Böcker utgivna av Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

To the London ton, Cameron MacNeill is an awkward, wallflower of a man with no hope of finding a wife. But the Highland chief holds deadly secrets, and he uses his beggar-like appearance to remain unnoticed. He enlists the help of the School for Spinsters to help him find a wife who will agree to be married in name only-because he needs a mother for his son while he is away working on behalf of the Crown.Lady Ashleigh Pryor will do anything to escape the abusive household of her father-even marry a man she barely knows. But Cameron's lightning reflexes, the powerful muscles he hides behind ill-fitting clothing, and his mysterious manner suggest that he is not a beggar at all, but a man hiding a past he wants no one to know about.As she starts to uncover the pieces of Cameron's secret life, Ashleigh no longer wants a marriage in name only-she wants a true husband in her bed.But Cameron can't let himself fall in love-for if his wife learns the truth about who he is, his secrets might put her very life at stake.The School for SpinstersBook 1 - A Match Made in LondonBook 2 - Match Me, I'm FallingBook 3 - Match Me If You Can

Sometimes you have to break the rules to find your happily ever after.The stern and proper Callum Winter, Duke of Montford, must marry. At least according to his mother.Enter: The Duchess Games where ladies are invited to display their accomplishments in dancing, music and all social graces.Caitriona Lovelace just wants to steal the duke's signet ring to get her smuggling operation running and save the village from ruin. Options are scarce for a thirty-one-year-old spinster, her two younger siblings, four dogs, a cranky goat, and a one-eyed fox.She might not have any pretty accomplishments, but she can sing sea shanties and debone a haddock in minutes. But between pianofortes and watercolors, Caitriona is shocked to discover that Callum remembers her from that passionate summer long ago and she has never forgotten him.Cat might not be duchess material---but she's the perfect woman to save Callum...and their happily ever after.The only problem is that she has to betray him first.The Dainty DevilsThe Duchess GamesThe Countess CaperThe Husband Heist

Welcome to book one in the new series The School for Spinsters by award winning author Michelle Willingham.Violet Edwards is painfully shy with a terrible stutter. Despite her mother's threats to send her away, she has plans of her own to win a husband. She enrolls herself in the infamous School for Spinsters, where she hopes to be transformed from a wallflower into a breathtaking debutante.The only problem is that the headmistress hired a gorgeous, notorious rake to give her lessons.To the rest of the London ton, Damian Everett, the Earl of Scarsdale, is a charming gentleman seeking a wife. But his father's mountain of debts have left him with no choice but to wed an heiress. When he's offered a generous stipend to help a shy wallflower, he can't refuse. All he has to do is provoke Violet Edwards into finding her backbone.As their lessons turn sensual, Damian is captivated by Violet...and he's falling hard. But how can he turn his back on his family for the wallflower he wants to love?The School for SpinstersBook 1 - A Match Made in LondonBook 2 - Match Me, I'm FallingBook 3 - Match Me If You Can

Love blossoms for a Lady Gardener when she robs a Duke... and then steals his heart.Alexandra Grantham becomes Lady Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to provide for the local farm workers in the district. However, not content with merely giving the poverty-stricken tenants money, Alexandra also grows fruit and vegetables for them in the hothouses at Grantham Place, using her expert knowledge of horticultural science to relieve their distress.When Mr. Robert Chanderly, her new neighbor, arrives in the district, Alexandra holds him up at gunpoint in his coach. She is dismayed when he hints she isn't what she seems. After he disarms her, Alexandra narrowly escapes, racing away to safety. However, she gains courage upon their next meeting when Mr. Chanderly fails to recognize her, even challenging him about the ineptitude of the manager he recently appointed to oversee his estate.Alexandra wishes to remain at Grantham Place with her brother, Sir John, as he suffers from chronic ill health. But when her grandmother, Lady Longmore, arrives at Grantham Place, she makes it clear that she expects her granddaughter to travel back to London with her.A hasty departure seems most judicious when men from Bow Street descend on the area to investigate her crimes. And when her new neighbor succeeds in unmasking her, Alexandra agrees to the scheme with alacrity.After Lady Longmore encounters Mr. Chanderly, she reveals to Alexandra that he is, in fact, the Duke of Stanford. Alexandra cannot hide her horror at the unwelcome revelation as the acknowledged leader of Society has it within his power to ruin her reputation.But, instead of blighting her social chances when they arrive in London, the duke decides to bring Alexandra into high fashion, and she effectively takes the ton by storm.Enemies abound in the Capital, however, causing trouble for Alexandra at every turn. So when an old adversary of Stanford's threatens to reveal Alexandra's dangerous secret to the ton, the duke must do everything within his power to defend the honor of the woman he loves-or lose the only lady he's ever wished to make his duchess.Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader's imagination.The Grantham GirlsThe Duke and the Lady GardenerThe Baron and the Lady ChemistThe Lord and the Lady Astronomer*Note: The Duke and the Lady Gardener was previously published as The Dashing Debutante. This second edition contains new material for readers to enjoy.

