Orchids and Mistletoe

Reclusive ex-spy Christopher ‘Kit’ Carlisle has barely left his country estate since his escape from wartime captivity, but a deathbed promise has forced him to London to seek out the beautiful—and elusive—Emma Townsend. Botanist Emma is back from Brazil, determined to keep her precious orchids alive long enough to present them to the Royal Society. For that she needs a hothouse, and the assistance of the one man who’s always made her heart beat faster: the broodingly handsome Kit. When Kit reluctantly agrees to allow Emma—and her plants—to spend Christmas with him at his country estate, the attraction simmering between them is hard to deny. In Emma’s company, grouchy Kit rediscovers the joy of being alive, while Emma can’t resist the impulse to make Kit smile again—or to steal his clothes while he’s bathing . . . NB: This sweet addition to the Secrets & Spies series features the ‘best friend’s sister’ trope, with hints of Beauty and the Beast. Look for all of K. C. Bateman’s delightful Secrets and Spies novels: TO STEAL A HEART | A RAVEN’S HEART | A COUNTERFEIT HEART “Scintillating! Clever characters and sizzling romance!” - Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW on This Earl Of Mine. “Rich with espionage and suspense . . . Multidimensional believable characters and fast-paced plotting propel the story forward to its moving conclusion.”—Publishers Weekly, on To Steal a Heart “I couldn’t ask for much more in an historical romance and I’m eagerly awaiting whatever Ms. Bateman comes up with next.”—All About Romance, on To Steal a Heart Perfect for readers who love Loretta Chase, Julia Quinn, Caroline Linden, Janna MacGregor, Scarlett Peckham, Laura Kinsale, Kerrigan Byrne, Lisa Kleypas, Courtney Milan, Tessa Dare, Eloisa James, Grace Burrowes, Madeline Hunter, Lenora Bell, Sophie Jordan, Lorraine Heath, Eva Leigh, Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Shupe, Sarah MacLean, Shana Galen, Stephanie Laurens and Sabrina Jeffries. Keywords: Historical romance, Regency romance, Christmas romance, Holiday romance, Victorian romance, action-adventure, sweet, best friend’s sister, friends to lovers, second chance romance, Napoleonic romance, fake relationship, marriage of convenience, spies, Bow Street, funny, charming, Bestseller, Kindle, Nook, Ebook.