Notorious rake, Michael Drake, the Viscount Blackthorn accepts a Christmas wager to be the first to seduce the next lady to walk under the mistletoe, but the lady turns out to be none other than Holly Jenkins; a woman from his past, whom he has sworn to protect, but whose bold antics drive him to distraction…and temptation. Can he protect her from himself? Holly is living a lie. Forced to masquerade as a widow to keep herself and her sisters safe, she earns a living helping those being undeservedly blackmailed by using her lock-picking skills to expose the villains behind the schemes. Attending a ball, her clandestine work is interrupted by Lord Blackthorn, a man who is as vexing as he is sinfully handsome. A man who she’s always had feelings for, which she understands are futile. Because everyone knows you can’t give your heart to a rake… Or can you? But Michael has his own secrets, ones serious enough that could threaten any chance they have of a future together. After all, lies and deception. have a dangerous habit of unravelling when one least expects it…

When Annabel Cresswell is stranded by the side of the road one snowy afternoon, she knows she is in trouble. Until a knight appears in the form of Dominic, the tenth Duke of Roth. Playing Dominic's fiancée seems like an excellent solution, until Annabel discovers that really, all she wants for Christmas is a duke...

Banished to the country for wayward behavior, house maid Miss Rachel Lindsay is near-penniless and desperate. A cruel trick left her abandoned at an isolated country inn on a snowy Christmas Eve, and her only hope is a wealthy, stern, and sinfully handsome stranger—masquerading as her husband. The new and reluctant Marquess of Kyle, Arran Elliott’s journey to London has been halted by a broken carriage. His bid for lodgings is failing—until a mysterious beauty boldly announces they are wed to secure the last remaining room. But when their friendly bargain turns into nights of scorching hot passion and sensual discipline, Arran knows he can’t let the spirited and deliciously curvy Rachel go. His—and her—secrets be damned…

For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been perfectly happy as a widow--and thoroughly independent. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him. Sebastian will come into his inheritance in a matter of weeks--if his family deems him responsible enough. There's no better way to prove his maturity than with a wife. But though Veronica will share his bed, she refuses to marry. However, Sebastian has a plan: An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change Veronica's mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together--in this, and every season to come. . . "Warm, witty and wise." --Julia Quinn, "New York Times" bestselling author "With a delectably dry sense of humor that rivals Oscar Wilde at his best, Alexander fashions the perfect romance." --"Booklist "(starred review) "Smashing. . .very close to a perfect read." --"Publishers Weekly" on "The Perfect Mistress" (starred review) "For love, laughter, and lots of fun, read Victoria Alexander." --Stephanie Laurens, "New York Times" bestselling author

DIVDIVThe independent and alluring Lady Philippa decides to prove she can run as wild in love as she does on the hunting fields/divDIV Lady Philippa Raynard-Wakefield is a wealthy young widow convinced that she will never marry again; in fact, she’s chosen to reside in her husband’s Leicestershire hunting lodge to avoid the fortune-hungry suitors she frequently meets in more fashionable locales. A keen rider, Philippa would like to join in the local sport, but the fast pace, rough terrain, and ill-mannered participants of the hunts are considered unsuitable for ladies. Even Viscount Rochford, with his mesmerizing gray eyes, will not permit her to join his hunt—although he doesn’t object to her company on other occasions. If Rochford won’t give his approval, then Philippa will have to take matters into her own hands . . ./div/div

A comprehensive guide that defines the literature and the outlines the best-selling genre of all time: romance fiction. More than 2,000 romances are published annually, making it difficult for fans and the librarians who advise them to keep pace with new titles, emerging authors, and constant evolution of this dynamic genre. Fortunately, romance expert and librarian Kristin Ramsdell provides a definitive guide to this fiction genre that serves as an indispensible resource for those interested in it—including fans searching for reading material—as well as for library staff, scholars, and romance writers themselves. This title updates the last edition of Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre, published in 1999.While the emphasis is on newer titles, many of the important older classics are retained, keeping the focus of the book on the entire genre, instead of only those titles published during the last decade. Specific changes include new chapters on linked and continuing romances, a new section on "Chick Lit" in the Contemporary Romance chapter, an expansion of coverage on the alternative reality subset. This is THE romance genre guide to have.

Mary Robinson’s work has begun again to assume a central place in discussions of Romanticism. A writer of the 1790’s—a decade which saw the birth of Romanticism, revolution, and enormous popular engagement with political ideas—Robinson was acknowledged in her time as a leading poet. Her writing exhibits great variety: charm, theatricality, and emotional resonance are all characteristics Robinson displays. She was by turns a poet of sensibility, a poet of popular culture, a chronicler of the major events of the time, and a participant in some of its chief aesthetic innovations. This long-awaited collection is the first critical edition of her poems.