Bøger af Christi Caldwell

USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell weaves a sensuous tale of innocence lost in this blistering romance about a young woman on the run and the lecherous cad she can't seem to resist.I don't want visitors. But when the butler says the caller is a she, I spring to attention. The night just got a lot more interesting.Turns out the recently orphaned Helia Wallace has come to see my mother, her godmother, for help with a dastardly, dowry-chasing cousin. A likely story. But there's a snowstorm brewing, and she begs me to let her stay the night. I reluctantly agree.It's her reputation at stake, not mine.With the duke and duchess wintering elsewhere, Horace House is all mine. I'm free to do whatever I want. And what I want is Helia. The Marquess of Wingrave and virgins don't typically mix, but this one's different--too bad I could ruin her forever.

From USA TODAY Bestselling author Christi Caldwell comes the return of the Scandalous Seasons Series. Be swept away in the passion, drama, and splendor of Regency England, where the ballrooms glitter and the dukes are sexy and brooding, and the ladies dare to love. There have been two constants in Miss Anwen Kearsley's life: one, she has always loved Phineas Lesar, the Marquess of Landon, her brother's best friend. And two, like all her cursed relatives, she is fated to die young. Before she turns up her heels, Anwen plans to have a courtship from Phineas any way she can. She thinks it will be enough. Phineas Lesar, the Marquess of Landon's rakish reputation precedes him. Unfortunately, so does his status as a gentleman on the edge of debtor's prison. He's now on borrowed time to find a wealthy bride. If that isn't enough responsibility for a hapless rogue, he has Anwen Kearsley coming to him with a favor. Phineas's loyalty to the Kearsley family puts him at cross-purposes with his own dire circumstances, and it's only because Anwen is his best friend's younger sister that he agrees to her scheme. Except, the more time he spends with Anwen, he begins to notice she is all grown up and spirited and...beautiful-certainly, all of London's bachelors will be vying for her hand. Soon Phineas finds himself...entranced by Anwen. There's a thousand reasons she can't be his. Is it too late for this rogue to reform? Or is there still time for him to become a man worthy of her? Unfortunately for Anwen, time is the last thing she does have. Scandalous Seasons Series: Forever Betrothed, Never the BrideNever Courted, Suddenly WedAlways Proper, Suddenly Scandalous, Always a Rogue, Forever Her LoveA Marquess for ChristmasOnce a Wallflower, At Last His LoveEndlessly Courted, Finally Loved Once a Rake, Suddenly a Suitor (Coming September 2023)Once Upon a Betrothal (Coming November 2023)

From USA TODAY Bestselling author Christi Caldwell comes the return of the Scandalous Seasons Series. Be swept away in the passion, drama, and splendor of Regency England, where the ballrooms glitter and the dukes are sexy and brooding, and the ladies dare to love.Endlessly Courted, Finally LovedFeaturing the romance of Lady Beatrice Dennington and Laird Hamish, Earl of Brewster. A Clever CharadeLady Beatrice Dennington has become the most courted lady of the ton--not bad for a duke's sister. Only problem being is that the courting has never ended with an offer of marriage. Every single gentleman who has courted her has found his true love, and it hasn't been Beatrice. Her last humiliation, has Beatrice fed up with being a prize never claimed. She's decided to betroth herself to a dashing Scottish laird--a completely fictional Scottish laird. Imagine Beatrice's shock when her pretend sweetheart waltzes into her life so they can continue their romance. Lord Hamish Campbell is a man out for revenge. He will use anyone or anything in order to seek his vengeance--even the sweet, Lady Beatrice Dennington. It's the lady's own bad luck that she used the name of a real man for her ruse. A Chance for LoveDriven by their own reasons, Beatrice and Hamish unite in the ultimate charade. With each passing day they spend together, the line between real and pretend is blurred. And it isn't long before Beatrice finds herself falling completely for the dashing Scot. Can she show a man buried in the past, to embrace a future...with her? Or is Hamish's need for revenge destined to keep them apart? Scandalous Seasons Series: Forever Betrothed, Never the BrideNever Courted, Suddenly WedAlways Proper, Suddenly Scandalous, Always a Rogue, Forever Her LoveA Marquess for ChristmasOnce a Wallflower, At Last His LoveEndlessly Courted, Finally Loved Once a Rake, Suddenly a Suitor Once Upon a Betrothal

