But even those who are holding her brother ransom can’t force her to do the impossible—hand over a necklace she doesn’t have.Major Samuel Bennett believes the newly widowed Lady Claire Huntingdon is a traitor. He intends to get the necklace he’s convinced she has, before sending her to the gallows. But when he meets the captivating widow, he discovers that nothing is as it seems.Claire knows she can’t trust anyone, but she isn’t given a choice when Major Bennett arrives, demanding she give him the necklace. And it isn’t until she’s forced to put her life in his hands that she realizes it isn’t only her life she’s in danger of losing—but her heart as well.

    Eight assorted heroes and heroines set out with their pocketbooks firmly clutched and hearts in protective custody. Or are they? The Bluestocking Belles are proud to present eight never before published novellas centered on the Duchess of Haverford's ball. Her favorite cause is also one dear to the hearts of the Bluestocking Belles, women's education. 25% of all proceeds will be donated to the Malala Fund. A Suitable Husband, by Jude Knight As the Duchess of Haverford’s companion, Cedrica Grenford is not treated as a poor relation and is encouraged to mingle with Her Grace’s guests. Perhaps among the gentlemen gathered for the duchess’s house party, she will find a suitable husband? Valuing Vanessa, by Susana Ellis Facing a dim future as a spinster under her mother’s thumb, Vanessa Sedgely makes a practical decision to attach an amiable gentleman who will not try to rule her life. A Kiss for Charity, by Sherry Ewing Young widow Grace, Lady de Courtenay, has no idea how a close encounter with a rake at a masquerade ball would make her yearn for love again. Artemis, by Jessica Cale Actress Charlotte Halfpenny is in trouble. Pregnant, abandoned by her lover, and out of a job, Charlotte faces eviction two weeks before Christmas. When the reclusive Earl of Somerton makes her an outrageous offer, she has no choice but to accept. Could he be the man of her dreams, or is the nightmare just beginning? The Bluestocking and the Barbarian, by Jude Knight James must marry to please his grandfather, the duke, and to win social acceptance for himself and his father’s other foreign-born children. But only Lady Sophia Belvoir makes his heart sing, and to win her he must invite himself to spend Christmas at the home of his father’s greatest enemy. Christmas Kisses, by Nicole Zoltack Louisa Wycliff, Dowager Countess of Exeter wants only for her darling daughter, Anna, to find a man she can love and marry. Appallingly, Anna has her sights on a scoundrel of a duke who chases after every skirt he sees. Anna truly thinks the dashing duke cares for her, but her mother has her doubts. An Open Heart, by Caroline Warfield Esther Baumann longs for a loving husband who will help her create a home where they will teach their children to value the traditions of their people, but she wants a man who is also open to new ideas and happy to make friends outside their narrow circle. Is it so unreasonable to ask for toe curling passion as well? Dashing Through the Snow, by Amy Rose Bennett Headstrong bluestocking, Miss Kate Woodville, never thought her Christmas would be spent racing across England with a viscount hell-bent on vengeance. She certainly never expected to find love...

    But their time together was ill-fated and brief. After being treated poorly by her new husband, soon Annalise's love for Blake is shattered. When he disappears entirely, their marriage seems to have ended as soon as it began.A terrible betrayal...Blake, the Earl of Payne, had it all: a hefty inheritance, a respectable title, and a beautiful wife. But it all crumbles when he is abducted, tortured and almost killed three months after his wedding. Now that he's back he is determined to win back his wife and take revenge on whoever is responsible for his abduction. Neither task is going as planned, especially since his wife has moved on and his abductors have a plan of their own.A love that is stronger than hate…As suspicions flare, dark secrets emerge, and old passions are rekindled, Blake and Annalise must decide if they can trust each other again... or let go of one another forever.This work of fiction contains adult content, strong language, violence, off page death, bullying, nightmares and other situations that might be offensive.Reader discretion is advised.

    Why, the infuriating man, Judith Lovington fumes. For the past few years, she has enjoyed life as a songstress with a group of traveling actors. Better still, she's escaped her noble family's dictates--and an unwanted marriage. ...BUT TEMPTATION How could she have known that Lord Kelthorne, a devilishly handsome rake, would fall head-over-heels for her? Or that he would outwit every strategem she and her friends could invent to discourage his pursuit? Even worse, he is revealing an unexpectedly appealing determination that shows he wants more from Judith than mere...pleasure. In fact, the imprudent lord refuses to give up!

    But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he’s intrigued. Rebeka is no ordinary seventeenth-century woman—she’s travelled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return home. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what’s killing Arik’s land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik. As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik’s household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. To defeat him, Arik and Rebeka must combine their skills. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.

    Though courted by a wealthy earl, Catherine Forsythe finds herself falling for the handsome estate gardener and faced with the choice of marrying for money and security, or following her heart.