Henry Everleigh, Duke of Dulverton, is determined to discover who's ruining his sister's reputation.That's why he's in the middle of nowhere, attempting to convince a blacksmith to take him on as an apprentice-undercover, of course.He's tracked down the source of the lying gossip to this forge, and Henry is not prepared to find a woman at the anvil.A woman blacksmith. What on earth next?Minny Banfield doesn't exactly expect respect, but she's never had a strange man march into her smithy and demand to be taken on and trained. If she didn't need the money, she could firmly ignore him.Him, and his handsome face, and broad shoulders.But the secret messages she's been passing have taken a toll and she needs work. So if this Henry Everleigh appears to be running from the law, what harm can it do to keep him around?Sparks fly as Henry and Minny clash, both of them keeping secrets they are certain will destroy them-as the heat builds between them, a fiery desire that soon neither of them can deny...

The Duke's Guard: The men in black who have sworn an oath to protect the Duke of Wyndmere and his family from enemies that would stop at nothing to discredit and destroy him!Mollie Malloy happily works for the Duke and Duchess of Wyndmere in the Lake District, until the day her head is turned, and her heart is lost to the heartbreakingly handsome member of the duke's guard-Finn O'Malley.Finn is tempted by lovely Mollie and cannot afford to be. When he can no longer ignore the slip of a lass, he requests a transfer to the duke's crumbling tower on the coast of Cornwall. When she discovers Finn asked to be transferred to Cornwall, she is devastated.He sweeps back into her life when the head of the duke's guard is injured. Finn struggles with his control-and the need to honor his vow to protect the duke and his family. Mollie cannot resist the smoldering desire in Finn's emerald eyes.Duty calls and Finn returns to Cornwall. He and his men struggle to protect those rebuilding Penwith Tower, while smugglers and wreckers ply their trade in the caves beneath the duke's ancient tower. Rumors abound that the local excise official has been looking the other way and lining his pockets. The official decides it's time to get rid of O'Malley-the same time Finn receives an urgent message from Mollie.He returns to Wyndmere Hall to discover Mollie's carrying his babe, but not ready to accept his proposal. She wants to marry for love-not for the protection of his name. He's torn: should he leave his new bride in the safety of Wyndmere Hall-or would she be safer by his side?It is only when the hangman's noose is around Finn's neck that he realizes the feisty lass has always held his heart.Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past The Duke's Dragoon before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his heart, and his honor.The Duke's GuardBook 1 - The Duke's SwordBook 2 - The Duke's ProtectorBook 3 - The Duke's ShieldBook 4 - The Duke's DragoonBook 5 - The Duke's HammerBook 6 - The Duke's DefenderBook 7 - The Duke's SaberBook 8 - The Duke's EnforcerBook 9 - The Duke's MercenaryBook 10 - The Duke's RapierBook 11 - The Duke's Man-at-ArmsBook 12 - The Duke's LanceBook 13 - The Duke's ChampionBook 14 - The Duke's SharpshooterBook 15 - The Duke's CavalierBook 16 - The Duke's Blade

Falling through time was part of her plan. Falling for him was out of the question.2023Growing up an orphan, the only family Emilie Wilshire ever had was her best friend, Caitriona. But ever since Cait fell through the veil of time, Emilie's attempts to follow have fallen flat. The same cave that pulled her friend through rejects Emilie every time. Now she'll never see Cait again or meet her son, Lucas. Living alone in a small flat in the heart of Edinburgh, Emilie works as a tour guide and spends her nights researching her geology, making a fascinating discovery: she is a descendant of Caitriona's son.After leading a tour of Edinburgh's haunted underground vaults, a terrifying encounter leaves Emilie with a head injury. When she awakens, she finds herself in another place and time - Cait's time. However, Emilie's reunion with Cait is compromised when she discovers why she was sent back in time: Lucas is in danger, and only Emilie can save him. If she fails, her entire family line disappears-including herself.686 ADGoodwin Mac Dougal has long been satisfied with his life as a warrior, guard to the royal family, best friend to the king, and casual relationships with women. But ever since King Brodyn fell in love with a woman from the future, Goodwin has been restless, seeking more from life than fighting enemies and meaningless encounters with women. But in this wee village, no lass strikes his fancy.When a strange woman arrives, bound and slung across another warrior's horse, Goodwin is immediately drawn to this mysterious woman-and he knows that wherever she is from, it is not the year 686. She claims to know Queen Caitriona, and Goodwin recognizes her odd ways. Emilie, a beauty unlike any other, is from the future.Though she has a bonny face, her arrival means danger looms. When he's tasked with guarding her, Goodwin must also guard his heart, for she will return home soon, and their intense connection may be more dangerous than the enemy lying in their midst.Pict by TimeWhere the Thistle GrowsWhere the Stars LeadWhere the Ocean Ends

