Minerva Spencer

Inspired by true history and perfect for fans of Bridgerton, the acclaimed author sparkles with this brilliantly imagined story of romance between an undercover spy and an educated and strong woman in the first of a witty, Regency-set, feminist series exploring the role of women in a rigidly patriarchal society. Readers will delight in the rapier sharp wit, sexual fireworks, and thought-provoking entertainment of The Boxing Baroness. A Library Journal Best Book of 2022 A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books Romance Selection Of questionable birth, but made for greatness, the Regency-era heroines in Minerva Spencer’s thrilling new historical romance series possess both clever minds and unusual skills that enable them to go head-to-head—and heart to heart—with the best of men, including those of the ton . . . Magnetic and educated, Marianne Simpson has the manner of a lady and the looks of a lover, not a fighter. Neither of which explains her occupation as a boxer in her uncle’s circus, Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre. Nonetheless, when St. John Powell, the exquisitely handsome Duke of Staunton, begins turning up at her shows, she finds herself dangerously distracted by the powerful peer’s mysterious presence. With her safety at stake, Marianne’s days in the ring are numbered. But how long can she fight her attraction to the man the ton calls Lord Flawless? St. John Powell doesn’t just want Marianne Simpson, he needs her … to rescue his brother, who is being held for ransom by a treasonous English baron—the man all of Britain knows as the Rake of Rakes. No matter how little Marianne wants to see her duplicitous ex-lover, the man responsible for the humiliating nickname the Boxing Baroness, St. John must convince her. Even if it means climbing into the ring with the beautiful boxer and taking everything she’s got . . .

Bridgerton fans and readers of Grace Burrowes, Sophie Jordan, and Alexa Aston won’t want to miss this clever and exciting new love story from the acclaimed author of Notorious. When Eva de Courtney kidnaps Godric Fleming, her only plan is to stop the irritating earl from persecuting her beloved brother. But once she has the intriguing rogue in the confines of her carriage, she longs to taste the passion she senses simmering beneath his rugged exterior. Her forbidden plan is foiled, however, when Godric turns the tables, taking her hostage instead—and demanding they marry at once… The last thing Godric wants to do is make the fiery, impulsive Eva his wife, despite her delectable mouth and alluring innocence. He knows from experience that nothing is forever, not even love. But honor demands he do right by the lady, no matter how stubbornly Eva tries to hold on to her independence. And while the road to the Scottish border is beset with danger, Godric’s greatest challenge is to keep his hands—and his heart—from his captivating bride-to-be…

The cure for a willful wife... Drusilla Clare is full of opinions about why a woman shouldn't marry. But that doesn't stop the rush of desire she feels each time her best friend's brother, notorious rake Gabriel Marlington, crosses her path. So imagine her dismay when she finds herself in the clutches of a scoundrel, only to be rescued by Gabriel himself. And when Gabriel's heartless—and heart-pounding—proposal comes, it's enough to make Dru's formidable resolve crumble... ...is a smitten husband. She's sharp-tongued, exasperating—and due to one careless moment—about to become his wife. Still, something about Drusilla has Gabriel intrigued. First there's the delicious flush of her skin every time she delivers a barb—and then the surprisingly sensual feel of her in his arms. Gabriel even finds himself challenged by her unusual philosophies. And when he discovers a clandestine rival for Dru's affection, his temperature flares even hotter. But the real threat to their happiness is one neither of the newlyweds sees coming. If they're to save their future—and their very lives—they'll need to trust in each other and their growing love.

Bridgerton fans and readers of Scarlett Scott, Darcy Burke, and K.J. Jackson won’t want to miss this smart and stirring new holiday love story from the acclaimed author of Outrageous. A mean girl reformed... Once the reigning beauty of her social set, Celia--whom the newspapers dubbed Lady Infamous--has fallen on hard times and is practically destitute, her reputation in shreds. When Celia is forced to attend a society wedding as a companion to an elderly guest, she must confront the clique she once commanded; the gentleman she'd once hoped to marry--who is now wed to a girl Celia relentlessly taunted; and the powerful man who ruined her life a decade before--and is threatening to do so again... A hero transformed... Then there is Richard, the studious boy Celia used to ridicule, who is now gorgeous, wealthy, and more-than-a-little famous. As a youth, Richard was infatuated with Celia. He still seems intrigued, but Celia has acquired a shocking secret along with her hard-won humility. Will it put an end to the love blossoming between them? Does she have the courage to find out?