Ruthless, wicked, and dark, the Marquess of Rutland rouses terror in the breast of ladies and nobleman alike. All Edmund wants in life is power. After he was publically humiliated by his one love Lady Margaret, he vowed vengeance, using Margaret's niece, as his pawn. Except, he's thwarted by another, more enticing target-Miss Phoebe Barrett. Miss Phoebe Barrett knows precisely the shame she's been born to. Because her father is a shocking letch she's learned to form her own opinions on a person's worth. After a chance meeting with the Marquess of Rutland, she is captivated by the mysterious man. He, too, is a victim of society's scorn, but the more encounters she has with Edmund, the more she knows there is powerful depth and emotion to the jaded marquess. The lady wreaks havoc on Edmund's plans for revenge and he finds he wants Phoebe, at all costs. As she's drawn into the darkness of his world, Phoebe risks being destroyed by Edmund's ruthlessness. And Phoebe who desires love at all costs, has to determine if she can ever truly trust the heart of a scoundrel.

Coming to the Heart of the Duke world...the romance between: Lady Faith Brookfield and Rex DuMond, the Marquess of Rutherford! Readers haven't met a Heart of a Duke scoundrel like this since Edmund, the Marquess of Rutland graced the pages.A Dastardly VillainRex DuMond, the Marquess of Rutherford, rules over London's most wicked gaming hell Forbidden Pleasures. His black-hearted peers might spend their evenings in polite society, but they spend their nights gambling their wealth, land, and secrets away at his tables. No man can turn him from his chosen life of decadence and debauchery, not even his domineering and disapproving father.A Daring Young WomanLady Faith Brookfield hasn't forgotten the night she entered Forbidden Pleasures and crossed paths with the dark, seductive gaming hell owner. That night, however, she discovered more than a dangerous attraction, she also uncovered dangerous secrets--ones that can avenge past wrongs against her aunt and save other young women from suffering a similar fate.A Dangerous GambleIn order to save his gaming empire, Rex has no choice but to pursue the innocent debutante for the secrets she holds. Can true love ever be born in treachery and deceit? Accustomed to a world where the house always wins, Rex must wager all he owns on the greatest gamble of all...love. Heart of a Duke BooksFor Love of the DukeMore Than a DukeThe Love of a RogueLoved by a DukeTo Love a LordThe Heart of a ScoundrelTo Wed His Christmas LadyTo Trust a RogueThe Lure of a RakeTo Woo a WidowTo Redeem a RakeOne Winter With a BaronTo Enchant a Wicked DukeBeguiled by a BaronTo Tempt a ScoundrelTo Hold a Lady's SecretTo Catch a Viscount (February 2022)Defying the Duke (July 2022)To Marry Her Marquess (August 2022)The Devil and the Debutante (September 2022)Devil by Daylight (November 2022)Ten Things I Love About the Duke (2023)

In this passionate, emotional Regency romance by USA Today Bestseller Christi Caldwell, society's most wicked rake meets his match in the clever Lady Chloe Edgerton! And nothing will ever be the same! She doesn't believe in marriage.... The cruelty of men is something Lady Chloe Edgerton understands. Even in her quest to better her life and forget the past, men always seem determined to control her. Overhearing the latest plan to wed her to a proper gentleman, Chloe finally has enough...but one misstep lands her in the arms of the most notorious rake in London. The Marquess of Tennyson doesn't believe in love.... Leopold Dunlop is a ruthless, coldhearted rake... a reputation he has cultivated. As a member of The Brethren, a secret spy network, he's committed his life to serving the Crown, but his rakish reputation threatens to overshadow that service. When he's caught in a compromising position with Chloe, it could be the last nail in the coffin of his career unless he's willing to enter into a marriage of convenience. A necessary arrangement... A loveless match from the start, it soon becomes something more. As Chloe and Leo endeavor to continue with the plans for their lives prior to their marriage, Leo finds himself not so immune to his wife - or to the prospect of losing her.

