Elisa Braden

His plain Jane is about to discover appearances can be deceiving... When a wager goes wrong... Painfully shy Jane Huxley is the furthest thing from a diamond of the first water. Bookish, bespectacled, and, well, plain, she never expected to befriend a dissolute charmer like Colin Lacey, much less agree to help him retrieve a lost family heirloom. Fortunately, he is nothing like his cold, rigid older brother. Unfortunately, he is not above deception if it means winning a wager. And that puts Jane in a most precarious position. A formidable duke will marry a plain Jane... For Harrison Lacey, the Duke of Blackmore, protecting his family honor is not a choice, it is a necessity. So, when his cad of a brother humiliates the unwitting Lady Jane, Harrison must make it right, even if it means marrying the chit himself. And a marriage of convenience will become so much more... Her reputation hanging by a thread, Jane agrees to wed the arrogant Duke of Blackmore, although she’s convinced it will result in frostbite. Only after lingering glances lead to devastating kisses does she begin to suspect the truth: Perhaps—just perhaps—her duke is not as cold as he appears.

Rannoch MacPherson and Magdalene. Coming 2025

This is the romantic, sensual tale of how the first Huxley sister fell in love... and how the boy she loved became the man she couldn't resist. She’s not one for half measures Lady Annabelle Huxley believes anything worth doing is worth doing boldly, and that includes adoring Robert Conrad. As a girl, she chased him with reckless abandon, and he always rescued her when she pushed too far … until the day rescuing her cost him everything—and lost her the boy she loved as no other. He’s not the boy she remembers The accident that shattered his body and his future left Robert Conrad fighting a battle only the hardest men win. After seven hellish years, even his tough soldier of a grandfather thinks he needs a wife to “civilize” him. But the season’s sole temptation is Annabelle, no longer a worshipful girl, now a siren with a womanly laugh, sarcastic mouth, and curves to make an uncivilized man sweat. Love this powerful is not so easily broken Her habit of chasing trouble hasn’t changed. Neither has his driving need to protect her. So, when a scandalous secret draws danger too close, he’ll wield his weapons ruthlessly—blackmail, betrothal, seduction—to keep her safe once more. And when his strength is all that stands between her and a perilous abyss, she’s reminded why loving Robert Conrad has always been the hardest habit to break.

Escape into the enchantment of wintry Scotland in this short holiday novella featuring characters from two of Elisa Braden's Amazon-bestselling series—Rescued from Ruin and Midnight in Scotland. Charming antiquities dealer Andrew Farrington relies on his clumsy-but-capable private secretary, Euphemia Sinclair, to be by his side when he needs her. And for three years, they've rarely spent more than a day apart. Then, Euphemia travels to the wintry north of Scotland in search of a family heirloom that only a married woman can claim. And Andrew realizes the only way to keep this indispensable woman by his side is to follow her, find her, and marry her before she marries someone else. But first, he must convince her that sometimes, the most priceless treasures are the ones closest to home. (Note: This story was first published as part of the Dragonblade Publishing Boxed set Star of Wonder, November 2021)

The final, breathtaking novel in Elisa Braden’s Rescued from Ruin series is the story readers have been clamoring for: Fragile yet unbroken, Hannah Gray is embarking on a husband hunt … if only Lady Wallingham hadn’t invited a wolf to the party.All she wants is an ordinary lifeA cruel past left Hannah Gray with one simple longing—normalcy. Normal ladies ride and waltz without fear. They have safe, normal husbands to give them safe, normal kisses. After years of healing, she’s ready to find “normal” for herself, and Lady Wallingham’s house party is the perfect place to begin. Perfect, that is, except for the cynical wolf-in-rogue’s-clothing whose every hungry glance threatens to crack her armor and pierce her fragile heart.All he wants is to forget herBow Street runner Jonas Hawthorn vowed never to see the cold, haughty Miss Gray again. A year ago, he nearly died trying to protect her, only to be dismissed like a lowly servant. But soon, he’ll have land and servants of his own. He just has to locate an old dowager’s stolen goods, collect his prize, and avoid the beauty who haunts him like a moonlit sky.All it takes is a single kissHe never meant to touch her. She never meant to reveal the truth. But once he’s tasted the heat and longing hidden beneath her icy mask, the only mystery this Bow Street man burns to solve is how a roguish wolf might win the elusive Miss Gray for himself.

