Cirrus@Austlit

'Whose hot kisses will melt the ice princess? All London is agog to know!

'Will beautiful Marianne Seaton choose rich Lord Desborough or handsome Lord Tranter – or dark, dangerous Elias Thorne? Get ready for proposals and passion, rivals and revelations, secrets and scandals at the season’s most glamorous house party.

'As the season reaches its brilliant climax, three very different men pursue beautiful Lady Marianne Seaton. She’s the marriage mart’s greatest prize – even if cruel and unjust gossip paints her as a woman cold and glittering as any diamond.

'Lord Desborough is her father’s choice - rich, powerful, safe. Lord Tranter is society’s darling - handsome, dashing, charming.

'Then there’s the dangerous, compelling man nobody in their right mind calls eligible. Elias Thorne, son of scandal, reputed deceiver, possessing a rakish fascination no woman can resist. A lady might choose Elias as a lover, but as a husband, he’s too risky a bet. Even if Marianne’s forbidden yearning for him threatens her future and her reputation.

'When Marianne’s suitors pursue her to the year’s most glamorous house party, there will be proposals and passion, rivals and revelations, secrets and scandals.

'Let battle commence – but will the best man win?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Desperate to save her sister's life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate. Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic, even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

'Lady Lydia Rothermere has spent the past decade trying to make up for a single, youthful moment of passion. Now the image of propriety, Lydia knows her future rests on never straying outside society's rigid rules; but hiding away the desire that runs through her is harder than she could have ever dreamed. Now as Lydia prepares for a marriage that will suit her family, but not her heart, Lydia must decide what's more important: propriety or passion?

'Simon Metcalf is a rake and adventurer. But for all his experience, nothing can compare to the kiss he stole from the captivating Lydia Rothermere ten years ago. Simon can scarcely believe he's about to lose the one woman he's never forgotten. The attraction between them is irresistible, yet Lydia refuses to forsake her engagement. With his heart on the line, will Simon prove that love is a risk worth taking?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Sir Richard Harmsworth might be a darling of society, but nothing can erase the stain of his bastardy. Richard′s cool stare, indolent manner and insolent humor hide deep-seated feelings of unworthiness. He vowed young that nothing will pierce his elegant exterior to affect the man beneath, because the man beneath is capable of hurt and suffering. Safety lies in superficiality.'

'When Lord Packham rejects Richard as a suitor for his daughter, it′s the straw that breaks the camel′s back. After a lifetime of defying the world′s contempt, enough is enough. Richard vows to challenge his scandalous birth head on. There is a family legend that possession of a medieval relic, the Harmsworth Jewel, confirms the rightful heir. He will locate the jewel and brandish it under the noses of anyone reckless enough to question his right to the Harmsworth name.'

'Genevieve is a brilliant scholar who has led a secluded life, translating manuscripts, writing about medieval architecture and researching the authenticity of artifacts like the Harmsworth Jewel.'

'Against his better judgement, Richard falls under Genevieve′s spell. He′s never met a woman like her, clever, perceptive, kind, ardent, confident in her own opinions, uncaring of society′s shallow judgements. But can he reveal the real man under the façade he wears? ' (Publisher's blurb)

'He's the last man she wants to marry – and he's the only man she'll ever love ...

'A reputation at risk

'What woman in her right mind would say no to marrying the dashing Duke of Sedgemoor? Miss Penelope Thorne, that's who. She's known Camden Rothermere since they were children – and she also knows she'd bring nothing but scandal to his name.

'Cam can hardly believe Penelope turned down his proposal. But if she wants to run off to the Continent and set the rumor mill ablaze, he can't stop her. Then her brother's dying request sends him to bring home the one woman he thought he'd finally gotten over.

'The only way they'll both get back to London without their reputations in tatters is to pretend they're married during the journey. That means kissing like they mean it and even sharing a bed – until it becomes hard to tell where the game ends and true desire begins ... ' (Publication summary)

'Anything can happen in the moonlight . . .

'Justice. That's all Nell Trim wants-for her sister and for the countless other young women the Marquess of Leath has ruined with his wildly seductive ways. Now she has a bold plan to take him down . . . as long as she can resist the scoundrel's temptations herself.

'From the moment Nell meets James Fairbrother, the air positively sizzles. Yet for all his size and power, there's something amazingly tender in his touch. Could he really be such a depraved rogue? The only way to find out is to beat the devil at his own game . . . one tempting kiss at a time.' (Publication summary)