Plain Jane Romance Novels

1] Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi

THEY'D SHARED A LIFETIME OF FRIENDSHIP...BUT IT TOOK ONLY ONE KISS TO SPARK A WILDFIRE OF PASSION IN AN UNLIKELY BRIDE

The news spread like brush fire though the whole county when widower Ancil Drayton announced his intention to start courting Miss Hattie Colfax. She was certainly spirited and delightfully sweet natured, and she'd managed to run her family farm almost single-handedly. But wasn't a twenty-nine-year-old lady farmer too old to catch a husband?

AN IRRESISTIBLE BACHELOR

All his life handsome, black-haired Reed Tyler had worked Miss Hattie's farm - and dreamed of one day settling down on his own piece of land with the pretty young woman he'd sworn to marry. Hattie was someone he could tell his hopes and troubles to - someone he looked on as a sister. So he thought, until the idea of Ancil Drayton calling on her made him seethe. Until the night a brotherly peck became a scorching kiss...and Reed knew nothing would bank the blaze - and that his best friend was the only woman he would ever love...

2] Runabout by Pamela Morsi

Tulsa May Bruder has given up on love. Her first and only suitor has broken her heart, and as the town wallflower, Tulsa figures she just wasn't cut out for romance. But when her friend Luther Briggs helps her to stand tall in front of the town gossips, Tulsa suddenly sees a face she's known forever in a whole new light--and finds that falling in love can happen when you least expect it...

3] Taken Over by Penny Jordan

Marriage for a merger...

Joel Howard--arrogant, self-assured and all too aware of his sexual magnetism--reminded Cassie of the unlikelihood of anyone ever loving her.

She would rather have sold her soul to the devil than ally herself with him. So she entertained a proposal from his closest competitor, dangerously underestimating Joel's desire to take over her London-based computer-games company.

"There's only one way I can be sure of your loyalty," Joel told her, "and that's by buying it, the same way Peter Williams intended to buy it--by marrying you."

4] Claiming the Highlander by Kinley MacGregor

It is said that Braden MacAllister, English baron and proud Highlander warrior, can fell an enemy with a single blow -- and a woman with a single kiss. But not Maggie, it seems. For the fire-haired beauty, determined to end the long running feud that rages between their clan and it's common foe, is immune to Branden's attempts to stop her foolishness. But stop her he will, once he gets the meddling minx alone...and favors her with a passionate caress and an irresistible kiss. No matter how she trembles beneath Braden's sensuous touch, Maggie must not yield! As long as this feud continues, the lives of her brothers are at stake. And though Braden is known to have bedded many a lass, he has given his heart to none. But dare she dream that by assuring peace for her clan she may also be claiming the most magnificent Highlander for herself?

5] Fallen by Celeste Bradley

Her Wicked Dreams

When Izzy went to bed, she never expected to awaken to disgrace. Of course, it felt
wonderful. . . warm hands on her flesh, rough stubbled skin on her cheek. It all
seemed some wonderful dream. But that hardly mattered to the ton. To them, she
was ruined, for Lord Eppingham Julian Rowley had been discovered in her bed,
and she'd claimed him as her own. Why had she done it? Why had she brought
ruination to her name and dishonor to her family--dishonor that could only be
erased by marriage? She had not wanted to trap the handsome rake in wedlock.
Though she might fall forever into his golden-brown eyes, marriage to any man
was not something she sought. Nor had she acted from any true fear of the ton's
disdain. It had been something in his touch, his kiss. Something had called out to
guard Julian from ruination, to place herself in the way. If to save this man meant
to be fallen, so be it. And in saving him, she just might save herself.

6] The Aristocrat by Catherine Coulter

What would an American football star do if he suddenly found himself an English
lord? It wasn't something pro quarterback Brant Asher had ever bothered to think
about --until the day he learned of his inheritance. He was now Viscount
Asherwood, heir to an English estate, and a whole lot of trouble.

Brant had inherited the obligation to marry Daphne, charitably described to him as
an ugly duckling. This wasn't an attractive prospect for a man who enjoyed the
pleasures of bachelor life--until he met the lady in question. Her reputation was
obviously undeserved, because this was no ugly duckling; this was a beautiful
swan.

