When her mother arranges a betrothal for her older sister, her life changes in the most unexpected way. Patrick Dutton, Marquess of Bergon, takes pride in being a very responsible young gentleman. But even though his word is his bond, he immediately falls for the rebellious, youngest daughter of the Duke instead of his intended, whom he finds completely dull. When Melissa suddenly disappears into the woods, people realize this is not one of her usual games. With wolves as the least of her problems, Patrick is determined to find her before the night is out. Soon it becomes apparent that someone is behind the disappearance and that the key to the riddle just might lie in a birthmark...

    Former hellion Adrian Sinclair is ready to prove he's a changed man. He vows to fulfill his duties as the new Earl of Wareton, which includes choosing a wealthy, suitable wife. When he takes charge of his cousin's home, his first priority is marrying off his cousin's troublesome stepsister. However, the more time he spends with the unconventional beauty, the harder it is to deny his attraction to her. While she's anything but suitable, she's everything he wants.She didn't want to be alone...But she had no choice. Anna Colbrook would rather everyone think she's content to be a spinster than have them know the truth. Unfortunately, Adrian seems determined to uncover the real reason she remains unmarried, and his powers of persuasion—namely his kisses in the moonlight—awaken Anna's long-denied dreams of love. But when a scandalous deception is revealed, she begins to doubt Adrian's honor. Worse, the secret puts Anna in grave danger, one even Adrian might not be able to save her from.

    Her life has definitely not been a fairytale so far, but she had found a man to respect her and share the same values. As the ranch is mortgaged to the hilt, and being rather desperate, she accepts Logan's, her husband's brother's proposal without second thoughts. Soon enough though, her decision to get married to a familiar stranger will give her sleepless nights. Can she finally live happily ever after and create the family she craves for?Logan Reeves has always looked up to his older brother and slightly envied him for both his professional and personal achievements. Now, he feels like he has betrayed him in the worst way possible. Not only did he think about it, but now he is married to his brother's wife. He has been in love with her from the very first moment he set his eyes on her, but will he be able to deal with all the challenging responsibilities he has committed himself to?Even though they have both agreed that this is a marriage of convenience, life will once again catch them off guard. An unexpected event will help them understand and confess their true feelings to each other. They won't survive apart, but can they really survive together? Could love bloom under the pressure of mourning and revenge??"A Blooming Garden Full of Love" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

    The festive season is looking bleak—until he loses a wager and must spend an evening at London’s most hedonistic pleasure club.Delilah Forbes has long reigned as the city’s Mistress of Sin, and when the infamous duke visits her club, she’s soon eager to introduce him to sizzling passion. But even as lust becomes more for two lonely souls, they know a duke and a madam can’t have forever after. Or can they?This story was previously published in the historical Christmas anthology, Have Yourself a Merry Little Scandal. Please note it contains explicit language and sexual content.

    Marrying a man almost double her age doesn’t sit well with her. Being told two weeks before the event makes things even worse. Instead of waiting around for the inevitable, she steals out in the middle of the night to answer an advertisement for domestic help in another state. Little did she know what she was letting herself in for. After his wife’s death, Preacher Matthew Barnabas is left to care for their two small children. When Rose turns up unannounced, after answering an advertisement he knows nothing about, his life is turned upside down. The preacher will accept Rose into his life because he has no choice, but will he ever let her into his heart? Author's Promise: This is a heartwarming historical Christmas novella with a happily ever after ending and no cliffhangers. It is a clean and wholesome story with nothing more than hugs, kisses, and holding hands.

    Her father’s death a year before has left her with a crumbling manor and a handful of old retainers relying on her for support. Her scandalous reputation has put her beyond the pale for most members of the Ton. When the Most Noble Hugo Ashton Duke of Northbridge sweeps into her life and proposes she should enter into a marriage of convenience, Vanessa is tempted – but the arrogant duke believes her to be something she’s not!

