Best of
Victorian

2019

The Workhouse Daughter


Rosie Darling - 2019
     But Papa was dead, and now six-year-old Amelia Gladstone was living in her darkest dreams. Life would have been unbearable if it weren’t for Robert Merriweather, a fellow workhouse orphan, who had more than a touch of daring and adventure about him. Then, her life took another dramatic twist when her uncle arrived from America to pluck her from a life of poverty into the luxury of wealth. However, her aunt and her cousin Henrietta were determined that she remember her station and both were horrified at the periodic appearances of the “workhouse rat”, Robert. As Amelia matured into a blossoming beauty, she attracted the attention of the dashing army captain Edward Swansong. But just as she believes she has found love Robert appears back in her life again and has the gravest concerns about the man courting his childhood friend. Would Amelia find happiness with her handsome soldier? Or would the mistakes of the past catch up with her and bring her back to the dark streets of the East End of London and the horrors of life in the workhouse?

The Vanishing Man


Charles Finch - 2019
    A painting of the Duke's great-grandfather has been stolen from his private study. But the Duke's concern is not for his ancestor's portrait; hiding in plain sight nearby is another painting of infinitely more value, one that holds the key to one of the country's most famous and best-kept secrets.Dorset believes the thieves took the wrong painting and may return when they realize their error--and when his fears result in murder, Lenox must act quickly to unravel the mystery behind both paintings before tragedy can strike again. As the Dorset family closes ranks to protect its reputation, Lenox uncovers a dark secret that could expose them to unimaginable scandal--and reveals the existence of an artifact, priceless beyond measure, for which the family is willing to risk anything to keep hidden.In this intricately plotted prequel to the Charles Lenox mysteries, the young detective risks his potential career--and his reputation in high society--as he hunts for a criminal mastermind.

No Stone Unturned


Pam Lecky - 2019
    But when she meets the enigmatic Phineas Stone, over the body of her husband in the mortuary, her world begins to fall apart.When her late husband’s secrets spill from the grave, and her life is threatened by the leader of London’s most notorious gang, Lucy must find the strength to rise to the challenge. But who can she trust and how is she to stay out of the murderous clutches of London’s most dangerous criminal?

The Business of Blood


Kerrigan Byrne - 2019
    Blood and death are Fiona Mahoney’s trade, and business, as they say, is booming. Dying is the only thing people do with any regularity, and Fiona makes her indecorous living cleaning up after the corpses are carted away. Her childhood best friend, Mary, was the last known victim of Jack the Ripper. It’s been two years since Fiona scrubbed Mary’s blood from the floorboards, and London is no longer buzzing about the Ripper, but Fiona hasn’t forgotten. And she hasn’t stopped searching for Jack. When she’s called to a murder in the middle of the night, Fiona finds a victim mutilated in an eerily similar fashion to those of the Ripper, and only a few doors down from Mary’s old home. The relentless, overbearing, and irritatingly handsome Inspector Grayson Croft warns her away from the case. She might have listened, if she hadn’t found a clue in the blood. A clue that will lead her down a path from which there is no return.As a killer cuts a devastating swath through London, a letter written in blood arrives at her door, and it is only then that Fiona realizes just how perilous her endeavor is. For she has drawn the attention of an obsessive evil, and is no longer the hunter, but the prey. Fiona Mahoney is in the business of blood. But she’s not the only one. With intriguing twists, blood-chilling discoveries, and dazzling prose, USAToday Bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne shows that a woman’s work is never done, even when she is sleuthing out a serial killer.

An American Duchess


Caroline Fyffe - 2019
    Because with the duke comes his new American bride, who isn’t quite what anyone expects. By accepting the hand of her beloved, Emma Brinkman went from hardworking Colorado rancher to duchess. Now she’s expected to comport herself as nobility. Overnight. For Emma—stifled, homesick, and unable to shake the feeling she’s being watched—the metamorphosis is a challenge. And if Emma’s suspicions are correct, perhaps even a dangerous one.Fortunately, Emma has found a trusted friend in the orphaned Charlotte, Brightshire’s scullery maid. Charlotte longs to experience—if only for a moment—the luxuries and gentry romance that come with a titled life. When one of the duke’s handsome cousins takes notice of Charlotte, the castle kitchen is set abuzz with speculation.In navigating their two different stations, both servant and duchess alike will discover all they have in common—from secret fantasies to daring hearts to upending the rules of society. And that finding their places in the world—and love—is a dream that can come true—no matter the risks.

