She has to become a courtesan to keep her family safe. Their future depends on her younger sister marrying a rich man, and the money Marianne makes allows them to circulate in London society. As the great-granddaughter of an earl, she knows full well that society will turn on them should her secret be revealed.Marcus Lacey, the Earl of Lacey, must wed soon to satisfy his father's will. Though considered cold and reserved, he is captivated by the woman purchased for his pleasure. Unable to think of her with another man, he pays for her exclusivity through the Season.Marianne struggles to maintain her masquerade, avoiding Marcus in company even as she is losing her heart to him. Marcus is falling for his mistress, charmed by her grace and warmth as well as her sensuality. He craves her, heart and soul, but must bow to his obligations by the Season’s end.Will Marcus cast her aside if he discovers her deception?Or will he keep her secret along with her heart?

    Menaka succeeds in bewitching Vishwamitra, but her actions are destined to have dire consequences for both.Eons later, their story is set to repeat itself.Poorva has always played by society’s rules and ideas of decorum. But what happens when her own loved ones betray her in the worst way imaginable? Does she still have to remain bound by their rules?Rudra plays with power and people like they are pieces on a chessboard. He has no qualms about indulging his desires, be it money or women, but is determined not to be bound by either.What happens when these two diametrically opposite souls are brought together by fate?In the game of power, lust, greed and betrayal, some win and some lose. But are there any winners or losers in the game of love?Like Menaka and Vishwamitra, are Poorva and Rudra too destined to see their story end in tragedy? Or will the divine power prevail?

    The day she finds herself at the mercy of a peculiar Marquess, she realizes that trying to steal from a nobleman, was a very bad idea.When Percival Dandridge, Marquess of Northbury, apprehends a suspiciously feminine thief in his house, he decides to offer her a position in his kitchen. He never intended to fall in love with her.But when an attempt against his life is made, all clues point to her.Realizing she is being framed, she becomes a ghost, working to prove her innocence. A dagger, an old gold pouch, and a diligent constable are all she has to solve this mystery and uncover a string of old ones…

    Luckily, she has a dashing hero to assist her. But his puzzling past may tear them apart.Eleanor Blackwood is thrilled to spend time at her best friend’s country estate. Angsley Hall overflows with the breathtaking natural beauty of fields, forests, and a mighty river, as well as with a mystery or two. She’s even more delighted by the unexpected arrival of the man who has secretly captured her heart.Grayson O’Connor is not immune to Eleanor’s charms. True, she still climbs trees and acts rashly, but she also has a quick wit and joyful humor. Yet with his own past cloaked in shadows, he’s not convinced he has the right to pursue this innocent spirit.Amidst a week of drenching squalls, they begin an intriguing treasure hunt based on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Gold Bug. Danger becomes all too real with midnight intruders, shots in the dark, and a perilously swollen river cresting its banks. Unlike Poe’s story of pirate booty, Eleanor and Gray discover the greatest treasure is the precious human heart—theirs to cherish or to tear apart.Engaging characters, attention to period detail, and passionate romance with a touch of intrigue—you’ll find it all in the stories by USA Today bestselling writer Sydney Jane Baily.(Note: This story was first published as part of the USA Today Bestselling Boxed set, The Midnight Hour: All Hallows' Brides, October 2019)

    Turns. Disappointments. Unexpected Christmas joy. For beautiful, blonde-haired Hazel Ellis, the trip west as a mail-order bride is fraught with uncertainty. She and her sisters have decided that they must leave Boston, where their father’s financial downfall has left them with no marriage prospects in elite Beacon Hill society. Their husbands await them in Colorado so they must go there. Wealthy rancher Harley Wyatt is a man whose cattle and acres mark him as someone of importance in the growing town of Newton. Aloof and used to getting his own way, Harley has secrets he’s unwilling to share with a woman he doesn’t even know. It doesn’t matter she’ll be his wife, she’ll have to earn his trust. He expects her to fulfill her role as Mrs. Wyatt, the wife of the area’s most prosperous rancher. But he offers little insight into what that position entails and timid Hazel is reluctant to ask him. She is equally reluctant to ask him about the identity of the ten-year old girl named Oakley who lives at the ranch. Colorado will prove to be a challenge of the heart for sweet and naïve Hazel. Will the bonds of her new life be powerful enough to overcome the beloved memories of her home back East, particularly as the Christmas season arrives? _____ Home for Christmas… a sweet, romantic journey spanning decades - even centuries - of holiday cheer. There’s no better season than Christmas to look back with gratitude for all the family blessings and forward with anticipation to all the joy to come. A holiday romance or a surprise Christmas wedding that leads to a lifetime of happiness is an irresistible story for a true romantic. Add some snow, hot chocolate, and carols at the piano and you’ll fall in love again and again. Second chances, mail order brides, marriages of convenience – this clean and wholesome series brings all this and so much more. Join our heroes and heroines from proper Regency England to the majestic Rocky Mountains as they find peace, true love, and inspiring Christmas spirit. This multi-author Christmas series is brought to you by these best-selling authors: Joyce Alec Rose Pearson Natalie Dean Bethany Rose Annie Boone Hanna Hart Sophie Mays

