Does it matter how a heart is broken when all that is left are shattered remains? Lady Virginia Macon, the recently widowed Baroness of Heatherton, has an impossible decision to make. Her late husband's unscrupulous brother demands guardianship of her sons. The courts are on his side, unless she marries someone willing to stand in her late husband's place. Locking her heart away and devoting herself to her children is the only way Virginia can countenance such a decision. Wearied by the world, Lucas Calvert, Earl of Annesbury, is tired of being alone. His wife's passing six years previous left his life gray and empty. His only recourse has been to make life better for those around him, using his considerable wealth and influence. When he learns of Virginia's plight, he knows he can save her and her sons. During one of the rainiest summers in England's history, Virginia and her children bring light and color back into Lucas's life. But will Virginia's determination to protect her heart destroy their possibility of finding happiness together?

When Hugh Winthrop, the future Earl of Albury, decides to advertise for a wife in the London paper, he never expected an anonymous response from a woman who matches him wit for wit. Their back-and-forth letters on the true nature of love, something they disagree on wholeheartedly, leave him shocked—and intrigued. But then the woman he’s been corresponding with shows up on his doorstep, enticingly beautiful and offering a marriage of convenience in exchange for his protection... Lady Phoebe Maitland expected to marry for love and nothing else, until the man she gave her trust betrayed her. The more intrigued she becomes by the mysterious and devastatingly handsome Hugh, however, the more she realizes he’s holding back from opening his heart due to long-held secrets she struggles to understand. As passion flares wickedly between them, their marriage bed is quick to heat up. But when Phoebe’s past threatens to destroy the fragile bond they’ve formed, even a budding belief in love might not be enough to save them.

Sometimes the facts are even more extraordinary than the fiction... This book tells the story of Lady Catherine, a beautiful American girl who became the chatelaine of Highclere Castle, the setting for Julian Fellowes' award-winning drama Downton Abbey. Charming and charismatic, Catherine caught the eye of Lord Porchester (or 'Porchey', as he was known) when she was just 20 years old, and wearing a pale yellow dress at a ball. She had already turned down 14 proposals before she eventually married Porchey in 1922. But less than a year later Porchey's father died suddenly, and he became the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, inheriting a title and a Castle that changed both their lives forever. Catherine found herself suddenly in charge of a small army of household staff, and hosting lavish banquets and weekend house parties. Although the couple were very much in love, considerable challenges lay ahead for Catherine. They were immediately faced with the task of saving Highclere when debts threatened to destroy the estate. As the 1920s moved to a close, Catherine's adored brother died and she began to lose her husband to the distractions London had to offer. When the Second World War broke out, life at the Castle would never be the same again. Drawing on rich material from the private archives at Highclere, including beautiful period photographs, the current Countess of Carnarvon transports us back to the thrilling and alluring world of the 'real Downton Abbey' and its inhabitants.

A delightful marriage of convenience romance in the second of Louise Allen’s charming Liberated Ladies series! A compromising situation… for an innocent lady! After fending off ruffians with her parasol and hauling a battered man into her carriage, Jane Newnham finds herself unwittingly compromised with enigmatic Ivo Merton, Earl of Kendall! Jane always intended to become an artist, not a wife, and now she has no choice but to become betrothed. They strike a bargain that means she can continue to paint, but Ivo has awakened another passion in her—to uncover his secrets… Liberated Ladies Unconventional heiresses…full of big ambitions! Least Likely to Marry a Duke The Earl’s Marriage Bargain Look out for the next book in the series, coming soon! “Louise Allen was among my first Harlequin Historical authors… And she has stood the test of time.” — Frolic “Ms. Allen is an excellent writer and does a beautiful job showing us what is in the hearts of her protagonists.” —All About Romance on Least Likely to Marry a Duke “Ms. Allen is capable of creating terrific sexual tension between her heroes and heroines and is very skilled at developing a believable romance.” —All About Romance on Contracted as His Countess

"Where have you been all my life, Kelly Bowen? If Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, and Lisa Kleypas were to extract their writing DNA, mix it in a blender, and have a love child, Kelly Bowen would be it." -- HeroesandHeartbreakers.com Earl. War hero. Notorious rake. After the Battle of Waterloo, Eli Dawes was presumed dead-and would have happily stayed that way. He's no longer the reckless young man he once was, and only half as pretty. All he wants is to hide away in his country home, where no one can see his scars. But when he tries to sneak into his old bedroom in the middle of the night, he's shocked to find someone already there. Rose Hayward remembers Eli as the arrogant lord who helped her late fiance betray her. Finding him stealing into her art studio doesn't correct her impression. Her only thought is to get him to leave immediately. Yet the tension between them is electric, and she can't help but be drawn to him. He might be back from the dead, but it's Rose who is suddenly feeling very, very much alive.

In this sweeping, swoon-worthy second installment, a shipwrecked woman searches for her memories and becomes entangled with a conflicted nobleman who holds more answers than he realizes...

The Earl Claims His Wife is the latest romance from New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell in her new Scandal and Seductions series, where pride clashes with passion and temptation leads to love. Preoccupied with wars and women, the earl ignored his wife. But when he finally wants her by his side, the fiery Lady Gillian won’t go without a fight . . .

