A common woman in Victorian London… Miss Victory Jones has dreamed of capturing the haunting images of death photography ever since she was an orphan, raised on the goodwill of Lady Goosebury. She never knew her parents, so she wants to give a measure of comfort to those who have suffered the pain of loss. But just as everything she’s worked for is so close at hand, she meets an intriguing man who fascinates her. While Victory may not have been looking for love, it found her just the same. A veterinarian on the brink of scientific discovery… Dr. Rhys Grayson is a respected scientist, a man who has devoted his life to the cure of disease by the study of rats. But that isn’t his only talent. With his recorder, he can “enchant”’ the rodents by his song, an ability that caused his betrothal to falter long ago. When he meets Victory by a chance of fate, his heart starts to beat again. He sees promise for a future that he thought was lost. But when enemies begin to creep out of the East End and threaten everything he holds dear, Rhys must make some difficult decisions… or risk losing the one woman who brought him back to life.
I had so much fun putting together the last Regency amour collection, that I decided to do it again! Enjoy the following stories combining my love of history and romance, and of course, adventure and heart! A Tale of Two Brunettes Duet The Brunette Who Stole His Heart Faith Albright is a devoted ladies’ maid to her mistress, Lady Mercy, but when she’s tasked with taking her place to meet a man who is the lady’s intended, she isn’t sure it’s a wise choice. However, persuasion and loyalty are strong motivators, so she travels to London and encounters a man who is devilishly handsome and charming and sadly… never to be hers. Frederick Bartholomew is a valet who can’t deny his master’s request to step in for him—for just two weeks—while he has one last fling before marriage shackles him for life. While taking on the guise of the Viscount of Westbrook shouldn’t be too difficult, for he’s confident his perfidy won’t be discovered, Freddie meets Westbrook’s bride-to-be and instantly realizes he’s made a grave mistake, for the lady is everything he’s ever wanted… but can never have. In Love With a Charming Brunette Lady Mercy Granville never wanted to marry a man who was chosen for her. Why should she have to suffer a lifetime of unhappiness because of a vow she hadn’t even agreed upon? However, since she knows her duty to her family as a gently bred lady, she acquiesces to the match, but not without vowing to have a bit of fun first. She heads to Brighton to enjoy the last of her freedom, never knowing what awaits her there. Malcolm Grant, Viscount Westbrook, has always found marriage rather distasteful, but since he’s the sole heir, he has no illusions that his mother might cease going on about honoring some long ago pact that was made. He agrees to marry Lady Mercy…just not yet. Bedeviling Lord Coxford Lady Honoria Pratt has allowed her position as the daughter of the Duke of Ollington to rule her life—including her conscience. But when she meets Royce Ainsworth, Baron Coxford, a man who cares nothing for the ton and who is only in London to attend his best friend’s wedding, sparks begin to fly. A Captivating Compromise Miss Garnett Younghusband only wants one thing—and that is to live a contented life with her father and brothers working at their London chandlery. But when her younger siblings take it upon themselves to spend a wild night at Vauxhall, she decides to rein them in, only to find herself caught in a trap of her own making. As a gentleman, Mr. Rafe Pinehurst is honor bound to rescue the damsel in distress as scandal looms.
Fleur Davies would do anything to protect the last of her family—her twin brother, Flavian. From fighting a duel in secret, to daring to put her virtue up for auction with the intent to clear a gambling debt, she told herself she was prepared to do whatever was necessary to ensure their survival. However, when she finds herself at the mercy of an intimidating man like Mr. Porter, it isn’t fear that courses through her. There is something about those glittering silver eyes that she can’t quite ignore… Drake has lived a life that would make most people cringe. He had been called the Devil with due cause. He never hesitates when it comes to getting what he wants. His past is littered with criminal activity, but he decides to put all that behind him. When he encounters Fleur and her errant brother, he is intrigued. But when she sends him on a merry chase, he finds that he is inexplicably drawn to the raven-haired beauty. For the first time in his life, Drake wants more than revenge. When they suddenly find themselves at the mercy of the London underground, Drake and Fleur have to become unlikely allies to save her brother’s life. But will this fiery attraction be the end of them all?
