
Part of Series
From nationally bestselling author Elizabeth Thornton comes a sensuous new tale of true love and fiery romance—under the most intriguing of circumstances. Case Devere, the steely-eyed earl of Castleton, has agreed to help Special Branch track down a notorious killer—one who just happens to be his archenemy. But he finds more than he bargained for when his search leads him to Jane Mayberry, a beautiful bluestocking passionately devoted to the cause of women’s rights—and to protecting her privacy. As irresistible as she is uncooperative, the spirited Jane arouses Case’s interest—as well as his worst suspicions—when she quietly disappears. Determined to find the one woman who may hold the key to his investigation—and to his heart—Case goes after her. Though their sparring belies an attraction too powerful to deny, Jane knows there can never be anything between herself and the strong-willed earl. For she bears a dark and terrifying secret that must remain hidden—even at the cost of a broken heart. As Case fights for the love of the one woman who has ever mattered to him, they are swept into a deadly game by a killer who won’t stop until he has punished them both.
Author

Mary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today. She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg. As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist). After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books. She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages. Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.