Can she convince the duke a woman has a brain?Lady Joanna Mabry has many flaws, one is her penchant for stealing books from her peers' homes. Since she returns them, usually to the same house, she feels it's a harmless flaw until she's almost caught by James Huntington, the Duke of Northwick. His outspoken views on a proper woman's education have left her bristling. So in this case, she's pleased to have taken his book on what is sure to be an antiquated view of the female species.James dismisses Lady Joanna's odd behavior until he discovers his book on "feminine education" is missing. Guessing she has it, he's highly amused since the cover concealed the real title, The Illustrated Pleasures of Seduction. He soon finds himself putting off his proposal to another woman as he attempts to trap Joanna into revealing her theft. He enjoys countering her energetic arguments for women's equal education, while he insinuates that what women should be most concerned with is the bedroom.Before long, the pictures in Northwick's book, his quiet hints, and his tantalizing touches begin to leave Joanna breathless. Worse, their debates bring her to a state of excitement she's known with no other. How can such a closed-minded man be so tempting?But with a spurned woman lurking in the background, Joanna must make the decision whether to let the duke wallow in a bed of his own making, or acknowledge the feelings that have grown between them...neither of which she's willing to do.Marrying a MabryStealing the DukePainting the EarlRevealing the Viscount

A deadly quarrel, an impossible loveOn his way to rejoin Wellington's gathering army near Brussels, Major Giles Butler fights a duel with the opinionated Duke of Cuttyngham. It was never meant to be a killing affair, and yet the duke lies dead at his feet. Determined to contribute to the final victory over Napoleon before standing trial, Butler bolts for the coast. En route, he unwittingly aids the lovely young Duchess of Cuttyngham to escape her gilded cage.Desperate to live a useful life, Rosamund has left her husband's cold and stifling house with the intention of becoming a village herbalist. She no longer believes in love or romance, especially not for herself, and yet by the time she learns of her husband's death - and the identity of his killer - she is already falling in love.Hopelessly entangled with each other, family machinations, officers of the law, and an unusual pair of eloping young lovers - to say nothing of Bonaparte's threat to the peace of Europe - Giles and Rosamund finally arrive in Brussels. But can they defy scandal and the law to be together?After all, how can a widow love the duellist who shot her husband?The DuelEntangledCapturedDesertedBeloved

The gentlemen of the ton may have returned from war, but the Lady Knights of England are just beginning ...Miss Jacquetta Lawson has disappeared in the middle of the London social season. Has scandal befallen this headstrong miss or is something more nefarious afoot?When Jacquetta allowed herself to be kidnapped by the notorious Grayson Thane, her plan was very straightforward. She would remain his captive long enough to deduce who he was working for and then she would promptly escape.Until she wakes up tied to the mast of a ship.Grayson Thane ought to know better. But weeks of sharing a cabin with a brazen, beautiful woman would tax any man...Bound for the West Indies, second-son of a duke Lord Grayson Thane is so close to extricating himself from the servitude he fell into in his youth. All that remains is to deliver Jacquetta Lawson to Barbados and he will finally be free to return to his family.But the insufferable tart is determined to frustrate him at every turn.Confined at sea with Grayson, Jacquetta starts to question her tightly held notions of right and wrong. But she will not give up her mission to Queen and country... even if it means she must seduce her bitter enemy.Lady KnightsIn Bed with a BlackguardLost to Lady ScandalA Spinster's Last StandThe Last Refuge of a Scoundrel

A rule-following viscount who becomes a sudden duke . . .A young woman who loses her parents and turns to music for solace . . .Two people who want very different things from life . . .Lord Henry Vaughn witnesses the deaths of his father and grandfather and becomes the new Duke of Linberry. A decent, kind, and responsible man, Henry knows after this double tragedy that it is important he take a wife and provide a ducal heir since death can come calling unexpectedly.Lady Sophia Sawyer loses both her parents closely together and mourns them the requisite year. When her cousin, the new Lord Parkhurst, calls her to London, she believes it is so she might make her delayed come-out. Instead, Fia is banished to live in the attic like a servant, while Parkhurst schedules her to give music lessons to children of the ton, keeping the fees for himself.The couple meets through mutual friends and the duke is drawn to the quiet, golden-haired beauty. When Fia shares she wants to play and compose her own music, however, Henry is torn, worried what Polite Society would think of a duchess who is anything but conventional.Will the duke learn to bend-and even let go of the ton's rigid, unwritten rules-and instead choose to follow his heart?Each book in the Suddenly a Duke series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.Suddenly a DukeBook 1 - Portrait of the DukeBook 2 - Music for the DukeBook 3 - Polishing the DukeBook 4 - Designs on the DukeBook 5 - Fashioning the DukeBook 6 - Love Blooms with the DukeBook 7 - Training the DukeBook 8 - Investigating the Duke

