Now four of today’s bestselling historical romance writers—Victoria Alexander, Liz Carlyle, Eloisa James and Cathy Maxwell—show us what can happen when the man you thought was out of your life forever returns. In this stirring quarter of original novellas, four sets of star-crossed lovers are given the golden opportunity to relive the passion . . . and set the past right. Fate has brought these couples back together, but only love can determine if each is just momentary madness or a reunion that will last for all time.Included stories are:"The Trouble With Charlotte" by Victoria Alexander"Much Ado About Twelfth Night" by Liz Carlyle"A Fool Again" by Eloisa James"Nightingale" by Cathy Maxwell

    THE THRILL OF DESIRE.What is the invigorating appeal of the younger man? Is it his boyish charm, his enthusiasm for life? His appreciation of a woman's experience, and his eagerness to learn more? Or perhaps it's his vigor, his unending appetite, and his willingness to please. In this scintillating quartet of stories by four of today's most popular romance writers, the answers are discovered in a younger man's embrace ... in tender promises of pleasure whispered behind closed doors ... in the hunger of his deep, soft, candlelight kisses ... and in his ability to reawaken in his lover the joyous simplicity of a past innocence....Let yourself go..."The Demon's Mistress" / Jo BeverleyA wealthy widow's proposition to a young officer could prove to be his redemption or his downfall...."A Man Who Can Dance" / Cathy MaxwellA governess offers lessons in the art of wooing to a studious bachelor--only to fall in love herself with his newfound charm...."Written in the Stars" / Jaclyn RedingIn order to fulfill an ancient family prophecy, a young woman is destined to marry a younger man--or else court disaster...."Forevermore" / Lauren RoyalA sensible woman throws caution to the wind when her fantasy man becomes a flesh-and-blood reality with an offer she can't refuse....

    Anthony Vaughn, the dashing distant cousin she has known since childhood, needs a fortune to pay his father's debts and preserve the family estate. Together they strike a bargain--even though Emma knows she risks not only her fortune but her heart… Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know An American Western English-born gambler Andrew Kane was ready to settle down when a wrongful conviction condemns him to be hanged. On his journey to the gallows, he meets despairing young widow Eliza Holden. Together, they find comfort and a stunning sense of connection. Can Eliza create a Christmas miracle for them both?

    Each story is a classic, and all have been unavailable for at least five years. A perfect Valentine for the romantic reader!

    . .Eight months ago, noted physician Sir Richard Thornton was called to attend the final days of young Baron Kilkenny. It was a sad, tragic case, made more so by the hauntingly beautiful Baroness Kilkenny, Jane Doherty, who had tried desperately to save her own husband. Having witnessed so many of life’s worst tragedies, Richard believes himself safe from distracting attachments, but Jane’s haunting beauty has lingered . . .She refuses to accept the conventional . . .The daughter of a prominent physician who trained her in the healing arts, Jane believes she could have saved her husband if only taciturn, over-bearing Sir Richard hadn’t interfered. Jane vows to have nothing more to do with the abrupt, rude doctor and works hard to establish a thriving practice of her own for those in need. But society isn’t happy with her attempt to move in a man’s world, and the scandal sheets spread scurrilous rumors and label her the ‘Wicked Widow.’But who is really ‘wicked’ . . .Richard is fascinated by the thought of the angelic, delicate Jane as a wanton and wild ‘Wicked Widow,’ which is why he’s spent a considerable amount of time making certain their paths would never again cross. But fate has other plans and soon Jane and Richard find themselves sharing a patient while heated tempers – and even hotter passion – flares once again.

    Three members of London's Bibliomania Club have promised a beloved professor they'll find the manuscripts before the professor retires. They are determined to vindicate his faith in the Duke's existence while rescuing a great literary work from obscurity. The problem? The book must be found in ten days. Matters of the heart intrude as each book hunter realizes that locating an ancient manuscript might just lead to happiness ever after.