They see a brokenhearted widow. She's far from shattered. Lady Philippa Winston is never marrying again. After her late husband's cruelty that she kept so well hidden, she has no desire to search for love. Years ago, Miles Brookfield, the Marquess of Guilford, made a frivolous vow he never thought would come to fruition--he promised to marry his mother's goddaughter if he was unwed by the age of thirty. Now, to his dismay, he's faced with honoring that pledge. But when he encounters the beautiful and intriguing Lady Philippa, Miles knows his true path in life. It's up to him to break down every belief Philippa carries about gentlemen, proving that not only is love real, but that he is the man deserving of her sheltered heart. Will Philippa let down her guard and allow Miles to woo a widow in desperate need of his love?

Christi Caldwell is a MUST READ!! Mary Balogh, New York Times bestselling author And see why Tessa Dare says, "A Christi Caldwell book never fails to touch the heart." In this spellbinding new Regency series by Christi Caldwell, The Heart of a Duke meets the Brethren of the Lords. The stakes are high and passions flare hot in Regency England! A widow with a past... The last thing Victoria Barrett, the Viscountess Waters, has any interest in is romance. When the only man she's ever loved was killed she endured an arranged marriage to a cruel man in order to survive. Now widowed, her only focus is on clearing her son's name from the charge of murder. That is until the love of her life returns from the grave. A leader of a once great agency... Nathaniel Archer, the Earl of Exeter head of the Crown's elite organization, The Brethren, is back on British soil. Captured and tortured 20 years ago, he clung to memories of his first love until he could escape. Discovering she has married whilst he was captive, Nathaniel sets aside the distractions of love...until an unexpected case is thrust upon him-- to solve the murder of the Viscount Waters. There is just one complication: the prime suspect's mother is none other than Victoria, the woman he once loved with his very soul. Secrets will be uncovered and passions rekindled. Victoria and Nathaniel must trust one another if they hope to start anew-in love and life. But will duty destroy their last chance?

Never trust a gentleman... Once before, Lady Alice Winterbourne trusted her heart to an honorable, respectable man... only to be jilted in the scandal of the Season. Longing for an escape from all the whispers and humiliation, Alice eagerly accepts an invitation to her friend's house party. In the country, she hopes to find some peace from the embarrassment left in London... Unfortunately, she finds her former betrothed and his new bride in attendance. Never love a lady... Lord Rhys Brookfield has no interest in marriage. Ever. He's worked quite hard at building both his fortune and his reputation as a rogue-and intends to enjoy all that they can offer him. That is if his match-making mother will stop pairing him with prospective brides. When Rhys and Alice meet, sparks flare. But with every new encounter, their first impressions of one another are challenged and an unlikely friendship is forged. Desperate, Rhys proposes a pretend courtship, one meant to spite Alice's former betrothed and prevent any matchmaking attempts toward Rhys. What neither expects is that a pretense can become so much more. Or that a burning passion can heal... and hurt.

Everybody has a secret. Some are more dangerous than others. For Georgina Wilcox, only child of the notorious traitor known as "The Fox", there are too many secrets to count. However, after her interference results in great tragedy, she resolves to never help another... until she meets Adam Markham. Lord Adam Markham is captured by The Fox. Imprisoned, Adam loses everything he holds dear. As his days in captivity grow, he finds himself fascinated by the young maid, Georgina, who cares for him. When the carefully crafted lies she's built between them begin to crumble, Georgina realizes she will do anything to prove her love and loyalty to Adam-even it means at the expense of her own life.

