294. The Duchess (Bertrice Small)

Georgian England

Synopsis from Amazon:
Quinton Hunter, duke of Sedgwick, has the bluest blood in England, "even bluer than the king's," but because his forebears gambled away the family fortune, he is now all but bankrupt so he must find a bride who is not only worthy but wealthy. Allegra Morgan is the daughter of the richest man in England, but because her mother was a woman of questionable virtue who left her husband and remarried an Italian count, a permanent stain mars polite society's view of her. Despite their initial dislike for one another, Quinton and Allegra decide to follow the dictates of cultural norms and consent to a marriage of convenience that will benefit both families. Inevitably, they become overwhelmed by each other's charms and love ensues. But there is no immediate happily ever after, as the plight of a French countess in distress draws the duo into a mission to save her from the Reign of Terror.

My rating: 1 star

277. I Love Rogues (Bertrice Small, Thea Devine, Jane Bonander)

Synopsis from Amazon UK:
Zuleika And The Barbarian -- Princess Zuleika of Dariyabar has no intention of marrying her ruthless cousin, even if she has to give herself to the enemy, the barbarian AmirKhan, to be free of him. AmirKhan is both intrigued and amused by Zuleika and with each night of seduction and surrender, the barbarian finds himself succumbing to love's decisive victory.
All The Secret Pleasures -- Corinna Woodholme is on the prowl and she's already set her sights on a new candidate for the position of sensual plaything: Simon Charlesworth, whose heart she broke many years before. To win Corinna's hand, he'll play whatever erotic games she likes.
A Taste Of Honey -- To save her father from the poor house, Honey DeHaviland agrees to marry a wealthy Greek importer on the island of Crete. Before resigning herself to a loveless marriage, she indulges in one night of passion with Nick Stamos, a rakish American who rescued her from lecherous sailors. She never expects to see him again -- or for him to be her escort to Crete!

My rating: 4 stars

217. Betrayed (Bertrice Small)

Synopsis from Amazon:
Left orphaned at a young age and in charge of her four younger sisters, Fiona Hay has struggled to do everything possible to take care of them. This was not always easy, living in an isolated ben in Scotland, with only two family retainers to help out. Fiona gets one sister married off and two more are ready to do so tomorrow. Only one problem ... they have no dowry. What does the head of the family do? Simple, Fiona steals eight heads of cattle from the neighboring Gordon clan to use as the sisters' dowries. Black Angus Gordon, chieftain laird of Clan Gordon, tracks the wily thief to the Ben of the Hay. He is astounded to find a household of women, one of whom is obviously the thief. Not able to hang Fiona Hay as a thief, yet unwilling to lose face in front of his clansmen, Angus accepts Fiona's outrageous proposal to take her as his mistress in payment. Both young lovers are strong willed and stubborn about confessing their feelings for each other. Circumstances and politics combine to cruelly come between the two, effectively setting a hard course for the two to follow.

My rating: 3 stars

73. Fascinated (Bertrice Small, Susan Johnson, Thea Devine, Robin Schone)

Synopsis from Amazon:
Set in 1750, Small's "Mastering Lady Lucinda" finds the young, widowed Lady Lucinda Harrington publicly humiliating three suitors. Incensed, they conspire to have her kidnapped and trained to enjoy the pleasures of matrimony. Lucinda, however, is a woman ahead of her time, and has a trick or two up her sleeve. "Risking It All," Johnson's contribution, also features a young widow. She is Felicia Greenwood, who gambles in Monte Carlo to save her villa. Just as she is about to lose her fortune, a handsome stranger offers assistance. Victorian-era principles notwithstanding, Felicia repays her mysterious benefactor by spending some wanton hours with him. Set in 1812, Devine's "The Pleasure Game" finds the virginal Lady Regina Olney conspiring against her protective, scheming father by learning the ways of the world from the proverbial boy next door. Finally, there's Schone's outr "A Man and a Woman." Its protagonist is a 48-year-old vicar's widow named Megan, who trades places with a local prostitute to experience a night of sexual abandon with a man dressed as an Arab, who's probably the first 53-year-old eunuch to be a romantic hero.

My rating: 5 stars

20. Hellion (Bertrice Small)

Synopsis from Amazon UK:
Ruling her family lands with an iron hand after the death of her father, Isabelle of Langston meets her match in Hugh Fauconier, the Saxon heir to Langston Keep who has been made her husband by order of the king.

My rating: 4 stars