Her prospects are promising by the standards of London society, yet, not one of them causes her heart to flutter, or her head to fill with scintillating, forbidden fantasies. Those feelings are reserved for Camden Rycroft, Duke of Avonleah—a man who isn’t even aware of her existence.While attending a scandalous Vauxhall Gardens masquerade, Margaret finds herself in the duke’s arms. His promise of a night of pleasure is tempting, but is it worth it when Avonleah is a known rake notorious for his short attention span and avoidance of marriage?Camden Rycroft is intrigued by the masked vixen he encounters in the Gardens. After one night with her leaves him hungry for more, his desire for her turns into a fiery obsession. Despite the scandal that could ensue from their affair, he finds himself unable to extract himself from a situation destined to end in pain. When faced with losing Margaret to a potential husband, will he rise to the occasion, or risk living without her?

    Beloved only by her youngest sister Persephone, Athena has accepted her destiny as a spinster. But Persephone has a different scheme in mind, and conspires to send Athena out for one night of fun at Lord Finchley’s masquerade Christmas Ball. The masked beauty catches the Lord’s eye but, determined to avoid the wrath of her stepsister, Athena leads Lord Finchley on a wild chase to discover her true identity.**originally published as part of the anthology A Regency Christmas in 1994 under the pseud Leslie Lynn

    The story first appeared in the 2010 Anthology The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance. Lydia Bettridge is a young woman suffering the pangs of unrequited love. To capture the attention of Geoffrey Danforth, the man who has stolen her heart but barely notices her, she has resorted to desperate measures with a seemingly clever plan. By engaging the help of Phillip, a friend of her brother's, to play the love-smitten fool in public, she hopes to pique the interest of her unnamed love. But when Geoffrey himself shows up to take Phillip's place, all her careful planning is turned upside down. What's a girl to do but to make the best of it? This short story was originally published in The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.

    Fearing he actually plans to arrest her for witchcraft, she drinks a protection potion before he arrives. Eirik, a Viking sea captain pretending slumber in the tavern corner, witnesses Branwyn’s magic and offers her safe passage from Exeter if she will attempt to reverse a curse that plagues him. Unfortunately, every woman who touches him falls wildly but falsely in love with him. There’s only one hitch. If she fails, Branwyn’s heart will become a victim to the same madness...forever!

    So just why is this case coming between them? In a Victorian London ruled by the blood-drinking elite, Perry Lowell is a logical and accomplished Nighthawk: a rogue blue blood who tracks murderers and thieves for the Guild. So when she and her charming-but-reckless partner, Garrett, are charged with finding a missing theatre starlet, it should be a simple solve. But with an entire theatre of suspects, including a flirtatious understudy and whispers of a Clockwork Menace haunting the place, tension is brewing between the pair of them. Can they come together to solve the case—or will it be too late, when the murderer turns his gaze on Perry herself? Don’t miss any of the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy books! Book 1: Mission: Improper. Book 2: The Mech Who Loved Me. Book 3: You Only Love Twice. Book 4: To Catch A Rogue. Book 5: Dukes Are Forever What everyone is saying about Bec McMaster: "richly imagined, gritty and dark, and full of hot heroes and hot sex...utterly delicious." - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books for Kiss of Steel 'Dark, intense and sexy... A stunning new series with an intriguing twist on the vampire theme..." - Library Journal for Kiss of Steel The London Steampunk series: - Paranormal Romance - Steampunk Romance - Gaslamp Fantasy - Historical Romance - Victorian Era Romance - Action Adventure Romance - Friends to Lovers

    The mutt clan embodies all the supernatural world’s worst stereotypes about werewolves. But not even the Cains deserve to be hunted down and skinned like animals.When young Davis Cain comes to the Pack for help, Alpha Elena Michaels can’t refuse him. It isn't about morality or justice. It’s about not letting anyone think they can do this to werewolves and get away with it.But Elena is also dealing with the Pack’s homegrown monster—Malcolm Danvers, onetime enforcer, full-time psycho. Malcolm is now under Elena’s control, as part of the most difficult decision she’s had to make as leader. But if she has to let Malcolm in, she’s going to make full use of him…and the best person to catch monsters is one who knows exactly how they think.

    By day, he practices law at the Four Courts and gives reading lessons to the local children. By night he’s the man in the mask, prowling the streets of The Liberties defending the people—his people—from those who would prey upon them. But when his estranged wife appears on his doorstep with a summons from Sir Arthur Wellesley, both of Michael’s worlds are turned upside down. What will happen to The Liberties if he obeys Sir Arthur’s command to meet in Cork? Can he even trust the woman who married then left him five years ago?As a spy for Sir Arthur Wellesley, Joanna Pearson Devlin has executed this same mission flawlessly many times before: locate the subject, transport him safely, and present him to her employer. When Sir Arthur sends her out one more time to bring in her estranged husband, Joanna knows this mission will be anything except flawless. But Napoleon’s agents are everywhere, and Michael is an important part of the team Sir Arthur is assembling to stop them. For the sake of her country, Joanna heads to Dublin even as her discomfort grows. Will she be able to put aside her uncertainties and convince her husband to join the fight? Can they learn to work together again if he agrees?

