Matchmakers & Rogues is a collection of five Regency romance novels and novellas by author Caylen McQueen In An Impossible Bride, a wallflower finds herself in an unexpected love triangle. In Miss Lacey's Love Letters, a spinster finds a stack of romantic letters... and finds herself intrigued by their author. In A Gentleman's Challenge, a bedridden young lady falls in love. In Hardly a Gentleman, a young woman finds love after seven years of denying her feelings. In Miss Moseley the Matchmaker, a spinster, secretly in love with her best friend, faces an impossible task: finding a match for him.
The Bourne Matrimonial Agency has one rule: Never fall in love with a client, which shouldn't be a problem when one’s faking an engagement to the rogue across the street . . . Ainsley Bourne needs the family business to succeed. But one obstacle stands in her way—Reed Sterling, the huge, handsome, former prize fighter and owner of the gaming hell across the street. His scandalous customers scare off all her marriage-minded patrons and since the devilish brute has no intention of relocating, she sets out to ruin his unsavory establishment. Yet when a vile suitor from her past reappears, Ainsley hastily claims an attachment to the first man who comes to mind . . . Mr. Sterling, to be exact. Reed doesn’t know who is more surprised by Miss Bourne’s declaration. She clearly hates him, and he’d never admit their arguments simmer with unrequited attraction. Something about the pleading look in her eyes calls to Reed, and against his better judgment, he quickly plays the part of the besotted fiancé. Pretending to be in love requires a convincing charade. But with each tantalizing touch and every scandalous kiss, Ainsley starts to wonder if Reed was ever really the enemy at all.
She’s a hopeless romantic...for everyone but herself. Can the least romantic man alive convince her love isn’t just for other people? Willow There are certain expectations when you’re born into a multigenerational family of matchmakers, which is why I fled my hometown and tried to build a life of my own. But it turns out matchmaking is hard to quit, and I can’t stop trying to match the customers at the bakery I manage—including my boss and the tea shop owner next door—even though I’m hopeless at love. So it seriously crimps my style when Alex Hunter starts coming around, working on his book at the bakery. He’s hot, grumpy, and thinks romance is a dirty word. Worse, he keeps distracting our customers. He needs to go away. Which means someone needs to matchmake him. And I’m just the girl for the job. Alex I’m a writer who can’t write, and lo and behold, I meet a matchmaker who’s allergic to love. Me being me, I fall for her. Most of the people in this town seem insane, but I have to turn my frown upside down and show Willow Mayberry that matchmakers deserve love too. **An interconnected standalone in the Bad Luck Club series.**
Grace-by-the-Sea: Where romance and adventure come home.Polished Jesslyn Chance has one of the most enviable positions in the little Regency coastal village of Grace-by-the-Sea. She is the hostess of the spa, arranging introductions and entertainments and playing matchmaker to the ladies and gentlemen who come to take the waters, promenade through the shops, and dance at the assembly. But when a rogue returns from her past, Jess finds herself suddenly at sea.Always an adventurer, Larkin Denby left Grace-by-the-Sea to right the wrongful death of his father. Now he's back on a mission: to identify the mysterious Lord of the Smugglers who allegedly sails from Grace Cove and takes England's secrets to France. But Grace-by-the-Sea is the perfect little spa town, run by the still oh-so-perfect Jesslyn Chance. When the village's future is threatened, Jess must work with Lark to solve the mystery and protect the town's own. In doing so, the matchmaker of Grace-by-the-Sea may just find that the best match for her is the rogue who stole her heart years ago.Here's a little taste:Lark had watched Jesslyn yesterday, flitting from group to group, individual to individual, and always leaving them looking happier than when she'd arrived. She tended the spa like a lady might tend her roses. Surely if there was the least hint of a weed in her garden, she would be the first to root it out.Or had she only suspected? Did she too wonder about someone in the village? What secrets might lurk behind the blue expanse of her eyes?He leaned closer. "Tell me, Miss Chance. Is there anyone in the area you find particularly intriguing?"She pursed her lips, and he had to force his eyes away from the soft pink mouth. "At the moment," she said with her disarming sweetness, "I am most intrigued by you.""Me?" Lark made himself smile. "I'm nothing remarkable.""Yet everyone seems determined to remark on you." She took a step closer, and he straightened to retreat."You arrive with no notice after years away," she said, ticking off her reasoning on her fingers. "You have family just over the hill, yet you are staying at an inn. You are obviously well. You haven't taken a sip of the waters or asked to bathe. From your conversation, your mind is sound. You don't seem to be searching for friendship. Why have you come to my spa?"There was nothing but air surrounding him, but he had the distinct impression he had been trapped. "I simply decided to take a holiday."His answer, unfortunately, did not appear to satisfy. "I'm delighted to hear that you wished to return to Grace-by-the-Sea for your holiday," she said. "I cannot help but feel compelled to make that holiday enjoyable."All at once, he remembered another time, when being with her was all he had wanted. She had made his stay at the spa enjoyable at a time when he'd feared for his mother's health and wasn't sure about his own future. But now was no time to renew those feelings. If she knew the truth, she would only be in danger.
