Lieutenant Maxwell Davies returned from the Crimean War wounded and broken. He no longer fits into high society and wants nothing more to escape and hide the depth of his pain and trauma from the world. Miss Josephine Brewer is an outcast of society due to the scandalous nature of her birth. The illegitimate daughter of a gentleman and his mistress, she stands between two worlds—neither of which she completely belongs to. During a week-long house party, the two will succumb to a powerful attraction. Will Maxwell’s plans for a solitary life and Josephine’s unsuitability make any sort of future impossible for them—or will their burgeoning love prove strong enough to overcome it all? Previously published as Mistletoe Kisses in the Once Upon a Christmas Wedding anthology. Newly released with added chapters!

Captain Gideon Whitlock never thought to see the woman he spent one unforgettable night with again. His years at war have changed him into a different man—one he feels certain she could never bring herself to love. Sylvia Whitlock has moved on from being abandoned the man she eloped with following a reckless night of passion. Telling herself she doesn’t want or need him, she dedicates her life to healing the wounded, traumatized soldiers of the Crimean War as a nurse. When Gideon’s suddenly appears at the home for soldiers where Sylvia has taken a new position, they will both be forced to face their past. They must also consider what their future will be, and whether the pain of their separation will prove enough to keep them apart for good.