    The music is elegant, the food exquisite, and the guest list absolutely exclusive. Some come looking for love. Some will do almost anything to avoid it. But everyone wants to be there. No matter what their desires, amid the swirling gowns and soft glow of candlelight, magic tends to happen. And one dance, one kiss, one night can shape a new destiny.--from back coverFrom Emily Bryan's "My Lady Below Stairs," the story of a bastard servant girl called in to impersonate her missing aristocratic half-sister with results worthy of Shakespeare, to Ashley's "The Longest Night," in which a shapeshifting nobleman attempts to win the heart of the wary woman he loves while on the trail of a spy, to Alissa Johnson's "Traditions," the tale of an earl who sets out to woo one woman and falls for her intriguing companion instead, these light, entertaining romps are not typical holiday fare.

    . . "Beauty and the Brute" by Virginia Henley It's been three years since Lady Sarah Caversham set eyes on arrogant Charles Lennox--the husband her father chose for her to settle a gambling debt. Now Charles has returned, unaware that the innocent ingénue he wed is determined to turn their marriage of convenience into a blissfully passionate affair. . . "How to Seduce a Wife" by Kate Pearce Louisa March's new husband, Nicholas, is a perfect gentleman in bed--much to her disappointment. She longs for the kind of fevered passion found in her beloved romance novels. But when she dares him to seduce her properly, she discovers that Nicholas is more than ready to meet her challenge, over and over again. . . "Not Quite a Courtesan" by Maggie Robinson Sensible bluestocking Prudence Thorn has been too busy keeping her cousin Sophy out of trouble to experience any adventures of her own. But when Sophy begs Prudence's help in saving her marriage, Pru encounters handsome, worldly Darius Shaw. And under Darius's skilled tutelage, Pru learns just how delightful a little scandal can be. . .

    After years of adventuring in exotic India, wealthy rakehell Lord Dyan St. Laurent Dare has been forced to return to England and assume the title of the 4th Duke of Darke, along with the attendant responsibilities, chief of which is to marry and produce an heir.Seeking to escape familial pressure, Dyan drops in on old friends whose house parties are a scandalous secret among society's elite, but, along with his hosts, Dyan is astonished when his childhood sweetheart, Lady Fiona Winton-Ryder, nicknamed Lady Arctic, unexpectedly arrives. Fiona had scornfully dismissed him fifteen years before, and Dyan had left not just her but England, yet their long-ago, simmering attraction has only intensified...now it sizzles.Fiona has come to save a friend from a compromising situation, but the shock of encountering masterful, arrogant, senses-stealing Dyan after so many years takes her breath away and leaves her emotionally teetering. Nevertheless, coolly assured and every bit the earl's daughter, she remains determined to rescue her friend, but will she be able to ignore her lifetime fascination and evade Dyan?Dyan knows this party is no place for a lady like Fiona, but, by using the heat of the moment, could he - just possibly - melt Lady Arctic's ice, and, at last, capture her heart?A classic Regency-era historical romance novella, includes explicit love scenes.

    Canterbury’s inns are full, but the door of the local brothel stands open and Frau Klaus welcomes all who come seeking shelter. Gather with the stranded travelers around her Tannenbaum as they share secrets, holiday tales and stories of love.

    Several, in fact...Most people know me only as the headmistress of a charity school. Having a son but no husband has made me a social outcast­, which is no great inconvenience since I despise Society­ especially those "gentlemen" who seduce naïve young women. My contempt for such knaves leads us to Secret the First: I am the anonymous author of The Rogue Report, a newsletter that exposes these scoundrels and their exploits.My busy life leaves no time for romance, or so one might think. This brings us to Secret the Second: I have lately carried on a flirtation with the school's new mathematics professor. Mr. William Jackman is altogether too charming and mysterious for anyone's good ­particularly mine. Though I'm tempted to indulge my desires, I cannot help but wonder if my darling "Jack" hides secrets too.You see, not everyone appreciates The Rogue Report, and at least one of its subjects is out for revenge. Is Jack bent on protecting me, or is he really the villain who seeks my ruin? Is it possible that I've fallen in love with the most notorious rogue of them all?­Lady Julia Corwyn

    Isabella Stowe accepts his gratitude, but it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to convince this world-weary widow to accept his proposal…."Snowbound and Seduced" by Amanda McCabeMary Bassington, Lady Derrington, longs to be the carefree woman she once was. But she gets more than she bargained for this Christmas when she's snowbound with old flame Dominick, Viscount Amesby, who reignites her passion for life—and love!"Christmas at Mulberry Hall" by Carole MortimerSpending Christmas alone with his unconventional ward pushes the boundaries of propriety—and self-control—too far for Lord Gideon Grayson. So he takes delectably pure Amelia Ashford to Mulberry Hall—but that pesky mistletoe is still all around….

