Queen's Ford, built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and home to the noble Forde family for centuries, is crumbling into ruin. Devastated by the reduced circumstances in which he finds himself due to the outlandish spending of his late father, the current Lord Fordcombe simply cannot afford to repair it. With only a few loyal servants to serve the family, even the once beautiful gardens and stables are shabby and unkempt. In fact the Forde family, blue-blooded and aristocratic, who have entertained more than one English Monarch during their illustrious past, are now so poor that they struggle to find money for food. Driven beyond endurance and crushed by the monotony of poverty, Jeremy, the handsome twenty-one year old son of Lord Fordcombe decides that something desperate must be done. Artfully persuading his eldest sister, Mariota, to sacrifice her principles and go along with his daring plan, she joins him in holding up a coach masquerading as highwaymen. But as the usually honest and kind Mariota catches a glimpse of the terrified woman they are robbing, she knows that this is something she should never have allowed. About to call off Jeremy, who is wild-eyed with excitement and oblivious to the upset he is causing, she suddenly sees a gentleman taking aim with his gun behind her brother. In a split second she fires, blinded to the consequences of her actions through her love for her brother. As the dust settles on the lonely road she realises that the handsome Earl of Buckenham is injured and, eager to avoid the gallows, the subdued siblings bring him to their home to heal. Desperately sorry by the trouble they have caused, Mariota proceeds to nurse him better, praying for forgiveness and willing the Earl to improve. But the unforeseen dramas that arise from that one action alter the lives of everyone involved forever.

Lord Frodham and his friend Sir James Overton lay a wager that they can dupe the snobbish, horse racing-obsessed Marquis of Ardsley into falling in love with some beauty of the lower orders. They can hardly believe their luck when by chance they rescue lovely young heiress Indira Rowlandson from her dead father's evil lawyer who is bent on marrying her off to a bankrupt stranger. Indira is set on joining a Convent to escape the unwanted attentions of men, whom she hates, but, agreeing to their plan out of gratitude, she finds herself among high Society at Ardsley Hall. And, finding that the imperious Marquis shares her passion for the mysteries of the Orient, in spite of herself she begins to fall in love.

Notorious throughout the Beau Monde as something of a Casanova, the dashing and raffish Virgo, Marquis of Fane, cares little for the swooning Society beauties who fall at his feet. His true passion is for his racehorses and for art - and it is love at first sight when he sets eyes on a painting of the Madonna entitled The Virgin of the Lilies. But while investigating the painting's dubious provenance the Marquis encounters Cyrilla, the shy and beautiful daughter of the artist and is instantly, utterly bewitched. Soon their two hearts beat as one and their love seems Heaven sent. "My darling, you are not only divine and ethereal, but also human," the Marquis exclaims. "Let me take you away - find a house - we will be alone " But the Fate that brought them together seems bent on tearing them apart when Cyrilla realises no that matter how deep her love, she cannot do what he asks.

The Duke of Buckhurst, handsome, wealthy, a brilliant horseman and known to everyone as 'Buck' has sworn that he will never marry. Cutting a swathe through the sophisticated beauties of the Beau Monde, who are drawn to his sardonic charm like social butterflies to a bright light, he has only one requirement for his amours - that they are safely married to someone else. That is until he discovers that his heir apparent, his dissolute cousin Edmund, has married an actress. Horrified that a common showgirl will become the next Duchess and bring his family name into disrepute, the Duke is forced by his family into finding a bride. Bored by the very thought of being tied to a young, inexperienced young woman, he sets his loyal sisters the daunting task of choosing a suitable wife within the month, so that he can be married before the Royal races at Ascot. With time running out, Buck's sisters are in despair - until they meet Lady Samala Wynn, the daughter of the honorable but impoverished Earl of Kenwyn. Lovely, innocent and angel-faced, she seems the ideal bride, but can they persuade her to marry their rakish brother, Buck? For Samala is a young woman with her own ideas about marriage - and they include love and romance. But can a marriage between two strangers, built on a foundation of the groom's resentment and the bride's family duty, ever bring happiness and love? As the Duke, furious at the prospect of losing his freedom, dallies with the latest married woman to fall all too eagerly into his arms and Samala worries how her beloved father will cope living alone in his crumbling estate, it seems that this is a match that is doomed to bring nothing but sadness.

