Book picks similar to
Wanton by Carole Mortimer
historical
steamy
possessive-hero
multiple-povs
Earl of Kendal
Madeline Martin - 2021
Now the gaming hell owner of Mercy’s Door has an even greater secret, one he is so determined to protect that he’ll even do the unthinkable: get married. For a man who doesn’t trust easily, his alluring intended has a way of breaking through his guard and edging into his heart.She is a bit of a hoyden...Lady Sophia Stopford lives her life to the fullest. At least, she did until her father insists that she wed one of his colleagues. She’ll do anything to get out of marrying, including escaping for a thrilling new venture. However, the very man who gave her the idea is now insisting that she return to London as his wife. And while she wants to resist, her attraction to the enigmatic Earl of Kendal has her curiosity piqued and her desire aflame.Together, they will cause quite the scandal...From ballrooms to gaming hells and into the wilds of Scotland, two people who don’t want marriage but can’t seem to resist one another will tumble headlong into an adventure that will change everything. When danger lurks and realities become bleak, can the spark of passion light their way? Or will love and hope be eternally lost to them both?
The Lyon's Laird
Hildie McQueen - 2020
unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves.After being caught in the most embarrassing of situations that leaves her with a permanent limp, Evangeline Prescott's reputation is beyond repair, and so her mother takes it upon herself to approach the Widow of Whitehall in an attempt to find her a suitable husband.In London for a short season, Scottish Laird Camren MacLean accepts an intriguing invitation to a prestigious gambling den where he loses a high stakes card game. The price of his loss is for him to marry a stranger within a week.
A beautiful socialite, a handsome Laird, and a game of chance. Can anyone win?
Forgotten Heiress
Wendy Soliman - 2013
When Lord Richard Craven, heir to a dukedom, singles her out, she is flattered by the attention but harbours no false illusions about the outcome. Her neighbour, the formidable rakehell Harry Benson-Smythe, is not only suspicious of her high-born admirer but inexplicably jealous too. As Eloise and Harry work together to solve the mysterious abductions of local girls, the dark side of Richard’s character emerges and his true purpose becomes apparent. So too do Harry’s feelings for Eloise, which transcend the mere neighbourly. But Harry is engaged to another lady and, even if he were not, his father would never sanction a union with Eloise…
Unchaining the Heart of the Marquess
Emma Linfield - 2019
In the service of the Hadley family since birth, she’s been in love with Frederick, the Duke of Chescrown’s son, all her life. But years of rejection and unrequited love have taken their toll and when a charming new servant arrives at the manor, Josephine is determined to leave the past behind. Frederick Hadley, Marquess of Pentford, is a man who carries his title with pride. Determined to uphold the family’s spotless reputation, he renounces his feelings for Josephine, invoking the social gap between them. However, anonymous letters addressed to his mother threaten to shatter that pristine image. Amidst a wild goose chase to get answers before the culprit acts on their threats, Frederick risks losing not only Josephine but also his very own birthright.
The Devilish Lyon
Charlotte Wren - 2021
unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves.Mrs. Dove-Lyon, proprietor of the Lyon’s Den, London’s notorious gaming hell, has recently had dealings with three new clients:Miss Harriet Hurst, who cannot see a thing without her spectacles and who has an unfortunate aversion to strong perfume, is in search of a husband. Her proposal, however, is a little unorthodox.Ambrose Crossley, fifth Earl of Pendlewood, an upstanding and respected member of the ton, is in search of a wife. His quest, however, is not quite as straightforward as it seems.Edward Fortescue, Viscount Eskdale, aka the Fallen Angel of Mayfair, has no desire to marry at all. His request is somewhat unusual.Being a shrewd business woman, Mrs. Dove-Lyon reckons she can satisfy all their needs in one fell swoop. It will require a little bit of subterfuge, a fair amount of manipulation, and a whole heap of good intentions. But, if the gamble pays off, a happy ending for all is assured. The game starts out well, with everything going exactly as planned. But, just as things seem to be reaching a satisfactory conclusion, a tragic secret emerges from the past. The consequences are heartbreaking. The game, it seems, is up.
Or is it?True love never surrenders without a fight. And time, it is said, heals all wounds. Maybe there’s still a chance for happiness, after all.
A Little Malfunction
Adrian Blue - 2017
When her sister finally wears her down, she ends up taking home a discounted unit. And it's nothing like she imagined. It's bigger than usual and there is something very strange about its behavior. The programming is a little bit off. But she is about to realize just how different it is. When the servant becomes the master, will Kim choose to submit to her dominant android? Can she fight her growing need for the robot? Can she live with a little malfunction?