Two scandals burn hotter than one. Wanted: A countess for the most feared lord in London With a family legacy tainted by murder and madness, Phineas Brand, the Earl of Holstoke, is having a devil of a time securing a proper wife—or even an improper one. Society misses faint at the sight of him. Matchmaking mamas scurry to avoid him. Only one woman is bold enough to keep drawing near, and she’s more scandalous than he is. Caution: A lady’s brazen ways may lead to ruin Lady Eugenia Huxley knows all about running aground in the marriage mart, thanks to a scandal involving a footman and too much drink. No matter. She’ll gladly pursue millinery over matrimony. But when her sister’s spurned suitor returns to London in search of a wife, she can’t resist offering him a bit of courtship advice, even if the chilly, brilliant, honorable Lord Holstoke does give her shivers—heated, head-to-toe shivers that are anything but fearful. Danger: This match may be combustible After a series of vicious murders brings suspicion to Holstoke’s door, Eugenia risks everything to be his alibi. The only rational remedy is to marry the minx before she generates another scandal. Yet, the dangers don’t end at the altar. A poisonous enemy coils ever closer, threatening the woman who awakens his soul. How far will he go to protect her? That may be the greatest danger of all.

A spinster hatches a plan (with a smattering of blackmail)Miss Augusta Widmore has no time for proprieties. She must force her sister’s ne’er-do-well betrothed to the altar with all haste—or watch her sister bear the scandalous consequences. But with the blackguard resisting his duty, she needs leverage. And only one man can provide it.A giant holds all the cards (or so he thinks)Sebastian Reaver has no time for presumptuous women. He has a club to run. So, when a perfect nuisance invades his office, demands a fortune in markers, and refuses to leave until he relinquishes them to her, he knows just the thing to send her scurrying back to Hampshire: Exact a price this prim country spinster would never agree to pay.A fiery battle begins (with both sides playing for keeps)Ordinarily, Augusta would never agree to become the mistress of a notorious club owner—whether he’s a lowborn ruffian or the wealthiest man in London or the most intriguing, ill-tempered giant she’s ever encountered … or all three. Calling his bluff raises the stakes (and the heat), but retreat will mean ruin for Augusta. Now, Sebastian wants her total surrender, and he has a few tricks up his sleeve—soul-stealing kisses, unexpected honor, and electrifying persuasion for the woman he never saw coming.

To keep her, he must unmask his darkest secrets. Never judge a man by his cover… Society knows the affable Earl of Dunston for his flashy waistcoats and rapier wit. Lady Maureen Huxley knows him as Henry Thorpe, her best friend—an irresistibly kissable, strictly platonic friend. Which means her dreams of marriage, motherhood, part-time cookery, and full-time domestic bliss must be fulfilled elsewhere. But after three seasons and a parade of fickle suitors, Maureen’s hopes are fading. Worse, she suspects Henry is to blame. Never trust a man with too many secrets… Years spent hunting his father’s murderer through London’s dark underworld have honed Henry Thorpe into a deadly blade with one purpose—catching a killer of fathomless evil. Nothing mattered more until Maureen Huxley came along. To keep her safe, he must keep her at arm’s length. Yet he can’t resist drawing her close, making her laugh, dreaming of doing wicked things to her lush body. Very well, perhaps he also dissuaded some of her suitors. But what’s a little deception between friends? Never provoke a man as dangerous as this one… With his enemy growing bolder and Maureen contemplating marriage to another man, Henry is caught in the crossfire between his mission and his heart. Any move could exact a devastating cost. But losing the woman he loves is one price he refuses to pay.