She's longing to be loved: Lady Cara Falcot has only served one purpose to her loathsome father-to increase his power through a marriage to the future Duke of Billingsley. As such, she's built protective walls about her heart, and presents an icy facade to the world around her. Journeying home from her finishing school for the Christmas holidays, Cara's carriage is stranded during a winter storm. She's forced to tarry at a ramshackle inn, where she immediately antagonizes another patron-William. He's avoiding his duty in favor of one last adventure: William Hargrove, the Marquess of Grafton has wanted only one thing in life-to avoid the future match his parents would have him make to a cold, duke's daughter. He's returning home from a blissful eight years of traveling the world to see to his responsibilities. But when a winter storm interrupts his trip and lands him at a falling-down inn, he's forced to share company with a commanding Lady Cara who initially reminds him exactly of the woman he so desperately wants to avoid. A Christmas snowstorm ushers in the spirit of the season: At the holiday time, these two people who despise each other due to first perceptions are offered renewed beginnings and fresh starts. As this gruff stranger breaks down the walls she's built about herself, Cara has to determine whether she can truly open her heart to trusting that any man is capable of good and that she herself is capable of love. And William has to set aside all previous thoughts he's carried of the polished ladies like Cara, to be the man to show her that love.

A wicked rogue Marcus, the Viscount Wessex has carefully crafted the image of rogue and charmer for polite Society. Under that façade, however, dwells a man whose dreams were shattered almost eight years earlier by a young lady who captured his heart, pledged her love, and then left him, with nothing more than a curt note. A widow with a secret Eight years earlier, faced with no other choice, Mrs. Eleanor Collins, fled London and the only man she ever loved, Marcus, Viscount Wessex. She has now returned to serve as a companion for her elderly aunt with a daughter in tow. Even though they're next door neighbors, there is little reason for her to move in the same circles as Marcus, just in case, she vows to avoid him, for he reminds her of all she lost when she left. Former lovers reunited at last... As their paths continue to cross, Marcus finds his desire for Eleanor just as strong, but he learned long ago she's not to be trusted. He will offer her a place in his bed, but not anything more. Only, Eleanor has no interest in this new, roguish man. The more time they spend together, the protective wall they've constructed to keep the other out, begin to break. With all the betrayals and secrets between them, Marcus has to open his heart again. And Eleanor must decide if it's ever safe to trust a rogue.

He's spent years scandalizing society. Now, this rake must change his ways. Society's most infamous scoundrel, Daniel Winterbourne, the Earl of Montfort, has been promised a small fortune if he can relinquish his wayward, carousing lifestyle. And behaving means he must also help find a respectable companion for his youngest sister--someone who will guide her and whom she can emulate. However, Daniel knows no such woman. But when he encounters a childhood friend, Daniel believes she may just be the answer to all of his problems. Having been secretly humiliated by an unscrupulous blackguard years earlier, Miss Daphne Smith dreams of finding work at Ladies of Hope, an institution that provides an education for disabled women. With her sordid past and a disfigured leg, few opportunities arise for a woman such as she. Knowing Daniel's history, she wishes to avoid him, but working for his sister is exactly the stepping stone she needs. Their attraction intensifies as Daniel and Daphne grow closer, preparing his sister for the London Season. But Daniel must resist his desire for a woman tarnished by scandal while Daphne is reminded of the boy she once knew. Can society's most notorious rake redeem his reputation and become the man Daphne deserves?