Claiming the Heart of a Duke
Arietta Richmond - 2016
Hunter Barrington, Duke of Melton, returned from war a changed man. Grieving his lost love, now the holder of a title that he had never thought to inherit, and expected to marry at the earliest opportunity, what he needed most was someone who could see him, simply as himself. Lady Nerissa Loughbridge, the second daughter, always outshone by her beautiful sister, perpetually reproved for her hoydenish ways. What she needed most was someone who could see her, just for herself, who might allow that her dreams had value, simply because she wished them. Then one day, in the winter woods, they met.... But a few magical weeks of delightful friendship were swept away by the hectic London Season, as Lady Nerissa’s transformation from ordinary, to the Incomparable of the Season, brought a flock of suitors, and the Duke’s new title made him the catch of the year. Can they find their way back to each other, through all their hearts’ confusion? Can Lady Nerissa thaw a heart frozen in grief, and claim it for her own?
A Love Portrait for the Silent Duke
Bridget Barton - 2021
In desperate need of an income for both her and her sister, Selina has no choice but to put her pride aside and seek employment. Luckily, she will be able to make her way in life by painting portraits for a tormented gentleman, who will draw her attention at their very first encounter. However, deep inside she knows that a match with a man of his stand and a fallen woman like her will always remain a foolish dream. With her unique talent and kindness, will Selina find the way to steal the charming nobleman's heart? In the end, will she put her struggling past behind and find true love and happiness despite the odds?When Lord Graham Hancock, the brave and gallant Duke of Westcott, returns injured from the war, he withdraws to his own world, struggling to adjust back into society. To make matters worse, his fiancée breaks off their engagement, as she is embarrassed by his presence. She refuses to be associated with someone who lost the ability to speak, and prefers to stay aside from the crippling nightmares he now endures. Soon, everything will change for the lonely Duke, when he meets the mesmerising woman, who is hired for his portrait and is about to replace what haunts his dreams. As he spends more time with her, she gives him the hope that life is far from over for him and he realises that she is the only person who can brighten even his gloomiest days. Will the silent Duke find a way to declare his genuine love to Selina? Or will he suppress his feelings out of fear and condemn himself into an eternal misery?Selina and Graham's hearts start to heal when they discover that they have found everything they were looking for in each others' eyes. Everything crashes down though, when Graham's mother banishes Selina from the house and convinces his ex-fianceé to return and ask for his forgiveness. Will Graham find the heartbroken Selina and make the right decision at the most critical moment of his life by convincing her that she is the true love of his life? While external forces are threatening to steal their chance at happiness forever, will the two of them fight for their feelings and choose the path of their own life?"A Love Portrait for the Silent Duke" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Rogues Rush In
Tessa Dare - 2018
But Sebastian, Lord Byrne, has never been one for rules. He’s thought about touching Mary Clayton—a lot—and struggled to resist temptation. But when Mary’s bridegroom leaves her waiting the altar, only Sebastian can save her from ruin. By marrying her himself. In eleven years, he’s never laid a finger on his best friend’s sister. Now he’s going to take her with both hands. To have, to hold...and to love.His Duchess for a Day by USA Today Bestseller Christi Caldwell It was never meant to be…That’s what Elizabeth Terry has told herself while trying to forget the man she married--her once best friend. Passing herself off as a widow, Elizabeth has since built a life for herself as an instructor at a finishing school, far away from that greatest of mistakes. But the past has a way of finding you, and now that her husband has found her, Elizabeth must face the man she’s tried to forget.It was time to right a wrong…Crispin Ferguson, the Duke of Huntington, has spent the past years living with regret. The young woman he married left without a by-your-leave, and his hasty elopement had devastating repercussions. Despite everything, Crispin never stopped thinking about Elizabeth. Now that he’s found her, he has one request—be his duchess, publicly, just for a day. Can spending time together as husband and wife rekindle the bond they once shared? Or will a shocking discovery tear them apart...this time, forever?
The Christmas Countess
K.J. Jackson - 2019
A newly minted earl looking for a fresh start. A love gone wrong gains a second chance.A shunned lady determined to keep her secrets.Lady Leventon had been shunned to the Scottish wilds of Badenoch for a reason. But she never thought it would be the death of her. That is until her maid and only friend in the world falls deathly ill just days before Christmastide and Karta is determined to make it through a snowstorm for help. She didn’t think it would cost her her life, but as her feet slow in the heavy snow, hope gives out.A newly minted earl looking for a fresh start.When Domnall Greyford, Earl of Kirkmere, discovers the woman that left him years ago frozen in a snowbank, barely breathing, he does the only thing he can—he carries her to his new home. Never mind that she shattered his heart long ago when she left him without a word, without a note, without a thought. And the last thing he wants is her in his new home, in his new life.A love gone wrong gains a second chance.Karta awakens to find the last man in the world she expected holding onto her frozen bare toes—Domnall. The only man she’d ever dared to love. The same man that had abandoned her years ago. Yet the all-consuming heat between them is unmistakable.She knows full well she needs to deny him, deny the insistent rumbles of lost love fighting for life. For if she doesn’t, he’ll discover the truth of her past and his scorn would be irrevocable. That will not do—she isn’t willing to risk her heart again to the only man able to destroy her—or can she?The Christmas Countess is a revised and expanded version of the story that was previously published in the October 2019 multi-author anthology, Once Upon a Christmas Wedding.
