altar by another woman and vowed that no female would ensnare him again. Then Charlotte Edgerton burst into his life. Denbigh wasn't prepared for this headstrong American—or the passions she inspired on first sight. He knew only that he had to civilize her, present her at court, and Almack's, and then marry her off to the highest bidder. It wasn't until he nearly lost her that he realized the truth: She'd somehow reversed their roles and become the captor of his heart.

Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career


Carla Kelly - 1992
    On the other hand, society would reel in a scandalized shock at the idea of Ellen donning Gordon's student robes to do his work. But an even greater scandal loomed when a handsome lord in humble scholar's disguise learned Ellen's secret and set out to give her a most advanced lesson in love...

A Soulmate for the Distant Earl


Aria Norton - 2020
    Refusing to keep her sharp tongue tamed, she's not interested in a suitor that can't keep up with her dynamic nature. Perhaps she should reserve her wit solely for the pompous Earl of Seymour for he surely deserves it. Well, that would be easy if he didn't look so dashing... Could she really be falling this fast for a man she used to despise?Francis Blackmore, Earl of Seymour, enjoys his unmarried state, but having to deal with his childhood nemesis and her constant challenging attitude is not as entertaining. Caroline has been the bane of his existence for longer than he cares to count, so how could her breathtaking beauty suddenly be taking him by surprise? It would certainly be easier to avoid her if his sister wasn't getting married to Caroline's brother! Or at least, that's what he says to himself, unwilling to admit how being with her has become the most unexpected joy of his life...When a threat promises to ruin the wedding of their betrothed siblings, Caroline and Francis begrudgingly form an alliance to help them. They soon realise that spending time together is unavoidable, but so are the confusing and self-consuming feelings that arise between them. When they join forces for the greater good, sparks will fly... but if some of them catch on fire, their hearts might be at stake! Can they really set their long-held grievances aside, or will their stubborn nature ruin everything? Will their love manage to conquer their lifelong established pride?"A Soulmate for the Distant Earl" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

The Duke's Return and the Lady's Rebuttal


Charlotte Darcy - 2017
    The Duke of Millington will lose everything unless he marries. Both will only marry for Love. Benedict Astor, the Duke of Millington has returned from 6 years of war only to find his father dead and his title and land soon to be given to another. He has but a few months to find a wife if he wishes to keep his home and his title. Only Benedict would only marry for love. Can he now give up on his principles and marry for duty? Juliet Morgan is nursing her dying father knowing that on his death she will lose her home. The property is entailed to her cousin and he is a man she does not know. When her solicitor suggests that she marry the Duke of Millington she is insulted and reacts with anger. How dare this man presume that she is desperate? Benedict is knocked form his horse one day by a daring woman taking a hedge too quickly, when he finds out it is Juliet he is suddenly interested. Not only did she have the courage to turn him down but she is beautiful, intelligent and of strong character. Everything he wants in a woman. While his own sister plots and schemes for him to lose his inheritance all he can think of is Juliet but she will not accept even the smallest word from him. In despair, Benedict decides he must marry a title hunter or lose all he has. Yet there is trouble for Juliet, her cousin has decided she will be his. Can Benedict come to terms with giving up on his principle or will he walk away from his home? Will Juliet lose all, even her freedom?

My Lord Wicked


Cheryl Bolen - 2011
    His own wickedness has destroyed any chance for happiness.

A Courtesan Countess Worth the Scandal


Ava MacAdams - 2021
    When her family is threatened, she does the one thing she can to protect them: publishes a book exposing them all.After his disaster of a marriage, Liam Westwood, the Earl of Keswick, made a sacred pact: never fall in love again. Having spent his years abroad, he never expected to meet a vixen that would test his sanity and haunt his nights upon his return.With the Ton’s most scandalous secrets hiding between the pages of her book, Nora has no shortage of people who wish to see her suffer. And some are determined to see her ruined. When the manuscript falls in Liam’s hands, his feelings of betrayal are overshadowed by a single thing: a name that jumps out more than all the others put together. His.

The American Earl


Joan Wolf - 2014
    Her father has left their estate, Stoverton, burdened with enormous debt and the only good news about the new earl is that he’s a millionaire. Julia’s hope is that he will bail the estate out and go back home to America, leaving her to run Stoverton, as she always has. Evan Marshall, the new earl, has no use for the British and certainly does not want to be an English earl. However, he finds not only has he inherited enormous debts, but he is now the guardian of two girls – Julia and her younger sister Maria. On the advice of his aunt, he agrees to give Julia a London Season so she can catch a husband and take care of Maria. Then he’ll be able to go home to America, where he belongs. Nothing goes according to either of these very determined people’s plans.

