A Devil's Bargain

by Emma V. Leech

A stolen brooch. A village full of secrets. A partnership neither expected.
When Aubrey Seymour arrives in Little Valentine for a quiet holiday, the last thing he expects is to spot a priceless family brooch—worn by the captivating and mysterious Alice Marwick.

Alice is spirited, clever, and hiding more secrets than anyone in the village. As Aubrey’s curiosity turns to suspicion, he’s swept into a whirlwind of jewel theft, blackmail, and village intrigue.

Forced to work together, Aubrey and Alice must untangle a web of hidden motives and family secrets. But as danger draws closer, so does their undeniable attraction. Can they solve the mystery before their growing affection puts everything at risk?

Perfect for fans of Regency romance, enemies-to-lovers, and romantic adventure, this witty comedy of manners delivers heart, humour, and a dash of peril.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2026

About the author

Bestselling author hiding mostly in 19th-century England, venturing out only for chocolate and tea.

Emma V. Leech is the award-winning author of multiple bestselling series across Regency romance, Regency mystery and paranormal romance. Fall in love with swoon-worthy rogues, bold heroines, witty banter and deeply romantic happily-ever-afters. Follow Emma on BookBub for new releases and exclusive deals.

EMMA’S BOOKS

Rogues And Gentlemen
Regency romance – 17-book series (ongoing)
Sexy, tumultuous and irresistibly romantic. From pirates and smugglers to earls and dukes, these unforgettable rogues will sweep you away!

Winter Rogue
A Regency Christmas romance within the Rogues & Gentlemen world
A scandal-weary earl, a runaway heiress and a crumbling country estate snowed in for Christmas. A sensual, heart-tugging holiday novella about redemption, desire and a love neither of them expects.

A Rogues and Gentlemen Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
A collection of three romantic holiday stories featuring beloved Rogues & Gentlemen characters. Expect snowstorms, sizzling tension, unexpected proposals, mistletoe moments and heart-melting happily-ever-afters – a cosy festive escape for Regency romance lovers.

The Girl Is Not For Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
Miss Olivia Penrose is the only thing standing between her family and ruin when a brooding aristocrat crashes into her carefully laid plans. Sparks fly amid family secrets, snowy scandals and irresistible festive longing in this passionate, witty and deeply romantic winter read.

Girls Who Dare
Regency romance – 12-book series
Inside every wallflower is the heart of a lioness. When these overlooked young women make a pact to change their lives, rules are broken, reputations are risked and love becomes the most daring adventure of all.

Daring Daughters
Victorian romance – 19-book series and two compilations
The next generation of the Girls Who Dare. Their mothers risked everything for love – now their daughters are ready to be even bolder. An ongoing series of fiercely romantic stories set in a rapidly changing world.

Wicked Sons
Victorian romance – 12-book series
Their mothers dared all for love. Their sisters did the same. Now it’s the sons’ turn… dangerous, tempting and determined not to fall – until the right woman brings them to their knees.

The Venturesome Ladies Of Little Valentine
Regency romance – my current series
A quiet seaside village, a wave of scandalous newcomers and local ladies who refuse to be swept aside. A warm, witty Regency series full of secrets, second chances and delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

The Regency Romance Mysteries
Regency romantic suspense – 3-book series
Dashing heroes, wicked villains, murder, mystery – and heroines who refuse to sit prettily and wait to be rescued. Perfect if you like your Regency romance served with danger and intrigue.

The French Vampire Legend
Paranormal romance – 4-book series
A dark, dramatic and heart-wrenching tale of courage, sacrifice and a love that not even time, war or monsters can destroy. Gothic atmosphere, high stakes and a romance that refuses to die.

The French Fae Legend
Fantasy romance – 4-book series
An award-winning saga with close to sixteen million online reads. Moving between modern-day France and the Fae Lands, these books weave powerful magic, danger and an all-consuming love that proves stronger than any enchantment.

The Book Lover
A standalone paranormal romance novella
A book-obsessed young woman, an infuriatingly charming stranger and the unnerving sense that stories might be bleeding into real life. A short, intensely romantic tale for anyone who has ever fallen in love with books… and perhaps with something not entirely of this world.

Reviews

[Salustra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

One of the most well developed plots of this type I’ve read. Everything, even all the next book setups interesting especially Clara’s. Dialogue was fun, action, interaction, beautiful descriptions read it straight through! I wonder if next series as this one ends with Izzy will be How to Spark Un-venturesome Men!

[Áine Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Aubrey and Alice are an adorable couple. Really engaging storyline, and I especially loved "Archie". I hope he will return in future books in the series. I also love the way Clara and Hawk's story is being set up. If I had one niggle it would be the change in book covers. The old covers were very evocative of a Regency seaside romance series. The new covers look like every other Regency romance; they're pretty, but they just don't stand out the same way. The reason why I got into Emma was the gorgeous covers of the Rogues and Gentlemen series, which sadly seem to have been changed, too. I was planning on getting this series in paperback, but not now.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have enjoyed almost all of Emma's work and this is no exception. Great characters, an inventive plot, humour, a bit of drama, romance and a good conclusion.

I particularly liked the clever twist that brings Alice to life as she has always seemed a very slight character before this. Aubrey is fine, but far less interesting. I also enjoy that Emma teases us with small developments in stories to come in order to keep the series alive.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 def more like Leech’s old work. God I hope this is a turning point

I’m a little sad we don’t get Clara and Hawkney’s book next