The genius of this biography is that it delves behind this image to reveal a life in which loss and heartache existed alongside rebellion and fierce ambition. Claire Harman seizes on a crucial moment in the 1840s when Charlotte worked at a girls' school in Brussels and fell hopelessly in love with the husband of the school's headmistress. Her torment spawned her first attempts at writing for publication, and the object of her obsession haunts the pages of every one of her novels--he is Rochester in Jane Eyre, Paul Emanuel in Villette. Another unrequited love--for her publisher--paved the way for Charlotte to enter a marriage that ultimately made her happier than she ever imagined. Drawing on correspondence unavailable to previous biographers, Harman establishes Brontë as the heroine of her own story, one as dramatic and triumphant as one of her own novels.

    Save 30% off the cover price of buying separately! Includes: Necropolis, Bloodline, and Hoarfrost Necropolis: Whyborne and Griffin join Christine amidst the ancient ruins of the pharaohs. There they face betrayal, murder, and a legendary sorceress risen from the dead. In the forge of the desert heat, the trio will either face their fears and stand together—or shatter the bonds between them forever. Bloodline: Revealed secrets threaten to destroy everything Whyborne believed to be true about his family and himself. Hoarfrost: Whyborne and Griffin must journey to the farthest reaches of the arctic to stop an ancient evil from claiming the life of Griffin’s brother. In the rough mining camp of Hoarfrost, secrets fly as thickly as the snow, and Whyborne isn’t the only sorcerer drawn by the rumors of magic. Amidst a wilderness of ice and stone, Griffin must either face his greatest fear—or lose everyone he loves. Novel collection: 230,488 words.

    Since Ian and Beth are the only ones in resident at Kilmorgan at the moment, Ian decides he must find the art and the culprits before the family shows up for Hart's birthday gathering. With Inspector Fellows and Beth, he investigates, though Ian is somewhat worried by Beth's late husband's brother, a retired missionary, who decides to visit. Does John Ackerley hold the "cure" to Ian's madness? And can Ian discover what has happened to Hart's treasures, and who is targeting the Mackenzies before the enemy strikes again?Return to Kilmorgan Castle to visit the Victorian branch of the Mackenzie family, and catch up on the brothers and friends, their children, and their lives.

    Winston Graham Polddark Collection 12 Books SetTitles in This Set: Ross Poldark, Demelza, Jeremy Poldark, Warleggan, The Black Moon, The Four Swans, The Angry Tide, The Stranger From The Sea, The Miller's Dance, Bella Poldark, The Twisted Sword, The Loving Cup.

    Britain is fighting a gruesome war.There has been no news of Lucy Gray since she eloped with handsome and impetuous Captain Charlie Harvington and embarked with him to the Crimea.Dorothea Gray will risk anything to heal the rift with her little sister and bring her home safe. She determines to join Florence Nightingale and the other courageous women travelling to the battlefield hospitals as nurses.She will not rest until she finds her sister.Lucy, however, is on a very different journey, a journey through tragedy, trauma and true love.But neither sister is prepared for the challenges they will face, the passion they will each taste and the simple fact that they might never see one another again …A spellbinding and exquisite tale of courage, adventure and love. Prepare to be swept of your feet!

    Her younger sister, Eleanor, is gravely ill, and believing that the country air will benefit her, they decide to take up residence at Bowes Farm, situated on the Cumberland coast. However, they soon realise that all they have inherited is trouble. Their uncle had managed to alienate almost everyone in the area and worst of all, was suspected of being a Fenian activist. His reputation leaves Louisa and Eleanor battling to gain acceptance in polite society, especially with Nicholas Maxwell, their handsome neighbour and local magistrate. His father was cheated out of the farm during a card game fifteen years before and he is determined to get the property back. Louisa unearths secrets from their family’s past that threaten their future while the spectre of their mysterious benefactor overshadows everything. When a Fenian bombing campaign comes close to home, Louisa finds herself a chief suspect and must fight to clear her name. She must dig deep to find the courage to solve the mysteries that Bowes Farm holds before their lives are destroyed. And most importantly of all, will she be able to finally trust and love the man who is surely her sworn enemy?

    His neighbor Rosamund tries desperately to bring him back from the brink of despair, but the beastly young duke fights her every step of the way. His feelings for her deepen, and when she departs for London, he vows to regain his health and woo her properly. Unfortunately, she disappears before he has the chance.Rosamund is admired and praised as a mannequin for an exclusive London modiste, but her life is empty without the man to whom she gave her heart. Now, just when happiness seems within her grasp, jealous rivals conspire to ruin her dreams.Can a beastly duke and a beautiful mannequin ever achieve a fairytale ending?

    Earl and shopkeeper, countess and clerk; all will be stunned and transformed by a secret that begs to be revealed.When the Weston family returns to Summerfield Manor at the close of the London social season, both village and manor relax into their normal existence. But for four women, turmoil awaits. Each must battle the restrictions of her position as her faith and character are tested. Adelaide Weston, the feisty and domineering dowager countess, is thrust out of her carefully structured life of duty by the reappearance of her first love.Ruth Weston, the manor's reclusive, guilt-ridden countess, struggles to emerge from self-imposed exile to embrace her marriage, her family, and the duties of her position.Ruth's loyal lady's maid, Molly Wallace, juggles the demands of her job, the needs of her own tumultuous family, and a secret romance.And Lila Hayward, a shopkeeper's daughter, finds herself in love with a viscount's son who's engaged to Ruth's spoiled daughter. Lila is sorely tested when she is obliged to act as liaison between the two, putting her in constant contact with the man she loves but can never hope to win.

    Her only chance of survival lies with the warrior, an enigmatic man who comes from a realm "in between." Quin St. Clair lived hundreds of years ago, but now exists solely to protect the world he once called home. That's all he will tell Cara, the woman he must keep alive by remaining close to her. Very close. But Cara is determined to discover more answers as she grows to like her warrior. While they search for the book of spells and the cure contained within its pages, their feelings for one another can no longer be denied. But what will happen when Cara is cured and Quin's assignment is complete? And can she trust this mysterious man with the book if they find it? As friends and family from the previous Freak House novels help them, and old and new foes vie for power, Quin and Cara must not allow their feelings to get in the way of their task. Or Cara's life, and Quin's afterlife, may be cut short.

    After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth.

    And she’s determined to marry a man who’s neither. Chasing her dead father’s dreams, the twenty-year-old English bride arrives in Australia in 1875 for an arranged marriage. Anticipating her future as village preacher’s wife, she records her thoughts in her Everlasting journal. But instead of her fiancé, Finella is met by Shadrach Jones, a poor farmer sent to collect her from the busy Melbourne pier. This is not what her father planned. And it’s only the beginning of the unraveling of Finella Mayfield ~ the bride with no groom. All Shadrach Jones longs for is rows of mustard and chicory. He’s busy growing a farm near the Phillip Island fishing village of Cowes, and caring for Molly, his simple sister. Far from the brutal life they remember with their ex-convict father, Shadrach’s building something new. But he’s also made a promise to a dying friend. To collect and marry the English girl destined to never be a preacher’s wife. Can Shadrach convince Finella she has a future with a farmer? Can he convince himself, knowing his family secrets will haunt their future? Carry Me Home ~ Book 1 in the Blue Wren Shallows series. An Australian historical romance set in the pioneering era of the 1870s, on Victoria’s majestic Phillip Island.

