Diamonds of London Series by Sandra Sookoo

Sometimes, the road to romance is littered with intrigue, harrowing danger, and wild shock.The year is 1818 and Theodosia Netherton—Lady Ballantyne—is wintering in the sunny climes of Italy in an effort to protect her health as well as to visit her brother. Widowed for three years, she has no interest in a new romance, but when a horrific emergency leads her to the doorstep of a handsome, former Bow Street Runner with wide shoulders and a mysterious scar, she might just change her mind.Mr... moreSometimes, the road to romance is littered with intrigue, harrowing danger, and wild shock.The year is 1818 and Theodosia Netherton—Lady Ballantyne—is wintering in the sunny climes of Italy in an effort to protect her health as well as to visit her brother. Widowed for three years, she has no interest in a new romance, but when a horrific emergency leads her to the doorstep of a handsome, former Bow Street Runner with wide shoulders and a mysterious scar, she might just change her mind.Mr. Hudson Ridley is in Rome for the warmth and relative obscurity. Retired at the age of eight and thirty, the last thing he wants is to become embroiled in a kidnapping plot that involves an attractive widow and her missing son. Yet he was the best in the retrieval business in his prime, and she did have hauntingly unforgettable eyes as well as a smile that could make a man do wicked, stupid things.In the quest to hunt the people who nabbed the boy and heir to a viscounty, Theodosia and Hudson dance about mutual desire until passion gets the better of them one star-lit evening amidst some of the country’s finest ruins. But tracking the criminals turns deadly when shots are fired at them. Time is running out to rescue the young heir, keep a valuable jewel safe, and somehow discover if love is the ultimate reward despite the risk.Can two fearful hearts feel less broken together? Find out in My Dear Mr. Ridley, the first book in the exciting new Diamonds of London series. less

She needs to ferret out his secrets. He’s doing his level best to keep them.Miss Honor Winslow wants revenge. Her father has been missing since the war with Napoleon ended. Then a week ago, a letter arrived from him asking for help, but it wasn’t signed, and no address had been included. Needing answers, she enlists the help of one of her friends, who has connections to the Home Office... moreShe needs to ferret out his secrets. He’s doing his level best to keep them.Miss Honor Winslow wants revenge. Her father has been missing since the war with Napoleon ended. Then a week ago, a letter arrived from him asking for help, but it wasn’t signed, and no address had been included. Needing answers, she enlists the help of one of her friends, who has connections to the Home Office. If the old, pompous windbags there won’t listen, she will do the job herself, despite her physical difficulties following a minor apoplexy.All Mr. Gideon McGarrett wants out of life is peace, and nearly forty, it’s finally within reach. Ready to close his last mission, the only thing he needs to do is extract a man of high military rank from where he’s hiding after being wounded. The one thing that stands in the way of a spotless career is the damned interference of a clever and vulnerable woman who insists on joining his mission.As Honor and Gideon bicker during the journey north, heated awareness springs from forced proximity, and all too soon that desire becomes distracting, especially when a faux engagement is offered out of necessity. Once in the Lake District, when they locate her father, the woman who wants him dead has also arrived. It will take some smart negotiating and perhaps a fight to unravel the mess. Only then can the pair make a go at a life together—if they can stop hiding their emotions and let down their guards to enjoy the ride. less

Life can either snake around you with a strangle hold or produce the most exquisite flowers… At the advanced age of six and thirty, Mr. Jameson Ridley has become content with what he wants out of life. After spending years in India studying the care and cultivation of tea, he became a botanist who specializes in flowers and vines. When he’s invited to his best friend’s estate in the Irish countryside, he accepts with alacrity, for the opportunity to catalogue the flora there can’t be missed... moreLife can either snake around you with a strangle hold or produce the most exquisite flowers… At the advanced age of six and thirty, Mr. Jameson Ridley has become content with what he wants out of life. After spending years in India studying the care and cultivation of tea, he became a botanist who specializes in flowers and vines. When he’s invited to his best friend’s estate in the Irish countryside, he accepts with alacrity, for the opportunity to catalogue the flora there can’t be missed.Along comes Miss Tess Cosgrove. She’s the younger sister of his best friend, and she has the power to send his world tip over tail in every way imaginable… if she weren’t so maddening. Though she was a Diamond of the First Water during her Come Out year, fate has disappointed her so much that she’s given up on London and the ton. As a result, she wants to garden for the rest of her life, to teach others how freeing growing their own food can be even though such work is frowned upon in society.Immediately, the unlikely pair butt heads, for they both think their knowledge in horticulture is superior, but when the desire crackling between them ignites into hot passion one summer evening, bigger issues as well as secrets come to light. If they’re willing to spend time untangling roots and unearthing what they want most, love might bloom, but only if it’s tended to properly… …and if all else fails, a little summer sunshine, fresh air, and a proper kiss never hurts. less