What a girl wants… Miss Viola Darling always gets what she wants. Always. And what she wants more than anything is to marry James Kilbrenner, the Earl of Tannenbrook. She’s fallen hard for the giant, taciturn, surly brute, and she positively will have no other. The problem? He’s not interested. Not even a little. But Viola cannot afford to lose. And she has her heart set on James. If only he will bend to a bit of persuasion. Is an earl like no other… James Kilbrenner knows how determined the entirely-too-beautiful Miss Darling can be—the daft woman cornered him at a perfectly respectable dinner and mangled his cravat before he could escape. He has no desire to marry, less desire to be pursued, and will certainly not kiss her kissable lips until they are both breathless, no matter how tempted he may be. And only the right one will do… Thrown in her path by a meddling marchioness, James finds himself under sensual siege from a tiny, flirtatious sprite who puts both his heart and his vow to remain unwed at risk. And when scandal looms, he learns the hard way that a man can resist only so long before the indomitable Miss Darling gets her way.

From USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway 2023 ORWG Heart Award Finalist A spirited lady detective. A buttoned-up spy for the Crown. A steamy marriage of convenience that threatens to lay bare their secrets…and their hearts. When her overprotective family tries to curtail her activities, spirited and independent debutante Fiona Garrity decides marriage is her surest way to freedom. All she needs is an accommodating, and preferably not too perceptive, husband with his own hobbies so that he will not interfere with hers. Destiny puts her into the path of a reputedly staid and scholarly earl. He would be the perfect candidate…if only his grey eyes were not quite so magnetic, and his virile nearness didn’t affect her in such a stimulating manner… After the death of his first wife, Thomas Morgan, the Earl of Hawksmoor, has sworn off love. He is torn between his duty to produce an heir and his true passion: his work as an agent of the Crown. Fate gives him a solution when a dazzling debutante proposes a practical union that would allow them both to maintain private lives. She would be an impeccable choice…if only her heavenly gaze didn’t lay bare his secret needs and her delectable form didn’t tempt him to unleash his darkest desires… Fiery passion threatens the negotiated rules of Fiona and Hawk’s marriage. As desire turns into love, their secret lives collide. Will their marriage of convenience survive betrayal and danger to become a love for all time? “This writer to me is in the leagues of Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Amanda Quick.” -Amazon Reviews Grace's books feature sizzling hot historical romance, fun and feel-good happily ever afters, and exciting mystery and adventure. Her books are standalone titles which can also be enjoyed as part of her interconnected series set in the same universe. LADY CHARLOTTE'S SOCIETY OF ANGELS (steamy Victorian romance) #1 Olivia and the Masked Duke (Livy & Ben) #2 Pippa and the Prince of Secrets (Pippa & Cullen) #3 Fiona and the Enigmatic Earl (Fiona & Thomas) #4 Glory and the Master of Shadows (Glory & Wei) #5 Charlotte and the Seductive Spymaster (Preorder today!) GAME OF DUKES (steamy Victorian romance) #1 The Duke Identity (Harry & Tessa) #2 Enter the Duke (Ransom & Maggie) #3 Regarding the Duke (Garrity & Gabby) #4 The Duke Redemption (Wickham & Beatrice) #5 The Return of the Duke (Severin & Fancy) #6 Steamy Winter Wishes: A Hot Historical Romance Short Story (featuring characters from all of Grace's series) HEART OF ENQUIRY (THE KENTS) (steamy Regency romance) Prequel Novella: The Widow Vanishes (Will & Annabel) #1 The Duke Who Knew Too Much (Alaric & Emma) #2 M is for Marquess (Gabriel & Thea) #3 The Lady Who Came in from the Cold (Marcus & Penny) #4 The Viscount Always Knocks Twice (Richard & Violet) #5 Never Say Never to an Earl (Sinjin & Polly) #6 The Gentleman Who Loved Me (Andrew & Primrose) MAYHEM IN MAYFAIR (steamy Regency romance) #1 Her Husband's Harlot (Helena & Nicholas) #2 Her Wanton Wager (Percy & Gavin) #3 Her Protector's Pleasure (Marianne & Ambrose) #4 Her Prodigal Passion (Charity & Paul)

Left standing on the side while their contemporaries marry into society, four young ladies forge a bond to guard each other from a similar fate . . . Finishing school failed to make a proper lady of Penelope Arrington. But as a Wallflower of West Lane, Poppy has a far more vital role—she and her three best friends have made a pact to protect each other from the clutches of dangerous, disreputable men. So when one of them is about to be married off to a duke sight unseen, Poppy makes it her mission to divine the prospective husband’s true character. If only she didn’t require the aid of London’s most unsuitable rake. Rhys Draper, Earl of Marsden, has known the headstrong Poppy since she was a young girl naïve to the ways of men. To her eternal chagrin—and to his vague amusement—they have been at odds over the memory of embarrassing first encounter all these years. Now, with his services in need, Rhys sees a chance to finally clear the air between them. Instead, he is surprised by the heat of their feelings. If the two do not tread carefully, they may end up in a most agreeably compromising position . . . Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com