Showing results by author "Christina McKnight" in All Categories

Lady Patience Lane grew up learning to fight. She always expected she’d become a trainer like her mother until injuries from the ring led to her mother’s untimely death. Sinclair Chambers, the earl of St. Seville, inherited an insolvent estate. He has to make money, and fast, or his tenants will starve. The prize purses from the bare-knuckle mills will go a long way to solving his problems, if he can win them. To be a success in the ring, he needs the best trainer, and Patience Lane is the best there is - all he has to do is convince her that he’ll only fight once.

Lady Viola Oberbrook only wanted to forget the ill-fated early morning duel that took the lives of two young, wealthy, promising men of the ton and sent her fleeing for her father's country estate. Eight years later, she has her life in order: a fulfilling business, a few trusted friends, and no plans to return to London society. What she doesn't expect is to come face to face with her past.

Everything changed for Jasper Benedict, the Earl of Ailesbury, the night his family died in a tragic fire - the same fire that left him disfigured. Now, his scars have given him the name the Beast of Faversham. But when he stumbles upon a damaged carriage during a tempest, the beautiful woman inside reminds him of the man he wishes he could be: free of his past, and able to love.

Three innocent debutantes must work to solve the mysterious death of their childhood friend. With undaunted determination they pledge to not only expose the man responsible for their friend's tragic death on her wedding night, but to also uncover other unscrupulous men of the ton who would jeopardize the future of other young women.

Ruby St. Augustin must find the truth of her past to determine what her future holds. She only has a short time in London to uncover the identity of her real father and the secrets behind her birth. If anyone learns of her mission, she will disgrace everyone she holds dear. What she doesn't expect is to draw the attention of a man who doesn't care about his reputation or her past.

Lady Ellington, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy marquis, has spent her entire life hiding from London’s high society — both as a result of her own desires and those forced upon her by her overbearing and abusive father. When the marquis passes away suddenly, Ellie feels as though a weight has been lifted and immediately assumes her role as mistress of Drake House. Though, she is constantly looking over her shoulder, wondering when it will all be taken from her. And for good reason — no sooner has she shed her black mourning garb, a missive arrives, announcing an heir to the Marquisate: a person she has never heard of before, but one with enough power to change her fate entirely.

Despite being thrown from her home and stripped of her place in society at a young age, Madame Marce Davenport is proud of what she's accomplished with her family and the notoriously scandalous Craven House. Except it's all built on a lie. When an arrogant duke strode into her home years ago, offering her a way to keep the brothel open, she agreed to his game of deception. But now that her siblings have found their happiness, Marce can finally live the life she's always wanted.

Marcus Adair, the duke of Beargarner, has a secret: Due to the gross overspending of his father, his dukedom is on the verge of bankruptcy. When his friend suggests he court Lady Godiva, daughter of the earl of Garland, it seems like a marriage of convenience is the perfect solution. She’ll get the benefits of his title and protection, and he’ll get access to her father’s shipping empire. But when Marcus meets Godiva, he’s enchanted by her beauty and her bravery. A marriage in name only is no longer an option.

Miss Katherina Elliott leads a simple life, teaching impoverished children, just as her parents did before her. Kate knows little of her family’s past except that every three months, a mysterious benefactor sends her enough money to pay the school’s mounting bills. The envelope is brought by the solicitor across the street - a man Kate knows she shouldn’t want but can’t resist.

From Countess to outcast...Shunned by England's Beau Monde because of her Barbadian heritage, Miss A'laya Banesworth has spent her life yearning for true acceptance. When the Earl of Holderness courts her, she thinks that she's found true love. A'laya still faces disapproval and scorn from her new husband's family. Only the birth of her daughter, Katherina brings her happiness...Katherina is stolen from her, and A'laya is left without resources to find her. Still, she searches desperately, holding out hope that her daughter is still alive.

