Book picks similar to
Shadow Duet by Stephanie Burgis


historical
short-stories
romance
historical-fantasy

The Escapement of Blackledge


Melody Ellsworth - 2016
    No one expected that the most appealing young lady would be a thief who was about to steal more than his heart. For fans of the Glamourist Histories -- explicit content.This was created as an April Fool's prank and originally presented as being by "Melody Ellsworth."

The Gauntlet


Karen Chance - 2010
    The story is available for free on Karen Chance's website.

The Marriage of Mary Russell


Laurie R. King - 2016
    Only, this simple arrangement soon begins to go sideways, and....

The Marrying Maid


Jo Beverley - 2013
    There.He smiled, with delight but with surprise.The woman in gray? The one strolling through the park at the side of another woman just as ordinary, wearing a plain gown with little trimming and a flat straw hat?She was his destined bride?"Rob's been searching for his bride all his adult life and has only days left before Faery can claim a terrible victory over his family and his line.Now he's found her, however, he has to win her, and Martha Darby wants nothing to do with a London rake, in his satin and lace. She's the respectable daughter of a Dean of York Cathedral, and as soon as Rob shows interest, she heads resolutely north.Thus follows a lively pursuit, as every kiss increases Rob's legendary powers, and warring Oberon and Titania urge on their representatives.

The Earl's Christmas Pearl


Megan Frampton - 2019
    An irrestible earl. And an energetic Corgi named Mr. Shorty. What more could you want in a Christmas novella by Megan Frampton?It's Christmastime in London, and Lady Pearl Howlett is eagerly ready for the festivities—until her family goes off to their country estate...accidentally leaving her home alone! But she's not dismayed. Rather, she's thrilled to do exactly what she wants. Unfortunately, this daughter of a duke doesn't know how to do anything.The Earl of Llanover has come to London to take refuge in his godmother's townhouse, free to be as awkward and grumpy as he wants. With his pet Corgi, Mr. Shorty, for company, Owen Dwyfor is ready for a quiet holiday away from his mother and sisters who would have him married off. That is, until his godmother's neighbor, Lady Pearl Howlett comes barging in to his solitude.After some reluctance, the two come together for a joyous—and steamy—Christmas they won't forget.

How the Dukes Stole Christmas


Tessa Dare - 2018
    From the ballrooms of London, to abandoned Scottish castles, to the snowy streets of Gilded Age New York, four bestselling authors whip up some unforgettable romance...with a little help from some enchanted shortbread."Meet Me in Mayfair" by Tessa DareLouisa Ward needs a Christmas miracle. Unless she catches a wealthy husband at the ball tonight, the horrid, heartless Duke of Thorndale will evict her family from their beloved Mayfair home. But when her friend begs to switch dance cards, Louisa finds herself waltzing with the enemy: the horrid, heartless--and unexpectedly handsome--Thorndale himself. Now the duke's holding her future in his hands...and he's not letting go."The Duke of Christmas Present" by Sarah MacLeanRich and ruthless, Eben, Duke of Allryd, has no time for holidays. Holidays are for whimsy and charm--the only two things his money cannot buy. Lady Jacqueline Mosby is full of both, even now, twelve years after she left to see the world. When Jacqueline returns for a single Christmas, Eben can't resist the woman he never stopped loving...or the future that had once been in reach. It will take a miracle to convince her to stay...but if ever there were a time for miracles, it's Christmas..."Heiress Alone" by Sophie JordanWhen Annis Bannister's family leaves her behind in the rush to escape an impending snowstorm, she finds herself stranded in the Highlands, left to fend off brigands terrorizing the countryside, robbing homes locked up for winter. Her only hope falls on her neighbor, a surly hermit duke who unravels her with a look, then a kiss ... until she fears the danger to her heart outweighs the danger of brigands and snowstorms."Christmas in Central Park" by Joanna ShupeWomen all over America devour Mrs. Walker's weekly column for recipes and advice. No one knows Rose, the column's author, can't even boil water. When the paper's owner, Duke Havemeyer, insists she host a Christmas party, Rose must scramble to find a husband, an empty mansion, and a cook. But Duke is not a man easily fooled and she fears her perfect plan is failing--especially when Duke's attentions make her feel anything but professional. To save her career will she give up her chance at love?

First Impressions


Elizabeth Johns - 2015
     The widower Earl of Rutherford, still in need of an heir, reluctantly sets off for London in search of a wife. He infinitely prefers the role of recluse to that of dashing beau. The Season’s Incomparable, Helena Foster, prefers books to balls. She agrees to hide her bookish tendencies in exchange for her mother agreeing to limit her to one Season. Their initial prejudices prevent their feeling they would suit, but an unlikely source may give them another chance…

Dancing with the Duke


Suzanna Medeiros - 2012
    But that plan falls into tatters when his mother sponsors his sister's friend and enlists him to dance with her at Almack's. The beautiful vixen he meets that night bears little resemblance to the shy, gangly girl who used to follow him around. Now, instead of avoiding Charlotte, he finds himself frustrated when she seems to notice everyone but him.

The Winter Witch


Paula Brackston - 2013
    Her silence is a mystery, as well as her magic. Concerned for her safety, her mother is anxious to see her married, and Cai Jenkins, a widower from the far hills, seems the best choice.After her wedding, Morgana is heartbroken at leaving her mother, and wary of this man, whom she does not know, and who will take her away to begin a new life. But she soon falls in love with Cai’s farm and the wild mountains that surround it. Cai works to understand the beautiful, half-tamed creature he has chosen for a bride, and slowly, he begins to win Morgana’s affections. It’s not long, however, before her strangeness begins to be remarked upon in her new village. A dark force is at work there—a person who will stop at nothing to turn the townspeople against Morgana. Forced to defend her home, her man, and herself, Morgana must learn to harness her power, or she will lose everything.