7] The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter

Douglas Sherbrooke, Earl of Northcliffe, is a man besieged. He must have an heir. Thus, he must first provide himself with the requisite bride. Alexandra Chambers, youngest daughter of the Duke of Beresford, has loved Douglas Sherbrooke since she was fifteen. Unfortunately, it is her sister, the incomparable Melissande, he wishes to wed.

But life never ladles out what one expects, and Douglas finds himself wed to the wrong sister. If having an unwanted wife isn't enough, he is also plagued by The Virgin Bride, a ghost that is reputedly seen in the countess's bedchamber. Does the willowy phantom really appear to Douglas? Does she speak to him?

8] Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne

Now meet the irresistible Low Down, who never had anything good happen to her until she asked for the one thing only a man could give her....

As scruffy and rootless as the other prospectors searching for gold in the Rockies, Low Down wanted nothing in return for nursing a raggedy bunch through the pox. But when pressed to reveal her heart's wish, she admits, "I recent a baby." Not a husband, not a forced marriage to the proud man who drew the scratched marble and became honor bound to marry her. To be sure, Max McCord was easy on the eyes, but he loved another woman and dreamed of a different life. Yet they agreed to a temporary marriage that could end only in disaster. But can this strange twist of fate lead to the silver lining that both have been searching for?

9] My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth

A Lifelong Dream

Lady Caroline Grayson had always wanted to study botany-and had already bred a rare lavender rose-but as a woman in nineteenth-century England, her intelligence and talents were ignored. Caroline was determined to see her dream become a reality-even if it meant masquerading as a man to be accepted at a university. But when her father arranged for her to marry, she agreed-knowing she could not become a conventional wife...

A Flourishing Love

Yet marriage wasn't what she thought it would be. Her attractive new husband gave her the freedom she never expected-and the respect she had always deserved. At first she tried to resist his admiration, his love... and especially his touch. But soon she was surprised and overcome by her husband's-and her own-passion. Now Caroline might have to make the most difficult choice of all-between her lifelong dream and the depth of her love for an extraordinary man...

10] Reckless Conduct by Susan Napier

Behaving badly...
Harriet attended the company's New Year's Eve party in all innocence. It wasn't her fault that the punch she'd been drinking was stronger than expected-so that she'd ended up confiding in a gorgeous stranger about her broken engagement. How was she to know she'd been pouring her heart out to the chairman himself, Marcus Fox?

...at the office party!
Now Harriet has to work with Marcus. Luckily, she's since changed her image, dyed her hair blond and is a model secretary. Unluckily, Marcus still recognizes her--and seems determined to punish Harriet for her reckless conduct!

11] Savage Courtship by Susan Napier

Who's been sleeping in his bed?

"I can't deny that it's a common male fantasy to be seduced by a beautiful stranger who conveniently vanishes afterwards" " "

Vanessa could kick herself! It had been a simple misunderstanding...how dared Benedict Savage imply that she'd deliberately set out to seduce him? The very idea was outrageous; he simply wasn't her type! No matter that he was the last word in cool, suave sophistication--he was also her boss, and a formidable sexual predator into the bargain. But Vanessa had no intention of falling prey to his dark charm--had Benedict met his match at last...?

12] Robert's Lady by Nicole Byrd

He returned home only to find his betrothed had married another...

After rotting away for years in a French prison, Lord Robert Manning wants nothing more than to return to the life -- and fiancee -- he had left behind to fight Napoleon. but believing him dead, his beloved Eleanor is now another man's wife.

Her sister has volunteered to become his bride...

Katryn has always loved Robert, and although she knows that he still loves Eleanor, she impulsively suggests that he marry her instead. When he accepts her proposal, she is content -- until a devastating secret from Robert's past is exposed, threatening their future as well as Robert's very life. To prove his innocence, Robert and Katryn embark on a dangerous journey, where treachery is just a step behind. Determined to clear his name, Katryn vows to fight not only for Robert's honor, but for his love -- to be not just his bride, but the lady of his heart...

13] The Border Lord by Sophia James

Ordered to marry, Laird Lachlan Kerr thought a betrothal to homely, timid Lady Grace Stanton was hardly worth the trouble of protest. Yet, despite everything, he found there was something about her that was...brave. All his life he had been surrounded by betrayal, and this woman, who believed there was still goodness in him, was special indeed.