Romantic and sensual, this novella continues Elisa Braden's hot-selling Rescued from Ruin series with the story of the dowager Lady Wallingham's formidable son, who vows to capture an elusive widow's heart... even if it requires a most scandalous seduction. Wooing may not be his strong suit... Admittedly, when it comes to courtship, the Marquess of Wallingham's strategy has been a few roses short of a bouquet. Charles Bainbridge has spent two long years wooing the woman he loves, waiting patiently until he is half mad. Now, at a winter hunting party, he has one last chance to persuade her they are meant to be. And this time, he won't let meaningless doubts, his meddling mother, or a few mishaps and mangled bonnets stand in his way. And passion may not be hers... Safe and comfortable inside her tidy, carefully ordered existence, Julia Willoughby has never known longing like this. Others see Charles as the quiet, manageable sort. Julia sees the truth: This dragon's son has a fire of his own. Enough to sear her with a touch, a glance, a kiss. For the sake of his happiness, she refuses to bind him in a childless union. Her heart, however, isn't so easily convinced, for it wants Charles rather madly. But a marquess must do what a marquess must do... Outraged at the thought of losing her to a dusty country squire, Charles makes a final offer: Spend twelve nights in his bed, and if she can still deny they are perfect for each other, he will let her go. But not before thoroughly tempting the lovely, stubborn Julia to trade sensible predictability for the sweet chaos of true love.

He's captured her heart. Now, she must capture him. What a girl wants... Miss Viola Darling always gets what she wants. Always. And what she wants more than anything is to marry James Kilbrenner, the Earl of Tannenbrook. She’s fallen hard for the giant, taciturn, surly brute, and she positively will have no other. The problem? He’s not interested. Not even a little. But Viola cannot afford to lose. And she has her heart set on James. If only he will bend to a bit of persuasion. Is an earl like no other... James Kilbrenner knows how determined the entirely-too-beautiful Miss Darling can be—the daft woman cornered him at a perfectly respectable dinner and mangled his cravat before he could escape. He has no desire to marry, less desire to be pursued, and will certainly not kiss her kissable lips until they are both breathless, no matter how tempted he may be. And only the right one will do... Thrown in her path by a meddling marchioness, James finds himself under sensual siege from a tiny, flirtatious sprite who puts both his heart and his vow to remain unwed at risk. And when scandal looms, he learns the hard way that a man can resist only so long before the indomitable Miss Darling gets her way.

In the enchanting Midnight in Scotland series, the unlikeliest matches generate the greatest heat. All it takes is a spark of Highland magic. A woman hunted Once a hopeless wallflower, Clarissa Meadows blossomed into a beauty for a single splendid season—only to catch the eye of a madman bent on possessing her. Now, she must flee where he’ll never follow: a friend’s house in the Scottish Highlands. Except he does follow. And Clarissa has nowhere left to run. A protector unbound Campbell MacPherson shouldn’t be dreaming about the fair English lass who blushes like a sunrise, blurts out double entendres over breakfast, and shows a peculiar interest in the size of his hands. But when she reveals the threat putting fear in her eyes, this rough, solitary giant vows his protection, even if it means keeping temptation as close as his next breath. A temptation too hot to deny Clarissa couldn’t ask for a more imposing—or enthralling—bodyguard than Campbell MacPherson. But accepting his protection puts him squarely in a predator’s sights. And soon, she faces an impossible choice: stay in the shelter of his arms or save the man she loves from the wolf she’s brought to his door.

