Five years of silence. Seeing Bess again is a kick in what’s left of Dan’s soul. She makes a fine ballerina. And actress. And thief. She can be anything… except his. If he can catch one more criminal, he can buy her the life she deserves. She’ll finally be safe, and that’s all he ever wanted. Five years alone. Bess decided long ago her scowling, black-haired boy from London’s gutters must be dead. Now he’s back. With no explanation. She ought to kill him herself. But she fills the void he left by collecting titled admirers. Including one lord in particular who praises all her skills… even the ones that break the law. When Bess finds out her night-time escapades have dropped her in deep, deep trouble, she'll have to pull both herself and Dan out of a pit of intrigue with consequences far beyond London. Their only chance is to remember how to rescue each other.
By day, Lady Donnatella is a duke’s silly daughter. So she can save London lives by night. When she stumbles into something larger than a street fight, everything she's balancing may come crashing down... It's another lonely season for Tella, dancing and gaming madly while keeping marriage away. She cannot tell her family or friends that her true self is the one battling danger in the city's dark streets. Nor will anyone guess; she's perfected her disguise. Then her night-time alter ego is seen — just when she can no longer count on her best friend, or her beloved great-uncle. And the resulting fuss in the newspapers isn't making any of this easier. Nor is the reporter who saw her. Henry Fitzwilliam, third son of a marquess, left London society to serve in the wars, and won’t go back. He’s devoted his life to telling the stories Britain needs to hear, and perhaps this Caped Count falls into that category. He can’t be sure until he gets much, much closer. Tella can handle a fight, but tracking a murderer is higher stakes. She might need someone at her back. Fitz might be the worst choice — or he might be more perfect than either of them suspects. A new kind of Regency romance, full of action, adventure, and forever love -- "Judith Lynne also demonstrates that it is possible to write a genuinely erotic sex scene that sizzles on the page without so much as a hint of coarseness." - Booklife Judith Lynne's Regency romances are for modern lovers of classic romance. Meticulously researched, these books bring to life a cast of characters as diverse as Britain herself in the world of 1812-1814. This series is light, fun reading with characters who face life's challenges with determination, wit, and each other. Fans of Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes will love these books by Judith Lynne. Each book is unique, as each love story is unique; and readers will find themselves both utterly satisfied by the novel's end and also looking forward to the characters' returns in future books. Dukes and thieves, bakers and baronets, inventors and artists and late-night adventurers — you'll meet them all. Enjoy discovering Judith Lynne romance!
'A scintillating story superbly told... [Ostler] packs every paragraph with eye-opening detail' The Times 'A rollicking read... [Ostler] tells Elizabeth's story with admirable style and gusto' Sunday Times 'Terrifically entertaining: if you liked Bridgerton, you’ll love this...and her research is impeccable' Evening Standard 'Fascinating. Magnificent. Sensitively told' Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five 'Catherine Ostler’s superb, gripping, decadent biography brings an extraordinary woman and a whole world blazingly to life' Simon Sebag Montefiore When the glamorous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston, Countess of Bristol, went on trial at Westminster Hall for bigamy in April 1776, the story drew more attention in society than the American War of Independence. A clandestine, candlelit wedding to the young heir to an earldom, a second marriage to a Duke, a lust for diamonds and an electrifying appearance at a masquerade ball in a diaphanous dress: no wonder the trial was a sensation. However, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly. Rather than backing gracefully out of the limelight, she embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe, being welcomed by the Pope and Catherine the Great among others. As maid of honour to Augusta, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth led her life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court and her exploits delighted and scandalised the press and the people. She made headlines, and was a constant feature in penny prints and gossip columns. Writers were intrigued by her. Thackeray drew on Elizabeth as inspiration for his calculating, alluring Becky Sharp. But her behaviour, often depicted as attention-seeking and manipulative, hid a more complex tale – that of Elizabeth’s fight to overcome personal tragedy and loss. Now, in this brilliantly told and evocative biography, Catherine Ostler takes a fresh look at Elizabeth’s story and seeks to understand and reappraise a woman who refused to be defined by society’s expectations of her. A woman who was by turns, brave, loving and generous but also reckless, greedy and insecure; a woman totally unwilling to accept the female status of underdog or to hand over all the power, the glory and the adventures of life to men.
