Survivors (Galen)

Fiercely loyal to his friends and comrades, Ewan Mostyn is the toughest in a group of younger sons of nobility who met as soldiers and are now trying desperately to settle back into peaceful Society. Ewan trusts his brawn more than his brains, but when he's offered a job watching the Duke of Ridlington's stubbornly independent daughter, he finds both are challenged. Lady Lorraine wants none of her father's high-handed ways, and she'll do everything in her power to avoid her distressingly attractive bodyguard-until she lands herself in real trouble. Lorraine begins to see Ewan's protectiveness in a new light, and she can only hope that her stoic guardian will do for her what he's always done-fight for what he wants. Contains mature themes.

Lady Juliana, daughter of the Earl of St. Maur, needs all the help she can get. She's running a ramshackle orphanage, London's worst slumlord has illicit designs on her, and her father has suddenly become determined to marry her off. Enter Major Neil Wraxall, bastard son of the Marquess of Kensington, sent to assist Lady Juliana in any way he can. Lucky for her, he's handy with repairs, knows how to keep her and the orphans safe, and is a natural leader of men. Unfortunately for both of them, the scandal that ensues from their mutual attraction is going to lead them a merry dance . . .

Rafe Beaumont, fifth son of an earl, uses his irresistible charm with the ladies to glean dangerous war secrets. Now he's putting those skills to the ultimate test: capturing an elusive assassin by seducing his daughter. The problem? She's entirely immune to Rafe's flattery. Never before has Collette Fortier met a man as attractive as Rafe. But her father's life is at stake, and succumbing to Rafe would be disastrous. But when Rafe turns the tables on her, offering support and friendship instead of a fleeting affair, Collette finds herself tempted in ways she never could have imagined . . .

This masked lord . . . Lord Jasper, younger son of a marquees, suffered horrible burns fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. He wears a mask to hide his face from the stares and screams and finds comfort in the shadows. Jasper is an exceptional bounty hunter, so when a woman summons him to her deathbed and asks him to find her runaway daughter before she passes away, he doesn't refuse. Jasper is close to his quarry when he's knifed by an assailant. Imagine his surprise when he regains consciousness in the arms of the woman he seeks. Except she's not at all what he expected. . . . Is not the only one with scars. On a remote cliff on the sea, Olivia Carlisle calls her five-year-old son in from an approaching storm. But the little boy is more interested in the man he's found on the trail to their hidden cottage. Olivia fears men and wants nothing more than to leave the injured man where she found him. But his knife wound is severe, and with the approaching storm, she knows leaving him will condemn him to death. As Jasper begins to heal, Olivia acknowledges her attraction to him, even though such emotions terrify her almost as much as returning to London. Jasper must convince her that her only chance at safety is to challenge the man who pursues her. They must travel into the lion's den-he to face his vulnerability and she to face her worst fears. Contains mature themes.

What happens when a marriage of convenience isn't so convenient? Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven has retired from the army and spends most of his days either consulting for the Foreign Office or whiling away the hours at his club with his former comrades-in-arms. He rarely thinks about the fiery Portuguese woman he saved from an abusive marriage by wedding her himself. It was supposed to be a marriage in name only, but even five years later and a world away, he can't seem to forget her. Catarina Neves never forgot what it felt like to be scared, desperate, and subject to the whims of her cruel father. Thanks to a marriage of convenience and her incredible skill as a lacemaker, she's become an independent and wealthy woman. But when she's once again thrust into a dangerous situation, she finds herself in London and knocking on the door of the husband she hasn't seen since those war-torn years in Portugal. Catarina tells Benedict she wants an annulment, but when he argues against it, can she trust him enough to ask for what she really needs? Contains mature themes.

Phineas Duncombe, ninth Duke of Mayne, should not be the duke. After all, he had four-count them-four older brothers! Phin never wanted the dukedom, and the suspicious circumstances of the eighth duke's death lead Phin to question the Countess of Longstowe. The beautiful widow isn't at all what Phin expected. He's intrigued by her and determined to seduce her. The countess is not interested in Phin romantically, but when she comes to him with another request, he can't deny it. A few days in the country with Lady Longstowe reveal two truths to the new duke. One, he cares for the countess much more than any other woman he's ever known. Two, Phin either has very bad luck or someone is trying to kill him. Annabel was barely eighteen when she was married to the elderly Earl of Longstowe. A harsh, sadistic man, the earl's death was not something Annabel mourned. Now in her mid-forties, Annabel enjoys her widowhood and has no desire to ever be under a man's thumb again. Not even a handsome duke like Mayne, who is far too young for her anyway. Annabel's one desire is to find the daughter who was taken away from her. For that she needs a man with power and status. She needs the Duke of Mayne. When the two are thrust together, Annabel struggles to fight her attraction to the charming Phin. Contains mature themes.

When a master of disguise marries a woman who sees right through him... Lady Daphne, daughter of the Duke of Warcliffe, is one of the Three Suns. Society revolves around her. But there's one person who doesn't seem to know she's alive-her own husband. Lady Daphne was thrilled to marry Colin FitzRoy, the son of her mother's dear friend, seven years before. But then he left for the army and their marriage never really had a chance. Now she's in trouble, and Colin has reentered her life. She's determined to refuse his help, especially after the way he's treated her, but Colin can be persuasive... especially when he has her alone. Baring it all is part of the seduction. Colin FitzRoy was known as The Pretender during the war. He's an expert in the art of disguise, but even when he takes off the mask, he hides who he really is. Colin pretends he doesn't have feelings, but when he's thrust together with his estranged wife, his buried emotions resurface. Before long Colin is juggling an elderly pug, a wife-hunting Scotsman, and a duplicitous street urchin in an effort to keep Daphne safe. But his greatest challenge is not only to seduce her but to win her heart. Contains mature themes.

