Widow's Brew

Scandal does not define the "fallen" ladies of Puddledon Manor's Benevolent Home. Instead, it's a recipe for an intoxicating new future as the women combine their talents-to operate their own brewery and alehouse... When Penelope Barnes arrived at the Home with her young daughter, she discovered a knack for horticulture-and for cultivating the hops needed to produce a superlative pint. She put her scandalous affair with Harry Graham firmly in the past, along with the wrenching pain she felt when he went off to war. After all, she'd always known a farmer's daughter had no future with an earl's son. Now she has the pleasant memory of their passion, and she has little Harriet... Harry went off to fight for the Crown unaware that his delightful interlude with his childhood friend had permanent consequences. Now he's back in England, catapulted into the title by his brother's untimely death. He sorely misses his former life of unfettered adventure, so when he has reason to explore Little Puddledon, he jumps at the chance. But what he finds there is something-and someone-he never knew he'd lost, and a once forbidden love whose time has come, if only he can persuade Pen he's home to stay... Contains mature themes.

The "fallen" ladies of Puddledon Manor's Benevolent Home are determined to rise above scandal-and forge a sparkling new future operating their own brewery and alehouse . . . With Christmas around the corner, Miss Caroline Anderson hoped to persuade a London tavern owner to carry the Home's Widow's Brew-only to discover the dastard was more interested in her ankles than her ale! To her further annoyance, her stagecoach back to Little Puddledon is waylaid by louts and a snow-covered ditch. Amid a nasty storm, Caro seeks shelter at a nearby estate-only to be greeted by Viscount Oakland, a.k.a. Nick, her brother's childhood friend-and her schoolgirl crush. Now he's the half-dressed host of what is clearly a holiday bacchanal. Still, his house is irresistibly warm . . . Ever the free spirit, Nick has invited the wilder gentleman of the ton, and an assortment of London's lightskirts, to celebrate Christmas in a more traditional, pagan fashion. So, he's surprised to find Caro at his door. Now, with a blizzard raging, he must take her in-despite his fear she won't take to his guests, and worse, upend his party. But she may surprise him-and upend his life . . . Contains mature themes.

The "fallen" ladies of Puddledon Manor's Benevolent Home are restoring their reputations-and their future prospects-by operating their very own brewery and alehouse . . . As the founder of the Home, Josephine Smyth-Waters is determined to be there for the women who need her. But when those same women conspire to accept an invitation on her behalf, she finds herself suddenly on the way to the christening party of the Earl of Darrow's baby. Guests at the party include her friends and former partners Pen and Caro-and Edward Russell, Duke of Grainger, the Home's generous benefactor and the man she's been writing to for months. While Jo decidedly does not have marriage on the mind, the duke's handsome looks and charming words are enough to make the lovely widow a little reckless . . . Even after a year, the title of "duke" still sits strangely on Edward Russell's shoulders. When Edward encounters Jo-capable, fun, and utterly irresistible-he's delighted to find someone he truly connects with. A trick of fate has placed them on two different paths . . . but Edward is beginning to realize that perhaps he's not the kind of man who does the expected thing after all . . . Contains mature themes.