But their hopes are renewed when the ailing man names a renowned Scottish healer who defected to England years ago. Rory crosses dangerous territory to obtain her help, only to discover that the gifted healer would rather kill herself than save his dying father. Rory gauges that kidnapping the woman is his only option when the healer's beautiful daughter appears. The spirited lass declares that she is also a healer, and offers to go in her mother's stead. Darra Berchelaine has heard many stories about the bloodthirsty savages from the north. When she learns that the devil Scots plan to abduct her mother, Darra must protect her at all cost — even if that means feigning co-operation and luring the brutish Highlanders away from the castle. But even as she schemes to escape from her enemies, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the brawny Highland Chief. Suddenly Darra realizes that the handsome Highlander is neither an enemy nor a savage. And the only thing she needs to protect is her heart.

    Caroline Lyncott, great grandaughter of the Duke of Bucklynde, has a secret. Years ago she was attacked and still bears the terrible scars. To escape the scandal and the reminders, she left everything behind to become housekeeper to a Scottish brother and sister. Gregory Murray, the Earl Of Hartfell, has a secret as well – he harbors a deep attraction to his housekeeper, Mrs. Lyncott. He knows she has a past, but doesn’t know how to fix the pain that still haunts her. His investigation leads him to the darkest London gaming hell and a villain too powerful to destroy. Can his love overcome her desperate past? Can she risk her heart despite the evil that still haunts her nightmares?

    Weary and injured, Sir Rylan de Bremont wants only to return home for Christmas after two long years away. But first he must deliver terrible news to a newly widowed lady.Lady Kayte Dufrane has been miserable in her marriage to a gruff lord far older than she. Rylan’s news gives her freedom, but she fears her late husband’s brother will claim her for his own. This strong, handsome knight might be the answer to her prayers if she can convince him to help her escape. Though Rylan has no desire to become embroiled in the beautiful Kayte’s dilemma, delaying his journey home, he can’t resist her pleas. Will his Christmas wish be filled with more than he bargained for?

    To keep Dawn’s mind off her disappointment and entertain some of the villagers who have sought the safety of the keep, Old Mary tells a tale—Winter Tale—that enthralls as much as it frightens.At the end of the tale, a stranger suddenly appears and peculiar things begin to happen in the keep. Could the tale be true? Did Old Mary release the evil of the Winter Tale upon the village? Cree will not hear of such nonsense, but when some in the keep begin to fall ill along with Old Mary and Elsa, the healer, Cree begins to wonder. And he knows it will not be long before his wife does as she pleases and searches for the truth, possibly placing herself in danger.Is the stranger a mere man who seeks shelter from the storm or the phantom of Winter Tale?

    There she meets a tempting stranger who sweeps her into a night of unforgettable passion. Grayson Danford never expected a night with the irresistible Mrs. Wilde, but she was a welcome distraction from the unpleasant duty of breaking up his brother’s impending nuptials. He’s shocked when he discovers his passionate lover is none other than the sister of his brother's intended. Now Rosalinde and Gray will butt heads, even as their simmering desire for each other threatens to boil over. Who will win? And who might lose it all?

    On her way to London to announce her engagement, a young woman's unplanned stop in the village where she spent her childhood brings her in contact with a man and an antique mirror--and both will change her destiny.Originally featured in the anthology Masters of Seduction.

    No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart—until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length—but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.A prisoner in time...She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side...

    I gave myself to him — willingly, trustingly, passionately — and we soon wed. Then a horrible revelation emerged, shattering my innocence and my marriage... Five years later, Merlyn returned to my doorstep, desperate for my help. The scoundrel swore he was haunted by memories of me, that a treasure locked in Ravensmuir could clear his name. Yet I could not surrender to his will again. Now he is said to be murdered and Ravensmuir has fallen into my hands. But even as I cross the threshold of this cursed keep, I hear his whisper in the darkness, feel his caress in the night, and I know that Merlyn has told me but part of his tale. Should I do as is right and expose his lair? Or dare I trust my alluring but deceptive spouse - the rogue who destroyed my heart? — Ysabella Praise for THE ROGUE: “Passion and intrigue test the boundaries of love and honor – THE ROGUE is medieval storytelling at its best!” Terri Garey, RITA Award Winning Author of DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY “An engaging tale of lost love found.” Booklist “A beguiling medieval romance from Delacroix…readers will devour this rich and compulsively readable tale.” Publishers Weekly This edition includes excerpts from THE SCOUNDREL.

    But she’s never met a man like Sir Pagan Cameliard, the bold and powerful knight who comes at the king’s command to make a marriage alliance with Rivenloch. To save her younger sister, Deirdre tricks Pagan into marrying her instead, and now she faces a new kind of enemy who crosses swords with her by day and lays siege to her heart by night.

    Spellbound is a terrific novel filled with passion, intrigue, vengeance, and all-consuming love. Readers will clamor for a sequel." --Kat Martin, New York Times best-selling author with over 13 million books in print Highland warrior Kade MacAlister has had to fight for everything. Respect. Approval. Love. To prove himself man and warrior and to win the hand of the woman he seeks to marry, he leaves Scotland to fight in Ireland. When he returns, he finds his clan has been attacked by the MacKinnons, with whom they’ve been at peace. His older brother and his betrothed are dead. Kade discovers the chieftain Brodie MacKinnon has a daughter with the Sight, Maighdlin, whom he hid away in a village years ago to protect. A bride was taken from him, so he’ll take a new bride—his enemy’s daughter—and make her pay for her father’s sins. Kade finds Maighdlin and kidnaps her. But when their paths cross, sparks fly, and Kade is spellbound. Maighdlin has no idea how hot it’s going get in her new husband’s arms. To make things more complicated, Maighdlin can see Kade’s brother’s spirit, and Kade must learn of a terrible family secret before his brother Niall can find peace. Kade and his new bride will be consumed by his quest for revenge unless they can learn to forgive…surrendering to the sensual fires of their bodies and the love in their hearts.

