One Night with a Rake (Regency Rakes) (25 page)

In 1817, the royal succession was in an uproar when Princess Charlotte died along with her newborn son. The Prince Regent would never father another legitimate heir, since he and his wife were not only estranged, she was past bearing. So the three unmarried sons of King George III embarked on the “Hymen Race Terrific,” as the London tabloids called it, in an effort to marry and then beget a child who might one day wear the crown.

Three royal dukes were in contention. Adolphus Frederick, the Duke of Cambridge, is the one featured in
One
Night
with
a
Rake
. He was the tenth child of King George III, and the youngest surviving son. As a spare heir, the Duke of Cambridge pursued a military career and was wounded and captured during the Flanders Campaign in 1793.

When the opportunity to perhaps put his own issue on the throne came up, even Cambridge didn’t like his chances since his older brothers would likely succeed him. He devoted a good bit of time trying to arrange a bride for William (the Duke of Clarence from
Waking
Up
with
a
Rake
). After he settled matters for William, Cambridge married his second cousin, Augusta, in June 1818. They were blessed with three children, but none of them ascended to the throne because one of his royal brothers beat him to fatherhood.

But that is a tale for another duke…

No book is the work of a single mind. Connie and Mia would like to thank a few people who were instrumental in bringing this story to life. First, their editor, Leah Hultenschmidt. She always knows what questions to ask to make a manuscript better. Next, their tireless agent, Natasha Kern. Because she works so hard on the business end of things, Connie and Mia are free to revel in the joy of making things up! Thanks to Ashlyn Chase, critique partner extraordinaire, and Marcy Weinbeck, their beloved beta-reader whose taste and sharp eyes Mia and Connie depend upon. There are myriad talented folk at Sourcebooks who deserve hearty thanks: Skye Agnew, Danielle Jackson, Kim Manley, cover artist Judy York, and many others. Connie and Mia couldn’t do it without you!

And they also can’t do without their wonderful readers. Thank you for taking their stories to heart and bringing your imaginations along for the ride. If you’d like to visit with either of them, please contact them through www.conniemason.com or www.mia marlowe.com. They’d love to hear from YOU!

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Sins of the Highlander

by Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe

ABDUCTION

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his strong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease.

OBSESSION

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the perfect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever.

“Ms. Mason always provides a hot romance.”
—
RT Book Reviews

www.sourcebooks.com

Lord of Fire and Ice

by Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe

His duty is to fulfill her every desire…

Brandr the Far-Traveled has seen the world and a good many of the beautiful women in it. His bed skills are the stuff of steamy legend, his sword sings death, and he can call up fire from thin air. No one in a hundred years ever thought he could be enslaved through trickery and forced to wear the iron collar of a thrall—least of all him.

Until all she desires is him…

Katla the Black isn’t just called so for her dark, silky hair. His new mistress has a temper as fierce as a warrior’s and a heart as icy as the frozen North. But inch by delicious inch, Brandr means to make her melt…

“Intriguing and absorbing… There are several surprising twists and lots of passion and fighting to keep the reader hanging on every word.”
—Long and Short Reviews

“Compelling with a rich narrative, strong characters, and nonstop action.”
—RT Book Reviews

For more Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

Waking Up with a Rake

by Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe

The fate of England’s monarchy is in the hands of three notorious rakes.

To prevent three royal dukes from m
arrying their way onto the throne, heroic, selfless agents for the crown will be dispatched…to seduce the dukes’ intended brides. These wickedly debauched rakes will rumple sheets and cause a scandal. But they just might fall into their own trap…

After he’s blamed for a botched assignment during the war, former cavalry officer Rhys Warrick turns his back on “honor.” He spends his nights in brothels doing his best to live down to the expectations of his disapproving family. But one last mission could restore the reputation he’s so thoroughly sullied. All he has to do is seduce and ruin Miss Olivia Symon and his military record will be cleared. For a man with Rhys’ reputation, ravishing the delectably innocent miss should be easy. But Olivia’s honesty and bold curiosity stir more than Rhys’ desire. Suddenly the heart he thought he left on the battlefield is about to surrender…

For more Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe, visit

www.sourcebooks.com