Coming to the world of Heart of the Duke...the romance between: Lady Caroline Brookfield and Wynn Masterson, the Marquess of Exmoor (formerly the Earl of Astor) With ruin bearing down on his sisters, Wynn Masterson, Marquess of Exmoor, must find a respectable wife posthaste. Lovely and formidable brides-to-be accost him from one end of Mayfair to the other, but it's the retiring Lady Caroline Brookfield who catches his eye.Lady Caroline has a scandalous past, and worse yet, she's the sister of Wynn's former fiancée-one of his former fiancées, that is. Caroline is all wrong for the marquessate and exactly right for the man, but how can Wynn choose between the woman he adores and the future his siblings are depending on him to secure? Heart of a Duke BooksFor Love of the DukeMore Than a DukeThe Love of a RogueLoved by a DukeTo Love a LordThe Heart of a ScoundrelTo Wed His Christmas LadyTo Trust a RogueThe Lure of a RakeTo Woo a WidowTo Redeem a RakeOne Winter With a BaronTo Enchant a Wicked DukeBeguiled by a BaronTo Tempt a ScoundrelTo Hold a Lady's SecretTo Catch a ViscountTo Marry Her Marquess (August 2022)The Devil and the Debutante (September 2022)Devil by Daylight (November 2022)Ten Things I Love About the Duke (2023)

A lady betrayed... Finishing school instructor, Mrs. Rowena Bryant is hated by her students, revered by the headmistress, and absolutely determined to maintain her financial security. Deceived years ago by the only man she'd ever given her heart to, Rowena relies on no one but herself-that is the best way to keep her most scandalous secret. A soldier turned duke... When Graham Linford returned from war on the cusp of death, he discovered he'd been betrayed by the woman he loved. From that moment, Graham shaped himself into an unfeeling nobleman, refusing to ever suffer the agony of betrayal again. Now a duke, Graham is determined no one will ever discover the touch of madness that has haunted him since battle. Lovers reunited... When Graham finds himself named guardian to a young lady, the woman sent as a companion to his ward is none other than Rowena Bryant. With every moment spent together, their passion reignites, and the walls they've built to keep one another out begin to crumble. But when their dark past tests them again will true love be enough to repair their damaged hearts?

A Devil in Disguise Years ago, when Nick Tallings, the recent Duke of Huntly, watched his family destroyed at the hands of a merciless nobleman, he vowed revenge. But his efforts had been futile, as his enemy, Lord Rutland is without weakness. Until now... With his rival finally happily married, Nick is able to set his ruthless scheme into motion. His plot hinges upon Lord Rutland's innocent, empty-headed sister-in-law, Justina Barrett. Nick will ruin her, marry her, and then leave her brokenhearted. A Lady Dreaming of Love From the moment Justina Barrett makes her Come Out, she is labeled a Diamond. Even with her ruthless father determined to sell her off to the highest bidder, Justina never gives up on her hope for a good, honorable gentleman who values her wit more than her looks. A Not-So-Chance Meeting Nick's ploy to ensnare Justina falls neatly into place in the streets of London. With each carefully orchestrated encounter, he slips further and further inside the lady's heart, never anticipating that Justina, with her quick wit and strength, will break down his own defenses. As Nick's plans begins to unravel, he's left to determine which is more important--Justina's love or his vow for vengeance. But can Justina ever forgive the duke who deceived her?

A Lady with a Secret... Partially deaf, with a birthmark marring her face, Bridget Hamilton is content with her life, even if she's been cast out of her family. But her peaceful existence-expanding her mind with her study of rare books-is threatened with an ultimatum from her evil brother-steal a valuable book or give up her son. Bridget has no choice; her son is her world. A Lord with a Purpose... Vail Basingstoke, Baron Chilton is known throughout London as the Bastard Baron. After battling at Waterloo, he establishes himself as the foremost dealer in rare books and builds a fortune, determined to never be like the self-serving duke who sired him. He devotes his life to growing his fortune to care for his illegitimate siblings, also fathered by the duke. The chance to sell a highly coveted book for a financial windfall is his only thought. Two Paths Collide... When Bridget masquerades as the baron's newest housekeeper, he's hopelessly intrigued by her quick wit and her skill with antique tomes. Wary from having his heart broken in the past, it should be easy enough to keep Bridget at arm's length, yet desire for her dogs his steps. As they spend time in each other's company, understanding for life grows as does love, but when Bridget's integrity is called into question, Vail's world is shattered-as is his heart again. Now Bridget and Vail will have to overcome the horrendous secrets and lies between them to grasp a love-and life-together.