Her betrothed has gone missing and the only one who can help her find him is the one man to whom she could give her heart. . .After patiently waiting six years for her bridegroom, Miss Lucy Beresford finally comes to London to force him to the altar. But when she arrives, her prospective husband is nowhere to be found. Lucy then enlists the services of her betrothed's closest friend, Lord Montague, to help find her missing fiancé.Monty doesn't like to let on how worried he is about his absent friend, especially to the man's fragile fiancée. Nevertheless, he consents to help the lady in her quest to find the man she's betrothed to. The more time Monty spends with this lady, the more he realizes his friend was a fool not to marry her, and the more he realizes the shy persona Miss Lucy Beresford reveals to others conceals a woman of vast appeal.Their search-and the subsequent investigation, which takes them across England and to the highest levels of government-places them in danger and makes Monty vow to do everything in his power to protect his friend's future wife.The Beresford AdventuresLady Mary's Dangerous EncounterMy Lord ProtectorWith a Little Help from my LordRescued by a RakeVindicated by the ViscountDefended by the Duke

She dislikes him. He dislikes her. But they cannot resist one another.Miss Birdie Darley desires a grand adventure before marrying, but she gets more than even her dramatic imagination could have wished for!Several balls where she keeps running into a handsome, charming but terribly annoying man, an illicit meeting in a dark and deserted mews, and skating on the Thames at the Frost Fair all lead to the grandest adventure for Birdie Darley.Two men.One, she has always dreamed of marrying. The other she has always disliked. She has only to discover which of the two is stealing from the crown and which one has stolen her heart.Save one, turn in the other. And hope that they are not one and the same.Aldbey Park SeriesThoroughly in LoveThoroughly BesottedThoroughly CaptivatedThoroughly Seduced

It's all fun and games until someone falls in love.Lover of the Gothic craze sweeping the nation, Miss Georgiana Spence only has one thing on her mind this summer-the Eglinton tournament. Three full days of knights and ladies, dazzling jousting and succulent feasts, the medieval era will come back to life in Scotland, and not even the fact that her obscenely rich father is trying to sell her off for a title can ruin it for her.Well, it's almost ruining it for her.Because Georgina's intended, Lord Edward, Marquis of Marlborough, is anything but chivalrous. The marquis is taciturn and serious and myopic about restoring his estate to its former glory since his father squandered the family fortune. He doesn't have time for the archaic tournament, let alone have any intention of competing in it. That's only for young ne'er-do-well aristocrats who have nothing better to do than spill an exorbitant amount of money on armor and outfits-silly dandies who have no idea about real problems and the sacrifices needed to fix them. Sacrifices like marrying a rich merchant's daughter who clearly loathes him and has no qualms about shuffling her feet to the alter.With time running out for Edward, he decides to take matters into his own hand and get creative for Georgiana's love. A little poetry and a dash of gallantry never hurt anyone. Medieval courting might be just the thing to convince the woman that his buttoned-up ways make him the perfect knight for her. And, together, Georgiana and Edward might find that chivalry isn't dead in the 19th century; it merely looks a little different.After all, everything looks different when two people are falling in love!The Eglinton Knight SeriesBook 1 - Knight of the Jaded HeartBook 2 - Knight of the Wicked HeartBook 3 - Knight of the Bleeding HeartBook 4 - Knight of the Broken Heart

Love lost and found...As a girl, Euphemia Darrow had fallen desperately in love with the younger son of the Duke of Clarenden, Nicholas Montford. But he broke her heart with a cold dismissal before he left to join the army. Rather than pine for him, Effie found another purpose for her life. Forfeiting the notions of having a husband and children of her own, she poured her heart and soul into the Darrow School-her creation. It was a place for girls like herself... the illegitimate and often forgotten children of noblemen. She would rear those girls, teach them to fend for themselves, to retain their dignity and independence in a world of men.Years later, fate brings Nicholas back into her life. Now the only surviving son, he is the heir to the dukedom, he's also a master spy, working to protect the crown from threats foreign and domestic. Unable to resist the beautiful girl who has now grown into a remarkable and fascinating woman, Nicholas finds himself once more under Effie's spell. All his efforts to protect her from his father's wrath by ending their association have failed. But his father is now on his deathbed and freedom lies ahead-freedom to finally pursue the life he's always dreamed of... a life with Effie.But the course of true love can never run smoothly. Confronted with evidence that Nicholas has done the unforgivable-fathering a child, Alexandra, and abandoning her to the horrors of the workhouse-Effie rejects him. When the scheming of his enemies places him at death's door, Effie must accept that her feelings for him, despite her hurt, are as deep as ever. But Nicholas' enemies will do whatever it takes to destroy him and anyone who is close to him.With Effie and Alexandra in danger, he must move heaven and earth to keep them all safe... and to prove that he is worthy of her.The Hellion ClubA Rogue to RememberBarefoot in Hyde ParkMaking Spirits Bright (Novella)What Happens in PiccadillySleepless in SouthamptonWhen an Earl Loves a GovernessAll I want for Christmas (Novella)The Duke's Magnificent ObsessionThe Governess DiariesA Dangerous PassionThe Lady ConfessesHas Anybody Seen My Earl?A Scandal on Park LaneStrangers on a TrainAll About EmilyA Hellion Without A Cause

