Book picks similar to
Exiled Duke by K.J. Jackson
historical
historical-romance
romance
dnf
The Bride of the Unicorn
Kasey Michaels - 1993
The cousin of the Marquis of Clayton begs him from his deathbed to find a lost heiress he helped destroy, and restore her to her rightful station. But when Caroline is found and restored, her life becomes fair game for those with selfish designs. And she can't help but wonder, does Clayton love her, or is she merely a tool for his own agenda?
When the Duke Was Wicked
Lorraine Heath - 2014
But for the right woman, even an unrepentant rogue may mend his ways…Lady Grace Mabry’s ample inheritance has made it impossible for her to tell whether a suitor is in love with her—or enamored of her riches. Who better to distinguish beau from blackguard than her notorious childhood friend, the Duke of Lovingdon?After losing his beloved wife Juliette, Lovingdon has spent ten years on pleasure. He can help Grace find a proper match, being familiar with ploys of scoundrels, and how to distinguish honest emotions from false. But lessons lead to torrid passion and Grace becomes ensnared in another man’s nefarious marriage plot,
Once Upon A Scandal
Barbara Dawson Smith - 1997
But on their wedding night, when he learned the truth about his not-so-innocent bride, he abandoned her.Seven years later, Emma lives in disgrace with her beloved daughter, Jenny. Penniless, Emma provides for her child in the one way she knows how: in the dark of night, she creeps across the rooftops of London and steals jewels from the wealthy nobles who have wronged her.Then Lucas catches her in a daring act of burglary. And he proposes a devil's bargain-- give him an heir...or be exposed. Vowing to hide the devastating secret in her past, Emma agrees to share her husband's bed, never dreaming this cold stranger has become a skilled seducer who will sweep her into a world of peril and passion...
One Dance with a Duke
Tessa Dare - 2010
A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members--yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing "Duke of Midnight." Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke--until Lady Amelia d'Orsay tries her luck. In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke's dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother's debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club's founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?
Beast
A.J. Adams - 2016
The tunic came off, revealing a long, lean, muscled torso, covered in tattoos. Snakes ran up and down his arms, his pecs and his shoulders. A skull blazed on his chest. Then he was pushing apart my legs, settling between my thighs, leaning over me. He smelled of smoke, leather and musk. It was terrifying, like being at the mercy of an animal.Falsely accused, Wynne is determined to clear her name. However, a trip to petition the Steward at Brighthelme turns disastrous when the Beasts, fearsome warriors from the frozen north, raze the city. When Wynne is carried away, she’s determined to regain her freedom but Rune, her captor, has other ideas. Beast is set in Prydain, an imaginary place that combines Anglo-Saxon England with Medieval England, the Teutonic Kingdom and the Viking Age. Note: this story contains kidnapping, dub-con and graphic violence. It is a standalone novel; no cliff-hangers.
A Stranger's Wife
Maggie Osborne - 1999
One obstacle stands in his way... the threat of scandal after his wife mysteriously runs off. But Westin has an audacious solution -- find a woman who is the spitting image of his vanished Miriam.They Weren't Supposed to Fall in Love.After 5 years in prison, Lily Dale finally wins her freedom...for a price. Under Westin's smoldering gaze, Lily slowly transforms from a rough frontier woman to the polished beauty fit for the arm -- but never the bed -- of a future governor. Never, that is, until Westin's searing touch overcomes her growing suspicions about her predecessor's true fate... and until hot, whispered words dangerously defy his carefully-written script.Setting: Colorado Territory, late 1800s Sensuality: 7 Lily Dale is no lady. In fact, she's spent the past five years in Yuma Women's Prison for aiding and abetting a holdup. Men have been her downfall her whole life, and when she's unexpectedly paroled from prison her only goal is to return to Missouri and to her 6-year-old daughter. But someone has pulled the strings to get Lily released from jail, and that someone wants a favor in return, namely her cooperation in impersonating another woman for the next seven months. The woman a politician named Kazinsky wants her to impersonate is none other than Marian Westin, the missing wife of Colorado candidate-for-Governor, Quinn Westin. Stunned, Lily refuses but quickly learns that Quinn won't take no for an answer. Compelled to cooperate by both the threat of returning to jail and the promise of a new life for her and her daughter in Europe, Lily reluctantly agrees and begins intensive lessons acting out the role of the mysterious Mrs. Westin. Lily is quickly drawn to Quinn with an overwhelming attraction that is returned by the influential man. Despite the knowledge that Lily must disappear in seven months while Quinn goes on to govern Colorado, the two find themselves giving in to their growing love. Lily Dale is a woman of courage and conviction, an out-of-the-ordinary heroine--a Maggie Osborne trademark. Quinn Westin is a hero powerful enough to balance Lily's strength and clever enough to value her wisdom. Combine Lily and Quinn with an entertaining plot, a dash of mystery, and plenty of steamy romance, and the result is a novel not to be missed.--Lois Faye Dyer
Acquisition 1-3: The Complete Series
Celia Aaron - 2016
Sinclair Vinemont will compete for the title, and has acquired Stella Rousseau for that very purpose. Breaking her is part of the game. Loving her is the most dangerous play of all.