Finding Lady Enderly


Joanna Davidson Politano - 2019
    Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady. Things she could only dream of might be coming true. But some dreams turn out to be nightmares.Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is. Only one man stands between her and the danger that lurks within--and only if he decides to keep her biggest secret hidden.

Starlight Night


Alexa Aston - 2019
    When Jem is killed in a carriage accident, Lucy and Boy run from their brutish owner. Separated from Boy as they flee, Lucy must now learn how to survive on her own.Luke and Caroline St. Clair, Earl and Countess of Mayfield, are still madly in love after several years of marriage and have a growing brood of three children whom they adore. They also own the popular Evie’s Bookstore and Tearoom. It is here Luke first encounters a small child all alone, peering into the store’s windows, hungrily eying the books on display. Though young and seemingly innocent on first glance, he quickly realizes that she is an old soul and a street urchin who must live by her wits and learns she is an orphan who belongs to no one. In the midst of celebrating the Christmas season with their family—and with love in their hearts for a child who needs them—can Luke and his countess convince a young, untrusting girl to become a part of their family? (Note: This story was first published as part of the Bestselling Boxed set Stars are Brightly Shining, November 2019)

Once Upon a Dickens Christmas: 3 Charming Christmas Tales Set in Victorian England


Michelle Griep - 2019
    What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.  A Tale of Two Hearts: Pleasure seeker William Barlow needs a wife immediately to gain his uncle’s inheritance, and Mina Scott is just the girl to make him look respectable—too bad she turns him down. Ought he give her a second chance?  The Old Lace Shop: Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.

The Bookseller and the Earl


Callie Hutton - 2019
    After six London Seasons as a wallflower, she convinces her parents that she should be allowed to use her dowry to buy a bookstore in Bath where she can live her life the way she wants.Lord Grayson, Earl of Berkshire, has never gotten over his deceased wife’s betrayal with his own brother. He plans to make his life all about his son, Michael, who is deaf. When Grayson’s sister-in-law serves him with court papers declaring Michael incompetent with the intention of having her own son named as Grayson’s rightful heir, he turns to Addie, a dyslexic bookstore owner, for help.Addie takes a personal interest in helping the boy. However, as time passes, Grayson and Addie’s joint venture to keep Michael from being declared incompetent leads to feelings and desires neither one of them expected.Or necessarily wanted.

A Proper Scandal


Esther Hatch - 2019
    And though taken in as an orphaned child by the vicar and his wife, her unsurpassed beauty makes it impossible for her to remain in the vicar’s household—with two daughters of their own about to enter Society, the vicar and his wife see Grace as nothing but competition. Thankfully, Grace’s estranged Aunt Bell has agreed to take her in to her home in London. But Grace soon learns her situation has just gotten much worse.It takes only a moment’s acquaintance for Grace to ascertain that her aunt has married a detestable rake. And Aunt Bell, recognizing the danger of having her lovely niece too near her husband, gives Grace an ultimatum: the young woman has two weeks to find a man to marry, after which she will be turned out. With no experience in the art of attracting a husband, Grace quickly realizes that a worthy suitor might not be so easy to ensnare.

In the Viscount’s Arms


Allyson Jeleyne - 2019
    She defies their grandfather’s high-handed meddling—and his desire to see the Staunton girls married. She forges her own path to independence, which leads to the gates of Caswell Hall. There, the governess has just quit her post, leaving a vacant spot in the local lord’s household.Simon, Viscount Althorne, is impressed by the sensible, dark-haired beauty, and hires her to teach his wayward young niece. He resents the loss of his carefree bachelor days, and longs to see the child settled so that he may return to London. But one perfect English summer turns their plans upside down, and he becomes inexplicably drawn to the one woman he cannot have—the family governess.Can Simon convince her that he is a gentleman worth loving? Will Octavia allow herself to fall for a man beyond her reach? Or will class and duty separate them forever?

Shadow Among Sheaves


Naomi Stephens - 2019
    At a time when Britain’s imperial influence in India was sparking brutal clashes on both sides, no one could have expected Rena, an Indian woman, to marry a British officer—nor do they understand her decision to follow her mother-in-law to England after her husband’s tragic death.  Once the two widows are in Abbotsville, the stern yet compassionate Lord Barric attempts to help them despite his better judgment. Soon he is torn between the demands of reputation and his increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart for his own.

