Four stories shine a light on Christmas during the Napoleonic Wars on land and sea – In Boxing the Compass, a homesick frigate captain shepherding a convict convoy to Australia wants nothing more than to hold his infant daughter in faraway England. Perhaps he can enlist a prickly pair of convicts with a new baby to help him. Wait Here for the Present, finds a spinster, chafing with boredom, helping a motherless lad get to Plymouth for Christmas with his surgeon-father. She can help, but love is the farthest thing from her mind. In Slip #5, Captain McCulloch’s ship HMS Trident must spend a month in dry dock in Devonport. What better time to catch up on his reading? His plans are complicated by a bad cold, a good widow and her children, shy lovers, and dilemmas it seems only he can solve. Whatever happened to peace and quiet? As a special bonus, The Christmas Angle introduces readers of the acclaimed St. Brendan Series to that unlikely genius, Sailing Master Able Six. Readers are requested and required to come aboard for a Royal Navy holiday.

    Four sexy summer novellas from the award-winning authors of At the Duke’s Wedding. All stories previously published.Seducing the Single Lady by Maya RodaleSusannah Grey is enjoying life as London’s most sought-after heiress until the rogue she was supposed to marry unexpectedly returns, intent on wooing her for real.A Regency Romance inspired by the songs of Beyoncé. A Study in Scandal by Caroline LindenLady Samantha Lennox is fleeing an arranged marriage when she finds herself lost, accosted, and almost drowned, only to be rescued by a handsome artist...who makes her start dreaming of happily-ever-after. A Scandalous novella.Duchess of Scandal by Miranda NevilleThe Duke and Duchess of Linton have lived apart ever since the first disastrous months of their marriage, until they accidentally visit the same property at the same time and the undeniable passion between them sparks back to life.The Scoundrel and I by Katharine Ashe Gabrielle Flood just made the worst mistake of her life. Dashing Captain Anthony Masinter came along…and made it even worse. He’s the last person on earth who can help her fix it, but disaster may be exactly what they need to fall in love.

    . . which must she abandon? Emilia Glasbarr doesn’t want to be a country miss with a yard full of geese and a scant handful of neighbors. She wants the music, theatre and art found in Scotland’s capital city. She’s sunk her every resource into finishing school to find a city-dwelling husband. Unfortunately, the only man interested wants her for a far less savory purpose. The first four Marriage Maker Romances A Lady of Worth The Marriage Maker A Lady By Chance How to Catch an Heiress The other Rules of Refinement Romances Redemption of a Marquess Shameless A Marriage of Necessity

    Get lost in each story as the ladies approach the gentleman and give them the happy news, or in some cases, the surprise they never expected.When a Rogue Falls by Sasha Cottman: For Sir Stephen Moore, love will never be on the cards. But Cupid is not without a sense of humor. After helping her family deal with a dangerous blackmailer, Lady Bridget Dyson and Sir Stephen celebrate. A little wine and some wicked flirting leads to a night of passion. Bridget now has to break the news of impending fatherhood to a man determined to avoid commitment at all costs.Escaping the Earl by Lauren Smith: Beatrix Lethbridge is desperate to avoid an arranged marriage, and the only way out is to get compromised. The best man for the job is notorious rakehell Richard Savage, the Earl Rivers. But when Beatrix and Richard’s one night of passion has more consequences than simply stopping an unwanted marriage, Richard must win Beatrix’s reluctant heart.This Rogue of Mine by Amanda Mariel: Lady Cordelia Daventry may be a spinster, but she has not given up all hope. When she finds herself alone with the well-known rogue, Nathaniel Lowell, Viscount Wolverton, she embraces her chance to experience desire. Now they must face the consequences of their actions.Loving My Wicked Rogue by Dawn Brower: When Lady Penelope finds herself in a delicate condition, she has a decision to make, and nothing seems quite right. Instead of discerning what she should do on her own, she pays Roman, the Duke of Lindsey a call and unburdens her troubles on him, hoping he will do the gentlemanly thing and take responsibility for the dilemma he helped create.The Trouble with Rogues by Nadine Millard: Ophelia Delacourt has made it her life's mission to teach poor, unsuspecting ladies about the dangers of rogues, rakes, and rapscallions. When one of her protégés faces ruin, Ophelia rushes to her rescue. And right into the path of one such troublesome rogue.Caleb Feldman, Marquess of Guilford is growing bored of his hedonistic lifestyle. Not that he plans to change it any time soon. When he sees a mysterious, dark-haired siren floating through his party, for the first time in a long time, Caleb feels the excitement of the hunt.Their encounter is not what either of them expects. And the life-changing consequences? Even less so. Ophelia will do anything to keep her secret, but that might not be as easy as she hoped. For the trouble with rogues is, sometimes they're just too hard to resist.My Lord, My Rogue by Anna St. Claire: Lady Honora Radcliff was betrothed to the catch of the Season. Too much champagne with a stranger leaves her life in tatters and married to the abusive man. To escape, she fakes her death. Lord Benjamin Crewe accepts a dangerous assignment and discovers the woman he wished he'd married—only she's been "dead" three years. His pursuit endangers both their lives.Can Honora and Benjamin survive the danger for a chance at love and happiness?

    Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time—he needs her! When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family's annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia's guerrilla tactics, he's up to his cravat with tinsel . . . and tumbling head over heels in love.

    He has to find her, woo her, and wed her before he goes back to sea - all within a matter of days.Anne Lesley is a shy spinster with no prospects, and nothing and no one to recommend her but her own self. She accepts the lieutenant’s hasty offer only for the comfort and security it will bring. But when a midwinter storm snows her and Ian in, they both find they got much more than they bargained for - laughter, light, and a Christmas filled with honest to goodness true love...

    Rather, the House of Devon takes the romance below stairs, to the people who live, laugh, and love all while they serve. Meet the staff of the House of Devon, and discover how they find their happily ever afters...

    The legend of Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball promises true love and happiness to one lucky couple. Four short tales. 1 1803 - The Seduction of a Duchess by Shana Galen Rowena Harcourt, Duchess of Valère, never forgot the handsome footman who helped her escape the French Revolution. For fourteen years, Gabriel Lamarque has loved Rowena. Now at Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball, has fate finally given him a chance to win her hand?2 1818 - One Kiss for Christmas by Vanessa Kelly Nigel Dash is London’s most reliable gentleman, a reputation he never minded until he fell in love with beautiful Amelia Easton. Amelia sees Nigel as a dependable friend, not a dashing suitor. At Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball, Nigel vows to change Amelia’s mind by sweeping her off her feet.3 1825 - His Christmas Cinderella by Anna Campbell At the season’s most glittering ball, a girl who has never dared to dream of forever after discovers a Christmas miracle.4 1830 - The Last First Kiss by Kate Noble Susannah Westforth always loved Sebastian Beckett, but he only sees her as a friend. When Sebastian takes his Grand Tour, Susannah transforms herself into a woman he must notice. Now Sebastian is back, just in time for Lady Winterson's Christmas ball and to see his little Susie, all grown up.

    Then comes "The Space Between," where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In "A Plague of Zombies," Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn't a giant rat. "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie's parents during World War II. In "Virgins," Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they're trying. . . . "A Fugitive Green" is the story of Lord John's elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in "Besieged," Lord John learns that his mother is in Havana--and that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city.Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon's genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection.

