Books like Nightfire by Valerie Vayle

Simonne Carlisle, a young woman raised by a London seamstress, is summoned as a dressmaker to Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia. Her journey across snowy borders leads her into the opulent yet violent world of the Russian court, where her beauty and talent capture the attention of Trevelyan de Gwynn. While she is initially swept off her feet by Trabelyan’s elegance, it is his brother, Prince Alexi, who becomes a tormenting presence, promising Simonne a love that remains elusive. Her story spans from the lavish Russian court to the war-torn splendor of Marie Antoinette’s Versailles, and finally to the challenges of the New World. Through these varied settings, Simonne clings to a solitary memory and an unquenchable dream, her heart burning with an enduring "nightfire". As the second volume of the St. James Family series, Nightfire continues the family's saga, highlighting the trials and passions that define their noble blood.

First publish date: 1986