You've met the men of the wildly popular Survivors series. Now meet the charming friends and relatives who walk the streets of London with them. Kisses and Scandal features three exciting novellas set in the Survivors' world, including one never-before-published story. Kisses and Scandal Lady Philomena is the sister of the Duke of Mayne. She's beautiful and sought-after, but she's made the mistake of falling in love with . . . the footman. James Finnegan loves his lady but has a secret that won't only break Philomena's heart. It just might endanger her life. Counterfeit Scandal Now that Bridget Lavery is free from debtor's prison, she wants to reunite with the son she had to give up. Caleb Harris is a man with a price on his head. Before he left for the war, he and Bridget had a passionate affair. Finding her again means everything to him, but loving her might just be too perilous for either of them. How to Brew a Perfect Kiss Raeni Sawyer is penniless and alone in a foreign country. When she finds a job at a coffee shop on Bond Street, she hopes it's the beginning of a new life. Thomas Gaines is intrigued by his new server-until she spills coffee all over him. Despite her clumsiness, he sees her potential to be more. But will Raeni's treacherous past ruin their bright future? Contains mature themes.

Just because they've run away... Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she's run away. But things haven't gone well. She's been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn't exactly welcome his help. Doesn't mean they don't want to be found. Duncan Murray doesn't know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue, and Stratford's opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash's estate, and that's when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn't deserve her. Contains mature themes.

A sharpshooter who's lost his sight . . . When a stray pistol ball from the battlefield took Nash's sight, it also took his entire identity. Nash fears he's fallen too far and perhaps ending it all is the best solution. Until he encounters a woman in the garden singing a bawdy tune at the top of her lungs. An outcast who sees too much . . . Prudence Howard has traveled the world with her missionary parents. But after the scandal she caused in Cairo, they've foisted her on a vicar in the small town of Milcroft and sailed to the Far East to evangelize without her. When she meets Nash Pope, she's instantly intrigued. He might not know he needs or even wants her help, but Pru has a plan to save him. Together they glimpse a brighter future. Nash is bewildered by the unconventional woman who keeps turning up on his doorstep. She tries to teach him night writing, claims a feral peacock is a momentous sign, and makes his toes curl when she kisses him. She refuses to give up on him. But though Nash finds it easy to believe in Pru, can he ever trust himself again? Contains mature themes.

He's a pain . . . literally. Rowden Payne, known as The Royal Payne, makes his living in the world of bareknuckle boxing. The disavowed son of a duke likes the focus boxing requires. But just as he's poised to knock out his biggest rival, he's mesmerized by a pair of exotic hazel eyes in the crowd. He finds himself flat on his back and short fifty pounds. She's a prude with a problem. Modesty Brown's father has vanished. The strict minister has never disappeared before, and Modesty is left having to rely on elders of the church for help. But when she becomes a burden to them, she has to seek out her aunt, a woman of high rank. Modesty's only way of finding her is by asking the only man she knows of that class-Rowden Payne. Unfortunately, she's the one responsible for the Royal Payne losing his crucial fight. Sometimes the hardest hit is the one to the heart. Rowden doesn't want to care for anyone or anything, but if he can just help Modesty find her father, he can be rid of her. Soon the revelation of her father's secrets and lies puts Modesty, Rowden, and their friends in danger, and if Rowden can't admit his feelings for Modesty, he'll lose her forever. Contains mature themes.

She's poor as a church mouse. When young Jenny Tate stumbles over the beaten body of a boy in the streets of the London slums, her only intention is to rifle through his pockets. But the bruised lad charms her into helping him, and the next thing she knows, Aidan Sterling and she are fast friends, navigating life on the streets. Jenny has learned never to trust or love anyone, but they learn to rely on other. And then Aidan betrays her in the worst way possible. He's rich as a king. Aidan Sterling is one of the richest men in England. He has everything he wants and no one to share it with. After risking his life in the army, he returned to England and made a fortune. Now he keeps his loneliness at bay by focusing on what he's good at-making money. And then Jenny Tate steps unexpectedly back into his life. He's never forgotten her and never stopped loving her. Jenny hasn't forgotten him either, and she hasn't forgiven him. She's betrothed to a viscount and has a new life and wants nothing to do with Aidan. But the discovery of an ancient trunk, a hunt for a street urchin, and the interference of homing pigeons might just be enough to bring these two back together. Contains mature themes.

A cruel twist of fate . . . Nicholas St. Clare, youngest son of the Marquess of Averstow, was an avid horseman until his legs were crushed on the battlefield. Ashamed of his injury, he's become a virtual recluse on his country estate until his mother, the dowager marchioness, insists he marry. He hates his weakness and doesn't believe anyone can see past it. A stroke of good luck . . . Amelia Blackstock has always followed her family motto: A Blackstock doesn't run from trouble. It runs from us. Unfortunately, trouble caught up with her, and when the world finds out, she'll be ruined. When Lord Nicholas stumbles upon her sobbing, he tries to comfort her. His kindness backfires when they are discovered alone together, and Amelia faces even more scandal. Nicholas offers to marry her, but only if she'll agree to a separate bed chambers. A happily ever after in jeopardy. Amelia concedes to a platonic marriage, but as her feelings for Lord Nicholas grow, she wants more. Nicholas is drawn to Amelia as well, but he fears risking it all by revealing the ugly truth of his injury. Nicholas is the last of the Survivors. Will he be the only one without a happily ever after? Contains mature themes.