Search results for ""Author Stephanie Laurens""

No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens has returned to another utterly irresistible branch on her beloved Cynster family treeNow that her sister Henrietta has discarded her spinster ways and become betrothed, it's finally Mary's chance for true love. She knows exactly who she wants - and it's not someone as wild, unmanageable and sinfully seductive as Ryder Cavanaugh.Ryder Cavanaugh, Marquess of Raventhorne, had never met a woman who wouldn't happily fall at his feet - or into his bed . . . until Lady Mary Cynster. He soon realises he'll only succeed at being the man he wants to be with Mary by his side. And convincing her of that fact is just the kind of challenge that thrills him.

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New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns with another thrilling story from the Casebook of Barnaby Adair . . . Miraculously spared from death, Malcolm Sinclair erases the notorious man he once was. Reinventing himself as Thomas Glendower, he strives to make amends for his past, yet he never imagines penance might come via a secretive lady he discovers living in his secluded manor.Rose has a plausible explanation for why she and her children are residing in Thomas's house, but she quickly realizes he's far too intelligent to fool. Revealing the truth is impossibly dangerous, yet day by day, he wins her trust, and then her heart.But then her enemy closes in, and Rose turns to Thomas as the only man who can protect her and the children. And when she asks for his help, Thomas finally understands his true purpose, and with unwavering commitment, he seeks his redemption in the only way he can - through living the reality of loving Rose.

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No 1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens pulls back the curtain on a world that has been hidden from us . . . until now. Montague has devoted his life to managing the wealth of London's elite, but at a huge cost: a family of his own. Then the enticing Miss Violet Matcham seeks his help, and in the puzzle she presents him, he finds an intriguing new challenge professionally . . . and personally.Violet, devoted lady-companion to the aging Lady Halstead, turns to Montague to reassure her ladyship that her affairs are in order. But the famous Montague is not at all what she'd expected - this man is compelling, decisive, supportive, and strong -everything Violet needs in a champion, a position to which Montague rapidly lays claim.But then Lady Halstead is murdered and Violet and Montague, aided by Barnaby Adair, Inspector Stokes, Penelope, and Griselda, race to expose a cunning and cold-blooded killer . . . who stalks closer and closer. Will Montague and Violet learn the shocking truth too late to seize their chance at enduring love?'If Amanda Quick-style historical mysteries are your guilty pleasure, than this latest Barnaby Adair adventure - filled with murder, secrets, red herrings and danger - will be your cup of tea . . . those who adore Adair and crew, and recall Montague from previous novels will take pleasure in this thriller' RT Book Reviews

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When a mysterious lady, her face hidden by a black veil, begs Gabriel Cynster for his help, he cannot refuse her plea. For despite her disguise, Gabriel finds the woman alluring and he is powerless to deny her. But he exacts payment as only a Cynster would demand: with each piece of information he uncovers, she must pay him in the form of a kiss. Lady Alathea Morwellan knows Gabriel is intrigued, but despite the sparks that fly between them, they have never passed a civil moment together. Yet as the stakes get higher, so does Gabriel's desire for payment. And with each overpowering kiss, each passionate embrace, Alathea knows that she will not be able to resist his ultimate seduction...but what will happen when she reveals the truth?

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Gareth Hamilton is stunned when he recognizes Emily Ensworth on his ship. The veil she wears is not enough to disguise her from him - or from the man hired to kill her. Whisking Emily to safety, Gareth realizes that the Black Cobra is on to them. In order to protect her, Gareth must let Emily in on the dangerous plot she is now intimately involved in. Emily Ensworth is no wilting flower. She knew the packet the dying soldier thrust upon her held vital information, and she has every intention of seeing it into safe hands. But she is also determined to bring the men trying to kill her to justice. Together, she and Gareth do their best to lure the Black Cobra and his men into the open. Putting their lives at risk draws Emily and Gareth ever closer together, the constant danger sparking a passion neither one can resist. But with threats lurking around every corner, Gareth and Emily must work harder than ever to make sure that their newfound love isn't snuffed out before it ever has a chance.

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Heather Cynster has been waiting her whole life to find what her older brothers Gabriel and Lucifer have found: love. Not the pleasant marriage that most of society enters into, but the passion-filled, adventure-packed kind of love that she'd seen fulfill the lives of her brothers and cousins. But what's a girl to do when her hero just isn't showing up? If she's a Cynster, she takes finding him into her own hands.Determined to actively search in places she hasn't yet ventured, Heather's journey to Scotland is rudely interrupted by a kidnapper. As she and her would-be rescuer, Timothy Danvers, Viscount Breckenridge, team up to bring her kidnapper to justice and foil his grand scheme, Heather begins to realize that there's more to be gained than just her freedom . . .

