An Earl's Sacrifice — Kathy L. Wheeler

A ruined earl. A fierce reformer. A village steeped in secrets-and a marriage forged in treachery.Lucius Oshea, the new Earl of Pender, returns to Cornwall burdened by scandal and haunted by his father's sins-only to find his estranged wife knee-deep in restoring the castle he once abandoned. But beneath the surface of the Penhalwick tin mines lies a legacy of betrayal, corruption, and death-one that threatens his family's name and the future of everyone under his care.Meredith Jepson-Oshea, daughter of the ruthless Duke of Rathbourne, hides a fire behind her a well-honed composure. Reviled in the village for her husband's past neglect, she fights back with unrelenting resolve-secretly championing the women and children ensnared by the mine's cruelty. And she will stop at nothing to protect them... even if it means confronting the very man who broke her heart.Their union, arranged in childhood by ambitious fathers, was rooted in greed and shattered by lies. Now, as long-buried secrets rise and powerful enemies close in, Lucius and Meredith must navigate a treacherous path of deception, desire, and dangerous loyalties.Can a marriage born of manipulation transform into a love strong enough to defy the past-or will it collapse under the weight of sacrifice?Tropes & Themes: ✅ Gothic Romance✅ Secrets from the Past✅ Secret Siblings✅ Enemies to Lovers✅ Independent Heroine✅ Forced/Arranged MarriageDarkly romantic, richly atmospheric, and fiercely passionate, An Earl's Sacrifice is a story of redemption, rebellion, and a love worth the fight.Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Flame line, so this is a scorching-hot read with open-door steam.