Dubious / Consent
Charmaine Pauls - 2017
Breaking people is in my blood. The Haynes’s were supposed to be a straightforward job. Go in and pull the trigger twice. One bullet for Charlie, one for his sister. But when I saw Valentina, I wanted her. Only, in our world, those who owe us don’t get second chances. No way in hell will my mother let her live. So I devised a plan to keep her.It’s depraved.It’s immoral.It’s dubious.It’s perfect.Just like her.Consent (Book 2)When Gabriel broke down my door, he took over my body and life. Never with force, but always with clever manipulation. He stripped me of my independence, my defenses, and my clothes and turned me into an addict. My addiction is him. Once, I had dreams and a future. Now, I have fears, scars, and insatiable needs. I’m damaged beyond repair, but if I’m to survive the most dangerous man in Johannesburg, I can’t allow him to break me, because broken toys are destined for the garbage dump.
The House on Blackberry Hill
Donna Alward - 2014
Abby Foster arrives in Jewell Cove to take possession of the family mansion she’s inherited from a relative she never knew existed. Her plan is to refurbish it, put it on the market, and head back to Nova Scotia. But the house—and the secrets within it—catch her in its spell. Before long she’s drawn into the close-knit small town and falling for her sexy contractor, Tom Arseneault. Leaving isn’t going to be as simple as she hoped.Tom’s got his secluded cottage where he can nurse his grief and broken heart in private. But when Abby arrives in town, the restoration job at Blackberry Hill is too tempting to resist, much like its owner. Abby is opinionated, determined, and certainly does not need to be rescued. And while Tom isn’t looking for love, Abby is hard to resist.Abby and Tom grow closer, and the house is restored to its former glory. Will Abby choose to stay and take a chance on a man still in love with another? Or will she leave her heritage—and heart—behind forever?
Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed
Anna Campbell - 2012
Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic—even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both....Spark a lifetime of passionate surrender?Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?
Guilty Pleasures
Laura Lee Guhrke - 2004
Anthony hired Daphne to restore the priceless treasures he has been digging up, but it's hard for a woman to keep her mind on her work when her devastatingly handsome employer keeps taking his shirt off. He doesn't know she's alive, but who could blame her for falling hopelessly in love with him anyway?Anthony thinks that his capable employee knows all there is to know about antiquities, but when his sister decides to turn the plain young woman in gold-rimmed glasses into an enticing beauty, he declares the task to be impossible. Daphne is devasted when she overhears...and determined to prove him wrong. Now a vibrant and delectable Daphne has emerged from her shell, and the tables are turned. Will Anthony see that the woman of his dreams has been there all along?
