Once Upon a True Love's Kiss
Julie Johnstone et al.
Published by Samantha Grace, 2016.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Ratings
AFTER FOREVER
After Forever: Chapter One
After Forever: Chapter Two
After Forever: Chapter Three
After Forever: Chapter Four
After Forever: Chapter Five
After Forever: Chapter Six
After Forever: Chapter Seven
After Forever: Chapter Eight
After Forever: Chapter Nine
After Forever: Chapter Ten
After Forever: Chapter Eleven
After Forever: Chapter Twelve
THE PIRATE'S DUCHESS
The Pirate’s Duchess: Prologue
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter One
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Two
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Three
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Four
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Five
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Six
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Seven
The Pirate’s Duchess: Chapter Eight
The Pirate’s Duchess: Epilogue
HER SCANDALOUS WISH
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter One
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Two
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Three
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Four
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Five
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Six
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Seven
Her Scandalous Wish: Chapter Eight
Her Scandalous Wish: Epilogue
MILADY AND HER SPY
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter One
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter Two
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter Three
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter Four
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter Five
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter Six
Milady and Her Spy: Chapter Seven
KISSED BY A SCOTTISH ROGUE
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter One
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Two
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Three
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Four
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Five
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Six
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Seven
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Eight
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Nine
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Ten
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Chapter Eleven
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue: Epilogue
STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter One
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter Two
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter Three
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter Four
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter Five
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter Six
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Chapter Seven
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount: Epilogue
TEMPTED BY A ROGUE
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter One
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Two
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Three
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Four
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Five
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Six
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Seven
Tempted by a Rogue: Chapter Eight
THE REDEMPTION OF JULIAN PRICE
The Redemption of Julian Price: Prologue
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter One
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Two
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Three
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Four
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Five
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Six
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Seven
The Redemption of Julian Price: Chapter Eight
The Redemption of Julian Price: Epilogue
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dearest Reader
ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE’S KISS
Eight Tantalizing Kiss and Tell Stories by Bestselling Authors
Copyright © January 2016
USA Today Bestselling author, Julie Johnstone, joins bestselling, award-winning authors Katherine Bone, Collette Cameron, Jillian Chantal, Samantha Grace, Alanna Lucas, Lauren Smith, and Victoria Vane in this delightful limited edition, containing eight tantalizing kiss-and-tell stories. Meet dashing, wildly charming rogues, spies, pirates, rakes and their extraordinary, intrepid heroines as they whisk you along on sweet to sizzling romantic romps in these wickedly entertaining historical romances.
ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE'S KISS
Copyright © January 2016
Cover Design by Romance Cover Creations
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, place, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions
By downloading or purchasing a print copy of this book, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of copyright owner.
Please Note:
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No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
CONTENTS
After Forever is the fourth book in Julie Johnstone's Whisper of Scandal Series. Love truly does have the power to mend a shattered heart.
The Pirate's Duchess is the introduction to Katherine Bone's new Regent's Revenge Series coming 2016. Think The Princess Bride meets Robin Hood!
Her Scandalous Wish is the third novella in Collette Cameron's A Waltz with a Rogue Novella series. Love always deserves a second chance!
Milady and Her Spy is Jillian Chantal's first novella in the Milady Series. Set off on adventure with Lady Augusta Covington.
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue is the fourth story in Samantha Grace's Rival Rogues series. An enemies to lovers tale with heart and humor.
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount is the first novella in Alanna Lucas's Stolen Kisses series. Let the seduction begin.
Tempted by a Rogue is a standalone novella by Lauren Smith. A sensual regency tale of fi
rst loves, mistaken identities and the temptation of two hearts meant to be together.
The Redemption of Julian Price — A spinster proposes a marriage of convenience to her secret love in this funny, flirty, poignant, and passionate Regency set romance from bestselling, award-winning author Victoria Vane.
For the purpose of this anthology, the following ratings apply:
ONE KISS — Stories will either not have consummated love scenes, or subtly sexy undetailed scenes behind a closed bedroom door. You’re not invited inside. Sorry.
TWO KISSES — Stories are more sensual than sweet with some love scenes that are more sensual than graphic. You might blush, but you won’t need a fan.
THREE KISSES — Stories are sexier and bolder with more explicit love scenes and the language used to describe them may be more graphic. A fan and a cool beverage might be in order, but you won’t experience everything. *Wink*
FOUR KISSES — Stories have frequent, graphic love scenes with explicit language. Be prepared to blush and stand in front of the air conditioner, a tall, iced drink in hand. Clothing is optional.
FIVE KISSES — Stories have frequent graphic, descriptive love scenes and/or contain subject matter some readers may find objectionable. Blushing guaranteed and you might learn a thing or two or three. But never fear, we won’t tattle if you don’t.
After Forever — 2.5 Kisses
The Pirate’s Duchess — 2.5 Kisses
Her Scandalous Wish — 2 Kisses
Milady and Her Spy — 1 Kiss
Kissed by a Scottish Rogue — 1 Kisses
Stolen Kisses from the Viscount — 3 Kisses
Tempted by a Rogue — 4 Kisses
The Redemption of Julian Prince — 3 Kisses
AFTER FOREVER
by Julie Johnstone
For all the people who have lost their soul mate and have had to face the scary prospect of allowing yourself to love in that way once again—this novel is for you. You have my admiration and you inspire me. Keep the faith.
~ Julie
After Forever: Chapter One
London, England
The Marquess and Marchioness of Davenport's Home
The Year of Our Lord 1819
"JULIANNA, DARLING, AS YOUR DEAREST FRIEND you really should have told me you only agreed to come to my ball tonight to show the ton that even though your mourning period may be over, you will forever be in mourning," said Lady Audrey Davenport as she eyed Lady Barrows with a smirk.