    An irrestible earl. And an energetic Corgi named Mr. Shorty. What more could you want in a Christmas novella by Megan Frampton?It's Christmastime in London, and Lady Pearl Howlett is eagerly ready for the festivities—until her family goes off to their country estate...accidentally leaving her home alone! But she's not dismayed. Rather, she's thrilled to do exactly what she wants. Unfortunately, this daughter of a duke doesn't know how to do anything.The Earl of Llanover has come to London to take refuge in his godmother's townhouse, free to be as awkward and grumpy as he wants. With his pet Corgi, Mr. Shorty, for company, Owen Dwyfor is ready for a quiet holiday away from his mother and sisters who would have him married off. That is, until his godmother's neighbor, Lady Pearl Howlett comes barging in to his solitude.After some reluctance, the two come together for a joyous—and steamy—Christmas they won't forget.

    As a scandal further blackens his reputation, he decides to become the rogue everyone believes him to be.After courtesan Mirabelle Renault’s older sister marries her protector and is given the cut direct by the very Society who demands respectability, Mirabelle loses hope for her own future. Knowing she can no longer serve as a man’s paramour, she is determined to forge a new path—until she realizes that most doors are closed to her.Carefree bachelor Lord Lucien Westbrook has lost his mistress and gained his autocratic father’s scrutiny now that his older brother is about to wed. Challenged to do something worthwhile, he launches an exclusive club, where Lucien helps those in need, no matter who they are or where they come from. One never knows who they will meet at the Phoenix Club…

    This is a collection of four sizzling historical stories, written by Virginia Henley, Sally MacKenzie, Victoria Dahl and Kristi Astor.

    But the cruelty of his childhood haunts him and he knows he’s undeserving of Faith. When she comes to him on the night of her nineteenth birthday, they both give into temptation. But the searing kiss reaffirms what he’s always known: he can’t have a lifetime of her in his arms. To protect his heart, he packs his things and heads west.Faith has always adored the boy her parents took in and raised. But she’s not certain she can ever forgive him for riding out of her life just when she needed him the most. When an urgent telegram forces him to return six years later, Rawley discovers Faith is now a woman to be reckoned with.As old feelings are stirred back to life and new passions take hold, they both must confront secrets from their past or risk losing a legacy of love.

    Now, in one incomparable volume, four of Avon Romance's bestselling authors present stirring tales of hearts won and weddings to be, featuring a quartet of unforgettable heroines about to discover the rapture of love in a world as untamed as the men they will one day marry.from back coverDisplaying the bold and breathtaking sensuality that is her hallmark, bestselling author CHRISTINA DODD enthralls us with the tale of a willful Scottish beauty--kidnapped by an arrogant yet irresistible Englishman--who fights to keep from succumbing to her brazen captor's passionate, and persuasive, proposal.Experience the fiercely emotional power of STEPHANIE LAURENS who is at her passionate best with this story of a wealthy gentleman who finds his childhood nemesis has blossomed into a most desirable lass--and he's determined to do everything in his power to claim her as his own, before she is quite unsuitably wed.The delightful wit and warm humor of JULIA QUINN shine brightly in this winning romantic romp, in which a lovely English miss--feigning marriage to a dashing, beguiling Scotsman--discovers she has a very real desire for her make-believe groom.Another strikingly dramatic and deeply compelling tale by KAREN RANNEY. A legend decrees that the sexy Laird of Sinclair must marry a woman he has never met. But only sweet, passion-filled love will him to his true--and forbidden--bride.stories are:Under the Kilt (Fairchild Family #2.5) by Christina DoddRose in Bloom by Stephanie LaurensGretna Greene by Julia QuinnThe Glenlyon Bride by Karen Ranney

    Except perhaps for an earl with a twisted hand and a charming smile. Why, for all the fortune hunters she has fended off since returning from India, is the one man who seems to like her so against marrying for money?Philip has inherited an earldom that his only two choices are to marry for money or to abandon Society altogether and return to his work as an engineer. Which is no choice at all, until a tiny woman with beautiful eyes and a fine mind dances with him on his last night in London.When they meet again in a small country village, they join forces to uncover larceny and deceit, to rescue Lalamani’s aunt from poverty, and to discover that pride is a poor reason to refuse a love for a lifetime.