Season for Surrender

Book excerpt: When a proper lady attends a rakish lord's holiday party, the fun and games lead to a gamble for love in a “charming Christmas Regency confection” (Publishers Weekly). Alexander Edgware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation for daring, wagering, and delightful wickedness. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas extravaganza—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Unable to refuse the challenge, he will simply have to act as Miss Oliver's protector . . . Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she refuses to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures. When Lord Xavier's invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues' gallery, she just may teach her gentlemen friends a thing or two about daring . . .