But when Lord Stephen St. Leger requests her help in investigating an alleged psychic’s claims, she can’t deny the ominous feeling she has within the walls of his ancient estate—or the intimately familiar connection she has with Stephen himself. The last time he’d called Blackhope Hall home, Stephen had watched as his elder brother claimed both the family title and the woman he loved. Now, in the wake of his brother’s murder, Stephen has reluctantly returned to find his family ensconced in scandal. Who is responsible for his brother’s untimely death? And what is it about investigator Olivia Moreland that so thoroughly draws him in, reigniting a passion he hasn’t felt in years?

    A gypsy girl swore the necklace would lead the wearer to the heart of a duke, which only made sense since Lady Eleanor was betrothed to the Duke of Langley at the time. Now Charlotte’s three friends and her sister are all married or betrothed, and not one of them has landed the most eligible, and quite unbearably handsome, Langley. Does Charlotte stand a chance?Langley had thought his fate was settled: he was to marry the young lady his father had chosen. Then she fell for another, and since then, every marriageable miss he set his sights on has done the same. His mother wants him to marry and get on with providing an heir, but he has lost interest in the entire matter.The final young ladies on his mother’s list have come to stay at Hawking Hall, and the meek and mousy Lady Charlotte seems perfect, until she comes right out to say she has no desire to marry him. Never a man to back down from a challenge, Langley is intrigued. What would it take to change her mind?

    A stolen inheritance. Can love conquer mistrust? Athena Hawthorne never imagined that she would lose everything she'd ever had. But after the death of her father, his prosperous jewelry store is sold off to pay his supposed debts. Athena, now destitute, embarks on a mission to discover the truth, but circumstances force her to accept an offer from a handsome stranger to work as a governess. She's determined to clear her father's name, but a certain earl is making matters far more difficult than necessary. And she can't be in danger of losing her heart to a member of the aristocracy... Orion Ashcroft, the Earl of Rockford, is convinced that Athena is a grasping thief who stole a priceless family heirloom, the rare sapphire known as the Couleur Magnifique. When he offers her the position of governess to his sister's children, he only intends to catch her in some nefarious scheme and get back the sapphire—his grandmother's dying wish. But he soon discovers that keeping his distance—and his sanity—around the beautiful Athena isn't as easy as he'd planned. It certainly doesn't help that his sister and his best friend plead her innocence at every frustrating turn. Soon he's struggling between honoring his promise and his growing attraction to Athena. But there's danger closer than either expect. Even a masquerade can't hide Athena from the curiosity of the ton forever...and there's a threat hiding among the highest members of society...

    But Miss Clifton has met an untimely end—and Ursula is convinced it was not due to natural causes.   Archaeologist and adventurer Slater Roxton thinks Mrs. Kern is off her head to meddle in such dangerous business. Nevertheless, he seems sensible enough to Ursula, though she does find herself unnerved by his self-possession and unreadable green-gold eyes…   If this mysterious widowed beauty insists on stirring the pot, Slater intends to remain close by as they venture into the dark side of polite society. Together they must reveal the identity of a killer—and to achieve their goal they may need to reveal their deepest secrets to each other as well…

    Given the nature of the hostess’s eccentric relatives ,they will be played by a troupe of actors hired to impersonate a proper Victorian family. What a clever way to fool the prince! And gate-crashing, distractingly handsome first loves like Grayson Elliott are most unwelcome.   But nothing about Camille’s charade goes as planned. Tonight, at Millworth Manor, games will be played, motives will be revealed, the masks will come off, and hearts will be lost—and won—in the most romantic, magical season of all.

    The last man she ever expects, or wants, to be reunited with is her first love, who promised to cherish, honor and protect her, and instead fled amidst accusations of murder.He’s the reformed rake determined to win her back…One drunken night cost Daniel O’Reilly the woman he loved and the life he’d worked so hard to create. If he ever wants to reclaim that life–and Kate–he’ll not only have to prove he’s innocent of murder, but convince the pistol-wielding spitfire that he’s no longer the scoundrel he once was.Together, they’ll have to face a killer. Time is running out…