Forever Yours Bundle #4-6


Stacy Reid - 2019
    Except someone is out to reveal him as a wicked rogue in the tongue in cheek articles written about him by a notorious gossip columnist. Determined to unmask this meddler in his life, he finds his heart shockingly captivated by Miss Pippa Cavanaugh. The hopes of marriage or the charming attractiveness of the Duke of Carlyle didn't drive Pippa to pursue the most elusive catch of the season, she was out to avenge her dear friend whose heart had been callously injured. Pippa desires to reveal to society that their perfect duke is a wicked, unprincipled seducer. The last thing she expects is for the dratted man to turn the tables on her, engaging her in a dance of wits, soul stealing kisses, and unexpected, sensual adventures. Soon she must decide if he is her path to ruin or her promise of a happy ending. WHEN THE EARL WAS WICKED His touch awakens her desire, and his kiss demands surrender. Lady Verity Ayles will do whatever it takes to protect herself from a vile cur, no matter how scandalous or perilous it may be. And that means aligning with James Radcliffe, the Earl of Maschelly--a scoundrel who spends his days in sin and self-indulgence, and his nights in reckless pursuits. Clearly, a man any young lady of good sense and reputation should stay away from. James had clawed his way from poverty to the fringes of the ton using his wits and fists. His wicked reputation encourages ladies to approach him for clandestine affairs, never for anything as outrageous as Lady Verity's request--to teach her how to fight. And in exchange, she will instruct him on all the refined manners a hulking, ruthless, fighting brute as himself needed to net a lady of quality. Never a man to resist a challenge or the company of a beautiful lady, James agrees, and soon finds himself falling endlessly in love with a woman who may never see him as the man of her dreams. A PRINCE OF MY OWN One tempting kiss may be her undoing... Lady Miranda Cheswick's is beautiful, witty, intelligent, and the family's great expectations are for her to marry a prince or a duke! A duty she intends to fulfill despite the craving in her heart to marry for love. An accident leaves her stranded at the country estate of the enigmatic and charming Dr. Astor, a man to whom she is inexplicably attracted. Dr. Simon Astor has little expectation of making a grand society match. His sole focus should be on caring for his patients and raising funds for the hospital he hopes to build. However, the delectable and witty Miranda tempts him at every turn, he soon finds himself falling for her irresistible charm, and wants to marry her. Except Miranda's mother's devious plot will test Miranda and Simon's resolve. Is their love strong enough to triumph?

Beastly Lords Collection Books 1 - 3: A Victorian Historical Romance Collection


Sydney Jane Baily - 2019
    Damaged aristocrats and destitute women find love in a dangerous and unpredictable world... Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited! Book Included in the Collection are: Book 1 Lord Despair - From the lush English countryside to the glittering society of Victorian London, and the shabbier side of its gambling hells, Lord Despair thought he’d left the worst behind in the Burmese jungle. He was wrong. Jenny Blackwood is determined not to let her mother and sisters succumb to an unkind fate. With a head for numbers, she becomes the skilled bookkeeper “Mr. Cavendish.” One unexpected client is the nobleman cruelly named by gossips as Lord Despair. Book 2 Lord Anguish - Contented, privileged, and eligible until a carriage accident hurls him to the cobbled street, John Angsley, Earl of Cambrey, awakens to broken bones and a battered head. Can it get worse? Opium, which eases his pain at first, brings suffering of its own, creating Lord Anguish, who must choose between the lure of laudanum and the woman he loves. Miss Margaret Blackwood is the jammiest bit of jam and all John has ever wanted in a woman. Unfortunately, it’s clear from the start she’s too young and too fickle to make him a good wife, especially with rival suitors cropping up at every turn. Book 3 Lord Vile - Viscount Alder never meant to earn the nickname Lord Vile, yet he fully embraces it after a nasty betrayal—combining bitter resentment with the soothing taste of gin and a fondness for females. One wronged woman seeking revenge shreds his self-centered world, painfully capturing the heart he didn’t know he had. Worshiping him from afar, Ada Kathryn is thrilled to encounter the dash-fire viscount in the darkened garden. Minutes later, her innocence in tatters, she waits for the noble Lord Alder to do the honorable thing. Instead, she watches as the most vile lord in London saunters away. Book 4 Lord Darkness - (Excerpt) Let the decadence begin!