Enjoy the fan-favorite Matchmakers series from New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp, collected here! In this collection: The Marriage Wager Miss Constance Woodley can scarcely imagine why one of the leading lights of London society should take an interest in the likes of her. But nonetheless, she catches the eye of the handsome, charming and ever-so-slightly notorious Lord Dominic Leighton. And soon, the pair will show the entire ton that even in the heartless world of the marriage mart, when love is at stake, all bets are off. Originally published in 2007. The Bridal Quest (2008) Lady Irene Wyngate isn’t attracted to Gideon, long-lost heir to the Earl of Radbourne—or so she says, when matchmaker Francesca Haughston asks for her help to civilize him for marriage. After all, he is a true rogue with a dubious past. A handsome rogue, she has to admit, but as she reluctantly begins to yield to love, wicked family secrets come to light…with devastating consequences for the reluctant lovers. Originally published in 2008. The Wedding Challenge Lady Calandra should have suitors beating down her door. But her overprotective brother, the Duke of Rochford, has managed to scare off every suitable gentleman. Every man except the mysterious Earl of Bromwell, that is. Callie finds herself drawn to the enigmatic earl, despite her brother’s protestations. But when shadowy secrets about the duke and the earl come to light, it may be too late for Callie to see that she’s walked straight into a trap. Originally published in 2008. The Courtship Dance Lady Francesca Haughston has given up on romance for herself, finding passion instead in making desirable matches for others. So it seems only fair, when she learns she’d been deceived into breaking her own long-ago engagement to Sinclair, Duke of Rochford, that she now help him find the perfect wife. Francesca is certain any spark of passion between them has long since died. But soon Francesca finds his lessons in love scandalously irresistible—and a temptation that could endanger them both. Originally published in 2009.
Daring Games. Dangerously Delicious Consequences. Lovely Eve Reynolds plays the role of a naive young debutante, but her demure appearance hides an experienced cardplayer who, at her uncle's instigation, is engaged in fleecing London aristocrats in the high-stakes card games favored by society. Only London's most notorious rake, Julian Clay, the Earl of Westleigh, sees through her wiles, for he recognizes a fellow gambler when he sees one. Lured by the passion in Eve's stormy eyes, so at odds with her reserved elegance, Julian lays impassioned siege to her. And Eve responds with a rising fire of desire that leaves behind all sensible caution, until both Julian and Eve can think of nothing but the searing hours they spend in each other's arms. But Eve's uncle wants her to play for the highest stakes by making a respectable match with a wealthy lord...and Eve has her own secret reason for following his plan. Although Julian began to play recklessly to seduce a clever young lady, now he wants much more from Eve, and no one will stop him from risking everything on one final game that might win him Eve's heart and soul forever.