    But when powerful enemies threaten, each Douglas lass will find she must face them alone. CAPTURED BY A LAIRD Haunted by his father's violent death, David Hume, the new laird of Wedderburn, sets out to make his name so feared that no one will dare harm his family again. The treacherous ally who played on his father's weakness is dead and beyond David's vengeance, but his castle and young widow are ripe for the taking. The moment David lays eyes on the dark-haired beauty defending her wee daughters, however, he knows this frail-looking lass is the one person who could bring him to his knees. Wed at thirteen to a man who tried daily to break her spirit, Lady Alison Douglas is looking forward to a long widowhood. But when the fearsome warrior known as the Beast of Wedderburn storms her gates, she finds herself, once again, forced to wed a stranger. Alison is only a pawn to serve his vengeance, so why does this dark warrior arouse such fiery passion and an unwelcome longing in her heart? With death and danger looming, these two wounded souls must learn to trust each other...for only love can save them.

    With scandal nipping at her heels, to avoid total social ruin, Elizabeth must present a fiancé by the end of the Season. But when the viscount proves reluctant, Elizabeth is forced to employ a seduction of a different sort...With his seduction he is determined to ruin herViscount Derek Creswell believes Elizabeth set out to trap him into marriage. After all, her sister attempted the very same thing with his brother six years before. Now the delectable Miss Smith expects a betrothal and a ring, while Derek finds her ruination infinitely more appealing...But as Derek sets out to seduce only her body, Elizabeth is intent on claiming his jaded heart.This is a novella and 29,000 words. Included is a three chapter excerpt of the third full-length book in The Elusive Lords series, AN HEIR OF DECEPTION. The total word count for this book is 43,000 + words. Prior books in The Elusive Lords series are:SINFUL SURRENDER (Book #1)A TASTE OF DESIRE (Book #2)

    But Aileen is promised to another this Christmas, and the wicked Lowlander will stop at nothing to have her.Aileen Munro doesn't want another cruel husband. But just as the laird of the Mackenzies pledges her to a man much worse than the last, her old friend Niall MacRae bursts back into her life. Niall is a full-fledged Highland warrior now, and his quiet strength sparks a burning desire within her.Niall has come to accompany Aileen to her brother's castle, where her holiday betrothal will secure an alliance between the bordering clans. Niall has always had strong feelings for Aileen, but to touch her will be a betrayal of the oath of fealty he has made to his laird. Torn between loyalty, duty, honor and love, Aileen and Niall have denied their forbidden attraction for too long. As soon as they unleash their passion, they are torn apart. But Aileen and Niall have only one wish this Christmas: to be together…even at risk to their honor…and their lives. Note: This book was previously published under the title Sins of the Highlander. It has been revised from its original version.Warning: Highlander: (n) [hahy-luhn-der] A warrior who inhabits the untamed and sometimes violent Highlands of Scotland. Tall, handsome and built powerfully enough to wield a Claymore. Possesses strong senses of honor, duty, loyalty and passion, and will defend those with his life. Able to bring his woman to the heights of pleasure...and keep her there. This story contains sizzling scenes that will make you long for a Highlander of your own to keep you warm at night. A Highlander for the Holidays is a short novel of approximately 45,000 words, or 150 pages.

    But Lady Jocelyn Rathbourne's will remains strong. If the only way to save her family's estate and reputation is by aiming a small pistol at the Duke of Calydon, then so be it. For Lady Jocelyn demands satisfaction - and she will have it at any cost. Even if it means demanding the hand of the intense and foreboding Duke himself... But she's made the first move against a very dangerous opponent... For Sebastian Thornton is no stripling to be trifled with. The lady has played her hand. Now it's his turn. For Sebastian is in need of a wife. And to find a wife with spirit and fire - even if she means to only marry for his money - would be a great prize indeed. And he intends to thoroughly take his pleasure with her... and demands his own satisfaction in return.

    Two dukes. One Christmas. And scandal galore. A Christmas anthology by two hot names in historical romance fiction...Merry Christmas, Mrs. Robinson by Delilah MarvelleLady Jane left her father, the Earl of Chadwick, and the ton behind to experience life on the stage. After a disastrous marriage, the widow is living on the edge of poverty, determined to guard her heart, when a secret admirer from her past demands a second chance.Shy and retiring Martin Nicholas Pierce, the Sixth Duke of Somerset, has carried a torch for Lady Jane since her youth, but he is five years her junior. When she married another man, he left for Europe, determined to put her out of his mind. After returning to find Lady Jane free, he vows to replace the memories of her cursed Twelfth Night with a new beginning. The Twelve Days of Seduction By Màire ClaremontAlexander Hunt, Eighth Duke of Berresford, is aware his ward's governess isn’t quite what she seems. Although Miss Flint is beautiful and intelligent, she misrepresented herself to gain employment, and he threatens to give her the sack mere days before Christmas.Desperate to convince the sexy duke not to tear her from the little girl she's grown to adore, Adriana challenges him to seduce her before the Twelve Days of Christmas have come to an end, although she fears it may cost her heart. Alexander accepts the challenge, unconcerned that he has as much to lose, if not more, than the delectable Miss Flint.