Book picks similar to
Stranger within the Gates by Mira Stables
historical-fiction
animal-involved
older-hero-or-heroine
cannot-find
Duel of Hearts
Diane Farr - 2002
Hoping to counter his decision, she rushes to London.Adam Harleston, the ninth Earl of Drakesley, is a man possessed. His young cousin has been seduced by an older gentleman, and he's determined to save her honor before it's too late.But wedding bells are about to ring for Lilah's father and Drake's cousin. Joining forces, Lilah and Drake vow to stop their loved ones from making a drastic mistake—only to discover that falling in love is never a mistake...
No Greater Love
Katherine Kingsley - 1992
She had heard of the devastatingly good looks and unpardonable passions of this man exiled to India by his uncle, Lord Raven, for his scandalous behavior. She had been warned to beware of him by the mistress of Ravenswalk, the ravishing and ruthless Lady Jacqueline Raven.Now Nicholas Daventry had returned to Ravenswalk . . . to claim the legacy he said was his by birth . . . to wreak the vengeance he said was his due . . . and to plunge Georgia into a dizzying, dazzling vortex of desire, as she discovered that she was now the stranger—in a world of love that this man she did not know knew so very well.
The Unusual Story of the Silent Duchess
Emma Linfield - 2018
On just such a dark night, a mysterious voiceless girl arrives at the doorstep of the powerful Duke of Rutland, Neil Arnold. Thanks to her, his gloomy soul will see its first sunny days after a very long time. Her silence, though, hides secrets, and whatever evil force made her run for her life that dreadful stormy night is coming after her... The Duke, while still trying to find his way back to happiness, will have to find the strength to protect not only the mysterious stranger that stole his heart but also his innocent daughter. He can't afford to lose the ones he loves for the second time. But the danger is resting closer than he thinks as no one can be trusted.
The Marquess' Angel
Julia Sinclair - 2018
she became a missionary.Blythe's prim missionary act gives her plenty of freedom to go to the cruelest parts of London to have her own adventure quests.But her plans are thrown into chaos when her uncle dies ...
This leaves her as one of the richest heiresses London has ever seen!
.
Suddenly, everyone's looking at her. Including a dangerous enemy.But ... the person looking the hardest is Thomas "Demon Tom" Martin, Marquess of Amory, the eldest son of the Martin family--the Carrows' sworn enemies.Thomas loves gambling,he loves trouble,and maybe, he loves this supposedly prim little missionary as well!Too bad Blythe belongs to the Carrows. .Can Blythe survive the darkness and danger around her?And will their love be enough to quell an ancient feud between the two families?Page Count: around 450 pages
Claire, After All
Karen J. Hasley - 2014
Commissioned by her widowed father, she descends on the green Sussex hills with three assignments. Ready Loden Hall for her father's arrival as the new earl. Find the perfect husband for her gorgeous half-sister. Acquire a tutor for her rapscallion twin brothers. At twenty-eight Claire--now Lady Claire--has had years of experience running an orderly household in India and cannot imagine England will be any different. Older. Wiser. That's Claire.But England refuses to cooperate with Claire's well laid plans. How did beautiful Loden Hall become such a ruin and how will she make it right in time? Why is her usually cooperative sister so resistant to Claire's recommendation for a husband? Why are her brothers so unhappy that stowing away on a merchant ship holds more appeal than her loving care at home? Really, if it weren't for the unexpectedly practical advice of her neighbor the Marquis of Symonton, she would feel quite alone.For Claire, focused on the tangled knots of her own family, Symonton is the perfect ally. Who better to offer guidance than a man savvy enough to maneuver his way through society for six and thirty years without being trapped into matrimony? And how fortunate that the man is entertained by her family's exploits! But even with Symonton, Claire manages to get it wrong. It's not her family he's interested in and amusement is not what he feels. The man has other plans entirely. Maturity and experience are all well and good, but Claire will learn that neither is as valuable as love.Book I of The Penwarrens, a series of 3 light-hearted Victorian romances.Claire, After All ~ Listening to Abby ~ Jubilee Rose
Vienna Wolfe: De Wolfe Pack Connected World
Mary Lancaster - 2017
Colonel Francis Wolfe, military hero and the new Earl of Warenton, is prepared to do his duty and marry well. He has almost decided upon the well bred and beautiful Miss Sylvia Renleigh, without ever noticing the quiet young woman who is her aunt's over-worked companion. Until Elise practically walks under the hooves of his stallion. It never enters his head that she was daydreaming of him. Impoverished emigrée, Elise de Sancerre, knows that the earl would never normally look at her. Yet when they meet again at a masked ball, where the world expects him to propose to Sylvia, everything changes. Throw a managing sister and a missing tiara into the equation and all bets are suddenly off. Enjoy this delightful Regency tale!
