A raging snowstorm brought back a love that had long been left behind… Sophie, a live-in governess, is astonished when a man shows up at the estate in the midst of a blizzard. It’s Peter Vane, the earl she once loved. She left him eight years ago, after his father told her that Peter was to marry another woman. They’ve both created new lives for themselves—Sophie enjoys her quiet life and job, and Peter has a beloved wife and family. Sophie figures the best thing to do is to act as though this is their first time meeting. But then he corners her, demanding to know why she’s acting like a stranger!
A stellar group of romance authors lights up the holidays with six festive novels to put you in the Christmas spirit. Charming and dashing, sexy and funny, these six Christmas stories bring couples together around the holidays. From romance stalwarts like Raine Cantrell, Sherrill Bodine, Tiffany White, Katherine Kingsley, and Anita Mills, these gorgeous tales cross time and place to get to the human heart at the center of the season, reminding every reader that the best part of winter happens underneath the mistletoe . . . Under the Mistletoe includes: The Christmas Ball by Sherrill Bodine More than a Miracle and A Time for Giving by Raine Cantrell The 6'1" Grinch by Tiffany White The Sound of Snow by Katherine Kingsley Winter Roses by Anita Mills
In this beautifully written “Christmas gift to her readers” (Booklist), New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh draws on the warmth of the Christmas season to heal the wounds of the human heart in five holiday historical romance novellas of family, friends, lovers, and strangers.... In A Family Christmas, an estranged husband and wife make an unexpected connection—and an illuminating discovery—during the holiday season. The Star of Bethlehem is a lost diamond ring causing a riff in an already troubled marriage until a servant solves not one mystery but three surrounding its disappearance. The Best Gift can come at the most unexpected moments, especially for a lonesome teacher enlisted over the holidays to chaperon the niece of a notorious rake. Playing House finds an impoverished young woman longing to celebrate just one last, joyous Christmas before she and her orphaned siblings are separated forever. And in No Room at the Inn, a winter storm on Christmas Eve brings a young couple in from the cold, desperately in need of warmth and shelter for their unborn child.
Joy Sinclair isn’t eager to start her new position as governess, so getting snowed in with a handsome artist is a pleasant distraction. When she stumbles upon his sketchbook of nudes, she’s intrigued more than scandalized, especially the more passionate poses. Her late husband never left her feeling the way these women appear. Is this a case of artistic license, or is there something she’s missing? Moses Russell prefers his solitude, but when his guest asks him to sketch her au naturel, he discovers a muse who awakens his passion for life. When she departs right before Christmas, the light has left his world. Will the gift he offers her bring Joy back into his life?
Murder Under The Mistletoe - Ultimate Christmas Murder Mystery Collection weaves a chilling tapestry of mystery and intrigue against the festive backdrop of the holiday season. This anthology amalgamates a dazzling array of literary styles, from the methodical deductions of the archetypal detective to the suspenseful ambiance of psychological thrillers. Reflecting the rich literary context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, each story within this collection, helmed by iconic figures like Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle, thrives on the diverse interpretations of the yuletide spirit intermingled with dark and often profound narratives. The selected works stand as a testament to the versatility and depth of the murder mystery genre, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the human propensity for moral ambiguity under the veil of holiday cheer. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from various cultural and literary backgrounds, bring a wealth of experience and innovation to the anthology. Their collective works, embedded in historical, cultural, and literary movements ranging from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction to the intricate plot twists of Gothic mysteries, offer a panoramic view of changing societal norms and the unending quest for justice amidst chaos. Authors such as Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe, among others, contributed foundational texts that have shaped the contours of crime and detective literature. This collection acts as a crucible, melding these diverse voices into a singularly gripping narrative on crime, set against the contrasting innocence of Christmas. Murder Under The Mistletoe is a compelling invitation to readers seeking to explore the shadows cast by the festive lights through the lens of master storytellers. For those fascinated by the interplay between societal festivity and the darker aspects of human nature, this anthology promises a journey through varied landscapes of suspense, framed by the universal theme of holiday gatherings. Beyond its entertainment value, the collection offers invaluable insights into the evolution of the murder mystery genre and encourages a dialogic engagement with the works of some of its greatest practitioners. It is an essential volume for readers desiring not just a tale of mystery and suspense but a richer understanding of the cultural and literary forces that shape these narratives.