    Rumor and speculation still surround the mysterious disappearance of his young bride.As family, friends and servants gather, further scandal comes close on their heels. Passion and intrigue, secrets and desire, make for surprising bedfellows--both above and below stairs. It promises to be the most memorable house party of the Season!The Fortune Hunter--Nicola CornickAn Uncommon Abigail--Joanna MaitlandThe Prodigal Bride--Elizabeth RollsThree dramatic stories. One whirl of a Country House Party.

    If anyone discovers her writings, they'll find scandalous fantasies involving the newest rake in Town alongside entirely-too-candid thoughts about her typical dreary suitors. Aurora will either be forced into a loveless marriage with the first nodcock to make an offer, or she'll be assigned a permanent position on the shelf. What catastrophe will God smote down upon her next?If Niles Thornton, Baron Quinton, desires to maintain any semblance of his current lifestyle, he must fulfill the requirements his grandfather, Lord Rotheby, has set for him. When he is nearly barreled over by a racing curricle and a journal lands at his feet, his troubles are over. Inside the journal’s pages, Quin discovers a scandal waiting to happen. Surely a young lady who would write such brazen things in a journal must recognize the necessity of a hasty marriage, even if the gentleman making the offer is less-than-honorable.In a drunken haze, Quin kisses Aurora on a crowded ballroom floor, necessitating their immediate marriage. His troubles are only beginning, as Aurora's writings are soon the focus of both gossip rags and drawing room conversation. When word arrives of an even greater scandal following in his wife's wake, will he prove himself a drunken abuser like his father or the loving husband of Aurora's fantasies?SAVING GRACEThe blasted man will not stop following her. Well, he isn’t following her…not exactly. They are just always thrown together, and he is everything she wants but can’t have. It is downright infuriating—especially when he kisses her.Lady Grace Abernathy has been ravished and left pregnant. This would not be such a gargantuan problem if Lord Alexander Hardwicke would simply stay away from her as she asked. But leave it to her meddling Aunt Dorothea to continually thrust the two into each other’s company against both their wishes. These distractions are more than a lady should be forced to bear.Alex left London to visit his deceased father’s oldest friend, Lord Rotheby, and to get away from his mother and her matchmaking schemes, only to run into more of the same at every turn. But the more time he spends in the company of Lady Grace, the less he finds himself able to ignore his growing attraction—and his burgeoning need to protect her. Must he cause a scandal in order to protect her from one?MERELY A MISSMiss Jane Matthews feels completely out of place amongst the finery of the ton. She’s the daughter of a country vicar, for goodness sake, and nearly a spinster to boot. But when her distant cousin—a dowager duchess, of all people—offers to sponsor her for a Season in London, she agrees, but only so she can search for a storefront for her business. Perhaps, in that regard the Season won’t all be in vain.The widower of a loveless marriage, Peter Hardwicke, the Duke of Somerton, has already done his duty and provided an heir for his dukedom, so he sees no reason to remarry. Taking a wife would only mean adding a new responsibility to his already too-full schedule. He’s more than busy enough keeping his family in line—not to mention sorting out the myriad problems plaguing one of his estates.But when Lord Utley, a childhood friend who has been on the wrong side of Peter’s ire for many years now, takes an unlikely interest in Jane, Peter has to intervene. He’ll be damned if he’ll allow Utley to ruin yet another life.

    With swords, through sorcery, and in the course of some of the hottest nights ever experienced on the Inner Hebrides, Scottish heroes stake their claims, both in the bedroom and out. Dreams come true and legends are born as ancient prophecies are fulfilled by time travelers from the future, in a Scotland where real historical figures exist side by side with Pagan magic and werewolves. Dashing lairds and Scottish barbarians fight for love and honor in a wild, magical world.Let Julianne MacLean, Patricia Grasso, Lois Greiman, Marta Acosta, Donna Grant, and many more lead you into the fierce, sexy, irresistible heart of a Scotland that is, was, ans might still be.