Cirrus@Austlit

'A second son is not necessarily second best

'John Trewbridge is destined to spend the rest of his life in the British Army. Serena ripped the heart out of him when she told him he was "only" a second son and therefore not worthy of her. Home on leave he discovers she is about to marry his older brother, Spencer, who will inherit the marquessate. His older brother - the one who made his childhood a misery and whose morals are worse than those of an alley cat.

'On a raw winter's day John meets Marguerite Ninian. Crippled from birth she hides from the world and in spite of an inauspicious beginning they feel their way towards a tentative relationship. Then Spencer implodes and smashes the Trewbridge family apart.'

Source: publisher's blurb

'They left Portugal to escape the ravages of war, but on their arrival in 'safe' England, faced a vicious danger that neither had ever imagined.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'When Alexandra Tallis discovers that her witless sister has imprisoned their father’s nemesis, Theo Crombie, in their attic, she quickly frees him, fighting an unladylike impulse to keep him as her own special captive. Despite the brutal beating she receives from her father for her actions, Alexandra continues to yearn for the delicious Mr. Crombie even though she knows that nothing will ever come of her dreams.

'Injured and shackled in a stranger’s attic, Theo unexpectedly discovers the woman of his dreams. But how can he pursue those dreams when her bizarre family’s complex relationships threaten the very foundation of his existence? Somehow Theo must find a way through this maze to claim his lady.'

Source: publisher's blurb

Just as Caroline Crichton has plucked up the courage to cry off from her engagement to Toby Wainwright, he disappears. In the ensuing fuss, Caroline accepts help from Toby’s friend, Fort Mathieson, a man to whom she is deeply attracted.

A kidnapper makes a grave mistake and faces a revenge he never expected.

Annis's new husband investigates crimes, and Caroline's new husband is a capable ex-Army officer. When their ladies are kidnapped in an effort to suppress the evidence of pilfering and murder, Giles and Fort fight their way through all the lies and subterfuge to not only rescue them, but also to avenge them.

Source: Author's Blurb

'Two years ago, Breck Marchant handed his son, Kit, over to his ex-wife, Tania, even though it tore him apart. She knows all about kids. Thanks to his own upbringing, he hasn’t a clue. But when the boy is held hostage, Breck steps up to the plate. Somehow he’ll make this father thing work and hold down his dangerous job at the same time even though the odds are against him. Ingrid Rowland is Kit’s preschool teacher and she has known Tania for years. As far as she can tell, neither Tania nor Breck know the first thing about being parents. She fears for Kit’s future. When Breck turns to Ingrid for help with his son, she sees a different side of him. As Breck and Ingrid work to protect Kit and hold on to their careers, they begin to work together to fight off a puzzling series of vicious attacks. Then a startling revelation culminates in a murderous turn nobody sees coming.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

When the two Crichton sisters are invited to a country house party by Sir Giles Everard, the only drawback is the threat of blackmail hanging over their heads. And their father's matchmaking schemes are about to go hopelessly awry because there’s another contender waiting in the wings. Nothing is what it seems

'When Alexandra Tallis discovers that her witless sister has imprisoned their father’s nemesis, Theo Crombie in their attic, she quickly frees him, fighting an unladylike impulse to keep him as her own special captive. Despite the brutal beating she receives from her father for her actions, Alexandra continues to yearn for the delicious Mr. Crombie even though she knows that nothing will ever come of her dreams.

'Injured and shackled in a stranger’s attic, Theo unexpectedly discovers the woman of his dreams. But how can he pursue those dreams when her bizarre family’s complex relationships threaten the very foundation of his existence? Somehow Theo must find a way through this maze to claim his lady.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Matthew Monfort has two excellent reasons for loathing members of the ton, but thanks to his father's machinations he finds himself inveigled into offering for Lady Verity Tristan. Anyway it's time he married and she's...well, she's different; in fact she's quite delightful...and intelligent...and sweet...but she needn't think she's going to win him over.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Abused and abandoned as a child, Célie Francis knows better than to trust anyone. But after she witnesses a murder, she's placed in the Unit–New Zealand's witness protection program–where she's expected to trust strangers with her life. It's psychologist Brand Turner's job to ease witnesses into their new identities, not to protect them, but Célie stirs feelings in him that are far from professional. When it appears someone is leaking critical information that could endanger Célie, Brand will do anything to protect her. But first he has to convince her to trust him. Adrift in a frightening world, Célie would like to believe the handsome psychologist is everything he seems, but as witnesses are murdered and danger swirls around them, Célie must decide–can she trust Brand with her life?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In the aftermath of a vicious rape, Juliana Colebrook shuns all men apart from the injured soldiers she nurses. Orphaned and alone, she desperately wants to leave Portugal for the protection of her relatives in England. However, there is still one man who invokes her admiration: Brigade-Major Colwyn Hetherington, with his self-deprecating sense of humor and innate sense of duty. So when Colwyn is offered a dream job managing a large estate in Wiltshire, Juliana asks him to escort her back to England. But Colwyn has troubles of his own and when he is forced to reveal the nature of his woes to a stunned Juliana, everything changes. Mired in danger, who can Juliana trust? And what of Colwyn's warning that families bring only trouble?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.