Shirlee Busbee books in order

While fleeing the greedy clutches of her vile cousin, Lady Tess Mandeville is robbed and left for dead in the woods. She awakes with no memory of who or where she is. But fate intervenes when she wanders into a tavern and is mistaken for a barmaid. 

Her accidental profession leads her into the arms of Nicholas Talmage, the darkly handsome Earl of Shelbourne, and the two share a night of unrivaled passion. But as Tess's true identity comes to light, they realize their families are locked in a mysterious, decades-old feud that could put an end to their fledgling but fiery romance. 

As the star-crossed pair search for answers to the secrets of their past, they'll strive to defend an unremitting love that shatters the bounds of time. . .

Widowed after enduring a troubled marriage, Lady Sophy Marlowe vows she will only wed again for love alone. But her penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time finds her accused of a crime she didn’t commit—and the only way to save her neck from the gallows is to accept the calculated proposal of Viscount Ives Harrington.

For the once-committed bachelor, the marriage of convenience leads to intrigue and harrowing danger. As the two flee over land and sea from a world bent on destroying them, the fate they can hardly resist is rushing toward them, fulfilling the desire that simmers in both . . .

Seventeen years ago Shelley Granger fled her California hometown, devastated and alone. Now her brother's shocking suicide brings her back, filled with doubt that she ever really knew him. Yet even in the midst of uncertainty, some things never change.

A penthouse, star-studded parties, it's just the life Roxy Ballinger has worked so hard to attain. But after visiting her hometown of Oak Valley she starts yearning for home, so she leaves Manhatten and buys a cabin, only to find herself irrationally irritated by Deputy Sheriff Jeb Delan

Nell Anslowe and Julian, Earl of Wyndham, are an unlikely couple in every respect. Injured in a riding accident ten years ago, Nell was left with a fiance who abandoned their engagement, a slight limp, terrifying nightmares, and the firm belief that she will never marry. 

The abrupt end of Julian's unhappy marriage formed his resolve to remain a bachelor until the end of his days. But as Julian chases down his reckless stepsister, he seeks shelter from a summer storm in a cottage - and finds it occupied by Nell, who has escaped from a fortune-seeking libertine bent on carrying her off to Gretna Green. 

Discovered together by Nell's family, the couple's hasty wedding is the only way to save Nell from scandal - but the polite union each of them expects blossoms into something much more powerful...

As guardian to her two young siblings after her parents’ death, Daphne Beaumont struggles to keep the family together. But when Daphne’s brother suddenly inherits a sizable estate from a distant relative, they are able to leave London behind for a prosperous new life in Cornwall. Devoted to her charges, Daphne doesn’t believe marriage is in her future, despite her newfound wealth and striking beauty—until she meets the intriguing Charles Weston . . .

A long-buried secret brings Charles to Cornwall, where he encounters the alluring Daphne while walking on the beach. When a sudden rockslide strands the two in a cave, their shared captivity is sure to invite scandal. Charles knows he must act honorably and propose to Daphne—an easy prospect for him considering he has fallen for her. The real challenge now lies in Charles winning Daphne’s heart—and showing her how wonderful love’s spell can be . . .

Reliable. Trustworthy. Dignified. A few of the characteristics supporting Marcus Sherbrook’s reputation as the perfect gentleman. Or almost perfect, as there is one significant smirch on his record: the rebellion of one Miss Isabel Dunham who, at the age of seventeen, defied Marcus’s guardianship, eloped, and fled to India. 

The widowed Isabel returned to England ten years ago, and has been making Marcus’s cool gray eyes flash ever since . . . not that he’d give her the satisfaction of knowing it. But when Isabel is threatened by the schemes of a blackmailer, Marcus’s attempts to protect her lead to yet another spontaneous marriage—and kindle the embers of a desire never acknowledged, but now impossible to deny . . .

Forced to resort to a life of crime in order to support his siblings, Asher Cordell is now ready to walk the straight and narrow path. But when an old rival, the Marquis of Ormsby, infuriates him with his insipid arrogance, Asher cannot resist stealing the pompous fool’s famous diamond. However, he’s shocked to discover he isn’t the only intruder in Ormsby’s library. The culprit is none other than his beautiful neighbor, Juliana Greeley. 

Asher has known Juliana since childhood and has always harbored a secret affection for her. When she asks Asher to steal letters Ormsby is using to blackmail her sister, he’s happy to oblige. Embarking on a bold scheme that gives way to an equally fiery passion, the adventurous pair discover a love neither can live without . . .

To save her village and what's left of her family fortune from her wastrel cousin, gently bred Emily Townsend secretly leads a ring of smugglers. With the king's forces and deadly rivals closing in, she has but one last shipment to acquire. But when her men rescue an injured stranger from the sea one stormy night, Emily faces her most formidable--and tempting--adversary ever. 