The Lady Submits


Chloe Cox - 2012
    Worse, she's been saddled with the brutish Carlo Castellan as her bodyguard for the last night of Bacchanal. There's only one thing to do: escape to the fabled House of the Severille...The imperious Lady Lucrezia expects to sate herself by dominating some poor house slave. What she gets instead is the harsh touch of a Severille Master who will stop at nothing to make the Lady submit.Excerpt below......Lucrezia had never been one to hide. She'd never felt the need. Hidingwas what one did when one wasn't sure of one's place in the world, andshe had always been quite sure of her place at the top. Suddenly she wasn't sure of anything. After a moment of stunned hesitation, Lucrezia had immediately fled toan unoccupied bench in a relatively secluded corner of the courtyard,partially obscured by the greenery of several tall, foreign lookingplants. She had thought to collect herself, and find a way to explainher mistake -- she was not a slave, and didn't know the first thing aboutsubmission to anything -- but there was no escape from the sights andsounds of the Severille: on the other side of the mottled green curtainwas a woman having sex with two men at once on a bench much like the oneLucrezia occupied. One of the men kept slapping the woman's reddenedbuttocks as he drove into her asshole from behind, while the other tookher pussy from below. She was crying unintelligibly with near constantpleasure.Once more, Lucrezia could not look away."How amusing," a deep voice rumbled behind her. She tried to turn toface the intruder, but a heavy hand grabbed her shoulder and kept herstill while a rougher hand clasped between her legs from behind. She gasped in shock, but did not move. She did not even speak. The sudden, bright fire from the hand between her legsseemed to blot out all words."Don't you know that those who hide in plain sight only wish to befound?" the voice continued, and she realized it was muffled by a mask.Still, it was resonant and rich, and with the calm authority of someonewho is rarely disobeyed. She opened her mouth to speak, but whoever hadtrapped her began to rub his fingers along the length of her slitthrough the thin fabric of her undergarment, and Lucrezia lost her wordsonce more. She felt herself begin to melt into him, and heard himchuckle softly."Do not move. Do you understand?""Yes," she heard herself say, and nearly choked on it.The man moved his hand from her shoulder to her breast, first over thesoft, expensive leather, then with impatience reaching under the topspiece to seize her naked flesh. He kneaded her breast until she leanedinto him, rolling her nipple between his fingers, massaging her pussywith his other hand. He pinched her nipple, hard, and laughed as shesquealed."Yes," the voice said, "you will do." He spun her around to face him. He was wearing a full black mask ofsmooth lacquer, his full mouth and stubbled chin all that was visible,and he was smiling. His dark eyes shown through the holes in his maskwith a kind of amused certainty, as Lucrezia imagined a cat might lookat a struggling mouse. What's more, he was powerfully built, with abroad frame wrapped in thick muscle, and shirtless to the waist. Hischest was dusted with fine dark hair, trailing all the way down to hisbelt. Just the sight of him was arousing. He reached out and tipped herchin up to him, taking a look at her blushing cheeks and wet lips. Thenhe grabbed her between the legs again, and drew her close. "This is now mine," he said....The Lady Submits is a 12,000 word erotic historical fantasy novelette featuring strongBDSM themes. If you don't like bondage, leashes, public display andhumiliation, or alpha male doms who brook no dissent, then this probablyisn't for you. Otherwise...enjoy. ;)

Prince in the Mist


Claudy Conn - 2011
    He is a royal Fae, immortal and endowed with more than eye candy looks. He is a being with immeasurable powers but life for him lacked something—so he looked around, and found... humans.Watching their lives and interactions, from another dimension filled him with feelings he had thought long lost in the ennui of immortality. The more he watched--the more addicted to their antics he became. An affection for the human race grew inside the heart Fae are not supposed to have, and it was inevitable that he began to have preferences with regards to them.In 1314, when Scotland’s rule was in jeopardy and the British were about to take more than they should, he chose a side--and then he saw her, and nothing would ever be the same for the prince ever again…

Lady Susan


Jane Austen - 1871
    A magnificently crafted novel of Regency manners and mores that will delight Austen enthusiasts with its wit and elegant expression.

A Winter's Knight


Elizabeth Cole - 2012
    But her rescuer, the mysterious Anthony Sterling, immediately melts her heart and makes her dream of a life beyond her tiny, sheltered world. The more she gets to know him, the more she senses he is hiding something from her.When Captain Anthony Sterling was wounded in battle, he lost his leg, his fiancee, and any hope for happiness. Even the revelation that he is the heir to a fortune brought him nothing but bitterness. Then his chance encounter with the charming, innocent Phoebe makes him wonder if there may be a future for him after all. But first he must escape the shadows of his past.

The Viscount's Tempting Minx


Erica Ridley - 2014
    Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time—he needs her! When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family's annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia's guerrilla tactics, he's up to his cravat with tinsel . . . and tumbling head over heels in love.

The Untamed MacKenzie


Jennifer Ashley - 2013
    He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor.But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is shockingly accused of murder! Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society.The problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes he’s falling for the lovely lady.Fellows is Louisa's only hope of restoring her family's honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder…* Includes a preview of the upcoming novel, “THE WICKED DEEDS OF DANIEL MACKENZIE”