Parvenues & Paramours Series by Tessa Candle

London-hating dreamer, Lydia Norwood, has failed spectacularly as a débutante. Now an encoretante whose family has lost a fortune, Lydia discovers that the beau monde is hard on a nouveau riche social climber, particularly one who is no longer riche and only wants to climb trees. Lydia must stave off the effrontery of rakes and conniving competitors long enough to make a good match, or else incur society's scorn by earning her own money... moreLondon-hating dreamer, Lydia Norwood, has failed spectacularly as a débutante. Now an encoretante whose family has lost a fortune, Lydia discovers that the beau monde is hard on a nouveau riche social climber, particularly one who is no longer riche and only wants to climb trees. Lydia must stave off the effrontery of rakes and conniving competitors long enough to make a good match, or else incur society's scorn by earning her own money. Falling for the unattainable Lord Aldley is a distraction she cannot afford. But they share such an enchanted history, how can her heart resist?The tragically virtuous Earl of Aldley is tired of ambitious families hurling debutantes at his head, but cannot hide in France forever. He returns to London to seek out the mysterious tree-climbing girl who once saved him from a scheming chit, and finds more than he bargained for. Abductions, seductions, trickery and injury all endanger Lydia, but Lord Aldley's heart is imperiled beyond rescue. He has only just found her; will he lose her forever to his enemy, his best friend, or his own dangerous mistake?Three Abductions and an Earl is a full length novel and the first book in Tessa Candle's Parvenues and Paramours series. less

Parental neglect and new money have been the making of parvenue heiress and incorrigible do-gooder, Tilly Ravelsham. She is bent on relieving poverty and forwarding the cause of liberty by whatever means necessary. True, she dabbles in the demi-monde. True, she breaks into houses. True, she conducts scandalous enterprises and an affair that could ruin her socially, if her enemy exposes her. But is that all so very wrong? Despite falling in love with Mr... moreParental neglect and new money have been the making of parvenue heiress and incorrigible do-gooder, Tilly Ravelsham. She is bent on relieving poverty and forwarding the cause of liberty by whatever means necessary. True, she dabbles in the demi-monde. True, she breaks into houses. True, she conducts scandalous enterprises and an affair that could ruin her socially, if her enemy exposes her. But is that all so very wrong? Despite falling in love with Mr. Rutherford, a delicious man about town, Tilly is bound in a secret pact to the man about to marry her. She didn’t mean to fall for Rutherford, and breaking his heart is making her wretchedly unhappy. Then she realizes that she has crossed a line, that her actions and influence are slowly destroying him. She knows she should set him free, so that he might be happy with another. But her heart refuses to let go, and Tilly is growing tired of making sacrifices so that others may find happiness when she is miserable. Reluctant duke-to-be, Mr. Rutherford, has his life turned upside-down by the most fascinating, tempting and shocking woman he has ever met, leaving his heart utterly smitten. But as merely seducing her has proved ineffective, Rutherford must find some other way of convincing her to marry him before she makes it to the altar with her rich-as-a-prince fiancé. When Rutherford’s love for the adventuress of his dreams gets him stabbed, pistol-whipped, unlawfully confined, and almost framed for a capital offence, will he conclude that there is such a thing as a young lady who is too interesting? Will he turn to the mysterious, beautiful widow his uncle has made him swear to protect? And will a concealed pregnancy or a murder be the powder keg that blows all of Tilly and Rutherford’s plans and secrets wide open? less