Desperate lies lead to unexpected pleasures. Desperately seeking a fiancé... Miss Sarah Battersby is in dire need of a man, preferably one skilled at deception. Upon her father's death, she will be left with no home and nary a penny. With time running out, she must either accept the proposal of a man she loathes, or stall long enough to secure a teaching position by telling one teensy, trifling lie—that she is promised to someone else... who doesn't technically exist. But Sarah refuses to be defeated by insignificant details. The answer lies in finding the right man for the job. And, as luck would have it, she has stumbled on just the candidate... though he could use a little patching up. Desperately seeking a refuge... Where Lord Colin Lacey goes, trouble follows—even when he attempts to do right. Tortured and hunted by a brutal criminal, he is rescued from death's door by the stubborn, oddly fetching Miss Battersby. In return, she asks one small favor: Pretend to be her fiancé. Temporarily, of course. With danger nipping his heels, he knows it is wrong to want her, wrong to agree to her terms. But when has Colin Lacey ever done the sensible thing? Desperately seeking a love to conquer all... As lies turn to longing, and longing to something deeper, they realize it will take more than passion to see them through the danger to come. They will need a plan. They will need family. Above all, they will need a love strong enough to steel a lady's resolve and transform a scoundrel's heart.

His revenge will be her seduction. The night that changes everything… Life for Victoria Lacey should be perfect. And it is—perfectly boring. Agree to marry a lord who has yet to inspire a single, solitary tingle? Why, of course. Smile as though this is not the thousandth time he’s mentioned hounds and hunting? It’s all in a day’s work for the oh-so-proper sister of the Duke of Blackmore. Surely no one would suspect her secret longing for heart-racing, head-spinning passion. Except, perhaps, a dark stranger… on a terrace… at a ball where she should definitely not be kissing a man she has only just met. The obsession that leads to ruin… Hatred, not love, drives Lucien Wyatt, Viscount Atherbourne, to tempt the “Flower of Blackmore” into sin. Her brother has done unthinkable damage to Lucien’s family, and he intends to exact revenge in the only way left to him: Ruining his enemy’s sister, then stealing her from Blackmore by making her his own. The woman who will set fire to her husband’s heart… As Lucien carries out his ruthless plan, tutoring his new bride in the finer points of pleasure, her surrender leaves him breathless… and soon a new obsession awakens—a scandalous fascination with his irresistible wife.

An angel in freefall A year ago, Sabella Lockhart lived in sheltered gentility as the sister of a Scottish lord. Then her brother’s shocking crimes came to light, leaving her with nothing but horrifying memories, unpayable debts, and a blackened name. Before she leaves Scotland for good, she must face the family he harmed the MacPhersons. But when a Highland robbery takes everything but the gown on her back, she’s forced to accept help from the MacPherson who despises her more than any other. The one man she can’t forget. A devil who burns for revenge Alexander MacPherson hasn’t forgotten Sabella Lockhart for a single bloody moment. She’s the reason he was shot, the reason he endured a hellish recovery, the reason he hasn’t slept soundly in a year. So, when she turns up stranded and penniless in the village tavern, he offers her a position—as his maid. Let her dirty those pristine hands scrubbing floors. Let her earn those silk gowns one shilling at a time. Nothing could be more satisfying than having her sleeping under his roof and following his commands. Ruthless? Absolutely. But that’s the catch in a deal with the devil. He always takes more than his due. A collision between heaven and hell When Sabella rises to his challenge, her fire brings Alexander to his knees. But she doesn’t know how ruthlessly he’ll fight to keep an angel by his side. Or how dangerous a devil can be when the woman he wants more than air and whisky is threatened by a past that won’t stay buried.

A Scot on fire Wrongfully imprisoned and tortured by an unseen enemy, Broderick MacPherson lives for one purpose—punishing the villain who targeted him. But when a wayward English lass interrupts his revenge, he loses his enemy in the dark. Now, her compelled testimony could send Broderick back to the prison that nearly killed him. Unless they find a loophole—an inconvenient, shockingly tempting loophole. A beauty under pressure For Kate Huxley, visiting her brother in the Scottish Highlands is a blissful escape from the stifling expectations of the marriage mart. Blissful, that is, until a scarred, beastly Highlander with a heartbreaking past frightens her out of her wits, making her a witness in a criminal inquiry. A match to light the darkness Kate has no wish to testify against a man who’s already suffered too much. But the only remedy is to become his wife. And she can’t possibly marry such a surly, damaged man… can she? Well, perhaps. If it means she can stay in her beloved Scotland. And if he promises they’ll never fall in love.

