Miss Lucy Jones is all curves and covert operations.

She escorts endangered women out of London in the dark of night, guiding them to safety. She'd rather face a sword point than hear a man say he loves her. She's married to her cause and needs no other suitor, not even a terribly handsome stable hand who makes her laugh.

Keaton Godwin, Earl of Ennis isn't a stable hand.

He didn't even mean to pretend to be one. Things happen fast when whisky is involved. And he finds himself following a lush goddess wrapped in velvet out of London one dark midnight and to a house in the country. There he discovers a few uncomfortable truths:

He's a nodcock.

And he just might be in love.

But a fool like him has no chance of winning a brave goddess like Lucy. Unless he lies a little. Hiding his identity seems his only opportunity to remain at the women's refuge and learn how to be a better man. And to become better acquainted with the woman he can see himself marrying—her likes, her dreams, the taste of her lips…

Love grows like a wild weed in the country, but can it survive the truth?

A London heiress with a tart tongue. A country steward too busy for marriage. A dare like a kiss—surprising and dangerous.

Lady Georgiana Hunt, the ton's tartest heiress, loves cake and London but hates fortune hunters. Unfortunately, they love her. Or her money. They swarm like gnats until an unlikely partnership with her friend's brother-in-law sends them scattering. A fake courtship with the smoldering Josiah Evens, who is rarely in London, frees her from unwanted suitors without stealing her independence. But with no more suitors to fend off and an absentee fake betrothed, independence feels rather… lonely.

Josiah Evans, the ton's most cheerful steward, loves cake and the country and has no time to marry. He's too busy bringing the life and joy missing since his mother's death back to his father's estate. But he can't resist a lady in need, especially the haughty and bold Lady Georgiana. He can find time to punch a fortune hunter or two during his infrequent trips to London if it makes her smile. And if that smile makes him wish for life outside of work, he'll… ignore it.

When a dare brings Georgian where she swore to never tread—a Christmas house party in the country—she must dodge mud and merry making. And help Josiah fend off a devilishly daring debutante with marriage on her mind. Two dares, uncountable kisses, and one snowed in midnight later, these independent opposites face a greater problem—falling in love.

Not a day passes in which Lord Atlas Bromley doesn't fall in love.

And meeting Mrs. Clara Bronwen proves no different. She wants to work as cabinet maker on his brother's country estate, but he'd rather have the delectable, curvy widow with a steel spine in his bed. Clearly, he can't hire her. Working with her every day, he might fall harder, deeper, truer. Instant love can't turn into the real thing. Not for a wounded man like him.

Not a breath passes in which Mrs. Clara Bromley doesn't fear for her son.

To win her heart he'll have to convince her he's truthful. Unfortunately, he's not.

A prim lady with mischief in mind. An American rogue with ink on his hands. A house party where everything that's hidden will come to light.

Order should be Lady Prudence's middle name. Unfortunately, it's Anna, but that doesn't stop her from making sure the little naughty lending library she helps run is perfectly organized. She'd be a happy spinster keeping everything just so if her brother would stop shoving eager suitors in her direction. Including the appallingly messy Benjamin Bailey, whose confidence would be… appealing if his beard weren't so unkempt.

American Benjamin Bailey's future name is Baron Brightly, but he'd rather not talk about that. He's too busy running his printshops and trying to remember his schedule. When the Duke of Clearford offers to sell his shares of Ben's favorite shop if he'll pretend to court his sister, and discover her secrets, Ben agrees. Why not? The prim little lady couldn't possibly cause any trouble.

But when fake courtship becomes real kissing at a house party for ladies who like their books slightly scandalous, Ben must decide what he wants more—a printshop that reminds him of home, or the love of a lady who makes him a better person.

A single kiss ruined him.

How's a rake supposed to please the ladies if he's incapable of kissing anyone but her—Lady Charlotte Merriweather, the thorn in Quinton Chance, Viscount Noble's backside. He should never have kissed her. But what else is a man to do when a beautiful woman cries? Now the one woman who makes him feel weak is the only woman he wants. And he promised his father on his deathbed to never show weakness. A proper society marriage will help him focus on his duties as a peer and banish Lottie's kiss forever.

A single kiss awakened her heart.

Lottie has been in love with Quinton since he kissed her the day of her parents' funeral. But he apologized and ran, and now all he gives her is smirks and snide remarks. That's why she's determined to forget him, to choose a husband from the many men courting her. But none of them kiss like Quinton, and when she discovers his barbs hide softer feelings for her, she knows she can't give up. She'll do her best to romance a rogue and prove loving is no weakness.

The Duke of Clearford's Guide to Courtship will help Quinton woo a tepid bride, but Lottie will use it to romance her rogue. If these waring lovers can quit arguing long enough, perhaps they'll see that happily ever after begins with a kiss.

To protect his guardianship of his beloved younger brother, newspaperman Tristan Kingston turns to courtship and marriage. But the woman must be just right—maternal, proper, and unbothered by marrying an earls bastard. Dreamy yet practical Lady Andromeda Merriweather seems like the perfect choice.

But she's already taken.

Everyone thinks Lady Andromeda is engaged to a baron in Cornwall. She's not. It's a ruse to hide a bigger secret: she runs an erotic lending library with her four sisters. When the confident Mr. Kingston swaggers in, announcing his intentions to court her, Andromeda's in trouble. In every way possible.

Because she's got a secret, and he's a newspaperman.

Because he wants to marry her, and she's fake engaged.

Because he kisses her, and she wants more.

He doesnt seem to care she's unavailable. He doesn't seem to believe it. And while his attentions threaten her secret, he's a much bigger threat to her heart.

Shes naughty. Hes nice. But hes willing to change his ways.

It's his pleasure to please her.

Liam Fletcher, Viscount Norton didn't mean to ruin Miss Cora Eastwood. (He used to be a vicar, for goodness sake!) He'd meant to test the theory in the Duke of Clearford's Guide to Courtship that kissing reveals the heart. The theory—true. The outcome? Compromised. Not a good beginning, but he's determined to please the passionate lady he now calls wife in every way he can.

If he can find her.

It's her desire to desert him.

Who needs a husband when there's erotic poetry to write! Cora is determined to prove that sentiment true as she bounces from house party to house party, always fleeing before Liam catches up to her. But when he finally hunts her down, he makes an excellent argument for trying something new—a truce of passion, just her and him and an empty house in the country.

It takes two to heal a marriage, and if the pessimistic bluestocking and jolly former vicar can see eye to eye, they might also help each other heal their broken hearts.