The 5th and final installment in Christi Caldwell's Heart of a Scandal series will have readers sighing, swooning, and laughing out loud!Years earlier, Connell Wordsworth, the Duke of Renaud gave up the woman he wanted for the responsibilities thrust upon him. After loss upon loss, he heads to London, for a new home with no memories, no staff, and the only thing he wants in life...to be alone. He's managing that feat quite nicely until...Lady Constance Brandley, has a secret. She and her family don't have two farthings to rub together. A spinster, long past the age of either love or marriage, she finds herself presented with a unique opportunity that could improve her circumstances. Except, that opportunity also brings the unlikeliest of gentlemen into her life-her best friend's former betrothed, the Duke of Renaud.Thrown together with the notorious scoundrel, it isn't long before Constance discovers there's far more to Connell, the Duke of Renaud than the world sees. And soon she finds herself longing for, everything she shouldn't-the heart of a duke.The Heart of a Scandal Series Includes: Prequel Novella--In Need of a Knight Schooling the DukeA Lady's Guide to a Gentleman's HeartA Matchmaker for a MarquessHis Duchess for a DayFive Days With A Duk

USA Today Bestselling author Christi Caldwell revisits the dark, gritty side of Regency England in her Brethren of the Lords series! Death was preferable... Since his wife was killed in an accident that stole his happiness and left him injured, William Helling, the Duke of Aubrey, is a broken man. Neither strong drink and loose women nor the power he wields as leader of the Brethren of Lords can free him from the nightmares that haunt him. He prefers to be left alone, and has no desire to heal the wound his life has become. Then one day Miss Elsie Allenby, rumored to be a skilled healer, enters his household. He should send her away and yet he's enthralled by the mysterious stranger. Healing was her life... But not a day passes when Elsie Allenby doesn't miss her father nor remind herself where the blame for his death lies: The Brethren of Lords. Since that betrayal, she's made a life for herself on the fringe of society, caring for wounded animals. Her peaceful life is turned upside down when her help is requested by the Brethren, and she finds herself in the presence last person she ever thought she would aide: William Helling, the leader of the Brethren. With every exchange, passion grows between Elsie and William. Soon the protective walls they've built, begin to crumble. But when danger threatens them both, they'll need to overcome the treachery around them. Will the past steal their passion or will love find a way?

A Lady Dreaming of Love Lady Genevieve Farendale has a scandalous past. Jilted at the altar years earlier and exiled by her family, she's now returned to London to prove she can be a proper lady. Even though she's not given up on the hope of marrying for love, she's wary of trusting again. Then she meets Cedric Falcot, the Marquess of St. Albans whose seductive ways set her heart aflutter. But with her sordid history, Genevieve knows a rake can also easily destroy her. An Unlikely Pairing What begins as a chance encounter between Cedric and Genevieve, becomes something more. As they continue to meet, passions stir. But with Genevieve's hope for true love, she fears Cedric will be unable to give up his wayward lifestyle. After all, Cedric has spent years protecting his heart, and keeping everyone out. Slowly, she chips away at all the walls he's built, but when he falters, Genevieve can't offer him redemption. Now, it's up to Cedric to prove to Genevieve that the love of a man is far more powerful than the lure of a rake.

In need of a wife... Christian Villiers, the Marquess of St. Cyr, despises the role he's been cast into as fortune hunter but requires the funds to keep his marquisate solvent. Yet, the sins of his past cloud his future, preventing him from seeing beyond his fateful actions at the Battle of Toulouse. For he knows inevitably it will catch up with him, and everyone will remember his actions on the battlefield that cost so many so much-particularly his best friend. In want of a husband... Lady Prudence Tidemore's life is plagued by familial scandals, which makes her own marital prospects rather grim. Surely there is one gentleman of the ton who can look past her family and see just her and all she has to offer? When Prudence runs into Christian on a London street, the charming, roguish gentleman immediately captures her attention. But then a chance meeting becomes a waltz, and now... A Perfect Match... All she must do is convince Christian to forget the cold requirements he has for his future marchioness. But the demons in his past prevent him from turning himself over to love. One thing is certain--Prudence wants the marquess and is determined to have him in her life, now and forever. It's just a matter of convincing Christian he wants the same. New York Times Bestselling Author Sarah MacLean says about "Captivated By a Lady's Charm" "... Caldwell does not shy away from the emotional or physical pain of wounded warriors, and this book asks important questions about the impact of war while reminding us that love can sometimes be a remarkable salve..."