Meet the Bellamy sisters, five young women who will do anything to save their siblings and keep the wolf from the door. Lady Phoebe Bellamy will do anything to save her family estate—even marry the devil himself… The Bellamy family has only four months before they’ll lose the very roof over their heads. While Phoebe’s older sisters venture out into the world to earn the necessary funds, Phoebe herself—plain, levelheaded, and responsible—stays home to care for her younger siblings and parents. But then she meets Viscount Needham, a fabulously wealthy, brand new peer, and everything changes. When Phoebe learns that her father is determined to marry one of his daughters to Needham, she knows it's time to act. She certainly can’t imagine saddling any of her beloved sisters with the brutally handsome upstart. So, she does the unthinkable and proposes to Viscount Needham herself… Paul Needham attended the best schools, belongs to all the proper clubs, and can buy and sell half the House of Lords and still have money to spare. And yet the ton still treats him with disdain. Marrying one of their own is the fastest way to legitimize his place in society. But that doesn’t mean that he has to like his bride. He certainly won’t ever love her. Their marriage will be nothing but a mutually beneficial business arrangement. Except it doesn’t feel like a simple transaction when Phoebe is in his arms… They are complete opposites with nothing in common. Class differences and prejudices divide them. Is love enough to bridge their two worlds—or are they destined for heartbreak?

“Another carefully calibrated mix of steamy passion, delectably dry humor, and daringly original characters.” — Booklist STARRED REVIEW In the newest of her witty, Regency-set, feminist romances exploring the roles of women in a rigidly patriarchal society, the acclaimed author of Notorious hits the mark with expert sharpshooter, London circus attraction, and French expat Cecile Tremblay. Bridgerton fans will delight in the rapier sharp wit, sexual fireworks, and thought-provoking entertainment of the Wicked Women of Whitechapel. When Cecile Tremblay lost everyone and everything in the French Revolution, she never imagined that she'd earn her living as a markswoman in a London circus. But Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre has become her home, her family, and her future. Another thing Cecile never imagined was becoming entangled with the man gossip columns call The Darling of the Ton . But mere weeks after her rejection of his insulting carte blanche—and his infuriating engagement to an heiress—Darlington is back, this time to beg Cecile for help. And help him she will, by teaching him about honest work—and the right way to treat a woman. Gaius Darlington has always led a charmed life. Until now. Suddenly, a long-lost heir has appeared to claim his title, possessions, and property, Not only that, but Guy's fiancée has jilted him to marry the usurper! Yet there is a silver it's no longer Guy’s duty to marry an heiress to save the dukedom. He’s free to wed the woman he loves—if only he can earn her forgiveness. They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But fury is just a step away from passion, and Guy knows just how to arouse Cecile’s. . . Praise for Minerva Spencer’s Rebels of the Ton series “Brilliantly crafted . . . an irresistible cocktail of smart characterization, sophisticated sensuality, and sharp wit.” —Booklist (STARRED REVIEW) “Sparkling . . . impossible not to love.” —Popsugar

"Have you no decency?" Straight-laced missionary Sarah Fisher has never met a man like Captain Martin Bouchard. He is the most beautiful person--male or female--she's ever seen. Overwhelmingly masculine, elegantly attired despite months at sea, he is in complete command of everyone and everything around him: everyone, that is, except Sarah. But that's about to change because Sarah has bought Bouchard's mercy with the only thing she has to sell: her body. "None at all . . ." In spite of her outrageous offer, Martin has no doubt Sarah is a virgin, and a most delectable one at that. But instead of bedding her, he finds himself staring down the muzzle of his own pistol. Clearly, the longer she stays on his ship, the greater the chances that she'll end up its damned captain! Most infuriating of all, she looks past his perfect exterior to the wounded man inside. Can Martin outrun his scandalous past in time to have a future with the first woman to find and capture his heart?