    A man that sends shudders down her spine at the very sight of him. So, when she reads Inez Pollard's advertisement for The Mail Order Bride Express, she promptly applies and is accepted. On her way to Silver Ridge, Colorado, she is confident that she has left her troubles behind. But has she? Ross Pollard is a man with a lot on his mind. And his mother's crazy scheme to bring brides to Silver Ridge is just another problem for him to deal with. The last thing he needs to complicate his life is romance, but when he sets his eyes on Hannah Stillman, all of his resistance is bound to melt. Hannah’s Dilemma is the first book in a brand new Mail Order Bride Series from Mary L. Briggs, author of the popular novella The Stagecoach Bride and The Chance Creek Brides Series.

    While working at the house of Norman Pembroke, the Duke of Bancroft, she has always dreamt of advancing her life from a humble maid to that of a governess. Despite knowing that this opportunity may never appear, her love for reading is enough to keep the dream alive. But little did she know that fate would bring an unforeseen twist that would make this dream a tangible reality... When Edward, the endearingly attractive brother of the Duke, comes to visit, the last thing she expected was to end up under his roof and away from the only place she's ever known. Laura will inevitably find herself seduced by his ravishing beauty, but will she allow herself to finally surrender to her burning desire for him?Edward Pembroke has always been the opposite of his brother. Being warm and dutiful himself, he was against his brother's love for gambling that was dwindling the Pembroke fortune every day. When he finally decides to confront him about his wayward habit, they both end up engaging in a fateful night of gambling, and Edward wins the prize of taking anything he wants with him. Without a second thought, he chooses Laura, as her fiery nature lightens a spark inside him. Once they move to his house, he can't help but be mesmerised by her every move, willing to do whatever it takes to possess her. Will he manage to turn this promising desire into an everlasting love?Laura and Edward's attraction is impossible to deny, but their evident class differences are threatening their undeniable lust. The more time they spend together, the more they lose their hearts and bodies to one another. Will their passionate connection prove strong enough to shatter the insurmountable obstacles? Or will their heated affair go down in flames before it even sets them on fire?"A Lord's Bet of Desire" is a historical romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

    Anthony Vaughn, the dashing distant cousin she has known since childhood, needs a fortune to pay his father's debts and preserve the family estate. Together they strike a bargain--even though Emma knows she risks not only her fortune but her heart… Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know An American Western English-born gambler Andrew Kane was ready to settle down when a wrongful conviction condemns him to be hanged. On his journey to the gallows, he meets despairing young widow Eliza Holden. Together, they find comfort and a stunning sense of connection. Can Eliza create a Christmas miracle for them both?

    His destination gets delayed when he finds an abandoned donkey, and his efforts to save the animal bring him into contact with a lovely widow and a menagerie of both animals and children who need his help with their Christmas pageant.Widowed Lady Elizabeth Newton enjoys her life and her home in the country. She cares for three children from her late husband’s mistress, as well as helpless animals of every description that would, otherwise, have no home. Life changes when the handsome Lord Bergen brings an abandoned, cross-eyed donkey, believed cursed, to her doorstep.Against all odds, sparks fly between Bergen and the widow. But can a romance survive the danger that follows the donkey?