All she wants is security: The last place finishing school instructor Mrs. Jane Munroe belongs, is in polite Society. Vowing to never wed, she's been scuttled around from post to post. Now she finds herself in the Marquess of Waverly's household. She's never met a nobleman she liked, and when she meets the pompous, arrogant marquess, she remembers why. But soon, she discovers Gabriel is unlike any gentleman she's ever known. All he wants is a companion for his sister: What Gabriel finds himself with instead, is a fiery spirited, bespectacled woman who entices him at every corner and challenges his age-old vow to never trust his heart to a woman. But...there is something suspicious about his sister's companion. And he is determined to find out just what it is. All they need is each other: As Gabriel and Jane confront the truth of their feelings, the lies and secrets between them begin to unravel. And Jane is left to decide whether or not it is ever truly safe to love a lord.

Be prepared to smile, swoon, and sigh in Christi Caldwell's latest 'Heart of a Scandal' installment where a matchmaker firmly on the shelf is about to fall head over heels for her best friend's younger brother. She lived by a strict set of rules...Meredith Durant believes those who won't marry, matchmake, and she's made a notable career for herself helping young women find the perfect mate. Having suffered a broken heart years before, she's quite content in her work and determined to never fall prey to love again. Her most recent job finds her working for the unlikeliest of households, never expecting her assignment would be her best friend's younger brother, Barry-who's not so little anymore. He's a grown man who leaves her breathless and wishing just maybe this time she could have a happy ending. But how can that happen when, once her job is done, she must watch him wed another? He's decided to break her rules: Barry Aberdeen, the future Duke of Gayle, knew his days of freedom were numbered. With his sister recently married, his mother turned her marital aspirations to him. She's even gone as far as to hire a matchmaker. Worse, the matchmaker is a childhood friend--Meredith Durant. Only the rigid, serious creature is not the carefree girl he remembered. If he's going to be saddled with a matchmaker, he's going to have fun loosening Meredith's too-tight chignon. What he doesn't expect is how entranced he'll be when those strands come falling down around her shoulders.The Heart of a Scandal Series Includes: Prequel Novella--In Need of a Knight Schooling the DukeA Lady's Guide to a Gentleman's HeartA Matchmaker for a Marques

Return to the breathtaking world of the HEART OF A DUKE...the USA Today bestselling series that is sure to leave you sighing and longing for more! Lady Gillian Farendale is in trouble. Her titled father has dragged her through one London Season after another, until the sheer monotony of the marriage mart and the last vestige of Gillian's once-independent spirit conspire to lead her into a single night of folly. When her adventure goes so very wrong, she has only one old friend to whom she can turn for help. Colin Lockhart's youthful friendship with Lady Gillian cost him everything, and a duke's by-blow had little enough to start with. He's survived years on London's roughest streets to become a highly successful Bow Street Runner, and his dream of his own inquiry agency is almost within his grasp. Then Gillian begs him to once again risk angering her powerful father. The ruthless logic of the street tells Colin that he dare not help Gillian, while his tender heart tempts him to once again risk everything for the only woman he'll ever love.

"Proper lady of the ton and her slightly scandalous, intensely charming neighbor discover they have a lot in common during an unexpectedly magical night"--Provided by publisher.