In Elisa Braden's enchanting new Midnight in Scotland series, the unlikeliest matches generate the greatest heat. All it takes is a spark of Highland magic. "Make me a lady, and I'll make ye a Highlander." –Mad Annie Tulloch, Scottish lass "Challenge accepted." –John Huxley, English gentleman No lady can tempt him more than the next shore Everyone wants handsome adventurer John Huxley to settle down—family, friends, London society. Everyone except John. He's evaded too many scheming title huntresses to trust in happily-ever-after. Now, a vow made to a dying friend has him locked in a land dispute with a stubborn Scot who offers one way out: Win the Highland Games. John likes a challenge, but this one's impossible. Still, with training from the Scot's stepdaughter, victory might be within reach. He only has to teach the fiery, foul-mouthed, breeches-wearing lass how to land a lord. It seems "impossible" is just getting started. She's no lady—she's Mad Annie Tulloch Everyone calls her Mad Annie. True, her best friend is a ghost. And yes, her greatest talents involve cooking for giants and taunting ridiculously handsome Englishmen. But she's not mad—she's desperate. To save her friend, Annie must marry a lord. The trouble is, no lord will look twice at a hoyden like her. This calls for "Lady Lessons," and she knows just the uptight Englishman to provide them. When did a simple bargain become a battle of desire? Amidst cursed castles, caber tossing, and questionable chaperones, John and Annie's wildfire attraction threatens to send their plans up in flames. And when Annie's family is targeted by a dangerous enemy, John is tempted to stay, to fight, and to win the greatest prize of all: A fiery lass's tender, loyal heart.

This devil's bargain will be sealed with sin. When a rake beyond redemption... A walking scandal surviving on little more than wits, whisky, and wicked skills in the bedchamber, Benedict Chatham, the new Marquess of Rutherford, is at the end of his rope. Deeply in debt and down to his last farthing, he must marry nothing short of an absolute fortune, or risk utter ruin. Must marry for money... Enter Miss Charlotte Lancaster, unfashionably tall heiress to just such a fortune and a clumsy, redheaded disaster in her five London seasons. While she dreams of leaving England for a life of trade in America, her father schemes to trade her dowry for a title—and Marchioness of Rutherford will do nicely. Charlotte wants her independence, not a husband, and certainly not a disreputable devil who renders her weak and wobbly with a single scorching glance. But she's a practical sort, and a year with the devil might buy her freedom... provided she can resist his seductive charms. That shouldn't prove a problem, for he could not possibly want someone like her, and the feeling is mutual. Really. It is. Love grows in the most unexpected places... When her father demands a startling price for his daughter's hand—one year of fidelity and sobriety—Chatham must change his libertine ways... at least temporarily. And when he does, Charlotte begins to see him in a new light—not as the scandalous charmer she married, but as the husband she just might adore.

Every dream job has a catchHousekeeper Adeline Black’s new position seems too good to be true. Dusting a collection of peculiar relics? Too easy. Having a splendid house all to herself? Too lovely. Addy’s not about to question why she was told to never open the library door. Or why there’s a mysterious portrait of a medieval knight locked inside. But libraries need dusting, too. And what’s the harm in chatting with a knight over tea? It’s not as if he’s real. It’s not as if she’s falling in love.Every portrait has a storySir Hugh Marshal is very real. Unfortunately, so is his curse. Trapped in an eternal prison, he’ll take whatever distraction he can get, even if she’s a bookish housekeeper with a stubborn streak and a vexing sense of whimsy. Even if he might be falling in love. Every curse has a keyWhen Addy realizes Sir Hugh is more real than she imagined, she vows to help free him. But the curse will kill anyone who tries to break it—including the stubborn woman who’s captured his heart … the woman he must drive away before his curse becomes her downfall.This story was originally published in the 2023 Dragonblade Anthology Once Upon a Haunted Romance.Read in Kindle Unlimited!

