Lord Julian Caldicott is standing in for his ducal brother as manager of Yuletide merriment at the family seat. Alas for his lordship, nothing is going as planned. Cranky relatives arrive uninvited, family squabbles ensue, and Julians annual case of the blue devils is worsening by the day.

Julian decides to combat the mayhem and melancholia by anonymously spreading good cheer. He arranges a series of discreet giftsfor the village church, for his nephew, for Caldicott Halls retired housekeeper, and othersbut every time he attempts to play secret Father Christmas, an unknown benefactor upstages him with gifts of equal generosity. Who is Julians competitor for top elf honors and why are they determined to make this Julians worst Christmas ever? Julian vows to find out!

Lord Julian Caldicott accepts a request to search for the missing wife of Mr. John Tait. Evelyn Tait disappeared five years ago, and as Julian attempts to follow a cold trail, he meets with resistance, lies, and suspicion from those who should seek most eagerly to aid him. Matters grow more complicated when the investigation drives a wedge of silence between Julian and his dear friend Hyperia West.

Julian battles his own past, unexpected enemies, and Hyperia's disapproving brother while searching for the prodigal wife, and just when he's tempted to give up in disgust, he realizes the lady is in serious danger. She needs not only to be found, but also to be rescued from imminent peril, no matter the cost to Julian or to the dreams he's dared to begin to cherish.

What if the steps they take to avoid marriage…

The last thing Asher MacGregor, newly titled Earl of Balfour, wants is a society wife, though he has agreed to squire Boston heiress Hannah Cooper about the London ballrooms. When hes met that obligation, hell return to the Highlands, and resume the myriad responsibilities awaiting him there.

…Lead instead to impossible love?

At her step-fathers insistence, Hannah Cooper must endure a London season, though she has no intention of surrendering her inheritance to a fortune hunter. When shes done her duty, shell return to Boston and the siblings who depend upon her for their safety or will she? The taciturn Scottish earl suits her purposes admirably—until genuine liking and unexpected passion bring Asher and Hannah close. For if the Scottish earl and the American heiress fall in love, an ocean of differences threatens to keep them apart.

The Prodigal Peer…

Lucien, Marquess of Lynnfield, disappeared from the family seat nearly a decade ago, and now he's back, ready to take his inheritance in hand. Questions swirl–Where was he? Why return now? What sort of man has he become?–and Lucien can't offer much in the way of explanations. All he knows is, the dearest companion of his youth, Lady Penelope Richard, is being courted by a handsome cad, and Lucien cannot allow her ladyship to waste her future on a scoundrel.

Or the Return of the Rogue?

Penelope hasn't seen Lucien for years, but she's been too angry with him for abandoning her to forget him. He broke her heart when he left the first time, and she is quite, entirely, completely over him–almost–until old passion stir backs to life, hotter and more dangerous than ever. If Lucien and Penelope are to share their hearts as well as searing kisses, they will have to fight their own worst fears and outwit an enemy who will do anything to keep them apart.

Hes cheated death

Lord Julian Caldicott is summoned by his estranged mother to search for old love letters she has misplaced. Julian soon realizes the letters along with other items of sentimental value have been stolen. The thief is preying on wealthy women, purloining mementos both dear and scandalous. If the missing items become public, many reputations will be ruined, including the duchesss.

but dishonor might yet defeat him.

Julian embarks on the investigation despite having no clues, too many suspects, and his distant and difficult mama at the center of the whole intrigue. In the midst of these frustrations, Julians ducal brother takes ship for France, adding more duties to his lordships already full plate. Before Julian can bring the culprit behind the thefts to justice, he must first come to terms with old betrayals that could yield new and deadly fruit.