The Nobleman's Governess Bride
Deborah Hale - 2012
In the novella “The Viscount Meets His Match” Sebastian Viscount Benedict knows from bitter experience that marrying a woman of lower rank and fortune brings nothing but heartache. He is determined to prevent his beloved brother from making the same mistake by wedding the local squire’s daughter. Rebecca Beaton disagrees. She is certain her former pupil, Hermione, truly loves the viscount’s brother and will make him a devoted wife. She tries to persuade formidable Lord Benedict to give the young couple his blessing. In spite of their many differences, Sebastian finds himself drawn to forthright, loyal Rebecca. Yet he fears his admiration for the lady could erode his good judgment and resolve. Rebecca fights her growing attraction to Sebastian, which threatens to divide her loyalties…and perhaps break her heart. If only she can help him believe in true love, there may be hope for more than one happy ending! In the novel The Baron’s Governess Bride, Rupert Lord Steadwell is determined to hire the dowdiest, most unmarriageable woman he can find to care for his motherless daughters. The girls were heartbroken when their last governess eloped and Rupert does not want to risk a repetition. In her drab clothes, frumpy cap and spectacles, Grace Ellerby look like the ideal person for the job. Rupert has no idea that clever, caring Miss Ellerby is a beauty in disguise. Alarmed by unwanted advances from men in her previous positions, Grace is desperate to hide her dangerously attractive appearance and her growing feelings for her new employer. But when Lord Steadwell appears in danger of making a loveless marriage and saddling his daughters with a dreaded stepmother, Grace must risk everything to prevent it. Will a midnight kiss at a masked ball lead to scandal and ruin or will two wary hearts find their happily ever after at last? The Nobleman's Governess Bride is the first book in The Glass Slipper Chronicles series, about five young women whose devoted friendship sustained them through the hardships of childhood at a harsh charity school. Now employed as governesses, they care for other people’s children, never expecting to know the blessing of loving marriages and families of their own. But when Rebecca, Grace, Hannah, Leah and Evangeline encounter five special gentlemen, these humble governesses may become Cinderella brides! Book 1 – The Nobleman’s Governess Bride (includes the novella “The Viscount Meets His Match” and the novel The Baron’s Governess Bride) Book 2 – The Earls Honorable Intentions Book 3 – The Duke’s Marriage Mission Book 4 – The Gentleman’s Bride Search About the Author – Since winning Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award, Deborah Hale has written over thirty works of historical romance, historical fiction, inspirational romance and otherworld fantasy. Her books have been translated into many languages and published around the world. Deborah and her family live in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada a place rich in history, romance, faith and more than a little magic!
A Christmas Charade
Karla Hocker - 1991
Elizabeth Gore-Langton was hardly in a position to refuse to accompany Lady Astley to the Christmas party at Stenton Castle. After all, a paid companion must follow her employer's wishes. It scarcely mattered that Elizabeth would be forced to face the man who had unknowingly broken her heart years ago during her first season. Most likely, the Duke of Stenton wouldn't even recognize her. But once she looked up into his dark, piercing eyes, she knew this was a man who forgot very little and forgave even less. Well, she was no longer a blushing schoolgirl, and the dashing duke would soon find that a broken heart, once mended, could be formidable, indeed! Clive Rowland, Fifth Duke of Stenton, was in no mood for a holiday gathering. But the Christmas gala would provide the perfect cover as he investigated reports that French agents were doing a brisk trade in stolen documents along the Sussex coast. It would be devilishly difficult to play the host while tracking down traitors, but Clive was up to the task—provided he kept his wits about him and didn't get distracted by yule logs and Christmas folderol… or the delightful charms of the disturbingly familiar Elizabeth. She was hiding something, to be sure, and Clive liked nothing better than unveiling a lady's secrets!
