Book excerpt: From USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway 2023 ORWG Heart Award Finalist A spirited lady detective. A buttoned-up spy for the Crown. A steamy marriage of convenience that threatens to lay bare their secrets…and their hearts. When her overprotective family tries to curtail her activities, spirited and independent debutante Fiona Garrity decides marriage is her surest way to freedom. All she needs is an accommodating, and preferably not too perceptive, husband with his own hobbies so that he will not interfere with hers. Destiny puts her into the path of a reputedly staid and scholarly earl. He would be the perfect candidate…if only his grey eyes were not quite so magnetic, and his virile nearness didn’t affect her in such a stimulating manner… After the death of his first wife, Thomas Morgan, the Earl of Hawksmoor, has sworn off love. He is torn between his duty to produce an heir and his true passion: his work as an agent of the Crown. Fate gives him a solution when a dazzling debutante proposes a practical union that would allow them both to maintain private lives. She would be an impeccable choice…if only her heavenly gaze didn’t lay bare his secret needs and her delectable form didn’t tempt him to unleash his darkest desires… Fiery passion threatens the negotiated rules of Fiona and Hawk’s marriage. As desire turns into love, their secret lives collide. Will their marriage of convenience survive betrayal and danger to become a love for all time? “This writer to me is in the leagues of Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Amanda Quick.” -Amazon Reviews Grace's books feature sizzling hot historical romance, fun and feel-good happily ever afters, and exciting mystery and adventure. Her books are standalone titles which can also be enjoyed as part of her interconnected series set in the same universe. LADY CHARLOTTE'S SOCIETY OF ANGELS (steamy Victorian romance) #1 Olivia and the Masked Duke (Livy & Ben) #2 Pippa and the Prince of Secrets (Pippa & Cullen) #3 Fiona and the Enigmatic Earl (Fiona & Thomas) #4 Glory and the Master of Shadows (Glory & Wei) #5 Charlotte and the Seductive Spymaster (Preorder today!) GAME OF DUKES (steamy Victorian romance) #1 The Duke Identity (Harry & Tessa) #2 Enter the Duke (Ransom & Maggie) #3 Regarding the Duke (Garrity & Gabby) #4 The Duke Redemption (Wickham & Beatrice) #5 The Return of the Duke (Severin & Fancy) #6 Steamy Winter Wishes: A Hot Historical Romance Short Story (featuring characters from all of Grace's series) HEART OF ENQUIRY (THE KENTS) (steamy Regency romance) Prequel Novella: The Widow Vanishes (Will & Annabel) #1 The Duke Who Knew Too Much (Alaric & Emma) #2 M is for Marquess (Gabriel & Thea) #3 The Lady Who Came in from the Cold (Marcus & Penny) #4 The Viscount Always Knocks Twice (Richard & Violet) #5 Never Say Never to an Earl (Sinjin & Polly) #6 The Gentleman Who Loved Me (Andrew & Primrose) MAYHEM IN MAYFAIR (steamy Regency romance) #1 Her Husband's Harlot (Helena & Nicholas) #2 Her Wanton Wager (Percy & Gavin) #3 Her Protector's Pleasure (Marianne & Ambrose) #4 Her Prodigal Passion (Charity & Paul)