Karen Ranney

Anne Sinclair has been haunted by visions of a handsome black-haired warrior all her life. His face invades her dreams and fills her nights with passionate longing. So the beautiful laird's daughter leaves her remote Scottish castle, telling no one, to search for the man called Stephen--a man she does not know but who fights in war-torn England, a place she has never seen. Stephen Harrington, Earl of Langlinais, never expected to rescue this unexplained beauty from the hands of his enemy. And yet, when their eyes first meet, he feels from the depths of his soul that he should know her...that he needs to touch her, and keep her by his side forever. For unknown to both of them, they are in the center of a centuries-old love...a love that is about to surpass their wildest dreams.

A classic love story from Karen Ranney, one of the true legends of historical romance, My Beloved tells the poignant, sensuous story of the fabled Langlinais Bride, who has not seen her husband since their wedding day, twelve years earlier. Judith Ivory calls Ranney, “A rich, rare find.” And with My Beloved, the beloved New York Times and USA Today bestselling author enchants with the story of a truly unforgettable reunion—as an errant bridegroom, forced by perilous circumstance to return to his untouched, abandoned wife, finds himself bewitched by the innocent angel he wed but never intended to love.

An Explosive EncounterMary Kate Bennett was married too early, widowed too young, and left to fend for herself without a penny. Her path was never meant to cross with Archer St. John's, except for a terrible carriage accident with the wickedly handsome Earl of Sanderhurst. Mary Kate awakens in a mysterious lord's bed to a life more luxurious than she could have ever imagined, facing a man she's never met before, but instinctively knows...A Heart Held HostageThe whispers about Archer follow him wherever he goes. Had the reclusive nobleman murdered his unhappy countess? When Mary Kate enters his life so unexpectedly, the bold earl is convinced that she has all the answers he has been searching for. So why can't he think of anything else besides her decadently red hair, her luminescent skin, and the feelings this vibrant, spirited beauty evokes within his masculine soul?A Wicked FantasyTheir love can be a fantasy, or it can be strong enough to entwine their destinies forever.

To avoid a scandal that would devastate her family, Riona McKinsey has agreed to marry the wrong man -- though the one she yearns for is James MacRae. Had she not been maneuvered into a compromising position by a man of Edinburgh -- who covets her family's wealth more than Riona's love -- the dutiful Highland miss could have followed her heart into MacRae's strong and loving arms. But alas, it is not to be. A man of the wild, tempest-tossed ocean, James MacRae never dreamed he'd find his greatest temptation on land. Yet from the instant the dashing adventurer first gazed deeply into Riona's haunting gray eyes, he knew there was no lass in all of Scotland he'd ever want more. The matchless lady is betrothed to another -- and unwilling to break off her engagement or share the reason why she will marry her intended. But how can MacRae ignore the passion that burns like fire inside, drawing him relentlessly toward a love that could ruin them both?

Love is always a miracle, but sometimes it needs a little help from above. Now, seven authors of historical romance bring us stories sure to make us true believers in the divine intervention that unites hearts, souls . . . and bodies! — Angel Love, an anthology written by the following authors: — FOR ALL ETERNITY by Janice Bennett — There's an angel in King Arthur's court. Two lovers fated to be together in this world . . . and the next. THE ANGEL OF KILCALLAUGH by Mallory Burgess A Dublin reporter investigates the sighting of an angel in a small rural village, then is given a real-life miracle - falling in love. CHARITY'S ANGEL by Elizabeth Graham A guardian angel gets his wings clipped by a spoiled debutante in this high-spirited love story. SAVING GRACE by Constance Laux The pomp and splendor of the British Empire is the backdrop in this tale of a six-year-old angel who answers the prayers of a lonely man and woman. HEAVEN KNOWS by Doreen Owens Malek A mysterious angel figures in this story of a man in mortal danger - and the Philadelphia widow sent to his rescue. ABSOLUTE ANGELS by Patricia McAllister A mischievous angel plays matchmaker in this tale set in Tudor England, where a distracted Lord nearly misses out on a love waiting in his own castle. *** THE GREATEST GIFT by Karen Ranney A handsome angel proves to a reluctant bride that love transcends all boundaries.

