The Davenports

What’s with this unwanted brides and reluctant marriages trend anyway? See The Windsors for reference.

1. THE UNWANTED WIFE by L. Steele

SYNOPSIS

He’s my brother’s best friend. My fake husband... And doesn’t believe in love.

Nathan Davenport, CEO of the Davenport empire is my complete opposite. He hates chocolate. I’m a size sixteen dessert chef. He only wears black. I love glitter and pink. He’s grumpy, while I look on the brighter side of life. Too bad his piercing eyes, and high cheekbones haunt my dreams.

When he offers to loan me the money to save my bakery. I have no choice but to agree. Except he has conditions:

  • I must pretend to be his wife for a year

  • I must fake my feelings for him so his family believes our relationship

  • I must stay by his side for the duration of our arrangement so he can claim his inheritance

I don’t even like the man, surely I can get through this charade without developing feelings for him? Except living in close proximity with him, our chemistry escalates. I know I am falling for the wrong man. For when I tell him: “I love you,” he growls: “Love was never part of the equation...”


2. THE IMPERFECT MARRIAGE by L. Steele

SYNOPSIS

Quentin Davenport is my ex-boyfriend’s father... And my new marriage of convenience husband.

When my boyfriend leaves me at the altar, Quentin offers to marry me! No way can I accept it, especially since Quentin is much older than me. He’s a tall, dark and tattooed former Marine, whose grumpy disposition leaves much to be desired. But this way I can salvage my dignity... Also, I can get back at my ex. Besides, it’s a fake marriage. So there’s no fear of developing feelings... right?

When he offers to put my younger sister through college... and pay for my father’s medical treatment, I can’t refuse him. Only he has conditions:

  • I must live with him, as his wife

  • I must pretend to be his

  • I must convince his family that I love him

Living under the same roof as man and wife, I see a different side of my husband. The pretend marriage begins to feel very real. I begin to dream of a future with him. I am going to get my Happily Ever After... But what happens when I walk into his office and see him with the mother of his son...?


3. THE UNPLANNED WEDDING by L. Steele

SYNOPSIS

I’m in love with my tall, dark and grumpy boss. Only he’s engaged to another...

Knox Davenport. Six feet three inches of glower, and with a presence that fills any room he walks into, is my boss. Too bad I’m secretly in love with him. He’s a former Marine and the new CEO of the Davenport Group. I’m a lowly assistant. He doesn’t even know my name. I can’t get him out of my mind. The man’s obnoxious, and disagreeable and has an ego I want to take down several notches. So why can’t I get over this unreasonable attraction? Besides I need this job so I can pay my bills... and put my siblings through college.

I can’t do anything to mess up this opportunity. So, I resolve to keep things professional between us. Until he announces he’s to be married... to another. How long can I watch from afar... While my heart breaks apart?

I resign my job... I’m sure he’ll forget about me. Only a day later the doorbell rings and he’s there. He’s broken off his betrothal. And has a new proposal for me... with conditions...


4. THE RELUCTANT WIFE by L. Steele

SYNOPSIS

He’s my bodyguard. My marriage of convenience husband. And the one man I can’t have feelings for.

Ryot Davenport: Former Marine. Billionaire security expert. A man built to keep his walls high and his heart untouchable.

Our fake marriage? A calculated political move.

Our real chemistry? Impossible to ignore.

He’s sworn to keep me safe. I’m determined to make him feel again. Every unspoken promise. Every stolen glance. We’re playing a dangerous game where the only rule is: don’t fall. But some rules were never meant to be kept…


5. THE REJECTED WIFE by L. Steele

SYNOPSIS

She’s everything he needs—and the one thing he can’t have.

Rule #1 of nannying: Don’t fall for your boss.

Rule #2: Don’t let his daughter steal your heart.

Rule #3: Definitely don’t say yes when he asks you to marry him.

I’ve already broken all three.

Tyler Davenport is six-feet-four-inches of pure gorgeousness in a tailored suit. Former-Marine turned ruthless billionaire. Devoted single dad. The man whose penetrating gaze makes my heart race. And now... my boss.

I was handling it. Really. Until his little girl called me ‘mommy’ over breakfast. Until I caught him watching me with heated eyes across the dinner table. Until he demanded I become his wife—just for show, just for a year—to claim his inheritance.

Now we’re sharing a roof. A bathroom. A bed. His touch lingers too long to be accidental. His glances feel too intense to be fake. And the way he holds me at night? That’s definitely not in our contract. But I’ve seen the steel in those blue eyes. Heard his vow to never fall in love. And I’m starting to realize that pretending to be Mrs. Davenport might cost me everything—especially my heart.


5.5. THE UNWANTED LOVE by L. Steele

SYNOPSIS

He’s my brother’s best friend... And completely out of bounds...

One look from Nathan Davenport makes my heart stutter. Six feet three inches of pure muscle with stormy blue eyes that see right through me. He’s everything I’ve dreamed about since I was sixteen and snuck glances as he trained with my brother in our backyard. Not that he noticed...

He’s the decorated Royal Marine who commands every room he enters. I’m the curvy girl who hides behind textbooks and oversized hoodies. He’s the definition of off-limits—my brother’s best friend... Also, my hopeless crush. And the man who still sees me as his best friend’s kid sister. Or so I thought... Because lately, those lingering glances feel different. The air crackles when we’re alone. And the way he tensed when that guy hit on me at my brother’s barbecue? Definitely not brotherly protection.

I’ve spent years playing it safe, ducking away whenever he visits. But now I’m eighteen, done with hiding... and ready to show him I’m not that shy little girl anymore. There’s just one problem: Nathan’s iron-clad loyalty to my brother. But some rules are meant to be broken...


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

L. Steele is a best-selling author of contemporary romance.

When she’s not writing, she swaps trivia with her filmmaker husband, watches tons of movies, and hikes nature trails.

She lives with her family in London.

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