Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,355

stir things up. Filled with a love of books, Lana put pen to paper and decided happy endings were a must in her stories.

Her latest series is The Rogue Chronicles, set in the Regency era, where rogues meet their match in the most delightful way. The Seven Curses of London series, set in Victorian London, is about men and women who attempt to battle the ills of London, and the love they find that truly gives them something worth fighting for.

Her medieval trilogy is set in England and follows heroes seeking vengeance only to find love when they least expect it. The second trilogy begins on the Scottish border and follows the second generation of the de Bremont family.

The Secret Trilogy, set in Victorian London, follows three lords injured in an electromagnetic experiment gone wrong and the women who help heal them through the power of love.

She writes in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two sons, and a lab, and loves hearing from readers. Connect with her at www.lanawilliams.net.

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THE DUKE’S CHRISTMAS LIST

by

BRONWEN EVANS

Unconventional Lady Charlotte Dunbar has particular notions with regard to her future. She refuses to follow her brother’s decree and society’s conventions by accepting her old childhood friend’s offer of a marriage of convenience. Now, armed with a stolen copy of Blade’s secret—and disgustingly traditional—list of what he really wants in a wife, Charlotte sets about convincing him that she is not—and never will be—the kind of woman he’s looking for.

Charles Spencer, Duke of Bladen—a cynic who doesn’t believe in true love—sees a ruthless rake setting up his childhood friend, Lady Charlotte Dunbar, as a target for seduction, and he is determined to prevent her ruin by marrying her himself. With the aid and connivance of her brother, Blade must convince the reluctant—and increasingly eccentric—lady—that he is the man who will fulfill all her dreams. After all, what a duke wants… to his surprise is love.

Prologue

London, May 1815

Much to Blade’s regret, one did not win a fair maiden’s heart by hiding in the shadows. He’d been doing far too much lurking of late.

Issuing an oath under his breath, he surveyed his quarry from behind the potted palm. The sight was enough to make a man want to draw blood. Lady Harriet Rondell had just finished a waltz with Lord Fallon, and Blade had to stop himself from striding across the room and ripping her from the dissolute rake’s arms.

He bit his inside cheek. How humbling. Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow, resorting to spying on the one woman he would court this very night if he was free. But he was not at liberty to do so. The Prince Regent had requested his services for the season, and he’d been unable to refuse. His mission meant playing a role that was not conducive to courting Lady Harriet.

His hands formed fists as he watched Lord Fallon expertly guide the deep blue silk covered beauty toward the French doors and out onto the terrace. Lord save him from gullible debutantes. Harriet had accompanied a known rake onto a moonlit terrace in the middle of a grand ball with no thought to her safety or that of her reputation. Just typical.

Blade let out a slow breath, trying to rein in his anger. Where the hell was Harriet’s brother, Viscount Trello? He should ensure men like Lord Fallon didn’t get anywhere near his sister.

However, in all fairness, most of the men in attendance this evening were coveting Lady Harriet. She was an absolute diamond of the first water. The daughter of an earl with a large dowry always found favor. To add to her appeal, she had an enchanting smile, an intensely feminine grace, and a curvaceous body that set all his, and most of the men attending tonight, primal male urges flaming.

Blade pushed away from the column he hid behind and forged a path through the glittering bejeweled sea of company. Fury and fear twisted his guts. Rumors surrounded Lord Fallon, but what was fact, was that Fallon desperately needed a wealthy wife. And desperate men were dangerous men.

They had flung the terrace doors open to ease the heat from the chandeliers and the crush of perfumed soaked bodies. Blade paused in the open doorway to let his eyes adjust to the darkness. It took him mere moments to focus on the couple near the stone balustrade.

To his immense relief, Lady Harriet seemed to have realized her mistake and was trying to edge round Lord Fallon to head