From BooklistStarred Review In her younger days, Lady Sophia Dalby was London’s foremost courtesan. Now a countess, and still one of the most beautiful women in England, Sophia has become a successful matchmaker due to her brilliant maneuvering. But this particular attempt at playing Cupid sets tongues wagging throughout the ton. Sophia is finding a husband for Lady Amelia Caversham, and only dukes will be considered. Furthermore, Sophia is setting up interviews for the prospective spouses, and as soon as the first candidates are rejected, others line up to take their places. Everyone who’s anyone is interested. Everyone, that is, except the Earl of Cranleigh. This proud nobleman not only spurns Sophia and Amelia’s interviews but he is also determined to keep his brother from applying. Dain concocts another wonderfully witty story, complete with unforgettable characters, sparkling dialogue, a clever plot, and amusing situations. Libraries will want to have this entire delightful Regency series (The Courtesan’s Daughter, 2007; The Courtesan’s Secret, 2008. --Shelley Mosley About the AuthorClaudia Dain is a two-time RITA Award finalist.

In CLAUDIA DAIN's A Chance Encounter - Jamie Caversham is a bastard, quite literally. He is bound for Canada and a new life after one last visit to the British Museum . . . where he meets Elizabeth Ardenzy. Elizabeth is betrothed (nearly), her life planned to perfection by her father. Unless a bastard convinces her to run away to Canada first.In MICHELLE MARCOS's Bad Luck Encounter - Anyone would think that a bookish spinster with bad eyesight has had her share of bad luck.ˇ But when "accidents" begin to happen just as her younger sister is trying to find a husband, Isha Elmwood spots the perpetrator: Mr. Bad Luck himself.ˇ Trouble is, she's the only one who can see him.ˇ Isha must find a way to put a stop to this handsome knave without subjecting herself to the worst luck of all: losing her heart.In DEB MARLOWE's An Unexpected Encounter - Tall, practical girls might not be worth much in a man's world, but Miss Lisbeth Moreton knows she's worth more than the squire's prized heifer. ˇTo change her fate, she's run off to a date with destiny at the British Museum. ˇHer would-be swain never shows, but an unexpected encounter with Lord Cotwell and his lonely ward might lead to altogether new prospects . . . and perhaps to love.In AVA STONE's Encounter with an Adventurer - Lucinda Potts would do just about anything to get out of her brother's home and out from under her hateful sister-in-law's thumb. After an encounter with the gadabout and notorious Lord Brookfield, Lucy is more determined than ever to escape London for a life of adventure. Unfortunately, the his lordship seems just as determined to stand firmly in her way.

Miss Emeline Harlow has loved Kit Culley all her life and is going to marry him. Unfortunately, Kit doesn't know that. Growing up together in Wiltshire has given Kit the odd idea that he and Emeline are practically siblings. They are not. Now that they are both in London for the 1804 Season, Emeline is going to prove it to him. Emeline and Kit both have mothers who are determined that they marry into the peerage, but that isn't going to stop Emeline from using every ploy she can think of to get Kit to realize that he loves her. What Emeline quickly realizes is that growing up in Wiltshire has not prepared her to have "ploys." She does, however, have Lady Eleanor Kirkland as a new London friend and Eleanor is very sophisticated for a girl just Out, and she has very sophisticated Town connections, one of them being Sophia Dalby, ex-courtesan and widowed countess. Between Eleanor and Emeline, Kit and Lord Raithby, Emeline's mother and Kit's mother, Emeline's three younger brothers, and with a final push from Sophia Dalby, there are ploys aplenty. Find out how Kit falls accidentally in love in this lighthearted Regency romp, a novella in the More Courtesan Chronicles series.

On the night of her debut two years ago, Lady Louisa Kirkland fell for the devilish Marquis of Dutton. It's high time, she's decided, that he realized he loves her. Also, there is the matter ofLouisa's family pearls, which are in his possession. For both problems, Louisa will need the help of Lady Sophia, an ex-courtesan more clever than all the other ton matrons combined…

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First in a sexy new series featuring the match-making schemes of an infamous courtesan. Award-winning author Claudia Dain tells a tale of impropriety and independence, and a mother and daughter determined to bend the rules of society in their favor. Young Lady Caroline's prospects for a suitable match are severely limited by her mother's infamous past. Before Lady Sophia Dalby entered London society, she was a highly desired courtesan. What man of title, position, and wealth would marry a courtesan's daughter? Sophia's solution is to purchase a husband for Caroline-the Earl of Ashdon-agreeing to settle his gambling debts if he will take her daughter's hand. Insulted, Caroline refuses to have a husband who was bought for her. But after meeting the fiery Lord Ashdon, she wonders if it wouldn't be satisfying to have him pay for her, perhaps with a priceless pearl necklace? With Sophia pulling the strings, Lord Ashdon may get more than he bargained for and Caroline may get just what she wants.