Grace knew that the safety of her home depended on her betrothal--signed, sealed and delivered! Lachlan's strength and unexpected care of her were dangerously appealing. She could fall for this man with secrets in his eyes....


14] Dancing With Clara by Mary Balogh

A Lady Without Illusions

Miss Clara Danford had no illusions about Frederick Sullivan. She knew that this magnificently handsome gentleman was a rake whose women were legion and whose gambling debts were staggering. She also knew why he wished to wed her. It was not for the beauty and grace she did not have, but for her fortune, which would rescue the dazzling wastrel from ruin. Should she refuse and lose her one chance to have such a splendid mate? Or should she accept a proposal made with lips that lied as skillfully as they kissed? One thing was sure. Clara might have no illusions to lose--but she would have to be careful not to lose her heart.

15] Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

THE ANGEL AND THE HELLRAISER

Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to track down the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton and drag him back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. But taming an egotistical cowboy in a '57 T-Bird might be more than this prim Ohio wallflower can handle.

Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star--and no plans to cooperate with the bossy little virgin whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hellraising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion--and a match that can be made only in Heaven

16] Golden Girl by Joan Wolf

It should have been a marriage made in heaven. Cheviot was aristocratic and gorgeous --- a man tempered by his father's downfall and his own experiences at war. Sarah was artistic and free-thinking, shaped by the best education her nouveau riche grandfather could afford. But there was one problem. The marriage was arranged. The Duke of Cheviot needed money. Sarah's grandfather wanted a title. And so, what could have been a perfect love affair was begun in a most imperfect way.

17] I Do, But Here's the Catch by Pamela Burford

Four high school friends and a pact -- every girl marries her ideal man by 30, or be prepared for matchmaking.

The Bride-to-Be:
Carlotta "Charli" Rossi, last of a dying breed -- the 30-year-old virgin. It's love at first sight when Grant takes her out, but is it only one-sided?

The Prospective Groom:
Grant Sterling, handsome, rich and worldly lawyer -- confirmed bachelor. A mousy unassuming woman is exactly what he's looking for. He thinks he's got it all in Charli.

The Hitch:
Grant needs a wife if he's going to make partner in his stuffy law firm. A marriage of convenience without sex or other personal involvements is the ideal answer. Never did he think Charli would turn into a sexy siren, or that he would fall in love with her

18] Bridal Favors by Connie Brockway

The acclaimed, award-winning author of The Bridal Season returns to the elegant drawing rooms and sprawling country estates of Victorian England...in the captivating tale of a woman who must prove she can keep an irresistible nobleman's most scandalous secret--without losing her heart ...

Evelyn Whyte has never forgotten the night she first met Justin Powell--or the shocking indiscretion that left the raffish military hero eternally in her debt. Now, desperate to save her aunt's foundering nuptial planning enterprise, she's ready to call in her IOU. All she needs is Justin's scenic ancestral home, where she's determined to show the world that even a woman innocent in the ways of love can turn a simple wedding into the social event of the season.

Ten years earlier, Evie single-handedly saved him from scandal-wagging tongues, and Justin never reneges on a favor. Now, unaware of the daring double life he conceals behind a cloak of amiable gentility, Evie and her wedding party descend on North Cross Abbey, where her curiosity and forthright manner could imperil them both. Pursued by enemy agents amid a whirl of festivities, Justin vows to keep Evie safe. But who will protect him from the charms of this alluring woman--and the promise of a matchless love worth any risk?

19] The Cinderella Solution by Cathy Yardley

The woman of his dreams was right under his nose...

When Charlotte Taylor's best friend, Gabe Donofrio, agreed with her that she wasn't the type of woman men fall in love with, she bet him a thousand dollars she'd have a marriage proposal in three months. Then she turned her tomboy self into a sexy siren, The World's Most Eligible Bachelor moved in next door... and Gabe realized he'd made a big mistake!

20] Sweetwood Bride by Pamela Morsi

IT WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST CONNIVING, LOWLIFE TRICK EVER PLAYED ON A MAN. BUT IT WAS FOR A GOOD CAUSE....

Eulie Toby didn't like playing tricks, but the only way she could keep her younger orphaned siblings together was to get married--and Moss Collier was the perfect choice. Handsome and kind, he seemed so lonely living with his hermit uncle on that pretty sweep of Tennessee mountaintop. It didn't matter if their vows came at the end of a shotgun; Eulie promised Moss she'd make him the best wife in all of the Sweetwood.