"Despite a hero's return to England from the Napoleonic Wars, Wesley Audley isolates from the ton. Deep wounds from the horrors of combat--and the despair of a broken heart--left him scarred. As he struggles to cope and resume his place in Polite Society, Wesley is quick to cut himself off from everyone ... except for Ellie Balfour. Independent and strong-willed, Ellie has dreams of captaining her own husband-free life and a penchant for meddling in other's business. She knows befriending Wesley is a risk but Ellie can't bear to see his heartache. Nor can she seem to silence all the temptingly intimate thoughts his nearness provokes. But Ellie is yet to face a battle she can't win--and Wesley's heart is worth the fight. If only her campaigns ever went to plan..."--Provided by publisher.

"Perpetually unattached Lady Cassia McQuoid has accepted her fate as a spinster. But how can she be expected to lead a life confined to drawing rooms and royal balls when there's a vast, exciting world to explore? Cassia can find but one solution: she masquerades as a thrill-seeking lad and stows away on a ship bound for open waters. Adventure waits. So does notorious privateer Nathaniel Ellsby. Nathaniel doesn't want to be the Duke of Roxburghe. Instead, the second-born son relishes his freedom to do as he pleases: pursuing enemy ships in service of the war effort. But when his older brother dies, Nathaniel embarks on one last mission before he fulfills his ducal duties with an arranged marriage. That's the intention at least--until he discovers that his woefully green deckhand is a fetching but vulnerable woman in disguise. Nathaniel's new mission is to protect Cassia from the perils of the sea, both above and below the water, by sharing the close confines of the captain's quarters. As roiling emotions turn to love, Nathaniel and Cassia realize the greatest risks--to the Crown, to their futures, and to the heart--still lie ahead."--Publisher description.

"Lady Poppy Tidemore's notorious family scandals assure her place in not-so-polite society. Of course, she didn't help matters ... with an infamous art lesson that left her name ruined. Now, Poppy's only hope is to accept her sister's invitation to live at the Paradise, the illustrious hotel owned by her brother-in-law. There she'll be able to pursue her artistic studies without judgment. Except someone else at the Paradise knows Poppy, someone who used to occupy her girlish dreams: Lord Tristan. Thankfully, Poppy's no longer that naive little girl, moonstruck by the charming rogue. In fact, over the years, she and Tristan have become unlikely friends. So, there should be no problem living under the same roof ... or at least, that's what she keeps telling herself ... His reputation precluded him ... Scoundrel. Scapegrace. Soldier. That's how he's known ... and not in that order. Tristan Poplar, now Baron Bolingbroke, has lost everything. Upon learning of his father's dubious role in the disappearance of the rightful Maxwell heir he's lost not only his title and wealth, but also his respectability. He's determined to restore his honor at all costs. However, honor proves a tricky thing - as does self-restraint-the more time he spends with alluring Poppy Tidemore. His best course of action is to avoid her, but when Poppy presents Tristan with a legitimate offer he can't refuse, both enter with clear heads and uninvolved hearts. Except, the more time they spend together, their arrangement blossoms into something more. And when an unexpected opportunity comes along for Tristan to restore his name, he'll have to decide which matters most: fighting for honor or fighting for Poppy's love."--Publisher

Martha Donaldson went from being a nobleman's wife, and respected young mother, to the scandal of her village. After learning the dark lie perpetuated against her by her 'husband', she knows better than to ever trust a man. Her children are her life and she'll protect them at all costs. When a stranger arrives seeking the post of stable master, everything says to turn him out. So why does she let him stay? Lord Sheldon Graham Whitworth has lived with the constant reminders of his many failings. The third son of a duke, he's long been underestimated: that however, proves a valuable asset as he serves the Brethren, an illustrious division in the Home Office. When Graham's first mission sees him assigned the role of guard to a young widow and her son, he wants nothing more than to finish quickly and then move on to another, more meaningful assignment. Except, as the secrets between them begin to unravel, Martha's trust is shattered, and Graham is left with the most vital mission he?ll ever face?winning Martha's heart.