A reckless lady, an earl who will do anything to keep her safe. Juliana can’t wait to attend her first season in London. Her close neighbor and childhood friend Peter is expected to join her. But when Peter’s father dies unexpectedly, Peter must stay behind to help his mother and take on his late father’s role as heir to his family home. After staying behind for the funeral, Juliana arrives late to London, the festivities well underway. But her expectations dim quickly at seeing how title-hungry society can be. The only person who has made her visit tolerable is her new friend, a girl her own age who longs for her former fiancé. When Peter unexpectedly arrives, Juliana makes a plan to get her friend back together with her lost love, though with little experience, she’s only able to make things worse. All while Peter still sees her as the child from their youth who needs constant scolding. As her heart turns to Peter, she's forced to become the sedate, sophisticated woman she feels he desires. But when her reckless behavior causes damage to her reputation, she’s afraid she’s too late to earn his affections. Peter, the new Earl of Alder Court gets more than he bargains for when Juliana talks him into a pretend courtship with her new friend. Instead of keeping other women at bay from ambitions of catching his title, it traps him into many of Juliana’s foolhardy schemes. When Juliana’s attentions turn in another direction, his pretend courtship might inevitably entrap him. He must do something quickly or risk everything he has come to hold dear about his lovely friend. Check out Johanna’s contemporary titles! \* This title has been through a new editor and has been given a new cover.

A tragic accident shrouded in mystery. A family burdened with debt and loss. A woman who will risk it all for the one she loves. Walter Longman is still heartsick for Patience Hawthorne, but he has given up pursuing her after her controlling mother refused his offer of marriage the previous summer. He must focus all his efforts on making a name for himself as a respected barrister in order to drive the heartache from his mind. But when his brother is killed in a mysterious tragedy, Walter returns home to Wallingford to piece together what little information he can. As he digs through his brother's affairs, he makes shocking discoveries that complicate the mystery of his brother's death. While he searches for answers, Patience distracts him with her charm and optimism, and he's afraid he'll fall into her spell once more. Patience is heartbroken that Walter's brother had been found dead, but she is determined to make amends when Walter returns home to Wallingford. Amongst his protests, she seeks Walter out and tries to assist where she can in his investigation. But the more they find out, the more dangerous it becomes. She will do anything to prove her love to Walter… even with danger lurking around the Longman estate.