King Maximilian of Valdastien, handsome, clever but with a well deserved reputation as a ladies man, is under pressure from his Prime Minister to leave behind his bachelor ways, get married and produce an heir as soon as possible. Despite the fact that he vowed never to marry, with political unrest in Europe and encroaching danger from the Prussians, the King reluctantly decides to visit the surrounding countries to seek a suitable Queen. Meanwhile, beautiful but tempestuous Princess Zita flies across the alpine countryside of neighbouring Aldross on her dazzling horse Pegasus. Full of a fire that matches the stunning flame red of her hair and sparkling with intelligence, Zita could not be more different to her elder sister, the placid and homely Princess Sophie. So when a visit by King Maximilian is heralded, their shrewd mother wastes no time in ordering Princess Zita to stay out of sight so that she cannot catch the King's eye and ruin any matrimonial chances for her sister. Angry at being left out and curious to see a real King, especially one with such an intriguing reputation, Zita cooks up a cunning plan to disguise herself as a simple country girl. Enlisting the help of her secret friend Gretel, Zita is sure that the rest of her family will be far too busy preparing for the King's visit to guess what she is scheming. But Fate has other things in store for Zita and, although her plans to catch a glimpse of their esteemed guest go to plan, she ends up getting much more than she bargained for. Dazzled by the charm and wit of the King and, sensing that she has found a kindred spirit, she is desperate that he should not find out her secret and discover who she really is. But if she is honest with herself, having met him once, she wishes that she could see him a good deal more. Torn between her feelings for the King and her sense of family duty it seems that the only course she can take is to make sure that their paths never cross again.

The death of her beloved father, has left artistic and idealistic Tempera and her stunning, scatterbrained stepmother Lady Rothley bereft not only of love but also of money. So when Lady Rothley's womanly wiles attract an invitation from none other than the Duke of Chevingham to join him in the South of France, it's a Godsend. At last ? the prospect of a handsome, aristocratic suitor for Tempera's Belle-m?re who would keep them both in the style to which they would dearly love to be re-acquainted To arrive without a lady's maid is inconceivable ? to afford one impossible. So Tempera escorts her Belle-m?re in the guise of a servant and attempts to coach her in fine art, the Duke's consuming passion. While her stepmother flirts with C?te D?Azur society Tempera contents herself with capturing the local flora's beauty on canvas. And when the flair she inherited from her father captivates and mystifies the magnificent Duke, something stirs in Tempera that she has never felt before. Is it love? Or is it betrayal?

The Marquis of Stowe is on the verge of a dreadful scandal that threatens to ruin both him and the lovely, but married, Lady Burnham. Knowing that their secret is out and that her husband will be plotting revenge, the Marquis casts about desperately for a way to avoid the scandal, which he knows is inevitable despite the wealth and good looks that have made him a darling of the Beau Monde. Seeing a perfect solution, he decides to offer marriage to the Duke of Dawlish's daughter and leaves for the country. Surely the Duke will be grateful for his daughter to make such a match? There is only one problem - marrying the Duke's daughter might provide a way out of his current dilemma, but having met her the Marquis is dismayed by her dullness. Horrified at the sacrifice he would have to make, he suddenly realises that there is another way to put the cuckolded husband off the scent and preserve his freedom - as long as he can find a young woman happy to go along with his seemingly foolproof idea. Eager to renew his acquaintance with Ajanta Tiverton, the beautiful daughter of a local Vicar, the Marquis hurtles to the Vicarage to tell her his plan and the role that only she can play. Certain that this will get him out of immediate danger and sure that he can offer an attractive financial incentive to help the impoverished family, it seems that if their daring charade is successful everyone involved will benefit. All Ajanta has to do is play her part and all will be well. Swept into a rich luxurious world they have never known before, the Marquis sets out to charm the Vicar and Ajanta's sisters. Delighted by their new surroundings and excited by the attention of the eloquent Marquis they cannot believe the happiness Ajanta has bought into their lives. But the Marquis is not the only one masking the truth - Ajanta too has a family secret she would prefer not to share and, as the deception continues and feelings run high, she cannot help but worry what will happen in the final Act of their play and where the curtain will fall.

