Socialite evenings

Sample

Joan Smith

Emma, having gone at seventeen directly from her papa's home to her husband's arms, is now widowed at age twenty-two--and quite naive in the ways of the world: in particular, how to find herself another match! Thus, she proposes to Lord Hansard, eyeing him as a husband who would let her enjoy her freedom and discourage the presence of interfering relatives. His blunt refusal is both surprising . . . and oddly disappointing. Nick, however, has taken it upon himself to procure a suitable man for this outrageous miss, though none of the candidates are nearly as qualified as . . . well, himself. Thus Emma begins to suspect that when it comes to a decent proposal, even a gentleman has the right to change his mind.

Sample

Mary Jo Putney

They called him the Demon Earl. They said he could do anything. Son of a rogue and a gypsy, Nicholas Davies was a notorious rake until a shattering betrayal left him alone and embittered in the Welsh countryside. Desperation drives quiet schoolteacher Clare Morgan to ask the Demon Earl to help save her village. Unwilling to involve himself in the problems of others, Nicholas sets an impossible price on his aid --- only if Clare agrees to live with him for three months, letting the world think the worst, will he intervene. Furiously, Clare accepts his outrageous challenge, and finds herself drawn into a glittering Regency world of danger and desire. As allies, she and Nicholas fight to save her community. As adversaries, they explore the hazardous terrain of power and sensuality. And as lovers, they surrender to passion that threatens the very foundations of their lives....

Sample

Christi Caldwell

Adair Thorne has just watched his gaming-hell dream disappear into a blaze of fire and ash, and he's certain that his competitors, the Killorans, are behind it. His fury and passion burn even hotter when he meets Cleopatra Killoran, a tart-mouthed vixen who mocks him at every turn. If she were anyone else but the enemy, she'd ignite a desire in him that would be impossible to control.

Sample

Diane Farr

After a tragic loss, Celia Delacourt accepts an unexpected holiday invitation -- which is, in fact, a thinly veiled matchmaking attempt. For the lonely Celia and a reluctant young man, it turns out to be a Christmas they'd never forget.