Penny Green Volume 1, #1-3


Emily Organ - 2019
     As one of the first female reporters on 1880s Fleet Street, Penny Green has her work cut out. Whether it’s investigating the mysterious death of a friend or reporting on a serial killer in the slums, Penny must rely on her wits and determination to discover the truth. Fortunately she can rely on the help of Inspector James Blakely of Scotland Yard, but will their relationship remain professional? Read The Penny Green Series: Books 1-3 today and discover this entertaining Victorian mystery series. The Penny Green Mystery Series is set in 1880s London. The books can be read in any order: Book 1 - Limelight Book 2 - The Rookery Book 3 - The Maid's Secret Book 4 - The Inventor Book 5 - Curse of the Poppy Book 6 - The Bermondsey Poisoner Book 7 - An Unwelcome Guest Also available: The Penny Green Series: Books 1-3 (The Penny Green Series Boxset Book 1) The Penny Green Series: Books 4-6 (The Penny Green Series Boxset Book 2)

The Orphan Daughter of Lupin lane: A Historical Victorian Romance


Dolly Price - 2019
    No one on Lupin Lane recognises her, and the ever-present dangers of Whitechapel leave the fatherless child helpless. What can the elderly couple do but take this bedraggled and hungry orphan into their heart and home? Other than her name, Isabella’s past and how she ended up on Mr. and Mrs. Colls doorstep remains a mystery. As Isabella flowers into a young woman, the secrets of the past float to the surface, as do family feuds and savage enemies of the innocent girl. Phillip Mitchell, Mr. Coll’s young apprentice, discovers just how close Isabella is to a fearful demise, and determines to protect the woman he secretly loves, but he may be too late. Will Isabella survive the plot against her life, and will she finally discover her true identity and uncover who the mysterious shadows from her past really are? Will Phillip draw the courage to display his true feelings to Isabella, and can this once-lost orphan trust her precious heart to the love of another? If you enjoy books by Dilly Court and other Victorian Romance writers, you will love this debut novella by Dolly Price. Dolly Price writes wholesome historical romance. Buy The Orphan Daughter of Lupin Lane today to dive into this moving tale of a vulnerable orphan and her thrilling journey to the secure arms of love.

The Christmas Countess


K.J. Jackson - 2019
    A newly minted earl looking for a fresh start. A love gone wrong gains a second chance.A shunned lady determined to keep her secrets.Lady Leventon had been shunned to the Scottish wilds of Badenoch for a reason. But she never thought it would be the death of her. That is until her maid and only friend in the world falls deathly ill just days before Christmastide and Karta is determined to make it through a snowstorm for help. She didn’t think it would cost her her life, but as her feet slow in the heavy snow, hope gives out.A newly minted earl looking for a fresh start.When Domnall Greyford, Earl of Kirkmere, discovers the woman that left him years ago frozen in a snowbank, barely breathing, he does the only thing he can—he carries her to his new home. Never mind that she shattered his heart long ago when she left him without a word, without a note, without a thought. And the last thing he wants is her in his new home, in his new life.A love gone wrong gains a second chance.Karta awakens to find the last man in the world she expected holding onto her frozen bare toes—Domnall. The only man she’d ever dared to love. The same man that had abandoned her years ago. Yet the all-consuming heat between them is unmistakable.She knows full well she needs to deny him, deny the insistent rumbles of lost love fighting for life. For if she doesn’t, he’ll discover the truth of her past and his scorn would be irrevocable. That will not do—she isn’t willing to risk her heart again to the only man able to destroy her—or can she?The Christmas Countess is a revised and expanded version of the story that was previously published in the October 2019 multi-author anthology, Once Upon a Christmas Wedding.

A Mackenzie Yuletide


Jennifer Ashley - 2019
    The younger Mackenzies, aided by the Duchess of Kilmorgan, eagerly begin a ghost hunt, with unexpected results. Ian Mackenzie, who knows there are no ghosts, pursues a problem of his own–obtaining the perfect Hogmanay gift for Beth. But there are obstacles to his quest, plus rivals for the priceless object who might get to it first.

