Showing results by narrator "Duchess Defoix" in All Categories

England, 1823: Dr. Oliver Somersby is a man caught between two worlds, longing to be accepted--somewhere. The illegitimate son of a wealthy aristocrat and a Romani mother, he carries his shame in secret. Unwilling to commit to a relationship for fear of discovery, the high-and-mighty widow, Camilla Denby is the last person with whom he'd wish an attachment. If only she would stay out of his thoughts.

Elizabeth Buckley has been in love with Edward Monk for most of her life. Unfortunately, he’s only ever had eyes for her older, prettier sister. Five years after he left the village to make himself worthy of a Buckley, their lives intersect. This time, she’s determined to make him see her and bed her. All Edward has to do is convince the girl he loves to set aside her betrothed and wed him instead. When her betrothed becomes tangled in a web of lies and murder, it’s up to Edward to untangle him.

Contented serving as a physician in America, Dr. Harry Radcliffe never imagined he'd return to England as the Duke of Ashton. Inheriting the title upon his brother's untimely death, Harry is nothing like his cruel twin. Yet, his resemblance to the late duke makes his brother's beautiful widow wary. Left destitute by her abusive husband, Margaret Radcliffe remains resilient and struggles to rebuild her life. Y

Guilt and desire battle within Hughe, Lord Oxley’s, soul. When the enigmatic leader of the Assassin’s Guild learns that the widow of one of his targets is at the mercy of a cruel man, he does the only thing left in his power to do. He marries her. Then the worst thing happens. He falls in love with her. With more than one person trying to kill him and a family to rescue, Hughe needs the help of all his Assassins Guild friends to stay alive and keep his wife from learning the truth. Because he knows, and dreads, what will happen when she discovers what he did.

Cole’s heart is dark. He’s a mystery, even to those closest to him in the Assassins Guild. All anyone really knows for sure is that he’s ruthless, grim, and cares little for his own life. So when he loses his memory during an attack and thinks himself a naive 18-year-old again, no one can really believe the transformation. But as his memory returns, so do the nightmares and the dark reality of who he has become.

Love, fun, and laughter abound in this delightful Regency collection, which includes The Duke's Bride in Disguise, The Duke's Governess in Disguise, and The Importance of Being Eunice.

Orlando Holt has never assassinated a woman before. The lovely, feisty Lady Lynden will be his first. She's supposed to be a vicious murderess, but when Orlando begins to have doubts, he sets out to discover the identity of the person who hired him. What he learns will turn his world upside down and propel him headlong into love with a woman who's immune to his charms.

When Lady Emma Percival's father dies, leaving her penniless and alone, she fears that she will end up on the streets. Help is at hand, albeit from an unlikely source, when it transpires that her father has appointed his greatest enemy to be her guardian. The Duke of Liscarroll is a cold-hearted brute whom Emma spars with at every turn, but soon their angry altercations turn to something else entirely....

This delightful romp through Regency England features three full-length novels: The Duke of Ruin, The Lord of Heartbreak, and The Marquess of Temptation. Lose yourself in tales of runaway brides, determined bluestockings, and the men who love them.

When Lady Emily Fairfax comes face-to-face with a girl who looks just like her, she thinks that she has seen a ghost! It soon becomes clear, however, that Miss Ava Smith is no ghost, but is actually Emily’s long-lost twin sister. Desperate to extricate herself from a loveless arranged marriage, Emily persuades her twin to swap places with her for a month. The plan is for Ava to stay in London and scupper Emily's engagement, whilst Emily takes Ava's place as a governess in Kent.

Since her father’s death, Miss Hestia B. Stockbow has been living a lie. Working as a companion, under an assumed name, all she wants to do is keep her head down and forget about the scandalous tragedy that haunts her past. There’s only one problem… After two delicious, stolen kisses, the usually aloof Alexander Delaney, Marquess of Falconbridge, finds himself entranced by Belinda Bowstock, a lowly paid companion. When he discovers that she is, in fact, his missing ward, Alex realizes there's only one thing he can do: Marry the chit and help her solve the mystery of her father's death.

When poor orphan Ava Smith comes face-to-face with a girl who looks exactly like her, she is certain she has seen a ghost! But Lady Emily Fairfax is no ghost and is sure that she and Ava must be long-lost twins. Despite her better judgement, Ava allows Emily to convince her to swap lives for a month in order for Ava to scupper Emily’s engagement to a coldhearted brute of a man. Imagine Ava’s surprise when Emily’s betrothed turns out to be none other than her unrequited crush, the duke of Kilbride!

Miss Jane Deveraux is in a bind; her brother, Viscount Jarvis, has married and his new wife does not want her bookish sister-in-law encroaching on their wedded bliss. The Viscountess makes it very clear that Jane must find a husband, but the confirmed spinster doesn’t have many suitors lining up to claim her hand. What Jane needs is a large sum of money, so that she can buy the local boarding house, and live out her days holding intellectual saloons for the egalitarian set. Though where she’ll find this money is anyone’s guess…

A duke, a spinster, a faux engagement; what could possibly go wrong? For four seasons Lady Eunice was quite content with the mantle of wallflower. Bespectacled, frumpy, and put-upon by her overbearing mother, all she really wished to do was vanish from London once she came of age to inherit her fortune. The sudden reappearance of her childhood sweetheart, the dashing Theodore Belhurst, soon changes her mind, and Lady Eunice decides that she does wish to wed after all.

The love of Trenton Quinn's life disappeared suddenly. He tried to move on with his life but couldn't forget about her. When evidence arises suggesting she fell through a time hole he decides to figure out how to follow her to the past and bring her home.

London, 1735. Covent Garden offers a world of pleasures and diversions, even for a blind man. Tom Finch approaches life with boundless good cheer and resilience, whether he’s pursuing a musical career or pursuing women. And as for his blindness, to him it’s merely an inconvenience.

Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies. This collection, with voices of French and English writers, visits many neighborhoods and combines them into something that is, if not totally coherent, at least as coherent as the beautiful mess that is Montreal....

When Lord Greene wagers his daughter's hand in marriage in a card game, no one is less surprised the woman herself. The only thing that shocks Olive is that the man that he has gambled her away to is none other than the Duke of Ruin. Rumors abound that the Sixth Duke of Everleigh callously murdered his late wife and killed her lover in a duel - and now Olive is to become his bride. Ruan Ashford took one look at Olive Greene and knew that he had to have her in his bed. There's only one problem - his new wife despises him.

Lady Elizabeth Kendall grew up on whimsical tales told by her mother. What if they aren’t stories at all? Visions of a handsome pirate in a mirror create questions about everything she believes. The biggest one: Is time travel possible? A pirate who would be a duke… Jackerson Morgan Carwyn, the Duke of Whitewood hasn’t led the charmed life some believe, and in fact, grew up in the worst parts of London. Except it was a different time and it’s a secret only he knows. Until he meets Elizabeth… She is far more than she appears to be and has information he believed long buried. A battle of wits…

The epic conclusion to the Reign of Secrets series is here.... Allyssa was raised as royalty. Savenek had been trained as a spy. Alyssa grew up doted on by her parents. Savenek's adoptive father had often shown his love through strict training and discipline. Allyssa died too soon, loved and mourned by her kingdom. Savenek is supposed to take her place, but struggles to win the hearts of the people and parents who don't know him. When Savenek finally settles in to life at court, Alyssa shows up alive, in time for their 70th birthday celebration.