    The Earl of Mapleton is failing miserably at wooing Eliza's mistress. Perhaps they can fail together... aided by the magic of the season and some harmless mistletoe.A Gypsy’s Christmas Kiss by Dawn BrowerFin and Lulia have a history. One that neither one has forgotten. When they meet again they are drawn together. After that chance meeting they share a magical kiss. Along the way they discover that sometimes the one thing a person needs isn’t what they would expect.Mistletoe, Whisky, and a Rogue by Jane CharlesOne gossiping parrot, a few sips of whisky, and mistletoe could seal one’s fate.If Ethan Copeland had it his way, he’d be back in New Orleans and not stuck in England. However, one encounter with Miss Fanella Grant, a lass with a taste for whiskey and adventure, could change everything—especially when a parrot not only repeats what he hears, but also what he sees. Silver Bells and Mistletoe by Anna St. ClairLady Susan Winslow wants love and a Christmastide wedding. But when her father betroths her to a stranger—she rebels.Lord Grayson Harding signs a secret betrothal to his childhood love, before realizing first, he must woo her.Lady Susan’s brother is being murdered. Will they save her brother but lose a chance at happiness?Stealing a Rogue’s Kiss by Amanda MarielDetermined not to grow old alone, Daphne takes fate into her own hands. Marcus made her a promise years ago, and she's ready for him to make good on it. One passionate kiss. How could either of them have guessed where one stolen moment would lead?Bedded under the Christmastide Moon by Christina McKnightWhen two best friends agree to a marriage of convenience, neither admits they've always harbored a secret desire for the other--until one night under the Christmastide moon, when passion consumes them.A Winter Wish by Nadine MillardMariah and Brandon are forced to endure each other’s company when a snowstorm traps them in the same house. They argue, they bang heads and they drive each other insane. But something precious is blooming beneath the surface of all that ice. Something neither looks for but both need. On a Midnight Clear by Sandra SooKooChristmastide 1814 takes a fateful turn when Major Cecil Stapleton returns from hospital and finds his cottage in the country already occupied by the lover he left behind six years before. As shared memories collide with budding romance, he and Olivia will need to work through painful truths and personal expectations in order to grasp the love they both desperately need.Miss Pageant’s Christmas Proposal by Tabetha WaiteMiss Emary Pageant can have any man in London, but the one she wants thinks she’s nothing but a simpering debutante. She has to gain his attention, so she approaches him with a wager...Donovan Wainwright, Duke of Windwood, is a physically and emotionally battle-scared war hero. He knows his duty to his title like he knew his duty to his country, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to marry some vain, empty-headed woman.It isn’t until Emary approaches him with a rather shocking proposal that he takes a closer look.

    His brother, Andrew, sends him away in order to make amends and determine who is threatening his brother’s life. In the meantime, Andrew takes the Duke’s place at a masquerade ball, where he meets a woman who takes his breath away and haunts his dreams. As his feelings for her develop from attraction to passionate romance, he yearns for the day his own name leaves her lips; yet fears the truth will drive her away. A devious scheme… One of the enemies of the Duke of Elenford is a greedy earl who gambled away his family’s most precious heirloom. Now, Arabella Marley’s father is determined she will gain it back for him, no matter the cost. He presents her to the Duke at a masquerade ball, where she is shocked to find him both handsome and agreeable. She must guard herself against his charms to find her family inheritance and keep her heart intact. Untrusting hearts collide…. As they spend more time with one another, Andrew and Arabella must decide whether to fight their growing desire for one another or continue to fall more deeply for the other. Their budding love is threatened, however, when the truth is revealed. Will they find love ever after or will their hidden secrets keep them apart? No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a happily ever after ending!

    Being a wallflower, dedicated to philanthropy, was her choice and she was happy with it.When her father sells her hand to settle his debts, Eleanor is shocked. Mainly because she has met her betrothed before. All alone, in secret, in the dark.Captain Nathan Reynolds, Earl of Brixton, was a soldier, who didn't need a bride. Upon his return to England, he is thrust, by his mother, into an arranged engagement to a heavenly creature who has never seen before. What confuses him more is that his intended seems to know him already.Despite their attraction and his sinister thoughts for Eleanor, Nathan cannot go through with the marriage until he discovers why his future was orchestrated behind his back. What begins as harmless research, quickly turns to a dangerous path.For a man with the same face as Nathan may destroy their lives before they ever walk down the aisle…Torn between light and dark, she must choose the side she belongs to…

