The Switch

Bastard daughter to the king, Rosamunde was raised in a convent and wholly prepared to take the veil . . . until good King Henry showed up with a reluctant husband in tow for her. Suddenly, she found herself promising to love, honor, and obey Aric.

But Rosamunde's education had not covered a wedding night, and the stables were a poor example for an untried girl. Would Aric bite her neck like the animals did their mates? The virile warrior seemed capable of such animal passion, but his eyes promised something sweeter. And Rosamunde soon learned that while she may have trouble with obeying him, it would not be hard to lover her new husband forever.

Iliana Wildwood would do anything to escape the depraved attentions of the unscrupulous baron who covets her lands . . . including marrying a barbarian. Fleeing to the Scottish Highlands, she weds Duncan, laird to Dunbar Castle. Certainly, there is something about the virile warrior that makes her weak in the knees, but she refuses to allow him into her bed until he agrees to become more civilized.

And Iliana has the perfect device to help her resist the temptations of her powerful, handsome husband: a belt of chastity. With it firmly in place, she can successfully thwart his determined advances. Still, Duncan is not one to easily accept defeat—and, with a brilliant change in tactics, he launches a bold assault on her virtue designed to make her willingly, breathlessly, give up . . . The Key.

Everyone knew Lady X... or, at least, everyone knew of her. The masked courtesan was reputedly a noblewoman fallen on hard times. What Lord James had not known was that she was Lady Margaret Wentworth -- the feisty sister of his best friend. Gerald claimed his sibling was beautiful, virtuous, naive; and he had forced James into an oath of protection. But when James tracked the girl down to a house of ill repute, what other explanation could there be but that Maggie was London's most enigmatic wanton?

Snatching the wench away would be a ticklish business, and after that things would get harder. James had to ignore his quarry's violent protests that he was an idiot, that she was never the infamous X. He had to find a way to reform the hoyden, to save her from scandal. He had to steer clear of his own meddling aunt -- all while keeping his hands off those luscious goods that the rest of the ton had reputedly sampled. And, with Maggie, hardest of all would be keeping himself from falling in love.

Something had to be done. It had gone on too long, and if King Henry received one more letter from either of the feuding nobles, he'd go mad. What Lady Tiernay needed was…well, she was a beauty, but whoever married the nag would truly get a mixed blessing. And Lord Holden-could all the rumors regarding his cold heart be lies? The man certainly had sobered since the death of his first wife.

If he were smart, Henry would force the two to wed, make them fatigue each other with their schemes and complaints. Yes, it was only fitting for them to share the bed they made-'til death did them part! Who could tell, perhaps they would even find each other suitable; perhaps Lord Holden would find in his bride the sweet breath of new life. Heaven alone knew what would happen when two foes were the last things between themselves and the passion they'd never known they wanted.

He'd been warned that Lady Clarissa Crambray was dangerous. Stomping on toes and burning piffles, the chestnut-haired beauty was clearly a force with which to be reckoned. But for Adrian Montfort, Earl of Mowbray, veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, this was just the challenge he needed. He could handle one woman and her “unfortunate past.” Could any woman handle him?

Lady Clarissa Crambray wanted a husband, but maybe not as much as her stepmother wanted one for her. Really! Doffing her spectacles might make a girl prettier, but how would she see? She'd already caused enough mayhem to earn a rather horrible nickname. Yet, as all other suitors seemed to shy away in terror, there came a man to lead her to the dance floor. A dark, handsome, blur of a man.

The deliciouslywitty first novel fromLynsay Sands

Lady Emmalene Eberhart wanted to do it.She’d even begged an audience with the King so that he would order her husband to do it—because she was determined to be a good wife.But then her husband died, and Emmaremained a virgin.

Now the innocent young beauty findsherself with an ample dowry and promised toAmaury de Aneford, a landless knight whose able sword helped defend the King’s crown. Surely hernew husband would want to do the deed,for his rugged good looks certainly make Emma’s heart skip more than a beat. And Emmasuspects there is more to a wedding night thanjust a sound sleep . . . and more to true lovethan she ever imagined.

Her brother's near mortal wounding hadn't done it. Fleeing to the rolling hills of the Highlands had failed as well. And while being captured by the most dangerous-looking Scotsmen she'd ever imagined had come close, it was staring up at two of the thickest, most well-muscled thighs she'd ever seen that drove Kyla over the edge. But the madness that overwhelmed her felt strangely like desire. It warmed places she'd never known existed. Nit, even should the handsome Galen MacDonald sweep her up and marry her, she would still be sworn to return and destroy her enemies. Yet if she could enlist the fierce warrior's aid? The Scottish laird had claimed that the sweetest dish of all was never served cold…tonight she'd see if he was right.

Out of the frying pan...

Circumstances had changed; they had gotten worse. Valoree no longer had to masquerade as her murdered brother and scourge the oceans as Captain Red. She no longer had to command his pirate band in a quest to regain his birthright. She had been named heir to Ainsly Castle. But no executor would ever hand over the estate to an unmarried pirate wench and her infamous crew—no matter to whom she'd been born. And the will had distinctly stated that in order to inherit, Valoree must be married to a nobleman...and pregnant.

Into the fire...

Upon learning that, the virgin captain had been ready to return to the seas, bur her crew had put it to a vote—and for those rascally cusses she would do anything. Reluctantly, she agreed. If they could find a way—Henry and One-Eye and Slully—to put on her a sweet face that would fool the ton, she would handle the rest. Even with a drunken prostitute as an "aunt" and her merry cutthroat crew as "servants." But to herself she swore one thing: she could only marry a man who fired her blood, a man who was not afraid of a ...Lady Pirate.

Rumor has it that Lady Murie,King Edward III’s goddaughter, is stunninglybeautiful, with bright blue eyes, goldenhair, and a bewitching smile. Rumor also has itthat the doting king has spoiled her rotten.When Sir Balan spies her wailing and sobbingin public, he decides that Lady Murieis the last person he would ever wish tohave as a bride.

But there is far more to Murie than meetsthe eye—and soon Balan discovers, to his greatdelight, that he’d be lucky indeed to deservesuch a bride. Unfortunately, he’s not the onlyone to discern this truth . . . and the othersuitor is much less honorable. Now a plot isafoot and Balan must prove himself a chivalrousknight and win the love of Lady Murie . . .

A formidable Scottish knight usedto getting his way, Earl Hugh Dulonget ofHillcrest has gotten himself into a bind.His uncle’s will clearly states that Hugh mustmarry—yet he has just insulted hiswould-be bride by calling her a peasant!Now he must do whatever it takes to winback the fair Willa . . .

Everyone has advice, it seems.His comrades-in-arms believe gifts andbaubles will earn her love. The old witch whowas her guardian wants Hugh to crawlback to Willa on his belly. And his castlepriest suggests he read De Secretis Mulierum,a book on the secrets of women. But Hughknows only one sure way to overcomeher reluctance: he must convince Willa thathis passion and devotion are not onlywhat she needs, but what she wants morethan anything else in the world.