He could be her ruin Hugh Redvers is supposed to be dead. So the appearance of the sun-bronzed giant with the piratical black eye patch is deeply disturbing to Lady Daphne Davenport. And her instant attraction to the notorious privateer is not only wildly inappropriate for a proper widow but potentially disastrous. Because he is also the man Daphne has secretly cheated of title, lands, and fortune. She could be his salvation Daphne Redvers' distant, untouchable beauty and eminently touchable body are hard enough to resist. But the prim, almost severe, way she looks at him suggests this might be the one woman who can make him forget all the others. His only challenge? Unearthing the enemy who threatens her life . . . and uncovering the secrets in her cool blue eyes.

What sort of lady doesn’t make her debut until the age of thirty-two? A timeless beauty with a mysterious past—and a future she intends to take into her own hands... Lady Euphemia Marlington hasn’t been free in seventeen years—since she was captured by Corsairs and sold into a harem. Now the sultan is dead and Mia is back in London facing relentless newspapermen, an insatiably curious public, and her first Season. Worst of all is her ashamed father’s ultimatum: marry a man of his choosing or live out her life in seclusion. No doubt her potential groom is a demented octogenarian. Fortunately, Mia is no longer a girl, but a clever woman with a secret—and a plan of her own. Adam de Courtney’s first two wives died under mysterious circumstances. Now there isn’t a peer in England willing to let his daughter marry the dangerously handsome man the ton calls The Murderous Marquess. Nobody except Mia’s father, the desperate Duke of Carlisle. Clearly Mia must resemble an aging matron, or worse. However, in need of an heir, Adam will use the arrangement to his advantage. But when the two outcasts finally meet, assumptions will be replaced by surprises, deceit by desire—and a meeting of minds between two schemers may lead to a meeting of hearts—if the secrets of their pasts don’t tear them apart.

The Hale family is coming to London, and the ton has never seen anything like it... Lady Io Hale has no time for men. And certainly no time for her older brother’s stuffy, grumpy, and oh-so-proper best friend, Corbin Masterson, who believes he is so morally superior to everyone else, especially her. Io might have been wrenched from her home in New York, dragged to London, and forced to attend ton parties and balls, but she is drawing the line at tolerating Masterson’s snooty, judgmental, and accusatory looks for one second longer. Showing him just how susceptible he is to his own lusty desires is a challenge she is delighted to accept. Bringing the uppity Masterson to his knees will not only be educational for him, it will also be a pleasure for her. Corbin has never met anyone—man or woman—like Io Hale. She says and does anything and everything she pleases! Somebody desperately needs to take the woman in hand. Or perhaps over their knee. In any case, Corbin knows exactly whose hand—and knee!—is perfect for the job: his. And while he is bringing her to heel, he can also get the mesmerizing siren out of his thoughts, where she appears to have taken up residence. At least he can try… What will these stubborn lovers do when they realize that—instead of breeding contempt—familiarity yields the one thing neither of them ever expected: love?

Their mercenary marriage of convenience was perfect…until love got in the way… Mary Barnett didn’t dream of marriage and family. Scarred and wary, she’s done everything she can to avoid men. Operating her family’s vast business would be her future. She had no way of knowing her father would place conditions on her inheritance. Namely, she only gets control of her fortune and family business when she marries. The last time his family tried to force Miles Ingram to marry for money, he rebelled and went off to war. His subsequent employment as a dancing instructor might have been enough to sustain him—but when his brother dies, saddling him a destitute earldom, Miles can no longer hide from his obligations. He’ll need to marry, and fast… They’re complete opposites, but their goals are perfectly aligned. And it’s not long before they realize their hearts aren’t as far apart as they initially thought. Miles and Mary know their dance with love can only end in happily ever after, or heartbreak. But which will it be?

This is Dauntry's story! Details to come...

At long last...Declan's Story. This is a super steamy, virgin and rake, age-gap, he falls first romance!More details to come....

