carol townend

Princess Theodora of Constantinople is to marry Duke Nikolaos, General-in-Chief of the army, a man chosen for her by the Emperor. An imperial princess must always do her duty: be beautiful, obedient and pure. But Theodora spent ten years in exile in a barbarian land.

There, once, she might have forgotten protocol. Forgotten enough to have given birth to a baby in secret. As her wedding night approaches Theodora finds she wants to share her bed with the Duke, except she knows she's on the verge of revealing her biggest sin…

Palace Brides Beauties of Byzantium – claimed by warriors!

Bound in chains, enslaved barbarian Sir William Bradfer stands proud in the Constantinople slave market. As a warrior, he's trained in the art of survival. Lady-in-waiting Anna of Heraklea is betrothed to be married – against her will.

Catching sight of the magnificent William, she finds a rebellious half-plan forming in her mind. Anna can offer this captured knight freedom in return for his hand in marriage!

Palace Brides Beauties of Byzantium – claimed by warriors!

Hugh Duclair, Count de Freyncourt, has been accused of sedition, stripped of his title and banished from all of King William's land. Proud and determined, Hugh vows to clear his name! Childhood friend Lady Aude de Crevecoeur offers her help –– but how far will she go? Should she risk her reputation and her life, or save her reputation and become Hugh's wife? Turbulent times call for passionate measures....

In her long years at the convent, waiting for her betrothed, Lady Isobel de Turenne has built the Comte d'Aveyron into a fantasy – a man who will rescue, protect and love her… But when the Comte finally returns to claim his bride Isobel finds instead a man of contradictions – one who masks dark secrets with desire.

Wary of a man's touch, but desperate to grasp her new freedom, Isobel must decide if it's solely duty forcing the Comte to marry or whether he is truly her longed-for champion.

Knights of Champagne Three swordsmen for three ladies

Stolen from the convent! 

Kidnapped by a masked horseman, Lady Rowena despairs. Her cloistered convent life is in tatters, her reputation surely ruined. Until she discovers her abductor is her father's favored knight… 

Loyal, honorable Sir Eric of Monfort has done as Rowena's father commanded. And though his body might crave her, he will not bed an innocent maiden. But as danger circles, there is only one way for Eric to protect Rowena — by making her his lady in every sense!

After Judith Coverdale saw her family's estate razed to the ground by Normans, she vowed to avenge her family's honor. She donned a boy's disguise and joined a band of outlaws, led by her brother, to terrorize the invaders.

When disaster struck, Judith found herself in the strong arms of the great warrior Rannulf de Mandeville. What she soon realized was that Rannulf was the brother of the murdering Norman who'd stolen her lands. Time and time again, Rannulf proved his devotion to her and taught her lessons in survival, but would she ever accept his love?

Forbidden fruit always tastes the sweetest…

Elise keeps her cards close to her chest. Few people know that she's also Blanchefleur le Fay, the celebrated singer. But she has an even greater secret…her baby daughter is the result of a brief — but intense — affair with Gawain, Count of Meaux.

Duty-bound to marry, Gawain is back in Troyes to meet his bride. So why can't he stop thinking about the sweet, silver-voiced girl he met the last time he was there? And when he finds his mistress again, Gawain must choose between duty…and forbidden desire.

Wearing his ring again… 

When a shocking revelation reveals Francesca's illegitimacy, she worries for her marriage to Tristan, Comte des Iles. Her heart in tatters, she awaits her husband's return… Will he request an annulment or give their union a second chance? 

Duty has kept Tristan from his beautiful wife's side for far too long, but the memory of her touch is seared into his soul. Now, with malevolent forces working against them, it's more important than ever for Tristan to show Francesca that he'll never let her go!

A princess captive in the tower… A Spanish knight who can set her free!

In this Princesses of the Alhambra story meet Princess Leonor, who can't escape her tyrannical Sultan father. For Spanish knight Count Rodrigo her innocence and her beauty tug at his sense of honour. He will lay down his life to protect her…but the risks are great: she is the daughter of his sworn enemy!

‘I would like a child...will you agree to father it?’

Princess Alba longs for a life away from her tyrannical sultan father. She craves a happy family of her own, away from the palace walls she’s been imprisoned in all her life. So when honourable Lord Inigo comes to her rescue, she’s spellbound! The Spanish knight is betrothed to another, but could he be her only hope of realising her dream?

The secrets behind her eyes 

Sir Arthur Ferrer catches sight of her among the stands at the Twelfth Night joust. There is something about her eyes…. He's seen them before. But when he goes to find the mysterious woman who has so captivated him, she's disappeared! 

Clare has been running from a dark past that she can never speak of. But this handsome knight seems determined to unveil her secrets. Will she dare to let him glimpse the real Lady Clare? 

Knights of Champagne 

Three Swordsmen for Three Ladies