Playful Brides

**Series: Playful Brides Author: Valerie Bowman** Welcome to the enchanting world of Regency England, where love is a game played amidst the opulence of ballrooms and the whispers of high society. In Valerie Bowman’s delightful *Playful Brides* series, passion and laughter collide as sharp-witted heroines navigate the treacherous waters of romance, often with humorous and unexpected results. At the heart of the first installment, *The Unexpected Duchess*, is Lady Lucy Upton—a spirited young woman whose razor-sharp tongue often clears the room of suitors rather than attracting them. Determined to help her timid friend Cassandra navigate a perilous courtship with the ever-persistent Duke of Claringdon, Lucy concocts a plan that sends her hiding behind hedgerows, only to find herself trading teasing barbs with the very duke she meant to thwart. Not to be outdone, Lord Derek Hunt, bound by a promise to marry the sweet yet shy Cassandra, finds himself caught in the crossfire of Lucy’s playful schemes and discovers that the battle of wits is far more exhilarating than his quiet life ever promised. With each delightful encounter, the stakes rise, drawing the characters into a whirlwind of mistaken identities, spirited banter, and undeniable chemistry. Filled with charm and mischief, the *Playful Brides* series celebrates the complexities of love, the power of friendship, and the delightful surprises that come when you least expect them. Will Lucy dare to break the very rules she set out to uphold, or will true love elude them all? Join these captivating characters on their amusing escapades, where every turn of the page whispers the promise of romance waiting just around the corner…