    But escaping the Seven Dials and Sidney Pritchard, the self-styled King of Thieves, is no easy task and Hannah finds herself persuaded into one last swindle; one which will set her up comfortably for life, if she can carry it off.Lady Lansdowne, Countess Morris, lost her daughter and granddaughter to the French Revolution - though the latter’s body was never found. Posing as a companion, Hannah must somehow convince the countess that she is the long-missing child, Anastasia, so that Hannah might gain access to the family jewels.A duke wracked by suspicion and desire…Oliver Edward St Martin De Vere, Sixth Duke of Hawkfield, takes one look at Lady Lansdowne’s new companion and recognises her as the thief he shared a kiss with, one fateful night.The thief he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about since.Despite his desire, Oliver is determined to protect the elderly Lady Lansdowne from another schemer out to exploit her grief. But with every encounter Oliver has with Hannah, he begins to suspect that there is more to the young woman than meets the eye.In fact, if he wasn’t so rational, he might well believe that the beautiful young woman was indeed the long lost Anastasia - and that the only thing in danger of being stolen was his heart.A woman in too deep…Having spent most of her life building a wall around her heart, Hannah is surprised to find it crumbling as she spends time with Lady Lansdowne. As Hannah is showered with kindness and love, she begins to question her true origins. And, as a blue-eyed duke makes a clumsy attempt at capturing her heart, Hannah finds herself wishing that her scheme was not a scheme at all, but the truth.But wishing won’t get Hannah out of the trouble she has made for herself and, soon, she must make a choice. Should she go against her conscience and continue with her plan, or flee London empty-handed and incur Sidney’s wrath?Neither choice is palatable, and both will leave her with a broken heart..Can there be a happily ever after for Hannah and her Duke? Find out in this fantastic new read from Claudia Stone!

    It includes – A KNIGHT’S CHRISTMAS WISH by Lana Williams – A knight’s Christmas wish is fulfilled in an unexpected way when he meets a lady in need of rescue. WISH UPON A WINTER SOLSTICE by Emma Prince – Deep in the Scottish Highlands sits an ancient well fabled to grant true-love’s wish to those who visit it near the winter solstice. To test the powers of the legendary well, Keita Cameron trespasses onto the lands of her clan’s enemy. She never expects to come face to face with the man they call the Demon of Loch Moy—or succumb to the dark heat her captor stirs within her. MISTLETOE MAGIC by Laurel O’Donnell – A confident knight arrives home to find his childhood friend grown into much more then he remembered. The lady of the castle keeps a dangerous secret that threatens all she holds dear. Will Mistletoe Magic save them? THE CHRISTMAS KNOT by Barbara Monajem – It’s bad enough being a governess, but far worse that Edwina White’s new employer is the man who deceived her years before. Richard Ballister’s estate has a ghost and a curse, and if that’s not trouble enough, the new governess is the woman who spurned him for a richer man. Richard and Edwina don't want to work together, but they have no choice. Can they overcome the bitterness of the past in time to unravel a centuries-old knot and end the Christmas curse? THE WOLF OF SKYE by Hildie McQueen – Fate's wicked sense of humor strikes Highland guard Faolan Mackinnon when he ends up betrothed to Catriona Grant, a fiery lass, who he met only minutes earlier. A heartbroken Highland guard's last desperate attempt to regain the woman he loves becomes a journey across Scotland to a mysterious well that grants wishes. However upon getting to know a beautiful lass in the village of Moy, Faolan Mackinnon questions his true feelings. A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE by Amanda McCabe – Spend the holidays in Regency England! Seeking an heir to her fortune, a widow challenges her family to a wild holiday scavenger hunt in the novella "A Partridge in a Pear Tree"--and two people find a lasting love seeking the Twelve Days of Christmas... WILD HIGHLAND MISTLETOE by Eliza Knight – A week before Christmas, snow falls gently on the Highland hills, and once more an adventure awaits the Sutherlands! Dunrobin Castle is overflowing with excitement and holiday spirit because of the upcoming Sutherland clan gathering. Arbella and Magnus’ marriage has flourished, their passion and love growing stronger daily. But when a mysterious missive arrives begging Laird and Lady Sutherland for help in a rescue mission, they leave the safety of the castle, and ride headlong into a trap. Will they thwart their enemy and make it home in time to celebrate the holiday season in good Scottish fashion? Or will warring clans prevail? ***This is a Stolen Bride novella--an extension of THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD*** ONE KNIGHT UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Catherine Kean – Kissing Lord Renfred de Vornay, her late brother’s best friend, under the mistletoe was the last thing Lady Liliana Thornleigh ever expected days before Christmas. Seven years have passed since Ren played his foolish prank on her, but she hasn’t forgotten that humiliating incident—and neither, it seems, has he. Now a wealthy and respected lord, Ren has important information for her father, but Liliana is suspicious of Ren’s reasons for spending Christmas at her sire’s castle.