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER “As exciting as any spy novel” (Daily News, New York), The Princess Spy follows the hidden history of an ordinary American girl who became one of the OSS’s most daring World War II spies before marrying into European nobility. Perfect for fans of A Woman of No Importance and Code Girls. When Aline Griffith was born in a quiet suburban New York hamlet, no one had any idea that she would go on to live “a life of glamour and danger that Ingrid Bergman only played at in Notorious” (Time). As the United States enters the Second World War, the young college graduate is desperate to aid in the war effort, but no one is interested in a bright-eyed young woman whose only career experience is modeling clothes. Aline’s life changes when, at a dinner party, she meets a man named Frank Ryan and reveals how desperately she wants to do her part for her country. Within a few weeks, he helps her join the Office of Strategic Services—forerunner of the CIA. With a code name and expert training under her belt, she is sent to Spain to be a coder, but is soon given the additional assignment of infiltrating the upper echelons of society, mingling with high-ranking officials, diplomats, and titled Europeans. Against this glamorous backdrop of galas and dinner parties, she recruits sub-agents and engages in deep-cover espionage. Even after marrying the Count of Romanones, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, Aline secretly continues her covert activities, being given special assignments when abroad that would benefit from her impeccable pedigree and social connections. “[A] meticulously researched, beautifully crafted work of nonfiction that reads like a James Bond thriller” (Bookreporter), The Princess Spy brings to vivid life the dazzling adventures of a spirited American woman who risked everything to serve her country.
Alara has one night to find the love of her life. She's as British as bluebells and rain. But now the Continental wars are over, her mother plans a life for Alara in the Ottoman Empire where she'll never see Britain again. With one night of freedom, Alara's future depends on finding a British husband and forgetting the curious boy she's waited for all her life. Lord Harman is heir to a political dynasty. But hates intrigue and compromise. He'd trade it all for one more lazy summer day with the girl who inspired his mind and his heart. At a wild Christmas revel he meets her again, still challenging him every step of the way and now very much a woman. When a dangerous mission falls into his lap, he must make an absolute choice: spend his last night with her playing pirate - or fulfill his destiny. *** The Curious Countess is a standalone novella of about 100 pages, but readers of The Clandestine Countess may rejoice to see Lord Harman have a love story of his own. Previously appeared as "His Unlaced Love" in the Penford Press anthology Lords and Lace.
She needs a man's help to protect her secret identity. She doesn't need to fall in love. Can he help without drawing her into his own tangled web? London inventor Mr. Cullen is actually Miss Cassandra Cullen, happy hiding behind her letters. When some new customers want to meet face to face, she has to trust Dr. Burke, her favorite correspondent, to help keep her secrets. Trusting Oliver Burke might not be entirely wise. Dr. Burke occupies himself with women and gin, trying to forget his soul-crushing family and the nightmares of the war. He'd rather distance himself from polite society as much as possible. One too many indiscretions, and Cass' father insists: Marry. Now. Nothing less than an earl will do. He doesn't realize his mostly deaf daughter will turn for help to the one man she thinks she knows. Can a woman who's given up on love and a man who's given up on hope find a future together? The Countess Invention is about two people who have to believe in each other to find dizzying pleasure, devastating heartbreak... and forever love. "Sensational and riveting from the first word to the last. ... 10 out of 10." The BookLife Prize It's a historical Regency romance novel with steamy moments and sweet ones, of about 350 pages. It includes an admittedly bad attempt at cross-dressing and a woman who believes in pockets. It also includes a beautiful man who has made love to too many ladies and a Happily Ever After! All Judith Lynne books can stand alone, but old friends stay in touch and old questions are answered as the books progress. A complete timeline is available at judithlynne.com. — Judith Lynne's Regency romances are for modern lovers of classic romance, meticulously researched, with a family of characters as rich and diverse as Britain herself at the time. The Lords and Undefeated Ladies series is light, fun reading featuring characters with disabilities for whom their disability is not the drama. Fans of Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes will love Judith Lynne. Dukes and thieves, bakers and baronets, inventors and artists and late-night adventurers — you'll meet them all.
This "funny, intelligent, witty, profound" (Andrew Roberts, New York Times bestselling author) look at the stylish and scandalous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston--a woman whose adventurous life led to an infamous bigamy trial that was bigger news in British society than the American War of Independence--provides a clear-eyed and fascinating look into the sumptuous Georgian Era. As maid of honor to the Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Chudleigh enjoyed a luxurious life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court. With her extraordinary style and engaging wit, she both delighted and scandalized the press and public. She would later even inspire William Thackeray when he was writing his classic Vanity Fair, providing the inspiration for the alluring social climber Becky Sharp. But Elizabeth's real story is more complex and surprising than anything out of fiction. A clandestine, candlelit wedding to the young heir to an earldom, a second marriage to a duke, a lust for diamonds, and an electrifying appearance at a masquerade ball in a gossamer dress--it's no wonder that Elizabeth's eventual trial was a sensation. Charged with bigamy, an accusation she vehemently fought against, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly. Perfect for fans of The Duchess and Women of Means, this long overdue and evocative biography reappraises Elizabeth's remarkable story, and out of the past comes an incredibly modern woman who defied society's expectations of her.