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Tristan Wemyss, Earl of Trentham, never expected he'd need to wed within a year or forfeit his inheritance. But he is not one to bow to the matchmaking mamas of the ton. No, he will marry a lady of his own choosing. And the lady he chooses is the enchanting neighbour living with her family next door. Miss Leonora Carling has beauty, spirit and passion; unfortunately, matrimony is the last thing on her mind . . .Once bitten, forever shy - never again will Leonora allow any man to capture her heart and break it. But Tristan is a seasoned campaigner who will not accept defeat, especially when a mysterious blackguard with dark designs on Leonora's family home gives him the perfect excuse to come to the lady's aid - as her protector, confidant, seducer...and husband.

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The men of the Bastion Club proved their bravery secretly fighting for their country. Now their leader faces that most dangerous mission of all: finding a bride.As the mysterious leader of the Bastion Club known as 'Dalziel', Royce Varisey, 10th Duke of Wolverstone, served his country for decades, facing dangers untold. But as the holder of one of England's most august noble titles, he must now take on that gravest duty of all: marriage. Yet the young ladies the grand dames would have him consider are predictably boring. Far more tempting is his castle's willful and determinedly aloof chatelaine, Minerva Chesterton. Beneath her serene façade lies a woman of smoldering sensuality, one who will fill his days with comfort and his nights with sheer pleasure.

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Simon Frederick Cynster is determined to find a wife. However, nothing could be more tiresome than having every blushing miss on the marriage mart thrust upon him. So he discreetly begins his search at a house party at Glossup Halland is astonished that the lady who immediately captures his interest is Portia Ashford. Simon has never considered Portia as a potential bride. He's known the raven-haired beauty since childhood; she's willfully independent and has always claimed to be uninterested in marriage. But an unexpectedly heated kiss abruptly alters the rules of their decade-long interaction. Soon they begin to long for the moments they can spend in each other's arms.But all is not as it seems at Glossup Hall. As Simon and Portia begin to explore the depths of their mutual passion, a shocking murder is committed.

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He will father your children...'When Catriona Hennessy, honourable Scottish Lady of the Vale, receives this prediction, she is exceedingly vexed. How can she unite with a rake like Richard Cynster - a masterful man with a scandalous reputation? More shocking still is her guardian's will that decrees that she and Richard be wed within a week! Though charmed by his commanding presence, and wooed by his heated kisses, she will not - can not - give up her independence. So she forms a plan to get the heir she needs without taking wedding vows. Richard is just as stunned by the will's command. Marriage had not previously been on his agenda, but lately he's been feeling rather... restless. Perhaps taming the lady is just the challenge he needs. But can he have the rights of the marriage bed without making any revealing promises of love?

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Michael Anstruther-Wetherby is a rising member of Parliament - a man destined for power. And with his connections to the wealthy and influential Cynster family his future appears assured. Except that Michael lacks the single most important element of success: a wife.Political pressure sends him searching for a perfect wife - a gently bred, malleable young lady, preferably with a political background. Michael discovers such a paragon but finds a formidable obstacle in his path - the young lady's beautiful, strong-minded widowed aunt, Caroline Sutcliffe.Having lived through an unhappy political marriage, Caroline wants nothing of the sort for her niece, who has already lost her heart to another. So Caroline and the younger woman hatch a plot - Caroline will demonstrate why an inexperienced young lady is not the ideal bride for Michael.

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Six notorious cousins, known to the ton as the Bar Cynster, have cut a swath through the ballrooms of London. Yet one by one, each has fallen in love and married the woman of his heart, until only one of them is left unclaimed...Alasdair Cynster. Known to his intimates as Lucifer, Alasdair had decided to rusticate in the country before the matchmaking skills of London's mamas become firmly focused on him, the last unwed Cynster. But an escape to Devon leads him straight to his destiny in the irresistible form of Phyllida Tallent, a willful, independent beauty of means who brings all his masterful Cynster instincts rioting to the fore. Lucifer tries to deny the desire Phyllida evokes - acting on it will land him in a parson's mousetrap, one place he's sworn never to go. But destiny intervenes, leaving him to face the greatest Cynster challenge - wooing a reluctant bride.

