Candice Hern

The widow of a famous bishop, Grace Marlowe is both shocked and intrigued by the amorous adventures of her fellow Merry Widows. Though she agreed to their pact, she can't imagine giving herself over to passion - until the most notorious libertine in London sets his sights on her. John Grayston, seventh Viscount Rochdale, has never refused a wager. Now he's willing to stake his most prized possession that there's not a single woman in all England immune to his charms. But when the object of the wager is the prim and proper Grace Marlowe, he has to turn on the full force of his seductive allure - without losing his heart.

When two friends are found in a compromising situation, their marriage of convenience turns into something neither was looking for ... and something neither can live without. Nicholas Parrish wakes one morning to pounding at the front door of his London townhouse. Standing before him is the irate father of Prudence Armitage and several of her scowling brothers. They accuse him of compromising Prudence, and to his astonishment the woman in question walks out of his study, looking as if she's just been roused from her bed! Prudence had a tiring night putting the finishing touches to The Ladies Fashionable Cabinet, the magazine she and Nicholas, along with his sister Edwina, have been working on. With Edwina on an extended wedding trip, Prudence had wanted everything to be perfect. But she fell asleep at her desk, and when she walks out of the office and sees her family ready to murder the man she had secretly had a crush on, Prudence is appalled. And when a marriage is forced between them, she is devastated. The damage is done, though, and now she's determined to make things right between herself and her new husband - making him fall in love with her.

After this decree from his grandmother,Richard, Viscount Mallory, goes insearch of the long-lost family heirloom. Imagine his surprise when he spots the exquisite heart-shaped ruby brooch on the bosom of the equally exquisite Lady Isabel Weymouth! Could this popular young socialite actually be a jewel thief?Richard is determined that the brooch be returned to his family. So when an opportunity presents itself, he pilfers the jewel from the lady's bedroom, but is stunned when she steals it back the very next day! Clearly the enchanting Isabel is a more formidable opponent than he imagined, and the former soldier finds himself battling wits and wills with the captivating temptress. Passion ignites between them as the competition heats up, and suddenly there is more than a ruby brooch at stake in this game of hearts.

The disgraced son of a proud naval dynasty embarks on a dangerous mission in hostile waters to rescue an earl's kidnapped daughter from life as a harem slave.

From some of the biggest names in Regency historical romance, 23 wickedly witty, lusciously romantic and sublimely sensual short stories. Stories replete with oversexed aristocrats, posturing courtesans and feuding dukes and duchesses tell of a beautiful lady awakened by a passion more powerful than anything she has ever known, one that could doom or save her; a disgraced rake who, given a final chance to redeem himself, discovers love has rules of its own; and a luscious young beauty fed up with proper tea parties and elegant balls who disguises herself to enjoy a soirée of uninhibited pleasure. As the passion mounts, so do the complications...

"We asked readers what story they would most like to see from four bestselling authors. They responded-- A handsome hero returns from war, battle-scarred and world-weary. But family duty calls and he must find a bride. A young lady facing yet another season without a suitor never expects to find herself the object of his affections."--P. of cover.

Four couples will find each other one more after a separation of ten years or more. Each couple will meet again when they find themselves staying at the same inn for a twenty-four hour period.

Beatrice, Lady Somerfield, is too busy acting as chaperone for her headstrong niece to take her friends' advice to find a lover. Until a dark stranger at a masquerade ball makes her realize what she's been missing. When she finally discovers his identity as the Marquess of Thayne, the very man she has practically been pushing into her niece's arms as the Catch of the Season, Beatrice is horrified. But Thayne is thoroughly captivated by Beatrice, and finds himself increasingly drawn to the beautiful, sensual, more mature and sophisticated Lady Somerfield, and soon discovers he wants more than a love affair. Beatrice, however, has vowed never to marry again. But when their private fling leads to public scandal, more than one life is turned upside down.

A Bartered LadyLord James Harkness is shocked to discover a "bride sale" taking place in his small English village -- and surprised by the depth of his feelings for the unfortunate gentlewoman being auctioned off by a disreputable husband. But is it honor and nobility that compel James to outbid the townfolk for the proud, beautiful lady -- or is it something more akin to...desire?A Mysterious LordVerity Osborne is not sure whether good fortune or ill brought her to this dark, brooding man and his lonely manor house on the moors. Local talk brands James Harkness as evil -- but Verity senses a gentleness underneath. She dearly longs for her liberty, but his sensuous touch causes her to stay. However, James must first trust Verity with his secrets if they are ever to share love's rapturous freedom. And will the promised passion she sees flaming in his eyes warm Verity's heart...or burn her?

After a heart and lung transplant operation, dancer Claire Sylvia discovered that new organs were not the only thing she inherited. Never having liked such foods as beer and chicken nuggets, she suddenly started craving them. After an extraordinary dream, she seeks out the family of her donor -- a teenaged boy who died in a motorcycle accident -- and learns that it is indeed possible for two souls to merge in one body.

A Regency–set historical romance, with wonderful emotion, adventure, and humour. When Eleanor Tennant was called to look after her niece Belinda, she swore she'd help her find the perfect suitor. Unfortunately, Belinda prefers the attentions of Geoffrey Barkwith, a handsome, notorious rake with an unsavoury reputation. In a letter to an advice columnist for The Ladies Fashionable Cabinet, Belinda asks the woman – should she go after her heart's desire; Her response is yes! Eleanor, furious with this advice, goes in search of the mysterious Busybody. She finds out that the wretched woman giving such public encouragement is not a woman at all, but a man!

Miss Rosalind Lacey has spent all her 26 years in the country, quietly managing the lives of her widowed father and five younger siblings. When she learns she has contracted the illness that killed her mother, she decides to spend her last few months doing all the things she's never had the time or opportunity to experience. With the help of her worldly and notorious aunt, the simple country miss is transformed into a dashing Town sophisticate who cuts a wide and wild swath through London Society. Since she won't be around to face the consequences of her behavior, Miss Lacey does and says exactly what she pleases, even becoming involved with the infamous rake, Max Davenant. It is an exciting and heady time for the one-time country mouse, until she receives a fateful letter bearing news that turns her glittering new world upside down. The ballrooms and gaiety of the London Season form a backdrop for this sparkling tale of a young woman who hasn't lived enough, and a man who's lived too much.