In Kenya's 'Happy Valley' in the years spanning the 1920s to the 1940s no one paid too much attention to the privileged colonial set as they farmed their estates, partied until dawn and indulged in extra-marital affairs. Not until Josslyn Hay, Earl of Erroll, was shot dead at the wheel of his Buick in the early hours of 24 January 1941. Some said the good-looking womaniser had it coming. He was a philanderer who could have had any number of enemies among cuckolded husbands who wanted revenge. Ageing Jock Delves Broughton stood trial for Erroll's murder but was acquitted and the mystery remained unsolved - until now. American heiress Alice de Janzé had been conducting a clandestine affair with Joss for years. Married into French aristocracy, her stunning beauty was to prove a fatal lure to men of adventure. Previously tried by a French court for shooting one of her lovers, scandal followed her wherever she went. She arrived in Kenya as a newly married Countess in the 1920s, but by 1941 she had turned forty and the years of partying had taken their toll. Pushed aside by Erroll for younger lovers, and increasingly isolated, Alice threw herself into an act of desperation, resulting in his murder and her own tragic demise. The Temptressnot only solves the mystery of Josslyn Hay's murder with the utmost conviction - it eloquently paints a portrait of a volatile, captivating woman.
The four Misses Bickering are too stubborn to marry unless it’s for love. They have just enough money to rent a bakery in Leicester Square, where bohemian earls rub elbows with ladies of the night, and all manner of people in between. To earn a living, they have to stick together — and as their name implies, that isn’t easy! Meet Anna, Jane, Emery and Rose. None of them are married, and each one has different dreams. Anna still longs for the life of drawing rooms and lace; she hasn’t given up her dreams of a fine marriage even though her life now is very different. Jane has never met a man who didn’t disappoint her, and wants the till full of good, solid coins. Emery has never planned to marry a man and won’t start now; what she loves is making rich, savory bread in the sisters’ new bakery. And Rose has yet to dream dreams of her own — but she starts now! Mystery men, men who leap into the bakery, men in ruffled collars and men who are rude, drunken men and men working on the road… and many kinds of women! Leicester Square bustles with all types of life and the Misses Bickering are in the middle of it all. It’s the last days of the wars with France and America, political movements are surging, prices are soaring, and these ladies are determined to make their bakery pay. If they’re going to marry, it’s only for love. Ladies’ Own Bakery is a Regency romance and a comedy serial – with happily ever afters on the far horizon. Like a sitcom, each “episode” is meant to be a fun short read, but with ongoing characters and storylines. Episodes are released weekly to my readers during the "season". This is the collected complete season.
She's in no position to turn down a duke. They both know it. That doesn't mean the game is over... Selene's mother is deathly ill, and there's little a poor housemaid can do. Working in her cousin's house, grateful for the roof over her head, Selene doesn't dream anymore of a titled marriage. Only a little of falling in love. Nicholas Hayden, the Duke of Talbourne, learned early in life never to show what he wanted. But sad experience, and silence, won't help him conquer his passion for the housemaid he has rescued — a passion that threatens everything he has built for his life. A mother's scheme with a duke as cold as the devil could transform Selene from a housemaid to a duchess in a matter of days. But Selene dares to want a marriage that isn't just for show. If she's going to make a deal with this devil, she has demands of her own. A fairytale romance with a touch of intrigue What a Duchess Does is a standalone book! But its characters appear not only in the next book in the series, Crown of Hearts, but also in The Caped Countess, the first book of Judith Lynne's exciting new action Regency romance series. What a Duchess Does features a game-playing duchess, a duke who gets a dog, and some political intrigue based on actual events of spring 1813. Winner of The Carla for Best Romance of the Year, 2021, chosen by the Mid-America Romance Authors Finalist for The Beverley for Best Romance of the Year, 2021, chosen by the Colorado Romance Writers "Fresh, funny, and exciting, What a Duchess Does is a superior example of what it is possible for an intelligent, witty writer to achieve within the corseted constraints of the romance genre." - The BookLife Prize -- "What a Duchess Does is a lively, engaging tale, with a well-executed emphasis on wit and banter. Judith Lynne also demonstrates that it is possible to write a genuinely erotic sex scene that sizzles on the page without so much as a hint of coarseness." - Booklife Judith Lynne's Regency romances are for modern lovers of classic romance. Meticulously researched, these books bring to life a cast of characters as diverse as Britain herself in the world of 1812-1814. This series is light, fun reading with characters who face life's challenges with determination, wit, and each other. Fans of Mary Balogh and Grace Burrowes will love these books by Judith Lynne. Each book is unique, as each love story is unique; and readers will find themselves both utterly satisfied by the novel's end and also looking forward to the characters' returns in future books. Dukes and thieves, bakers and baronets, inventors and artists and late-night adventurers — you'll meet them all. Enjoy discovering Judith Lynne romance!
