The Unofficial Suitor

Lady Cassiopeia Anderby’s spendthrift stepbrother plans to sell her on the London marriage mart to the highest bidder. He holds a threat over her to assure her compliance. When Cassie meets Richard Hawke, a self-made man with a disastrous past, she realizes he is not a gentleman but an adventurer. Still, he promises her the best possible future she is likely to have. Can she trust him? Regency Romance by Charlotte Louise Dolan; originally published by Signet

Mary Balogh’s charming and warm-hearted eBook original short story is a testament to the steadfast devotion of true love, as a young miss on the marriage mart cleverly plots to claim her one and only. If circumstances were different, Philippa Dean would be happy to fall in love with Viscount Darleigh. He is certainly the perfect gentleman and everything her parents want: titled, handsome, respectable. His blindness only reinforces his quiet power and strength. But Philippa does not love him. Her heart is already taken and there is only one thing she can do: Thwart the matchmaking plans. Julian Crabbe is desperate to rescue the woman he fell in love with two years ago. Then, he was a reckless cub, justly earning Philippa’s parents’ scorn. Now, he is every inch a respectable suitor and determined to prove it before it is too late. Intrude on the viscount’s house party? Gladly. Interrupt the match of the season? Happily. For nothing can stop the power of a love that will not be denied. Includes a preview of Mary Balogh’s delicious new novel, The Arrangement! Praise for The Proposal “This is Mary Balogh at her riveting best. Everyone loves a wounded hero, and Balogh introduces us to an unforgettable one who discovers the healing power of love.”—Debbie Macomber “[Mary Balogh] writes with wit and wisdom. . . . The Proposal is both moving and entertaining and the beginning of what promises to be an outstanding series.”—Romance Reviews Today “A historical romance of unusual thoughtfulness and depth.”—Publishers Weekly

THE UNSUITABLE SUITOR is a clean, sweet, traditional Regency romance set in Regency London. The devastatingly handsome Lord Peterbloom is rumored to have kept as many as eight mistresses at once! But having grown weary of his dissolute ways, he now leads an exemplary life. His one regret is that despite his winning way with the ladies, he never once fell in love. Now, after meeting the lively Miss Miranda Frasier, Peterbloom is smitten. But, how to convince her that he is a new man? Miss Miranda Fraser and her sisters travel up to London to save their family home, only to discover that it is now owned by the devilish rakehell who once stole a kiss from a naïve Miranda! Although she was outraged then, and still is, the memory of Lord Peterbloom's lips on hers still makes her blush. The reprobate claims to have mended his wicked ways. Miranda fervently hopes so when she realizes the handsome scoundrel holds not only the deed to her house, but the key to her heart. “Well-conceived and beautifully written with wonderful details and terrific characters!” – Emily Hendrickson. “The Unsuitable Suitor is very well done and laugh out loud amusing! Not to be missed.”–Red River Reviews. “Regency romance fans will appreciate Ms. Clay’s fine craftsmanship and attention to detail.” –Romantic Times. If you enjoy the traditional Regency romances of Bree Wolf, Jenni James, Georgette Heyer, and Candice Hern, you'll enjoy Marilyn Clay's clean, sweet, and always clever Regencies. All of Ms. Clay's novels are suitable for teen readers with no strong language, or graphic scenes. Watch for THE WRONG MISS FAIRFAX, Marilyn Clay's most recent Regency romance that debuted on Amazon's Top 100 Best-Selling Ebooks list! “A delightfully amusing romp featuring eccentric Jane Austen-like characters. Two willful young ladies, Emma and Jemma Fairfax, lead the unsuspecting Lord Townsend on a merry chase! Not to be missed!” – Regency Romance Reviews. You will also enjoy all nine titles in Marilyn Clay's new Juliette Abbott Regency Mystery Series, MURDER AT MORLAND MANOR, MURDER IN MAYFAIR, MURDER IN MARGATE, MURDER AT MEDLEY PARK, MURDER IN MIDDLEWYCH, MURDER IN MAIDSTONE, MURDER AT MONTFORD HALL, MURDER ON MARSH LANE, and MURDER IN MARTINDALE, now available in print and ebook from all major online ebook retailers. Be sure to look for Marilyn Clay’s historical suspense novels: BETSY ROSS: ACCIDENTAL SPY featuring American icon Betsy Ross as the intrepid heroine. Set in 1776 Philadelphia, Betsy determines to expose the killer of her beloved husband John Ross but is quickly drawn into the dangerous underworld of spies and double spies. Can Betsy bring down the notorious spy before he kills her or her beloved sisters? DECEPTIONS: A Jamestown Novel (also in Ebook as DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS and THE LETTER), originally released in hardcover. Catherine travels to the New World colony of Jamestown in search of her betrothed, but what she finds there nearly destroys her. Who can she trust when the entire colony is in on the deception? SECRETS AND LIES, also originally released in hard cover. An inspirational story about four young English girls who travel to the New World on a Bride Ship in search of love, and a new life. Instead they find someone in the colony wants them all dead! (In Ebook as DANGEROUS SECRETS and A PETTICOAT AND LAMBSKIN GLOVES.) A respected historian of the Regency period in English history, for sixteen years MARILYN CLAY published The Regency Plume, an international newsletter containing well-researched articles useful to writers, historians and those interested in the English Regency. All back issues of The Regency Plume Newsletter are still available from The Regency Plume website. For more information on Marilyn Clay's novels, visit Marilyn Clay Author.

