Second Sons

She Woke Up Married. When Lady Georgette Thorold awoke she saw...her corset hanging from the armoire...a very handsome, very naked Scotsman lying beside her...and a wedding ring on her finger! Before the attractive stranger can tell her his name, Georgette does the only sensible thing - she runs for it. Little does she know, James MacKenzie isn't clear on what happened the night before either. All he knows is that his money is missing and the stunning woman who just ran from the room is either his wife or a thief...or possibly both. What happens in Scotland when two complete strangers fall madly, deeply in love?

James Corbin, Viscount Finchley, has two goals. First, guarantee his brother gets married. That path is made smoother now that George is finally engaged. Nothing will stand between George and the altar . . . not even George. Second, James must ensure that his best friend Burke does not get married . . . at least not to the living, breathing gorgon that is Lady Olivia Rutledge. Burke is fully on board with this plan. Together with their friend Renley, the gentlemen concoct an elaborate ruse designed to set Burke free from his matrimonial snare. But as the day of George's wedding draws near, secrets from their past emerge, threatening each of their futures. Can James survive his brother's debauchery? Can Burke survive the social politics threatening to confine him? Can Renley . . . survive? Rosalie Harrow, a young lady without family, fortune, or title, tears through their lives, upending all their careful plans. And she has plans of her own: save Burke from the altar, save Renley from the ghosts that haunt him, and save James from himself. For love of Rosalie, the gentlemen must prove willing to try anything, risk anything, and be anything she needs. Contains mature themes.

His heart is unavailable. Luckily, her interest lies in the rest of him . . . Though she was just a girl when they first met, Caroline Tolbertson's infatuation with David Cameron remains undimmed. Now fate has brought the handsome Scotsman back to Brighton for what promises to be an unforgettable summer. Soon, Caroline will have to choose a husband, but for now she is free to indulge her curiosity in things of a passionate nature. That is, if David will agree to teach her. Past mistakes have convinced David he'll make a terrible husband, though he'll gladly help the unconventional Caroline find a suitor. Unfortunately, she has something more scandalous in mind. As the contenders for her hand begin to line up, her future seems assured . . . provided David can do the honorable thing and let them have her. When a spirited young woman is determined to break Society's rules, all a gentleman can do is lend a hand . . . or more.

The Lady has an offer. The Vicar has a Confession. Lady Madeline Blair is on a mission. Her eccentric late aunt left her a small fortune with one condition: to claim it, Madeline must marry by New Year's Eve . . . which is now only three weeks away! When she receives an invitation to spend Christmas at Alcott Hall, she sees this as the perfect chance to snag herself an unsuspecting beau. She will be generous with her inheritance, providing him with a comfortable living. All he has to do is agree never to claim his rights as her husband. Five years ago, Charles Bray left Finchley and never looked back. It was too painful to dwell in the past. So, when duty calls him home, he returns, heart heavy, to a town full of ghosts. Seeking any distraction, he sparks an unlikely friendship with a quiet young lady who makes him a surprising offer too good to refuse. And then there's John . . . Contains mature themes.

To ruin a man's life once takes a regrettable mistake. To do so twice takes a woman like Julianne Baxter. Eleven months ago, Julianne's statement to the authorities wrongly implicated Patrick, the new Earl of Haversham, in his older brother's death. The chit is as much trouble as her red hair suggests, and just as captivating. Now she has impetuously tracked him to the wilds of Scotland, insisting that he return home to face a murder charge and save his family from ruin. A clandestine wedding may be the only way to save her reputation-and his neck from the hangman's noose. Julianne has no objection to the match. More and more she's convinced of Patrick's innocence, though when it comes to igniting her passions, the man is all too guilty. And if they can only clear his name, a marriage made in haste could bring about the most extraordinary pleasure . . .

At twenty-two, Rosalie Harrow is unmarried and near destitute. She has two choices: snag a wealthy gentleman, or take work as a governess. Neither option appeals to headstrong Rosalie. When Rosalie receives an invitation to Alcott Hall, she believes she's there to meet the Dowager Duchess of Norland. Instead, Rosalie is thrust in the middle of a house party of eligible high society ladies all desperate to win the hand of the new, conveniently single duke. Hilarity ensues as Rosalie dodges the attentions of the officious duke, and weathers the censure of the other guests, all while trying to unravel the mystery of her invitation. And then there's the gentlemen . . . The more Rosalie tries to avoid the high society husband hunt, the more she finds herself charmed by three very different men. There's Lord James, the duke's younger brother. Lieutenant Renley, recently returned from the West Indies, and begrudgingly looking for a wife of his own. And the tempestuous Mr. Burke, who irks Rosalie to no end. Marriage is a trap and Rosalie will not be easily snared . . . but that doesn't mean she can't enjoy the chase while it lasts. Contains mature themes.