*****PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE SAME NOVELLA THAT WAS IN THE BACHELORS OF BOND STREET ANTHOLOGY!! SO DON'T BUY THIS IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT ANTHOLOGY!******* Justin Taylor hasn’t seen Oona Parker for a decade, but he’s never forgotten her. How could he ever forgive or forget the woman who ruined his life? Surely the gods of vengeance have placed her in his path for a reason? Oona can hardly reconcile the wealthy, successful businessman standing before her with the handsome but poor young groom she once knew. Juss Taylor might look different, but he still exerts the same dangerous pull over her thoughts and body as he ever did. When Oona loses her job it’s Juss who steps in and offers her a position that will last only seven days but pay enough to support Oona and her young daughter for years. All she has to do is accompany Juss to a house party and pretend to be his mistress. It all sounds so simple. So why does Oona believe feel there’s more to Juss’s offer than what she can see on the surface?

These 7 Regency Era teachers are searching for work but what they get are some serious lessons in love. . . . Gareth Lockheart is one of the richest men in England, but it will take more than money for the reclusive eccentric to gain entrée into the corridors of power; it will also take a proper country estate and an aristocratic wife with impeccable connections. Gareth is determined to find the right woman the same way he does everything in his life: using logic and mathematics. Serena Lombard might be the widow of a duke’s son, but she’s always existed on the ton’s fringes. The unconventional French émigré has worked hard to create a secure home for her son and has struggled to establish herself as a respected sculptor and landscape gardener. Gareth should have known doing business with a woman would be a mistake, especially an unorthodox, opinionated, and far too appealing French widow who manages to destroy his iron-clad ability to concentrate without even trying. Serena loves the project the wealthy industrialist has hired her to do; it’s too bad the man himself is so remote and unreadable. Not to mention distracting, gorgeous, and utterly captivating. The only thing the two opposites can agree on is that they should avoid becoming entangled with one another—no matter how difficult that proves to be. But when Serena’s dangerous past catches up with her, it is Gareth she turns to for help and he doesn’t hesitate to give it. But can a man who needs order like other men need air give himself up to the most unpredictable emotion of all: Love?

Alternate cover edition can be found here Finding out that her husband was a bigamist didn’t devastate Portia Stefani; she held her head high when she forced him out of her life. But losing her beloved music school as a result of the traitorous bastard's gambling debts almost destroyed her. The only way she’ll be able to make ends meet is to accept a lucrative tutoring position in remote Cornwall. What Portia hasn't anticipated is the life-altering impact that her mesmerizing new employer has on her. Stacy Harrington learned the hard way to keep people at a distance. Playing the piano is the only thing that makes his solitary life enjoyable these days, and he’ll be damned if he allows his albinism to keep him from everything he loves. Bringing a private music tutor into his home is disruptive, but it’s the only solution. Unfortunately, nothing could have prepared him for the overwhelming attraction he feels toward his fiery new employee. It’s not long before a shared passion for music develops into something infinitely deeper. But when ghosts from the past—along with some very dark secrets—emerge to threaten everything they’ve built, can Stacy and Portia continue to make beautiful music together? Or will their happily ever after end on a painful, discordant note?

It's time to revisit old friends and meet some new ones. Join the Bellamy family as they come together to celebrate the holiday season!More details to come...