    Returning to London in late November 1899, he’s lost the skies he loved, has no place in a society ruled by an elite oligarchy of powerful Houses, and is hard up, homeless, and in desperate need of a new direction in life. Everything changes when he buys a coffeehouse near the Britannic Imperium Museum in Bloomsbury, the haunt of Aegyptologists. For the first time in years, Rafe is free to be himself. In a city powered by luminiferous aether and phlogiston, and where powerful men use House assassins to target their rivals, Rafe must navigate dangerous politics, deal with a jealous and possessive ex-lover, learn to make the best coffee in Londinium, and fend off murder and kidnap attempts before he can find happiness with the man he loves.

    For one year, against the advice of her remaining family members, she agrees to live in his remote Cornish castle and put pen to paper on his behalf.Despite everything she's heard about him, she's unafraid. Olivia welcomes the distraction this unusual post will provide— as well as the large fee— because the alternative of relying on relatives to put a roof over her head is intolerable.True Deverell has decided it's time to set the record straight. He means to dictate his memoirs to this little widow who, according to the instructions he sent to his solicitor, should merely be plain and have a neat hand. Those are his only requirements. He doesn't want any distractions, has endured his fill of scandal and intends now to leave the "True Story" on paper so that perhaps, one day, people will forgive his mistakes.But when Mrs. Olivia Monday arrives on his doorstep in her leaky boots and crumpled bonnet, True realizes that perhaps his story isn't over yet.

    The mayor of Chicago will be assassinated at the end of the week, and she is stuck in the year 1893. What she doesn’t know is how she landed 100 years back in time, or why Peter Hastings, the man trying to help her, shares some eerie similarities to her dead husband.When Joey, perhaps unwisely, revealed the year of her origins it didn’t sit well with her host. Her effort to convince him by predicting the mayor’s murder only made matters worse. Now her sanity is in question, and everything she does puts it further into doubt. One of the few bright spots in the whole situation is William, Peter’s five year-old son, but he is a stark reminder that she left a son of her own back in 1993. Stuck in the past and desperate to return to her own Chicago, Joey stumbles her way through a time when women had a barely-audible voice, and very few options. Armed with nothing but her wits, Joey must navigate the rigid waters of the Victorian era while she tries to prevent a murder and find her way home.

    By unfolding the histories of the meaningful objects in their family home in Haworth, Lutz immerses readers in a nuanced re-creation of the sisters' daily lives while moving us chronologically forward through the major biographical events: the death of their mother and two sisters, the imaginary kingdoms of their childhood writing, their time as governesses, and their determined efforts to make a mark on the literary world.From the miniature books they made as children to the blackthorn walking sticks they carried on solitary hikes on the moors, each personal possession opens a window onto the sisters' world, their beloved fiction, and the Victorian era. A description of the brass collar worn by Emily’s bull mastiff, Keeper, leads to a series of entertaining anecdotes about the influence of the family’s dogs on their writing and about the relationship of Victorians to their pets in general. The sisters' portable writing desks prove to have played a crucial role in their writing lives: it was Charlotte's snooping in Emily’s desk that led to the sisters' first publication in print, followed later by the publication of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.Charlotte's letters provide insight into her relationships, both innocent and illicit, including her relationship with the older professor to whom she wrote passionately. And the bracelet Charlotte had made of Anne and Emily's intertwined hair bears witness to her profound grief after their deaths.Lutz captivatingly shows the Brontës anew by bringing us deep inside the physical world in which they lived and from which their writings took inspiration.

    Through his banker, he hears about a potential business opportunity that could save the mill. He decides to investigate, even if it means traveling from home when he can least afford it.Margaret Hale, now living in London, learns that her godfather Mr Bell is visiting her brother Frederick in Cadiz. Bell is dying, and asking to see her before it is too late. She is determined to sail, regardless of the risk.An accident on the docks leaves Margaret injured, and throws both together on the same ship. Thornton, resolved to protect Margaret's honour despite their painful history, claims to be her brother to keep her safe. Unfortunately, pretending to be Margaret's brother proves more difficult- and more dangerous- than he might have expected.

    or did she?Lizzie Borden is a name that has lived in infamy. As everyone knows, she's the young woman who "took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks" and then "gave her father 41." Everyone seems to know the rhyme, but most people don't know the truth behind the grim story of one of America's most famous unsolved murders. In this new entry in the "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" series, author Troy Taylor delves into the true story of the Borden Murders, revealing what really happened on that morning in August 1892, how Lizzie was hounded by the police, prosecutors, and reporters, and then finally acquitted - yet always believed to be guilty. Was she a murderer or truly innocent? Did she swing the hatchet that killed her parents, or was Lizzie simply part of a plot that accidentally led to murders committed by a madman? You'll have the chance to decide for yourself as the suspects are revealed, the conspiracies unveiled, and the strange circumstances of this haunting case are presented. Forget everything you already think you know about this compelling case and discover what did - and what did not - happen in the story of Lizzie Borden! What dark secrets have never been told? What happened in the grim aftermath of the murder trial? Do the spirits of the dead still linger in the house where the Bordens were killed? You'll find these answers and more and you'll never look at this chilling story in the same way again!

    But when her beloved is accused of fathering another woman’s child, Olivia’s world is shattered in ways she never thought possible. Especially when Damien’s accuser sets a huge price on his head, and Olivia discovers Damien’s death will be the only outcome…unless she does the one thing he will never forgive her for doing.When Olivia’s plan to save him goes disastrously, dangerously awry, Damien doesn’t think he’ll ever see the light of day again and, with bitterness, he realizes that the woman he loves is capable of the ultimate betrayal.Now, four years later, Damien has returned. His eye is on one thing: seeking revenge for what Olivia did to him. Only his heart may get in the way…Because hell hath no fury…like a man betrayed.

    Her skill is as much a curse as a gift, for in the harshly stratified city of Braxton empaths are slaves. Clever and beautiful, Moira has learned to rely on no one but herself. Determined to escape life as a concubine, she kills her master, and is imprisoned for the crime. This could be the end for Moira, but the government has need of her skills. A mysterious serial killer known as the Phoenix has been planting suggestions in his victims' minds that drive them to murder and suicide. To gain her freedom, Moira partners with Keenan Edwards, a handsome young detective, to stop the killer.Hunting the Phoenix will bring Moira on a more dangerous road than she imagined, forcing her to confront dark minds, twisted moralities, and her growing feelings for the detective.

    Former seamstress Clara Blackwood seems to have found happiness at last. Now a blissfully married baroness, she is mistress of a grand estate. But soon a mysterious summons shatters her contented life. Clara grew up believing that her mother’s family had disowned them. But now the grandmother she never knew is on her deathbed and anxious to disclose vital family secrets before it’s too late—for Clara’s unborn child may be cursed with a horrible fate. When Clara and her husband, Atticus, arrive at dismal Thurnley Hall, they find intrigue brewing. Her boorish uncle, Horace Burleigh, is greedy for her wealth and desperate to protect the family’s mysteries. Superstitious fear of Atticus torments the hulking Romanian servant, Grigore, and even the soft-spoken young ward, Victor Lynch, may have secret motives for getting close to Clara and her husband. When her grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances, Clara feels compelled to investigate. And when Atticus vanishes mysteriously, she must draw on all her strength and determination to find him before his time runs out… before her life can be cursed once more. Fans of the Gothic romances of Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Barbara Michaels won't want to miss this thrilling, romantic sequel to With This Curse, in which Clara faces new challenges and dangers. Just Book Talk gives Cursed Once More five stars and calls it “another exciting adventure . . . [with] a rich cast of spooky and strange characters.” And be sure not to miss Nocturne for a Widow , in which Clara's former employer, vivacious actress Sybil Ingram, is plunged into adventure in a haunted house in the Hudson River Valley.

