An intelligent man realizes that letting go of his anger makes him stronger. Welcome to book 1 in the exciting new series from USA Today Bestselling Author Sandra Sookoo. Andrew Charles Storme—ninth Earl of Hadleigh—has been in a monstrous temper for the better part of two years. Unable to join the fight against Napoleon due to the declining health and subsequent death of his father, his rotten mood worsened when his two brothers survived the war with life-changing injuries. Ashamed, Drew retreats to his country estate in Derbyshire to spare them his ire. Why the devil was he not worth more than his title? Miss Sarah Copeland is a poor relation. In exchange for room and board, she’s become the governess to her great-uncle’s two rambunctious offspring. It was better than being tossed in the street, but only just. Freedom and imagination are found in playing a flute, especially since dreams of her future died long ago. When she meets her handsome, growling neighbor, she believes she’s finally found her purpose. After all, didn’t music soothe the savage beast? While Drew battles with his guilt and anxiety, he finds safety and solace in Sarah’s company. As they enter into a surprising marriage of convenience, the earl’s temper slowly begins to improve, as does her outlook. But while an unexpected romance blooms over the summer weeks, responsibility to the title rears its ugly head, and his temper flares anew, threatening to tear apart everything they’ve built. Only patience, trust, and love will see them through to a happy ending.

Weakness and courage are found in the same broken form if one can but see. Major Phineas Allan Storme is struggling with his new life. After being paralyzed from injuries received during Waterloo, he’s confined to a Bath chair. Depression bedevils him, making him feel useless and helpless. With his older brother sulking in the country and his younger brother no doubt causing scandal elsewhere, he’s keeping his mother company. What the bloody hell else can he do but be a companion? Lady Jane Marsden—daughter of the Earl of Worchester—is popular within the ton. Though she enjoys society life immensely, it doesn’t fill the emptiness in her soul. After having her heart broken twice over, she never lets males close, but when she meets a dark-haired man at a late summer rout, her thinking changes. The need and longing in his eyes draws her interest, but his personality captivates her mind. What could it hurt to introduce herself? As Finn and Jane strike up a friendship that blooms into something more, responsibility and duty constantly intrude, but each is determined to conquer the obstacles set before them. When an emotional misunderstanding threatens their romance, his depression convinces him he’s a millstone about the necks of those he cares for, and he’s determined to remove himself from life. It’ll take a harrowing night of heart-wrenching emotions for him and Jane to discover if love is worth risking everything to keep.

Sometimes, all one needs to usher love into one's life is to start counting sheep. Captain Trey Marsden—an honorary Storme brother if anyone were to ask—is spending a quiet Christmastide season in the country with his siblings as he battles grief over losing his father. But when he meets sweet, outgoing Miss Noelle Gedney—daughter of his father's estate manager—over a flock of stubborn sheep mere days before Christmas, his spirits lift. Perhaps the holidays won't be such a dreary wreck after all. A few meetings in the snow as well as a few kisses later and his heart is engaged as well as his desire. A simple change in perspective is all that's needed to usher in feelings of Christmastide—and love—all year long. The Storme Brothers The Soul of a Storme The Heart of a Storme The Look of a Storme The Sting of a Storme The Touch of a Storme The Fury of a Storme A Storme’s First Noelle (Novella) ( This story was first published as part of the Dragonblade Publishing Boxed set Star of Light, November 2021)

It’s the Christmastide season, and the Storme family has gathered for the holiday in the Derbyshire countryside. Now that the men have ironed out personal problems and have ushered romance into their lives, they’re ready to mend fences with their estranged cousins. For the first time in ten years, they’ve come together with hopes of recapturing the happy times they knew as children. Unfortunately, soothing familial ties isn’t as easy as enjoying plum pudding, rum punch, or stealing pastries from Cook’s kitchen. When two mysterious letters are found inside a writing desk, penned by their fathers before both men died, the visit takes on a more special meaning. Amidst long held secrets and horrible truths coming to light, there’s a scavenger hunt afoot at Hadleigh Hall. By the end, the Storme brothers, and their new brides, as well as the Storme cousins might just come to understand each other better in order to grasp a deeper meaning to the season, and a new appreciation of family.

Sometimes, the winds of change don’t come on a storm; they arrive with a beguiling breeze. Inspector William Storme is a Bow Street Runner who’s working a series of gruesome murder cases. His dying mother wishing to see him settled adds to the anxiety his position brings. So when he courts a pretty young lady, and she agrees only if he’ll let her accompany him on cases, everything seems to work out fine until the attraction begins and he’s forced to compete with another man for her attention. Lame and socially shy Miss Francesca—Fanny—Bancroft, daughter of Viscount Nattingly, is a budding society reporter for the General Evening Post, but she aspires to write articles on more important topics. When she encounters the inspector at a rout and he asks to court her, she presses her advantage. What’s more exciting than interviewing a Runner? The plan is sound until she begins to desire the mysterious, oftentimes grouchy man. While the murders increase, William and Fanny accelerate their investigation of a possible serial killer, but between the shocking scenes, an unexpected romance develops. Emotions swirl around them and truths are revealed as they track down clues and talk with suspects. Passion ignites between them, which leads to the murders becoming personal, bringing danger to them both. It’ll take intelligence and instinct to catch the killer before it’s too late, because their love and their lives now hang in the balance.

Storms are oftentimes disruptive, but they can also clear a path and bring perspective. The Honorable Isobel Storme is a lady adrift. Her family is broken, loud, emotional, and busy with other pursuits. As the youngest in the Storme connection, she’s always fought for attention, but now that change is imminent and inevitable, she craves a distraction in the form of a scandal, and if there’s a handsome man involved, all the better as long as he doesn’t come with a title, for she despises the ton. Doctor Royce Marsden is a surgeon of small acclaim. Though he’s the oldest son to the Earl of Worchester, his calling and his passion is running a clinic for wounded and rejected soldiers. Though he has no plans to do the pretty in society or to court a woman, he can’t avoid that reality when his father unexpectedly dies and plunges him into the title. Too bad the one woman who’s caught his eye is wildly and inappropriately improper. As passionately intense affair develops between Isobel and Royce, the pair embraces the heated attraction with enthusiasm. Free from commitment, they dance perilously close to creating the sensation Isobel has always wanted. But when life—and death—catch them into its swirling vortex, responsibilities intrude, as do expectations tied to the beau monde. Though fear and pressure hold them back, if they don’t fight for a happily ever after, it will never be theirs.

Not all storms cause destruction and chaos. Some make new paths and bring clarity. The difference is found within. The Honorable Caroline Storme has been furious with life since she was twelve. Sent to an asylum due to a suspected mental deficiency, she has finally returned to London, not with vengeance in mind but freedom. Wanting nothing more than to pursue her passions in peace, she vows to ignore everyone around her, until she meets the one man who understands her… a big, barrel-chested sailor with tattoos and a devastating grin. Mr. John Butler is in London to reconnect with his drunken, baron father before the man pickles himself. The family holdings are deeply in debt and decay, but he doesn’t care about them. Sailing holds his heart as well as his easy, carefree existence in Ipswich. That is until he runs into a woman in Hyde Park. There’s a quiet strength about her but also a banked fury that stokes his own… a woman with stormy eyes and a mouth that’s begging to be kissed. When London proves too much for them both, John is quick to offer a solution: a marriage of convenience despite vehement protests from the Storme clan. It will give her freedom as well as settling his future. But his blackguard of a father threatens the hasty union that is suddenly filled with affection and primal desire, the sacrifices offered might be too high for either of them to pay once love is involved.