Bride for the Sake of Duty
Bridget Barton - 2020
To make matters worse, her new husband leaves right after their nuptials on his first trip overseas. After two years of loneliness, Miles returns and he’s even more handsome than she remembers, but he still remains a complete stranger to her. Could she ever grow feelings for him after all this time? Will she eventually get the one thing she has always dreamt of?Miles Fitzroy craves adventure but he has to get wed to honour his father’s wishes. His wife may be breathtaking, but he has no time to get to know her before he leaves for India. Now that he is finally back home, he finds himself longing for something other than the sea. He realizes that it might be the journey of falling in love that has been missing from his life. Could he ever choose the warmth of his beautiful wife over the exciting life of an adventurer?Two strangers are bound together forever, but it won’t be easy to create a genuine bond after their long separation. A string of mishaps and adventures that follow can either bring them together forever or tear them apart for good. Will Eleanor get her wish for a true, heart-melting romance? Will Miles finally find a place to call home in Eleanor’s eyes?"Bride for the Sake of Duty" is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Hero Wanted
Betina Krahn - 2021
Until an outing together puts a damper on their future... Lauren is appalled when Rafe refuses to help two women whose boat has overturned on a river. Stripping her outer clothing, she dives in to rescue them herself—delighting a nearby reporter. Soon, newspapers and scandal sheets have labeled Rafe as “less than heroic,” for all of London to see, while Lauren is viewed by many as brazen. Besieged by scandalous rumors, and with both their reputations in the balance, what ensues is a prickly scheme that will either forge a partnership of deception—or blaze a path to true love...
The Northern Lady
Anna Jacobs - 2010
Brought up in the Northern town of Bardsley, she wants nothing to do with polite society.But Cassandra forms a close relationship with her gentle cousin Susannah, a victim of her mother's pushy, ambitious nature. Susannah, petrified of marrying the charming, wealthy Simeon Giffard, enlists Cassie's help. It is, after all, Cassie for whom Simeon holds a torch, and he appears set on winning the heart of this strong-willed Northern lady…
From bestseller Anna Jacobs, this emotional historical saga is perfect for fans of Kitty Neale, Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin.
Strangers at Dawn
Elizabeth Thornton - 1999
For three years after the ravishing heiress was acquitted, he used the power of his newspaper to pursue the truth--hoping to find the still-undiscovered body of the murder victim and at last prove Sara's guilt. But not only had the body disappeared without a trace, so had Sara Carstairs....When Max finally catches up with Sara by sheer chance, he doesn't even know it's her...at first. By the time he does, it's too late--they've already spent a night together that both of them know they will never forget and can never repeat. Has he fallen in love with the woman of his dreams or with a cold-blooded murderess? And has she put herself in the hands of a knight in shining armor--or a ruthless scoundrel bent on destroying her?
Gilded Splendour
Rosalind Laker - 1982
HIS STRENGTH. AND HER WEAKNESSThomas Chippendale was a man of the people, determined to rise in the 18th-century world through the raw power of his ambition and the polished artistry of his furniture-making genius.Isabella Woodleigh was a proper daughter of the upper class, protected from knowledge of her own deepest hungers. To give herself to a man like Thomas Chippendale was unthinkable to her---especially when he seduced her won sister, as if to prove how ruthless his desires were. But when Isabella was forced into marriage to a man who made love an unnatural nightmare, Isabella turned from a girl who fought against what she wanted...to a woman who surrendered to her need for fulfillment at any cost... Here, set in a world of dazzling elegance and swirling intrigue, is Rosalind Laker's most breathtaking romantic spellbinder yet.
A Debt Paid in Marriage
Georgie Lee - 2015
A marriage of convenience may be Laura's chance to reclaim her future, but she won't settle for anything less than true passion. Can she hope to find it in Philip's arms?
The Legend of the Earl
Eleanor Meyers - 2018
As a forgotten child who'd grown up in one of London's better orphanages, Alex knew exactly what the future held for her; hard work and the company of friends who'd become her only family. When London discovers that she's the daughter of peer, the scandal has the power to change:1- not only her future2- but the fabric of Society itself. Justin Padmore holds a darkness. This had kept him chained to the shadows for years.When he hears of the latest scandal, he knows he has an opportunity to step out into the light. He's ready to return to Society's good graces and what better way to do so than to offer his charitable assistance to Alex?But unearthing the mystery of Alexandra's birth seems to unleash its own dangers...Will they survive?Or will Alex once again find herself right back where she began?Alone.Page Count: around 510 pages