    She’s approaching thirty years of age, which means her best days are coming to an end, and she’s running out of time to better herself.Ever cognizant of the narrowing window of opportunity before her, the openly sapphic and increasingly reluctant harlot sets her mind to escape from Whitechapel, her wishy-washy plans spurred on all the more when she meets Eva: an inexperienced young flower girl who falls keenly into her embrace and her bed.Determined to shield the poorly educated and impecunious sixteen-year-old against the corrupting influence of men, and the desperate misery of poverty that drives so many naive slum girls to the streets, Mary Jane will do whatever it takes to preserve Eva’s innocence, and to keep the wolf from baying at their door. Even if it kills her.

    Unfortunately for her, that man turns out to be Adam Luke, an experienced, ambitious entrepreneur who is intent on keeping what he won. Upon meeting her, Adam is enchanted by Victoria’s beauty and charm as well as her nerve and self-reliance. Adam is a man of singular tastes, and when Victoria asks to manage the mill in return for a share of the profits, he offers her a bold proposal of his own. She will continue to run the mill as she has for years, but in return for a substantially larger portion of the profits she will also serve at his beck and call behind closed doors, submitting to him in any way he desires. Wanting to earn enough money to buy back the mill as quickly as possible—and with some part of her shamefully aroused by the thought of kneeling naked at Adam’s feet—Victoria accepts his terms. But submission initially proves difficult for a woman used to running her own affairs, and soon enough she finds herself bare-bottomed over his knee for a firm lesson in obedience. Adam’s plans for Victoria run much deeper than just an occasional spanking. She will be stripped naked, bound, and teased until she is aching for release, and then at last he will take her long and hard. As Adam continues to train her, teaching her to yield to his mastery while bringing her more pleasure than she ever thought possible, Victoria cannot help falling for him. But can a lifelong bond truly emerge from such a scandalous arrangement? Publisher’s Note: A Scandalous Arrangement is an erotic romance novel that includes spankings, sexual scenes, anal play, elements of BDSM, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

    London, 1880. Kat Holloway, highly sought-after young cook to the wealthy of London, finds herself embroiled in murder when she’s accused of poisoning her employer, the loathsome Sir Lionel Leigh-Bradbury. Her only help as she works to clear her name comes from the mysterious Daniel McAdam, a handsome man-of-all-work who seems to know everyone and always happens to be in the right place at the right time. Kat and Daniel investigate the crime, but the mystery of Daniel’s background might be just as elusive and dangerous as the poisoner bent on framing Kat for murder.

    Jeffries!NOW IN ONE VOLUME—THREE VICTORIAN MYSTERIES FEATURING MRS. JEFFRIESA DETECTIVE IN THE HOUSE Everyone’s awed by Inspector Witherspoon’s Scotland Yard successes, but they don’t know about his secret weapon. Her name is Mrs. Jeffries, and she keeps house for the Inspector—and keeps him on his toes. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, her polished detection skills are up to the task. Because as she knows all too well, a crimesolver’s work is never done… Mrs. Jeffries Pinches the PostThe dubious dealings of ruthless businessman Harrison Nye have finally done him in. But with his associate keeping secrets and his maid missing, Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries have their work cut out for them as they make it their business to find the culprit … Mrs. Jeffries Pleads Her CaseWhen the death of Harlan Westover is ruled a suicide after a slipshod investigation, it’s up to Mrs. Jeffries and her staff to gently nudge the Inspector in the right direction before a killer gets away with another murder… Mrs. Jeffries Sweeps the ChimneyA dead man dressed like a vicar is discovered outside a church. An address found on the man leads Witherspoon to a dilapidated house where a skeleton is stuffed in the chimney. Luckily he has Mrs. Jeffries to help him sweep up this mess of a case…

    This second omnibus of storied treasuries of murder includes the famous double axe murder by Lizzie Borden; the mysterious drowning of the lovely Mary Rogers; the Bloody Benders, a family of murderous inn keepers; socialite Madeleine Smith who poisoned an inconvenient suitor; and the famous assassination of President Lincoln. Each true crime story includes a bibliography of research sources, presenting true facts about famous murders in an entertaining fashion.

    A virtuoso violinist is brutally killed in his home. Black magic symbols cover the walls. The dead man's maid swears she heard three musicians playing before the murder.But with no way in or out of the locked practice room, the puzzle makes no sense...Fearing a national panic over a copycat Ripper, Scotland Yard sends Inspector Ian Frey to investigate under the cover of a fake department specializing in the occult. However, Frey's new boss - Detective 'Nine-Nails' McGray - actually believes in such nonsense.McGray's tragic past has driven him to superstition, but even Frey must admit that this case seems beyond reason. And once someone loses all reason, who knows what they will lose next...

    Combat, cigars, and whiskey—from the jungles of Cuba and the mountains of the Northwest Frontier, to the banks of the Nile and the plains of South Africa, comes this action-packed tale of Winston Churchill’s adventures as a war correspondent in the Age of Empire.

    Though he dreams of a college education, Lawrence knows his place is on the family farm, working hard to support the family he loves.Soon the farm prospers and once again Lawrence’s dream is close enough to touch, when family needs call for yet another sacrifice. Does Lawrence have the strength to again postpone his own heart’s desire for the people he loves? This touching story of faith and family duty was first published in 1898.

    This book is the magnum opus of this remarkable and colorful character, originally published in the 1870s as a series of newspaper articles and collected here for the first time. Colonel Monstery presents a unique look into the Victorian-era fighting world, describing styles such as British “purring” (shin-kicking), Welsh jump-kicking, and American rough-and-tumble fighting, and provides illustrated instruction in the art of gentlemanly self-defense with a cane, staff, or one’s bare hands. Fifty rare drawings and photographs from the period illuminate Monstery’s world, while an extensive glossary of terms and an introductory biography of Colonel Monstery—including fascinating details of his many duels as well as his groundbreaking devotion to teaching fencing and self-defense skills to women—update his text to make it accessible and useful to gentlemen and ladies of any era.CONTENTSColonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery: The Unknown American Martial Arts MasterI. Introduction.II. The Logic of Boxing.III. Standing and Striking.IV. Advancing to Strike and Feinting.V. Simple Parries in Boxing.VI. Parries with Returns.VII. Effective or Counter Parries in Boxing.VIII. Offence and Defense by Evasions.IX. Trips, Grips, and Back-Falls.X. Rules for a Set-to with Gloves.XI. Observations on Natural Weapons.XII. The Use of the Cane.XIII. The Use of the Cane (continued).XIV. The Use of the Staff.XV. The Use of the Staff (continued).Appendix: Monstery's Rules for Contests of Sparring and FencingGlossary

      A Christmas Hope   “Very much recommended . . . a wonderful story.”—Historical Novel Review   Claudine Burroughs dreads the holiday season. She feels she has nothing in common with her circle of wealthy, status-minded friends, and the only time she’s remotely happy is when she is volunteering at a women’s clinic, a job her husband strongly disapproves of. When Claudine meets a charming poet at a Yuletide gala, her spirits are finally lifted—until he is accused of killing a fellow guest. Believing in his innocence, Claudine vows to do her utmost to help. But it seems that hypocritical London society would rather send an innocent man to the gallows than expose the shocking truth about one of their own.   A New York Christmas   “A perfect present for [Anne Perry’s] readers.”—RT Book Reviews   Jemima Pitt, the daughter of Thomas Pitt, head of Britain’s Special Branch, is crossing the Atlantic for the first time. Her companion, Delphinia Cardew, is to marry in a grand Manhattan affair that will join together two fabulously wealthy families. But a shadow darkens the occasion: Missing from the festivities is Delphinia’s disgraced mother—and the groom’s charismatic brother has asked Jemima to help him find her and forestall the scandal that will surely follow if the prodigal parent turns up at the wedding. From Hell’s Kitchen to Fifth Avenue, from the Lower East Side to Central Park, Jemima trudges through snowy streets, asking questions but getting few answers—and never suspecting that she is walking into mortal danger.From the Trade Paperback edition.

