Lord Hawkesbury's Players Series by C.J. Archer

Minerva Peabody needs a man. Unfortunately she picked the wrong one. The impoverished playwright has a dream to see her plays performed on stage but in Elizabethan England, not only are women considered the inferior sex, they simply do NOT write plays. Faced with rejection after rejection, she decides to take one more chance with the most desperate theater manager in London, only this time she'll use the cover of a man... moreMinerva Peabody needs a man. Unfortunately she picked the wrong one. The impoverished playwright has a dream to see her plays performed on stage but in Elizabethan England, not only are women considered the inferior sex, they simply do NOT write plays. Faced with rejection after rejection, she decides to take one more chance with the most desperate theater manager in London, only this time she'll use the cover of a man. Sucked in by a pair of bright blue eyes and impressive shoulders, she chooses Blake out of the crowd, never thinking he'll actually play an active role in her ruse. But when he does, he gets under her skin in the most alarming way. Privateer (don't call him a pirate to his face), Robert Blakewell, accepted Min's proposal in order to discover which cur among Lord Hawkesbury's Players got his sister with child. But when his mission threatens to destroy Min's fledgling career, he must make a choice: protect his family or the woman he has grown to love. Either choice will see him lose something precious. A SECRET LIFE is a romp through Elizabethan England and features cameo appearances from William Shakespeare. less

Minerva Peabody needs a man. Unfortunately she picked the wrong one. The impoverished playwright has a dream to see her plays performed on stage but in Elizabethan England, not only are women considered the inferior sex, they simply do NOT write plays. Faced with rejection after rejection, she decides to take one more chance with the most desperate theater manager in London, only this time she'll use the cover of a man... moreMinerva Peabody needs a man. Unfortunately she picked the wrong one. The impoverished playwright has a dream to see her plays performed on stage but in Elizabethan England, not only are women considered the inferior sex, they simply do NOT write plays. Faced with rejection after rejection, she decides to take one more chance with the most desperate theater manager in London, only this time she'll use the cover of a man. Sucked in by a pair of bright blue eyes and impressive shoulders, she chooses Blake out of the crowd, never thinking he'll actually play an active role in her ruse. But when he does, he gets under her skin in the most alarming way.Privateer (don't call him a pirate to his face), Robert Blakewell, accepted Min's proposal in order to discover which cur among Lord Hawkesbury's Players got his sister with child. But when his mission threatens to destroy Min's fledgling career, he must make a choice: protect his family or the woman he has grown to love. Either choice will see him lose something precious.A SECRET LIFE is a romp through Elizabethan England and features cameo appearances from William Shakespeare. less

Falling in love just became the greatest scandal in Shakespearean London. Cold, ruthless Lord Warhurst needs to distance himself from scandal if he's to marry an heiress and save his decaying estate. But with his unwed sister pregnant and his father's past indiscretions still haunting Leo, scandal threatens to erupt in an explosive way... moreFalling in love just became the greatest scandal in Shakespearean London. Cold, ruthless Lord Warhurst needs to distance himself from scandal if he's to marry an heiress and save his decaying estate. But with his unwed sister pregnant and his father's past indiscretions still haunting Leo, scandal threatens to erupt in an explosive way. Especially when he begins to desire strong-willed and low-born Alice Croft, the seamstress to Lord Hawkesbury's Players and the woman helping him spy on his sister's lover. If anyone finds out, Leo's chance of marrying well will be ruined. However the scandal will be nothing compared to what happens when Alice cracks through the hard shell around his heart. Because how can Leo afford to love a woman who only wants him for the fortune she thinks he possesses? less

PRAISE FOR C.J. ARCHER"I had heard some great things about C.J. Archer's work lately, so I was looking forward to the chance to review this book. And, to my surprise and pleasure, everything I heard from her vivid characters to her excellent storytelling skills were completely, 100% true." ~ Bridget, reviewer for The Romance Reviews in her review of A Secret Life (Book 1 of Lord Hawkesbury's Players).PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONFalling in love just became the greatest scandal in Shakespearean London... morePRAISE FOR C.J. ARCHER"I had heard some great things about C.J. Archer's work lately, so I was looking forward to the chance to review this book. And, to my surprise and pleasure, everything I heard from her vivid characters to her excellent storytelling skills were completely, 100% true." ~ Bridget, reviewer for The Romance Reviews in her review of A Secret Life (Book 1 of Lord Hawkesbury's Players).PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONFalling in love just became the greatest scandal in Shakespearean London. Cold, ruthless Lord Warhurst needs to distance himself from scandal if he's to marry an heiress and save his decaying estate. But with his unwed sister pregnant and his father's past indiscretions still haunting Leo, scandal threatens to erupt in an explosive way. Especially when he begins to desire strong-willed and low-born Alice Croft, the seamstress to Lord Hawkesbury's Players and the woman helping him spy on his sister's lover. If anyone finds out, Leo's chance of marrying well will be ruined.However the scandal will be nothing compared to what happens when Alice cracks through the hard shell around his heart. Because how can Leo afford to love a woman who only wants him for the fortune she thinks he possesses? less

For years, Rafe Fletcher wandered the world, an assassin-for-hire and one of Europe’s most feared swordsmen. It’s a fitting life for a man who once beat his own brutish stepfather half to death, one of many sins for which he hopes to atone upon his return to London. Yet redemption proves elusive when he reunites with Lizzy Croft. A child when Rafe left, Lizzy remembers her dear friend’s brooding brother all too well... moreFor years, Rafe Fletcher wandered the world, an assassin-for-hire and one of Europe’s most feared swordsmen. It’s a fitting life for a man who once beat his own brutish stepfather half to death, one of many sins for which he hopes to atone upon his return to London. Yet redemption proves elusive when he reunites with Lizzy Croft. A child when Rafe left, Lizzy remembers her dear friend’s brooding brother all too well. And though dismayed to now find herself drawn to his dark good looks, she hasn’t forgotten how dangerous he can be. She dare not trust him — until the Master of Revels is murdered and Lizzy becomes the prime suspect. Suddenly Rafe is the only man she can trust, the only man who can protect her as they race to unmask the true killer. As her heart begins to thaw to the mysterious rogue, Lizzy wonders if loving him is the greatest risk of all… less