A grand showcase for technology, art, design and . . . murder.Welcome to book one in the thrilling new Kier and Levett Mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author Deb Marlowe.London, 1851, and the Great Exhibition is on. A soaring success despite months of dour predictions, it is the event of the year, on front pages and wagging tongues the world over-and Miss Kara Levett is thrilled to be in the middle of it. The daughter of a baron and an exhibitor herself, she happily demonstrates her elaborate automatons and case clocks to the crowds.But her situation grows perilous when a man is murdered in the Crystal Palace and she becomes the prime suspect. With the unexpected aid of Mr. Niall Kier, a reserved Scottish blacksmith, artist and fellow exhibitioner with secrets of his own, Kara begins the work the Metropolitan Police show no inclination for-finding the true killer.Together, Niall and Kara dig up international espionage schemes and sordid family secrets, and chase clues from Victorian high society to the London slums, all while trying to stay ahead of the villains who seek to make her the next victim.The Kier and Levett Mystery seriesBook 1 - A Killer in the Crystal PalaceBook 2 - Death from the Druid's GroveBook 3 - Murder on the Mirrored LakeBook 4 - Revenge in the Rogue's Hideaway¿¿¿¿¿¿¿Book 5 - Carnage from the Cursed Crown

From the fires of war, a new hero rises.Fifty years after Earl Malcolm MacHeth made peace with the King of Scots, the embers of rebellion remain half-hidden in Ross, ready to be ignited by ambition and resentment.From childhood, Affrica MacHeth has adored Ferchar, the son of a local priest. Complicated and clever, fun-loving and ambitious, Ferchar secretly becomes the center of her world, and a rare bond forms between them.But a path to happiness seems impossible. Family, war and rebellion get in the way. And when the last MacHeth rising against the King of Scots is led by her cousin, it is Ferchar, relentlessly loyal to the king, who leads the army against him.Ferchar would die to protect Affrica, but is love or ambition behind his offer of marriage? And when it matters most, can Affrica really choose Ferchar over her family?Last Flame of AlbaBook1: Rebellion's FireBook 2: A Constant BlazeBook 3: Burning Embers

Falling through time was unavoidable. Falling for him was disastrous.2023Scotland is a land of lore and legend, but archeologist Caitriona Murray prefers physical evidence to ancient tales. Joining a major excavation off the northern Scotland coast, Caitriona cannot wait to discover a cave's buried secrets. Because of reoccurring dreams of an ancient man's death, she is convinced that a Pictish king is buried within those cave walls. But soon, Cait discovers more secrets in that cave than just bones.Finding herself face to face with the man who haunts her dreams, Cait is thrown into the lost world she'd spent her entire life studying and is faced with an undeniable reality: she has traveled back in time, this king believes she is his bride, and Cait isn't sure she will ever make it back home.Danger threatens from every direction, but falling in love with a man destined to die brutally in battle may be her greatest downfall.685 ADKing Brodyn Mac Cuill is determined to keep his people safe, even if it means marrying a strange woman from a rival tribe. An alliance is his only chance at gathering an army large enough to defeat their southern enemies, the Angles, who challenge him daily.When his bride arrives, she is confused and resistant to marriage. She isn't the bride he'd hoped for, but lives are at stake. His new bride confuses him with her strange behavior, yet he finds her fascinating and irresistible. When danger follows in her wake, Brodyn must question her loyalties and everything he ever knew.Their connection is undeniable, but can he trust his bride, who claims to be from the future, or is she a trap sent by his enemy?

