Zebra Regency romance

A Kiss for Mama is a warm Regency romance anthology featuring three interconnected stories by Jo Ann Ferguson, Valerie King, and Jeanne Savery. Each tale explores the bonds between mothers and their grown children as love arrives in unexpected ways. From a dowager facing a family dilemma, to a devoted mother navigating matters of the heart, to a final story where happiness blooms against all odds, the collection blends gentle humor, heartfelt emotion, and classic Regency charm. Together, these stories celebrate family, devotion, and the transformative power of love.

A PASSION HIDDEN Widowed from an unhappy arranged marriage, Emily Wallace, The Dowager Viscountess Tuncliffe, is determined to become an independent woman. Finding her newly inherited London townhouse in desperate need of repair, she hires Duncan McAllister, a disquietingly attractive Scottish architect, to undertake renovations. She soon finds her Berkeley Square home is not the only thing that seems to be reviving under his expert ministrations... A LOVE DISCOVERED Intrigued by the promise of a prestigious Mayfair commission, Duncan McAllister is nonetheless skeptical of working for the widow of an erstwhile nemesis--surely she would make an unpleasant client? But from the moment he meets Emily Wallace until he stumbles upon an intriguing secret she keeps, he finds nothing to be further from the truth...as his designs for her home become designs on her heart.

Neil Spelling, man-about-town and desirable bachelor, is in a pickle. He has fallen desperately in love with Lady Alice, but her father, the Duke of Sotherland, calls him a dunderhead and unsuitable for a son-in-law. Now an intimate holiday house party may provide the perfect occasion for Neil to appear dashing, daring, and irresistibly darling. If only a stranger hadn't intruded, a sinister plot hadn't developed, and the irascible Lord Nightingale hadn't piped up. Lovely Lady Alice doesn't know what to make of Mr. Spelling! In town he is so polished, and now he appears so shy. Worse, Lord Nightingale is making him a mockery. What is a lady to do? Lady Alice is ready to offer a kiss when an unexpected guest makes her tremble. Villainy is afoot during this Yuletide, and Mr. Spelling may prove a hero if discord can be ended, a father's heart softened, and love is able to conquer all with a Christmas surprise!

In this charming Regency anthology, three couples discover that the path to wedded bliss can be strewn with surprises and misunderstandings. . .but true love always triumphs!

All London is abuzz with the news: the beautiful but willful Lady Vanessa Wolfe refuses to wed! With her father, the Marquess Wulfric, recently deceased and her brother missing in battle, she is sole heir to the Wulfric fortune and a great country estate. She is a catch--and no one can catch her. Refusing to be leg-shackled to any of the fawning fortune hunters who have offered for her, the high-spirited lady has vowed that she will say nay to them all. To wealthy Lord Brickendon--the most bored gentleman in the ton--Vanessa is the perfect antidote to his ennui. He has wagered against two other suitors that he will be the first to win her hand. But he reckons without the turnabout of fate, the unpredictability of the heart...and the certain disaster he is courting be deceiving a certain lady into falling in love.

SHE SPEAKS HER MIND — Free-spirited Sophy Bancroft has been dismissed from several posts for "impertinence and unauthorized, irresponsible acts." But now, as she begins her seventh attempt as a governess, she vows that, this time, she'll control her impulsive need to be inquisitive and outspoken. Her resolve is challenged, however, on the very night she arrives at the town house of her new employer, the dashing Viscount Northrop. There, a valuable necklace is missing, and Miss Bancroft feels the thrill of pursuit stir her blood... in more ways than one. WILL HE LOSE HIS HEART? -Guardian to his sister's three rambunctious children, Viscount Lucian Northrop finds himself obliged to engage a governess. Expecting the arrival of a prim and proper miss, he is surprised to encounter the incorrigible Miss Bancroft, whose quick tongue and improper notions have a startling effect on him. Though he knows he ought to dismiss her, he cannot deny that she captivates. And when danger threatens her under his own roof, he realizes he cannot let her go at all--because he's fallen in love.

AN EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG LADY...AND AN EARL WITH A REPUTATION FOR DANGER — When Miss Minerva Potts cried off her engagement to the self-absorbed Lord Whithall, she vowed not to marry at all, or if she must, she would choose as the gentlemen obviously did -- for comfort, prestige, and convenience. Then she met Chadwick Brumfield, Earl of Rossland. Known as the Devil's Delight, the charming earl had a reputation so scandalous, Minerva was certain she could never lose her heart to him. So when the much-maligned earl asked for her assistance in a delicate family matter, she agreed. But soon, the unthinkable happened. Minerva fell in love with Lord Rossland -- a man the ton had condemned as a murderer!

