
Part of Series
He needs a duchess… Michael Ballard, the seventh Duke of Clarence hates being a duke, a title that was supposed to belong to his older brother Daniel if he hadn’t died in a reckless riding accident just weeks after their father’s passing. And thanks to a marriage contract signed by their father, Michael now finds himself betrothed to Lady Isabelle Griffith. It’s not that Michael is opposed to the idea of marriage, just being forced into one. Not only is Lady Isabelle his sister’s best friend from childhood, but she was meant to marry Daniel. How in the world is Michael supposed to see her as his future wife? She needs a miracle… Ever since her twin brother Marcus went missing when they were children, Isabelle has felt physically ill in crowded places and the thought of attending Society functions, let alone hosting her own, makes her shake with dread. Isabelle has no choice but to accept this marriage agreement and become Michael’s future wife, but how in the world will she manage her fears? An arranged marriage forces them together, but secret fears might drive them apart. Can the Christmas season work its magic with the golden glow of love
Author

Who knew I’d become an author? Not me. But when the opportunity knocked, I answered the door and welcomed it in. I approach life with as much positivity as I can—celebrating the hits and laughing at the misses. Nothing worthwhile is easy, and that includes everything in my life. But I have much to smile about—my lovely mother, a beautiful daughter, two precious granddaughters, my adorable dogs, and my sweet husband of over thirty years. He has always supported me—including uprooting to move to the other side of Charlotte, N.C. for a life change, just when we thought we were settled. If settled means not going after my dreams, then I never want to be settled. I give my all to things I enjoy—and that includes writing. In 2021, I hit the USA Today Bestselling Author list, and recently, two of my books were named RONE Finalists! I love to express myself to the point that my daughter avoids going to the movies with me because I’m that woman in the row in front of you who gleefully munches her popcorn and laughs at every hilarious scene. Loudly. Besides my family, I love chocolate, popcorn, laughter, and animals. I love animals so much that I frequently sprinkle them in my stories as secondary characters. They usually steal the show! British and American history have always interested me, so writing historical romances set in the U.K. and the US is where my passion is. When I was barely three years old, my parents divorced, and my mom moved my sister and me from New York to South Carolina to live near her parents. Juggling a full-time job and full-time school, my mother became my first genuine hero—she never waved the white flag when things were tough. And things quickly got tough. My grandmother, who helped care for my sister and me while my mother worked, became ill with cancer, and didn’t survive the surgery, dying before I was seven. Losing Grandma devastated me. She read to me and taught me to read before I started first grade. I credit her for inspiring my love of reading, and I credit my mother for encouraging me to turn my ideas into stories. When I was ten, my neighbor gave me her book club copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and it remains one of my favorite books. But it was Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna and Ashes in the Wind, that hooked me on historical romance and sparked my dream of becoming a published author. While I primarily write Regency Romance, I enjoy almost any period in American and British history. I love hearing from readers. To get in touch, email me at annastclaireauthor@gmail.com. To keep up to date on my new releases, special promotions, contests, giveaways, and more, sign up for my newsletter by clicking here. You can also follow me on BookBub, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.