Reluctant Bride

Living in London's poorest slum, Mercy Wilkins has little hope of a better life. When she's offered an opportunity to join a bride ship sailing to British Columbia, she agrees. After witnessing so much painful heartache and loss in the slums, the bride ship is her only prospect to escape a bleak future, not only for herself but, she hopes, someday for her sister. Wealthy and titled Joseph Colville leaves home and takes to the sea in order to escape the pain of losing his family. As ship's surgeon, he's in charge of the passengers' welfare aboard the Tynemouth, including sixty brides-to-be. He has no immediate intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, the two must fight against a forbidden love. With hundreds of single men congregating on the shore eager to claim a bride from the Tynemouth, will Mercy and Joseph lose their chance at true love, or will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart?

She never wanted to marry. He hopes to make amends for past wrongs. Can love find a way to heal both of their hearts? Sadie Schrock swore she would never marry. All of her other Amish friends could court and marry—she was content to manage the family business and eventually take it over when her parents are ready to retire. But all of that changes when a reckless driver kills both of her parents and seriously injures her younger sister. With mounting hospital bills adding to the pile of debt her parents left behind, Sadie is left with no choice: she must marry. And not just any man—the man who saw her at her weakest and walked away. Aden knows what his brother did to Sadie years ago was inexcusable. And every day since that incident, Aden has lived with the guilt for not intervening sooner. When he is faced with the chance to protect Sadie once again, he can’t let her down—even if it means living with the scorn of the woman he loves for the rest of his life. Working alongside Aden at the store, Sadie realizes he isn’t the same boy who once betrayed her. Just when Sadie starts to let her guard down and perhaps develop feelings for her new husband, dangerous secrets are revealed. Now everything Sadie has worked so hard to protect is threatened, and she must find a way to save her family—and herself.

Sir Edmund said: “I think it is a mistake for a man of unstable temperament to marry, don’t you?” Lizzie replied: “To marry a timid lady, yes. Good gracious, is this the reason you espouse misogamy? Don’t be such a gudgeon, Edmund. Find someone who is not afraid of your blustering, arm her with a stout club and marry her.” Or they could hunt for her missing diamond necklace and just pretend to be engaged… Regency Romance by Joan Smith; originally published by Fawcett

Come back to a time when manners are everything and rules are made to never be broken. Come back to a time when men are in charge and women do what they are told... Yeah, that never happened. Welcome to Megan Bryce's Regencyland, where ladies with backbone get what they want. Where a woman can thumb her nose at rules and care little for convention, and yet somehow, unexpectedly and most reluctantly, find love. To Catch A Spinster Olivia Blakesley, self-proclaimed spinster extraordinaire, is quite happy with her life. She has her studies and her duties, what need does she have of a husband? With five sisters married she knows the reality does not live up to the promise, and does not need to personally experiment with the state to know she would be ill-suited to it. However, she finds herself envious of at least one aspect of marriage. But to experience the physical side of marriage, one doesn't need a husband, all one needs is the right man... Nathaniel Jenkins knows his duty. Marry a young girl from a respectable family and father an heir, no matter how cold the endless parade of suitable girls leaves him. But a shocking proposal from a scholarly spinster leaves him wondering if unsuitable is just what he's looking for. Can he convince his spinster that marriage is the greatest experiment of all? ~The Reluctant Bride Collection~ (books can be read in any order) To Catch A Spinster To Tame A Lady To Wed The Widow To Tempt The Saint regency romance, victorian romance, funny, witty, lighthearted, historical romance, spinster

This is a hot romance series featuring strong, bold, Billionaire Cash brothers and their quick-witted heroines. This series is standalone, can be read in any order, and has no cheating. December - My sister has set me on a blind date! And now she wants her brother-in-law to drop me at the Nellie's Cookhouse, the place where my date will arrive with a red rose, and will talk about my past ex and then ask me about my expectations for my future husband. I should be thinking about the date but I cannot resist the strong aura of the man sitting next to me. Christopher - I am already juggling between training my younger brother at the request of my older brother and the office that screams for my attention because my older brother Alex is not ready to end his honeymoon phase. And now my cute sister-in-law wants me to drop her sister off for the date she has set. Above all, I cannot handle the latter one. But I know my sister-in-law is doing this on purpose.

UNWILLING TO WED With her generous heart and dazzling smile, beautiful Micah Shepherd was Rob Granston's dream come true. The handsome attorney knew that Micah felt drawn to him, too. But why did she avoid him at every turn? Micah hinted at a tragedy that had torn her family apart. But Rob suspected untold secrets remained hidden in her heart. Despite her strong faith, Micah seemed to be searching for a deeper peace. With his own faith faltering, Rob wondered if he could help her overcome the past. Yet he couldn't imagine the future without Micah as his wife…

Karinne's been engaged to Max for two years, but everything conspires to keep them from actually getting married. His job as a guide in the Grand Canyon. Her job as a Phoenix-based sports photographer. Her family's troubled past. And now, making matters even more complicated, Karinne has reason to believe that her mother—long presumed dead—might be alive, after all. Now Karinne and Max are spending a week in the Grand Canyon on a rafting trip. It's supposed to be a pre-wedding vacation, a chance to enjoy some time together, an adventure. But it could be a little too much adventure. Especially when Karinne's mother, Margot, shows up—with a shocking request. It's another thing that comes between Max and Karinne. They love each other, but that might not be enough for this reluctant bride to walk down the aisle!

When Sarah Monroe's abusive husband dies, all she feels is blessed relief. When she inherits her uncle's house in Cactus Gap, she moves to Texas for a chance to start fresh. Happy in her new-found freedom, she swears off men and marriage forever. Until she meets Zach Whitfield. Zach is on a mission to find a bride. From the moment he sees Sarah, he's completely smitten. When tragedy strikes, leaving him guardian of his best friend's young daughter, Zach asks Sarah for help. Can he break down the fortress surrounding her fragile heart? Can he persuade her to become his wife? KEYWORDS: sweet romance, clean romance, inspirational romance, Christian romance, Texas romance, cowboy romance, historical, historical western romance, short story, series romance