ADVISORY FROM THE AUTHOR: This book contains mature content, including explicit language of graphic sexual situations. To quote a one-star review, "This was a story that felt like it was made just to write a LOT of sex scenes." And, well, kind of, yes. If you don't like explicit sex, this is not the book for you. If you like a lot of history in your romances, you may also wish to give this one a pass -- history pretty much begins and ends with the reference to the Battle of Waterloo. But if you like a spicy story of a nice family in London and a laugh or two along the way, I hope you'll sit back with a cup of tea (not mandatory) and enjoy. -- Maureen Driscoll

Caught behind enemy lines at the Battle of Waterloo, nurse Jane Wetherby is forced to seek shelter with British operative Lord Edward Kellington. After a night of passion, the two are separated. With nothing but the alias Jane used to protect her family, Lord Edward is unable to find the woman he can’t forget.

Seven years later, Jane courts scandal by serving as the unofficial surgeon in the village of Marston Vale. When Edward arrives to formalize his betrothal to a viscount’s daughter in accordance with his late father’s wishes, Jane has no choice but to watch the match proceed. When a threat from the past emerges, Jane must join forces with Edward to safeguard her loved ones. But at what risk to her heart…

NEVER A MISTRESS, NO LONGER A MAID is the first novel in the six-book Kellington saga.

In a world plagued with darkness, she would be his salvation.

No one gave Erik a choice as to whether he would fight or not. Duty to the crown belonged to him, his father's legacy remaining beyond the grave.

Taken by the beauty of the countryside surrounding her, Linzi would do anything to protect her father's land. Britain is under attack and Scotland is next. At a time she should be focused on suitors, the men of her country have gone to war and she's left to stand alone.

Love will become available, but will passion at the touch of the enemy unravel her strong hold first?
 

The manor behind the mists....

The man behind the mystery. In 1873 San Francisco, spirited Ann Lovell takes a position no one else dares -- as governess to the motherless sons of the enigmatic Benedict Trevelyan. It has long been whispered that Trevelyan Manor hides dark secrets and sinister deeds -- including the murder of Benedict's wife. But Ann refuses to pay heed to spiteful rumor.

As she grows to cherish her young charges, Ann also finds herself powerfully drawn to the handsome Benedict, whose passionate persuasion introduces her to a new world of sensual pleasures. But even while falling in love with the master of Trevelyan, Ann wonders if his attentions are intended to blind her to the secrets of the past -- and if Benedict holds the key to her destiny...or her destruction.

A GIFT FOR LARA: Lara Robinson wrote a love letter four years ago, but received no reply. Now the man to whom she gave her heart will visit Blythe Manor for Christmas. How can she enjoy the holidays knowing Miles Greystoke must despise her for revealing her feelings in such an unguarded fashion?

As an awkward youth, Miles fell in love with a kindred spirit…but his love was unrequited. Against his wishes, he’s now obliged to spend the holidays at Blythe Manor. Time has wrought changes in his physique, but his devotion to Lara Robinson has never wavered. He searches for the perfect present to show her how he feels, but nothing seems quite right…until he realizes the best sort of gift will embrace the true meaning of Christmas.

A GIFT FOR FIONA: With one sister married and another soon to be engaged, Fiona worries she’ll be the last Robinson girl on the shelf. She pins her hopes on a handsome viscount, but his unexpected and public proposal to another girl hands her a stinging and demoralizing defeat. A new acquaintance awakens all her senses—until she realizes he’s related to the girl who stole her beau. On the heels of her humiliation, should Fiona instead consider marriage to a much older man whom she could never love?

Fiona’s unconventional, earthy looks and mischievous personality appeal to Rory Braithwaite much more than any other woman he’s ever met. Unfortunately, his sister has been the means of ruining Fiona’s happiness. Can he convince Fiona of his sincerity before she makes a mistake she’ll regret for the rest of her life…and his?

A romance bundle featuring 8 standalone stories: a mixture of novels and novellas. Only 'The Proposal' is the first in a series but can be read as a standalone novella.