Meet the Bellamy sisters, five young women who will do anything to save their siblings and keep the wolf from the door.... Shy, awkward, and plain, Lady Hyacinth Bellamy long ago accepted that marriage and family—and especially romantic love—was not for a woman like her. But that's just fine with Hy because she has dreams of a better life, one in which she will be independent and free from fear and shame. Hy's not just dreaming, she's been working toward her new life for years and it's almost within her grasp. Unfortunately, before she can embrace her future, she has to break one final shackle to her past. Thanks to her father’s reckless gambling, her beloved siblings are facing homelessness. Luckily, there is one thing Hy excels at and that's playing cards and winning money. Lots of money. Hy’s precious nest egg--which she has scrimped and saved for years to accumulate--is almost enough to keep the roof over her family’s head for another year. All Hy needs to do is earn enough to pay the rest of the loan and then she will be free to start her new life. Everything is going smoothly and according to plan. Until the meddling Duke of Chatham gets in her way… Sylvester Derrick, the seventh Duke of Chatham, is bored. He's bored being sought after by women who don’t even like him and bored socializing with the same vapid--and boring--cricle of elites day after day. He's even become bored with debauchery and gambling. And then one night a bespectacled, ginger-headed young man wanders into Sylvester's favorite gambling hell and commences to coolly turn his boredom into curiosity, admiration, and uneasy fascination. Imagine Sylvester's surprise when he discovers the cardsharp who has been systematically fleecing the men of the ton of all their money is actually a female in men’s clothing. Clearly there is only one solution to the situation... Hy can’t believe the Duke of Chatham is threatening to expose her masquerade unless she allows him to accompany her on her midnight gambling jaunts! But what bothers Hy more than the duke's arrogant demand is the fact that she actually enjoys the blasted man's company. As Hy gets closer to earning the money she needs and the Season draws to a close, the lovers begin to realize that their time together is almost over. Or is it...? Is happily ever after even possible for a man who has been broken by love once before and a woman who doesn’t even believe that love exists? This sensual, steamy love story will give you all the feels and melt your Kindle along with your heart. Happily ever after guaranteed! Hyacinth is the wickedly witty and sensually steamy second book of a five-book series. Each story in The Bellamy Sisters stands alone.

She's not who he thought she was. But he's not who he's pretending to be, either... Annis Bowman lost everything when she trusted the wrong man. Now, she needs money, and she needs it fast. Finding a wealthy husband is her only viable option. It's just her wretched misfortune that the only man who truly interests her is poor as a church mouse. Henry Singleton, the new Earl of Rotherhithe, is ready for desperate measures. He's tired of not knowing if women are interested in him—or his wealth. Switching identities with one of his employees is the perfect solution. So, imagine his disappointment when the lovely Annis turns out to be a heartless fortune hunter. When a series of unfortunate events—and a huge coincidence—trap them in a marriage neither expected, can Annis and Henry overcome the misunderstandings, lies, and suspicion that stand between them? Or is their chance for a happily ever after doomed from the start?

Honoria Keyes isn’t the gawky, impressionable fifteen-year-old girl she was when she first met Simon Fairchild. Twelve years have passed, and she’s a successful artist, enjoying her independence to the fullest. Simon has changed, too. Gone is the beautiful, gentle boy of Honoria’s dreams. In his place is a dangerous, damaged man intent on avoiding human contact—and emotions. It would be unthinkable to fall for this difficult, wounded recluse. But then again, Honoria has never been one to do things the easy way … Simon returned from Waterloo a bitter, broken shell of the man he once was. As if his scarred body and mind aren’t bad enough, he’s also financially dependent on his brother, the duke, while he convalesces. The duke’s fondest wish is for Simon to marry and produce an heir—something Simon has no intention of doing. The one thing he never anticipated? All the unwanted feelings the lovely, talented, and infinitely intriguing Honoria would awaken in him … Can Honoria and Simon heal the wounds of the past and build a life together? Or will their attempt at happily ever after end up a portrait of failure?

Aurelia Bellamy is tired of being the responsible oldest daughter. It’s time to finally take charge of her own fate. So, when an opportunity to work for one of England’s most famous naturalists comes along, she jumps at the chance. Even though it means traveling to a remote island…and working for a notorious (and dangerously appealing) rake… Lord Roland Crewe wants nothing to do with love or romance. He’s already proven he’s a terrible husband—twice!—and has no interest in doing it again. But for some reason, he struggles to remember that when he’s with Aurelia. He knows a scarred, hardened man like him has nothing to offer a beautiful young idealist like her. So, why can’t he stay away? It’s not long before Aurelia and Roland realize how strong their attraction is…and how quickly that attraction is deepening into something infinitely more complicated. But when the time comes, will these polar opposites find their way to happily ever after, or utter ruin? Aurelia is the wickedly witty and sensually steamy fourth book of a seven-book series. It is a spicy age gap historical romance that can be read as a standalone.