Forced to leave her home on the coast in order to find work, Meg Wilson finds initial employment as a carer at a rehabilitation centre for wounded ex-servicemen with the promise of being able to study for a future nursing career. Meg however is particularly drawn to one of the patients, an American by birth who is now struggling to come to terms with prosthetic limbs. Yet David is also a married man with a wife and child back in the States and eventually this is where he returns. This is hardly the end of the matter however for a couple of years later he returns to England, initially to foolhardily attempting the coast to coast walk before later accompanying a group of amputees from the centre in the States, where he now works as a manager, to the Paralympic games in London. This time around the fact that he is a married man seems to have little bearing on her emotions. Life however is not without throwing obstacles in their path, one of which comes in the form of Marion, David's estranged wife, and the other from someone out of her own past whom she would rather have forgotten.

Eighteen-year-old Fenella is a mischievous as her freckled elfin beauty and feline green eyes suggest - but beneath that puckish charm she hides her ardent desire to do all in her power to make her beloved cousin Periquine, Lord Corbury, happy. When to her chagrin the dashing Lord returns from the Napoleonic War after fighting with Wellington, penniless and passionately in love with another - a woman of great wealth and even greater beauty, whom he cannot marry without wealth of his own, Fenella sacrifices her private passion to his wellbeing. Laying her life and her love on the line, she joins Periquine in a swashbuckling and death-defying life of crime as highwaymen, robbers and smugglers. Will their exploits reap the riches he needs? And will Fenella's all-conquering love remain unrequited? Only when Perequine faces losing her forever will he find the answer in his heart...

The Viscount Frome is in love, and intends to marry Claribel Stamford, belle of the Social Set, as quickly as possible. She is young, beautiful, charming and rich ? in fact he considers her the perfect match. The only drawback is that he needs the permission of his uncle, the Duke of Alverstrode before he can propose. The Duke, a more cautious man experienced in the wiles of aspirational young women, suggests a visit to Claribel's home to meet her doting father Sir Jarvis, the well known race-horse owner. That way, the Duke can get to know Claribel and her father and set his mind at rest before welcoming her into his illustrious family. Impressed by Stamford Towers, but eager to escape the heady charm offensive of Claribel and her father, the Duke cannot shake the instinct that something is not right and remains on his guard. Even so, he is shocked to discover a sad young woman, Giona, alone watching the sunset over the magnificent gardens. He is astonished to discover that she is the niece of Sir Jarvis, but lives hidden away like a ?skeleton in the closet?. Horrified by her story of mistreatment, and intrigued by the mystery that surrounds her, the Duke offers Giona his protection and vows to uncover the family secret and restore her fortunes. But Sir Jarvis is just as committed to keeping his family secrets buried forever and will stop at nothing to keep his reputation intact. Two determined men, both used to getting their own way, but this time only one of them can win.

Now a Major Motion Picture from Director Luca Guadagnino, Starring Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet, and Written by James Ivory WINNER BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ACADEMY AWARD Nominated for Four Oscars A New York Times Bestseller A USA Today Bestseller A Los Angeles Times Bestseller A Vulture Book Club Pick An Instant Classic and One of the Great Love Stories of Our Time Andre Aciman's Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. Each is unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, when, during the restless summer weeks, unrelenting currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion and test the charged ground between them. Recklessly, the two verge toward the one thing both fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy. It is an instant classic and one of the great love stories of our time.

