S M LaViolette

Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage--and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman--cured her of any romantic notions she'd ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life--without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favor ... Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He'll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it. But it's not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions--and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they're willing to pay? Praise for The Outcasts: "Spencer's brilliant and original tale of the high seas bursts with wonderfully real protagonists, plenty of action, and passionate romance." ★Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW "Fans of Amanda Quick's early historicals will find much to savor." ★Booklist STARRED REVIEW "Sexy, witty, and fiercely entertaining." ★Kirkus STARRED REVIEW " A] suavely sophisticated hero with sex appeal to spare, and a cascade of lushly detailed love scenes give Spencer's dazzling debut its deliciously fun retro flavor." ★Booklist STARRED REVIEWPraise for A FIGURE OF LOVE, Book 2 in THE ACADEMY OF LOVE series: "A consistently entertaining read. Serena's past provides an exciting twist that will satisfy readers looking for something a little different in the historical romance genre." Kirkus Reviews"An offbeat story that offers unexpected twists on a familiar setup." Kirkus Reviews

Lady Elinor wants nothing to do with love. Her arranged marriage--and one glorious but ill-fated kiss with a handsome footman--cured her of any romantic notions she'd ever entertained. Now a widow, all Elinor plans to do is rebuild her life--without a man in it. She certainly has no intention of falling for the charming and entirely too tempting American who seems so determined to win her favor ... Stephen Worth is no longer the impoverished footman who lost everything because of the impulsive actions of a reckless young lady. Having reinvented himself long ago, his sole focus now is revenge. He'll do whatever it takes to exact a pound of flesh from all who wronged him so long ago. And if that means ruining the lovely Elinor in the process? So be it. But it's not long before Elinor finds herself drawn to Stephen despite her best intentions--and before Stephen starts to wonder if maybe a life with Elinor is worth more than his revenge. Can Stephen and Elinor overcome their painful pasts and take a second chance on love? Or is the cost of trust simply more than they're willing to pay? Praise for The Outcasts: "Spencer's brilliant and original tale of the high seas bursts with wonderfully real protagonists, plenty of action, and passionate romance." ★Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW "Fans of Amanda Quick's early historicals will find much to savor." ★Booklist STARRED REVIEW "Sexy, witty, and fiercely entertaining." ★Kirkus STARRED REVIEW " A] suavely sophisticated hero with sex appeal to spare, and a cascade of lushly detailed love scenes give Spencer's dazzling debut its deliciously fun retro flavor." ★Booklist STARRED REVIEWPraise for A FIGURE OF LOVE, Book 2 in THE ACADEMY OF LOVE series: "A consistently entertaining read. Serena's past provides an exciting twist that will satisfy readers looking for something a little different in the historical romance genre." Kirkus Reviews"An offbeat story that offers unexpected twists on a familiar setup." Kirkus Reviews

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? Praise for Minerva Spencer's Outcasts series: "Minerva Spencer's writing is sophisticated and wickedly witty. Dangerous is a delight from start to finish with swashbuckling action, scorching love scenes, and a coolly arrogant hero to die for. Spencer is my new auto-buy "-NYT Bestselling Author Elizabeth Hoyt" SCANDALOUS is] A standout...Spencer's brilliant and original tale of the high seas bursts with wonderfully real protagonists, plenty of action, and passionate romance."-Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW