From the Inside Flap
CHECK OUT USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, COLLETTE CAMERON'S COMPLETE LIBRARY OF REGENCY AND SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER ROMANCE SERIES:
THE HONORABLE ROGUES®
Are you ready for rousing, emotional, and romantic historical Regency romance quick-read capers you won't want to put down?
· A Kiss for a Rogue
· A Bride for a Rogue
· A Rogue's Scandalous Wish
· To Capture a Rogue's Heart
· The Rogue and the Wallflower
· A Rose for a Rogue
· 'Twas the Rogue Before Christmas
· A Rogue Worth the Risk
FOR THE LOVE OF AN EARL SERIES
Enthralling Regency adventures brimming with intrigue, lovable scoundrels, strong heroines, and unforgettable, sigh-worthy romance.
· Earl if Wainthorpe
· Earl of Scarborough
· Earl of Keyworth
· Earl of Renshaw
THE CULPEPPER MISSES: REGENCY HISTORICAL ROMANCES
Read the Culpepper sisters saga for page-turning, humorous, and satisfying historical Regency romance romps you can't forget. Giggles guaranteed.
· The Earl and the Spinster
· The Marquis and the Vixen
· The Lord and the Wallflower
· The Buccaneer and the Bluestocking
· The Lieutenant and the Lady
HIGHLAND HEATHER ROMANCING A SCOT: CASTLE BRIDES
Pamper yourself with Scottish Regency historical romances packed with intrigue, smoldering passion, and page-turning surprises.
· The Viscount's Vow
· The Highlander's Heiress
· The Earl's Enticement
· Triumph and Treasure
· Virtue and Valor
· Heartbreak and Honor
· Scandal's Splendor
· Passion and Plunder
· Seductive Surrender
· A Yuletide Highlander
SEDUCTIVE SCOUNDRELS SERIES
Indulge in these captivating, emotion-laden and quick-read historical Regency romances sure to warm your heart and put a smile on your face.
· A Diamond for a Duke
· Only a Duke Would Dare
· A December with a Duke
· What Would a Duke Do?
· Wooed by a Wicked Duke
· Duchess of His Heart
· Never Dance with a Duke
· Wedding Her Christmas Duke
· The Debutante and the Duke
· Loved by a Dangerous Duke
· How to Win a Duke's Heart
· When a Duke Desires a Lass
· My Dearest Duke
DAUGHTERS OF DESIRE SERIES (Scandalous Ladies)
Read these engaging, sweet romances featuring loveable rogues, scandalous secrets, a pinch of mystery, and a dash of humor for page-turning reads you won't soon forget.
· A Lady, A Kiss, A Christmas Wish
· No Lady for the Lord
· Love Lessons for the Lady
· His One and Only Lady
· Never a Proper Lady
· Lady Tempts a Rogue
CHRONICLES OF THE WESTBROOK BRIDES
A dazzling new series introducing the Westbrook family from USA Today bestselling author Collette Cameron. Perfect for Bridgerton fans, this saga is chock-full of humor, intrigue, heartwarming loyalty, and sigh-worthy romantic adventures, featuring charming and often scandalous rogues and the spirited and unconventional women who become the Westbrook Brides.
· Midnight Christmas Waltz - Prequel
· Mission at Midnight
· The Midnight Marquess
· Minuet at Midnight
· Moonlight Wishes and Midnight Kisses
· Holly, Mistletoe, and Midnight Snow
· The Wallflower's Midnight Waltz
· Kiss a Rake at Midnight
· Unmasked at Midnight
HEART OF A SCOT
Indulge in these captivating, emotion-laden, spicy Highlander suspense romances sure to warm your heart and put a smile on your face.
· To Love a Highland Laird
· To Redeem a Highland Rake
· To Seduce a Highland Scoundrel
· To Woo a Highland Warrior
· To Enchant a Highland Earl
· To Defy a Highland Duke
· To Marry a Highland Marauder
· To Bargain with a Highland Buccaneer
· A Christmas Kiss for a Highlander
From the Back Cover
Excerpt - A Rogue Worth the Risk
Essex, England
Nottingshire Court
Home of Lady Pandora Osborne
Middle of January — Evening
I shouldn't have come.
This was a monumental mistake. A sodding, imbecilic, bloody mistake.
Putting two fingers to the jagged scar zigzagging across his left cheek, Caspian Graystone, Baron Strathmore—called the blackhearted baron behind his back and occasionally to his face—paused inside the ballroom's glittering entrance.
Why had he allowed Ronan Brockman and Manchester, Marquess of Sterling, to talk him into attending what was certain to be a week-long, excruciatingly tedious pain in the posterior? Cynicism bent Caspian's mouth upward, and anyone glancing in his direction would recognize him for what he was—a jaded, sardonic skeptic.
Elegantly coiffed ladies draped in sparkling jewels and swathed in silks and satins in every shade of the rainbow twirled around the chalked parquet dance floor with gentlemen attired in the first stare of fashion.
Pretentious popinjays and conceited coxcombs, the lot.
Nay, not all of the fellows.
According to Brockman, a few other sensible chaps made the coveted guest list, though how Brockman came by that exclusive information was anyone's guess. The Earls of Hythe, Bixley, and Barington, as well as Viscounts Harcourt, Silverton, and the Duke of Sedgewick were expected. Whether the lords chose to subject themselves to this gratuitous torment or not, however...
They were the only thing that kept Caspian from turning on his heel and sequestering himself for the evening in the study or library with a bottle of prime scotch. Mayhap not a bottle, but a dram or two.
In truth, the notion tempted greatly.
Though an aristocrat by birthright, Caspian didn't belong here—didn't belong amongst le beau monde. The ton had made that perfectly clear six years ago. Regardless, he'd made his friends a promise, and if nothing else—despite the smudges upon his dented reputation—Caspian was a man of his word.
