After being falsely accused of a crime, Sophia's husband committed suicide, and then she lost her young son to pneumonia… Prior to that she'd lost her job and was now left with no money or home. So she was without prospects or any recourse when she was approached by a navy admiral with a damaged left hand. He introduced himself as Charles and his smile was so unexpectedly charming that Sophia inadvertently revealed her predicament. And so he offered her a job…as his wife!

[from Carla Kelly's site, this is the synopsis of the novel version] Emma Costello owes a debt of honor to one of the most dishonorable lords in the realm. The infamous Lord Ragsdale is as sinful as he is rich and as heartless as he is handsome. But after he saves Emma from a life of indentured servitude and shame, she decides it is her personal duty to save him from his reckless ways . . . without his permission. The libertine Lord Ragsdale came to aid Emma, saving her from a lecherous brute's attempts to press her into indentured servitude. She vowed to help him reform his ways so he could marry a woman of society. But was she merely leaving the frying pan and diving into the fiery arms of this unrepentant rake? A Regency romance original. "Don't cry, Emma," he said. "I'm not crying," she murmured, attempting to wipe away the tears. "Thank goodness for that," he replied, keeping his tone light. " 'Pon my word, Emma, I hope you are worth five thousand pounds." The infamous Lord Ragsdale is as rich as sin, as sinful as he is rich, and as heartless as he is handsome. But after he saves Emma from a life of indentured servitude and shame, Emma decides that it is her personal duty to save him from his wicked ways. **Step one** - Stop his drinking, his gaming, and his wild revelry. **Step two** - make him break up with his mistress, the superbly sensual Fae Moullé, and transform him into a suitable suitor for the ideal wife that prim and proper Lady Clarissa Partridge would be. **Step three** - don't fall in love with him.

Miss Marian Wynswich is a rather unconventional young lady. She plays chess, reads Greek, and is as educated as any young man. And she's certain falling in love is a ridiculous endeavor and vows never to do such a thing. But everything changes when she receives a Christmas visit from someone unexpected--a young and handsome English lord.