Even amid the genteel grandeur of Venice, the Marquis of Wynchcombe's ennui is undiminished. His fiery mistress Francesca, a beautiful and flamboyant Venetian actress, bores him almost as much as the company of the Beau Monde and royal acolyte with whom he associates. So when an impoverished but delicately alluring young Englishwoman - Lucia - accosts him at a cafe and beseeches him to peruse the painting of her dying father, he is intrigued - more so when he realises that Lucia's father is a genius... But then he dies. Lucia is distraught and destitute but the Marquis saves her from penury by buying her father's every painting, promising to take her home to England. Enraged by her beau's apparent infatuation with the young ingenue, Francesca stabs him with a stiletto... But it's Lucia who has truly pierced his heart and stolen his soul - and just as the Marquis thinks she will be his forever, she delivers the heartbreaking words: 'Although I love you with all my heart I cannot be your wife...'

Uncover the miracles of Sacred Tears in this engaging tale. The story begins in London during the summer of 1993 and Dean decides to take a coffee break from writing his novel. While he was sitting in a restaurant, a stunningly beautiful lady walked in, wrapped in a vivid white shroud of light. Dean found himself longing to engage in conversation with her so he could ask her out, but then he noticed a wedding ring on her finger, so he had to fight back his emotions. One day they happened to meet by chance and as they got to know each other and the years went by, their love for each other developed into a warm, cherished, tender, miraculous love but then something tragic happened; Emma was knocked down by a hit-and-run-driver and left seriously ill. Will she remember Dean? Years later while enjoying every moment they had together, they couldn't resist having a passionate day of intense pleasure. Dean decided to try his luck with the Euro-Millions lottery and won millions of pounds, leaving Emma worried that Dean would leave her. But then something tragic happened; Dean was stabbed and Emma was unsure if he would live. Had she lost her beloved, forever? Would her Sacred Tears work a miracle for them?

While staying at Lady Merrill's French Riviera villa, flame haired and beautiful American heiress Nevada van Arden passes her time by casually breaking the hearts of her many ardent suitors - particularly that of young David, Lord Merrill. When his uncle, intrepid explorer and diplomat Tyrone Strome, overhears her cruel humiliation of his lovelorn nephew, he resolves to teach this 'vixen' a lesson - and save David from his misery. Tyrone Strome abducts Nevada, spiriting her away in his luxury yacht to Morocco. There the reluctant voyager, swaddled in native clothing, is terrified by the perils of the Sahara and its nomadic tribesmen. But, as they flee from certain death or worse, they find sanctuary in a beautiful hidden valley, a second Garden of Eden, where to Nevada's surprise, love begins to blossom in the desert.

Sometimes, life spirals out of control without you even noticing.

For instance, Rio and Max went from being bachelors and retired veterans rattling around in a house that was too big for their small Pack, to having it filled to the brim with a parrot that called them at c*cksuckers at every opportunity, a three-legged dog that looked more dead than alive, and an emotionally wounded Omega who’d been sequestered away in a cult for her entire life before they rescued her from a warehouse downtown.

Paloma thought she knew who she was, but when she was sold off to strangers by the man who was meant to be their family’s protector, she realized she knew nothing about anything. She knew nothing about the world she lived in, the motivations of the people who inhabited it, and worst of all, she knew nothing about herself.

Now she was living in a house with two Alphas and a Beta who moved like weapons, and her heat was circling her like the sharks she’d read about in thirty-year-old National Geographic magazines. She was lost, and she didn’t know if this house and these Alphas were a safe harbor or even more treacherous waters.

DODGING BULLETS is the second book in the Offbeat Omegas series. Each book can be read as a standalone, however characters from RUFFLED FEATHERS do appear and therefore it may contain spoilers. This book is a rom-com, why choose Omegaverse, and contains swear words and a lot of heat. A full list of TW will be available closer to release.