A swindling governess, a scarred hero, and a ghost with matchmaking in mind.A governess with a swindler’s pastSinister rumors of a mysterious figure known as the Half-Faced Man swirl around the ruins of Northcliffe Abbey. But governess Elizabeth Nightingale knows claptrap when she peddles it. So, when the real Half-Faced Man comes to her door demanding she keep her three young charges away from his property, Elizabeth isn’t frightened by his scars. She’s frightened by how easily he sees through her disguise to the woman beneath.A man who looks past the scarsRenovating an ancient abbey is hard enough without village gossip, ghost-shy workmen, and curious neighbor children to contend with. Architect Thomas Warwick doesn’t need any more complications. And it doesn’t get more complicated than being trapped inside his cellar with the bewitching governess next door.A night to bring secrets into the lightBattling a blazing attraction neither expected, Thomas and Elizabeth must learn to trust in each other. But can two hearts with so many scars become a match made in moonlight? Or will the abbey’s haunted past threaten a love that’s just begun?Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!( This story was first published as part of the Dragonblade Publishing Anthology, A Midnight Requiem, October 2022)

A botched abduction, a little seduction. Some mistakes are worth repeating.In Elisa Braden's enchanting Midnight in Scotland series, the unlikeliest matches generate the greatest heat. And this steamy winter novella about a desperate Scottish widow and the Englishman she takes captive might be the hottest of them all. A duke, an abduction. What could go wrong?Young widow Lucie Carmichael has made too many mistakes in her life—choosing the wrong husband, trusting the wrong solicitor, wearing the wrong shade of red to a funeral. But this time is different. This time, she has a plan. The Duke of Dingwall is about to evict her family from their ancestral home, and she means to change his mind, even if it involves a little abduction.A night in Scotland, a woman in red. What’s a man to do?Silas Northfield is not the Duke of Dingwall, no matter how many times a mad Scottish beauty in a tight red dress insists he is. When she abducts him from a meeting with his half-brothers, Silas decides to take matters—and the luscious Lucie Carmichael—into his own hands. But teaching Lucie to unleash her stunning sensuality might be his greatest mistake. Because she’s sworn never to remarry, and he’ll need more than a night to satisfy his hunger for this heartbreaking woman. He’ll need a lifetime.**This story was first published as part of the Duke in a Box Holiday Collection released in November 2022**This is a SHORT NOVELLA of approximately 17,000 words. It can be read in one sitting as a standalone story with a satisfying happily-ever-after. In the sequence of the Midnight in Scotland series, it best fits between books 3 and 4.

A duke, an abduction. What could go wrong? Young widow Lucie Carmichael has made too many mistakes in her life—choosing the wrong husband, trusting the wrong solicitor, wearing the wrong shade of red to a funeral. But this time is different. This time, she has a plan. The Duke of Dingwall is about to evict her family from their ancestral home, and she means to change his mind, even if it involves a little abduction. A night in Scotland, a woman in red. What’s a man to do? Silas Northfield is not the Duke of Dingwall, no matter how many times a mad Scottish beauty in a tight red dress insists he is. When she abducts him from a meeting with his half-brothers, Silas decides to take matters—and the luscious Lucie Carmichael—into his own hands. But teaching Lucie to unleash her stunning sensuality might be his greatest mistake. Because she’s sworn never to remarry, and he’ll need more than a night to satisfy his hunger for this heartbreaking woman. He’ll need a lifetime. (Note: This story was first published as part of the Duke in a Box Steamy Historical Romance anthology, November 2022)