Lady Winifred, the young Dowager Countess of Sedgewick, has already had one husband. She doesn't want another. And if Freddie ever did change her mind on the matter, she most certainly would not marry a ruthless, dominating, and heartless block of ice like the Duke of Plimpton. The Duke of Plimpton has already had one wife who did not love, or even like, him. Unfortunately, it seems he will have to take another. After conducting a dispassionate, meticulous, and thorough examination of the pool of possible duchesses, there is only one real candidate for Plimpton, and that is Lady Winifred Sedgewick. The fact that she loathes and despises him is irrelevant. When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object either one of them has to give or they both risk their own destruction. Or is there a third option? This is the super steamy, enemies-to-lovers conclusion of THE ACADEMY OF LOVE series. Pre-order your copy today!

It's time for the youngest Bellamy sister to fall in love...More to come!

This bluestocking and rake romance features feisty English-teacher-turned-muckraking-newspaperwoman Lorelei Fontenot and Stand Fast Severn, the man all England knows as the King of the Rakes...Intrepid young newspaperwoman Lorelei Fontenot went looking for the truth. She’s about to find far more than she bargained for…Investigating London’s most infamous rogue for a seedy newspaper is hardly Lori’s dream job. But if that’s what it takes to break into publishing, so be it. She’ll uncover the sexy nobleman’s deepest, darkest secrets. It’s just her misfortune that she’ll have to peek into his bedroom windows—at his brothel, no less—to do it…Lord Stand Fast Severn, heir to the Marquess of Granton, needs answers. Contrary to what the ton believes, he didn’t drive his twin brother to kill himself. But finding the man who did might be tricky. Especially with a nosy—and dangerously fascinating—journalist plaguing his every move. But when her investigation lands her neck-deep in danger, Fast knows it’s up to him to protect her.The last thing Lori wants is the handsome rake’s protection. Especially when it means being kidnapped and held in his brothel like a prisoner.But if Lori wants to get away from him so badly, then why isn’t she trying very hard to escape?Can two enemies, forced into close proximity, write their own story of love?Only if they can solve a murder before a killer gets to them first…A Story of Love, book 6 in THE ACADEMY OF LOVE series, is a super spicy and steamy age gap historical romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. Download today and get ready to lose yourself in Lori and Fast’s story.

This story is part of THE OUTCASTS and THE REBELS OF THE TON world of stories. The books can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in chronologically. THE OUTCASTS : 1. DANGEROUS : Adam and Mia 2. BARBAROUS : Hugh and Daphne (Antonia's mom and dad) 3. SCANDALOUS : Martin and Sarah THE REBELS OF THE TON : 4. NOTORIOUS : Gabriel and Drucilla 5. OUTRAGEOUS : Eva and Godric 6: INFAMOUS : Richard and Celia/Lucien and Phyllida (Antonia's twin brothers) THIS NOVELLA : 7. AUDACIOUS : Antonia and Lucas This is a melt-your-kindle steamy story! This Ebook includes the novella plus an excerpt.

Perfect for fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books, this fresh and unique Regency-set romance series features heroines who aren’t afraid to compete in a man’s world. A new generation of readers will delight in this witty, thought provoking, always entertaining novel by the critically acclaimed author. Before Josephine Brown began working as a blade expert for Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre, she'd never stayed put for long. She'd never had friends, either. Nor had she allowed herself to open her heart to a man. Yet now, as part owner of the circus, she's suddenly forming real friendships. And then there is her attraction to clever, handsome Honorable Elliot Wingate—whose life she happened to save. After forever fleeing her past, the last man she should choose is one who ferrets out secrets on behalf of King and Country . . . Elliot was fascinated by Jo “Blade” Brown even before he witnessed her lethal gifts, firsthand. He's never met a woman who is such an intoxicating combination of self-sufficiency, beauty, and mystery. He's never been in love before, but there is no denying he's fallen hard. Yet each time Elliot tries to get closer to Jo, she slips farther away. If he reveals what’s in his heart, will he risk driving her away for good? As their investigation—and her feelings for Elliot—stir up Jo’s deeply buried, extremely dangerous secrets, she'll have to decide whether to run once again, or trust somebody at last . . .