Maidens of Marbury

The death of a friend leads the cautious Eleanor Spencer to reevaluate her life. In a rare impulse, she kisses the man of her dreams-her best friend's older brother. The moment of madness gives her courage to take more chances. This spring, she will finally travel to London for the social season. All she needs is to compile a list of adventures to complete. At the top of her list? Kiss Lucius Grisham again . . . Barely surviving since his father severed his funds, Lucius Grisham works two respectable jobs, and one decidedly disreputable job, just to keep up critical appearances. When Ellie becomes the target of a sordid bet made by his rakehell friends, Lucius must step in to protect his sister's friend. As he finds himself pulled into helping Ellie with her list of adventures, he is surprised to find his jaded heart tempted by the innocent beauty. But Ellie Spencer is far too good for a scoundrel like him. Ellie will endanger both her heart and her virtue to make Lucius hers. Can Lucius become the man Ellie believes him to be? Contains mature themes.

She wants nothing to do with him or the holiday frivolities . . . Lady Olivia Rivenhall has always lived at Belhaven Hall. A year has passed since her husband's unexpected death, and she's been living in limbo wondering when she will have to vacate her home and finally decide what to do with the rest of her life. Just as she is beginning to believe that the new earl will never come to take possession of the manor, Maxwell Drake walks back into her life. After almost dying in a gutter in Venice, Maxwell Drake vows to turn his life around. Learning that he's inherited his estranged cousin's title is exactly the fresh start he needs. Max is looking forward to enjoying Christmas in the English countryside at the estate he's missed, but he's dreading facing his cousin's widow, the only woman he's ever loved. The attraction is stronger than ever, but so are the wounds. As Christmas magic steals through the ancient halls and secrets beckon to be shared, can these two lonely hearts find a second chance at love? Contains mature themes.

Miles Weston, the Marquess of Hawksridge, longs for a holiday from his life. He is tired of all the politics in and out of the ballrooms. Ever since his aborted wedding, his aunt has tried to match him with blank-faced debutants at every turn. The only entertaining thing in his overscheduled life is observing the antics of Lady Susanna Ashby, whose beauty and vibrancy brighten the greyest day. Susanna's spirit for adventure is matched only by her loyalty to her friends. Determined to help the distractingly handsome, but overwhelmingly serious, marquess, Susanna concocts a plan to distract his matchmaking Aunt Diana. She'll reunite Diana with her long-lost lover who wrote her passionate letters of love and longing. If only Susanna could discover the whereabouts of the mysterious James Marlow. As Susanna launches her ill-fated plan, heedless of the danger, her worried friends send Miles to fetch her home. But Susanna has no intention of letting anything derail her quest to find the man from the letters. Not bad weather, broken carriage wheels, or highwaymen. Not even a sexy, managing marquess. Contains mature themes.

When Charlotte Grisham is saved from an out-of-control carriage by a handsome gentleman, she knows fate has sent her the perfect man. The Marquis of Hawksridge is titled, handsome, and heroic-precisely the kind of gentleman her parents want for her husband. Before Charlotte knows it, she is engaged to be married. Daniel Weston can't believe his identical twin brother is marrying a lady he barely knows. Moreover, he's begging off his own engagement party. Daniel allows his twin to talk him into going to the week-long house party in his stead . . . just for a few days. They used to pretend to be each other all the time in their youth. What could possibly go wrong? Charlotte immediately realizes her fiancé has sent in a doppelgänger, but continues the ruse so no one will realize her fiancé has all but abandoned her. Everyone sees her as perfectly behaved. But perfect girls do not share searing kisses with men who are not their betrothed. Charlotte knows her duty, but what about her heart? Contains mature themes.