When Douglas Eston arrives at the home of the Duke of Herridge, he expects to leave with an investment—not a wife! With his brilliant ideas attracting attention all over London, Douglas does not need to rely on the duke. But when he meets Lady Sarah Baines, the stubborn beauty whose virtue her father would willingly sell, Douglas finds himself utterly entranced and desperate to protect her. Lady Sarah Baines always knew her father was cruel. But this time he's gone too far. Demanding that she marry a complete stranger—even an absurdly handsome one with eyes the color of a dawn sky—is utterly ridiculous. She swears she'll never submit to the wanton delights of the marriage bed. But soon Douglas's considerable charms prove impossible to resist... and the decadent ecstasy he offers shows Sarah that an affair that began with business can end with the ultimate pleasure.

Undercover as a majordomo, spy Adam Drummond has infiltrated Marsley House with one purpose only--to plunder its mysteries and gather proof that the late Duke of Marsley was an unforgivable traitor to his country. At the same time, Adam is drawn to a more beguiling puzzle: the young and still-grieving duchess--a beauty with impenetrable secrets of her own. For Drummond, uncovering them without exposing his masquerade will require the most challenging and tender moves of his career. That a servant can arouse such passion in her is too shocking for Suzanne Whitcomb, Duchess of Marsley, to consider. Yet nothing quickens her pulse like Drummond's touch. It's been two years since the duke lost his life in a tragic accident--and even longer since she's been treated like a woman. But when Drummond's real mission is revealed, and the truth behind Suzanne's grief comes to light, every secret conspired to tear them apart is nothing compared to the love that can hold them together

Abandoned by a rogue Betrothed to an earl she had never met, Charlotte Haversham arrived at Balfurin, hoping to find love at the legendary Scottish castle. Instead she found decaying towers and no husband among the ruins. So Charlotte worked a miracle, transforming the rotting fortress into a prestigious girls' school. And now, five years later, her life is filled with purpose-until . . . Seduced by a stranger A man storms Charlotte's castle-and he is not the reprehensible Earl of Marne, the one who stole her dowry and dignity, but rather the absent lord's handsome, worldly cousin Dixon MacKinnon. Mesmerized by the fiery Charlotte, Dixon is reluctant to correct her mistake. And though she's determined not to play the fool again, Charlotte finds herself strangely thrilled by the scoundrel's amorous attentions. But a dangerous intrigue has drawn Dixon to Balfurin. And if his ruse is prematurely revealed, a passionate, blossoming love affair could crumble into ruin.

"For years, Martha York has been fascinated by a man she's never met--Jordan Hamilton, the new Duke of Roth and protégé to her inventor father. Could the elusive gentleman possibly live up to his brilliant letters? When Martha travels to his estate to carry out her father's last bequest, she discovers that the answer is a resounding yes, for the duke's scientific mind belies a deep sensuality ..."--

As the ward to the late Duke of Lothian, Elsbeth Carew resides at the ancestral estate of Bealadair. Fiercely attached to the manor, she loves it more than anyone else. When Connor McCraight--the new Duke of Lothian--arrives, Elsbeth does not quite know what to make of the American who has inherited the title but has never even set foot on Scottish soil. The tall, ruggedly handsome Texan sweeps through Bealadair with an air of authority Elsbeth has never encountered. Connor has no intention of making Scotland his home and hopes to sell the estate as soon as possible. But his plan is jeopardized when he meets Elsbeth. A sweet, gray-eyed beauty, she tempts him in ways no other woman has. As word spreads of Connor's intention to sell Bealadair, his life is threatened--and the only woman who can save him may be the one he has hopelessly lost his heart to.