Anastasia is about to be married, which should be the most exciting day of any young girl's life. Pretty, impulsive and wise beyond her years it seems that the young Princess will make an ideal bride for one lucky man. There is only one flaw in the wedding plans ? she is not in love with her bridegroom. Commanded to marry by Queen Victoria, Anastasia is horror struck at the thought of an arranged marriage. Having dreamt of true love since childhood, she despairs that a marriage based on political allegiance can ever be a happy one. Especially when her bridegroom, the handsome King of Maurona, is reputed to have a preference for anything French, including the seductive wife of Maurona's French ambassador. Determined to do her duty, Anastasia prepares to meet her future husband just days before their wedding. The roar of the assembled crowd tells her that she has won the love and approval of the people, but will she ever have the love of their King? As passions and political intrigue simmer amidst the idyllic palaces and sun-kissed olive groves of Maurona, Anastasia decides that this is a challenge she must rise to. As well as ensuring British protection for the tiny Principality from the greedy hands of neighbouring France, she determines to make her marriage a success. But can an innocent English rose compete with the dark smoldering beauty of the sensual Comtesse le Granmont? Two women, one man and only one winner ? but as danger grows ever closer will the King realise who his real friends are, and which woman should be at his side, in time to save his country?

Uncover the miracles of "Sacred Tears" in this engaging tale. The story begins in London during the summer of 1993 and Dean decides to take a coffee break from writing his novel. While he was sitting in a restaurant, a stunningly beautiful lady walked in, wrapped in a vivid white shroud of light. Dean found himself longing to engage in conversation with her so he could ask her out, but then he noticed a wedding ring on her finger, so he had to fight back his emotions. One day they happened to meet by chance and as they got to know each other and the years went by, their love for each other developed into a warm, cherished, tender, miraculous love but then something tragic happened; Emma was knocked down by a hit-and-run-driver and left seriously ill. Will she remember Dean? Years later while enjoying every moment they had together, they couldn't resist having a passionate day of intense pleasure. Dean decided to try his luck with the Euro-Millions lottery and won millions of pounds, leaving Emma worried that Dean would leave her. But then something tragic happened; Dean was stabbed and Emma was unsure if he would live. Had she lost her beloved, forever? Would her "Sacred Tears" work a miracle for them?

My brother's best friend broke my heart... what happens when his new teammate wants to put it back together?

For years, I've dreamt of what college life could bring and while some things changed, there was always one constant. It didn't matter how wild I allowed my imagination to run, my future was clear, and he was it. Until suddenly, he wasn't.

Now there's a new man in my life, one who isn't afraid to go after what he wants, and what he wants ... is me.

They say first loves last forever... I hope they're wrong.

Having survived the 1871 siege of Paris with her mother the Queen of Dabrozka, Princess Ilona is summoned back to the war-ravaged kingdom of her father, a tyrannical monarch whose unjust rule has divided the nation into two factions: her own Radak people and the Saros. Worse still, Russia threatens to march on Dabrozka to impose their iron-clad style of order. Only Ilona can save her country from this fate - by making a terrible sacrifice. At the Prime Minister's request, she must marry the Prince of Saros, their union bringing together the people. This she will do; this she must do - but what her pride will not allow her is to love the aloof, indifferent Prince. Humiliated by the Prince's evident disregard, and beaten by her own father on the eve of her wedding, it seems that love will never fill her heart - but as warclouds gather over Dabrozka, both the Prince and the Proud Princes are about to share a dramatic change of heart

In 1750 Scotland, just four years after Bonnie Prince Charlie's Rising of the Clans, it's hard to know who's loyal to the English and who is faithful to the Stuarts. And it's beautiful seventeen-year-old Iona's perilous mission to ascertain whether the Duke of Arkrae, head of Scotland's most powerful clan, is a traitor - or is he in cahoots with the English. The plan is for Iona to gain the trust of the Duke and his clan by claiming to be the sister he thought to have died as a child. As all around her doubt her claim and call her a 'pretender', Iona struggles to hold her nerve. Her native wit and steel nerves do not fail her - but almost instantly, on meeting the imperious Duke, it's her heart that lets her down. She's fallen deeply, hopelessly in love Traitor or not, surely the Duke could never love the Little Pretender who was sent only to ensnare him?

