Caroline Courtney
Personal Information
Description
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru". She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialised bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan, and was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale, in shops and she could have them for keeps. Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her out of his own money at a time when he could ill afford it the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels. She began earning a living as a writer in the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide. The novelist best known as Penny Jordan died in 2011.
Books
Heart of Honor
Sir Andrew had saved Beth's life when he reined in her startled runaway horses. He was handsome, charming, and when his blu eyes met her own amber ones, Beth had instantly fallen in love. But Sir Andrew's family had fallen on hard times. His father had left gambling debts that had drained his estate. Society now regarded Andrew as a pauper...
Forbidden love
An enormous fortune would be hers on day. Melina was grateful that her grandfather, a Greek shipping magnate, had chosen her as his heir. Yet there was one issue that she hotly disputed with him: the question of whom she would marry. She wanted only one man -- Anthony Seaton, a fiery individual who lived on a neighboring island ... and who'd been haunted by his wife's tragic death until he met Melina. Together they were caught up in a swirl of passion. But their happiness was soon cut short. Because someone was aiming to destroy the shipping empire -- and its only heir, Melina.
A Wager for Love
The Earl of Saltaire had a reputation as a rakehell, an abductor and ravisher of women, a dandy and a demon on horseback. Much of what was said about him was true. Then what lady of means and of irreproachable character would consider marrying him—especially if she knew the reason for the match was primarily to win a bet? Certainly not Lavinia Davenham, a beautiful lady whose wealth was newly acquired, but whose independence and integrity were lifelong qualities. Why, he'd have to carry her off by force in the dark of night! And so he did.
Love of my life
Lord Desmond Shayne had gallantly rescued Jessica Court from highwaymen and had made her feel welcome in his home. Now he had asked Jessica's help as he struggled to win the hand of the beautiful Lady Olivia. Jessica knew Olivia to be as heartless, cruel and selfish as she was fair face. Would Jessica serve her friend well by forwarding his cause with another woman who did not love him half so passionately as she did herself?
A Lover's Victory
Sir Edward Fairmount had decided that his daughter Valeria must marry Perry Adaire. Despite her own opposition to the match, Sir Edward takes her to Vienna, where Perry's regiment is stationed, to make sure the betrothal proceeds. In Vienna, the Peace Congress is in progress, and amidst the intrigue and excitement, love touches Valeria at last. But it is not love for Perry. Valeria loses her heart to a man who seems to have no heart of his own.
Libertine in Love
The Marquis of Peterborough had kissed Juliana in public -- in order to win a bet. Now, she was the subject of another, even more degrading wager. His gambling companions had given him six months to win her hand in marriage. Juliana was new to the ways of the ton. Her father had taught her different values -- he did not approve of libertines who wasted their lives on games and wagered their lives on whims. Her father had married for love -- and, so, Juliana was determined, would she...
The Courier of Love
Lady Francesca de Lisle outrages the Winchester elite when, under the penname of Lady Alethia, she writes a column for the local newspaper describing the antics, rivalries, and peccadilloes of the most prominent social families.
Duchess in disguise
To win her husband's love she masqueraded as a lady he did no know! The Duke of Westhampton had a wife in the country ? and a mistress in town. This suited the Duke of Westhampton, but his young wife, whom he'd wed and tucked away on his estate with scarcely a second glance was not pleased. So, being as audacious as she was innocent, she undertook to win his attention, to charm and undo him, in the world of the Regency haut ton, where he was very well known - and she was not.
Love's Masquerade
He wagered he'd win her hand and Leonora encouraged his suit-to settle a score of her own!
The Fortunes of Love
The Duke of Strathavon had the ladies of Bath all agog. But not Davinia Sinclair. He did not frighten her, even when he chased her from her perch in an apple tree on his estate. His newly acquired wealth did not impress her; for she did not seek a rich husband. Nor did his darkly handsome appearance engage her, for she was already in love with Lord Maunsell, who intended to ask for her hand as soon as he found his treasure. They should live happily ever after--for a gypsy had foretold that Davinia would wed a man whose name began with "M".
Love Triumphant
The Comte de la Valle was a spy. Of that, Harriet Willoughby was certain. He was the same man who, dressed as a smuggler, had accosted her on the marsh and had dared to claim a kiss as the price of her passage. He had the same disturbing gray eyes. And, when he kissed her again, the same disturbing effect upon her senses. But why did all the ton accept him as an emigre? Why did Lord Burbridge regard him so highly? Harriet was new to London, an unsophisticated girl just coming out, but she knew her duty. She must see that the truth was revealed...
Dangerous Engagement
She has been taught more about horses than men. How could she judge the sincerity of suitor? The Earl of Templecombe had dared to kiss Miranda Melbury at their first meeting. Perhaps he had been provoked - she had been wearing boy's clothing, had spoken to him with most unladylike acerbity and had required rescuing when her horse bolted. But surely a man so ready to take advantage of a lady in distress deserved the slap she gave him. Now, it was rumored that the Earl, somewhat the worse for gambling losses, was looking for a new source of funds. Was he planning to offer for Miranda because had become an heiress - or did he plan to finance his future by other, more criminal means?
Love Unmasked
The Duke of Lexburgh - that was what Charles Somerford intended to be. And he intended that the beautiful Lady Lucinda should be his bride. But Lucinda was in love with a man whose entire face she had never seen: his hair was blue-black, his eyes grey and his lips burned as they kissed her hand. But he wore a mask on those fateful occasions when he had come to Lucinda's aid: saving her from the clutches of a highwayman and the embrace of an unwelcome lover. Could he now save Lucinda from marriage to a man she despised?
Abandoned for Love
The Duke of Lyveden needed a wife--but which of three eligible ladies of the Ton would be most suitable? The best way to choose, he decided, was to arrive in London with a fraudulent fiancee--and judge the ladies' true characters by how they behaved toward her. And what better choice to play he role than a beautiful young woman from Yorkshire whom no one in Society knew? Antoinette Aston was ready to accept the offer for the Duke had rescued her from a fate worse than death, and she did not know where else to go, whom to trust--or even who she was!
Destiny's Duchess
The Duke of Stratton agreed to marry Candida Wellesley sight unseen. He had looked at the size of her fortune, and since wealth was what he sought in a bride, he asked for no portrait so that he might judge her beauty. And since the Duke had never seen her, Candida was able to engage herself as governess to his ward. In his own household, she could observe him at work, at play, and in his cups - and she could decide whether she wanted to wed the Duke of Stratton.
The Tempestuous Affair
When her father dies without leaving a male heir, Miss Lucy Stanton is forced to leave her ancestral home and live with her grandfather, Prince Virinsky. The late Sir Charles Stanton had written to his estranged father-in-law Prince Kuragin in Russia-entrusting him with the care of his daughter Lucy. The prospect of traveling to St. Petersburg-far away-was frightening and exciting. Though without a chaperone, Lucy did not fear for her virtue, one look at her escort, cousin Nikolai, revealed a nature as frozen as the Russian steppes.
The Masquerading Heart
hey were twins who looked exactly alike--to strangers. Those who loved them recognized the spirit in Serenity's eyes, the gentleness in Sylyana's. But Ashen Svlyana was invited by her godmother, who'd not seen her in four years, to come to London for the Season, Serenity felt safe in taking her place. After all, Sylyana would far rather remain in the Cotswolds near the man she loved. Serenity had a lesson she must teach to a certain man in London--a man who had teased her when she was just sixteen--with a dare, a laugh, and a kiss.
