Showing results by author "Alice Kirks" in All Categories

A scandal destroys Isabella Beaumont’s reputation, forcing her to marry the Duke of Thornewood. Sent to his cold, silent estate, she must navigate a house ruled of silence and suspicion while trying to bring comfort to a grieving child. Can her kindness and courage help her find a place in a home that seems determined to reject her? Duke Gabriel Thornewood learned the cost of trust when betrayal nearly destroyed him. Convinced Isabella trapped him, he plans to leave her behind, until a tragic accident places his orphaned niece in his care. The child clings to Isabella, and Gabriel’s ...

Widowed and alone, Grace Hutcher has spent her life protecting her daughter, Horatia, from her uncle’s schemes and his efforts to take her away. When a chance encounter brings her to the attention of Noah, she feels a spark of something she thought long buried… Can she ever open her heart again and put everything she has fought for at risk? Noah Morton, the reclusive Earl of Blackmere, turned his back on society after betrayal and loss. Yet, when he rescues Horatia from a riverbank and discovers dangerous eyes following her, he finds himself unwilling to walk away. Through Grace’s ...

When Adeline Everhart becomes a lady's maid to an impossible Lady, she does not expect to fall for a stranger she meets in the streets—especially not for the Duke of Blackfield, the very man her Lady intends to marry. Theodore Spencer, Duke of Blackfield, came to London to find a wife and fulfill his family’s expectations, but little did he know that meeting Adeline would change everything. Drawn to her beyond reason, he defies every convention to pursue her, even if it means facing scandal. In a society ruled by privilege and prejudice, Adeline and the Duke’s bond grows against all ...

Since the death of the man she was to marry, Lydia Ashworth has devoted herself to her father's medical practice. When her father falls ill though, she is sent to help the Duke of Suffield recover from an accident. What begins as a simple duty soon stirs emotions Lydia thought she had left behind and would never experience so deeply… Injured in an accident he scarcely remembers, Edmund Radcliffe, Duke of Suffield, finds refuge in a life of isolation. Unwilling to show vulnerability, he meets Lydia's unexpected intrusion with cold resistance. However, her unwavering presence forces him to ...

In the bustling streets of Regency London, Lady Julia Huntington finds herself at a crossroads. Betrayed by a broken engagement before ever meeting her suitor, she is determined to carve her own path as a portrait painter. When the dashing Earl of Ashby enters her world though, her carefully constructed plans are thrown into disarray. Can she trust his promises to help her, or is he just another heartbreaker in disguise? For Alexander Beauchamp, the wealthy Earl of Ashby and sophisticated art connoisseur, meeting Julia ignites a fire he never expected. Haunted by the regret of rejecting ...

Adelaide Barlow, a mute artist, has always found solace in her art and the quietness of her rural life. Orphaned and isolated by her silence, she never expected her world to change. That is until she is commissioned to paint for the mysterious Earl of Carenwood… Alexander Caldwell, Earl of Carenwood, once full of life, now lives in solitude, his heart sealed after an accident left him deaf and took his father’s life. Burdened by guilt, he hides away from society until Adelaide’s arrival sparks something he thought was long lost… As their bond deepens, they must face the dangers ...

Art has always been Lady Margaret Pembroke’s escape—from society’s expectations and, more recently, her mother’s relentless push toward a proper match. The prospect of marrying her chosen suitor fills her with dread, until a chance encounter at a glittering ball introduces her to a gentleman who not only shares her passion but awakens dreams of a different future. James Carrington enters London society under a false name to expose the Duke of Carenwood and reclaim his family’s stolen legacy. However, his carefully laid plans never accounted for the sharp-eyed daughter of an earl, ...

Sixteen sizzling tales of murder and mayhem set in the subtropical city of Brisbane! ✓ Sultry setting ✓ Chilling suspense ✓ Australian mystery and noir The début anthology from Black Beacon Books offers the fan of short suspense and noir stories chills galore, despite the sultry setting these tales share. Wherever you call home, this book is your ticket to Brisbane, the subtropical capital of Queensland, Australia, where the sizzling sun casts long shadows. Reviews "These sixteen short stories take the reader across Brisbane, from Morningside to Indooroopilly, from Hamilton to Acacia...

Lady Molly Cavanagh, a determined and independent artist, finds herself entangled in the secrets of a long-lost emerald necklace that once ignited a feud between her own and another powerful family. Drawn into a treasure hunt, Molly's passion for art and the mystery of the necklace collide when she encounters John St. Clair, an enigmatic artist with a rebellious spirit and a hidden connection to the necklace's past. While concealing her true identity, the attraction she feels for this mysterious man only deepens… John St. Clair, a talented artist estranged from his aristocratic family, ...

Lady Georgiana Sutton has spent her life under the weight of a disastrous debut, a social failure that left her feeling inadequate in the glittering world of the ton. With her family’s reputation hanging from a thread, she has kept to the shadows, hiding her beauty and heart behind the walls of propriety. Yet, when a chance encounter with the elusive Marquess of Hambleton stirs unexpected feelings within her, Georgiana dares to hope once again for something more. Is she willing to risk her future for a man who might never truly love her in return? Nathaniel Redfield, the Marquess of ...

As a maid to Baron Atterbury’s daughter, Maggie Hay never expected anything more. She knew her place, even when her Lady’s behavior made her want to forget. Yet, when a strange chance encounter at a ball brings her face to face with a charming man who makes her heart flutter in a way that it shouldn’t, everything changes… Maggie ends up being drawn into a mystery that could threaten everything she holds dear, but also bring hope to her life. Will she manage to uncover the truth in time or will she sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of honor? Amidst the grandeur of his country ...

After inheriting a vast fortune from her late uncle, Selina Cotter finds herself thrust into a world of wealth and privilege. Suddenly having to negotiate with people who only seem interested in her money, Selina yearns for genuine connection and love. When she meets the enigmatic Peter, her guarded heart begins to open. But as her affection deepens, she discovers a shocking truth about his identity that threatens to shatter her trust. Will Selina be able to reconcile her feelings for him with his secret, or will it drive them apart forever? Peter Dane, Marquess of Durham, harbors a dark ...

Rebecca Barnes has always defied the conventional path of marriage, devoting herself instead to the honorable cause of healing. In the aftermath of a tragedy, she enters the somber world of Lady Oakham's estate as a nursemaid for the grieving widow and her newborn child. Despite the initial friction with the stern Duke of Dorset, Lady Oakham's brother, Rebecca finds herself drawn to him, igniting an unexpected attraction that challenges her independence. Yet, as she unravels an evil plot that threatens to tear her world apart, will she uncover the truth before it's too late? After the loss ...

Lady Harriet Langford has always marched to the beat of her own drum. Preferring adventure to tea parties, she has carved out a life of freedom and excitement. When a certain duke crosses her path though, she starts wondering if there is more to life than chasing thrills… Lord Henry Kane, Duke of Embery, once driven by ambition, now lives for duty and reputation alone. Haunted by the pressure of family expectations, he has locked his heart away, convinced that love has no place in his life. However, Harriet’s arrival stirs something long buried within him… When a snowstorm forces them...

Lady Emily Ashton, daughter of the Duke of Willowcrest, has spent her whole life trapped in her gilded cage. Despite her beauty and intelligence, she struggles with her mother's relentless pressure to find a suitable husband, fearing a life of loveless obligation. During a masquerade ball, a chance encounter with the dashing physician, Tristan, ignites an unexpected spark within her. Her heart flutters as their paths continue to cross, yet her dream of true love will soon seem out of reach, as she faces an unwanted engagement to the Marquess of Kimbleton. Will Emily find the courage to defy...

Julia Cooper is a dressmaker with simple dreams—until a well-placed remark catapults her mother’s shop into high society. When the Duke of Griffinwich invites her to design a gown for his sister’s debut, Julia is thrust into a world of titles, expectations, and a duke who’s as frustrating as he is handsome… The Duke of Griffinwich is still reeling from his father’s sudden death and the pressure of managing both his title and his family. Determined to give his grieving sister the perfect debut, James never expected to be so captivated by the bold woman tasked with her gown. Julia...

In her first London Season, Lady Gemma Barrington finds herself swept away by the dazzling allure of high society, while yearning for a true love match. When she meets the enigmatic Marcus, her world is forever changed. From their first waltz at a grand ball to stolen moments in a moonlit garden, Gemma is captivated by his charm and drawn to the depth of his soul. However, her cold and calculating father has other plans for her and a forced engagement with the Marquess of Landsfield threatens to shatter her dreams… Can she defy her role as an obedient daughter and follow her heart? Marcus...

Lady Katherine Langley has always strived for a life of elegance and societal approval. Yet, after a carriage accident that leaves her scarred and with a broken engagement to the Marquess of Fairbridge, her world is turned upside down. Fate has even more unexpected plans for her, as Kate soon discovers what true love feels like when she looks at the Earl of Embleton, William. When her ex-fiance unexpectedly proposes again, she is torn between the secure future of a conventional match and the electric connection she feels with William. Will Kate choose the path society expects or will she ...

Lady Eleanor Pembroke has always preferred the quiet solace of books to the company of suitors her aunt insists upon. Resigned to the idea of a loveless life, she never anticipated her world to be turned upside down by a chance encounter with the reclusive Duke of Hawthorne… Benedict Ashford, Duke of Hawthorne, once a brilliant scholar, has shut his heart to love, consumed by grief and duty. Love feels like a distant memory, no longer a part of his future. Yet, Eleanor’s sharp mind and bold spirit bring to life emotions he never even thought he could experience… As societal pressures ...

Lady Imogen Moore never expected her life to be dictated by the whims of society, but as the daughter of a controlling mother, her path seemed inevitable. Soon, she is threatened by a forced marriage with the disreputable Marquess of Cheylesmore, a man she neither loves nor trusts. This is when her world is turned upside down by a chance encounter with Robert, a dashing gentleman, who ignites a spark in her that she never thought possible. Yet, just as she begins to hope for a future with him, a scandal threatens to destroy her reputation- and any chance of happiness she might have found. ...