About The Author

Andrea Pickens

Andrea Pickens created her first book at the age of five—a neatly penciled story about cowboys—however she has since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured her imagination ever since she opened the cover of Pride and Prejudice.

Books

The Intrepid Heroine Series

Code of Honor

A gifted artist, Alexandra Chilton is far more passionate about painting and intellectual pursuits than the shackles of marriage. Until she meets the most notorious rake in London, the Earl of Branford, who seems determined to win her favors by any means.

Bored and restless, Branford has accepted a wager: seduce Miss Alexandra Chilton. Unaware that Alexandra is an Innocent—and that he's being used as a pawn in a nefarious game—Branford is surprised when Alexandra challenges both his intellect and jaded heart.

Passion flares, scandal threatens, and suddenly it's no longer a game, as a cunning enemy seeks to destroy their blossoming love.

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The Hired Hero

With her diplomat father away on a mission, Lady Caroline Talcott must deliver vital government documents to London. But when her carriage is attacked, she is injured and forced to flee on foot. Her only option: hire her rescuer—the infamous Earl of Davenport—to escort her to Town while keeping her identity a secret.

Impoverished, Davenport agrees to being hired by the mysterious lady and quickly discovers the headstrong hellion will make him earn his wages.

As the pair are pursued across England by a cunning enemy, fiery clashes turn into mutual respect... quickly followed by the greatest danger of all.

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A Stroke of Luck

Sailing home to England with her two younger brothers, the intrepid Miss Zara Greeley plucks a half-drowned stranger from icy seas. The handsome man says he's a duke—a claim Zara is tempted to believe, for only a duke could be so impossibly arrogant.

Prestwick wants nothing more than to part ways with the sharp-tongued young lady. But Fate quickly plunges the pair into another encounter. Zara and her brothers are long-lost relatives, come to reclaim their inheritance from an unscrupulous cousin... and suddenly the duke finds himself caught in the swirling current of duty and desire.

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Pistols at Dawn

Eliza Kirtland will do anything to see the man who cruelly assaulted her sister brought to justice—even point a pistol at the notorious Lord Killingworth.

But her mistaken accusations result in grave injury to the earl's nephew. Now Eliza's sister—a noted healer—feels obliged to nurse the young man back to health, and Eliza has no choice but to help.

Killingworth is not pleased with the arrangement. Tensions swirl between the four of them, until new bonds are discovered when evil strikes again and they must work together to fight a relentless enemy, who will stop at nothing to drive Killingworth away from his estate.

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The Scandalous Secrets Series

The Banished Bride

A drunken laugh, a roll of the dice... and Aurora Sprague finds herself a child bride, married in haste to a young man she's never met to settle her father's gaming debt. Moments after the ceremony, the new groom gallops off to the army and Aurora is banished to a remote estate, married in name only.

Years later, Alex Fenimore, now a top intelligence officer, is on a secret mission when a fiery young lady helps him escape attack.

He has no idea that the woman is his wife or that the sparks of desire between them are about to ignite a dangerous passion.

REVIEWS:
"...lush romance mixed with great humor and a touch of human frailty." ~RT magazine

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A Lady of Letters

Articulate and intelligent, Augusta Peabody avoids Society's censure by secretly publishing her political essays under the pen name "Firebrand." But despite all outward efforts to behave like a proper lady, she's set off the Earl of Dunham with her latest article decrying the use of child labor in the northern coal mines.

Bored with life as a rake, Dunham decides to take up Firebrand's cause, never dreaming that the reclusive writer is the headstrong young lady with whom he's constantly clashing.

When the truth comes out, Augusta reluctantly allows Dunham to help her investigate the gentleman she suspects is kidnapping children, and accidentally ignites new passions that could destroy them both if their cunning enemy has his way.

REVIEWS:
"...cleverly plotted tale with sparkling wit and irresistible romance." ~RT magazine

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The Major's Mistake

Seven years ago, a malicious lie caused Lady Miranda Grosvenor's husband, the Marquess of Sterling, to cast her off. Shunned by Society, Miranda lives as a recluse until Sterling returns home from war and discovers he has a young son.

As an uneasy truce begins, Sterling and Miranda must confront their shared past—and the unexpected reawakening of their passion.

AWARDS:
RT Magazine "Top Pick"

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The Lessons in Love Series

The Defiant Governess

When the high-spirited Lady Jane Stanhope finds herself facing a marriage ordered by her father, she flees home, disguises herself as "Plain Jane" and lands a governess position to the ward of the reclusive Marquess of Saybrook.

Winning the love of the shy little ward is easy. Sparking arguments between herself and the mysterious Saybrook is delightful fun. But both are putting her heart in danger.

Now she's caught between desire and her deception, for the most a titled lord can offer to a mere governess is ruin.
REVIEWS:
"...a finely wrought love story featuring an irresistible pair of lovers who will melt every reader's heart." ~RT magazine

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Second Chances

For Allegra Proctor, tutoring the Earl of Wrexham's son has its disadvantages—namely the widowed earl himself. Arrogant, cold, and moody, Wrexham is also distractingly dashing.

But Allegra only needs pretend long enough to right the wrong against her father, instigated by the earl's dastardly neighbor.

Then her charge discovers her intent, forcing her to face Wrexham.

Having his quiet existence turned on its ear puts Wrexham on edge, but he has never turned his back on a lady in distress.

Together, the pair plunges into a scheme to bring the villain to justice, and awakens a second chance at passion that neither dreamed possible.

REVIEWS:
"...appealing emotional intensity... a lilting romance for all to enjoy." ~RT magazine

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The Storybook Hero

Penniless and alone, Octavia Hadley accepted a governess position that took her to faraway Russia. Now she and her young charge are caught up in Napoleon’s invasion of Moscow.

Fleeing for their lives, the pair embark on a perilous trek northward, and to Octavia's dismay, the only way to reach the safety of St. Petersburg is to join forces with a roguish Englishman and his young nephew.

With the French army at her back and safety miles and miles ahead, the greatest danger just might be Alex Sheffield and the passion sparking between them.

Awards:
RWA RITA Finalist

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