    Selection of the thirty best short stories written by Morley Roberts during more than 50 years as a writer.

    Welcome to a perverse and gothic London of the 1800s, where vampires walk the streets and some of your favourite characters from Victorian literature have been taken and twisted until they snap!

     One family, orphaned and alone, must fight to protect each other and must lie, steal and cheat to stay alive. Imogene Farrell is the dreamer. She yearns for something better all the while knowing her destiny lies in the streets; that someday she will be a whore because it is what she must do to stay alive. She dresses as a boy but has blossomed into a woman, which has drawn the attention of two formidable enemies—the abbess Tiny Etherton and the henchman who runs the area around the Twenty Acres dock, the Scot, MacGregor. The Farrells delay the inevitable by concocting their own schemes to make money off her particular skills. But it is a gentleman of the ton has been lured into Imogene’s world and for whom she pines, knowing her attachment is impossible and heartbreaking. Jack Davenport finds the boyish hoyden a bit of fun. But what can come of it when he only wants to relieve Imogene of her virginity without encouraging her affection? The saga of Imogene Farrell continues in Book Two, Jack’s Hellion.

    With her mind wiped clean, finding her way back to a home she can't remember won't be easy. Chased by a dragon, wanted by the king and stalked by a handsome wildman, Memory must find out who she is before she is found by those who want her dead. Memory's stolen past holds dangerous secrets. Will she survive long enough to discover them, or will the secrets themselves destroy her?"remarkably unique and unpredictable" - My Book Addiction Reviews "a stunning cast of characters both in writing and in art" - Nicole B "the perfect mix of fantasy, action, adventure, and magic" - Mer's ReviewsThis omnibus includes all three books in the young adult fantasy Memory's Wake Trilogy- Book One- Memory's Wake Book Two- Hope's Reign Book Three- Providence Unveiled Illustrated by world renowned fantasy artist Selina Fenech, The Memory's Wake Omnibus contains over 120 illustrations.If you love high-stakes adventure, Victorian fairylands, and unexpected twists, you'll love Selina Fenech's enchanting series. Discover the unique magical world of the Memory's Wake Trilogy by picking up your copy today.

    Historically accurate, it is a story of murder and betrayal, of a failed rebellion, and the love of a national scandal.  Charles Trevelyan was Secretary of the Treasury, and Director of the Famine Relief Programme at a time when famine raged and antipathy in English politics towards the plight of those affected raged equally. Kathryn, Charles' daughter, likewise felt no sympathy until the very scale of the tragedy became apparent. Joining the underground, she preached insurrection, stole food for the starving, and became the lover of the leader of the rebellion. She became known as Dark Rosaleen, the heroine of banned nationalist poem, was branded as both traitor and cause celebré. This is her story.

    This truth is so ingrained in the minds of readers that to suggest its removal is incomprehensible. But what if the magic is removed? Is it possible to find true love when the world is perfectly ordinary? After Eleanor rescues her stepsister Fanny from an attempted elopement, their father decides to remove the family to the Continent before Fanny’s indiscretion can be discovered. Eleanor finds the opportunity a welcome relief after a disastrous London Season, and is determined to set herself apart from her vain and scheming stepfamily. A chance meeting at a ball earns her the attentions of the handsome Baron Rupert von Schönfeld, a cousin to the Imperial Family of Austria. He is enchanted by Eleanor’s beauty, talent, and kindness, and Eleanor feels certain that she will soon leave her stepfamily behind for good. But Fanny is angry over Eleanor’s interference in her elopement, and gossip is a powerful engine for revenge. As rumors begin to fly, Eleanor’s only comfort is writing about her troubles to her cousin, Isabella. Isabella, meanwhile, has an adventure of her own to share. Her father has formed a friendship with the surly Duke William of Stirling. His rough manners and intentional slights are irritating, especially to a proper young lady, but Isabella is more than a match with a fiery wit of her own. Then the Duke invites her father to visit his castle in the wilds of the Scottish countryside, and Isabella soon realizes that the Duke’s prickly demeanor hides a kind heart and a mysterious accident from his past. Her heart tells her to let the past rest, but her mind is not ready to give up on discovering the Duke’s secrets, and her curiosity might keep her from the happy ending she desires. In a world where etiquette reigns and fairy godmothers are noticeably absent, Eleanor and Isabella are left to sort out their own “happily ever after” endings with only their wits, good manners, and accomplishments. Set in Victorian England and beyond, this retelling combines two beloved fairytales with the literary style made popular by authors such as Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë.

    Within are detailed entries elaborating upon various agents and employees as well as key villains suspected of targeting and destroying Timelines. Backstories, relationships, secrets, and clues are revealed alongside a thorough bibliography of important Timelines and their designations. Profiles are also included of the Institute in New York City as well as Wonderland. Society fans and lovers of classic literature will undoubtedly delight in unraveling the secrets that lay within these pages.

    With nobody to care for them, the workhouse looms and the threat of being torn apart becomes painfully real. The promise of a good home together eases their fears, but it is a promise that is destined to be broken. After being separated from Simon, fate delivers Oliver to the Pritchard farm, where Liza Pritchard, a woman struggling with her own fractured and afflicted life, sees in Oliver the family she so desperately wants. But Oliver has to contend with her husband, an angry and violent man, and he can't see past the terrible life he has been thrust into. Both Oliver and Liza have much to learn about faith and forgiveness, and together they embark on an emotional journey that will change each of them forever.

    An unexpected inheritance from a distant relative is an absolute godsend for the cash-strapped earl. The estate he will inherit, however, is located in far-off Cornwall. There is a rather rundown manor house, as well as an uninhabitable castle overlooking the sea, along with some good farmland, so the earl’s first thought is to sell the place for much needed funds. For Jennifer Polperran, current occupant of the house and lands in question, the earl's inheritance means that she has lost her home. Her adopted father had little else to leave her, so she must either marry a neighbor she loathes, Sir Alec Salcombe, or live in extremely reduced circumstances. But for all her life, Jennifer’s father had told her of an ancient legend, of a fortune in gold and jewels stolen by two star-crossed lovers and hidden away somewhere on the estate just before their tragic and untimely deaths. Many had sought the treasure over the centuries, but Jennifer might just have found the key to its location, if only she can get the new owner’s consent, and perhaps even his cooperation in finding it. Convincing the Earl of Beaumont to give her leave to stay and search proves less difficult than she imagined. But their way is fraught with disappointment and peril, not the least of which is caused by the ruthless and rapacious Sir Alec. Regardless, romance quickly blossoms between the earl and the penniless Jennifer, and together they persevere in the hunt that is their best hope for a bright, golden future together.