Emma


Kathryn Le Veque - 2019
    a carriage accident, a fire, and she was forever changed. Now, Emma bears the scars of that terrible night - literally.Lord Asher Russe lives in a mausoleum of an old family home, a beastly place with the hollow memories of a bereft House. The last of his line, he, too, suffered that one ill-fated night that changed his stars forever. Now, he lives in darkness, praying for the courage to end it all.When Emma and Ash meet unexpectedly during one dark and stormy night, an uncomfortable event becomes the most momentous of their lives.Can hope spring from the well of darkness? And will love flame eternal? Be prepared to be enchanted by this short Gothic tale.Previously published in the The Midnight Hour anthology

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code


Corinne Purtill - 2019
    She is obsessed with machines and with creatures that fly. She even designs her own flying laboratory! According to her mother, Ada is a bit too wild, so she encourages Ada to study math. At first Ada thinks: Bleh! Who can get excited about a subject without pictures? But she soon falls in love with it. One day she encounters a mysterious machine, and from that moment forward Ada imagines a future full of possibility—one that will eventually inspire the digital age nearly two hundred years later. Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is the story of a pioneer in the computer sciences, and a testament to women’s invaluable contributions to STEM throughout history. Includes additional text on Ada Lovelace’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to teach simple coding and mathematical concepts.

Stars are Brightly Shining: A Magical Holiday Collection


Paula QuinnAvril Borthiry - 2019
    Ten New York Times, USA Today or Internationally bestselling authors bring you their twist on the holidays using some of your favorite characters in STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING . This collection includes: "Heart of Thanks" by Paula Quinn -  ‘Tis the season of miracles, and when Elysande MacPherson begins falling in love with the son of her father's worst enemy, she's going to need one. A very big one. "The Hope of Love" by Meara Platt - Felicity Billings, raised as an orphan, has always hoped for a family of her own. Will her wish come true when she takes a tumble and Wellesford's handsome doctor comes to the rescue? "A Christmas Kiss for the Highlander" by Collette Cameron - A prisoner of his past, Quinn Catherwood scorns heritage and kin. Skye Hendron cherishes family and traditions, and she offers him freedom and a future…but can he pay the price? "Christmas Heart" by Mary Lancaster - A quarrel with her husband sees the Duchess of Alvan travelling to her parents’ home for Christmas. But the road is blocked by snow and there is no room at the Hart Inn… "Starlight Night" by Alexa Aston - A child from the streets. A couple with love in their heart. A warm, wonderful Christmas. "One Beastly Christmas" by Sydney Jane Baily - A frigid Christmas Eve, an infuriated husband, and beloved family members gone missing. Forlorn Lady Lindsey needs a holiday miracle, or maybe three! "Warming Winter's Heart" by Elizabeth Ellen Carter - Julian Winter has had his heart broken a time of two. And he's tired of his well-meaning family trying to set him up with yet another vapid debutante. His attitude to attending a winter house party is frosty indeed until he meets fellow guest Caroline, a widow with a young son. As Christmas draws near Julian finds there is warmth in Winter's heart, after all. "A Bunch of Mistletoe" by Lynne Connolly - When Matilda, chaperone and aunt to the most scandalous family in London, takes a tumble from a tree, she's rescued by the most unlikely saviour. Toplofty stickler Harold, the Duke of Trensom, is more than annoyed to find Matilda on his property. Worse when he finds himself falling for her. "A Solitary Candle" by Avril Borthiry - Lost in a winter storm, a cold-hearted man is drawn to a flicker of light in the darkness. Will he find the warmth he seeks? "A Merry MacNaughton Mishap" by Aubrey Wynne - When Calum MacNaughton rescues a rival clan member from an icy drowning, he is unexpectedly rewarded with the clansman’s most precious possession. Now Calum has until Twelfth Night to convince her to stay. From Dragonblade to you, we wish you a very happy holiday season! (Note: This collection will be approx. 500 pages)

Alice's Arranged Marriage (Home for Christmas Book 1)


Joyce Alec - 2019
     Alice has never felt so lonely. Having lived both a life of poverty and then of riches due to her father making his fortune later in life, Alice finds herself sent from America to England, in order to marry the Charles, the Earl of Allerton. Charles is much too generous. Over the years, he has given his brother too much money to free him from debts and is now forced to find a rich bride. Knowing that Miss Jones has a large fortune, Charles prepares to meet his betrothed. He is horrified by her lack of manners. Mortified by his beautiful yet embarrassing bride to be, Charles tries to keep his distance, whilst still preparing for their Christmas wedding. Alice finds him distant and unfriendly, whilst his aunt, Lady Fossett, is nothing short of cruel. When offensive notes begin to arrive, Alice struggles against the urge to return home, leaving her new life in England behind. With their Christmas wedding only a few weeks away, Charles and Alice must find a way to come together. Will Alice be able to confront Charles about the notes? Or will Charles continue to push her away, right when she needs him the most?