    Even her one chance for happiness was crushed beneath her father's tyrannical thumb when he convinced Sophie's only suitor to marry her youngest sister who'd gotten in a family way with the stable boy. Firmly on the shelf at forty-one, Sophie has grown accustomed to her fate as a spinster until she does something bold and daring. She never really expected the Devil of Devlyn to actually accept her rash proposal, and she certainly hadn't planned on falling in love with a younger man. Quentin Blackwell, Earl of Devlyn, refused to marry a woman carrying another man's child. The price he paid for spurning the promiscuous youngest daughter of Baron Townsend was his fortune. Now, the baron's oldest daughter has come to him with an unexpected proposition. Devlyn seizes the chance for vengeance without hesitation. But the one thing Quentin never bargained on was how revenge could cost him the one thing he wants the most. Sophie’s love. A strong, independent, older heroine pitted against a hero as sexy, mature, powerful, and alpha as they come. ...smoking hot love scenes and pithy dialogue between Devlyn and Sophia. Even as they circle each other like a couple of spitting cats, the desire between them sizzles, flourishes, and explodes.” — Fallen Angel Reviews – Recommend Read “…the attraction and chemistry between Quentin and Sophie is electric; the pages vibrate with it. From the very first page to the last, Ms. Burns keeps me on the edge of my seat devouring every word. Each encounter was ripe with tension and in some cases, explosive love scenes that were phenomenal to read.” — Romance Junkies – 5 Blue Ribbons …The sex scenes are scorching, but the love between her hero and heroine is better.” — RTBOOKReviews – 4 Stars“ “…LOVE’S REVENGE is the perfect recipe for a nice long evening of reading. This story shines in every sense of the word.” — Romance Readers at Heart

    "Desire Me Only" once again pushes the genre to its breathtaking limits, delivering a story of danger and desire, passion and the deceptive propriety of 19th-century London society.Justin Reynall had yet to meet his stepmother, but already hated her. The young woman who charmed her way into his father's coffers -- and quite possibly precipitated his death -- was due to arrive from India any day, and Justin planned to unmask her as fortune hunter, and worse. But he never counted on her beauty -- or his own desire.Upon her return to London, wealthy young widow Diandra Reynall immediately sensed ulterior motives -- none of them good -- behind her stepson's agreement to sponsor her sister Serena's Season. But Diandra also sensed a simmering attraction that charged their battle of words and wits with much more than anger. But even as Diandra and Justin waged their seductive war, other forces conspired against them, pulling them into a sinister mystery they could only solve together.

    Here is a chance to find a wealthy husband and get the entire family out of debt. But the upper crust of London bristles at Jane's blunt country ways—everyone but Lord Glendale. The handsome Lord, not in the market for a wife, finds himself amused by Jane's frank manner and wagers that—within the month—even provincial Jane can be brought into fashion.His plan succeeds only too well, as Jane blossoms into the most popular young lady of the season. Now will Lord Glendale relinquish Jane to her newfound admirers? Or will he take the biggest gamble of all– and risk his heart in a challenging game of love?

    She's not prepared for the Jazz Age roaring through America, sweeping a flapper named Birdie Stuart and war veteran Evan Johnson into her Missouri town. As the summer heats up, life turns explosive. A wave of terrifying crimes threatens Evan's courtship of Julie, and Birdie's schemes begin to tear her family apart. Soon everything Julie wants and believes is at stake--including Evan's freedom--and Julie Jones must decide how far she will go to fight for herself and those she loves.

    But when the dark-eyed beauty responds to his ad, he cannot resist offering her more than just a contract to provide him with an heir to his fortune.As they travel west and struggle to guard their wounded hearts, Faith and Reese quickly discover just how easily business can turn to pleasure...and pleasure to love.Book 1 of the BORROWED BRIDES Series, which includes Golden Chances, Harvest Moon and Something Borrowed

    Everything was perfect—until the first letter . . . At twenty-seven Dante De Luca was finally finished with his time in the Navy and was starting his new career at Seal Security with his buddies from the service. Everything was finally settling into place for him—until the phone call . . . Now the hunt is on to find a stalker that could shatter everything Len and Dante have been building . . . including the love they have for each other. When they both finally admit their feelings for each other the worst happens… Will they ever get their one more time? *** This book is intended for mature adults only. Contains sexual content and language that may offend some. Suggested reading audience is 18 years or older. I consider this book as Adult Romance. If this isn’t your type of book, then please don’t purchase it. ***

    After losing everything in a card game, gambler Viscount Gracechurch is given a single chance to regain his fortune--to accept his opponents' wager to seduce the enigmatic Juliet Seaton--but he soon discovers that his task could prove to be more difficult than he had expected.

    . .   As a Yankee in Texas two years after the Civil War, cowboy Broderick Monroe is given the jobs no one else wants to do—including keeping company with the cursed Widow Allen at the annual Valentine’s Day dance thrown by his boss’s wife.   After losing two husbands to the war, Valerie Allen has become a local pariah. Rumor has it that if a man touches her, he’ll be dead by morning. But Brody believes in curses about as much as he believes in love.   One secret embrace in the moonlight leads Valerie to think she has found a kindred spirit, but fate—and the curse—aren’t done with her yet . . .     Originally published in Be My Texas Valentine

    When Lucas, Lord Sinclair, receives a mysterious summons from a Miss Olivia Silverdale he’s skeptical about whether he can help her. But Olivia, although eccentric, is in earnest about her quest to restore her late godfather’s reputation. Lucas’s curiosity is piqued, and not just by Olivia’s intelligent eyes and lithe form. A new challenge quickly presents itself: keeping Miss Silverdale at arm’s length!