Can a wounded warrior learn to trust her celebrity chef crush after discovering his secret? Horrified to learn that her young niece has arranged for her to visit a video blogger she’s never heard of, Winnefred “Fred” Carmichael is guilted into agreeing to the trip. Seeing how handsome he is in his videos doesn’t hurt in making her decision. Tanner Frost is a phony. He is only the front man for his aunt’s cooking, so he’s shocked to find out she invited some soldier to spend Christmas at the family farm. He’s even more shocked to discover Fred is a woman. A beautiful, intriguing woman. Can he keep her from discovering the truth behind his cooking while he’s falling too quickly for her charms?
A collection of the three books in the Once Upon a Duke series. THE DUKE WHO LOVED HER: When the Duke of Hartshorne returns to London to assume his title, he barely hopes his heart’s desire still waits for him. But she’s engaged to another man, so he fights to forget her and get on with his life. Having given up hope that Hart still loved her, Lady Marjorie Gideon agrees to marry someone else. Then he fails to show up for their wedding. She fears something bad has befallen him and asks the only man she trusts to find him. The favor she asks of him will require every ounce of his honor to take on, and no one believes him to be an honorable man. Except Marjorie. For her, he would do anything—even if it means she marries another man. THE DUKE'S SCANDALOUS KISSES: When William Foster, 8th Duke of Everleigh, sees his friend, Mrs. Julia Tilney, napping in an alcove, he can’t stop himself from stealing a kiss. He’s shocked, and more than a bit intrigued, when the young lady turns out to be her aunt, Lady Lorna Chatburn. Having witnessed what the loss of a spouse does to those left behind, Lorna has sworn to never marry, never even fall in love. Ignoring the excitement stirred by the duke’s stolen kisses each time she sees him, she tells herself she’s not falling for him. But then she does. And she still tells him she can never be his wife. Can Everleigh show her how life as his duchess is the only life for her? HER SECONDHAND DUKE: For the past year, Lady Charlotte has waited patiently for her turn at possessing the magical pendant given to her friends when they were young. A gypsy girl swore the necklace would lead the wearer to the heart of a duke, which only made sense since Lady Eleanor was betrothed to the Duke of Langley at the time. Now Charlotte’s three friends and her sister are all married or betrothed, and not one of them has landed the most eligible, and quite unbearably handsome, Langley. Does Charlotte stand a chance? Langley had thought his fate was settled: he was to marry the young lady his father had chosen. Then she fell for another, and since then, every marriageable miss he set his sights on has done the same. His mother wants him to marry and get on with providing an heir, but he has lost interest in the entire matter. The final young ladies on his mother’s list have come to stay at Hawking Hall, and the meek and mousy Lady Charlotte seems perfect, until she comes right out to say she has no desire to marry him. Never a man to back down from a challenge, Langley is intrigued. What would it take to change her mind?
When Hugh “Trey” Lumley and Amelia Young first met, she was less than impressed. He has loved her from afar ever since, even after she married another man. Now widowed, Amelia is told by her father to find a husband‑one wealthy enough to pay for seasons for Amelia’s two younger sisters. It’s too late for Trey to be her first love, but he hopes to be her last. His position as a clerk to his barrister uncle means he doesn’t stand a chance. He’s no longer the meek man willing to stand by and let Amelia fall for someone else. He will find a way to convince Amelia and her father that he’s the only man for her.
On the verge of seeing her dream of opening her own restaurant become a reality, Katie Wooten questions her brother’s motives when he enlists the aid of his friend, Juan Diego Santiago, for the renovations on her bar and grill. The guy’s known as a player. She doesn’t need his drama. Katie’s life is all about cooking, and no man is going to distract her from making her business a success. Oh, but this temptation is so distracting. So handsome. She’ll have to use the same determination she puts into the renovations to convince him to find someone else. She doesn’t have time for love.
Minnie Dixon has loved the Marquess of Whitehall for…well, forever. So when her friend asks her to write love letters to him as a joke, it’s easy to do, but no laughing matter. She puts her heart into those anonymous letters, only to discover her friend has claimed to be the author. Now Whitehall is falling for the wrong woman. Revenge is the only answer Minnie can see, so she outs herself as the true author of the love notes.