    Beaton—including The First Rebellion, Silken Bonds, and The Love Match. The First Rebellion (Book 1): The Earl of Tredair had had his fill of silly misses, and he despaired of finding anyone extraordinary—that is, until he met Miss Fanny Waverley. She and her two sisters had been raised to encourage poor females to stand up against the iniquities of the male sex! The beautiful and farouche Miss Fanny, however, found it hard to think of all men as cruel and lustful beasts—how could she, when now she found herself longing to kiss one of the most hated of his breed! Silken Bonds (Book 2): Frederica chafed at her restricted life as Mrs. Waverly’s adopted daughter, though she did agree with Mrs. Waverly’s philosophy. She knew that until men stopped preferring lisping dimwits over intellectual equals, Frederica would be better off without them. Still, the recent elopement of her sister sparked a fire in Frederica’s well-educated head. So it was that she was ripe for Lord Harry Danger’s charms, and he in turn was smitten from the moment he rescued her from a pack of drunken thugs. Now if he would only treat her as his equal—and stop his incessant flirting! The Love Match (Book 3): By day Felicity championed women’s rights, but by night she dreamed of romance. She was the secret author of a scandalous new novel—the tale of a lady “rake” and her passionate exploits. Yet one titled gentleman grew more and more intrigued with this headstrong young woman, and Felicity would soon learn that real life could be infinitely more interesting (and stranger) than fiction. About the Author M.C. Beaton is the pen name of bestselling novelist Marion Chesney. She is a prolific writer of historical romances and small village mysteries. Born in Scotland, the author began her writing career as a fiction buyer for a Glasgow bookstore and has worked as a theater critic, newspaper reporter, and editor. The author has written under various names, most notably as M.C. Beaton for her Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series. She has also written under the names Sarah Chester, Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Marion Gibbons, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward. The author lived in the United States, but now splits her time between the Cotswolds, England, and Paris, France. About the Series Waverly women pursue their aspirations no matter what the obstacle. They may marry if the cause seems to suit the purpose, or they may flirt until their heart is content—or perhaps until the gentleman who has until then proven to be the most elusive of all is clearly within reach. No matter what the obstacle, none is too big for a Waverly woman. These are books of dreams, lessons, fanciful thoughts, and most of all, tales of girls grown now to women who won’t settle for anything less than their full dreams, impossible as they may seem at the outset.

    As a child, her own heart was broken the night her mother dragged her from the Marquess Devereaux’s mansion and forced her into a stranger’s carriage. It was not the fear of meeting her mother’s new lover that had Julianna sobbing, but the fact she was leaving Bennet Devereaux—the marquess’ young son and Julianna’s only friend. Their parting words became a mantra she recited every night before bed.Promise you’ll find me when you’re old enough.Promise you’ll return if you can.Two promises made and broken.Someone is trying to kill Bennet Devereaux. The twenty-seven-year-old marquess has received copies of his obituary, witnessed two staged murder scenes and fears the third might be his last. Desperate to uncover the culprit, he seeks to hire an enquiry agent. Imagine his surprise when the only available agent is a woman—a woman who was once his childhood friend and confidante.Two people thrown together by fate.Bennet and Julianna must find the villain before it’s too late. But the deep bond they forged as children quickly develops into an intense attraction. How will they navigate these uncharted waters when Julianna refuses to be any man’s mistress? What options are left for Bennet when he can’t make a courtesan’s daughter his wife?Find out in The Devereaux Affair - Ladies of the Order Book 1

    Rossiter is shocked to find his fortune lost, his father accused of fraud, and his family name disgraced entirely. Worst of all misfortunes, Lady Naomi's family has dissolved the engagement, and the lady herself is of no mind to ask that it be reinstated...

    But what he demands in exchange for answers will thrust Daphne into a world of mystery, hatred, and lust.An indecent proposal…Thirty days and nights in the bed of the Earl of Hartmoor … this is the price she must pay to learn the truth of the dark lord’s vendetta against her family. Yet, when she accepts the offer, Daphne never expects to find that nothing is what she thought it was, and the truth proves far harder to stomach than she ever imagined. Book 2: The DoveAn unexpected obsession…After thirty days and nights in his bed, Adam sends Daphne back to London a fallen woman, the final blow that will see the Fairchild family scorned by society. However, he is hard-pressed to forget the beauty of her submission, or the brief moments of peace and balance she brought his tortured existence. Despite the bad blood between their families, he is determined to possess her, to stake his claim on her beyond the thirty nights she gave him. She will fight him at every turn … which will only make the chase, and her inevitable surrender, all the better.A choice between love and retribution…When the consequences of Adam’s deeds begin to fall back on not only him, but Daphne, as well, he is forced to bring her under his protection. He will end this feud between his family and hers once and for all, and is determined to put her behind him when all is said and done. Yet, it becomes increasingly clear that setting her aside will not be as simple as he thought. Her heart could be his for the taking, but only if he will abandon his vendetta against her family once and for all. Will Adam choose a lifetime of peace and love with Daphne … or will the need for revenge consume him, and eventually, destroy him?