A down-on-her-luck Victorian governess and an unrepentant rogue enter into a fake engagement during a lengthy voyage at sea in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s sixth book in her acclaimed Somerset Stories series.Stranded in India after being dismissed without a reference, governess Beatrice Layton exchanges her freedom for passage home to England, taking a position with the only family that will hire her. But Bea hasn’t reckoned for just how dreadful her new employers will be. Stuck with them at sea in increasingly desperate circumstances, she finds an unlikely champion in the injured ex-soldier traveling aboard their ship.Colonel Jack Beresford has spent the last fourteen years serving in Her Majesty’s Army. Though time has lent him maturity, it hasn’t dulled the roguish impulses of his youth. When he’s confronted with the tantalizing prospect of a damsel in distress, he naturally steps in to rescue her. His solution? An engagement of convenience, of course. One that will last only as long as their voyage.But once back on land, Jack and Bea’s simple arrangement is beset by complication after complication. There are former passengers to contend with, and meddling society matrons. Most complicated of all, there’s Jack’s family—his parents, siblings, and precocious nieces and nephews—all of whom seem to think that Bea might be perfect for him. Jack is beginning to think so too. All that remains is to convince bold, beguiling Bea that he’s perfect for her.

When Charlotte Grisham is saved from an out-of-control carriage by a handsome gentleman, she knows fate has sent her the perfect man. The Marquis of Hawksridge is titled, handsome, and heroic—precisely the kind of gentleman her parents want for her husband. Before Charlotte knows it, she is engaged to be married.Daniel Weston can’t believe his identical twin brother is marrying a lady he barely knows. Moreover, he’s begging off his own engagement party. Daniel allows his twin to talk him into going to the week-long house party in his stead…just for a few days. They used to pretend to be each other all the time in their youth. What could possibly go wrong?Charlotte immediately realizes her fiancé has sent in a doppelgänger, but continues the ruse so no one will realize her fiancé has all but abandoned her. Everyone sees her as perfectly behaved. But perfect girls do not share searing kisses with men who are not their betrothed. Charlotte knows her duty, but what about her heart?

A tale of danger, suspicion, and desire in Regency England by the New York Times–bestselling "consummate storyteller" (RT Book Reviews).Lord Thorpe's new business partner is not what he expected. With her billowy black hair and creamy skin, Alexandra Ward is stunningly beautiful, brashly outspoken . . . and the perfect image of a wealthy woman long thought dead.Straight from America, Alexandra finds London fraught with danger. Her appearance on Thorpe's arm sends shock rippling through society and arouses hushed whispers: is she a schemer in search of a dead woman's fortune, or an innocent caught up in circumstances that she doesn't understand?Someone knows the truth, someone who doesn't want Alexandra to live long enough to learn anything. Only Lord Thorpe can help her now—if he can overcome his own suspicions . . .

There's tension brewing on the high seas between a stowaway Indian princess and a British sea captain in this "vivid, sensual, and beautifully written" historical romance (Lisa Kleypas, #1 New York Times–bestselling author)."Star-crossed, swoony, steamy love. . . . A unique and truly resonant read." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times–bestselling authorPrincess Sarani Rao is on the run. In her best disguise, she stows away on the next British ship out of India. But her secret won't be safe for long. As the port fades in her wake, Sara takes her first salty breath of relief when a handsome old flame discovers her.The Duke of Embry has enough on his plate. Considering his troublesome new dukedom and his oath to queen, country, and crew, the last thing Captain Rhystan Huntley wants is to help the woman who broke his heart. Still, he cannot deny his lingering desire for her.With rough waters ahead, the two clash even as forgotten passions flare, but their journey to love has spanned years, continents, and countries, and will be their greatest adventure of all."Amalie Howard is the fresh voice historical romance needs right now. She deftly marries a classic trope to an original plot and the effect is superb! Her prose is delightful, her writing masterful, her characters unforgettable." —Kerrigan Byrne, USA Today–bestselling author"Readers looking for historical escapism will be swept up in Sarani and Rhystan's high-seas adventures." —Library Journal

#EnemiestoLovers#Oppositeattracts#OlderbrotherbestfriendJaded by fortune hunters who covet her wealth rather than her heart, American heiress Miss Elizabeth Armstrong has abandoned the pursuit of marriage. Resigned to enjoy her London visit before returning to New York, Elizabeth’s deep desire for adventures is ignited after a chance meeting with the cynical yet captivating Duke of Basil.James, a seasoned rake with a steadfast rule against entanglements with debutantes and innocents, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth’s wit and charm. Intent on indulging in a fleeting affair, he plans to savor the intoxicating pleasures she offers without any promises of tomorrow. However, Elizabeth proves far more alluring than he anticipated. As their passionate connection deepens, James becomes ensnared in a web of scandal and heartbreak.Will they find the courage to embrace the love that binds them, or will their affair end in ruin?

"First-rate sexy time-travel romance with a memorable cast."??Editor's Pick — BookLife Reviews, Publishers Weekly "A lush setting and memorable characters lift this novel a notch above most tales of romance." — Kirkus Reviews (Our Verdict: Get It!)She wished for love, family, and a place to call home. She never imagined finding it in fifteenth-century Scotland. Gwendolyn Reynolds's career path is secure...so why does she feel so restless? Haunted by recurring dreams, she breaks away on a soul-searching trip to coastal Scotland. But when a storm forces her off the road, she plunges into icy waters, only to resurface in the arms of a handsome highlander.Scotland, 1426. Fierce and feared, Laird Greylen MacGreggor has yet to meet his match. Eagerly awaiting the woman foretold in a prophecy, he never expects her to be a twenty-first-century stunner with a feisty temper. But when he rescues her from the icy waters behind Seagrave Castle, his first touch confirms that Gwen is his destiny.As sparks fly between the unlikely pair, they discover their passionate fate could be both powerful and deadly. Can Gwen and Greylen overcome centuries of differences to find true love?If you like your romance filled with steadfast lovers, steamy nights, and a dash of riotous humor, get spellbound by The Prophecy, the first enchanting love story in the Highland Lairds of the Crest series.