A woman who dreams of independence, but her past swirls with secrets. A viscount who will stop at nothing to regain his inspiration. Together, they embark on a journey of self-discovery that leads to a path of true devotion. Miss Vanessa Carter has a secret. She made her way to the Seaside Society hoping to make a fresh start. The problem is that she’s not who she appears to be. For the past year she’s had to look over her shoulder for fear her sins would find her out, but it isn’t until she offers her guidance to a fellow artist who has lost his muse, that things start to crumble. She finds herself attracted to Lord Fane, but she knows that there can never be anything more than friendship between them. However, when the truth of her identity is revealed, Vanessa finds more than support from the Society—she discovers love. Easton Alden, Viscount Fane, hadn’t intended to remain in Burnham-On-Sea more than a few days. He’d traveled from Ireland to the sea shore hoping that it would be the cure for his sudden lack of inspiration to paint. When he meets Vanessa, he is immediately struck by her beauty and quiet charm. She is the answer to his long-awaited prayers, and he is determined to do whatever it takes to secure her regard. The problem is that she isn’t free to do as she pleases. When he soon finds himself in dire straits, he vows to clear his name from a dangerous threat, and to ensure her reputation isn’t harmed any further in the process.
Welcome to my first love – Regency tales brimming with adventure and heart! It is my pleasure to bring you four romantic stories in a lovely, keepsake collection! “The Scot’s Bairn” One blissful night has certain consequences that just might lead to love. Damaris Honeywell suffers from an unwanted betrothal. Her solution? Ruin her reputation. But one night with a handsome Scotsman leads to certain…complications that can’t be ignored. When Callum Murray, Laird O’Donogue encounters her again, he intends to show her that they are meant to be. “A Lady’s Guide to Marriage” She’s never stopped loving him… Lady Albina Baine, Viscountess Beauley, has lived the past five years in London penning a successful advice column for newly married ladies, when she starts to reflect on her own marriage. She’s never stopped loving her husband, even when he abruptly walked out of her life. But can a union that has withstood so much already, survive the test of time? He’s never stopped loving her… Michael Baine, Viscount Beauley, retired to his country estate, thinking that it was best for his wife. As the years passed, something had waned in their relationship. He’d never been able to properly relay how he’d felt, but the love he still harbored was as strong as ever. But is love enough? “Lord Castleford’s Fortunate Folly” Sometimes fate needs the hand of fortune… Lord Jonathan Castleford wasn’t looking for romance on the road to Cornwall. But a chance encounter with a fortune teller by the name of Madame Zeta would change all that. She tells him about The Path of Life, never knowing that his journey would lead him to a certain woman… And destiny requires a little help. Miss Fanny Grouseman knows that she might never find love in her small village, but she is content. When she meets the infuriating guest of the village squire, everything changes. Not only is she prevailed upon to make sure Lord Castleford doesn’t learn of the town’s rather secret dealings on the coast, but she has to suffer dance lessons with him as her tutor! BONUS Short story - “Four Calling Cards” Edward Castleford, Viscount Rundell, was on the bride hunt. While he has never spurned romance, he has yet to find someone who fills his life with happiness. It isn’t until his father gives him an ultimatum - take a wife or get cut off without a cent – does he have to make a difficult, and rather quick, decision. Miss Sabrina Everhart is the companion of the Countess of Warably, but she feels like more of a servant. When she suddenly starts to receive the attentions of Viscount Rundell, she has to wonder what a plain, penniless lady possibly offer such a handsome bachelor?
An independent sea captain bent on chasing adventure. A rakish earl hungry for distraction. Together they navigate the tides of scandal and desire. Miss Tassandra Devenport has never had a problem being independent. Raised by her father in Wales, she descends from a line of fishermen. She adores life on the sea and dreams of the day she can sail around the world. With Burnham-On-Sea starting to become a popular retreat, she has discovered a way to earn some extra blunt—by offering daily tours along the Channel. When she’s approached by a gentleman looking to impress a lady by improving his sailing skills, she reluctantly takes him on as her pupil. The problem is that he’s handsome and arrogant and she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. She knows that it would be a disaster to entertain any sort of affair, but when they are forced to engage in a faux betrothal, the heat between them can’t be denied. Fraser Castwell, the Earl of Stanton, has always been a man eager to please. A confirmed rake, he sets out to impress one woman, but finds himself inexplicably drawn to another. Tassy, the captain of the Miss Mercury, is rather intriguing. She eschews ladies’ convention in favor of practicality. He’s never met anyone like her before and the more he is around her, the more he wants to deepen their acquaintance. He’s convinced that once he seduces her, this yearning will come to an end. However, when her reputation is in jeopardy, he is honor bound to endure a fake engagement—the problem is that she doesn’t know he’s an earl. As his heart slowly starts to become attached, he makes the decision to be the man he always yearned to be. But will the lies and deceit be too much to save their love?