    A fortuitous house fire enables her to fake her own death and flee to northern England and live under an assumed name. But Theodora’s refuge is not all she would wish, when she stirs emotions in the heir to the estate, Jonathan Tenwick, and in herself. Meanwhile, as the connection between Theodora and Jonathan grows, her husband learns she did not perish in the fire, and searches for her. Fearing he is close to finding her, Theodora must flee again to protect the family and the viscount for whom she cares deeply. In the final confrontation with her husband, Theodora learns she is stronger than she ever knew, and love is worth fighting for.​

    When the newlywed barrister Charles Bravo ingests a rare poison, all evidence suggests suicide. But in one of the most infamous inquests of all time, a coroner finds it to be an unlawful death. So, we must ask, what is the truth?The fourth book in Antony M. Brown's popular Cold Case Jury series picks apart this notorious case that gripped Victorian Britain, and continues to spark debate to this day. Why did Bravo refuse any help, even when going through agonising pain? Was his wife, with her scandalous past, to blame? Or perhaps it was her former lover, eager to remove his usurper for good... or another sinister hand, moving silently?In Poisoned at the Priory, Brown compiles the evidence and creates dramatic reconstructions of four main theories of how Charles Bravo may have died - including Agatha Christie's solution, in her own words, for the very first time.But was Christie correct? What's your verdict in this spellbinding case?

    She is determined to marry a man with a title, but so far no such man has taken a lasting interest in her. When Miranda is invited to the grand country home of Lord Edward Pemberly III for a weekend, she accepts the invitation in spite of the grudge she holds against Edward’s wife, Charlotte, and it is there that she is introduced to Lord Walter Danby. From his newfangled motor car to his confident, witty charm, the tall, dashing lord is unlike any man Miranda has ever met, and though their first encounter is tempestuous, she quickly finds herself utterly captivated by him. In spite of—or perhaps because of—her sharp tongue and fiery temper, Walter is instantly drawn to Miranda. Her obvious need of taming only increases his interest, and upon learning of Miranda’s past ill-treatment of his beloved cousin Charlotte, Walter takes it upon himself to chastise her properly. After a painful, humiliating bare-bottom spanking, Miranda is left with blushing cheeks, a burning backside, and an intense desire for Walter that has nothing to do with his title. Charlotte is furious that Walter and Miranda are spending time together, but Edward warns her not to interfere, assuring her that he will handle the situation. When he catches her snooping in Miranda’s guest room, Charlotte faces a severe punishment, but will a well-spanked bottom be enough to convince her to let go of the past and share in her cousin’s happiness, or will her meddling bring things to a tumultuous head? Publisher’s Note: His Petulant Bride is the second book in the Victorian Brides series and is a direct sequel to His Willful Bride. It is an erotic romance novel that includes spankings, sexual scenes, anal play, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

    Clara Blackstone has just been released after one year in a private asylum for the insane. Clara has two goals: to reunite with her husband, Henry, and to never—ever—return to the asylum. As she enters Durham, Clara finds her carriage surrounded by a mob gathered to witness the imprisonment of Mary Ann Cotton—England’s first female serial killer—accused of poisoning nearly twenty people, including her husbands and children.Clara soon finds the oppressive confinement of her marriage no less terrifying than the white-tiled walls of Hoxton. And as she grows increasingly suspicious of Henry’s intentions, her fascination with Cotton grows. Soon, Cotton is not just a notorious figure from the headlines, but an unlikely confidante, mentor—and perhaps accomplice—in Clara’s struggle to protect her money, her freedom and her life.In the lineage of Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace, The Savage Instinct is the chilling story of one woman's struggle for her sanity, set against the backdrop of the arrest and trial of Mary Ann Cotton, England’s first female serial killer.

    Meet Émilie d’Armand, a young woman who witnesses corruption and murder in seventeenth-century France (The Bishop’s Lady), and Katherine Holloway, an English cook sought after by the wealthy, who finds herself embroiled in murder, assisted only by the mysterious Daniel McAdam, who is more than he seems (A Soupçon of Poison). Finally, explore the darker side of Regency London in an alternate look at that period from the point of view of an army soldier whose family has lost face (A Matter of Honor).

    The letter his dead father left for him to findFamily secrets that have remained buried for over two decades surface, leaving James floundering and wondering what to do.Certain events that unfold has James questioning the accuracy of his father's letter. Will James finally find the answers he needs to bury the family secrets once and for all or will he uncover more than he bargained for ?

    From vampires and a monkey paw to an unstoppable heart and haunting apparitions, anecdotes of supernatural terror will have you turning pages long past the witching hour. Allow famous authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Henry James, Washington Irving, and more to prey upon your emotions and peace of mind at slumber parties and camping trips, or anytime you want to end the night with a delightful fright!

    Hirshler illuminates the context of Childe Hassam's 1880s city scene. With its rosy rust tones, intimate familial vignette and quiet expanse of snow-laden park, today At Dusk (Boston Common at Twilight) seems to encourage reflection and represent a decidedly old-fashioned city. Yet Hirshler reveals the ways in which the painting visually signaled the emerging modern city, from subtleties about women's place in the urban landscape to the uproarious clang of the streetcars that would have been heard on the busiest block in Boston. Enriched with reproductions of related paintings and archival illustrations, this evocative volume explores the countered conventions and bulldozed buildings behind the canvas's creation. Carefully researched and elegantly presented, the latest addition to the MFA Spotlight series will delight Hassam fans and history buffs alike.

    Repressed and miserable, she is free of her curse but once a year, upon the heady death-festival of Rollows. Until her curse marks dashing barman Jessup Rohalle as her soulmate in a single night of passion. Destined to meet again, Jessup finds Gryffine and opens her restricted life into pleasure, causing Gryffine to fight her curse's isolation. But Gryffine's dark draw to kill is shared by another, a man bitterly cursed like she, a secret that Jessup can never know. And only her dark lover understands her suffering. Potential Triggers: Menage a trois, murderABOUT THE SERIES - Three Days of Oblenite (3 novels)This darkly romantic, gothic paranormal fantasy series is rife with superstition, piety, and the devious nature of the mystic. The three novels take place in a dark version of Victorian-era Paris, and feature three characters cursed with the gifts of a dead saint. Swept up in the torturous undercurrents of their desperate curses, their lives collide in desire, lust, power, obsession, addiction, fervor, desperation, and death. “Breath” features a young woman cursed to celibacy and unable to find love because her kiss kills, all except one night a year. “Tears” tells the story of a young man cursed to feel bliss when he is whipped, and the religious conflict he feels as he finds himself in a relationship with the man who brings him release. While in “Blood”, a brilliant surgeon cursed with blood that heals descends into a desperate underworld, addicted to working miracles. And in the seedy Gypsun Quarter at the edge of the Saints Commons, there is no blessing that can save those cursed to depravity, darkness, and permission. They can only save themselves.

     Her clients come from all stations in life, but they all have one thing in common: a deep passion for what she can teach her students. For every girl who sits in a classroom, bends over a chair to have her bottom reddened, or stands with her nose to the wall to contemplate her behavior, is special. These women need more than a husband to fulfill all their needs - they need a firm and loving Papa, as well. After searching for over a year, Lord Maximilian Hollister believes he has not only found the girl he's been seeking, he's certain he's found the very woman he's been looking for his entire life. The question is, will Alexandria Bannister agree with him? Can she find it in her heart to trust the words she's memorized from her only legacy from her father - letters now singed and faded? Can she admit to the deep and shameful desires her new journey is arousing in her? When Lord Hollister enrolls her as a pupil, is she ready to be the newest student at Miss Summers' school? And will her classmates be able to help her understand that the lessons she learns there will serve her well? The school does not merely provide an education - it also provides a choice; and a chance to discover how passion and the need to serve can lead to the kind of fulfillment Alexandria would never have dreamed of before she entered this unique establishment. From best-selling Victorian ageplay author Maggie Ryan comes the first book in her new 'Lessons in Submission' series; a detailed glimpse into Miss Summers' School, where discipline is harsh but the rewards delicious. As fans of her 'Women of Wintercrest' and 'Hunter's Ridge' books will recognise, this is a spin-off of those series, with some familiar - and plenty of new characters.

