"An engaging, fast-paced read for fans of Philippa Gregory and of dual-timeline historical fiction." —Library JournalIn the winter of 1483, Francis Lovell is Richard III's Lord Chamberlain and confidant, but the threat of Henry Tudor's rebels has the king entrusting to Francis and his wife, Anne, his most crucial mission: protecting the young Richard of York, his brother's surviving son and a threat to Henry's claims to the throne.Two years later, Richard III is dead, and Anne hides the young prince of York while Francis is hunted by agents of the new king, Henry VII. Running out of options to keep her husband and the boy safe, Anne uses the power of an ancient family relic to send them away, knowing that in doing so she will never see Francis again.In the present day, Serena Warren has been haunted by her past ever since her twin sister, Caitlin, disappeared. But when Caitlin's bones are discovered interred in a church vault that hasn't...

Sweeping across generations from the 1600s to the present day and inspired by the true story of the leader of the infamous Gunpowder Plot, Nicola Cornick's latest historical mystery combines past and present story lines that fans of Philippa Gregory and Susanna Kearsley will devour.1605: Anne Catesby fears for her family. Her son, the darkly charismatic Robert, is secretly plotting to kill the king, placing his wife and child in grave danger. Anne must make a terrible choice: betray her only child or risk her family's security...and her very life.Present Day: When her dreams of becoming a musician are shattered, Lucy takes refuge in her family's ancestral home in Oxfordshire. Everyone knows it was originally home to the notorious gunpowder plotter Robert Catesby. As Lucy spends more time in the beautiful winter garden that Robert made, she starts to have strange visions of a woman in Tudor dress,...

From the bestselling author of House of Shadows and The Phantom Tree comes a spellbinding tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge—part history, part mystery—for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Barbara ErskineLondon, 1765Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it, its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night before.Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it's clear this was not his intended victim...250 Years Later...When a gown she stole from a historic home as a child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her in exactly the same way that it did as a...

Praise for Nicola Cornick: 'Full of intrigue and atmosphere' Anne O'Brien 'Compelling' Sarah Morgan 'Transporting and imaginative' Woman 1487: In the midst of the Wars of the Roses, Anne Lovell finds her loyalties dangerously torn between two men. There is her husband, Francis Lovell, preparing to rebel against the throne: the man she has been desperately in love with ever since she was a child, but who has never returned her affections. And then there is King Henry VII, who has the power to order Francis's death in a heartbeat if he were to suspect betrayal. Present day: Serena returns home to Minster Lovell in Oxfordshire where the body of her twin sister Caitlin has been found, ten years after she vanished. The mystery of Caitlin's tragic disappearance has haunted Serena for a decade, and she is determined to uncover the truth of what really happened to her sister. But when she finds a link between Caitlin's death and a threatening artefact dating back to the Wars of the Roses,...

The sister forgotten by history who had the fate of her family in her hands...Bestselling author Nicola Cornick is back with a captivating, gripping, unforgettable tale of treachery and treason, love and loyalty, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Philippa Gregory, Elena Collins and Christina Courtenay'Nicola's writing is so vivid and beautiful and perfectly pitched, her plotting addictive.' Jenny Ashcroft1671 – LondonThe Civil War is over and Charles II, the 'Merry Monarch', is revelling in the throne of his murdered father and all the privileges and power that comes with it. Sharing the spoils is his favourite companion, the celebrated beauty, actress Nell Gwyn. Beloved of the English people, Nell has come a long way from selling oranges and a childhood in a brothel, but as her fortunes have turned, her sister Rose has taken a different path. Marriage to a feckless highwayman has left Rose in the...

One woman’s secret will shape another’s destiny…   1560: Amy Robsart is trapped in a loveless marriage to Robert Dudley, a member of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Surrounded by enemies and with nowhere left to turn, Amy hatches a desperate scheme to escape – one with devastating consequences that will echo through the centuries…   Present Day: When Lizzie Kingdom is forced to withdraw from the public eye in a blaze of scandal, it seems her life is over. But she’s about to encounter a young man, Johnny Robsart, whose fate will interlace with hers in the most unexpected of ways. For Johnny is certain that Lizzie is linked to a terrible secret dating back to Tudor times. If Lizzie is brave enough to go in search of the truth, then what she discovers will change the course of their lives forever.