But a young bride and a ready-made family were the last things on Moss's mind. He had big dreams of going West and nothing was going to stop him--not Eulie's sweet innocence...not her deliciously kissable lips...and especially not that growing warmth deep inside his heart every time she came near. Moss had plans all right--but he hadn't planned on falling in love.

21] Once a Gentleman by Candice Hern

Prudence Armitage is his dearest friend...until a compromising position changes everything.

Nicholas Parrish had no intentions of taking a bride, and certainly not someone like Prudence. Of course she's charming, pleasant, and a diligent employee of The Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet, the magazine Nicholas and his sister run from his home. Prudence may even be considered pretty, when you look past the mousy hair and dreadful glasses. But when she falls asleep at her desk and remains in his town house all night, her irate father demands satisfaction. And being a true gentleman, Nicholas agrees to do the proper thing.

Though marrying Prudence never crossed his mind before, he has to admit there is an intriguing and desirable side to her he's only just beginning to see. But Nicholas may need to reconsider his plans for a marriage "in-name-only" especially now that Pru has decided to make herself totally irresistible.

22] The Wedding Trap by Tracy Anne Warren

From ugly duckling to beautiful swan

Eliza Hammond has always been quiet and reserved -- hardly the best qualities for finding the man of her dreams and living happily ever after. A new heiress, Eliza is financially secure, courtesy of her aunt's fortune, but even great wealth has its drawbacks since every greedy, fortune-hunting bachelor suddenly finds Eliza irresistible.

To help her best friend, Violet takes Eliza's romantic dilemma into her own hands, enlisting the social skills of her brother-in-law, Lord Christopher "Kit" Winter. Kit helps transform Eliza into a stunning belle, certain to attract a worthy beau. There's just one problem: Eliza has always been head over heels in love with Kit, the very man who is trying to find her a husband! But during Eliza's sometimes-comic extreme makeover, and with a few secret love lessons from Kit on the side, sparks -- and passionate kisses -- begin to fly. Kit soon finds himself completely overcome by an all-consuming desire for Eliza. But if he fails to realize his true love for her, he may lose this fair lady forever.

23] See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson

THIS IS JANE
A little subdued. A little stubborn. A little tired of going out on blind dates with men who drive vans with sofas in the back, Jane Alcott is living the Single Girl existence in the big city. She is also leading a double life. By day, she's a reporter covering the raucous Seattle Chinooks hockey team -- especially their notorious goalie Luc Martineau. By night, she's a writer, secretly creating the scandalous adventures of "Honey Pie" ... the magazine series that has all the men talking.

SEE JANE SPAR
Luc has made his feelings about parasite reporters -- and Jane -- perfectly clear. But if he thinks he's going to make her life miserable, he'd better think again.

SEE JANE ATTRACT
For as long as he can remember, Luc has been single-minded about his career. The last thing he needs is a smart-mouthed, pain-in-the-backside reporter digging into his past and getting in his way. But once the little reporter sheds her black and gray clothes in favor of a sexy red dress, Luc sees that there is more to Jane than originally meets the eye.

Maybe it's time to take a risk. Maybe it's time to live out fantasies. Maybe it's time to ... see Jane score.

24] Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

"Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London."
Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, March 1824

Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for ... well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret ... and fears she doesn't know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the neverending sameness of his life, and, most of all, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same -- especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply ... there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide ... is she his biggest threat -- or his promise of a happy ending?

25] The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

2 March 1810 . . .
Today, I fell in love.

At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her--until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart. And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever.

But the years that followed were as cruel to Turner as they were kind to Miranda. She is as intriguing as the viscount boldly predicted on that memorable day--while he is a lonely, bitter man, crushed by a devastating loss. But Miranda has never forgotten the truth she set down on paper all those years earlier--and she will not allow the love that is her destiny to slip lightly through her fingers . . .

26] The Last Rogue by Deborah Simmons

Raleigh Hadn't Gambled On Finding A Virgin In His Bed --

but when he awoke next to Jane Trowbridge, he knew all bets for bachelorhood were off. Now, instead of a love match, he'd gotten a sparring partner.