For Barnaby, the new Viscount Joslyn, is determined to uncover who tried to kill him the moment he set foot in England. Yet proving to Miss Townsend that he can also be trusted with her deepest secrets is an equally intriguing challenge. Now Barnaby and Emily's boldest gambit rests on unthinkable risk--and surrendering to an undeniable love. . .

Gillian Dashwood's wastrel husband wagered away her fortune. His scandalous murder ruined her reputation. Still, she'll do whatever it takes to protect her beloved elderly uncle from Lucian Joslyn, the cool-headed gambler whose arrival is as mysterious as his newfound fortune. 

Once Luc makes it clear he is certain Gillian is herself anything but innocent, she's determined to reveal the truth about him. But the simmering desire that draws them ever closer threatens those with vengeful secrets to keep. Now, trusting each other is a hazard Gillian and Luc never imagined--and a chance at enduring love is the one peril they can't resist. . .

Leonie Saint-Andre, the granddaughter of an old Creole gentleman, thinks Morgan Slade is a scoundrel.

Morgan, the son of a wealthy Natchez plantation family, thinks Leonie is a clever liar.

Leonie claims Morgan married her, and fathered her five-year-old son. All she wants is her dowry returned to pay her dead grandfather's gambling debts and save their home.

Morgan knows that he accepted neither dowry, nor Leonie's hand in marriage. But the woman before him awakens emotions he never thought he'd feel again.

But that doesn't give reason for the imposter who signed his name to the marriage papers Leonie holds or why her son bears such a striking resemblance to Morgan himself.

Melissa Seymour loves Folly, a magnificent thoroughbred stallion whose winnings allow Melissa and her siblings to hang on to their home.

Dominic Slade enjoys wealth and has plans for a stud farm, with Folly being his first purchase.

Melissa refuses to sell. The only way to replace the income earned through Folly is by unlocking her trust fund through marriage.

Neither are interested in marriage.

But as trusted friends and loyal family turn strangely foe, Dominic and Melissa are forced to unite. Now the pair must come to grips with their true passions, or lose it all to a common enemy willing to do anything.

NB: This is the second book in the Louisiana Ladies Series, and the sixth book in the Southern Women Series.

Hugh Lancaster and Micaela Dupree were enemies from the start.

Hugh, a handsome American, is convinced the Dupree family is skimming profits from his New Orleans trading company and that someone is out to murder him.

Micaela is a proud Creole who resents America's new ownership of New Orleans, and resents Hugh for daring to look over her family's shoulder.

But nothing can quell overwhelming passion, despite the pair's struggles to resist.

Caught in a compromising situation, Hugh and Micaela are forced to marry, only to discover love in each other's arms and that the murderer has designs on them both.

—Caribbean High Seas, 1664—

Gabriel Lancaster is her family's bitterest enemy…and now he stands before her, his magnificent body in chains, captured by her brother. But the moment Maria Delgato’s triumphant gaze reaches Gabriel’s burning emerald eyes, a new war ignites.

From lush Caribbean estates to desperate sea battles, all the way to the glittering English and Spanish courts, Maria and Gabriel rage against each other and the one truth their hearts cannot deny...a truth which only passion can set free.

—Paris, 1802—

While in disguise and dancing in a Gypsy encampment, Lady Catherine Tremayne ignites Jason Savage’s interest and his passion.

Believing her a Gypsy, he whisks her away as his own, and when he discovers her true identity, insists they marry.

But gaining a wife does not terminate Jason’s dangerous government mission or the revenge he seeks.

Yet passion has a way of interfering with Agent Savage’s well-laid plans as Catherine refuses to accept anything less than his whole heart in exchange for the fire burning deep in her Gypsy soul.

—English High Seas to New Orleans Pirate Havens, 1808—

Outwitting a ruthless plot against her life, Nicole Ashford flees her aristocratic England home on a privateer's ship bound for the luxurious pirate havens of New Orleans.

Yet Nicole’s daring escape has plunged her into even graver peril… as the captive mistress to the notorious high-seas outlaw, Captain Saber. In the night hours, his savage passion makes her a woman. But it is his tender kisses that are plundering her soul.

Nothing can seem to stop what has begun between them. Nothing will satiate the urgent fires of love they seem born to share.

Nothing except Nicole’s cunning and ruthless enemy who refuses to let her go.

In Colonial Virginia, Chance Walker still blames his cousin Jonathan for his own wife's untimely death. So when Jonathan returns from England with the widowed Lady Fancy Merrivale, Chance sees an opportunity to strike back: he'll woo the beautiful Lady.

But revenge turns bittersweet as Chance falls hopelessly in love with Fancy, and she with him, while a shadowy enemy intent on claiming Chance's family inheritance puts Fancy in his sights.

London's loveliest and wealthiest social pariah, Thea Garrett guards her wounded heart by refusing to give love a second thought. Then she encounters the cynical and handsome Patrick Blackburne, who's protecting wounds of his own.

The moment Blackburne lays eyes on the remarkable Miss Garrett, he instantly forswears his famously wicked ways.

