The Stanton Legacy Series by M.M. Wakeford

"Why not have a short dalliance with me? In the cold desert of my spinsterhood, I assure you I will not treasure my virtue half as much as the memories of sensual pleasures with you."Life has not been kind to Charlotte Harding. Orphaned, impoverished and plain-looking, she depends on the charity of relatives who take her in when she has nowhere else to go. In their London home, she meets the rich and handsome Viscount Stanton who is promised to the beautiful heiress, Miss Powell... more"Why not have a short dalliance with me? In the cold desert of my spinsterhood, I assure you I will not treasure my virtue half as much as the memories of sensual pleasures with you."Life has not been kind to Charlotte Harding. Orphaned, impoverished and plain-looking, she depends on the charity of relatives who take her in when she has nowhere else to go. In their London home, she meets the rich and handsome Viscount Stanton who is promised to the beautiful heiress, Miss Powell. Charlotte is smitten with him on first sight, but the Viscount barely notices her except to note her unprepossessing looks and shabby dress.One night at a society ball, Charlotte accidentally witnesses a secret tryst between the Viscount and his mistress - and is unfortunately discovered. The Viscount buys her silence with an unforgettable kiss that leaves Charlotte yearning for more. So when she learns that he has ended his relationship with his mistress, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to make him a scandalous offer - a short discreet affair in return for memories to treasure in her spinsterhood.Their scorching affair puts into motion an unstoppable chain of events that will leave their lives forever changed.Author's The Viscount's Scandalous Affair is a historical romance that features illicit spicy scenes, high emotions and two characters whose bumpy journey into love ends in a happily ever after. less

“No, no, we cannot marry. That is absurd.” Grace Stanton is beautiful, vivacious and no innocent when it comes to men. Her carefree, happy life is disrupted when her family is summoned to the bedside of her grandfather, the dying Earl of Stanton, in England. There, circumstances force her into a marriage with the last person she ever thought to marry—Benedict Sedgwick, the newly appointed parish curate who wears threadbare clothes and blushes in the presence of women... more“No, no, we cannot marry. That is absurd.” Grace Stanton is beautiful, vivacious and no innocent when it comes to men. Her carefree, happy life is disrupted when her family is summoned to the bedside of her grandfather, the dying Earl of Stanton, in England. There, circumstances force her into a marriage with the last person she ever thought to marry—Benedict Sedgwick, the newly appointed parish curate who wears threadbare clothes and blushes in the presence of women.For Benedict, it is infatuation at first sight when he meets Grace Stanton, but he knows that the wealthy beauty is well out of his reach. That is until one day, she comes knocking at his door asking for help, and he cannot help but propose marriage as a way out of her dilemma. Can a poor, inexperienced and ordinary looking curate win Grace’s heart when she yearns for a dashing man of the world, someone like her new neighbour, the handsome Mr Templeton? Author’s note: This is a sweet, steamy and dramatic historical romance set in Victorian England featuring a marriage of convenience between two unlikely characters, a beautiful vixen and a virtuous clergyman, who nevertheless find themselves falling in love. less

"You should consider yourself fortunate not to have lost your heart to another, for I cannot recommend it." From an early age, Sarah Cranshaw has exhibited an unladylike interest in scientific pursuits. Whether it's memorising train timetables or stargazing on her telescope, such pursuits have earned her the nickname of bluestocking in her Oxfordshire village. But behind the eccentric demeanour she presents to the world, there lies a secret... more"You should consider yourself fortunate not to have lost your heart to another, for I cannot recommend it." From an early age, Sarah Cranshaw has exhibited an unladylike interest in scientific pursuits. Whether it's memorising train timetables or stargazing on her telescope, such pursuits have earned her the nickname of bluestocking in her Oxfordshire village. But behind the eccentric demeanour she presents to the world, there lies a secret. For years, Sarah has been obsessed with the handsome but roguish Mr Templeton. She knows, of course, that she has little hope of earning his affection in return, but still she yearns for him.Then along comes war weary Benjamin Stanton, intent on licking his wounds. Slowly, he is brought back to life by Sarah Cranshaw, the odd but interesting young woman he befriended years ago on his last visit to England. The more time they spend together, the more that unbidden feelings are awakened in the both of them. But can their friendship become anything more when Sarah is obsessed with another man and Benjamin is soon to return to America?And what is Sarah to do when out of the blue, Mr Templeton begins to finally notice her?Author's note: The Bluestocking's Secret Obsession is a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance set in England and America, with a spicy finale. It can be read as a standalone but is best appreciated when read in sequential order after the first two novels in this series. less

"From the moment I first met you, I have felt an inexplicable attraction. I want you, Ambrose, and I am unashamed to say it." Daniel Stanton has been blessed with everything. He is charming, confident and handsome—and heir to the great Stanton fortune. At age 24, he has had his fair share of amorous adventures with women, as well as one tantalising experience with a man, leaving him wondering about his sexual inclinations... more"From the moment I first met you, I have felt an inexplicable attraction. I want you, Ambrose, and I am unashamed to say it." Daniel Stanton has been blessed with everything. He is charming, confident and handsome—and heir to the great Stanton fortune. At age 24, he has had his fair share of amorous adventures with women, as well as one tantalising experience with a man, leaving him wondering about his sexual inclinations. Those questions are quickly answered when he first meets Ambrose Cranshaw, his grandfather's estate manager. He wants the man, and what he wants, he usually gets.Not this time though.Ambrose Cranshaw is everything that Daniel is not. With no fortune to his name and no connections, he has had to work hard to support himself and his younger sister, climbing his way up in the world to the trusted position of the Earl of Stanton's estate manager. He may yearn in secret for other men, but he will never risk it all by acting out on his yearnings. When he first meets debonair and charming Daniel Stanton, he knows at once that the man is dangerous. With one flash of those dark, torrid eyes, Daniel could bring the whole edifice of Ambrose's life crumbling down. At all costs, Ambrose must hide his true feelings for him.Author's The Viscount's Forbidden Love is the concluding novel in the Stanton Legacy series. It is an MM romance set in Victorian England with plenty of heart, angst and steam—and it does have a happy ending. While it can be read as a standalone, it is best appreciated as part of the series. less