For years, Lady Chastity Neville has stood in the shadows of her dour older sister. But while bluestocking Prudence might be content to wile away her hours alone with a book, Chastity secretly yearns to shed her wallflower ways. When she finds an old letter indicating her mother may have had a scandalous past, Chastity is drawn to the mystery of the woman she never knew. This Christmastide, she’s determined to uncover the truth - and start a scandal of her own.

Payton Samuels has always known she wants more out of life than being the youngest daughter of the ton's most disreputable family. While her siblings are content to bet their future happiness on marriage, Payton learned early on from her mother that love is fleeting and leads only to disappointment. She's got a different plan: She'll work as a governess for Baron Ashford's children, but only long enough to win her fortune at one of his infamous masked gaming parties. When she loses big, Payton sees her chance at an independent life go up in flames.

Descended from witches burned at the stake, Lady Emilia Noble knows all too well how society persecutes the different. She trusts no one but her own siblings, never daring to reveal to anyone outside the family that she, like her grandmother before her, can read a person’s emotions through the changing colors of their aura. When her brother’s foolhardy boast that he can predict the future entangles him with the unscrupulous Lord Abernathy, Emilia is faced with a new threat: the ruination of the family’s finances and the unmasking of their secret past.

For years, Lady Melloria Whitmore has believed her childhood best friend and secret love Brigham Clarke agreed to marry her out of a sense of duty. Knowing how important Brigham’s work with Parliament is to him, she agrees to see him once a year, when he returns to his country estate for the holidays. This Christmas, Mellie vows to give Brigham the one thing he has always wanted: an heir. For one night, she’ll share his bed, and she’ll have that memory of passion to get her through the long winter nights without him.

When Silas Anson inherits the earldom of Lichfield from a father he never knew, he has one goal: protect his siblings. To do so, he eyes an arranged marriage with the daughter of the marquess of Blandford. Except Lady Mallory Hughes isn’t the normal debutante he expects. She’s inherited her family’s gift for predicting the future. For years, her family has kept her hidden away from society. If she is ever to have a chance at an independent existence - and love - she must get through this week without alerting Silas about her visions. But when Mallory touches Silas, she sees his death.

Lady Sybil Anson thought she had it all. Even a match of the heart, despite so many London elite marrying for convenience. But the night before their betrothal was to become official, the love of her life vanished - with a hastily scrawled note and little more.

Quiet, reserved Lady Ophelia Fletcher always has her nose stuck in a book; hence why she didn't witness the death of her friend the fateful night of her passing. Now, she writes the Mayfair Confidential column to expose unsavory men as a way of making amends for not backing her other friend's claims of murder. When a handsome stranger arrives to meet with her father, Ophelia is helpless to keep from investigating the dashing lord.

A man willing to sacrifice all. Andrew Penton, the marquis of Drake, is a man used to getting all he desires for nothing in return. But when a mysterious woman catches his eye, he's helpless to do anything but offer her all he is. A woman determined to take everything. Lady Lorelei de La Valette, daughter of the French Comte of Epernon, is new to London society and not the lady she appears to be. Her life has been controlled since birth, yet she'll have to decide if her destiny lies with her country or her heart.

Quick-witted hellion Lucianna Constantine has no doubt who was responsible for the death of her dear friend. And she will stop at nothing to expose his transgressions - and those of every despicable man in London. Lucianna has witnessed the cruelty of London's beau monde her entire life...starting with her own father. So she is more than willing to singlehandedly take down every vile man that crosses her path.

One tragic night changed sensible, proper Lady Edith Pelton's life: when her best friend fell to her death, pushed down a flight of stairs by a nefarious lord. Now, Edith dedicates her time to watching the man she thinks is responsible, while gathering information to expose other scoundrels posing as gentlemen of honor about London. When her spying is noticed by a perfect stranger, Edith finds herself with two mysteries-what happened to her friend, and how to win the heart of this brilliantly handsome lord.