    She toils away day and night, making dolls while searching for absolution. Several years ago, her father died at sea, leaving her with thousands of dolls she has promised to complete on his behalf. When her mother and sisters die in a tragic accident, Serendipity blames herself; she hides from the world, ashamed of a dark secret that led to her family's demise. One morning, a magical letter appears in her fireplace, promising her the opportunity for a new life, a new beginning, in a magical kingdom, making her dolls for the head toymaker himself, St. Nicholas. However, Serendipity doesn't feel she is worthy of such a calling. It is only when a mysterious stranger appears at her door, and one of her best friends subsequently disappears, that Serendipity is willing to take a chance on herself and discover that she truly is worthy of another try, a new beginning, the opportunity to love and be loved. Come along with Serendipity as she travels to the North Pole in search of her heart's calling and discover there is no obstacle one can't overcome if we truly believe! "The Doll Maker's Daughter at Christmas is a delightful tale sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages!" Ondo T. I laughed at Serendipity's antics, and cried at her despair. You won't want to put this one down." Cassidy V. "The Doll Maker's Daughter at Christmas is full of whimsy and charm. I'll read it again and again!" Emma I.

    Given to bouts of depression and a tendency to speak her mind without thought or reservation, she has been kept in the nursery well beyond her childhood by a father determined to protect her. The dashing Lord Kenwood is both a widower and a family friend. When Cressida’s aunt, Vivienne, suggests that spending time at his sprawling estate may prepare her for a transition to adult life. But as it becomes apparent that Cressida is not cut out for an independent, grown-up existence, Lord Kenwood realizes that he is drawn to her just the way she is. His children are grown, and as a strict father he still sees to the discipline. The notion of a beautiful young wife who will submit to spankings, birchings and other corrections is an appealing one. And when he is not around to see to her, her very strict governess is more than willing to tend to her naughty bottom. Fans of Victorian erotica will no doubt thrill to this book, which while a standalone in its own right is a prequel to Victoria Winters’ Pleasing Her: Peter In The Nursery, in the Unconventional Marriages series.

    Her graduate dissertation is due in mere weeks, and despite the enormous help her adviser, J. Whitman Bell has provided, there's something missing from her paper. Dr. Bell decides the best option is for her to travel back in time to a Victorian mill town, so she can better understand the struggles--both economic and personal--people of that era faced. She agrees to his insane scheme, knowing it's only a joke, a way for her to dig deeper within herself to find the answers. Only, when she wakes up in Milton, and finds the year to be 1851, she knows she's in trouble. John Thornton, the most successful cotton mill master in Milton, is bored. His life is tedious. In his thirties, he still lives with his autocratic mother and his empty-headed sister, and he hasn't had much excitement. He decides he needs to get married, that maybe a wife, a partner, is the biggest thing missing from his life. Unlike the running of his mill, finding a wife is a bit beyond his skill. When Margaret and John meet, sparks fly, as a woman with 2015 sensibilities collides with a man of 1851 proprieties. Will Margaret agree to give up her life in 2015, all her independence, and settle for a life in dirty, smoky Milton? Will John learn to bend to Margaret's odd ways and believe she's really from the future? Can they overcome the obstacles of instability in Milton, jealousy and the death of beloved friends?

    Following the untimely death of her parents, it was her aunt's home in Llanwddyn that provided Gwen and her brother a refuge from their grief. Now, with the unwelcome news that the village is to be razed in the name of progress, an inescapable wave of change has begun.When her brother departs to follow his dream of sailing the high seas, Gwen is left alone to navigate the shifting world around her. She soon finds herself relying on the support of her brother's best friend, Lewis, a gentle blacksmith whose kindness stirs her heart. Resigned to the fact that Lewis may never see her as more than a child, Gwen is soon swept off her feet by Thomas, a prosperous young Englishman. Torn between two men and two very different paths, Gwen has little time to determine what course her heart will follow. With time running out for her beautiful valley, will love come too late?

    Her parents work tirelessly for their small farm community, aiding both the church and the poor. When an unexpected outbreak of fever rages through the town, Rebecca must face growing up alone. As she matures into womanhood, Rebecca finds that she is ill-prepared for her new world. With no home, no family, and few prospects, she is determined to make her own way in life. As a housemaid at Barton Manor, she struggles to find her place in a world of double standards and man-made rules. Can she keep her faith strong amidst a lonely life of domestic service? Must she always be a bystander, watching other people’s lives unfold and flourish? Or is there something else in store for her servant heart?

    What begins as an icy exchange, born of weariness, becomes within minutes one of the most extraordinary encounters of her life. It will take her on a journey deep into her past and towards the fateful assignation that already awaits her on the other side of the night.Set amid the elegance and sophistication of the Belle Époque, and the Gothic splendour of late Victorian England, ‘The Hours Before’ is a story of drama, mystery and romance, revealing a hidden world of vice and malevolence – but also a pathway of transformation and knowledge.[image]Video Trailer

    It was an adventure, it was an expense, and it was often something of an ordeal...'Victorians in Camera explores the world of nineteenth century photography from the subjects' point of view. What did people want from their portraits? Where did they go to have them made and did the Victorians really never smile? What did they do with the finished product, whether a formal daguerreotype or cheery snapshot? From a wealth of contemporary evidence in both words and pictures Robert Pols reveals the story behind Victorian photography from trickery to photographic fashions. Discover the social history behind nineteenth century photographs and how to trace hidden stories within your own family album."

    Caliban Vandecott, a doctor of female health, has developed an unconventional yet highly effective treatment for female hysteria. In 1888, Dr. Vandecott brings his practice to the States and finds success immediately. In this collection of erotic tales, follow the stories of ten ladies as they seek treatment to ease their suffering. Meet... JANEMiss Jane Frasier has suffered so long she fears she may never feel joy again. Desperate for relief, Miss Frasier sees Dr. Vandecott one rainy, autumn afternoon and is led through a series of treatments that not only provide release from her affliction, but also offer her an awakening to sensations she thought had been long lost to her.LUCYPlagued by lustful visions, Mrs. Lucy Lancaster fears she will be tempted to act upon them. Desperate to end the visions before she is tempted to act upon them, Mrs. Lancaster seeks the treatment of Dr. Caliban Vandecott, whose innovative treatment for female hysteria involves not only indulging her visions but also acting upon them.GEORGEANNAIn her advanced stage of pregnancy, Mrs. Georgeanna Foster has not enjoyed the necessary marital attentions of her husband James since she shared the happy news. Thankfully, Mrs. Foster discovers the capable Dr. Caliban Vandecott who not only relieves the symptoms of her hysteria, but also teaches her the methods by which her husband might resume his devotions.SAMANTHAAssistant to the accomplished Dr. Caliban Vandecott, Miss Samantha Hennessy finally gathers the nerve to request relief from the doctor and becomes one of his lucky patients. HELENEDr. Vandecott’s most frequent patient, wealthy widower Helene Turlington, has exciting news. She is taking a new, young husband, and this will be her last visit to Dr. Vandecott. And so she has a few special requests... DELILAH Determined to keep eighteen-year-old Delilah Montgomery from acting on her wanton impulses and ruining her reputation before her arranged marriage, Delilah’s mother takes her to a new doctor in the city. Dr. Caliban Vandecott, recently removed from New York City, who treats female hysteria with modern and unconventional methods.MARIE On a day trip from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Marie Fontenot spots a man who, like her, has a reputation that precedes him: Dr. Caliban Vandecott, practitioner to females with certain needs. Marie manages to fake a fainting spell, so that the doctor might treat her, right there on the train…JESSAMINE When newly-graduated medical student Jessamine Montrose attends a lecture in her home city of New Orleans, she encounters Dr. Caliban Vandecott. When she voices her doubt that pelvic massage is an effective treatment for that vague and mysterious catch-all diagnosis called “female hysteria,” Dr. Caliban Vandecott agrees to perform his method of treatment on her to ease her own symptoms and prove his talents…JOSEPHINE Josephine Rothby, a widow pining for her dead husband for twenty years, believes she is haunted by his spirit every night as she sleeps. Fearing she will eventually descend into madness, Josephine seeks the treatment of Dr. Vandecott. Under the doctor’s care, Josephine learns that perhaps these nighttime encounters are nothing to fear…perhaps even experiences to enjoy. VEDA Long-time spinster Veda Winslow takes to her bed one winter and fails to revive upon the spring thaw. But after one night of treatment from Dr. Caliban Vandecott, Veda learns that real-life pleasures are intensely more satisfying than the most erotic daydreams.