Two lovers once separated by their families reunite to face scandal and secrets that may once again tear them apart.Lord Oliver Hawkins left England six years ago, swearing off titles and expectations and vowing to send for Thea Fowler, the woman he loved. After Thea betrayed him the moment he left, Oliver made a life and a fortune in Canada. Now a widower, he's returned to claim a title he never wanted and preserve his son's inheritance. But he'll do it his way while avoiding the woman who broke his heart.Innkeeper Thea Smith has spent the last six years telling more lies than she'd ever thought possible, all to hide the consequences after Lord Oliver Hawkins, the man she loved, left her with empty promises. Finally safe and respected, she'll do whatever it takes to protect what's hers. That includes staying clear of the man who abandoned her.However, in their country village it's as impossible to ignore each other as it is to overlook their history. As they work to restore the fortunes of the village, Oliver and Thea uncover devastating betrayals and heartaches that endanger everything they hold dear.The only way to build a future is to confront their past, but will facing the truth bring them together or tear them apart?Enterprising WomenHis Enterprising DuchessHis Spirited LadyHis Secretive Madam

Welcome to Suddenly a Duke-the new Regency romance world from USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston.Eight titled peers who never expected to become dukes do just that-and are attracted to females whom Polite Society does not believe worthy of the title duchess, due to their desires to be more than typical ladies of the ton.But these sudden dukes choose to forge their own paths with the remarkable women who are already doing just that-and the resulting love proves that trusting one's heart is always the right choice.A fun-loving man who has become a staid duke . . .An independent lady who wishes to pursue her artistic bent . . .A long-ago meeting which left a lasting impression on them both . . .Daniel Judson, the Duke of Westfield, changed from a carefree young rogue into a sober duke once faced with a mountain of responsibilities after he assumed his grandfather's title. After seeing both his sisters wed, Daniel knows it is finally time for him to take a wife in order to provide the necessary ducal heir.Lady Margaret Townsend's come-out was delayed by the ill health and subsequent deaths of her parents. Now an ancient four and twenty, she makes her debut into Polite Society-not to find a husband-but to secure important social connections within the ton in order to acquire commissions to paint their portraits, a dream she has long held.Sparks surfaced during their initial encounter ten years ago. Their second introduction at the inaugural ball of the Season leaves Daniel certain he has found his duchess, while Margaret is confused by the never-known feelings stirring within her.Will the duke convince this lady she can have both marriage and her art-or will her stubbornness to follow a chosen path have her miss out on love?Find the answer in Alexa Aston's Portrait of the Duke, Book 1 in Suddenly a Duke.Each book in the Suddenly a Duke series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.Suddenly a DukeBook 1 - Portrait of the DukeBook 2 - Music for the DukeBook 3 - Polishing the DukeBook 4 - Designs on the DukeBook 5 - Fashioning the DukeBook 6 - Love Blooms with the DukeBook 7 - Training the DukeBook 8 - Investigating the Duke

The Duke's Guard: The men in black who have sworn an oath to the Duke of Wyndmere to protect the duke and his family from enemies that would stop at nothing to discredit and destroy him!Harriet Mayfield does not like being told what to do! She's been keeping their tenant farm afloat with the help of her 14-year-old son, the image of his dead father, her strength, and her wits. The last thing she needs is a too-handsome-for-his-own-good member of The Duke's Guard to ride to the rescue when a group of men arrive in the middle of the night to trample their crops and set fire to their barn!With a hand to her side, she admits that he did arrive in time to prevent that behemoth from crushing her. What are a few broken ribs when they could have lost their farm? Maybe she could ask O'Malley to let her borrow his cousin's .50 Kentucky long rifle.Michael O'Malley is drawn to the feisty widow from the first. It may have started with her sunset hair and mist-laden eyes, but any Irishman worth his salt appreciates the strength of a woman who is not afraid to keep going even after the loss of her husband. Harry is the first woman he's met since setting foot on English soil who calls to his heart while she's butting heads with him.When an enemy of Viscount Chattsworth threatens to ruin him, it is up to the Duke of Wyndmere's guard stationed at Chattsworth Manor to protect the viscount and everything he holds dear.Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to penetrate The Duke's Shield before he will let them harm those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his heart, and his honor.The Duke's GuardBook 1 - The Duke's SwordBook 2 - The Duke's ProtectorBook 3 - The Duke's ShieldBook 4 - The Duke's DragoonBook 5 - The Duke's HammerBook 6 - The Duke's DefenderBook 7 - The Duke's SaberBook 8 - The Duke's EnforcerBook 9 - The Duke's MercenaryBook 10 - The Duke's RapierBook 11 - The Duke's Man-at-ArmsBook 12 - The Duke's LanceBook 13 - The Duke's ChampionBook 14 - The Duke's SharpshooterBook 15 - The Duke's CavalierBook 16 - The Duke's Blade