A man in the shadowsSome say he is dangerous. Others say he is mad. None of them knows the truth about Marshall Ross, the Devil of Ambrose. He shuns proper society, sworn to let no one discover his terrible secret. Including the beautiful woman he has chosen to be his wife.A fallen womanOnly desperation could bring Davina McLaren to the legendary Edinburgh castle to become the bride of a man she has never met. Plagued by scandal, left with no choices, she has made her bargain with the devil. And now she must share his bed.A fire unlike any they've ever knownFrom the moment they meet, Davina and Marshall are rocked by an unexpected desire that leaves them only yearning for more. But the pleasures of the marriage bed cannot protect them from the sins of the past. With an enemy of Marshall's drawing ever closer and everything they now cherish most at stake, he and Davina must fight to protect the passion they cannot deny.

Shona Imrie should have agreed to Gordon MacDermond's proposal of marriage seven years ago -- before he went off to war and returned a national hero -- but the proud Scottish lass would accept no man's charity. The dashing soldier would never truly share her love and the passion that left her weak and breathless -- or so she believed -- so instead she gave herself to another. Now she faces disgrace, poverty, and a life spent alone for her steadfast refusal to follow her heart. Honored with a baronetcy for his courage under fire, Gordon has everything he could ever want -- except for the one thing he most fervently desires: the headstrong beauty he foolishly let slip through his fingers. Conquering Shona's stubborn pride, however, will prove his most difficult battle -- though it is the one for which he is most willing to risk his life, his heart, and his soul.

Impoverished and untitled, with no marital prospects or so much as a single suitor, Beatrice Sinclair is forced to accept employment as governess to a frightened, lonely child from a noble family - ignoring rumors of dark intrigues to do so. Surely, no future could be as dark as the past she wishes to leave behind. And she admits a fascination with the young duke's adult cousin, Devlen Gordon, a seductive rogue who excites her from the first charged moment they meet. But she dares not trust him - even after he spirits them to isolation and safety when the life of her young charge is threatened. Devlen is charming, mysterious, powerful - and Beatrice cannot refuse him. He is opening new worlds for her, filling her life with passion ... and peril. But what are Devlen's secrets? Is he her lover or her enemy? Will following her heart be foolishness or a path to lasting happiness?

Ellice Traylor has a secret. Beneath her innocent exterior beats an incredibly passionate and imaginative heart. She has been pouring all of her frustrated virginal fantasies into a scandalous manuscript. But when her plans for her future are about to be derailed by her mother's matrimonial designs, she takes matters into her own hands. Ross Forster, the Earl of Gladsden, has spent his life creating order out of chaos. He expects discipline and calm from those around him. What he does not expect is a beautiful, thoroughly maddening stowaway in his carriage. But when Ross discovers Ellice's secret book, he finds he can't stop thinking about what other fantasies the disarming virgin can dream up. He has the chance to learn when a compromising position forces them to wed. But can the uptight Earl survive a life with his surprising new wife? And how will the hero of Ellice's fantasies compare to the husband of her reality?

He was her Highland lover, but would he be her savior? Catriona Cameron was once famed for her seductive beauty and charm. Now she saw no one, hiding from the world...and no one dared break through her self-imposed exile. No one, that is, until Mark Thorburn burst into her home, and Catriona's darkened world began to have color again. Thorburn, secretly the heir to an Earldom, claimed he was a footman. But Catriona didn't care about the scandal their passion could cause...for this very touch sparked her back to a life of sensuality, one she thought she'd never have again. Little does she know that Mark is part of a masquerade. One that will end when they become the target of a madman set on revenge. Mark realizes he will have to do more than win her love...he will have to save her life as well.

July 1982. Once the town's most notorious rake, now a recluse after an expedition to America during the Civil War, Dalton MacIain finds his peace disturbed by Minerva Todd, who, barging into his London townhouse, demands that he help her find her missing brother.

In order to save her family's estate after her husband dies, Virginia Traylor, Countess of Barrett, in desperate need of an heir, tricks the man she once loved, Scottish warrior Macrath Sinclair, into getting her pregnant, but her clever plan quickly unravels when he discovers her deception.

One Man's Love Stacey Monroe made it a rule not to get personally involved with any of her patients - and certainly not with their fathers! But when Nathan Sloan brought his daughter in to see her, Stacey fell in love with both of them almost immediately. But Nathan was a man with many secrets - secrets that might put Stacey in danger..