“Yes, well, it wasn’t entirely easy. You asked for my help finding other ladies.”
Christian picked up her hand and kissed Sarah’s knuckles. “You made me into a legend.”
She squeezed his fingers and stared at him with love in her eyes. “Yes, and now you’re mine. My legendary lord.”
Thank you for reading The Legendary Lord. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed writing Lord Berkeley’s love story. I think he finally met his perfect match in Sarah.
I’d love to keep in touch.
• Visit my website for information about upcoming books, excerpts, and to sign up for my email newsletter: www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com.
• Join me on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/ValerieBowmanAuthor.
• Follow me on Twitter at @ValerieGBowman, https://twitter.com/ValerieGBowman.
• Reviews help other readers find books. I appreciate all reviews whether positive or negative. Thank you so much for considering it!
ALSO BY VALERIE BOWMAN
THE PLAYFUL BRIDES
The Untamed Earl
The Irresistible Rogue
The Unlikely Lady
The Accidental Countess
The Unexpected Duchess
THE SECRET BRIDES
Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage
Secrets of a Runaway Bride
Secrets of a Wedding Night
E-NOVELLAS
The Unforgettable Hero
A Secret Affair
A Secret Proposal
It Happened Under the Mistletoe
(Also featured in the anthology Christmas Brides)
Praise for the spectacular Playful Brides series by
VALERIE BOWMAN
THE UNTAMED EARL
“Bowman delights with a humorous tale that could come straight out of a Shakespearean play. The charming characters are well developed, their cock-eyed motivations are clear, and the plot moves quickly, wrapping readers in an enchanting romance.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Another exciting and wicked addition to the Playful Brides series.”
—Reading Wench
“Valerie Bowman’s stories sparkle with humor and her characters are absolutely adorable. The Untamed Earl is an engaging and romantic love story.”
—Fresh Fiction
THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE
“Bowman’s novel is the complete package, filled with fascinating characters, sparkling romance, and a touch of espionage.”
—Publishers Weekly
“With its lively plot, heated sexual tension, surprising twists, engaging characters, and laugh-out-loud humor, Bowman’s latest is another winner.”
—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick!)
“A complicated and sensual romance as well as a thrilling spy-filled adventure!”
—Fresh Fiction
“You will find no greater romantic escapade.”
—Night Owl Reviews (Top Pick)
“The story is filled with humor, a twisting plot, and vibrant characters that have become Bowman’s hallmark. The chemistry is near-perfect, and the will-they-won’t-they back-and-forth is exactly what romance readers want; the simultaneous tale of deceit, revenge, and espionage makes it all the more rewarding.”
—Sarah MacLean, The Washington Post
THE UNLIKELY LADY
“Bowman keeps her prose and characters fresh and interesting; her book is an entertaining renewal of a classic plotline and well worth reading.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Fun. Find every synonym for fun and insert here. The merriment! The mischievous heroines and clever, cheeky dialogue! The distinguished gentleman dressed in a rake’s clothing. Oh, I love it all!”
—Smexy Books
“Rich with fully developed characters and a plethora of witty banter.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A definite must-read!”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Quick, lively entertainment at its best.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A joyous romp in Regency England, filled with bright characters, scintillating conversations, and just plain fun.”
—Romance Reviews Today
THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS
“The references to Oscar Wilde’s play are more of a tribute than a straight retelling, which keeps this hilarious and lively story from becoming too predictable. Bowman is one to watch.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Readers will take the well-drawn, likable characters into their hearts, enjoying every moment of their charming love story as it unfolds in unexpected ways. Simply enjoy the humor and tenderness.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)
“Merry, intelligent, and wholly satisfying. The plot is elaborate, and Bowman handles it with grace to spare.”
—USA Today
“A fun, sexy read that will have you laughing and crying. Valerie Bowman has outdone herself with this one … a true gem.”
—Single Titles
THE UNEXPECTED DUCHESS
“Smart, witty, sassy, and utterly delightful!”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!)
“Engaging characters, snappy banter, and judicious infusion of smoldering sensuality will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this smart and sexy series.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“A fun, smart comedy of errors and a sexy, satisfying romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Valerie Bowman grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dog. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. Valerie loves to hear from readers. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com. Or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Also by Valerie Bowman
Praise for Valerie Bowman
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE LEGENDARY LORD
Copyright © 2016 by June Third Enterprises, LLC.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 9781466884410
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, ext. 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / November 2016
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
The Legendary Lord Page 26