Revenge is a dish best-served cold… Or is it? These wallflowers are about to find out, as they plot against those most deserving. Can society handle a wallflower’s revenge? Or will their targets topple one by one? CeCe Dixon is tired of being overlooked, and when the militia arrives at the nearby training camp, she decides to set an example for her younger sisters and find herself a husband. She won’t settle for just any husband, either, he must be kind, handsome, and madly in love with her. Justin, Viscount Stavely, is at first flattered by Cece’s flirtations, and soon finds himself under her spell. He’s falling quickly—until one night he finds her in a passionate embrace with another man. Rather than let his fellow soldiers know how deeply he’s hurt, he withdraws from the many social activities in the nearby town. CeCe is devastated that Stavely would believe her capable of such an indiscretion, and when she learns someone deliberately mislead the viscount, she vows revenge. Nothing will stop her from discovering who did this and disgracing him somehow. And nothing will stop her from convincing Stavely she loves only him, and his best future will be with her at his side.
White Oak is a small town where everyone knows everyone, which can make finding someone to love tough. Everyone knows your business and no one minds their own. These three novellas bring you second chances, first loves, and family, all wrapped into sweet, kisses-only love stories. Christmas in White Oak Nick Randolph has avoided Christmas since the death of his wife, but his four-year-old daughter insists he stays with her at his parent’s home for the holidays. He finally must confront his past and the woman he let get away. A tale of first love, self-forgiveness, and the importance of family and friendship. Cruising into Christmas How can a kiss that never happened lead to love with another guy? When Lauren Dibenadetto is caught on the kiss cam refusing a proposal, she doesn’t realize life as she knows it is gone, at least for a little while. Who knew so many people watched hockey? Or posted on social media. Or made such instant judgements without knowing the details? At least she’s going on a long cruise, so hopefully by the time she returns home, this will have all blown over. Ryan Frost doesn’t recognize the girl on the kiss cam on TV, but his brother says she’s the maid of honor in his upcoming wedding. Ryan can’t wait to get the details on this proposal and refusal. He has no way of knowing that moment on TV will have him playing knight in shining armor, and the effect Lauren will have on his life. Is there love in his future? Almost Christmas in Connecticut Can a wounded warrior learn to trust her celebrity chef crush after discovering his secret? Horrified to learn that her young niece has arranged for her to visit a video blogger she’s never heard of, Winnefred “Fred” Carmichael is guilted into agreeing to the trip. Seeing how handsome he is in his videos doesn’t hurt in making her decision. Tanner Frost is a phony. He is only the front man for his aunt’s cooking, so he’s shocked to find out she invited some soldier to spend Christmas at the family farm. He’s even more shocked to discover Fred is a woman. A beautiful, intriguing woman. Can he keep her from discovering the truth behind his cooking while he’s falling too quickly for her charms?
Four years ago, Gabriel Preston, Duke of Beckhampton prepared to ask for the hand of his love, Lady Eliza Clayton. Then she vanished. Rumors ran rampant through Polite Society, each one suggestion a different theory, yet all resulted in the same conclusion: Lady Eliza didn’t love him. Vowing never to bare his soul to a woman again, Beck locked himself away on his estate. After protesting, cajoling, and crying daily for four years, Lady Eliza has finally convinced her mother to allow them to return to England from Boston, where they’d been “visiting” family. She knew the true reason for their voyage, despite Mama’s denials. Her parents refused to allow her to marry the Duke of Beckhampton. Yet after all this time apart, Eliza still loved him. Beck is shocked when Eliza appears in Society once more, and even more surprised to discover he desires her after all the pain she caused him. He's feeling the spirit of the Christmas season for the first time in years. Falling under her spell, he plans to profess his love when she vanishes yet again.
When William Foster, 8th Duke of Everleigh, sees his friend, Mrs. Julia Tilney, napping in an alcove, he can’t stop himself from stealing a kiss. He’s shocked, and more than a bit intrigued, when the young lady turns out to be her aunt, Lady Lorna Chatburn. Having witnessed what the loss of a spouse does to those left behind, Lorna has sworn to never marry, never even fall in love. Ignoring the excitement stirred by the duke’s stolen kisses each time she sees him, she tells herself she’s not falling for him. But then she does. And she still tells him she can never be his wife. Can Everleigh show her how life as his duchess is the only life for her?
Captain Samuel Lumley is proud to follow in his cousin’s footsteps and serve king and country in the cavalry. Wounded in the Battle of Waterloo, he is cared for by an angel in the form of his lieutenant’s wife. A promise to his dying comrade leaves Sam with the responsibility of seeing to the safety of the lieutenant’s widow, Mrs. Ellen Staverton. Upon their return to England, Ellen finds herself homeless and in need of employment. When Sam’s mother offers her a temporary home with the family, Ellen quickly grows too fond of them and Sam in particular. She must find a position before she falls for him, which would dishonor the memory of her dead husband. Night terrors of the slaughters he survived have left Sam an empty husk of a man. He has little to offer a woman beyond his name and income so he won’t think of marriage, but the only joy in his life is the laughter of his angel, Ellen. Can he heal his inner wounds before she is gone from his life completely?