Destitute after the death of her beloved Papa, Carmela is miserable working as Nanny to the brattish children of the local vicar. So when her closest friend Felicity asks her to take her place in the home of her guardian, the dictatorial Earl of Galeston, she nervously agrees. The subterfuge is necessary to ensure Felicity can marry the love of her life - and possible firstly because none of Felicity's feuding family have set eyes on her since she was a child... And secondly because both young women are blue-eyed, blonde and beautiful. The Earl's ancestral home is awe-inspiring - but it is the Earl himself who makes the greatest impression on Carmela. Growing to appreciate the profound kindness behind his steely facade, she falls deeply, utterly in love... But can true love live when it's based on a lie? The Earl finds the answer in his heart when Carmela's life - and any hope of love - is at stake...

The dashing Marquis of Oakenshaw is asked by the Foreign Secretary to visit Siam to reassure the King who has been upset by Britain and France quarrelling over the frontiers. Wealthy, handsome and a confirmed bachelor, the Marquis asks several friends to accompany him on his yacht to stave off the boredom of the long journey, including the latest Social Beauty - the recently widowed Lady Bradwell. At the last moment, Lady Bradwell, having accepted excitedly, finds herself without a lady's maid. Her cousin Tarina, also very beautiful but extremely poor, agrees to come with her under a disguised name. How Tarina learns for the first time of the intrigues and temptations of Society but how she also lifts her eyes to the stars is told in this romance novel by Barbara Cartland.

Anthea Forthingdale and her sisters Thais, Chloe and Phebe have all been named after famous poems. All very beautiful, after their father's death at Waterloo the girls and their lovely mother, Christobel, are alone and isolated, living in poverty in a small Yorkshire village. Struggling for money and appropriate suitors for her daughter, In May 1819 Lady Forthingdale writes to an old friend, the Countess of Sheldon in London and asks if she will have her Godchild Anthea to stay for the rest of the London Season. The Countess is delighted to have Anthea as her guest because otherwise her husband wishes her to leave for the country. How Anthea meets the handsome Duke of Axminster in her Godmother's house, how he appears bored and contemptuous with her when they dance at Almack's, how Anthea caricatures the Duke with far-reaching and dramatic results and how she learns never to laugh at love, is told in this 182nd book by Barbara Cartland. Published 1976

"I cannot let you die for my sake." The beautiful Zena prayed fervently that the Comte de Graumont would survive the duel with the Marquis de Sade early in the morning in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. Would he ever forgive her for embroiling him in such a dreadful situation. It would break her heart in two, but after this wonderful week in Paris they would never meet again. Zena is really Princess Marie-Therese of Wiedenstein, a small independent Principality between France and Germany. Her brother, Kendric, is the heir to the Throne. Together they had eluded their escorts to escape Court rigour and to spend seven carefree days in Paris under assumed names before Zena becomes engaged to an English Duke. In the glittering whirl of gaiety that marked the Second Empire, Zena pretends to be her brother's mistress, only to find, because of her beauty, that this brings many unexpected problems, not least when she falls madly in love with a debonair French Comte. Zena would count the world well lost for the Comte's impassioned kisses, but could true love triumph over a Royal decree and her father's anger?

After her father's heroic death through the treachery of a Russian femme fatale, young Solita found herself in the care of her 'Aunt' Mildred in Italy - the cousin of her father's comrade in arms Hugo Leigh. On Aunt Mildred's death, a destitute, angry and hurt Solita travels to England to confront her errant Guardian, now Duke of Calverleigh, who had vowed to care for her but apparently neglected his duty for ten long years. It is true, he had forgotten her - largely thanks to his all-consuming infatuation with a beautiful Russian Princess. The chastened Duke determines to take Solita under his protective wing - and, as his charm and kindness dissolve her resentment, Solita's acute intuition and talent for language soon expose the wicked Princess's plot to overthrow the British Raj in India. In this well woven tale of intrigue, Solita and her Guardian are both in mortal danger - and when she saves the Duke's life, not once but twice, he sees this innocent young beauty in a Heavenly new light.