But the threats she thought left behind follow her into the heat of the tropics, and soon she faces a more potent danger in the form of Ransom Duprey. When she finds herself falling for the privateer captain, Cat abandons ship for the life of a lady once more.Ransom has his own enemies-and suspicions about the beautiful young woman in the Barbados ballroom. Although they've never met, she seems to know him better than he does himself, and the more she denies him, the more determined he is to uncover all of her secrets..."This is a fun-filled adventure with pirates, villains, lords and ladies, suspense, romance, and much more." - BookbugTwo-time RITA Finalist Deborah Simmons is the author of 28 historical romances published by Avon, Harlequin, and Berkley, as well as a romantic comedy.Visit her at: www.DeborahSimmons.comFriend her at: www.Facebook.com/AuthorDeborahSimmons

    She’s content with her small home and a friendly village—until a cloaked and crippled Beast rides into her orchard. Badly scarred in heart and soul, Viscount Graham Trevelyan has no use for love. He has a need for revenge and a child to protect. The compassionate innocent who doesn’t flee his fierce visage is the perfect mother his silent daughter needs. Penelope understands the wisdom of a marriage of convenience to save her home. But how can she protect her heart from the gruff man who shows her kindness, only to keep her at a distance? And how long can Graham stay away from a courageous woman who dares tell him when he’s wrong—and threatens to desert him should he continue down his dangerous path?

    She meets a man named Sloan Carroll, who proposes to her, but he finds that it will take a little more to win her heart.

    Her bareback-riding feats drew huge crowds in Denver, but Diane's was not the only new act. The "Redman of the Rockies," a captured "savage," was a sensation with his hard-muscled body, harshly handsome features, and dark eyes glittering with icy fury. Mesmerized by the caged wild creature, Diane recklessly turned him loose, only to be swept up and spirited away into the Rocky Mountains....Cruelly captured, his magnificent body put on display for taunting crowds, he thirsted for revenge. When the violet-eyed beauty set him free, the Redman carried her off as bait to catch his captors. But Diane's shining spirit and shimmering loveliness enchanted her abductor. Taking her to a land of golden days and silver nights, gradually revealing the many mysteries of his true identity, the "savage" found himself captive to a love that was Written in the Stars

    He's handsome, titled, rich as Croesus, and on the lookout for a bride. When an invitation to the Masquerade — an illicit club where members carry on affairs in complete anonymity — arrives on his doorstep, it seems like a last chance to revel in bachelorhood. But after he meets the mysterious Selene, he gets more than he bargained for.She is keeping a secret identityEmma Dumont is a commoner with desires far too lofty for her station — including a hopeless infatuation with Lord Kent, her employer. When she overhears his plans to attend the Masquerade, she decides to act: go under the guise of a lady, seduce him, and spend one night in his arms. As it turns out, one night isn't enough.The arrangement is supposed to be straightforward: anonymous lovemaking, no attachments. But matters of the heart are a lot more complicated...A Touch Wicked is a novella in the Private Arrangements series. It can be read as a standalone.

    . .October 8, 1871 -- One small spark ignites the entire city of Chicago, sending its residents into panic. But amid the chaos, a chance encounter leads to an unexpected new love.Unaware of the fire sweeping toward them, Deborah Sinclair confronts her wealthy, powerful father, determined to refuse the society marriage he has arranged for her. Suddenly, out of the smoke and flames, a stranger appears -- gun in hand, intent on avenging an unforgivable crime. As fire consumes the elegant mansion, the ruthless man takes the fragile, sheltered heiress hostage.Swept off to mist-shrouded Isle Royale, Deborah finds herself the pawn in Tom Silver's dangerous game of revenge. Despite her horror at being kidnapped, she finds herself drawn to the people of the close-knit community and to the startling beauty of the island. As she engages in a battle of wits with her brooding captor, she begins to understand the injustice that fuels his anger, an injustice wrought by her own family. And as winter imprisons the isolated land, she realizes she's a hostage of her own heart. . .

    However, once we do, life opens up. In ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL, I wrote a heroine who, in spite of her fears, her doubts, was willing to risk all—and met a man who fell in love with her spirit. Isn’t that what we all want?”—Cathy Maxwell Lady Julia Markham was the toast of London Society—until an ill-advised attempted elopement ended in betrayal and left her good name in tatters. Now ruined, penniless, and desperate, she has agreed to wed the magnetic and possibly dangerous Brader Wolf. A dashing, phenomenally successful self-made businessman, Brader wants this union to help gain him entry into the drawing rooms of the aristocracy, nothing more. Julia, however, is a woman of rare passion and daring, irresistibly drawn to this enigmatic, infuriating man, and no mere marriage of mutual convenience will do. But how far will the spirited beauty have to go to satisfy a heart that will settle for no less than the love of a lifetime?

