New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small continues her Border Chronicles with this tale of a woman rescued, a man enraptured, and a love unanticipated by the fates… Duncan Armstrong, laird of Duffdour, had sworn never to wed unless it was to a lass he truly loved. But when he needs a favor from King James, Duncan never expects what he’s forced to pay in return: the taking of a bride he neither loves nor desires. When Highland heiress Ellen MacArther’s marriage plans are thwarted by a murder attempt, she has no choice but to beg the king for help. The cost for her urgent plea: to surrender her heritage and become a border lord’s bride. But the price to be paid for two strangers thrown together by fate is higher than imagined. And more dangerous than the passion—and betrayal—that could consume them.

New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small continues her Border Chronicles with this tale of a woman rescued, a man enraptured, and a love unanticipated by the fates… Duncan Armstrong, laird of Duffdour, had sworn never to wed unless it was to a lass he truly loved. But when he needs a favor from King James, Duncan never expects what he’s forced to pay in return: the taking of a bride he neither loves nor desires. When Highland heiress Ellen MacArther’s marriage plans are thwarted by a murder attempt, she has no choice but to beg the king for help. The cost for her urgent plea: to surrender her heritage and become a border lord’s bride. But the price to be paid for two strangers thrown together by fate is higher than imagined. And more dangerous than the passion—and betrayal—that could consume them.

Vowing never to surrender her body willingly to a man, Regan, a Celtic beauty, finds her determination faltering at the hands of Karim al Malina, an Arabian master of the erotic arts, who trains Regan to become a king's consort. Reprint.

In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family. Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.

New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small continues her 'intriguing and fascinating'* Border Chronicles with a steamy tale of a love held captive . . . Lady Cicely Bowen, daughter of the earl of Leighton, is sent away by her doting father when her jealous stepmother presents a threat to her safety. Raised by a royal widow, cicely becomes best friends with Lady Joan Beaufort, the king's cousin. When Joan is married to King James I of Scotland, she chooses Cicely as one of the ladies to accompany her north. At the Scot's court, Cicely finds herself pursued by two men- elegant Andrew Gordon, the laird of Fairlea, and Ian Douglas, the laird of Glengorm, a rough-spoken border lord. When Ian kidnaps Cicely just as Andrew is about to propose to her, the royal court is sent into an uproar. The queen demands the return of her friend and the Gordons threaten to set the border aflame, even as Ian Douglas attempts to win Cicely's love. But the border lord is difficult to tame-and the lady's heart is even harder to claim. PRAISE FOR THE BORDER CHRONICLES 'Rich with detail and sinfully sexy.' - Affaire de Coeur 'Contains all the ingredients her fans have come to expect- a strong-willed heroine, a dangerously sexy hero, an intriguing historical setting, and lots of steamy sensuality.' - Booklist

Winning a stubborn lady turns into the battle of his life for a powerful knight. Lady Sofia Howard has sworn never to marry, after her young heart was broken by an arrogant young squire. She's spurned every suitor to the dismay of her guardian, King Edward I, who finds that even increasing her dower prize will not lure men to offer for the defiant but lonely Sofia. So the king takes matters into his own hands and betroths Sofia to Sir Tobin de Clare, the man who once broke her heart. Passion explodes, and Sofia's tattered pride demands that Sir Tobin surrender his heart. A battle of wills ensues that makes war seem tame, when nothing will stop this ruthless warrior from winning his lady. In a classic Barnett battle of will and wit, a knight and his lady find that love at first sight is dangerous at best and never, ever easy. Wicked has all the pageantry of Medieval England, liberally laced with poignancy and humor.

In the second book of the Border Series by bestselling, award-wining author Arnette Lamb, Lady Alpin MacKay storms the Kildalton Castle in the Scottish hills, determined to reclaim the property stolen from her by her childhood nemesis, the devilishly handsome Lord Malcom Kerr. Infuriated that her childhood nemesis turned Scottish lord, Malcom Kerr, stole her land, Lady Alpin MacKay travels to Kildalton Castle to seduce him into forfeiting the land back to its rightful owner. With her maid, Elanne, by her side, Alpin devises a plan to trick Malcom into marrying her so she can become the rightful owner of the plantation she has been living on for years. When the beautiful Alpin arrives on his doorstep declaring her land—and herself—are for his taking, Malcom is thrilled. At last, he has her under his thumb, right where he wants her, and can get retribution for the damage Alpin caused by a prank gone wrong when she was just six years old. As Malcom and Alpin plot their revenge on each other, each trying to claim what they believe they deserve, neither of them expects the flames of passion that ignite between them.

Ideology of Power and Power of Ideology in Early China explores ancient Chinese political thought during the centuries surrounding the formation of the empire in 221 BCE. The individual chapters examine the ideology and practices of legitimation, views of rulership, conceptualizations of ruler-minister relations, economic thought, and the bureaucratic administration of commoners. The contributors analyze the formation of power relations from various angles, ranging from artistic expression to religious ideas, political rhetoric, and administrative action. They demonstrate the interrelatedness of historiography and political ideology and show how the same text served both to strengthen the ruler’s authority and moderate his excesses. Together, the chapters highlight the immense complexity of ancient Chinese political thought, and the deep tensions running within it. Contributors include Scott Cook, Joachim Gentz, Paul R. Goldin, Romain Graziani, Martin Kern, Liu Zehua, Luo Xinhui, Yuri Pines, Roel Sterckx, and Charles Sanft.

This is volume 1, covering the time from the Roman Occupation to Mary of Guise. In four volumes of more than 1500 combined pages the series "The History of Scotland" deals with something less than two millenniums of Scottish history. Every single volume covers a certain period in an attempt to examine the elements and forces which were imperative to the making of the Scottish people, and to record the more important events of that time.