One glance. A shipwreck. Can a love affair forged in peril sustain two independent spirits?Lavinia Onslow, who delights in the freedom of managing her father's millinery shop in the heart of Savannah, Georgia, has decided she may defy convention and not marry after all. Yet, in the summer of 1838, on board the elegant steamship Pulaski, bound from Savannah to Baltimore, she exchanges glances with an intriguing young man. What can ensue from a mere glance? Quite a lot, as legend has it. That very night, the boiler of the Pulaski explodes and the ship sinks, drowning most of its wealthy passengers. As Lavinia struggles in the water in her heavy dress, calling out for her father and thinking she will surely perish, someone dives in to rescue her, pulling her up next to him on a makeshift raft made of two deck settees. When she composes herself, she recognizes the intriguing man. There they float, alone but together, surrounded by ocean, thirty miles off the coast of North Carolina, desperate for a life-saving miracle.Is the bond she feels for this stranger more than an instinct for survival?Inspired by a legend --that may or not be true-- and set in the rich historic milieus of Savannah, New Orleans, and the coast of North Carolina, Between the Sky and the Sea explores how Lavinia Onslow's desire to live as an independent woman transforms after surviving the wreck of the Pulaski.

The lady fencer takes a stab at adventure...and love.She's keeping a secret...For years, Miss Pippa Chester hid away in fear...until a covert academy for ladies posing as a charity group taught her to fence. Blade hidden, Pippa confidently reenters London society, but her new life is threatened when a handsome, flinty-eyed lord blackmails her. Pippa must help find his missing sister or he'll expose the secrets of the academy Pippa would do anything to protect.He's looking for the truth...Jack Dashwood, Earl of Hartwick is frantic to find his sister, and when her supposed charity group fails to assist, he takes matters into his own hands. The lovely Pippa is as good at finding clues as she is with a sword, and soon they're chasing leads together. But the double-edged danger of his fascination with the mysterious Pippa combined with the passion that sparks with each kiss threatens to sidetrack their investigation... and overwhelm the control that Jack so desperately needs.They'll uncover something new...As Pippa and Jack battle thieves, a duel, and shadowy powers in parliament, they must trust in the most powerful weapon of all...their hearts.Ladies Covert AcademyBook 1 - How to Court a Covert LadyBook 2 - Secrets of a Covert LordBook 3 - Winning the Covert Lady's Heart

Her passion had caught him by surprise and it had been his undoing.As the youngest of the notorious Templeworth girls, Sophia is determined to be the last of her sisters to remain unwed and unburdened by the shackles of marriage. If she had her way, she'd only have contact with males of the four-legged variety. Namely her horses. And it looks as though that's exactly how her life will go.Until the duke.Devon Blake, the illustrious Duke of Farnshire, is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. But when Fate lands him with two orphaned charges and absolutely no idea what to do with them, he's rattled for the first time in his life. He decides that the best thing he can do is find a wife to help navigate this new, terrifying situation. And of course, any woman would kill for the job.Except Sophia.With Sophia determined to remain single, and Devon determined to make her his duchess, one of them will have to cave.Will it be the most stubborn woman in England, or the most determined duke in Scotland who wins?Will they part as enemies, or will the dashing lord get his winter wedding?A Lord for All SeasonsA Springtime ScandalMidsummer MadnessA Forgotten FallA Winter Wedding

Hunter Melbourne thought when he came home from the war, he would finally be safe. But the opposite was true.When Hunter Melbourne, heir apparent to the Duke of Willowbrook is shot on his way home from the war in Crimea, Hunter realizes someone wants him dead. Probably the same man who killed his brother. If only he can discover who is behind the attempts on his life before they kill everyone he cares for, including the woman he loves.The Willowbrook SeriesA Willowbrook MiracleA Page Turner MiracleA Bitter Pill to SwallowA Lesson LearnedIt's Not What it Seems

Delilah just wants one perfect summer... Sebastian suspects he may just want Delilah...But taming a Wild Windermere isn't for the faint of heart.Delilah is following her dreams...Every heroine needs a nemesis, and for Lady Delilah Windermere there's no more perfect villain than His Grace Sebastian Crewe, the Duke of Ravensworth. He ruined everything three years ago, but this time she won't let him stop her from living her dreams.The Duke is following Delilah...Sebastian has no desire to clip Delilah's wings. But when he finds her traveling with a troupe of actors, he can't just let her go on this adventure alone. When Delilah refuses to return to her family, Sebastian knows it's up to him to keep her safe...again.Will they find true love...together?As a magical summer unfolds, Sebastian and Delilah see their country-and each other-with new eyes. Reveling in their freedom, they can't resist indulging in a forbidden passion. But Sebastian knows that winning Delilah's heart won't guarantee their happily ever after, unless he can convince his Wild Windermere that true freedom lies in his arms.Windermeres in LoveBook 1 - Lady Amelia Takes a LoverBook 2 - Lord Archer Catches a ContessaBook 3 - Miss Windermere Woos a HighlanderBook 4 - Lady Delilah Dares a Duke

