Maxwell Tales Series

Captain Neil Maxwell had one goal and nothing was going to stop him. His hatred ran deep and even though it was focused on one man, it could easily spill over onto others. Sid understood this and when he realized the youth he'd thought he rescued and brought aboard was, in fact, a young woman, he knew he'd placed her in danger. Any woman would have been a problem, but a Scarborough?             Riana was not stupid. Sid's recounting of the captain's story left her few choices. The one advantage she had was their shared enemy. The question became, how best to use that? The same man was responsible for both their presumed deaths and joining forces could well facilitate their shared desire for vengeance.             Her proposal shocked him. He'd treated her abhorrently in his blind hatred and she was suggesting marriage? Did she truly understand what that meant? He was a noble's bastard, aye, but he was no noble and she was a lady. Her brothers would object. He could well end up a criminal in England's eyes and forced to flee. As his wife, she would have no choice but to flee with him. It was madness, and yet, it was tempting.             The foundation of their union may have been laid on an angry sea, but those waters were no match for the solid vessel that union became. Nor was the Duke of Lansing.

As the family's Keeper of the Scrolls, Taylor Maxwell was digitizing the generations of journals written by their ancestors. Neil and Riana's were the first. In truth, their lives were as far back as anyone felt was needed to go. The present day Maxwells owed everything they were to Neil and it was he who instilled the value of keeping such journals, though Riana kept her own, which was just as compelling.             But they both felt incomplete when it came to Colin MacAyer. He was obviously a trusted friend and confidante, but the how of the relationship was never explained. Finding the current crop of MacAyers was easy enough, given that there were only four of them, a brother and sister in New York and their two elderly aunts.             Excitement bubbled up in Colleen when Sean showed her the letter he received from Taylor Maxwell. Maxwell was a common enough name, but these Maxwells were not common and they had a connection to them? If so, she was determined to find it.             But a simple quest is not so simple when one has to deal with Clayton Maxwell. A throwback to the days of feudal lords, he is the undisputed Lord of Contentment. He is the sole owner of everything on that island. It's an odd life, but it's his and he values it. He also values people and that includes Colleen. To the point of infuriating her.             The clues left behind by Riana are not simple. It becomes clear that the MacAyer puzzle was meant to be solved and their story told, just not too soon. They doubted Riana thought it would take almost two hundred years. Each branch of the family was left with something to start with, if only they'd known what they had.             History is valuable and the Maxwells value theirs more than most, but before something can become history it has to happen and the life you live must be your top priority. One has to wonder if Riana was as interested in uniting the families for the future as she was in giving the MacAyers back their past.

Damien needed a thief. He even knew a thief, but had no idea where she was or how to find her. What he needed was a trap. The ethereal creature he'd met and blackmailed into a weekend of decadence eight years ago may have fled his life, but not his mind. She was nothing like his usual victims. She was unlike any woman he had ever known and just the thought of her made him burn. Zarina read the news with a sense of amusement. She had no doubt she was being summoned. Damien Maxwell had taught her what it was to be a woman to a man and she was grateful for that. Oh, he was bitter and capable of hatred, but he was also capable of gentleness. Had time changed him at all? In truth, she hoped not. Whatever it was that existed between them was powerful and undeniable. He obviously needed her and she was willing to do what he needed. To a point. Little had changed between them when it came to the physical, but that only increased Damien's confusion. Zarina was not a weak woman. She was not a submissive woman. She was a fascinating, complex bundle of contradictions. As she set about reclaiming the missing Maxwell swords, he came to realize that wasn't the only thing she was stealing. Bit by bit and piece by piece, she was stealing his heart.