"That was not my intention," Julianna said on a sigh.
"Excellent. Then will you please smile and cease your frowning," Audrey chirped. She grabbed Julianna's arm and tugged her through the crowd like a marriage-minded mama who'd just caught sight of the Season's most eligible bachelor.
"Quit dragging me, Audrey," Julianna cried out, nearly colliding with one of the other guests who was trying to maneuver around the crowded ballroom. Julianna smiled apologetically at the aged lady she had almost knocked down. "I'm very sorry."
The older woman patted Julianna's hand. "Don't fret, dear. I know who you are, and we are all very sorry for you. It's good to finally see you back in Society."
The pity in the woman's voice and eyes made Julianna's throat constrict. She could not speak.
"She appreciates your concern for her welfare, Lady Giles," Audrey said while tugging Julianna away and once again plowing ahead at a rapid pace.
After a moment, Julianna managed to shove her sadness back down and said, "Slow down, Audrey."
"If I slow down, I'm afraid I will miss Lord Dentington. See him over by the terrace with Trent? Lord Dentington has the cagey look of a man about to escape." Audrey weaved them at a dangerous pace through the throngs of guests as they chattered all about the chandelier-lit ballroom.
Julianna gazed toward the terrace and located Audrey's husband, Lord Davenport, or Trent as Audrey lovingly referred to him, or Sin as she had confessed she sometimes called him when she wished to be scandalous.
Audrey turned a corner and offered an airy wave to a top-heavy, feather-capped woman motioning both hands at her.
"You really should stop and speak with your guests," Julianna said, not in the mood at all to talk to Audrey's husband again tonight, who with his dark-blond hair reminded Julianna of Henry. Henry's locks had been almost the exact same color. Her throat immediately ached with the need to cry, but she swallowed hard and forced a smile.
"I'll talk to every one of them as soon as I've accomplished my goal," Audrey replied, charging ahead while passing Sally, the Duchess of Primwitty, who was making a beeline toward them.
Julianna helplessly waved back as she was tugged away from her other dearest friend. "If you continue to rush toward Lord Dentington this way, your husband will likely become jealous."
"Don't be silly," Audrey giggled. "I'm rushing toward Lord Dentington for you. I think you two would suit. He's a widower, just half a year shy of how long you've been a widow. If anyone will understand your pain, he should."
Julianna jerked backward, and they came to a shuddering halt. Thank goodness they were close to a column. She placed her hand there as the room spun. She was going to faint. The pinch of it was it had nothing whatsoever to do with the horrid stays she had relented to wearing when Sally had insisted they show her figure in the best light.
Julianna had been tempted to argue that the stays made it hard to breathe—nor did she give a whit if anyone cared for her figure—but all the fight she had once possessed, that had driven Henry to distraction, had died when her husband had. So she had on stays. Yet, breathing had not been that bad. She took a ragged breath to make sure. No, it was not the stays that were the problem; it was her broken heart. The back of her throat burned and tears blurred her vision.
"I don't want anyone to understand," Julianna said, blinking away the tears that slid in warm twin trails down her cheeks, despite her best effort to hold them back. Botheration. All this time in mourning and she had not once showed the depths of her misery to her friends. So why here and now?
"Oh, dearest!" Audrey cried and hugged Julianna to her, while somehow maneuvering them behind a potted plant. "I'm a nitwit. I'm so sorry. I thought…"
Audrey's words trailed off as her gaze wandered down the length of Julianna's gown. As Audrey's face flushed, the heat of Julianna's embarrassment at what her friend must be thinking about the revealing gown singed her cheeks. She had not wanted to wear the emerald gown. It was far too lively for how she felt. Her choice had been a black gown, which suited her mood perfectly. But for some reason it had not been ready from the seamstress, and Sally had offered Julianna one of her gowns. Her friend did so love to flaunt her assets, and Julianna, unfortunately, had larger assets. She'd practically stuffed her bosom into Sally's gown, which was why she'd placed the fichu over the deep plunge. Julianna pressed a hand to her warm, bare skin where the fichu had been. She gazed toward the floor for the missing material, but in this ballroom finding it was going to be hopeless.
"My gown wasn't ready," she murmured. "This is Sally's."
Audrey patted Julianna's arm. "That explains it. I mistakenly thought your appearance meant you had changed your mind and were ready to search for another husband."
Julianna shook her head. "It's not been long enough."
Audrey gently wiped Julianna's tears away. "Dearest, it's been a year and a half."
Julianna tensed. Had it really been a year and a half since she had sat and watched Henry in the garden tending to the roses, and then sat and watched him die? She clenched her teeth to muffle the sob that wanted to escape and gave a vicious, yet futile, yank upward on the silk gown. "You may as well understand my position, Audrey. I never want to marry again."
"I understand it perfectly," a male voice said behind her.
Julianna whirled around and stared in horror at Lord Dentington. Luckily, the man was far too busy gazing at her chest to notice her gaping mouth. She snapped it shut while glaring at Audrey, who had the decency to app
ear sorry. It was obvious the man standing before her was Audrey's doing.
Finally, he managed to tear his gaze away from Julianna's bosom and Audrey made a quick introduction between them. Lord Dentington smiled. "Lady Davenport tells me you are an excellent dancer. Would you do me the honor, if your card is not full?"
"I feel a bit light-headed, Lord Dentington. I will have to pass tonight, as I think I'm going to go find a quiet spot to sit and rest for a minute. If you both will excuse me," she said, eyeing the shadowy corridor that led to the library. If she could reach the library unseen, she could hide there all night until the ball was over.
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