    You don't have to have read the previous volume, of course, since all of these works stand alone. But if you'd rather have an A.J. Raffles or Boston Blackie as the hero or center-point of a story than Sherlock Holmes or Charlie Chan, this is definitely the ebook for you!Included are no less than 31 classic tales -- more than 600 pages:THE NARRATIVE OF MR. JAMES RIGBY, by Arthur MorrisonTHE CASE OF JANISSARY, by Arthur MorrisonTHE CASE OF "THE MIRROR OF PORTUGAL," by Arthur MorrisonTHE CASE OF MR. LOFTUS DEACON, by Arthur MorrisonOLD CATER'S MONEY, by Arthur MorrisonHOW DON Q. STOOD AT BAY, by K. and Hesketh PrichardTHE TREASURE OF FRANCHARD, by Robert Louis StevensonMR. CLACKWORTHY GOES TO JAIL, by Christopher B. BoothPlus 12 adventures of Romney Pringle, by R. Austin Freeman and John J. Pitcairn:THE ASSYRIAN REJUVENATORTHE FOREIGN OFFICE DESPATCHTHE CHICAGO HEIRESSTHE LIZARD'S SCALETHE PASTE DIAMONDSTHE KAILYARD NOVELTHE SUBMARINE BOATTHE KIMBLERLEY FUGITIVETHE SILKWORMS OF FLORENCETHE BOX OF SPECIETHE SILVER INGOTSTHE HOUSE OF DETENTIONPlus 11 adventures of McAllister and Fatty Welch, by Arthur Train:McALLISTER'S CHRISTMASTHE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE OF THE BARON DE VILLETHE ESCAPE OF WILKINSTHE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S TRUNKTHE GOLDEN TOUCHMcALLISTER'S DATA OF ETHICSMcALLISTER'S MARRIAGETHE JAILBIRDIN THE COURSE OF JUSTICETHE MAXIMILIAN DIAMONDEXTRADITIONIf you enjoy this book, search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see the 200+ other entries in the series, covering science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, westerns, classics, adventure stories, and much, much more!

    The real specter is hungry for life—and when she steps into Felicity’s skin, nobody, least of all dashing Sir James Darrington, is prepared for what happens next. James and Felicity must overcome the bitter misunderstanding that has kept them apart in order to solve the mystery and save Felicity before the ghost’s growing influence takes over entirely. Prepare yourself for spooky chills, charming romance, and “DeWees’ signature witty repartee” (Volatilisanguis, Amazon reviewer) in this fun-filled short story starring Felicity Reginald, first seen in Sea of Secrets, winner of the 2012 RONÉ Award in mystery. Fans of traditional gothic romance in the tradition of Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, and Barbara Michaels will delight in what reviewers are calling “a beautiful, haunting tale filled with twists and turns” (Caitlyn, Amazon reviewer) and “a thoroughly enchanting story of romance, betrayal, secret passageways, and ghostly occurrences” (Darrell, Goodreads). And if this is your first time exploring Amanda DeWees’s Victorian gothic works, you won’t want to miss a single one of her other books in the genre. Categories: ghost stories, historical gothic romance, Victorian era, Christmas stories, cozy mystery, traditional gothic romance, 19th century, sweet romance, historical romantic suspense, paranormal, romantic comedy, spinoff characters, aristocracy, manor house

    Appearing in Horrorology edited by Stephen Jones.

    There was just one thing to discover. Who was the vampire and who was the victim?When Dorissa and Rafe got together, sparks flew and sex was always on the menu. This time though it went deeper. And became a game of dominance and a race to win.Dorissa knew her life depended on Rafe—he didn't. Could she show him how?Rafe wanted Dorissa in every manner possible, except perhaps in the only way she could live. Would he agree to her terms?In this game of life, could there be two winners, or would they both lose? As dawn approached one of them knew that once the sun rose, nothing would be the same again.

    As he grows up facing poverty and hardship in both rural England and a squalid section of London, young Robert puts to practice the lessons learned from his insightful, coal mining father, Peter, to eventually become the man countless millions have loved to watch in the old and the new movie versions of A Christmas Carol, trotting about town with Tiny Tim on his shoulder. In The Life and Times of Bob Cratchit, we witness Robert's own personal odyssey and evolution, and follow him in his encounters with both challenging and inspiring circumstances, ultimately bringing him to be a key player-if not an unsung hero-in Ebenezer Scrooge's miraculous transformation on that special Christmas morning.

    In the Paris of the 1890s, Jules Gauthier, a young journalist, enters the Untime with its discoverer, Professor Lamartine. What they find there could be the end of our Universe as we know it. When Lamartine disappears mysteriously, Gauthier, together with Agathe, Lamartine's daughter, and Lamartine's rival, Professor Schneider, must brave the terrors of the Untime, journeying through time and space.

    Terror then stalks the capital’s streets as the killing spree begins. But why does Superintendent William Melville of The Special Branch call upon the skills of brilliant stage magician Michael Magister and his glamorous assistant Phoebe Le Breton to help capture the murderer? Especially as Michael is one of those named on the death list. From the recently discovered journals of Professor Artemus More, secrets are laid bare, mysteries revealed, illusions exposed and conspiracies uncovered, all in a Steampunk vision of Victorian Britain. But is anything truly what it seems? Or is it all just Steam, Smoke and Mirrors?

    The stakes are high and she is utterly devastated when she uncovers information that indicates the man of her dreams, Ashton Lee, one of the wealthy owners of Conrail is the number one suspect. Desperate to remain cool and impartial, Nicole strives to keep her suspicions quiet until she learns what Ashton is keeping from her. At the same time, she’s determined to keep her own secrets from Ashton, hoping he never finds out. Ashton Lee is immediately attracted to the woman he’d met at the masked ball. Unfortunately, there’s something not right about her, and he can’t put his finger on why he thinks this way. She’s mysterious, beautiful, but very secretive. Dare he allow her to soften his heart? And more importantly, will she understand why he keeps secrets from her?

