498. Once Upon a Scandal (Barbara Dawson Smith)

Synopsis from Amazon:
A wedding night misunderstanding sends Lucas Coulter traveling around the world while his young wife, Lady Emma, is forced into seclusion. Seven years later, Lady Emma is penniless and desperate to do whatever is necessary to support her young daughter. Shunned by the London ton and abandoned by her rich husband, she has few hopes that she will ever return to the life she once enjoyed full of parties and laughter. No one ever would guess that this beautiful young woman is hiding yet another secret: her grandfather's gambling debts have forced her to turn to burglary in order to support her daughter. Late at night, she creeps along rooftops and relieves the rich of their booty. It's not until her husband, who has just returned to England, catches her in a compromising act that Lady Emma's outlook on life begins to change. Lucas offers her not the divorce she expected, but a bargain of sorts -- an heir in exchange for his silence regarding her penchant for thievery. As Lady Emma takes her place at his side, the wedding night misunderstanding gives way to a dark secret regarding her daughter's parentage that carries a double-edged sword. If she tells Lucas her secret, it will hurt him, yet if she continues to withhold the information, it might destroy any chance she has at regaining his trust. And as time goes by, she finds that a second chance with Lucas just might be worth striking another kind of bargain -- the forever kind.

My rating: 3 stars

304. Seduced By a Scoundrel (Barbara Dawson Smith)

Synopsis from Amazon:
After her father's violent death, it's up to Lady Alicia Pemberton to care for her dotty mother and profligate brother, all the while struggling to make ends meet in Regency London. When her brother gambles away the last of their money, a desperate Alicia offers herself to the infamous gaming hall proprietor Drake Wilder. He in turn proposes marriage. She refuses, but Drake makes it impossible for her to say no. Alicia finally agrees -- but to a marriage in name only. Drake believes it's his marital right to seduce her, and so their battle of wills begins. Alicia introduces her husband to society, and he charms them all, especially the women. But she is baffled by his two-sided personality: is he a ruthless gambler or a generous benefactor? They become lovers and decide to make the best of their marriage, until Alicia learns that Drake had purposely ruined her family and is using her as a pawn in his devious plot to further fill his coffers.

My rating: 2 stars

274. Too Wicked to Love (Barbara Dawson Smith)

Synopsis from Amazon UK:
When Miss Jane Mayhew discovers the love child of the Earl of Chasebourne, Ethan Sinclair, she is determined to see the arrogant aristocrat face his responsibility, but the last thing Ethan wants is to become involved with the prim and proper Jane.

My rating: 4 stars

265. Romancing the Rogue (Barbara Dawson Smith)

Synopsis from Amazon Canada:
When Michael Kenyon, the Marquess of Stokeford, finds his grandmother having her palm read by a gypsy beauty, he's convinced that Vivien Thorne is a fortune hunter. The Marquess is determined to expose her as a fraud -- and Vivien is equally determined to claim her rightful heritage. Yet neither the spirited gypsy nor the notorious rogue foresee the white-hot desire that turns their battle into a daring game where to surrender is unthinkable ... impossible ... and altogether irresistible.

My rating: 2 stars

222. Her Secret Affair (Barbara Dawson Smith)

Synopsis from Amazon:
Beautiful Isabel Darling is the only child of an infamous madam and an unnamed nobleman. When Isabel discovers her mother's diary and learns that her mother didn't die of natural causes, but was murdered to prevent the publishing of her racy memoirs, she vows to unmask the murderer. But to do so, she must leave her quiet life and enter the social upper-crust world of Regency London's ton -- a move that she manages with a bit of deft emotional blackmail. Bent on ferreting out a murderer, Isabel isn't prepared for opposition in the form of Justin Culver, the handsome, cynical Duke of Lynwood. Justin has nothing but contempt for his father, who has always been a notorious womanizer, but he'll take whatever steps are necessary to prevent Isabel from publishing the details of his father's sexual escapades that are included in her mother's memoirs. Vowing to thwart Isabel's investigation, he finds himself caught up in her search, becoming her protector from physical danger and the threat of scandal generated by her inquiries. Engaged in a battle of wills with the determined Isabel, Justin finds his iron-clad heart softening toward the beautiful blackmailer. Isabel is a woman with a tarnished reputation and a scandalous heritage. Justin is a powerful man determined to live a life of virtue and good reputation. Unfortunately, Justin can't help but be affected by Isabel's extraordinary beauty and Isabel can't help but be seduced by the man she grows to know as both opponent and lover.

My rating: 2 stars