As she spends time with Kade Stewart, the wounded Scot her brother brought home from the Crusades, Lady Averill Mortagne gradually realizes that she wants nothing more than to be his bride and make him love her in return.

"The fairy tale courtship did not turn into a happily-ever-after ... not until her husband dropped dead, that is. He had been horrible enough to Christiana during their short marriage, and she was not going to allow the traditional period of mourning to ruin her sisters' debuts as well. So she decides to put him on ice and go on as if nothing's happened ... Until the real earl appears. Richard Fairgrave had every intention of confronting his villainous...

"[A] reluctant bride and groom who soon find common ground in the bedroom . . . Bastard daughter to the king, Rosamunde was raised in a convent and wholly prepared to take the veil . . . until King Henry declared she would wed Aric, one of his most valiant knights. Suddenly she found herself promising to love, honor, and obey. Rosamunde's education had not covered a wedding night, but the handsome warrior she was now bound to seemed intent on giving...

"It wasn't her first choice, for Seonaid Dunbar had, like her brother, been trained as a Scottish warrior at her father's knee; but fleeing to an abbey was clearly preferable to whacking on Blake Sherwell with her sword -- which she'd happily do before wedding the man. No, she'd not walk weakly to the slaughter, dutifully pledge troth to anyone the English court called "Angel." Fair hair and eyes as blue as the heavens hardly proved a man's worth....

Lady Emmalene Eberhart wanted to do it. She'd even begged an audience with the King so that he would order her husband to do it-- because she was determined to be a good wife. But then her husband died, and Emma remained a virgin. Now the innocent young beauty finds herself with an ample dowry and promised to Amaury de Aneford, a landless knight whose able sword helped defend the King's crown. Surely her new husband would want to do the deed, for...

"Love thy neighbor, 'tis said. A fine idea, except when the neighbor in question is Lord Holden. Lady Helen Tiernay has complained frequently about his treatment of people. Too frequently perhaps, for the king intends to curb their constant bickering by ordering them to wed. Helen can't refuse a royal decree, but she'll do everything possible to drive away her devilishly attractive husband-to-be. Holden has faced all manner of horrors on the battlefield....

Iliana would do anything to escape the depraved attentions of the unscrupulous baron who covets her lands ... including marrying a barbarian. Fleeing to the Scottish Highlands, she weds Duncan, laird to Dunbar Castle, but she refuses to allow him into her bed until he agrees to become more civilized.

When they first met Lord Jeremy William Radcliffe, Charlie and her twin sister, Elizabeth were escaping from their uncle-taking turns acting the young gentleman to avoid detection. But Charlie couldn't help falling head over heels-and out of a window-for the handsome lord. Of course, that was only the beginning; Lord Radcliffe insisted on showing "him" and her lovely sister to London. But how could he do that? With every touch, Radcliffe seemed unknowingly...

"Let the hunt begin ... Lisa Madison wants a husband, and she has just the candidate in mind: Robert Langley. Trouble is, the infuriating man insists on seeing her as the impish girl she once was--even as every other gentleman in London has taken notice of her womanly ... charms. When her beauty lands her in danger, it's Robert who comes to the rescue, only to announce his affections are not of the romantic kind! Robert saw enough sorrow in his parents'...

"Earl Hugh Dulonget of Hillcrest was a formidable knight, used to getting what he wanted. This time, he got himself into a bind. His uncle's will had a codicil: He must marry. And Hugh had just insulted his would-be bride by calling her a peasant! How could he win back her esteem--and her hand? Everyone seemed to have advice. Some men-at-arms thought that Hugh could win the fair Willa's love by buying her baubles. The old witch who was her guardian...