He will expose her as the criminal he seeks, or seduce her as the woman he desires...? An old maid—that's all Lady Christina McMorlan, daughter to the Duke of Forres, is to society now that she's past thirty. She hosts her father's parties and cares for her siblings, knowing she'll never have her own home and family. She has no time to pine, however. By night, she's The Lady, head of a notorious whiskey-smuggling gang that supports her impoverished clan. They're always one step ahead of the revenue man—until Lucas Black shows up. Rejecting his title and the proper society that disparaged his mother, Lucas earns his living running a successful gambling house. He's also a spy, charged with bringing down the Forres Gang. He thinks The Lady's just a bored society spinster. She thinks he's a lost child playing at rebellion. And when the truth comes out, it's not just their love on the line.

Courting scandal since girlhood, free-spirited Lady Elizabeth Scarlet vows there is just one way to save her childhood friend from a loveless marriage: to kidnap him! But Nathaniel is furious. So angry that he challenges her to take their assignation to its natural conclusion and seduce him. When her inexperienced attempt flares into intense passion, Lizzie is ruined.and hopelessly, unexpectedly, in love with Nathaniel, the Earl of Waterhouse. Now the wild and willful Lizzie must convince Nat that they are a perfect match – in every way.

Playing host at his country estate, Major Anthony Lyndhurstis making his return to Society, which has shunned him for four years. Rumorand speculation still surround the mysterious disappearance of his youngbride.As family, friends and servants gather, further scandal comes close ontheir heels. Passion and intrigue, secrets and desire, make for surprisingbedfellows -- both above and below stairs. It promises to be the mostmemorable house party of the Season!"The Fortune Hunter" by Nicola Cornick."An Uncommon Abigail" by Joanna Maitland."The Prodigal Bride" by Elizabeth Rolls.  

"I promise that I will release you tomorrow – when the hour of the wedding is past." Nat Waterhouse must marry an heiress – and where better to find one than Fortune's Folly, where unmarried ladies are subject to a medieval law which forces them to wed or surrender half their wealth? Lady Elizabeth Scarlet vows there is just one way to save her childhood friend from a loveless marriage: kidnap him! But Nathaniel is furious. So angry that he challenges her to take their assignation to its natural conclusion and seduce him. When her inexperienced attempt flares into intense passion, Lizzie is ruined...and hopelessly, unexpectedly in love! Now the wild and wilful Lizzie must convince Nat that they are a perfect match – in every way.

When Miss Amy finds herself the recipient of a windfall her whole life changes She is utterly intrigued by Joss, a notorious gambler, and is finding his attentions all but impossible to resist...

Miss Alice Lister feels anything but respectable. Bad enough that she is a maid-turned-heiress. Now the insufferably attractive Lord Miles Vickery is certain he can gain her fortune by blackmailing her into marriage – even though it was his deceitful charm that broke her heart once before. But she's positive the terms of her inheritance will prove an impossible task. After all, what rake could be completely honest for three long months? For his part, Miles finds his newfound frankness invaluable in entangling Alice in positions deliciously unbecoming of a lady. Of course, he doesn't yet know that he's falling hopelessly in love with this formidable innocent.or that he will soon go to impossible lengths to prove himself hers forever…

Prim and proper Sarah Sheridan sought to live a respectable life as her cousin's companion, trying to put her family's past behind her. But everything changed with a letter insisting on her return to Blanchland. For her childhood home was now host to the most depraved parties in England...!Guy, Viscount Renshaw, was a well-known rake, but even he would not willingly set foot in Blanchland. And though the appealing Miss Sheridan appeared respectable, her upcoming trip to Blanchland revealed a woman of mystery, and only made him more determined to uncover all of Sarah's secrets.

All of London is buzzing about The Adventures of a Woman of Pleasure by Lady Loveless, a book of barely disguised accounts of the ton's sexual escapades.Reputations have been ruined and society is scandalized, but no one is more shocked than Lord Alexander Beaumont when he learns that the mysterious Lady Loveless is none other than his estranged wife! He remembers Melicent as a shy, innocent young woman and is determined to find out where she's been getting her information...and who has turned his inexperienced bride into a brazen author of erotic literature.There's only one solution: Alex will seduce his errant wife and learn all her wanton secrets...

Alex, the Duke of Delahaye, is determined to see his younger brother safely married to provide the necessary heir. Unfortunately the chosen bride, Miss Jane Verey, is less than amenable!