The Duke's Fallen Angel


Amy Jarecki - 2018
     The Duke of Ravenscar intended to debut the most acclaimed ballerina in the civilized world to open his London theater. But when the ship arrives with an understudy, Drake is convinced the fortune he has invested will be forfeit. Until he sees the woman dance. Britannia LeClair arrives in London excited to be performing the lead in La Sylphide. A foundling, she has had to work harder and with more determination than anyone in the corps. At last, her debut in London proves her worth despite her lowly birth. Until she meets the smoldering gaze of the Duke of Ravenscar. Determined not to become anyone’s mistress, Britannia keeps the duke at arms-length while she sets to uncovering the mystery of her parentage. With only a miniature painting and a monogrammed handkerchief, her inquiries lead to a series of escalating accidents and threats. When Drake realizes Britannia is in danger, he will move heaven and hell to protect her…if the strong-headed ballerina will let him. As they traverse through the mire of skullduggery and hidden shame, events unravel to endanger them both. Will the truth prove worth uncovering, or will it sever the deep love that has come to bond their very souls?

Nothing Like a Ravishing Governess


Emily Honeyfield - 2020
    When Laura's family is in the midst of financial ruin, she decides to change her identity in order to avenge her father's name. This fiery Lady thought she could do anything to avoid revealing her double life, as a spy and a governess, but is she ready to have her plans turned upside down? How much is she willing to sacrifice to protect her secret?The dashing Callum Burke returns devastated from India to grieve the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law, who've left behind six-year-old twin boys. That's when he meets their seductive governess and desire flickers inside of him. The couple is off to a rough start, as Callum quickly senses that Laura isn't entirely truthful. But when mistrust is not the only emotion growing between them, will his mission to find the truth turn out to be a quest for love?Callum's suspicions burn, as does his lust for her, but will Laura's secrets lead to their ultimate separation? Laura finds herself slowly falling for the wild-eyed and volatile Callum, even if she knows that her emotions might get in the way of her mission. Will she be able to avenge her father οr will she ultimately fail, in the wake of a truly passionate love?"Nothing Like a Ravishing Governess" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Secrets of Stonebridge


Anita Stansfield - 2021
    After more than a year spent sequestered in her rooms at Stonebridge Manor, the once lively young woman is encouraged to venture into town—her first small step toward healing. But Regina is shaken out of her stupor when she makes a most unexpected discovery: a foundling baby girl. Regina is instantly enthralled with the infant and determines that she will claim the child as her own—a deception that seems, in the moment, to be harmless. But when her husband’s cousin Radcliffe comes back into her life, Regina quickly becomes entangled in a tenuous charade. Radcliffe is immediately taken with both the charming baby girl and the woman he believes to be her mother. As Regina and Radcliffe are drawn together, first as friends and then as something much deeper, the future is bright with unspoken promise. But when the truth of the baby’s parentage is revealed, Regina stands to lose all that she has come to cherish.

The Rebirth of a Peculiar Lady


Abigail Agar - 2019
    But not even the ones closest to her would ever call her a conventional beauty; a title she wouldn't crave either way. All until the pressure of Society and her parents will imperatively start demanding that she compromises with the standards a typical debutant of her age should follow. Soon enough she finds herself trapped, away from London, with an obstinate aunt, aching for the comforts of home. How will things evolve, though, when she comes back, totally transformed? Oliver Garrison has experienced unique moments alongside Catherine, as her brothers' best friend. When she leaves London without letting him know, the only way they could communicate with each other are the countless letters they exchange. But when she returns, there is something changed in her... How will he deal with feelings of jealousy when his childhood friend will now be approached by every eligible bachelor, even by a despicable Duke? Will he dare to even risk his reputation in order to save her from the prison of her beauty? Catherine finds herself in the midst of a budding war, unsure of how she should proceed. Should she uphold her parents' wishes and marry for title and position? Or should she listen to Oliver's advice to ignore other people's opinion and just follow her heart? "The Rebirth of a Peculiar Lady" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Mandy


Claudy Conn - 1978
    He has been accused of murdering the woman who had been clearly trying to seduce him. Their guardian, the Duke of Margate is summoned to help. Mandy had always assumed he was an old man. But, the duke was far from old. He was, in fact, virile, dashing and oh so good looking. The duke enjoyed being a confirmed bachelor…and then he met Mandy. But, first things first—they had to prove Ned innocent. **note: this is an updated version of an earlier novel written as Claudette Williams. The updated versions of Claudy's Claudette Williams titles are more sexually explicit than the original versions.

The Reluctant Duke


Christine Donovan - 2012
    Society is pulling them apart. She can't become his wife and won't become his mistress.The last thing wounded veteran Major Thomas Marshal wanted was a title. It wasn’t supposed to happen. But duty has a way of pulling a man into things he doesn’t want and away from the things he needs.The only thing Miss Guinevere Harding needs is a safe place to hide. A job as the downstairs maid at Brookshire is the perfect refuge from a frightening past. Or at least it was until the arrival of the new Duke.