    A poor boy living with his milliner sister in a marginal part of town discovers his cat is missing. His old dog can’t live without the cat, so he searches—and hears that the Queen has kidnapped his cat! Queen Victoria’s favorite moggie strayed, and her minions scooped up the wrong cat—or so the boy and his sister think.This Christmas novella tells how an earnest young Beefeater, his world-weary superior, and one of the wiliest criminals in London each try to find the right cat without disturbing the old queen, win the boy’s cat back—and woo the pretty sister—before the Queen leaves London for her Christmas holiday.From the servants at the palace and the Queen’s own chambers, to Billingsgate and the mudlarks’ favorite taverns, the adventures are many among the high- and low-life of Victorian London.

    He wrote The Mystery of a Hansom Cab with the humble hope of bringing his name to the attention of theatre managers. The book sold out its first run almost instantly and it became a runaway word-of-mouth phenomenon—but its author sold the copyright for a mere fifty pounds, missing out on a potential fortune.Blockbuster! is the engrossing story of a book that would help define the genre of crime fiction, and a portrait of a great city in full bloom. Rigorously researched and full of arresting detail, this captivating book is a must-read for all fans of true crime, history and crime fiction alike.

    Henry Wood", became an international publishing phenomenon, producing works such as the controversial ‘East Lynne’ that achieved incredible financial success due to her inimitable gift of storytelling. This comprehensive eBook presents Wood’s collected works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts appearing in digital print for the first time, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Wood’s life and works * Concise introductions to the novels and other texts * 19 novels, with individual contents tables * Many rare novels appearing in digital print for the first time, including WITHIN THE MAZE, LORD OAKBURN’S DAUGHTERS and ROLAND YORKE, the sequel to the popular THE CHANNINGS * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Rare short stories * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the short stories * Easily locate the short stories you want to read * Includes Wood’s rare non-fiction text OUR CHILDREN – available in no other collection * Includes the memoir by the author’s son – first time in digital print * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles and download your FREE copy of ‘East Lynne’ from our Ellen Wood product page. CONTENTS: The Novels DANESBURY HOUSE EAST LYNNE A LIFE’S SECRET MRS. HALLIBURTON’S TROUBLES THE CHANNINGS THE FOGGY NIGHT AT OFFORD THE SHADOW OF ASHLYDYAT VERNER’S PRIDE LORD OAKBURN’S DAUGHTERS OSWALD CRAY TREVLYN HOLD WILLIAM ALLAIR MILDRED ARKELL IT MAY BE TRUE ELSTER’S FOLLY ST. MARTIN’S EVE ROLAND YORKE WITHIN THE MAZE THE STORY OF CHARLES STRANGE The Shorter Fiction THE ELCHESTER COLLEGE BOYS THE GHOST OF THE HOLLOW FIELD JOHNNY LUDLOW JOHNNY LUDLOW, SECOND SERIES JOHNNY LUDLOW. THIRD SERIES JOHNNY LUDLOW. FOUR SERIES JOHNNY LUDLOW. FIFTH SERIES JOHNNY LUDLOW. SIXTH SERIES The Short Stories LIST OF SHORT STORIES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF SHORT STORIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Non-Fiction OUR CHILDREN The Biography MEMORIALS OF MRS. HENRY WOOD by Charles W. Wood Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles or to purchase this eBook as a Parts Edition of individual eBooks

    She was a dynamic character who broke free of the restrictions placed on women in Victorian times to lead a life of adventure. Journeying to many exotic parts of the globe, she came into contact with international events in the horrors of the field hospital at Balaclava, where she served under Florence Nightingale.

    While incorporating the scholarly insights of modern feminist criticism, it also reflects new approaches to women authors that have emerged with the rise of book history; periodical studies; performance studies; postcolonial studies; and scholarship on authorship, readership, and publishing. It traces the Victorian woman writer's career - from making her debut to working with publishers and editors to achieving literary fame - and challenges previous thinking about genres in which women contributed with success. Chapters on poetry, including a discussion of poetry in colonial and imperial contexts, reveal women's engagements with each other and male writers. Discussions on drama, life writing, reviewing, history, travel writing, and children's literature uncover the remarkable achievement of women in fields relatively unknown.

    She's also used to a certain rhythm when it comes to her writing: she sits at her desk, the hero speaks, she writes. Book done. After all, that's how she wrote thirty titles and she doesn't expect anything to be different during the working of her thirty-first manuscript. Daisy is convinced the protagonist of her newest book isn’t speaking to her and when he appears in the flesh to challenge her, she is transported to his time and place to better understand things from his perspective. The question is, whose story is it?

    The Edwardian era is coming to a close. While Seattle boasts of a 500 room brothel which caters to men's desires, holding hands is an entitled privilege of courtship. Beneath harnesses of whale bone corsets and suspensory belts strapped across loins, a new generation wishes to be free from the remains of the Victorian era. Impassioned undercurrents between men and women are unraveling and intensifying. While strait-laced notions are being taught on proper conduct while in the presence of real live men, and that beauty serves only to find husbands, the suffrage movement worries most men as it sweeps across the nation and Washington state. After having carried the fainted Eleanor across the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition grounds, Nate Miller finds her employed at his father's mansion on Millionaire Row. After a 14-year absence, it would kill Nate to stay under his father's roof. It would kill him more if he could never see Eleanor again. Financial family difficulties force Eleanor to leave her insurance company job for the deplorable position as "domestic" for the despised and hated Miller's who hold the mortgage on her family's house. It does not take Eleanor long to realize that Nate intends to wake and stimulate feelings, instincts and desires, that if roused, are believed to become diseased. In the course of delicate love, Nate finds himself competing for it with another man--Eleanor's older brother Richard, who is stricken with tuberculosis.

    As Viceroy of India and Governor-General of Canada, he held the two most exalted positions available under the Crown, but prior to this his achievements as a British ambassador included restoring order to sectarian conflict in Syria, helping to keep Canada British, paving the way for the annexation of Egypt, and preventing war from breaking out on India's North-West Frontier. Dufferin was much more than a diplomat and politician, however: he was a leading Irish landlord, an adventurer, and a travel writer whose Letters from High Latitudes proved a publishing sensation. He also became a celebrity of the time, and in his attempts to sustain his reputation he became trapped by his own inventions, thereafter living his public life in fear of exposure. Ingenuity, ability, and charm usually saved the day, yet in the end catastrophe struck in the form of the greatest City scandal for 40 years and the death of his heir in the Boer War. With unique access to the family archive at Clandeboye, Andrew Gailey presents a full biography of the figure once referred to as the "most popular man in Europe."

    It was a time of great invention, social upheaval, medical breakthroughs, religious fervour, brutal legislation, terrifying crimes and excessive hypocrisy. With intriguing facts and stories, The Victorian Treasury looks at the minutiae of everyday life, as well as the major events that changed the world. It uncovers what it was like to live during the time of Queen Victoria's long reign from 1837 to 1901 and reveals: Urban legends such as Spring Heeled Jack, the notorious crimes of Jack the Ripper and Constance Kent, the building of the London Underground, how a Victorian maid spend her leisure time, and, the experience of travelling on a steam train for the first time.

    Two men begin suspect a mysterious link between the victims: Major Henry Steele and ex-Sergeant Mason have been discreetly retired from Military Intelligence and now work as private investigators, and are helping Scotland Yard hunt the so-called "Heath Maniac." Their search takes them into Heath-side houses filled with the residents’ secrets, to the offices of shady lawyer, a vivisectionist’s laboratory, and back-stage at a London Music-hall. They must fight for their lives in an ambush on Hampstead Heath, before the maniac is finally exposed in a shattering climax.