    Babsey makes sure that her family doesn't mix with the rougher people in the neighbourhood - she considers herself a cut above the local community. When her niece Louisa needs a home - her mother is dead, and her father at sea - Babsey does her duty and brings the girl into the household.But Louisa doesn't quite fit in with Babsey's plans. Although life under Aunt Babsey's roof is comfortable, Louisa is acutely aware of the desperate poverty around her. And, as she grows up into a thoughtful young woman, the harsh realities of love and betrayal, war and death, make her determined to find her own way. Louisa will eventually be made famous throughout her city - known for ever as Liverpool Lou. And she might just find love along the way...

    

    She wasn't fond of the coppers, believing them to be traitors to the poor of Whitechapel, but her younger brother and sister moved P.C.Fred Billings in the moment Bridget's back was turned, and she seemed to have little say in the matter. Still, she had to admit that she was glad of his company in the walk back from her late-night washing up job, particularly when a young girl was found in a nearby street with her throat cut. The discovery of the body of Maureen Flanagan, who was, the neighbours believed, a respectable woman, naturally stirred memories of Jack the Ripper. His horrific crimes had shocked the neighbourhood only twelve years before., but Chief Inspector Dobbs of the City of London Police believed, like most other police officers, that the Ripper was dead. But when a second body was discovered, and Bridget noticed a strange man following her, the neighbourhood was alert to the possibility that the terror had returned...

    For years, she felt as though she was just an object. She wants to be loved for who she is, not what she looks like. When her father tried to force her to marry the local banker, she decided to form her own destiny and answer a mail-order bride ad.Scott is now a ghost of his former self. He used to be the beloved town sheriff for years. During a horrific accident, he lost his fiance and one side of his face got disfigured. Having to live with his own failure, he turned in his badge and set off to live as a recluse.When Scott meets Mae, he'll try to push her away. He fears to get close to anyone because he couldn’t save the love of his life last time she needed him. But, as Mae's life is threatened by an outlaw gang, he will have to tame his inner demons and rise above fear.Mae was determined to break free from her old life. Will she be able to break through Scott's defenses and help him redeem himself? Or will his past ruin her dreams forever?If you like fast-paced clean romance and action-packed stories, you won't be able to put down this addictive Novel by Ember Pierce."A Fearless Bride For A Wounded Rancher" is a stand-alone Western Historical Romance Novel of approximately 500 pages.

    Harvey is a widowed rancher trying to raise mischievous twins all by himself in Arizona. Suzy and Alex, the twins, aren’t content to let their pa stay single and unhappy so they take actions into their own hands. When the twins mix their unsuspecting father with a bride expecting something completely different, nothing is certain except that a lot needs to happen to form a happy family. This book is a sweet, clean, western, historical, romance short story. It is a complete story, but it is also part of the Two is Better Than One series. Be sure to read them all - in any order! Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited

    On his own since the death of his family, he drifted from place to place, guarding his heart from attachment to anything or anyone. Meanwhile, Abigail Monroe was busy planning her wedding until she was jilted by her intended, Edward Quinn. Her heart broken and her hopes dashed, Abigail vowed to never fall in love again, fleeing to the town of Surprise to visit her sick Aunt Margaret. However, when Abigail arrived, she found that her Aunt Margaret had an unorthodox request of her: become the town's first woman sheriff! When Abigail agrees, her life quickly turns upside down. Her first arrest is none other than Cole Stanton, for drunken and disorderly conduct. After his arrest, it becomes clear to Abigail that Mr. Stanton could be much more than he seems. He may very well be a wanted man: wanted both by the law and by Abigail.

