A Scandalous Bloom: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Redemption in Regency London Uncover the secrets of high society as a love story unfolds amidst scandal and intrigue. Evelyn, a young woman of impeccable breeding and sharp wit, finds herself captivated by the enigmatic Alexander, a man of wealth and charm whose past is shrouded in mystery. Their whirlwind romance blossoms amidst the glittering ballrooms and opulent gardens of Regency London, but their happiness is threatened when whispers of Alexander's scandalous past begin to surface. As Evelyn delves deeper into the truth, she uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal that shatters her illusions and tests the boundaries of her love. With her reputation and her heart on the line, she must navigate the treacherous waters of high society, seeking allies in unexpected places and confronting the dark secrets that threaten to destroy their happiness. A Scandalous Bloom is a captivating tale of love, loss, and redemption set against the backdrop of Regency London's glittering social scene. It is a story of resilience and courage, of forgiveness and second chances, and of the enduring power of love to triumph over adversity. Key Themes: Love and Betrayal: Explore the complexities of love, the pain of betrayal, and the enduring power of forgiveness. Secrets and Scandal: Uncover the hidden truths of high society, where appearances are everything and secrets can be deadly. Redemption and Second Chances: Witness the transformative power of remorse, personal growth, and the pursuit of a better future. Society and Class: Navigate the rigid social structures of Regency London, where love often clashes with societal expectations. Resilience and Courage: Follow Evelyn's journey of self-discovery as she confronts adversity and fights for her happiness. Perfect for fans of: Historical romance novels Stories of love, betrayal, and redemption Intriguing tales of secrets and scandal Books set in Regency England Immerse yourself in the captivating world of A Scandalous Bloom and discover a love story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Everyone knows Lady Felicity Pierce has been widowed the last three years, except she hasn't been. Lissy escaped the clutches of her dangerous husband but lost any chance for a happy-ever-after in the process. No one can ever know the secret she keeps hidden, the secret she wishes she could forget. Her harrowing escape would be for naught should anyone ever learn the truth. If only her husband had been the man she thought he was. If only he'd been more like Fin... Phineas Granard, Viscount Carraway, might still be nursing a broken heart, but he has responsibilities that require his attention. Responsibilities to England and to his late-fiance's family which never seem to end. But looking after Lissy is an exercise in futility. She's flightily. She's impetuous. She can drive the sanest man mad. And she's keeping something from him. If only she trusted him enough to love her, to keep her safe, to share the secret that haunts her.

Ever since a mysterious fortuneteller informed Miss Wilhelmina Throssell that she’d soon meet her true love - a one-eyed commander -Mina's thought of little else. She never imagined marriage was in the stars for her or that she had a true love out there somewhere. Anywhere. Lieutenant-Colonel Nathaniel Carrick, Viscount Healeyfield returned home from the battlefields with nothing but his honor, his excellent eye-sight, and a crumbling abbey to his name. As luck would have it however, his wealthy mentor has a daughter of marriageable age that he’d like to see wed before he dies. Almost instantly, Nathaniel is quite smitten with the girl. She’s lovely, enchanting and the most unique female of his acquaintance. Unfortunately, the girl in question is quite adamant that her one true love, whoever he may be, has but a single eye.

When Miss Poppy Elstone discovers she’s a witch, she doesn’t have the first clue how to use her magic or control her powers. She does know that she must keep her abilities a secret from the world or risk all kinds of danger. She now wakes every morning, having dreamt about a stranger at a crossroads until one night when the dream and the stranger in question become all too real. A shell of his former self, Captain Alec Galbraith returned from the Napoleonic battlefields, determined to make his own fortune and forge his own destiny in spite of his lost magic. When his path collides with Poppy’s one darkened night, she sparks something in his soul he thought was lost. Can Alec teach Poppy how to use her powers? Or will his dark past stand in the way?

Thaddeus (Tad) Darkin, the Duke of Lambeth, used to be a rake. In fact, before Lord Edon was scandalizing the Ton, Tad was the one everyone was talking about. Many gentlemen secretly wished they had his charm with the ladies. All reputable ladies were warned to stay as far from him as possible, which only made him all the more attractive. Then, after a tragic event, he took a vow of celibacy, promising he would never be intimate with another lady again. Over the years, this caused him to be the most sought-after single gentleman in all of London. And even though he doesn't want to marry, his steward left him in financial ruin, so whether he likes it or not, he must take a wife. After being rejected by the gentleman she was hoping to marry, Miss Loretta Bachman is on a mission to save her reputation. She needs to marry someone who will impress the prestigious ladies in her social circle. So when she catches the leader of the group talking about the very handsome and hard-to-get Duke of Lambeth, she's determined to get him to marry her. All she needs is a little bargaining power, and fortunately for her, she happens to have the money he needs to save his estate. When she learns of his vow to remain celibate, she agrees to keep away from his bed. After all, her only reason for marrying him is to secure her social standing in London, not to have a love match. All she asks is that he pretends to be deeply in love with her when they're in public. That way she will succeed in impressing the Ton. But before long, the lines between what is pretend and what is real starts to blur, and it's hard to decide how far to push the limits of their agreement.

As novice master of the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky, Thomas Merton presented weekly conferences to familiarize his charges with the meaning and purpose of the vows they aspired to undertake. In this setting, he offered a thorough exposition of the theological, canonical, and above all spiritual dimensions of the vows. Merton set the vows firmly in the context of the anthropological, moral, soteriological, and ecclesial dimensions of human, Christian, and monastic life. He addressed such classical themes of Christian morality as the nature of the human person and his acts; the importance of justice in relation to the Passion of Christ, to friendship and to love; and self-surrender as the key to grace, prayer and the vowed life. Merton's words on these topics clearly spring from a committed heart and often flow with the soaring intensity of style that we have come to expect in his more enthusiastic prose. The texts of these conferences represent the longest and most systematically organized of any of numerous series of conferences that Merton presented during the decade of his mastership. They may be the most directly pastoral work Merton ever wrote.