Sometimes the truth comes at a cost An Amish Mother's Secret Past by Jo Ann Brown Widow Rachel Yoder has a secret: she’s a military veteran trying to give her children a new life among the Amish. Though she’s drawn to bachelor Isaac Kauffman, she knows she can’t tell him the truth—or give him her heart. With her forbidden past, Rachel can never be the perfect Plain wife he’s looking for… Her Amish Suitor's Secret by Carrie Lighte Posing as an Amish groundskeeper at Rose Allgyer’s lakeside cabin retreat, Englischer Caleb Miller is determined to clear his brother’s name of theft. But as he’s drawn to Rose’s good nature, the burden of his ruse gets heavier—especially after learning Rose was deceived by her ex-fiancé. Still guarded, will Rose trust Caleb with her heart when she discovers he isn’t who he claims to be?

When an unsuitable gentleman appears to court a baron's daughter, it's an older sister's duty to stand in his way. And, of course, not fall in love with him herself. Matilda Rayment is determined to protect her sister's interest and her family from ruin, which means she must marry off her flirtatious younger sister before the Season ends. When the Rayments cross paths with Oliver Bolton, the nephew of their steward, his interest in Miss Beatrice threatens all Mattie's plans. For as long as he can remember, Oliver has dreamed of courting Miss Beatrice Rayment, but never dared reach above his station. He hasn't been a gentleman long, but owning his estate - however small in size - gives him access to new rungs on Society's ladder and finally, his chance has come. It is up to Mattie to steer Oliver away from making an unhappy match with her sister, but before long she finds herself losing her heart to the steward's nephew. Oliver finds he cares less and less about winning Beatrice the more time he spends in Mattie's company. Can such an unsuitable match take place, or will all their plans be ruined?

For as long as she can remember, Lady Adriana Sutton has adored Colton Wyndham, to whom she has been promised by an agreement of courtship and betrothal since childhood. As a young girl, she was wounded by Colton's stubborn refusal to comply with his father's wishes and by his angry departure. He was too proud and too stubborn to accept a future not of his own choosing. Rather than submit, he fled from his ancestral home for a life of adventure and danger as an officer in the British army. The years have been immensely kind to Lady Adriana. No longer the plain, thin tomboy Colton had spurned, she has blossomed into an uncommon beauty desired by nearly every eligible bachelor in the land. Yet the only man she desires is the decorated hero who has finally come home to claim his rightful title. Arrogant, unmoved, and seductive as ever, he remains averse to the idea of their betrothal in spite of his growing desire for her. To demonstrate his belief that love cannot be forced, Colton agrees to court Lady Adriana for ninety days, after which time he will be allowed to keep his precious freedom if he so wishes. But much has changed since he balked at his father's plans. Forced into a courtship with this stunning, spirited woman, who is as different today from the young chit he left behind as spring is to winter, the heroic heart that was once closed to Adriana is moved by her charm, her grace, and her sensuality ... and begins to yield. But a secret from Colton's past may doom their burgeoning love ... even as the treacherous schemes of a sinister rival threaten to steal the remarkable lady from his arms forever. A lush and spellbinding story of passion and betrayal that grandly sweeps the reader into the magnificent ballrooms and intimate boudoirs of Regency England, The Reluctant Suitor is romance as only the incomparable Kathleen Woodiwiss can deliver it -- a love story that will dwell in the reader's heart and memory forever and stand proudly as one of the author's very best.