But when a gossamer web of dangerous blackmail spins around them, Thea and Blackburne must face the truth: neither can swear by love.

NB: This book is also known as Swear By the Moon.

The married daughter of an English aristocrat, Beth Ridgeway believes Rafael Santana cruel and insensitive; a man who uses women only for selfish pleasure.

The arrogant son of a wealthy Texas family, Rafael thinks Beth flirtatious and unfaithful; a woman who takes pride in breaking men's hearts.

But when Beth and Rafael chance to meet again at a dazzling New Orleans ball, something happens. Something neither the years nor the violent misunderstandings between them can diminish: an awakening to the magnificent passions of love, no matter how forbidden.

As a young child, Sabrina del Torres fell in love with Brett Dangermond while at her aunt's wedding. But Carlos, Sabrina's cousin, wants Sabrina for himself.

Years later, at Sabrina's father's invitation, Brett arrives at the del Torres rancho. Sweet passion blooms between the pair, until Brett's previous lover mysteriously turns up, claiming Brett abandoned her and her unborn child to marry the rich Sabrina del Torres.

Brett does not deny the charges, neither does he claim to love Sabrina.

Then Sabrina's father is found murdered, and at the reading of his will, Sabrina learns she must marry a man of Brett's choosing or forfeit her fortune.

Brett, having vowed never to fall hostage to love, leaves the ranch, ordering Sabrina to remain until he returns. Now Sabrina can either dig up the truth that'll unlock Brett's heart or prepare to marry the man he chooses.

Savanna O'Rourke believes Adam is Jason Savage, the man who murdered her father to steal his gold.

Adam St. Clair believes Savanna is helping a former lover--Murdering Micajah Yates--steal his gold.

Neither want to be attracted to the other, but both have been kidnapped by the same man: Murdering Micajah Yates.

After traveling deep into the wilderness, Yates makes it clear he will do whatever it takes to get the information he wants. Savanna and Adam put their mutual hatred aside to join forces long enough to escape. But escaping the love budding between them will prove much more difficult... unless Yates finds them first.

When Arabella discovers her younger brother has gambled away the family fortune, she approaches the holder of Jeremy's vowels, hoping to exchange them for her smaller fortune. But he has lost the vowels to her worst enemy: Tony Daggett, the man who broke her heart.

Tony is rich, reckless and wild. His first wife died in an accident while running away with her lover, Tony on their heels. The second was murdered.

But Arabella is determined to save her family and approaches her ex-fiancé with the same offer: her small fortune for the vowels. Tony's counter-offer: Arabella must become his mistress in exchange for the vowels.

Arabella begrudgingly agrees, unknowingly snaring Tony in his own trap. And as Tony falls deeper and deeper in love, his silent enemy acquires a new target: Arabella.

Orphaned at sixteen, Sara Rawlings is rescued by her father's distant cousin, Sam Cantrell, who takes her to his rancho in San Felipe.

There, Sara meets Sam's son, Yancy. The attraction is instant, but Sara is already half-in-love with the widowed Sam.

Then Sara finds Yancy's ex-fiancée with a dagger through her heart. When she returns to the scene with Sam, the dagger is missing. Sara reluctantly agrees she was mistaken and Yancy leaves to join the Union Army.

Sam prepares to join the Rebels, but first convinces Sara to marry him so she is provided for should he not return.

When Sara and Yancy meet again, the rancho in tatters from the war, the attraction between them is just as powerful, and equally unwanted. But with Sam gone and someone attempting to end their lives, Sara and Yancy must join forces before love can chase the darkness from their broken hearts.

Melissa Seymour loves Folly, a magnificent thoroughbred stallion whose winnings allow Melissa and her siblings to hang on to their home.

Dominic Slade enjoys wealth and has plans for a stud farm, with Folly being his first purchase.

Melissa refuses to sell. The only way to replace the income earned through Folly is by unlocking her trust fund through marriage.

Neither are interested in marriage.

But as trusted friends and loyal family turn strangely foe, Dominic and Melissa are forced to unite. Now the pair must come to grips with their true passions, or lose it all to a common enemy willing to do anything.

NB: This is the sixth book in the Southern Women Series, and the second book in the Louisiana Ladies Series.

She Couldn’t Escape Her Past

Ripped from her dying mother’s arms, Morgana Fowler was cast into a life of desperate thievery. With a tongue even sharper than the blade she deftly wields, she has all but mastered her devious trade—until she picks the pocket of a dashing American who wrests her from the sordid streets of London. In the arms of her gallant protector, she is helpless against the longing he elicits within her . . .

He Couldn’t Contain His Passion

Royce Manchester basks in a world of privilege and power in the decadent British Regency, and lowborn Morgana finds in him a love she’s never known. But the secret of her true parentage threatens to bring her new life crashing down. With a sinister figure from her past ever lurking at her heels, she and Royce must confront one of Regency England’s most diabolical villains—a challenge that fans the flame of a love that knows no bounds . . .