Genres include Contemporary, Historical, Western, Victorian, Regency, Medieval and Paranormal sweet romance.

Princess Katherine has found herself in a precarious predicament. Through an arranged marriage set in motion years before, she has found herself engaged to the cruel King Philip. Philip’s rival from a neighboring kingdom is advancing, attempting to free his brother, whom Philip holds captive. Katherine secretly attempts to locate Philip’s prisoner, King Matthew, hoping that together they can find a way to escape Philip’s devious clutches. However, Katherine has not spoken since a tragic event years ago and, now she must rely on others to help her find her voice and find her path to freedom.

Meanwhile, King Matthew’s brother King Caleb is building his forces, ready to avenge his stolen brother and restore him to his thrown. Will Caleb be in time to release his brother before Philip allies with his insidious cousin, King Leopold? Will Katherine escape from Philip and find her true love?

This story of love and heartache will leave you breathless. A tale of love and war full of so many twists and turns, you’ll find yourself both shocked and elated as the story unwinds. Deck of Cards is a spellbinding journey, which will keep you hanging on every word until the captivating ending.

As far as her illustrious old California family is concerned, no man is good enough for beautiful Catarina Moreno. She’s been obedient through all the years of waiting, but now she wants a little excitement before her inevitable spinsterhood. When a handsome American cowboy rides onto her father’s rancho, Catarina sees her chance—as long as she doesn’t get caught and dishonor her family.

Jace Merrill’s worked thirteen years to earn a ranch of his own and prove his all-too-respectable father wrong. He only needs to work a little longer on Señor Moreno’s ranch for his hard work to pay off—as long as the Señor never learns his real name, or just how hard it is for Jace to resist his alluring daughter.

When Catarina and Jace finally give in to temptation, her father catches them, and they’re marched to the altar for a shotgun wedding. But ancient vendettas run deep in old California. There’s unfinished business between the two families, business neither Jace nor Catarina know anything about until it’s too late. Now they’re battling against a blood feud, and each other, to save a marriage neither of them wanted.

Whenever Fidelity Scott hears a certain gentleman’s name, she turns into a mindless, quivering puddle of drool. Well, in all honesty, every young lady does. Sylvestre Brightenburg is that bewitching. He leaves no room for any other man in Fidelity’s thoughts, not even close family friend John Greysteil, whose excellent manners and handsome face perhaps don’t get the attention they deserve.

But when Fidelity realizes everyone in Mayfair knows of her name-induced drooling, she’s mortified to her bones. Her reputation’s only hope is for her to escape to the country, even though that will leave her two young cousins without a chaperone next season. But before she leaves, Grey convinces Fidelity to attend one more masked ball. Armed with a new and sensuous gown, a full-face mask, and complete anonymity, she’s determined to make some scandalous memories to sustain her for the rest of her Brightenburg-less life.

But Grey has other plans for her last evening in town, plans that don’t include the blistering rake all the ladies are sighing over. How can he convince Fidelity she’s making a terrible mistake? How can he win her heart in the crush of a winter masked ball?

When Julia unexpectedly loses the accounting job she loves, and is unable to find another position doing anything in Boston, she decides to take her best friend Emma up on her offer to come to Montana. Emma’s husband Ethan has eight brothers and one of them, Liam, has his sights set on Julia. Liam seems almost too perfect, but then Julia discovers the secret that he struggles with. Will she stick with him?

An enigmatic woman, a determined spy, and a design that could shake the foundations of Europe...

"Heartless" Cordelia Bering refuses every marriage offer she receives. Yet men still try to win her, drawn by her sharp wit and intoxicating green eyes. But Cordelia knows a marriage could reveal her deepest secret and truly endanger her life. Besides, she hasn't met a man worth considering, until...

Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of the Crown. One of the elite agents in the group known as the Zodiac, he comes to London determined to solve a mystery with roots on the Continent. He won't let anything distract him. But is Cordelia a distraction, or the key to the mystery? As he learns more about the "heartless" woman, he becomes embroiled in secrets, plots, and a design that could change the future...and Cordelia is at the center of it all.

On a bitter December day in 1785, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of master blacksmith Liege Lee in York, Pennsylvania. Just months from becoming a master blacksmith himself, Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship and move west. But Liege soon discovers that Silas is a prodigious worker and craftsman and endeavors to keep him in York. Silas becomes interested in both of Liege's daughters, the gentle and faith-filled Eden and the clever and high-spirited Elspeth. When he chooses one, will the other's jealousy destroy their love?

In this sweeping family saga set in western Pennsylvania, one man's choices in love and work, in friends and enemies, set the stage for generations to come. Love's Reckoning is the first entry in The Ballantyne Legacy, a rich, multi-layered historical quartet from talented writer Laura Frantz, beginning in the late 1700s and following the Ballantyne family through the end of the Civil War.

How far would you go to avenge your family and save the one you love?

In nineteenth-century England, Alaina Claiborne had a loving family, a cherished friend, and devoted servants. She spent her days riding across the grassy hills of the English countryside, joyful and at peace.

Then tragedy strikes and her world is forever changed. Searching for those responsible is her only focus . . . until she meets Tristan.

Tristan Sheffield, a man of many talents, searches out those who don't want to be found. His past is filled with secrets and deeds he would rather leave deeply buried. However, when his life unexpectedly entwines with Alaina's, he soon discovers they share more than a mutual desire to catch a murderer.

On their hunt for a man driven by greed, Tristan and Alaina find that love is the greatest weapon against evil, and they'll stop at nothing to survive.

A wounded British army captain tries to find love in the face of his self-doubt...

Phoebe Hartridge runs into serious danger on an icy winter evening. But her rescuer, the mysterious Anthony Sterling, immediately melts her heart and makes her dream of a life beyond her tiny, sheltered world. The more she gets to know him, the more she senses he is hiding something from her.

When Captain Anthony Sterling was wounded in battle, he lost his leg, his fiancee, and any hope for happiness. Even the revelation that he is the heir to a fortune brought him nothing but bitterness. Then his chance encounter with the charming, innocent Phoebe makes him wonder if there may be a future for him after all. But first he must escape the shadows of his past.

When Lady Grace Warren’s father sells her in marriage to the depraved Lord Fentington, she knows only the most drastic action will save her from a life of misery. In Victorian England, a woman possesses only one item of value: her virtue. Without it, Fentington will not want her—nor will any other man. But at least she will be free. Now she must find a man with whom to pass the fateful night, a man who will ask no questions, make no other demands. Because for a woman preparing to risk everything, no ordinary man will do…

After losing two wives in childbirth, Vincent Germaine, Duke of Raeburn, vows never to marry again. Racked with guilt over the lives lost in his quest for an heir, he is careful now to take his pleasure only with London’s most discreet courtesans. Yet when he learns that a passionate encounter with a bewitching stranger may have put yet another life at risk, Vincent sets out to find the unsuspecting girl—and discovers a woman of incomparable courage, beauty, and strength. But can two strangers brought together by desperation find true love against all odds?

In the age of jazz and champagne cocktails, respectable English widow Jenny embarks on a new life in America. Whatever adventures lie ahead, she's certain of one thing: one loss was enough for a lifetime. She will never love again.

So when, halfway across the ocean, she is stuck in an elevator with Tom Gallagher, a roguishly handsome and very unavailable Prohibition gangster, she has nothing to fear where her heart is concerned. Or does she?

Ewan Cameron, estranged grandson of the Duke of Lotheil, is in London because of a deathbed promise made to his father and has no intention of staying beyond his three month obligation. Nothing can tempt him to remain, not even Lily, the beautiful bluestocking determined not only to restore relations between him and his grandfather, but to turn Ewan into a proper gentleman. Ewan, proud of his Scottish heritage, refuses to admit that Lily, a blue-eyed, English girl, has claimed his heart. It doesn’t matter that his big lump of a sheepdog is madly in love with her. Nor is it significant that Ewan can always tell Lily apart from her identical twin sister. Always.