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When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromising position with plucky governess Honoria Wetherby, he astonishes the entire ton by offering his hand in marriage. No one had dreamed this scandalous rake would so tamely take a bride. As society's mamas swooned at the loss of England's most eligible bachelor, Devil's infamous Cynster cousins began to place wagers on the wedding date. But Honoria wasn't about to bend to society's demands and marry a man just because they'd been found together unchaperoned. No. She craved adventure. Solving the murder of a young Cynster cousin fit the bill for a while, but once the crime was solved, Honoria was set on seeing the world. But the scalding heat of her unsated desire for Devil soon had Honoria craving a very different sort of excitement. Could her passion for Devil cause her to embrace the enchanting peril of a lifelong adventure of the heart?

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"If one is not marrying for love, one may as well marry for something else. My future countess has to be sufficiently docile and endowed with at least passable grace of form, deportment and address. "Gyles Rawlings, fifth Earl of Chillingworth and honorary member of the Cynster clan, is determined not to succumb to the dangers of falling in love. To that end, he makes an offer of marriage - sight unseen - to the niece of an old friend. He believes he's chosen a biddable lady who will bear him an heir and leave his emotions unattached. He arrives for his own wedding without ever actually meeting his fianc and at the altar is astonished to discover that he's offered for the wrong woman. His new wife is a passionate hoyden who makes his head spin. Francesca isn't docile, certainly not biddable, and she has no intention of settling for anything less than her husband's heart.

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Where are all the exciting men in London? After spending years in the glittering ballrooms of the town, Amanda Cynster is utterly bored by the current crop of bland suitors. Determined to take matters into her own hands, one night she shockingly goes where no respectable lady ever should, but where many an intriguing gentleman might be found. But titillating excitement quickly turns to panic when Amanda discovers she's quite out of her depth. She looks around for help - and is unexpectedly rescued by the Earl of Dexter. Lean, sensuous, and mysterious, he has delayed re-entering society, preferring instead a more interesting existence on its fringes.He's the epitome of the boldly passionate gentleman Amanda has been searching for, but although his very touch makes it clear he's willing to educate her in the art of love, Amanda has to wonder if such a masterful rake can be sufficiently tamed into the ways of marriage.

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There is nothing more fascinating than a darkly handsome rake, especially one as controlled and elusive as Dillon Caxton, protg of Demon Cynster. Despite his dangerous air, Dillon is now a man of sterling reputation, but it wasn't always so. Years ago, an illicit scheme turned into a nefarious swindle, and only the help of his cousin, Felicity, and her husband, Demon, saved Dillon from ruin. Now impeccably honest, his hard-won reputation zealously guarded, he's the Keeper of the Register of all racing horses in England, the very register Lady Priscilla Dalloway is desperate to see. She has come to Newmarket, determined to come to the rescue of her horse-mad brother who has fallen into bad company. Together, Dillon and Pris uncover a massive betting swindle. Assisted by Demon, Felicity, and Barnaby Adair, they embark on a journey riddled with danger and undeniable passion as they seek to expose the deadly perpetrators. And along the way they discover the answer to that age old question: What price love?

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He vowed he'd never marry: Vane Cynster always knew which way the wind was blowing, and it was headed in a marrying direction. The other Cynster men might not mind stepping up to the altar, but Vane never wanted to be shackled to any woman, no matter how comely. Bellamy Hall seemed like the perfect place to temporarily hide from London's husband hunters. But when he encountered irresistible Patience Debbington, Vane realized he'd met his match and soon he had more than seduction on his mind. She vowed no man would catch her: Patience wasn't about to succumb to Vane's sensuous propositions. Yes, his kisses left her dizzy but he was arrogant, presumptuous...and, despite his protests, bound to be unfaithful, just like every other man. Patience had promised herself that she'd never become vulnerable to a broken heart. But was this one vow that was meant to be broken?

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Bored by society's rules and strictures, Kathryn 'Kit' Cranmer yearns for adventure - and she finds it on Britain's rugged eastern coast, dressed as a boy at the head of a rag-tag band of smugglers. But there is another who rules the night: the notorious Captain Jack, the ruthless leader of a rival gang who will allow no tresspassers...and who stops Kit's breath with his handsome, etched features and powerful physique. In no time, Captain Jack sees though Kit's brazen disguise - and tempts her with kisses that compel the beautiful adventuress to surrender her cherished independence for nights of incomparable bliss. But her lover is much more than he seems - a man of secrets and dangerous mystery - and becoming Captain Jack's woman will carry Kit into a world of sensuous pleasures and unparalleled perils...and to new heights of excitement beyond anything she's ever dreamed.

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The last of his line, Jack, Baron Warnefleet, flees London after nearly being compromised into marrying a dreadful female. Turning his back on marriage, he rides home to the estate he has not seen for yearsOutside his gate, however, Jack rescues a lady from an unmanageable horse. But Lady Clarice Altwood is no meek and mild miss. She is delectably attractive, undeniably capable and completely unforgettable. It quickly becomes clear that Clarice is in danger and Jack must use every ounce of his cunning to protect this richly passionate woman...who has so quickly stolen his heart.