    But their perilous passion had just begun . . . Hauntingly beautiful Perry McLain was desperate to escape the powerful Union Army captain who pursued her, seeking vengeance for her rebellion. Yet, her vow to save the handsome Hunter Kirkland plunged her deep into enemy territory . . . and into the tortuous flames of desire. To Hunter, weak with fever, she was nothing but an alluring dream visiting him in the darkness . . . a sultry vision he could embrace only in the heat of his own imagination. Yet the memory of her warm caresses, the urgent ecstasy of her closeness refused to fade in the morning light. He did not realize that underneath the dirt-caked, boyish clothes of his daytime companion was the body of the woman whose nighttime passion he craved . . . .

    But Mariah, a ravishing beauty thought by all to be the catch of the season, never expected to find true love amid the shadows. The mysterious man she meets there ignites a passion within her she never thought possible. When he starts a clandestine midnight courtship in her bedroom, Mariah is scandalized—and enthralled.Harry Sinclair is a man of secrets who would do anything to protect those in his charge. But when he lays eyes on the stunning Mariah, duty and desire collide. Though every man in London lusts for her, he knows the fiery attraction between them is unparalleled. But in a world where trust can turn to treason and scandal can topple the throne, Harry and Mariah will fight a perilous fight for their precious love—and their lives.

    . . and solemnly vows to raise her innocent orphaned niece. But the little girl's grandfather has declared the unwed doctor to be an unfit guardian -- and refuses to deliver the child to Liz's care until she finds herself a man.DEVIL IN DISGUISE...Dangerous and secretive, hated by the settlers for his Cheyenne blood, rugged Cutter McKenzie volunteers to pose as the husband of the fiery, golden-haired healer. But even a sham marriage to the handsome half-breed promises very real perils. For his raw, seductive magnetism threatens Liz's cherished independence. And she dares not trust her own impassioned heart . . . nor the yearning voice within that begs her to yield to the power of love.

    Terrified she was sure her fate was sealed, when up stepped the most magnificent bronzed male she had ever seen- and the warrior was issuing a challenge for her! Her sapphire eyes sparkled with fright, her skin flushed with fear... for Rebecca knew that if her captor won she'd lose her life, and if her defender triumphed she'd lose her innocence! In the Scarlet Sunset, Proud, Lone Wolf burned with passion the moment he beheld the auburn-haired beauty. He knew the torture she'd get at the hands of the other brave and even though it went against his better judgment, the aroused warrior fought for her. Desire fueled his strength against his rival; lust powered each mighty blow. Finally, hot with victory and raging for love, he gripped Rebecca in an embrace that brooked no dispute: he'd fought hard for the gorgeous captive-and only she had the power to extinguish his SAVAGE FLAME.

    And while the warrior's duty to combat the infidel was strict, and though his beloved was the wife of Pharaoh, the two would be separated only by death. But then only for a time.THE LOVERSElizabeth Summers came to the dig at Akhetaten in 1892. Great things were being discovered! English archaeologists had made huge advances, and Egypt's fantastic history was being laid bare. But Elizabeth had not come to simply study history--she was to be a part of it. Swept away by desert raiders, the pale beauty found herself in the arms of a great sheikh. And while Elizabeth didn't know whether she was the reincarnation of an ancient queen, she realized that in this man's arms she had found her destiny.

    Her father, Patrick, has just been executed for treason against the British Crown. Her aunt, Lady Elizabeth Sinclair, is eager to marry her off rather than bear the expense of sheltering a turncoat's daughter. And when a handsome young patriot named Philip Riordan enters her life, Cass knows he is destined to complicate matters further. Riordan wants her to enter the spy game, to provide valuable information about her father's plot against the monarchy in order to save the king's life. But the intelligence game is never a simple one, and even a heart as jaded as Cass's may not be safe from the charms of Philip Riordan, renowned cad, Member of Parliament . . . and die-hard loyalist.

    . .Handsome as sin and scandalously rakish, Cam Westfall, the Earl of Bedwyr, is every young lady's wickedest dream. Shy wallflower Princess Jacqueline of Sensaire knows this better than anyone, because her dreams are full of the breathtaking earl's kisses. And not only her dreams—her diary, too.But when Cam discovers the maiden's not-so-maidenly diary, will her wildest Christmas wishes be fulfilled in its pages . . . or in his arms?

    But I certainly didn't expect that my neighbor, Thorn Vance, would be challenging me at every turn. Or that his brusque, ruggedly appealing ways would prove a dangerous temptation that I'm finding harder and harder to resist. Now, with trouble sweeping the territory, I need his help. But how much will I risk putting myself in the hands of a man who's used to getting exactly what he wants?