Lily Farthingale, the scholarly twin, dreams of becoming the first female member of the Royal Society. She grabs at the chance when the elderly Duke of Lotheil approaches her with a proposition - he’ll admit her into the Royal Society, if she helps him to establish a relation with his estranged grandson, Ewan Cameron, a very rough-around-the-edges Scotsman who hates everything English. Between shootings, explosions, and Lily’s abduction, Ewan ends up falling in love with Lily in this Pygmalion-inspired story.

Lord Gerard Lenister needed the lady…after their meeting, he wanted her.

For seventeen years Lady Eloise Granville lived in France thinking herself a bastard. Not until her life was threatened did her father cross the English Channel to reclaim her as his legitimate daughter. Now four years later a revolution roars its ugly head in France. Rumors abound of Lady Eloise’s life before her emergence in England…rumors that link her to the notorious leaders of the French Revolution.

Lord Gerard Lenister knows well the whispered connections Lady Eloise has across the Channel and the disdain that Society holds for the lady. It matters little to him. He could have cared less if she was the incarnation of a she-devil. He would marry Jezebel herself if she helped him on his mission. He is that desperate…but soon he discovers that Lady Eloise is not what she seems.

She may never reach her royal wedding if she can't resist the rugged mercenary assigned to protect her.

Disgraced ex-knight Royce Saint-Michel was banished from his homeland because of an impulsive act that cost him all he held dear. Now, he has the chance to reclaim his birthright--if he agrees to protect a princess on a journey that may prove deadly to them both.

Royce must escort the lovely Princess Ciara across a war-torn land to her royal wedding... and ensure that she arrives untouched. The two set off alone on a treacherous journey through snowy mountain passes, but forbidden desire soon proves even more dangerous than the assassins on their trail. With the fate of two kingdoms hanging in the balance, will Royce and Ciara do as honor and duty demand... or surrender to the longing in their hearts?

"A fun and erotic 14th-century romp... loaded with non-stop adventure." - Publishers Weekly
 

The first in a contemporary romance suspense series from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Barbara Freethy, set in the coastal California town of Angel’s Bay.

In Angel’s Bay there is a local legend: spirits from an 1800s shipwreck protect the townspeople, bringing about a belief in miracles and an ability of the community to heal wounds and save souls. So when Jenna Davis’s sister left instructions for keeping her daughter, Lexie, safe from her abusive father, Jenna obeyed her late sister’s wishes and took Lexie to Angel’s Bay. For three months, the two live quietly. But when a young woman jumps over the pier into the ocean, Jenna dives in, saving the woman’s life. Now a hero in the eyes of the locals, Jenna tries to lie low, but reporter Reid Tanner is determined to figure out just who she is and what she’s hiding from—without realizing the possible cost.

Torn between two worlds, two men, and two times.

While on a college-sponsored field trip to experience a real archaeology dig, Missouri University student Quinn Cameron is separated from the rest of her class by a heavy fog. A fog that transports her back in time, to 1592. Something that even her 3.8 GPA and sarcastic wit won't be enough to help her survive.

Now she's in a primitive world she has only studied in books. History, she learns, is a far cry from the comfort and security of her former life. And her only safe harbor from politics and violence is Duncan MacGregor, a valiant, brooding, and mysterious Scottish warrior.

Soon, even that security is threatened when she finds herself connected to the dark, mysterious Fae who claims she has a fate to fulfill. He's the only one with information on how she arrived here...but can she trust him to tell her the truth about how to get back?

If you've ever wanted to combine the historical beauty of Outlander with the gritty fantasy of Dark Fever, you're going to be amazed by Miranda Martin's "Mists of the Highlands".

Scroll Up and One-Click "Mists of the Highlands" to start this time-travelling, steamy fantasy romance adventure series today!