Jane had never imagined herself anyone's lawfully wedded wife, and now ironic fate had bound her to a hedonistic viscount who was a Tulip of the Ton. Still, could a man who only pursued pleasure find any pleasure pursuing her? And could she restrain her maidenly blushes long enough to let him?

27] The Devil Earl by Deborah Simmons

Out of a Midnight Coach Stepped Ravenscar . . . The Perfect Gothic Mystery Man

Dark and brooding and rumored to have done murder, the Devil Earl was everything Prudence Lancaster's imagination could conjure. But he was also flesh and blood, and infinitely more seductive than anything she had ever created. In his presence, the dreamy authoress became a sultry sleuth, hungry to solve the mystery of Ravenscar's missing brother and to save her beloved Devil Earl from his own wicked legacy.

28] Morning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber

A shy Louisiana librarian, Mary Warner fears she'll always be alone--so she answers a personals ad from a rancher in Montana. Never before has she done anything so reckless, casting the only life she knows aside to travel to a strange place and marry a man she's never met. But something about this man calls to her--and she knows this may be her very last chance at happiness.

Tragedy made Travis Thompson the guardian of three orphaned children--and determination leads him to do whatever it takes to keep the kids out of foster homes. When he decides to take a long shot on a personals ad, the results are surprising, and before he knows it, he has agreed to marry a mysterious Southern woman sight unseen.

It could be the mistake of a lifetime. But Mary Warner may be exactly what this broken family needs. And with a little faith, a little trust, and a lot of love, two lonely hearts might just discover the true meaning of miracles.


29] Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Genius physics professor Dr, Jane Darlington desperately wants a baby. But finding a ftaher won't be easy. Jane's super-intelligence made her feel like freak when she was growing up, and she's determined to spare her own shild that suffering. Which means she must find someone very special to father her child. Someone...well..stupid.

Cal Bonner, the Chicago Stars' legendary quarterback, seems like the perfect choice. But his champion good looks and home-down ways are deceiving. Dr. Jane learns too late that this good ol'boy is a lot smarter than he lets on--and he's not about to be used and abandoned by a brainy baby-mad schemer.

Can passion and physical attraction propel two strong-willed yet vulnerable people to a totally unexpected love?

30] The Ugly Duckling by Brenda Hiatt

SHE WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BUT EITHER WAY SHE WOULD LOSE

Miss Deirdre Wheaton was in a pucker. She had never looked to marry. Certainly not to someone as grand as Lord Wrotham.

But there was no help for it. She was unable to resist his charms, though for the sake of her first love, she fervently wished she could.

How could she love a man with her heart, knowing all the while she would have to abandon her soul?

31] A Change of Heart by Candice Hern

Friend or Lover?

Lady Mary Haviland knew better than to think she ever would wed. No gentleman would woo a woman as long on the shelf or as plain as she was. In fact, her lack of the usual enticements made it easy for her to develop uncomplicated friendships, even with the most dangerous of rakes.

Mary could laugh, then, at the rumors about her and the Marquess of Pemerton. Why would the most irresistible lord in London want her as anything more than a friend? What could she offer him that a legion of beauties did not already freely give this legendary rake? How could anyone guess his hold on her heart, when she kept her feelings hidden so well? But all her questions faded before the greatest question of all--when he asked her to be his bride. Now Mary faced the peril of the impossible dream coming terrifyingly true....

32] The Earl's Dilemma by Emily May

James Hargrave, Earl of Arden, urgently needed a wife--and who better than his best friend's sister?

He wasn't looking for passion in this marriage of convenience, and plain Kate Honeycourt had been on the shelf for years.

Why, then, should she so firmly turn him down? Surely she couldn't be holding out for a love match? Although, curiously, the more he saw of Kate, the more aware he became of her attractions. Maybe love wasn't as impossible as he'd once thought....

33] The Earl's Untouched Bride / Captain Fawley's Innocent Bride by Annie Burrows

Fearing a forced betrothal with a man known for his cruelty, Heloise Bergeron throws herself on the mercy of Charles Fawley, Earl of Walton. He believes himself attracted to her younger, beautiful sister, so what is he doing entertaining thoughts of marriage to the plain, quiet Heloise? But marry her he does.