    George: A man who can’t see his future. Samuel: An old man with “friends" no one can see. The Weavers: A family who sees everything. Or so they think … Olivia Bridger has a past, but darn if she can remember it. After being robbed, beaten and left for dead in a ditch, she’s found and taken in by the Weaver family. A family that knows her past … and wished they didn’t. George Johnson wasn’t looking for love. Heck, he wasn’t looking for anything but a vacation. But when he visits his cousin Warren for Christmas, he gets more than he bargained for. His grandfather is going ‘round the bend’ talking to imaginary friends and his cousin and wife aren’t sure what to do. Throw in a beautiful stranger and one big boisterous family and George is about to have the most interesting holiday ever! But will his heart survive it? How can two people adrift in the world ever find love? Maybe with a little help ... Enjoy this sweet western historical romance only Kit Morgan can deliver!

    Handling Susannah (Book One) Rancher Adam Harrington wants to marry a wholesome, virginal bride with a sweet disposition. When he reads a young woman's advertisement requesting a mail-order cowboy as her groom, he thinks they might be a good match, so he writes her a telegram. She pens a favorable response, accepting him as her future husband. Susannah Smith's father bequeathed his ranch to her, but it was under one condition: She must be married. For Virginia City's fallen woman, finding a man to marry is no easy feat. The men in town who seek to court the hot-tempered, unwed mother are sluggards and drunks, not the kind of men capable of running a ranch. Desperate to find a suitable husband or else lose everything, she expands her search by listing an ad in the paper. Adam and Susannah meet, and the attraction between them is undeniable, but it is soon followed by wariness. Susannah had planned to marry a man who would do her bidding, not take over everything. It's her ranch, after all. Equally befuddled, Adam thought he'd be marrying a woman who knows her place, not a temperamental brat who could benefit from some time over his knee. Susannah feels outraged by Adam's authoritative ways, but his dominant handling in the bedroom leaves her trembling with desire. Will she learn to accept his firm leadership and expectations? And will Adam grow to love the woman who differs so drastically from the kind of wife he thought he wanted? Catching Betsy (Book Two) Betsy Blake yearns for love and romance, but the unattached men of Virginia City are crude cowboys without the gentlemanly qualities she desires. She pens an ad in the paper for a groom from the east, specifying that he be well-dressed and mannerly. Roderick Mason's reputation as an architect in NYC has earned him great success, but he hasn't been as lucky in love. The women of his circle are too prim and predictable for the adventurous rake. When he reads Betsy's ad in the paper requesting a gentleman groom, he's intrigued, so he heads west to meet her. Roderick and Betsy are immediately smitten, but they soon discover that not everyone in Virginia City is pleased by their match, especially one man who wants Betsy as his own. As Betsy's stalker becomes increasingly threatening, Roderick realizes he will go to great lengths to protect his sweet little country girl, including taking her over his knee for some discipline when she misbehaves or puts herself in danger. Will Betsy learn to face her problems and accept Roderick's love and discipline, or will he never succeed at what he desires most--protecting and catching Betsy? Justice for Elsie (Book Three) Hell-bent on revenge, orphaned rancher Elsie Fin rustles cattle from her neighbor, who she blames for her father's untimely death. She's so successful at stealing that she doesn't stop even when the local marshal gets suspicious. Instead, she decides what she needs is a loyal husband to protect her from the law, so she places a mail-order groom ad in the paper. While seeking her groom, Elsie hires Wyatt Parker to help her around the ranch. Little does she know, he's actually an undercover deputy tasked with verifying the marshal's suspicion of her theft.

    With no family and no marriage prospects, she answers an advertisement for a mail-order bride. She travels to Wyoming Territory with every intention to marry Slade Holcolmb. But there is something about Slade that he didn't mention in his letter. Sarah is shocked and dismayed to discover the truth of her soon-to-be husband. So shocked, that she is uncertain if she can still marry him. He gives her one week to decide. She makes her decision and as she adapts to a new life, the feared Wright Gang makes an appearance. Will a band of outlaws be the catalyst to cause Slade and Sarah to admit their love? Dear Reader: Please note this is a novelette of 40 pages.