Showing results by narrator "Catherine Bilson" in All Categories

First published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice is the most polished of Jane Austen’s novels, with a humorous and upbeat mood. It was written at a time when the author’s narrative powers were fully developed and the story flows with an ease that conceals the skill of its construction. The plot line follows the sequence of a love relationship apprehended, misunderstood, and finally realized, which has since become a standard format of the romcom genre. However, Austen complicates the action by involving not one but four romantic relationships in the plot.

Much Ado About Nothing appears to have been written about 1599, shortly before As You Like It and Twelfth Night. The action combines two narrative threads: the spirited comedy of the courtship of Benedick and Beatrice, and the somber tale of confused love between Hero and Claudio. The first is a creation by Shakespeare and the second appears to have been drawn from an Italian source, either by Bandello or Ariosto. The action takes place in Messina. Eponymous lovers Hero and Claudio seem to be ideally matched and nearly everyone is looking forward to their impending marriage.

Relieved widow Marianne has vowed never to let a man have power over her again after surviving a hellish marriage. Determined to maintain her independence, she refuses to let her scheming nephew turn her into an unpaid governess for his daughters and takes refuge with Ellen, Countess of Havers, at the countess’ first house party.

The last thing Lady Perdie Crawford expected when she fled London was to encounter difficulties in securing lodgings as a lady traveling alone. Claiming a particular Scotsman as her husband was only supposed to be a brilliant tiny ruse. Except the damn handsome, devilish, charming scoundrel claims they are now truly married, and he must stay by her side to protect her from undesirables. Perdie was not looking for distraction, or marriage, or the love and attention from any gentleman. Yet, with each moment spent in Thaddeus's presence, attraction burns hot and fierce.

My dearest James, since the moment we met at the Bradford’s ball a year ago, I’ve been entranced by you. Do you remember our first meeting? I’ll never forget it. While the music played in the ballroom and everyone danced, I stepped outside for some fresh air and discovered a kitten which had gotten stuck between two branches.

As Napoleon's French force bears down on them, Major Harry Trentbury works diligently with a team of engineers in Portugal to protect the city of Lisbon. At every turn, he clashes with the professor's daughter, a beautiful and quick-witted lady who stokes both his anger and passion to rise, his need for her an infuriating emotion he can't seem to shake. As tensions increase and a battle becomes imminent, he rides out and fights on the front line, only disaster looms - she has followed him, disguised as a lad.

It all began when Fitzwilliam Darcy and his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stopped at the posting station in Bromley on their way to Rosings Park for their annual visit. Looking for some diversion, the good colonel happened upon a local Romani woman who was selling her people’s treasured moon wine. Find out what happens to some of our favorite Jane Austen characters when her advice is ignored in a very merry mix-up.

Lady Rosamonde Raven was a girl of 17 when the Earl of Winterly rescued her from tragic death. Six years later, he arrives at her father’s country estate for a house party and she is still irresistibly attracted to him. Unfortunately, her father has agreed to a betrothal between her and an arrogant marquess who is more than twice her age. She is shocked at her father’s decision, but even more so, she’s shocked to learn exactly how evil the marquess truly is. There is only one man she trusts with disclosing the truth - Winterly.

This collection is the sweet/tame version of the Regency Brides boxed set. These stories bring you all the adventure you expect between two people falling in love, without the inclusion of any explicit scenes or harsh language. Expect dreamy happily-ever-afters, no cliff-hangers, and a series that can be enjoyed in any order. It’s time to travel to Regency England where there are dashing dukes and loyal ladies.

Emma is a vivacious twenty-year-old, who has spent her life in the pleasant seclusion of a village community and who lives with her widowed valetudinarian father. Most of the neighbors admire and approve of her, except for George Knightley, a local landowner, who often expresses his disapproval of Emma’s highhanded and controlling tendencies, in particular her assumption of the unofficial role of matchmaker.

In the enchanting depths of Cornwall, Evie Kernow, a spirited rebel banished from the glittering streets of London, embarks on a journey where love blooms unexpectedly. Amidst a land steeped in secrets and smugglers, she stumbles upon Gryffyn Pascoe, a brooding and formidable figure. Initially unimpressed by the locals, Evie finds herself irresistibly drawn to the handsome owner of a fine estate—a man who has forgotten the warmth of a smile.

My dearest hussar...Harry, from the day you arrived at St. Vincent’s Fort six months ago, an undeniable attraction began to simmer away between us. Whenever I got too close to you, my traitorous heart skipped a dratted beat and butterflies would abound in my belly. You have tempted me with your honor and integrity, with your deep love for your family and your fellow soldiers-in-arms. I’m aware you will fight to the death to ensure Napoleon doesn’t end up taking Portugal, and so will I.

Kitty’s family is on the brink of financial ruin, and her hand in marriage is their most valuable asset. The spirited tomboy would rather care for her horses than tend to a husband—even if her betrothed is a dashing duke. But to save her family, Kitty accepts the dull life of a duchess, and the societal expectations that will surely crush her soul. Her handsome fiancé, with his extravagant stables and shared love of horses, takes her by surprise. And so does the attraction she feels with every whispered word and flammable touch.

When Lady Emily is trapped while fern hunting in an old mine shaft overnight with the irresistibly sexy Lord Markshall, she indulges in the sin of his delicious, melting kiss. After all, it's just one night...until the newspaper gossip forces him to propose. Lady Emily can't marry him, but a fake engagement can save her ruined reputation and prevent her scandalous secret from being revealed. The censure of prim Lady Emily is the ideal way for Lord Markshall to reinforce his image as a scoundrel and a rake. But to protect her, he'll have to choose: his covert mission or his heart.

For years, Captain Anteros Bourbon - a.k.a. The Cobra - has eluded his father. He has dedicated his life to fighting the war against Napoleon by building his fleet of ships and sinking his enemy’s warships, although he hides a deadly secret. He is a lost Prince of Naples and Sicily, and now his father has found him and is demanding he marry and produce the required heir. Never will he take on a wife though, or expose her to his dangerous activities, so instead he devises a plan to make it appear to his father that he has wed.

Lizzie Somers is a widow with means. But instead of retiring to her country estate, she’s off to London in search of a husband. She’s certain she needs a respectable, faithful man to give her the family she desperately desires. Until she meets notorious rake, Rupert Willoughby. He’s the opposite of what she wants, but exactly what she needs. And her heart leaps before her head can catch up.

Duncan MacKenzie is intent on destroying his enemy, but at every turn, he is challenged by fae compeller Ella Matheson, the sister of his enemy. He discovers she is his destined mate, but can they forge a love that defies the battle lines drawn between them?

Kidnapped as a wee lass by a fierce Highland chief, Kyla MacKenzie has been raised for the past 20 years as the chief’s foster daughter, the ruthless chief a man who threatened to kill her parents should she ever speak the truth about her abduction. The chief covets her fae blood, and when she’s asked to tend to a captured enemy warrior and discovers they hold a soul bond, all her secrets could be exposed and her parents’ lives endangered.

It’s been over two years since her fiancé, Robert, died at the battle of Waterloo, and Maggie Radley has spent almost all that time lost in a fog of grief. When she receives a letter from the war office, explaining that they have no record of Robert, she is determined to get to the truth.

Three identical brothers known as the "power of three" are on a quest to find their mates after being sent back in time to the year 1210 when their Highlander shifter clan first began. Nothing will deter them, not when they must save their future line from extinction. Cherub, the faerie king’s daughter, is one of the few who holds the ability to open a portal and travel through time. As a time-walker, she’s responsible for ensuring those of her fae-blooded kind living on Earth find their soul-bound match, no matter what time they might live in.