Part of Series
No good deed goes unpunished…and no blackguard unloved. Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe, prides himself on his reputation – selfish, black, and wicked. Or, at least, that’s what he wants everyone to believe. What better way to keep society from discovering his secrets? But when rumors arise that he is doing good deeds for charities, children, reformers—even nuns—he has far more to lose than his wicked reputation; he might just lose his dukedom. Jessamyn St Claire is determined to hit Lucien where it hurts most—his black reputation. Eight months ago, he ruined her sister, and now Jess wants retribution. Her plan? To take Lucien from rakehell to respected peer unless he marries her sister. But as Jess works to rehabilitate his character, she discovers that Lucien’s bad reputation is mere pretense. The more she uncovers, the more she learns of his goodness…and the more he captures her heart. Soon, it isn’t Amanda whom Lucien wants to marry but Jess. Little does she know that there’s one remaining secret with the power to destroy them both…
Author
I fell in love with historical romances and all things Regency—and especially all those dashing Regency heroes—while living in England, where I spent most of my time studying the Romantic poets, reading Jane Austen, and getting lost all over the English countryside. When I read my first Regency romance in 2012, I was hooked and longed to create my own independent and spirited heroines and dashing heroes. The best part of writing historical romances is falling into history—to live in the world of Regency England through my characters, with dazzling balls, beautiful dresses, and gorgeous houses that I would otherwise never be able to experience. I love the period’s rich history and find that all those rules of etiquette and propriety can be worked to the heroine’s advantage…if she’s daring enough to seize her dreams. In addition to earning my degrees in the U.S., I have studied theatre in London, Mexican history in Guadalajara, and Spanish in Ecuador. I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed visiting schools and volunteering with children's organizations in Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, and I have amassed thousands of photos I unleash on unsuspecting friends who dare to ask about my travels. I love to be outdoors! I've been hiking in Alaska, the Andes, and the Alps, including one week spent dangling off the via ferrata in the Italian Dolomites, and I love whitewater rafting (when I don't fall in!). I earned my pilot’s license at Chicago Midway (To all the controllers in Chicago Center—I greatly apologize for every problem I caused for you and Southwest Airlines), and it is my dream to one-day fly in a hot-air balloon over Africa. I adore all things chocolate, shamelessly dive into ice cream of any flavor, and guzzle Kona coffee by the gallon. A Doctor Who fanatic (everyone says my house is bigger on the inside), I am a terrible cook who hopes to one day use my oven for something other than shoe storage. When I'm not writing, I like to spend my time trying not to kill the innocent rose bushes in my garden.
