Will his temper drive her so far away that there is no path back? Melanie's life has been full of heartache ever since her mother's death, and it only gets worse once her father remarries. Geraldine is the epitome of an evil stepmother. Though Melanie detests the woman, she loves her two siblings and becomes a surrogate mother that Jesse and Jessica adore.Geraldine's next plan, however, is one that even Melanie could never predict. On the day on which two strangers appear to take custody of their newest possession, Melanie learns the depth of her her stepmother's hatred as she is sold to slave traders. Standing on an auction block in a strange country, Melanie finds herself sold to the highest bidder, who is quite anxious to claim his prize. Managing to escape, Melanie's choice of a hiding place changes her life.Christopher Ashworth and his best friend, Nicolas, have spent several enjoyable nights at the White Palace. Neither has any reason not to sample the wide variety of delights offered by the whores, who are all eager to please. Upon hearing that there is to be a slave auction, however, they are disgusted, and Christopher climbs into his carriage, ready to return home and resume his duties as Earl. He never expected to discover a stowaway.Melanie awakens naked and in bed beside a total stranger. This was not the man who had purchased her. The two have an instant connection, and yet trust is not something that is given easily. Love is something Christopher has an even harder time accepting. The lessons he learned from his grandparents, Earl Thomas Ashworth and his feisty wife, Nancy, have taught him how to be an Earl but that no longer seems to be enough.Can Melanie show him that he is worthy to receive the gift of her love? Will Christopher's promise of helping her find her siblings and bring them to her come true? Or will the stress of keeping secrets tear them apart? What happens when Christopher's demons convince him that Melanie is using him?
Will he toss her aside, or make it his life's quest to tame the wildcat? Born out of wedlock in the nineteenth century, Lydia Parker has nothing to rely upon but her own fiery will. In order to earn enough money to make a living, she creates two identities for herself: 'Lloyd', a young skinny man who visits different peasant establishments to hone 'his' gambling skills; and 'Wildcat', a seductive vixen and call girl who uses her charms to gain access to the gambling tables of wealthy men.Lydia dares to push boundaries and take risks no other woman usually would in order to survive. The last experience she had with any sort of love was as a child. But when her half-sister, Lanie, is taken away, she vows never to trust or love again… until a noble earl enters her life. One she foolishly falls in love with.When faced with the discovery of two young siblings she's never met, Lydia has a hard decision to make. Can she force herself to break her own vow not to tarry with married men in order to save their lives? Will her false identities keep her safe as she enters the home of a woman with the intention of breaking apart her marriage? What happens when the very man who has stolen her heart turns out to be the same man whose life she has to ruin to save her innocent siblings?Earl Nicolas Townson has met and loved many women in his life, but none were ever as intriguing as the one wearing a mask who calls herself, 'Wildcat'. Their exchange across the poker table ended with a passionate dalliance in a dim hallway. Thoughts of the alluring woman refuse to leave his mind, and his best friend's teasing are not the least bit amusing. He has never had difficulty in charming a woman into his bed. But, while he enjoys a tigress in his bed, he has no tolerance for manipulative, scheming women. When he discovers Lydia's duplicity, he knows he has to make a choice. Will he toss her aside, or make it his life's quest to tame the wildcat and make the little feline purr… even if he has to spank her bottom raw first?
«… Тем не менее всякий раз, как кто-нибудь входил в вокзал или экипаж останавливался перед входной дверью, у молодого человека в синих очках сердце расширялось, как пузырь, колени начинали дрожать, саквояж готов был выпасть из рук, а очки сваливались с носа, на котором, кстати сказать, они сидели совсем криво. Но стало еще хуже, когда, после долгого ожидания, из боковой двери, единственного места, за которым он не наблюдал, показалась женщина, вся в черном, с густым вуалем на лице, держа в руках темный сафьяновый саквояж, в котором, как я впоследствии установил, находились чудесный капот и голубые атласные туфли. Женщина и молодой человек пошли друг другу навстречу, смотря направо и налево, но не прямо перед собой. Они сошлись, соединили руки и несколько минут стояли, задыхаясь и дрожа, охваченные тем острым волнением, за которое я отдал бы сто лет жизни философа. …»
Если долго противостоять назойливому и настойчивому сеньору, можно ли уберечь сердце от любви и простить не только обиды, но и унижение?
Because of a case of mistaken identity, Alice Whiteshead must marry a man she has never met. And a duke no less! But if anyone thought that she would let them walk all over her…well they have another thing coming!
But there is a lot more to the story that she is unaware of, and an evil from years past has reared its ugly head. It is up to a group of rather unique individuals to set things right and piece together the mystery of the Tiger’s Eye. Even if some (most) of those aforementioned individuals are determined to harass a certain duke to his wit’s end before the wedding!