My Dearest Daisy - Daisy Kendall doesn't dare dream of love—and certainly not with a member of the ton. But when circumstances throw her together with Joshua, Lord Tremont, the charming gentleman won't take Daisy's regretful “no” for an answer. If the romantic letters he sends won't persuade her, how will Joshua convince his reticent valentine that she is worthy of his heart? Cupid's Arrow - When a reckless wager presents Lucien Montclair with the Herculean task of courting Angela Valentine—lately spurned by her fiancé and resentful of every male in existence—he's certain he'll pay the forfeit. But he hasn't banked on Angela's surprising compassion when his fortunes change for the worse—or the joy of calling her his own My Wicked Valentine - Marriage to virtuous, if rather boring, Lord Mandleton seems like the most sensible of propositions to widowed Caroline Benningham, who knows all too well the risks taken when one marries for love. Then Count Antonio Zarcone saunters back into her life, and Caroline must decide between stability…and the passion only true love can provide.

A SCANDALOUS RAKE — Adam, Duke of Marchmaine, watched in amazement as Miss Diana Rustin swept gracefully through the corridors of his family's manor. It was incredible that this vivid beauty had just saved the lives of his sister and her newborn baby with her healing knowledge. He certainly couldn't jeopardize his family name by seriously pursuing such an unconventional lady. He would simply have to behave in the manner befitting his station--even if it meant missing true love... A DETERMINED LADY Because of an unhappy occurrence, Diana Rustin knew she would never experience the loving security of matrimony. Until now, she had been perfectly content assisting her doctor father and following his avocation. Well, it would be an easy matter to put aside her sudden, most inconvenient feelings for the admittedly handsome duke. She would simply have to overlook his attractively fiery spirit, avoid the temptation of his gentle touch -- and by doing so forever break her own heart!

It Was An Unusual Beginning... The last thing Tess Masterson expected when she woke was to find a stranger--in her bed! The man said he was Cameron Hawksmoor, a marquess, which was surprising enough. Then Tess's father told her that handsome Cameron was her husband, thanks to a proxy ceremony. Nothing could be further from Tess's wishes, despite Cameron's brooding good looks. Yet, it somehow stung that her new husband obviously wanted nothing to do with her... ...To An Extraordinary Love To Cam's dismay, an annulment was out of the question, despite the fact he was too foxed to remember the ceremony. It appeared he and Tess had spent the night together, after all. And Tess--as stubborn as she was lovely--soon proved determined to carry out the charade of a marriage. Then Cam discovered the cleverly vicious plot that had brought them together, and he found protecting her was his first concern. For against all the odds, he had fallen in love with his unexpected bride.

Emily Dinwiddie's Reasons To Seek Out Count Revay-Czobar 1. I suspect he is a vampire. Who better to help me solve the mystery of my father's murder, especially when my dear papa would have been thrilled to learn such creatures really do exist? His bite may well prove useful, although I suppose it would be beyond rude to ask to examine his teeth. 2. Surely a vampire will be familiar with London's underworld. Perhaps with its "otherworld," as well. Not that I require protection, of course, but a few words of advice would not go amiss. And I suppose it could prove educational to feel the count's arm around me... 3. The man--demon? beast? I must inquire--is fascinating, to say the least. Powerful. Mysterious. Quite handsome, in fact. He rather takes my breath away. Especially with that lovely, sensual mouth...

When a traveling peddler, Eric Pennington, tries to protect Bethany Whitcombe, he ends up with a broken arm . . . and the need for an ally to help him complete the work he is doing to bring an end to war against Napoleon. But lies compound one on top of the other until Bethany has no idea who is being honest, though she knows she finds Eric's kisses delightful. When a neighbor, after she refuses his proposal, accuses her of being Eric's mistress, shock fills her when Eric does not hesitate to lie and say that they are lovers. Her father insists on a marriage to protect her. Why would Eric want to marry her? He tells her it is to keep her safe because he cannot stay at her family's house much longer. Maybe that is true, but what other lies has Eric Pennington spoken? As the truth begins to come to light, Bethany discovers she has a most unexpected husband who may hold not only the key to victory or defeat for England, but the key to her heart as well.

Forced into an arranged marriage by her greedy family, plain Lady Hilary hates her boorish future husband. Finding a reason to get to London, a complete makeover transforms Hilary into a princess. The "ton" is impressed--especially Lord Grayden, who can't accept that Hilary is engaged to a man she despises. He quickly schemes a Halloween surprise destined to unmask the secrets of true love.

NEVER SAY NEVER... Primrose by name, wallflower by nature--the shy younger Dunsworthy sister would rather study ancient Egypt than endure the ton's endless scrutiny. In Rupert Jordan, Lord Fortenbury, Rosie has found a companion with a passion for history and disdain for the marriage mart. The handsome aristocrat's easy smile might be irresistible to some, but friendship is all Rosie desires...isn't it? Asking Rosie to visit his estate for his brother's wedding seems such a sensible plan. Rupert can show her his hieroglyphic tablets, and Rosie's presence will deter the attentions of a tiresome husband-hunter. Yet every moment spent in the company of lovely Rosie, with her red curls and bright green eyes, leads Rupert to suspect that marriage may be underrated. In fact, the prospect suddenly seems quite wonderful...