A new Regency Romance! Sometimes the person right in front of you is who you’ve been looking for all along... Despite longing for a love of her own, Margaret Gold has no intention of marrying as she’s needed at home to help care for her ailing father. However, she can’t resist offering her opinion to her best friend’s brother when he wades into the Marriage Mart. But there is more to the handsome if irksome rogue than she realized. Much more. She soon finds herself hoping for his kiss and wishing her future’s course wasn’t already set. Edward Adley, the new Earl of Wynn, is determined to put his roguish ways behind upon his father’s death. The debt he inherited in addition to the title require him to marry an heiress, and the sooner the better. But he intends to choose with care to avoid an unhappy marriage like that of his parents. He certainly doesn’t need advice from his little sister’s best friend on potential brides. Yet Margaret’s intelligence and wit, not to mention the passion she stirs in him, have him reconsidering what he wants. Margaret tries to set aside her blossoming attraction for Edward and suggests the perfect debutante for his consideration. Yet her heart aches for more. Edward knows marrying Margaret won’t solve his financial woes, but it would allow him to follow his heart. If only he can convince her to consider him. Will one misstep steal their chance for a happy future? Order your copy today! Although this is a standalone historical romance, most readers enjoy reading the series in order: Romancing the Rogue, Book 1 A Rogue’s Reputation, Book 2 A Rogue No More, Book 3 A Rogue to the Rescue, Book 4 A Rogue and Some Mistletoe, Book 5 To Dare A Rogue, Book 6 A Rogue Meets His Match, Book 7
From the author of The Rogue’s Folly comes a Regency romance celebrating the witty and romantic world that fans of Georgette Heyer have fallen in love with. Twenty years ago, Beatrice Copland committed a reckless and foolish act of deceit that she’s certain ruined the life of a man she’d fallen in love with and led to his wife’s death. Now serving as companion to the stern Lady Bournaud, she leads a quiet life and attends to her duties as a kind of penance. But Lady Bournaud, trying to make amends for her own selfish ways, is opening her country estate to a few select guests for the holidays—including the man Beatrice wronged so many years ago. Sir David Chappell spent nearly two decades coming to terms with the haunting memory of his wife’s death. When he receives an invitation to Lady Bournaud’s for the Christmas season, he’s reluctant to go at first, but he’s sure the time away in Yorkshire will be a welcome change from London. Once there, he’s immediately captivated by the youthful beauty and genuine compassion of the lady’s companion, Beatrice Copland—all the while sensing that he’s met her before. Even as David pursues her and Beatrice realizes she’s still powerfully attracted to the man, she must gently rebuff his advances for fear that her damning secret will come to light and reopen his old wounds. And while Lady Bournaud watches, happily scheming to make matches for all her guests, it may take more than a Christmas miracle for David to free Beatrice’s conscience, and her heart, at last.
"Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life- a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she's marrying the man of her dreams, she's sure this is the life she'll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé's irascible matchmaking great-aunt who's dying, and everything changes- just as Blix told her it would. When her marriage ends after two miserable weeks, Marnie is understandably shocked. Marnie doesn't believe she's anything special, but Blix somehow knew she was the perfect person to follow in her matchmaker footsteps. And Blix was also right about some things Marnie must learn the hard way: love is hard to recognize, and the ones who push love away often are the ones who need it most."--book jacket
The most stubborn of the Bailey sisters was back in town, and determined to start a horse ranch. She’d set her sights on the long-deserted Harper House and no one was going to change McKenna’s mind—not the enigmatic Nate Dempsey or the superstitious folk of Whitehorse, who wanted her married off. Now that the gossips’ tongues were wagging, the sinister rumors plaguing the house had resurfaced. And though McKenna refused to be scared off, someone was trying to run her off the property. Luckily, Nate had always been there to protect her—and Whitehorse’s matchmakers wondered, would the mystery man become a permanent fixture in town? From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served. Discover more action-packed stories in the Whitehorse, Montana miniseries by New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels: Book 1: Secret of Deadman's Coulee Book 2: The New Deputy in Town Book 3: The Mystery Man of Whitehorse Book 4: Classified Christmas Book 5: Matchmaking with a Mission Book 6: Second Chance Cowboy Book 7: Montana Royalty