He has a heart of ice...After being forced to dismantle his childhood home, Blair MacTierney, Earl of Brenmore, has vowed never to return to the Highlands. Yet with the passing of a distant relation, Blair is abruptly saddled with an ancient Scottish manor, a young ward, and an unconventional governess, Miss Amelia Harlow. Blair has every intention of avoiding entanglements, both with the estate he's inherited, and with Amelia. But in a season of magic and miracles, it's all too easy to fall in love. That she is determined to melt...With Blair's plans to shutter the manor, Amelia is in danger of losing not only her position as governess, but her newfound home. To prove the estate is worth saving-and remind Blair of the cozy comforts and heartwarming joys of a Scottish Christmas-she launches a campaign of gingerbread, boughs of holly, and long evenings before the fire. But an unexpected kiss beneath the mistletoe may sweep them both up in a Yuletide romance neither had planned. Can Amelia remind Blair of the true spirit of the season, and of the Highlands, before it's too late?This low-heat (kisses only) Victorian historical romance is part of the Highland Christmas series, but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story any time of the year. Start reading today!
When plotting mistletoe mischief, always check for lurking gentlemen—especially the tall, dark, and brooding kind. It was supposed to be a simple holiday mission: whisk away heartbroken Jane and ailing Charlotte to London's glittering festivities for some much-needed Christmas cheer. But as I, Elizabeth Bennet, quickly learned, nothing's ever simple when a certain gentleman is involved. For starters, there is Mr. Darcy, always appearing at the most inopportune moments—like under the very mistletoe branch I had my sights on! Between plum pudding, party mishaps, and an uncanny ability to be exactly where I don't want him, Mr. Darcy might just be the biggest holiday hurdle. It is just my luck that he happens to be a dazzling kisser. Will we find joy, love, and a few stolen kisses amidst the yuletide chaos? Or will I have to pen another guide titled, 'How to Keep Stubborn Gentlemen From Stealing Your Heart'? Join me in a festive frolic where hearts, hopes, and mistletoe hang in the balance.
When an undercover Lord meets an heiress in hiding, their forbidden affair might just make a perfect match in this sexy Regency romance. Hiding from society, heiress Eleanor Hancourt must live as ordinary governess Nell Court to escape her family’s scandals. But when the new estate manager arrives, her quiet existence is disrupted. He may be unspeakably arrogant, but he’s also irresistible! Fergus is really the Earl of Barberry, undercover to investigate his own estate. Instead, he discovers the new governess is an illicit temptation, a match that can never be! Yet when Nell’s secret inheritance puts her in peril, Fergus will do whatever it takes to save her . . .
The beauty who tamed the beast… New governess Grace Bertram will do anything to get to know her young daughter, Clara. Even if it means working for Clara’s guardian, the reclusive and scarred Nathaniel, Marquess of Ravenwell! Nathaniel believes no woman could ever love a monster like him, until Grace seems to look past his scars to the man beneath… But when he discovers Grace is Clara’s mother, Nathaniel questions his place in this torn-apart family. Could there be a Christmas happy-ever-after for this beauty and the beast?
Revisit the magic of New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh's classic Christmas stories--together for the first time in one volume. In A Christmas Bride, a very wealthy Edgar Downes promises his aging father that he will finally wed a suitable bride by Christmas. London is full of pretty, proper, and eligible misses, but it's the widow Helena, Lady Stapleton, in a shocking red dress, who captures Edgar's attention. Helena is intrigued by the seductive stranger--but he's simply not in her class. Marriage, of course, would never do. But in a season of miracles, something wondrous is about to happen.... Enjoy the warmth of the holiday season with this Christmas tale along with five other cherished holiday stories from Mary Balogh's Under the Mistletoe collection.