Fallon O’Malley is hoping to make a fresh start in Southampton following the recent death of her grandmother. She’s never had any love for the British, but when she has the chance to make a fresh start in England and reconnect with estranged family, she decides to leave her beloved homeland of Ireland. It isn’t until she arrives that she realizes that she might have just made a grave mistake. In a desperate attempt to return where things are familiar, she seeks out the assistance of a known rapscallion… Atticus Clare is a wealthy merchant by day, but by night he dons the guise of the Raven, an Irish sympathizer who assists the rebellion against England. Everything is working for his favor until he meets Fallon. He’s instantly drawn to her, even though he knows it would be dangerous in the extreme to form an attachment. But when unforeseen circumstances draw them closer, he realizes how foolish he’d been to think he could ever resist her allure. As things culminate, Atticus has to make a difficult choice, but nothing he does might save him from certain demise if all his secrets are revealed. Can his love for Fallon truly conquer the forces against them?
Just how far is the lady willing to go… Lady Triana Abernathy knew she was destined to be a spinster ever since the scandal surrounding her father the night of her debut ball. It’s only through her brother’s good connections that their family is even accepted in polite society. While Triana cares nothing for the ton, the arrival of the Duke of Chiltern changes everything. He is everything she might have ever dreamed of in a husband, but she knows that something isn’t quite right about his sudden resurgence in London. Thankfully, she’s willing to do her part in uncovering his secrets. To learn what the gentleman is hiding? Gabriel Wilde, the Duke of Chiltern, is on an undercover mission to find out who is behind the illegal smuggling in the city. Upon his father’s death, he returns to society under the perfect guise of assuming the title, believing the culprit to be within the ton. With the help of a trusted colleague, Gabriel believes that when he’s done, he can move on with his life – away from England and the unpleasant memories that go along with it. But when he meets Triana, he finds he’s not quite as eager to leave as he once was. Unfortunately, the only problem is trying to keep her out of trouble. So he does the only thing he can think of to keep her occupied – seduction.
Lady Calliope is the most carefree and spirited of all the Bevelstroke sisters. With her fiery, copper locks and adventurous nature, she is determined to make a name for herself. In an effort to pursue her dream of independence, she sets out for the coast of Lyme Regis to search for rare fossils. The problem is a particular viscount who is always in her way… Sebastian Ford, Viscount Blakely, has a certain weakness when it comes to redheads and finds Calliope’s flirtatious personality quite irresistible. His sights are set on her, but she thwarts him at every turn, knowing him to be a complete scoundrel. When he arrives at the seaside town under the pretense that his curmudgeon of a grandfather wishes to take the waters for his health, the lady is furious, but it doesn’t take much persuasion for her to succumb to his charms… Unfortunately, their growing happiness is threatened by the Marquess of Abersheem. He doesn’t believe that Calliope is a good match for his grandson, and devises a plan to tempt Sebastian away. Is the passionate relationship Calliope and Sebastian have built strong enough to persevere? Or will they crumble under the first test of adversity?
Lady Isadora Bevelstroke has always been the most solemn and straitlaced of all of her sisters. But as the eldest member of the family, and with a particular head for business, from an early age she has learned not to distract herself with nonsensical behavior. She is determined to succeed as a woman of independent means, and no one doubts her ability to do so. She is quickly making a name for herself, and with the funds to help ease her entrée into a man's world, she is confident that nothing can stand in her way. There is one man, however, who causes the strangest sensations to course through her… Remington Fletcher, the Marquess of Osgood, has always respected the dark-haired beauty. She is intelligent, mature, and doesn't bother with flirtatious glances to get her way. She is direct and he finds her bold manner quite refreshing. The problem is that he can't seem to charm her into more than a friendly acquaintance. Deciding that he must content himself with a passing fancy, when fate continues to thrust them into each other's path, he realizes that there is quite a bit more to the lady than she wants to let on. She has given up everything at the expense of her own happiness, and he wants to show her that allowing someone to lean on isn't always a bad thing.