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Impatient to find his bride-to-be yet appalled by the damsels of the ton, Charles St Austell seeks refuge in his castle - and discovers Lady Penelope Selborne walking the deserted corridors at midnight. Years ago they'd consummated their youthful passion one unforgettable afternoon. While the ardent interlude still haunts Charles, Penny vowed never again to be seduced by the dashing earl. But resisting a stronger, battle-hardened Charles proves difficult, and when a traitorous intrigue threatens them both, Penny discovers that her first love is her fated champion and protector - and will not rest until he has made her his own...

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One of the most eligible gentlemen in the ton, Gerrard Debbington is besieged by offers from London's most sought-after beauties, but as the ton's foremost artistic lion, there's only one offer he wants to accept - the chance to paint the fantastical but seldom-seen gardens of reclusive Lord Tregonning's Hellebore Hall.That chance is dangled before Gerrard, but to grasp it he must fulfill Lord Tregonning's demand that he also create an open and honest portrait of the man's daughter. Gerrard loathes the idea of wasting his time and talents on some simpering miss, but with no alternative, he agrees. Only Gerrard is stunned by the deep emotions Jacqueline stirs, and captivated by her passionate nature and innate goodness. He is soon convinced that Jacqueline is the soulmate he needs as his wife.But something is horribly wrong at Hellebore Hall. Evil lurks in the beautiful gardens and along the rambling pathways. And that evil reaches out to ensnare Jacqueline, trapping her in a web of insidious whispers - whispers that paint her as a double murderess.

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Christian, I need your help. There is no one else I can turn to . . . L.'When Christian Allardyce, sixth Marquess of Dearne, reads these words, his world is turned upside down. Lady Letitia Randall is a woman like no other, and the day he left her behind to fight for King and Country was the most difficult of his life. He never forgot the feel of her lips against his, but never expected to see her again. Yet now she seeks his help, and Christian knows he cannot resist her plea.Letitia believes Christian abandoned her when she needed him most, and she hates to call on his aid. But to clear his brother's name, she has sworn to use every weapon at her command, even it means seducing her former lover. Yet all the while, Christian is waging a war of his won - a campaign of pure pleasure and sweet revenge that will take them both beyond the edge of desire.

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The season has yet to begin, and Anthony Blake, Viscount Torrington, is already a target for every matchmaking mama in London. But there is only one lady who sparks his interest...Desperate and penniless, but determined, Alicia plans to make an excellent match for her ravishing younger sister. But one moonlit stroll may prove Alicia's undoing when it leads to an accusation of murder. Every instinct Tony Blake possesses tells him that Alicia- the exquisite beauty he discovers standing over a dead body - is innocent of serious wrongdoing. His social prominence will certainly work in her favour. But it is more than honour that compels Tony to protect her - and he will do everything in his seductive power to make Alicia his.

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Welcome to the Regency world of Stephanie Laurens - and to the Cynsters and their ever-expanding clan! Now, Charles Morwellan, who we first meet in A SECRET LOVE (0749937203), one of her most beloved Cynster novels, meets his match in this exciting, and utterly sensuous, story.Charles Morwellan has no intention of following in the footsteps of his family - marrying for love - and therefore wants to find a bride before fate finds him. He is convinced that it was total devotion to love that caused his father to shirk the responsibilities of the earldom and is determined not to make the same mistakes. What Charlie doesn't realise is the woman he chose, Sarah Conningham, wants nothing less than a love match and she has no intention of letting Charlie get away with pushing her out of his life. Now, it's up to Sarah to convince Charlie that you really can have it all.

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When a handsome man literally falls at her feet while she's walking through a moonlit convent courtyard, Helena knows he must be there for a scandalous liaison. Yet she keeps his presence a secret from the questioning nuns - and for her silence the stranger rewards her with an enticing, unforgettable kiss. What Helena doesn't know was that her wild Englishman is Sebastian Cynster, Duke of St. Ives. Seven years later, Sebastian spies Helena from across a crowded ballroom. This heiress is dazzling London society with her wit and beauty, tantalising all the eligible men with the prospect of taking her hand in marriage. But Helena is not looking for just any husband. She wants an equal, a challenge - someone who can live up to the promise of that delicious, never-forgotten kiss.

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This beautifully repackaged classic - featuring four "New York Times" bestselling authors - delivers four romantic tales about bewitching lasses bound for the altar in a land of strong passions and wild beauty.

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