Neither of them is where they want to be. They are, however, where they need to be.Lady Elizabeth Ashton had been one of the 1825 season's best-known and desired debutantes. But when her brother's scandal leaves Beth's reputation in tatters, she seeks refuge at the northern estate of her sister-in-law's aunt. But all is not as it appears at the home of Lady Sophia Timmons, and Beth soon discovers Sophia is quietly providing a refuge for young women who have been ruined-a secret the entire household works to keep hidden.But as Beth heads north, Richard Christopher Caudale, Duke of Kirkstone, heads south. Kit has been searching for his sister Mary for months and has tracked her to the home of Lady Sophia Timmons. But the weeks on the road have taken their toll, and by the time Kit arrives at Timmons House, he collapses, ill and close to death.On impulse Beth volunteers to nurse the young duke back to health, vowing to keep Sophia's secret safe. Mary, however, is in the house and for the same reason as Sophia's other guests-she is with child, ruined and at risk of destroying her family. As Kit heals, however, Beth devises an outrageous plan to salvage them all.If only Kit is courageous and daring enough to try.The Ashton Park seriesTo Stop a ScoundrelA Rogue Like YouNothing but a RakeThe Duke I Came For

A time-travel adventure she never wanted... with the man who broke her heart.When Ellie Hartford, a divorced mother of two and professor of Middle English, goes on vacation with her two little girls to England, she thinks it'll be a relaxing time to catch up with her friend Jane. They'll go on long walks in the beautiful English countryside, eat delicious food, see a few sights, and catch up with her best friend, who-bonus-lives in a partially renovated castle. They are stunned when John, an ex-boyfriend of Ellie, shows up drunk, hand-cuffed in ancient manacles late one night. Handsome and kind neighbor Harry helps get John uncuffed, but the mystery remains-what happened to John? A medieval treasure trove is revealed, that has a direct connection to the haunted labyrinth in Jane's back garden. When the force of broken hearts wields more influence than Ellie could have foretold, she is pulled back to the year 1344, to the reign of Edward III, and the founding of the Order of the Garter.Ellie will do whatever it takes to get back to her children. With her knowledge of the medieval language and culture, she must navigate the intricate world of feudal England, with its tournaments, knights, chivalry, dancing, and feasts.Not to mention the distraction of two men eager to tear down the walls she's built around her heart.The Ladies of the LabyrinthBook 1 - The Veil Between WorldsBook 2 - The Veil of TimeBook 3 - The Season of the Veil

To find his future he must own his past...Raised as an Englishman, Armand Danger, Comte de Ytres, is troubled by a dream from his childhood that leaves him speculating on his French past.He is convinced an elaborate clock belonging to his late father, executed in the French Revolution, holds the answers he seeks.Miss Jade Bridges works as a valuer in her family's London antiques shop and auction house. One day she receives mysterious letter from an anonymous client willing to pay any price for a very specific statue clock.While in pursuit of the clock, Jade and Armand meet and there's immediate attraction. But how can it amount to anything when they are rivals for the very same object?As the couple grow closer and attraction deepens, they agree to join forces to find the timepiece together.Then an antiques dealer is killed. It appears someone else is willing to extract a fatal price to possess the clock for themselves.What is it about this curio for the count that someone is willing to commit murder for it?Gems of LondonDeceiving the DukeA Curio for The CountThe Elusive EarlThe Matchmaking Marchioness

A diplomat Earl and a scandal-ridden adventuress aren't the perfect match-except in passion.Welcome to the second book in the Brazen Burrells series, where scandal and adventure follow Juliet Burrell.When Juliet Burrell meets Valerian, Earl of Langston, their attraction is immediate, but their path to happiness is littered with obstacles it will take all their strength to overcome. Val is a diplomat, looking for a well-connected, scandal-free bride to help further his career. Juliet is surrounded by constant scandal, even though none of it is of her making. And Val is engaged to be married to Juliet's best friend.But when Val discovers that his future bride is in love with someone else, he and Juliet join forces to help them and end up in a betrothal themselves. As Juliet gets to know Val better, she tumbles further into love with him, but she's acutely aware that she is the exact opposite of what he needs. She cares for him too much to let him sacrifice everything for her and refuses to accept that their betrothal will result in marriage, even though their attraction has blossomed into passion.Val wants Juliet, though he knows he might have to give up his treasured diplomatic career to have her. For years he's engaged in the dark world of espionage, secrets, and lies, and he has done his job well and kept people safe. But he has always viewed his future in terms of the diplomatic work he is suited to, work that may not be possible with Juliet at his side.It's not long before trouble and tragedy plunge the Burrells into the mire once again, and Val may be the only one who can rescue Juliet from a situation that goes beyond scandal and into treason.Is love worth the sacrifice he may have to make?The Brazen BurrellsBook 1 - The Only Honest Man in LondonBook 2 - An Unusual CourtshipBook 3 - The Talk of the Town