Returning to England with a convenient wife, who inspires a very inconvenient desire, Charles is about to discover just how untouched his French bride really is

34] Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie

Kidnapped By An Elderly Member of the Peerage!

Kate Farleigh was absolutely stunned when her refusal to accept Lady Cahill's offer of "charity" resulted in her being swept away in her sumptuous carriage. But the real reason behind the older woman's antics became stunningly clear upon meeting Lady Cahill's enigmatic grandson, Jack Carstairs.

Wounded in the Peninsular War, disowned by his father, and dumped by his fiancee, Jack had shut himself up in his country estate, but Kate had no patience with such behavior. Suddenly, Jack found himself with a purpose, trying to steer clear of Miss Farleigh's attempts to interfere with his chosen lifestyle. Why, if he wasn't careful, Kate just might succeed in her attempts to make him want to rejoin the human race!

35] This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland

A Sweeping, emotional novel capturing all the passion and majesty of the medieval period. Set near the Scottish border at a rugged castle on the edge of the sea, this is the story of a courageous lord who lost everything he held dear....of a strong young woman willing to sacrifice everything for happiness. Two lost souls who find in each other a reason to live again, to laugh again, and to love for the first time...

36] A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Judith McNaught has written her most tender, most tempestuous romance yet... the story of Jennifer Merrick a feisty Scottish beauty, and the fierce English warrior she defies -- and desires. Abducted from her convent school, headstrong Jennifer does not easily surrender to Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore. Known as "The Wolf", his very name strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies. But proud Jennifer will have nothing to do with this man who holds her captive, this handsome rogue who taunts her with his blazing arrogance Boldly she challenges his will until the night he takes her in his powerful embrace, awakening in her an irresistible hunger. And suddenly Jennifer finds herself ensnared in a bewildering web ... a seductive, dangerous trap of pride, passion, loyalty... and overwhelming love.

37] Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

A DEVIL'S BARGAIN

Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

Sebastian's reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden's good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

But Evie's proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine's callously discarded broken hearts -- which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions...or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.

38] Tallie's Knight by Anne Gracie

MAGNUS HAD DECIDED TO SELECT A BRIDE!

Miss Thalia Robinson, a destitute orphan, was fortunate that she had been allowed to look after her cousin Laetitia's three adorable children. Tallie usually spent her quiet life lost in daydreams, but the arrival of a house party to aid Magnus, Earl of d'Arenville, to find a wife, turned her world upside down.

Magnus's cold facade had been pierced by a delightful small girl, and now he'd decided he wanted children of his own. For that, he needed a wife. But things didn't go according to Laetitia's plan, for he ignored all the debutantes that were presented to him, and, taken with Tallie's loving treatment of the children in her charge, decided that she was the one he would marry....

39] Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

She stood at danger's threshold -- then love beckoned her in.

In the shelter of her country cottage, Sara Fielding puts pen to paper to create dreams. But curiosity has enticed the prim, well-bred gentlewoman out of her safe haven -- and into Derek Craven's dangerous world. A handsome. tough and tenacious Cockney, he rose from poverty to become lord of London's most exclusive gaming house -- a struggle that has left Derek Craven fabulously wealthy, but hardened and suspicious. And now duty demands he allow Sara Fielding into his world -- with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But here, in a perilous shadow-realm of ever-shifting fortunes, even a proper "mouse" can be transformed into a breathtaking enchantress -- and a world-weary gambler can be shaken to his cynical core by the power of passion... and the promise of love.

40] Lawless by Diana Palmer

Five years ago, Judd Dunn, a hard-edged Texas Ranger, put Christabel Gaines's father behind bars--where he belonged. But Judd's involvement in Crissy's life was far from over. With their jointly owned ranch on the verge of bankruptcy, Judd wed her in name only, vowing to save their land, and vowing to ignore the sexual tension between them.

Now, just when Judd decides to release Crissy from their sham of a marriage, he is blindsided by a bloodthirsty foe who is setting the stage for unspeakable evil by preying upon Judd's greatest weakness--his wife. No longer a starry-eyed schoolgirl, Crissy's a smart, fearless woman with unfulfilled desires. And she will do anything in the name of love--including taking a bullet for her husband.

With their very lives at stake, Crissy and Judd must confront their darkest demons, their new rivals and their deepest desires--and face up to a mutual destiny they cannot outrun.
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