Book 2 of the Bluestocking Brides Trilogy. Widowed Mrs Deborah Stratton needs to find a gentleman to act as her betrothed in order to foil the plans of her matchmaking parents. The last person she would voluntarily choose is Lord Richard Kestrel, who is too arrogant, too attractive and simply not biddable enough to fulfil the part. So she decides to advertise for an obedient gentleman to pretend to be her betrothed… Yet when Deb looks around for a lover to show her what was missing from her unhappy marriage, it would seem that for that particular purpose, Richard would be the perfect choice…

Lord Mostyn was in no position to marry. Though his desire for innocent Eleanor Trevithick was impossible to deny!

As maid to some of the most wanton ladies of the ton, Margery Mallon lives within the boundaries of any sensible servant. Entanglements with gentlemen are taboo. Wild adventures are for the Gothic novels she secretly reads. Then an intriguing stranger named Mr. Ward offers her a taste of passion, and suddenly the wicked possibilities are too tempting to resist....Henry Atticus Richard Ward is no ordinary gentleman. He's Lord Wardeaux and he is determined to unite Margery with her newfound inheritance by any means—including seduction and deception. But when the ton condemns the scandalous servant-turned-countess and an unknown danger prepares to strike, will Margery accept Henry's protection in exchange for her trust?

Lord Robert Selborne intended to kiss the chimney sweep's daughter for luck at his cousin's wedding...not marry her! But of all the ladies assembled, she was the only one who captured his interest. And unless she became his wife in name only, he would forfeit his inheritance....Having been raised by a brutal father on the London streets, Jemima Jewell had few illusions about life and love. Until Rob's lips met hers in a soul-stirring kiss and he impulsively made her his wife. And his penniless bride now hoped her love would provide Rob with a fortune far greater than the one he sought....

Lady Heartbreaker of LondonEven as Lady Polly rejected another proposal of marriage, her heart burned for the man she'd rejected five years ago. She'd heard that in his misery, her beloved Lord Henry Marchnight had become a rogue and a gambler. But when he appeared before her on a deserted terrace and stole a kiss, Polly knew that her passion hadn't died. The man still knew how to steal her reason with one touch. But reason she needed as suspicions of criminal behavior hovered about Lord Henry. Should she return to her routine of spurning suitors? Or should she do what she should have done five years ago—trust her love and follow her heart?

In this sparkling holiday collection, eight acclaimed authors unwrap the most daring of Regency delights. . .Christmastime in England--a time for passionate secrets, delicious whispers, and wicked-sweet gifts by the fire. From a spirited lady who sets out to save her rakish best friend from an unsuitable engagement, to a bold spy who gets the unexpected chance to win the woman he's always loved, to a vicar's daughter who pretends to be a saucy wench, these holiday tales will make you curl up in front of the fire for a memorable season of mischief and mistletoe. . ."No one writes historical romance better." --Cathy Maxwell on Mary Jo Putney"Breaks just about every rule in the book and makes us beg for more." --Romantic Times on Jo BeverleyAbout the Author

"Rumor has it a certain notorious Princess has not a feather to fly and is looking for a gentleman to ease her financial worries. Perhaps the Earl of S. is the man she seeks...." – The Gentleman's Mercury, 1816 Princess Isabella never imagined it could come to this. Bad enough she faces imprisonment for debts not her own. Even worse that she must make a hasty marriage of convenience with Marcus, the Earl of Stockhaven–the man she'd loved and lost so long ago. But that he now wants revenge by demanding she be his in more than name only...well, that is simply intolerable! As the London gossips eagerly gather to watch the fun, Isabella struggles to maintain a polite distance in her marriage. But the more Isabella challenges Marcus's iron determination, the hotter their passion burns. This time, will it consume them both–or fuel a love greater than they dare dream?

"My name is Mary Seymour and I am the daughter of one queen and the niece of another."Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait — supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better...The woman is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child.The painting is more than just a beautiful object for Alison — it holds the key to a past life, the unlocking of the mystery surrounding Mary's disappearance, and the enigma of Alison's son.But Alison's quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbours secrets in its shadows...

Book 1 of the Bluestocking Brides Trilogy. Miss Rachel Odell and Cory, Lord Newlyn, are childhood friends but when Cory comes to Midwinter Royal to assist Rachel's antiquarian parents in the excavation of the famous burial site, they find their feelings for each other have changed. Rachel and Cory want different things in life. Rachel detests the travelling that has always been a part of her parents' profession. To Cory the quest for adventure is as necessary as breathing. But now Cory has another pursuit on his mind… How can he make Rachel see that they could be so much more than just good friends?