A wealthy man makes a promise to his aging father that he will wed a titled and proper young lady by Christmas, but it is a beautiful widow who ends up capturing his undivided attention. Caught up in an irresistible passion and scandalous liaison, the two believe they are destined to remain apart. This is the season, however, when miracles do occur.

The Earl of Linton, 35, had never been prone to sentiment. Only boredom could have led him to rescue Danny, a filthy street urchin, from the clutches of a drunken brawler. Once rescued, however, the spirited ragamuffin proved a handful even for the usually unflappable nobleman. Not only did a simple bath require force, but the squirming brat imprisoned in his arms turned out to be a winsome young lady—and a strangely familiar one at that. Danielle, 17, was grateful for the Earl's timely intervention, but not for his arrogance and bruising strength. She had fended for herself quite well until now, against dangers more far-reaching than anyone imagined. That she had won the Earl's considerable protection only made it more vital that she keep her wits about her—and never give in to the quickening of her heartbeat every time his deceptively lazy eyes bore into hers.

Just in time for Valentine's Day come three romantic Regency tales from three beloved authors. In these stories ladies and gentlemen of the "ton" discover special moments of love.

Wherever these kittens pounce, romance, mayhem, and mischief are sure to make an appearance. Follow their antics as they cross the paths of lords and ladies of the ton in three new stories by three beloved authors, sparking passion that always seems to land on its feet. — Stakes are high in Shannon Donnelly's tale when Emaline Adair's cat Bea turns a gamester's cupboard into a "Cat's Cradle" for her kittens, dealing him a winning hand by bringing Emaline into his home... In Janice Bennett's "Inseparable," a spunky kitten's friendship with a hound sparks another unlikely pairing as desire grows between the feline's willful mistress and a handsome Viscount... "Lord Wintergreen and Beast" meet in Mona Gedney's tale when the gentleman tries to catch a lady in a deceitful act. But the lady's cat goes on the prowl and Wintergreen is the one who's caught-by love... So settle in with these lively, romantic capers of creatures great and small...you'll soon be feeling warm, fuzzy-and purrfectly content.

Will a singing lesson lead to lovesong or disaster? — A LORD OF NOTE... — Nicholas Chastain, the Earl of Wickenshire, is in dire straits. His inheritance included three crumbling country estates, one tumble-down London townhouse, and a coach full of debts. His one hope for coming up with cash is to fulfill an outrageous and seemingly impossible condition in an old aunt's will. He must teach Lord Nightingale to sing. A LADY OF NOTE... When a distant relative inherits her father's title, Serendipity is at her lowest ebb. She hasn't a shilling to her name and now her home is lost to her as well! She and her sister, the delightful Delight, will end up on the streets unless Serendipity finds employment. Providing singing lessons for the ward of the handsome Earl of Wickenshire seems perfect -- until she discovers her pupil is the incorrigible Lord Nightingale. Now Wickenshire's future depends on striking the right note.

Nothing is more tempting than a taste of true love... — A TASTE FOR LOVE — "CAKES, KISSES, AND CONFUSION" by Lynn Collum — When the Earl of Sedgefield comes to pay a visit at the cottage of Miss Annabelle Hill's aunt, he invites the unsuspecting Annabelle to Exeter, where he has set a trap for her. It seems the Earl has confused the poor girl for a scheming social climber and plans to expose her fraud. But Annabelle's culinary magic and honey-sweet nature prove him wrong, making an enticing recipe for love. "THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART" by Wilma Counts After sampling the poor fare at a soiree, Nicole Beaufort's cousins challenge her to do better. Disguising herself as a cook, Nicole finds work at a nearby estate, where the health of her new employer, the handsome Earl of Thornwood, depends on her cooking. But she never expects to tempt his heart as well as his appetite. ***"NOT HIS BREAD AND BUTTER" by Jo Ann Ferguson Working as a cook in order to help provide for her parents, Meredith Tynedale becomes quite fond of her employer, Lord Westerly. Hoping he will notice her, she brings breakfast to him every morning, baking him her favorite raisin-cinnamon bread. Not only does the handsome Viscount take an interest in her baking, but also in the very lovely Meredith. Includes three delicious recipes for you to try!

Just when wealthy heiress Eugennia Welch finds herself wishing for male companionship, Kevin Whattling, a handsome suitor, comes calling. But though Eugennia finds herself falling for Kevin's charms, she suspects he loves her fortune more than he does her. As for Kevin, even though he knew Eugennia's fortune would save him from Debtor's Prison, the more he gets to know her...the more he finds himself falling in love