Richard and Rose Series

A passion they never expected…a mystery that could cost them everything. Rose Golightly is a country girl who thinks her life will continue on its comfortable course, but a series of events changes that for good. On a visit to the ancestral estate of Hareton Abbey, Richard Kerre, Lord Strang, enters her life. A leader of society, a man known for extravagance in dress and life, Richard is her fate. And she is his. Richard is to marry a rich, frigid woman in a few weeks, and has deliberately closed his heart to love. Then a coach accident throws his wounded body into Rose's arms. With one kiss, Richard and Rose discover in each other the passion they thought they'd never find. But the accident that brought them together was an act of sabotage. Somewhere, in the rotting hulk of a once beautiful stately home, a murderer is hiding. Richard and Rose set out to solve the mystery, and find the layers of scandal go deeper than simply determining who is guilty. And that doing the right thing could separate them—forever. Warning: This series is addictive. Passion and murder are a potent mix.

He has everything to gain by letting her in. And everything to lose. Richard and Rose, Book 2 Now that she's engaged to Richard, one of the most admired-and passionate-men in society, shy, awkward Rose Golightly can finally hold her head high. She never anticipated that her elevated position would make her the target of a dangerous gang of smugglers. Behind Richard's aloof, sophisticated facade lies a man of shrewd intelligence, fierce loyalty, and deep devotion to those he loves. He's willing to fight fair when necessary, dirty when cornered. Rose is one of only two people he trusts. All she's ever asked of him is that there be no secrets between them, but there are a few lingering dark corners he's reluctant to reveal. Now, Rose's childhood friend has made a stand against the smugglers that rule the coast, unwittingly putting Rose in danger. With her life at stake, there's only one way Richard can save her-even if it means his bride has to trade her wedding gown for widow's weeds. This series is addictive. Passion and murder are a potent mix.

Richard and Rose, Book 3 At long last, it is Lord and Lady Strang's wedding day. Yet no sooner do Richard and Rose leave their wedding breakfast than two shots ring out, forcing a hasty change in honeymoon plans. Instead of traveling together by yacht, Richard goes on ahead, making sure the road to Venice is safe for his beloved. Rose is by no means alone, however. Along her journey by packet, coach, even mule, she befriends a charming young couple, the Ravens, who have a strange confession to make. They claim they are traveling incognito—and are really the newlywed Lord and Lady Strang! Once reunited in Venice, Richard and Rose heat up the sheets, making Richard consider the delightful possibility of keeping his wife in bed for the rest of their stay. Except Venice is as full of knaves as London, and one of them is still trying to find them with a bullet. The Ravens could hold the key to the assassination attempts. Or perhaps they are playing a deadly game of their own…

Scandal, murder and passion—an ordinary day for Richard and Rose. Richard and Rose, Book 5 When Richard and Rose visit his family estate in Derbyshire to celebrate the christening of their firstborn, Rose comes face to face with some hard realities about the powerful Kerre family. The vast majority of them are far from delighted with Richard's choice of wife. Plus, they think a man who shares his bed with his wife every night must have something wrong with him. Rose is driven half mad by Richard's overly careful love for her. Somewhere underneath that smooth, sophisticated surface lies the passionate, intense lover she longs for—and she takes steps to seduce that savage lover back into her bed. Their joyous occasion is marred by the theft of a valuable necklace. Richard's family looks to him to solve the crime—but something isn't adding up. Evidence pointing to two trusted servants seems too convenient…and then they're murdered. From the tangle of jealousies, secrets and desperate lies, Richard and Rose once again dance on the edge of danger to achieve justice—without dragging the family name into public scandal.

Secrets can destroy you—and the one you love most. Richard and Rose, Book 6 As Richard returns with Rose to her childhood home of Darkwater for two weddings, romance is in the air—but so is trouble. It begins with Rose's stolen watch. Tensions rise when they learn their old adversaries, the Drurys, have taken a house nearby. A series of attacks on those they love, plus a rise in smuggling activity, only add to the threat of violence. Then illness strikes at the worst possible time, threatening everyone in the district—especially the children. Questions abound: Was the infection deliberate? Is someone striking at Richard through Rose, or are their enemies targeting Rose for information she possesses? Richard calls on his resources, public and private, to counter an enemy that threatens to destroy his beloved Rose. Rose is no helpless victim, however, and refuses to let anyone—even Richard—take away her independence. She finds ways to fight that aren't in his armoury. Whether he likes it or not…

Mystery, murder, and an old menace. It's enough to damage the strongest love. Richard and Rose, Book 4 Lord and Lady Strang return from their adventure-filled honeymoon, more than ready to settle into married life. After a few weeks living in his parents' Piccadilly mansion, Richard and Rose are restless for their own home, a space where they can work out the pattern of their new life together. House-hunting will have to wait. A maid in the household of Rose's aunt has been murdered, an act that forces Richard to reveal a dark secret from his past. Despite the desperate passion they share, marriage requires disclosure—something at which Richard has never excelled. In light of his revelation, Rose must find the strength to delve deep into the bedrock of their relationship while simultaneously facing the height of London society. As they work to unravel the clues that lead to a murderer, an old enemy launches an attack on their already fragile hearts…

Secrets can destroy you—and the one you love most. Richard and Rose, Book 6 As Richard returns with Rose to her childhood home of Darkwater for two weddings, romance is in the air—but so is trouble. It begins with Rose's stolen watch. Tensions rise when they learn their old adversaries, the Drurys, have taken a house nearby. A series of attacks on those they love, plus a rise in smuggling activity, only add to the threat of violence. Then illness strikes at the worst possible time, threatening everyone in the district—especially the children. Questions abound: Was the infection deliberate? Is someone striking at Richard through Rose, or are their enemies targeting Rose for information she possesses? Richard calls on his resources, public and private, to counter an enemy that threatens to destroy his beloved Rose. Rose is no helpless victim, however, and refuses to let anyone—even Richard—take away her independence. She finds ways to fight that aren't in his armoury. Whether he likes it or not...

They can escape winter's cold, but their nemesis has a long, icy reach. Richard and Rose, Book 8 On a ship bound for Portugal with her children and the man she loves, Rose should be blissfully happy. Except Richard treats her like she's made of porcelain. She's recovered from the childbed fever that nearly killed her, yet he won't share her bed and it's driving her mad. To win him back body and soul, she resolves to use every wicked, seductive trick he's taught her. Until a possible attempted murder on board puts them both on alert for the trouble that seems to dog their every move. Richard is almost relieved to have something to investigate. He loves Rose too much to risk losing her—which is exactly what could happen if he gets her pregnant again. When it becomes clear a series of accidents is no such thing, they realize an old enemy has caught up with them. It's imperative for Richard and Rose to work together to defeat this foe, but their new distance could prove their undoing. Especially when Mother Nature conspires to make them endure one last, desperate test of their love…

Short stories and a few extras about Richard and Rose. Richard and Rose live in the eighteenth century, a time of turmoil and adventure. They swashbuckle their way through eight books, and this volume is both a companion and introduction to the main series. "The Unexpected Samaritan" is a glimpse into Richard's previous existence as a rake and man about town. "A Question of Honour" explains why Richard leaves his family home early to arrive unexpectedly at Rose's home in Devonshire. "Barbara's Wedding" is an account of the wedding of Rose's best friend, and also shows how close the couple are getting. You can also read the story of how Richard and Rose came to be, and the story of their publication, in "Farewell, Richard and Rose."