    For the next thirteen years, on the full moon, Johanna's dream lover appeared. Sometimes his lovemaking was playful and tender, other times passionate and raw.When no flesh-and-blood man can compete with her dream lover, Johanna puts all her energy into her job and studying vampires. Then she is sent to the fabled Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania to meet her company's largest client, the mysterious and demanding Cristofor Dalakis.Cristofor, the enigmatic and formidable patriarch of the Dalakis family, plans to use his every skill to seduce and possess Johanna. But Cristofor is harboring a dark family secret that will challenge all that Johanna has known and believed.

    Penniless and orphaned, she sets off for London to make her fortune as a man. But a position as secretary to Lord Cosgrove proves unexpectedly challenging. Someone is trying to destroy Cosgrove and his life is increasingly in jeopardy.As Charlotte plunges into London’s backstreets and brothels at Cosgrove’s side, hunting his persecutor, she finds herself fighting for her life—and falling in love…

    Portia, however, is about to marry another man. Northword tells himself it is wrong to interfere in her life at this late hour, but interfere he cannot help, with his words, his body, and the truths of his heart.This novella was originally featured in the anthology "Midnight Scandals".

    But when Lord Stephen St. Leger requests her help in investigating an alleged psychic’s claims, she can’t deny the ominous feeling she has within the walls of his ancient estate—or the intimately familiar connection she has with Stephen himself. The last time he’d called Blackhope Hall home, Stephen had watched as his elder brother claimed both the family title and the woman he loved. Now, in the wake of his brother’s murder, Stephen has reluctantly returned to find his family ensconced in scandal. Who is responsible for his brother’s untimely death? And what is it about investigator Olivia Moreland that so thoroughly draws him in, reigniting a passion he hasn’t felt in years?

    He can easily win the heart of any lass... but somehow, the right words to express his love for the stunning Leslie Harrison have eluded him. Yet as Christmastide approaches, Finn knows he must find a way to propose to the raven-haired beauty who has stolen his heart.A BATTLE FOR TRUE LOVE A furious Leslie Harrison could run her brothers through for promising her to another. But she will do anything to save her family from dishonor... even though in her heart she knows no other man but Finn will do. When Leslie's betrothed makes a dastardly deal, putting her family and the MacGregor clan in danger, Finn will prove that he's just as fierce in battle as he is sweet in song. Can these two lovers find a Christmas miracle that will grant them a happily-ever-after?

     Elizabeth Ayers is done with her stuffy, city life. Engaged to a man who couldn’t care less about her to further her father’s business dealings, she longs for adventure and the chance to see the newly opened West. But time is running out as her wedding draws near and the walls of her constricted world close in on her… Howard Haskell is a man who knows what he wants, and from the moment he sees Elizabeth across a Cincinnati ballroom, he wants her. The rules of society are meant to be broken, as far as he’s concerned, and regardless of disapproval on all sides, he sets out to win Elizabeth and make her his…in a matter of days… Fans of The Brides of Paradise Ranch and Hot on the Trail know just how much Howard enjoys a good competition. Using a contest to win his wife is no exception. Only, Howard is the ultimate rule-breaker… PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam Level - HOT

    A visit from his youngest brother does nothing to change his mind. All he wants is to remain at his country estate with Henry Shaw. After days of going over documents, Arsen is more than ready for his brother to depart for London in the morning. He’s missed having Henry in his bed. Now if he can just convince his frustratingly cautious lover to join him in his bed for the night… Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable.

    But there's a catch...I, George Lockett, do decree that my grandchildren, herein named, will inherit my fortune in its entirety, so long as they fulfill the following terms. Each person must complete their task to my lawyer's satisfaction or their share of the inheritance shall be forfeit.There are many reasons Lady Angel Templeton needs her grandfather's money. Of course she wants to be less of a burden to her oldest brother but, goodness, once she has even more money, she can have her pick of the men! A certain Duke of Norwick would be a fool to ignore her...Unfortunately, their beloved grandfather decided not to make it easy on the Templetons, though Angel is convinced her task must be the hardest. To fulfill the terms of the will, she must perform unpaid duties as a lady's companion for two months to the entirely unmanageable Mrs. Stone.Two whole months of work.What's worse, Mrs. Stone is determined to be an even bigger handful than Angel herself.No...what's worse, is the lady comes along with a miserable wretch of a nephew. While she cannot deny he is handsome in that dark, brooding way so many women adore, Angel does not enjoy the company of serious men--especially when they have already declared they do not trust her one jot.Well, she doesn't trust him either. It soon becomes obvious why the stern Mr. Hunter is determined to haunt her every move--he must want Mrs. Stone's money! Well, Angel cannot allow anything happen to her new friend, especially when she risks losing everything. There Are Plenty More Dukes in the Sea is a Regency romance novella with a little heat. Keep an eye out for the rest of the Templeton siblings, coming very soon!