A Dazzling Stranger in the Earl's Arm
Emily Honeyfield - 2020
What follows are moments that challenge Thea in every way possible; not only must she survive the humiliation of the whirlwind process of planning a ceremony that even the dourest bride would be embarrassed by, but also find her place in the vast, intimidating Seaforth house with a man she barely knows. Will this be the beginning of a lustful journey or will she be entrapped in a loveless marriage?Philip Bennington, the dazzling Earl of Seaforth, has vowed to never risk his heart in a love match. But his life is about to change forever when he sees an attractive young Lady falling off her horse and he runs to her rescue. To their misfortune, they are discovered in what mistakenly seems to be a compromising situation, and he soon finds himself trapped in an accidental marriage. As they embark on their tumultuous relationship together, he finds himself losing his heart to her, unsuitable match or not. However, when his family and the whole of society refuses to accept their passionate affair, will he ever manage to prove them wrong and turn this forced marriage into a burning love?Just when Thea and Philip think they've reached a peaceful point in their flaming relationship, she finds mysterious notes addressed to Philip. Before they realise it, they embark on a path to discovering who is trying to shove a wedge between the newly married couple. Will they be able to discover who is trying to ruin their unexpected affair, or will all of their hard work be ruined by a malicious outsider? In the end, will they break all the barriers that wish to keep them apart and create their own happily ever after?"A Dazzling Stranger in the Earl's Arms" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
An Improper Earl
Maggi Andersen - 2010
Harriett doesn’t want proper. She wants passion. And the prospect of a passionate marriage is becoming increasingly unlikely, judging by the men she meets. When she and her family visit a dying relative at his country mansion in Kent, Pendleton Manor, everything appears normal on the surface, until Harriet is suddenly embroiled in murder, intrigue, and lust. A man determined to live life on his own terms Gentleman farmer, Gerard Everard, Earl of Foxworth, has inherited an estate deep in debt. While he toils to save Foxworth from creditors, he becomes embroiled in a dangerous mission. Together, Harriett and Gerard work to uncover a murderer, while Harriett, expecting Gerard to succumb to the charms of her younger, beautiful sister, Leonora, tries unsuccessfully to guard her heart. Originally titled Murder at Pendleton Manor
The Lord who Captured Her Innocent Heart
Abigail Agar - 2019
To her eye, he seems like the perfect match, so she is secretly dreaming of living a wonderful life by his side. But when he returns to London, Ella’s world is about to crash down once he announces his engagement with her older sister. Crafting a plan to prove how incompatible the prospective couple is, seems like the only promising option left. But when she finds the right partner for her plan, will she manage to distinguish a child crash from deep true love? Lord Peter Holloway is brash and occasionally arrogant, sizzling with artistic promise. But just before he drudges up the courage to confess his romantic feelings to the woman he’s loved for years, he learns about her wretched engagement with his dull cousin. The idea of showing them how miserable their lives will be together seems like a bright one. Soon enough, he finds just the right person to help him: an enchanting lady who agrees to support his plot. But what if she eventually turns out to be one to shake his world and touch his heart? Over the course of their scheme, Ella and Peter end up learning far more about themselves and one another than they could have possibly dreamt. And as their desire to make their initial plan succeed fades, will they be brave enough to face the truth and take the leap to real love?
Beyond Innocence
Emma Holly - 2001
All she wants is a man who will treat her kindly and support her financially—and she's come to London to find him.Edward Burbrooke thinks marriage is the only way to save his brother, Freddie—and their family—from scandalous ruin. As head of the family, Edward has vowed to find Freddie a bride—and fast.Thrown together by Edward, Florence and Freddie make a perfect pair—until Edward realizes he has feelings for his brother's betrothed. The sight of her nubile young body makes his blood burn with lust. The sound of her voice makes his heart warm with love. And the sweet taste of her kiss makes him wonder if he isn't making a terrible mistake.
Lusting for the Broken Earl
Olivia Bennet - 2019
Having witnessed people’s capacity for deceit, she hides behind the walls she has built around herself to protect her virtue from dishonourable intentions. Allan Blaksley’s past as a soldier has left its marks on both his body and soul. With a long scar across his back that he considers hideous, the broken Earl of Wiltshire is constantly reminded of his failures. But despite their personal obstacles, both Esther and Allan manage to enter each other’s hearts… Until a mysterious woman suddenly appears claiming that Allan is the father of her child. Unbeknownst to them, even though the woman’s motives seem purely greedy and materialistic, she will be proved to be only a puppet. A puppet carrying out someone else’s well-planned scheme... *If you like a realistic yet steamy depiction of the Regency and Victorian era, then Lusting for the Broken Earl is the novel for you. This is Olivia's 6th novel, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a strong happily ever after. Pick up "Lusting for the Broken Earl" today to discover Olivia's amazing new story!