In point of fact, just appearing tonight would suffice as the fulfillment of his pledge to attend the house party. No need to torture himself and stay more than a day or two.
Besides, he preferred to monitor Thirkwick Park's reconstruction progress himself. He'd far rather be there laying bricks, hoisting lumber, nailing flooring, or performing any number of other tasks required to rebuild the once-magnificent manor that had sustained grievous fire damage.
The very inferno Caspian had escaped by diving through an upper-story window—hence his scarred face and arm. The blaze had also taken the lives of his entire family: father, brother, pregnant sister-in-law, and demented stepmother, Florinda. Caspian would go to his grave convinced Florinda had set the fire in one of her frequent and ever more irrational frenzies.
With pure determination, he took a firm grip on his memory and veered his disquieting musings from that fateful night. With bored disinterest, he surveyed the festive tableau before him. The merest pinch of a headache throbbed behind his eyes as it inevitably did when he entertained recollections of the deadly conflagration that had left him alone in the world.
The fire that had also left Caspian a pariah to Society.
In an effort to ease the aggravating ache prodding his skull, Caspian rubbed the bridge of his nose. He stopped as two ladies passed, their eyes widening in recognition, before they dipped their graying heads together. The feathers in their silk turbans battled for dominance in a comical duel as the women broke into frenetic whispers.
Indulging the wicked urge to take them down a peg, Caspian gave them a devilish wink and skewed his mouth into a mocking grin. He knew full well that his scar pulled his mouth into a cockeyed, rather macabre grimace. More than one child had broken into frightened cries when he'd smiled at them.
So he'd stopped doing so.
He might be a monster in appearance but wasn't so in character. Unless one counted cynicism and taciturnity as character flaws.
Clutching one another's arms in alarm, the be-ribboned and be-ruffled dames practically fell over each other in their haste to put distance between him and them. It would serve the biddies right if they toppled, ample bosoms over even ampler bums, onto the dance floor.
Though he was loath to admit it, the encounter bothered Caspian more than it ought. Hadn't his pride been bludgeoned enough? Why put himself through this farce?
He searched the teeming ballroom for a single friend. He hadn't many left, truth be told. Merely a handful of loyal men who valued character over rumors. Friendship over titillating tattle. Who believed him and not the embellished gossip still circulating certain elite drawing rooms.
To be perfectly honest, the invitation to attend Lady Pandora Osborne's house party had taken him aback. They didn't travel in the same social circles, although she had been a close friend of his mother's many long years ago.
Perhaps pity or a misguided sense of obligation had spurred her to include Caspian. A perverted sense of curiosity or anticipation his presence would liven up an otherwise predictable gathering weren't farfetched motivations either.
In retrospect, the latter two were the more likely possibilities.
Barely suppressing a peeved sigh, Caspian pulled his watch from his pocket.
Not even ten of the clock yet.
Where was Brockman? Sterling?
Had they deserted him this early on?
Caspian skimmed his gaze across the crowd again. Hundreds of candles in the crystal chandeliers cast an ethereal glow onto the guests, creating a fairytale-like atmosphere.
Fairytale?
Balderdash and twaddle.
He'd put aside fanciful childish notions twenty years ago. When his invalid mother had died, and Father had married Florinda—the unbalanced mistress he'd unabashedly flaunted—less than a fortnight later.
There wasn't anything magical or mystical about the people gathered at Lady Osborne's ostentatious manor house. With few exceptions, the guests were shopping the Marriage Mart, hunting matrimonial prey, or intent on engaging in a clandestine assignation—perchance more than one naughty tryst.
A derisive snort escaped Caspian.
Heaven save him from such obvious machinations.
The bachelor's life suited him very well.
Very well, indeed, thank you.
He felt no pressing need to sire an heir—no need at all, in point of fact. As the second son, that task wasn't ever to have been his responsibility. Which was why—even as the barony's heir—he'd never entertained notions of marching down the aisle and voluntarily relinquishing his freedom for matrimonial imprisonment.
"Ah, there you are, Strathmore."
A sharp swat to his arm brought his attention to the formidable lady attired in black whose silent approach he'd missed.
His daunting hostess.
"I didn't believe you'd actually come." Lady Pandora Osborne, Pansy to her closest friends, scraped a probing gaze over him through her lorgnette. "Although Sterling assured me you would."
"My lady." Caspian dutifully bent into a bow. "A delight."
Though the silver curls artfully arranged upon her noble head scarcely reached Caspian's shoulders, Lady Osborne was a force to be reckoned with. A veritable dervish when she put her mind to something. Her ladyship was also the ton's most prestigious unofficial matchmaker and was renowned for her brilliant matches.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling romance author Collette Cameron® invites you to escape into the worlds of Scottish and Regency historicals. With a passion for witty and smart historical romance, Collette creates both entertaining and thought-provoking stories. Her roguish heroes and daring heroines are inspired by her love of historical trivia and castles, and she brings a dash of inspiration and a pinch of humor to every tale she writes.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Collette is surrounded by the lush greenery and rainy skies that inspire her writing. She dreams of one day splitting her time between the Pacific Northwest and Scotland, and in the meantime, she indulges in her love of all things cobalt blue, dachshunds, and chocolate. With over 65 books published and multiple writing awards to her credit, Collette is an established award-winning author of Sweet-to-Spicy Timeless Romances®.
If you're looking for an escape to the world of Scottish and Regency historicals, look no further than Collette Cameron. Her books perfectly combine wit and humor, leaving you both entertained and inspired.
Visit collettecameron dot com to enter her world of emotional and stirring historical romance. While you are there, sign up for her mailing list and get a FREE gift, plus entertaining newsletters, and the chance to participate in book news, giveaways, and contests.
