Books like Ravelli's Defiant Bride by Lynne Graham

Cristo Ravelli strides the floors of his father’s Irish country house, weighed by the knowledge that his late father left a brood of illegitimate children. Faced with scandal and the need to protect his estate’s legacy, Cristo decides the only solution is to secure a dependable guardian for his heirs. He turns to Belle Brophy, the young woman determined to provide security for her half‑siblings. Belle’s mission is only one of love. When Cristo offers marriage, she accepts, believing it will guarantee her family’s future. Yet, upon tying the knot, Belle quickly realizes that marriage requires more than a promise; it demands mutual respect, honest compromise, and an honest reckoning with past wounds. Through a blend of modern romance and family intrigue, the novel follows Cristo and Belle as they test whether love can truly bridge the chasm between expectation and destiny, and whether a bride might be more than a means to an end.

First publish date: 2014