**strong text**"Harry Morant's tough exterior hides a badly scarred heart. The natural son of an earl, high-born ladies have only one use for him-- in the bedchamber. Now, after eight years at war, Harry is breeding racehorses and planning a practical, unemotional marriage. But when he buys a new estate, his careful plans are threatened by an unexpected passion for-- of all things-- an earl's daughter. Lady Helen Freymore, otherwise known as Nell, is not interested. A lifetime of lies has brought Nell to the brink of ruin. Trapped by poverty and scandal, she trusts no man ; she has her own secret quest of the heart. Harry's pursuit of her, however, is relentless. Forced into a marriage she never sought, she soon finds herself powerfully drawn to this masterful but gentle soldier. Bus as Christmas draws near, Nell's secret past threatens to shatter their newfound happiness" -- p. [4] of cover.
Anne Gracie was born in Australia, but lived in Scotland, Greece and Malaysia, as well as different parts of Australia, because of her Dad's job. After Anne's first job in a dog and cat boarding kennels, she moved to a voluntary job teaching women with little kids English in their home made her decide to become a teacher and she's done it ever since, with bouts of traveling in between. Anne Gracie started her first novel while backpacking solo around the world. After four historical romances published by Harlequin, she moved to Berkley with The Perfect Rake, and never looked back. She's now writing her third series for Berkley. She also wrote the novelization of the first "The Tudors" TV series. - www.writerspace.com
Anne is a former president of Romance Writers of Australia, a five time RITA finalist, has twice won the Romantic Book of the Year (Australia) and the National Reader's Choice Award (USA) and has been several times been listed in Library Journal (USA) best books of the year and NPR's best books listing. - http://freshfiction.com