If I accept his offer to be his mistress, I could have the finest silks, the best carriage and be transformed from ugly duckling to a pampered, pretty swan! And although I would feel a virtuous pride in turning down the wicked rake, I also have an unmaidenly interest in exactly what the role would entail .Catriona is doing her best to resist the skilful seduction of the scandalous heir to the Earl of Strathconan. But kidnapped and shipwrecked with only this rake as company, her adventure has just begun .

Scandalous and seductive, Hawksmoor is a notorious fortune hunter. A man women want to bed--and men want to do away with. Now he has tasted the woman of his dreams, Catherine Fenton, and he will do anything to make her his.Though heiress to eighty thousand pounds, Catherine is trapped in a gilded cage, and duty bound to a man she detests. The ton has woven a fantasy around Ben, Lord Hawksmoor, that any woman would find hard to resist, but she senses there is more to the man behind the glittering facade.She believes he can rescue her--but has she found her hero, or made a pact with the devil himself...?

A night of no return… Lady Mairi MacLeod is young and beautiful, and fashionable Edinburgh’s most flirtatious hostess. But within the merry widow beats a grieving heart and she mourns the loss of her husband and the secrets she must keep. Desperately seeking to forget, she spends one night with Jack Rutherford, an accomplished rake, but their wanton night together is an encounter of the body only, and Lady Mairi would prefer to forget it. A strong protector… When Mairi is threatened by blackmail, Jack is the only man who can help her. As they work together to uncover where the danger lies, their passion reignites. Little by little, the masks they wear burn away, and their most private secrets come to light.

Her wicked ways were the talk of the tonTeresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumored to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable needs. So it's no surprise that every rake in the ton wants to bed her. If they only knew...through clever marriages to men who would ask nothing of her physical self, Tessa has remained rather innocent in the ways of the bedroom. But now she's on the verge of losing everything and wants to take care of the stepson she's grown to adore.Enter Captain Owen Purchase. The handsome American adventurer has come into the title of Viscount Rothbury. And the rumors surrounding his injuries at sea suggest that he could fit Tessa's requirements. But little does Tessa realize that the gossipmongers are wrong. She just might lose her heart, and her desires, to the most unlikely of men....

Dauntsey Park: The Last Rake in London If you liked Downton Abbey, you'll love this book! Lady Ottoline cordially invites you to the party of the season... If ever a man had been born to cause a scandal over a woman, Jack Kestrel was that man. Last in a long line of dukes, his blue blood and undoubted charm mean his reputation can withstand any indignity. Whereas Sally Bowes' divorce has already ruined her good reputation. And now her sister is causing an outrage, eloping with Jack's cousin. Enough is enough, and even Jack knows that they will have to put a stop to it. Despite being full of good intentions not to make waves at a country house party, Jack can't resist the incomparable Sally, whose diamonds rival the flicker of Dauntsey's chandeliers. And, as Lady Ottoline says, 'sometimes it is more fun to be scandalous'. But what will the servants think? Notorious Teresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumoured to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable...

A Handful of Gold A love story from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh Not only is Julian Dare dashing and wealthy, but he's the heir to an earldom. So what do you get a man who has everything? Innocent and comely Verity Ewing plans on giving Julian her heart—the most precious gift of all. The Season for Suitors An original romance from Nicola Cornick After some close encounters with rakes in which she was nearly compromised, heiress Clara Davenport realizes that she needs some expert advice. And who better for the job than Sebastian Fleet, the most notorious rake in town? But the tutelage doesn't go quite as planned, as both Sebastian and Clara find it difficult to remain objective when it comes to lessons of the heart! This Wicked Gift An original romance from Courtney Milan Lavinia Spencer has been saving her hard-earned pennies to provide her family with Christmas dinner. Days before the holiday, her brother is swindled, leaving them owing more than they can ever repay. Until a mysterious benefactor offers to settle the debt. Innocent Lavinia is stunned by what the dashing William White wants in return. Will she exchange a wicked gift for her family's fortune?

NICHOLAS, THE EARL OF SEAGRAVE WAS BORED!After the excitement of war, Nicholas found life as a civilian stifling. His boredom soon lifted when the notorious courtesan Susanna Kellaway claimed a lease on one of his houses. No sooner did they meet than Nicholas became truly puzzled. Though Nicholas had every cause to dislike her, this "Susanna" was an odd mix of seductive manners, intelligence, and ... innocence! So much so that he was beginning to wonder if the woman wasn't an impostor! Which didn't stop him from asking her to be his mistress. But the lovely lady had a more permanent idea in mind for the dashing earl ...