When a lady has failed to find love in the usual ways, she will turn to the paranormal… American Miss Arabella Tamsyn Goodridge has never belonged anywhere, but when one of her British cousins wishes for her to be a part of her upcoming nuptial ceremony ahead of the All Hallow’s celebrations, she jumps at the chance, especially when they’re staying in haunted Coventry Castle, set close to the Scottish Highlands... moreWhen a lady has failed to find love in the usual ways, she will turn to the paranormal… American Miss Arabella Tamsyn Goodridge has never belonged anywhere, but when one of her British cousins wishes for her to be a part of her upcoming nuptial ceremony ahead of the All Hallow’s celebrations, she jumps at the chance, especially when they’re staying in haunted Coventry Castle, set close to the Scottish Highlands. She has always believed in ghosts and ghouls, yet she’s dismally practical, except when it comes to falling in love with the resident spirit… apparently.Percival Allan Bradenton—Marquess of Coventry—and half Scottish on his mother’s side, has been missing and presumed dead for two years. Without a body, his uncle can’t legally claim the title, but Allan refuses to come out of hiding until he can figure out who wishes to kill him. To stave off boredom as well as look for clues, he haunts his family’s castle in the Northumberland countryside, until one night when he stumbles into a woman who turns his head and changes his life… exceptionally.With her knowledge of herbal remedies and ease in bonding with animals, Bella is often slandered as a witch, but when she comes upon a man who should be dead and desire flares, she partners with him in solving a mystery. With a plot afoot to keep Allan from his birthright, danger bedevils them. As Halloween and the wedding quickly approaches, she and Allan strive to keep him alive, and unless they’re fortunate in flushing out the guilty party, they’ll never have a chance for a romance they never knew they needed… eternally. … for there is no use for a societal reputation when a delicious ghost is involved. less

When two disenchanted people come unexpectedly together, Christmas is suddenly brighter.Ever since Sir Timothy Dashfield—a baronet with a few holdings—became partners in a successful counting house with his best friend who’d recently married, his life has taken on a sense of restlessness and boredom. When he’s tasked with collecting the overdue rent on a townhouse owned by a clockmaker, that last thing he expects is a pretty Irish young lady with mix of annoyance and sorrow in her eyes... moreWhen two disenchanted people come unexpectedly together, Christmas is suddenly brighter.Ever since Sir Timothy Dashfield—a baronet with a few holdings—became partners in a successful counting house with his best friend who’d recently married, his life has taken on a sense of restlessness and boredom. When he’s tasked with collecting the overdue rent on a townhouse owned by a clockmaker, that last thing he expects is a pretty Irish young lady with mix of annoyance and sorrow in her eyes.Miss Ashlynn Athercrombe lost her father six months before. Since the clock repair shop closed, there is no money coming to pay bills. To make matters worse, Christmastide is upon London, and she doesn’t feel like celebrating. When a man from the counting house comes to collect the unpaid rents, something inside her snaps and she rounds on the unfortunate, handsome man in a spectacular display of hysterics.Perhaps it was the maudlin mood or perhaps it was the unwillingness to spend the holiday alone, but when Timothy temporarily loses his mind and asks Miss Athercrombe to marry him and she accepts, they embark on a very different future than they both had planned. Immediately, the differences between them create misunderstandings and obstacles, but by working together and remembering a bit of mistletoe magic, they might just find everything they have been too fearful to seek out themselves......and if they can’t find common ground, they’ll surely spend Christmas in hell. less