The sweetest gift is the hardest to unwrap. . .Lady Victoria Allen-Hill never dreamed she'd be a widow at twenty-one--let alone a virgin. Her father insists that she attend a matchmaking house party in the snow-covered seaside town of Pevensey in hopes she'll find a suitable husband. But for Victoria, it's an opportunity to indulge in a passionate affair--and the handsome inventor she meets at the Christmas Eve masquerade ball may be just the man for the job. . .Lewis Noble is the cousin of London's famed Redcake sisters, so it almost stands to reason that he's just as irresistible as one of their sugar-iced pastries. Lewis catches the eye of every woman at the party--but Victoria is the only one who catches his. He won't be tied down in her father's business, but watching other men court her amid a flurry of engagements ignites a jealousy he's never felt before. A dose of honesty may be just the thing to mend their broken hearts--for many holidays to come. . ."Before I realized it, the unusually strong and well-developed characters of "The Kidnapped Bride "had sneaked up on me and captured my full attention. This is one of the best shorter books I have ever read." --Delle Jacobs, author of "Lady Wicked""A delightful, sexy glimpse into Victorian life and loving with two wonderfully non-traditional lovers." --Jessa Slade, author of "Dark Prince's Desire "on "His Wicked Smile"

The sweetest treat is a kiss... Greggory Redcake's plate is full. Widowed young and left with two small children, the manager of the Kensington location of the illustrious tea shop is besieged on all sides between the bakery and family matters. If only his remarkably efficient shop assistant, Betsy Popham, could manage his home life, too! But Greggory can't linger on thoughts of Betsy's fetching smile when a dead body is discovered in the bakery... Betsy has no time for romance, not even with the delectable Mr. Redcake, whose kisses are all too unforgettable. Haunted by a specter from her family's past, Betsy is terrified that the man blackmailing her has turned to deadly violence. Yet the only way to save her position--and possibly her life--is to accept Greggory's help as their delicious attraction sweetens into the tantalizing promise of true love... Praise for Heather Hiestand's novels ""One Taste of Scandal is a delicious, multi-layered Victorian treat."" --Gina Robinson, author of The Last Honest Seamstress and the Agent Ex series ""This fast paced read is both sweet and fun. It's rare to find historical romances that feature couples who are of anything but Anglo Saxon decent, and this one does a solid job of addressing some of these difficulties....A fast read with a different view point than many novels in the genre."" -Library Journal on His Wicked Smile ""This is definitely one for the keeper shelf."" Historical Romance Lover on His Wicked Smile ""A delightful, sexy glimpse into Victorian life and loving with two wonderfully non traditional lovers."" Jessa Slade, author of Dark Prince's Desire, on His Wicked Smile

Some temptations are impossible to resist, even for a bakery heir. . .

Ann Haldene is the most beautiful woman Gawain Redcake has ever seen. A gifted healer who soothes his battle-scarred body like never before, the widow's touch has a powerful effect on him. It's no wonder the rugged Redcake heir forgets his quest for a society bride during one passionate night in Ann's arms. But once he learns she is pregnant with his child, he searches for her, intent on giving her his name, if not his heart. . .

Ann is shocked by Gawain's proposal, mostly because he has not uttered a word of love. For the sake of their baby, she accepts, even knowing that Gawain dreamed of marrying to secure a title and all she has is a severed royal Indian bloodline. Now the new bride faces her greatest challenge: showing her husband that their union is more powerful than pedigree--and love is the ultimate reward. . .

A cup of sugar...a dash of cream....and a craving for a cake decorator that won't be denied...

When Captain Judah Shield learns he is more bastard than noble born, he goes in search of his true lineage. Determined not to lean on his family's wealth, he accepts a job managing Redcake's Tea Shop. Despite the flurry of excitement a single soldier creates among the staff, Judah clearly has no time for a wife. Though what man doesn't have time for a delectable beauty like lovely Magdalene Cross?...

He has the bearing of an English gentleman and the fiery touch of a true rake. Which is precisely why Magdalene must avoid Judah if she hopes to escape her family's reputation for scandal. Surely no good can come from a man whose kiss leaves her hungry for more. Certainly not the kind of marriage that could restore her social status. Still, Magdalene cannot help imagining what an incredible wedding night it would be-and when fate steps in, she may not have to imagine after all...

""One Taste of Scandal "is a delicious, multi-layered Victorian treat." --Gina Robinson, author of "The Last Honest Seamstress " and the Agent Ex series

Coffee. . .tea. . .or a pastry chef sweeter than any confection. . .
Scotch trifle fit for Queen Victoria, scones with clotted cream. . .Alys Redcake knows the way to a man's heart. Yet she is unaware that with each morsel--and flash of ankle--she is seducing the handsome marquess frequenting her father's tea shop. Unmarried at twenty-six, Alys's first love is the family business. But thoughts of the gentleman's touch are driving her to distraction. . .

With his weakness for sugar, the Marquess of Hatbrook can imagine no more desirable woman than one scented with cake and spice. Mistaking Alys for a mere waitress, he has no doubt she would make a most delicious mistress. And when he finds himself in need of an heir, he plans to make her his convenient bride. Yet as they satisfy their craving for one another, business and pleasure suddenly collide. Will Hatbrook's passion for sweets--and for Alys--be his heart's undoing?

DEATH IS ONLY THE BEGINNING Beneath Windsor Castle, a shadow network of immortals keeps the British Empire safe. British army captain Lucas Fitzrobbins becomes one of them when the only cure for his mortal wound turns out to be a vampirism, abruptly inducting him into the secret St. George Protector Society. It's not long before the St. George Society's newest recruit discovers its dark secrets as well... MARKED AS A TARGET Hampering Lucas's efforts to adjust to his after-life is An Tighearn operative Nellie Clifton, a beautiful and enigmatic assassin with secrets of her own, who has marked Lucas as her latest quarry. The unstable vampirism potion he was given could kill him before Nellie can. But then... SECRETS ARE THREATENED TO BE REVEALED But now a brutal killer is stalking the streets of the seamy underside of London. Protectors and assassins alike must leave the shadows to find the fiend before their very existence is revealed to the world. Tasked with the job of tracking down the murderer, Lucas discovers that the crazed butcher may have connections that go to the heart of the British Empire. THE QUEEN MUST NEVER KNOW