For Love of the Duke
Christi Caldwell - 2014
When he’s coaxed out of his self-imposed exile to attend the amusements of the Frost Fair, his life is irrevocably changed by his fateful meeting with Lady Katherine Adamson.With her tight brown ringlets and silly white-ruffled gowns, Lady Katherine Adamson has found her dance card empty for two Seasons. After her father’s passing, Katherine learned the unreliability of men, and is determined to depend on no one, except herself. Until she meets Jasper…In a desperate bid to avoid a match arranged by her family, Katherine makes the Duke of Bainbridge a shocking proposition—one that he accepts.Only, as Katherine begins to love Jasper, she finds the arrangement agreed upon is not enough. And Jasper is left to decide if protecting his heart is more important than fighting for Katherine’s love.
Sutton's Spinster
Scarlett Scott - 2021
He needs one quickly. He needs one yesterday, in fact. His requirements are precise. She has to be capable of mothering the wild twin daughters who have unexpectedly appeared in his life. She must also possess the patience of a saint and the understanding of an angel. Better still if she is plain and has no expectation of a true marriage. He is not about to reform his ways. But how is he to find such a paragon of womanly virtue when a troublesome, maddening baggage keeps haunting his gaming hell and getting herself into scrapes?Lady Octavia Alexander, the ton’s most dedicated spinster, has no need of a husband. She is quite firmly and happily on the shelf, a devoted aunt to her beloved nieces and nephews. But she does harbor one illicit dream: she wants to start her own newspaper devoted solely to scandal and gossip. What better way to do so than to immerse herself in the sordid underworld of the East End? There is just one problem standing in the way of her plans, and his name is Jasper Sutton. But Octavia won’t abandon her independence and her future for an unscrupulous rogue. No matter how handsome he is, and regardless of how irresistible his kisses.Between running his family’s gaming hell, chasing after his wayward daughters, and keeping Lady Octavia from being robbed, spirited away by some enterprising criminal, or worse, Jasper is losing his patience. Even more concerning? He’s beginning to fear the only woman he truly wants to marry is the vexing lady who has sworn she will never wed. All he has to do is change her mind and win her heart.Heat level: Scorching hot!
A Prime's Passion
Shiloh Walker - 2021
Eyes down, little wolf, Zee’s father would say. You aren’t strong enough yet.Zennia Day kept her eyes down and stayed quiet, knowing that one day, she’d escape.When her chance comes, she finds herself on a road that takes her far from Massachusetts, all the way to North Carolina.She has her eyes on the future…until she meets Niko, a dominant Therian male and future Prime. When she looks at him, instead of a challenge for dominance, Zee sees a promise of forever.Niko charmed her, teased her…and stole her heart. Mere days later, after making a public, permanent claim, he crushed that same heart in his fist, tossing her aside in front of the entire world and casting her out of pack lands.Ten years later, she's an outcast, living far from her own when she gets word her father is dying.She can do nothing—she was banned. Violating Niko’s order was to court punishment, even if it was just to tell her father good-bye.“Day is dying.”The blunt words almost had him on his knees until Niko realized his second-in-command wasn’t talking about Zee, but her father.No Therian is ever left to die alone, so Niko sent orders the Day family to come home.Niko is unprepared for Zee’s message. I have no pack. I have no home.The words leave him shattered.Realizing what he’d done in his rage, Niko pushes harder for answers. It doesn’t take long to discover that what he’d heard a decade earlier had been based on lies. Because of those lies, he’d thrown away the love of his life.Zee’s been paying the price ever since.Now he must mend a heart he’d broken...and convince her to give him one more chance.
Never Kiss a Rake
Anne Stuart - 2013
Driven by revenge.Bryony Russell and her two sisters are left destitute by the disgrace and unexpected death of their father, a wealthy shipping magnate. He left a cryptic note, and Bryony is determined to find the real villain and clear her father’s name. In disguise as a servant, Bryony infiltrates the home of her father’s business partner to find proof of his guilt…or innocence. It’s not just clues that Bryony finds, but temptation too…Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn, immediately suspects there is something not quite right about his new housekeeper. The brooding, irresistible rake plays along because he has his own guilty secrets, and his venal, scheming wife holds the key to them, trapping him in a hate-filled marriage. But against his will he’s fascinated by Bryony, seeing past the scars on her face to show her the beauty she never knew she had. Bryony must uncover the truth and attempt to preserve her father’s legacy, before things go too far and she falls in love with a man who might very well be her worst enemy.