Upon the Midnight Clear


Tasha Alexander - 2019
    On a shopping trip to Hamley’s Toy Shop, a kind-hearted stranger gives Emily’s son a Christmas cracker—but when he opens it to reveal a cryptic clue inside, Emily suspects there’s more to the gift than Christmas cheer. By the next day, her suspicions seem well-founded when a Scottish stranger arrives with a heartbreaking tale and an urgent plea for help. He believes his long-lost daughter, kidnapped by her well-meaning grandparents as an infant, may be hidden away somewhere in London. As Colin and Emily trace the clues through the city’s snowy streets, more mysterious crackers arrive to guide their investigation. But who is sending them? What do they mean? Emily and Colin must find the answers as they seek to reunite a father with his beloved daughter by Christmas Eve.

Lovely Digits


Jeanine Englert - 2019
    But can the killer be found before there is a third?Lovely Digits is the town oddity…But quirky spinster Lucy Wycliffe prefers to ignore gossip and embrace her position as the town’s layer out of the dead, despite how her parents’ deaths thrust her into such unlikely work. Lovely Digits, as she’s known to the local townspeople, no longer dreams of marriage, but takes pride in providing dignity to the dead. Desperate to hold on to her family’s cottage and support her widowed sister and young niece, an unexpected offer of employment as assistant to the constable arrives at the perfect time. Former sailor John Brodie is the mysterious new constable… But John Brodie is far from a stranger to Clun or the events of its past. Accepting the position as constable in the small town is a double edged sword meant to heal his past and redeem his future, but falling for the beautiful and intelligent Lucy Wycliffe was never part of his plan. As the killer closes in, will John reveal his secret and risk losing everything to save Lucy’s life?

Bespoke


Jayne Fresina - 2019
    He wants a peaceful life; she's aiming for revolution. He likes to keep both feet on the ground; she dreams of scandalizing the neighborhood on a bicycle. He prefers to fade in with the wallpaper; she's proud to be a black sheep that stands out in the crowd.He's never getting married again—most women ought to be stamped on the forehead with a danger warning and clapped into handcuffs. She thinks men are simply an obstacle to her ambitions and if it's true that the way to a man's heart is through his digestive system, that explains why a great deal of gaseous waste frequently finds its path out of the wrong end. The two of them might appear to be mismatched flavors in an unlikely recipe, but when blackmail turns to murder, it's the start of a remarkable partnership in crime-solving. And a match made in chocolate.It's late Victorian England and the world may be on the cusp of change, but is it quite ready for this pairing? They're not even prepared for it themselves. Nevertheless, some wayward kind of chemistry keeps drawing them together and it can't be blamed entirely on the cake. Or the corpse in the conservatory.

A Witch For Mr. Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation


Jessica L. Jackson - 2019
    Sure knowledge—a magical gift—tells her that someone is coming. Or something? Or…both? Something sinister…something good. Which is it? Could it be Mr. Darcy, their new neighbor’s enigmatic guest? He has his own gift, one that is haunting and painful. Will she be able to help him, even though so many other events are affecting life at Longbourn House? Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy can hardly take his gaze off of Miss Elizabeth’s charming countenance. He has heard through the servants’ grapevine that she is a witch. An honest-to-God witch, not just an herbalist. He needs a wife. He knows he does. But, will Miss Elizabeth be the best option for someone like himself? Someone troubled? He needs to find out.

With the Magic


Donna K. Weaver - 2019
    Then he encounters a woman he suspects is from the future--a utopian future that he feels compelled to see. He intends to get what he wants, but it will involve dealing with fae magic. And that could lead to disaster--for his heart.Dr. Catherine Ryan is drawn to the handsome guest at Twickenham Manor, with his odd combination of childish excitement and old eyes that have seen too much pain. She loses her heart to him before she discovers the truth of when he’s from. Now she faces the biggest decision of her life!Series in the Twickenham World:~Twickenham Full-Moon Ball Time Travel Romance by Donna K. Weaver~Twickenham Manor Time Travel Romance by Jo Noelle~Twickenham Time Travel Regency Romances by Laura Beers~Twickenham Regency Romance by Jen Geigle Johnson~Twickenham Time Travel by Johanna Evelyn Dodge~Twickenham True Love Time Travel Romance by Laura D. Bastian

The Snowdrop


Jayne Fresina - 2019
    She was a girl stifled by the demands of her family and constrained by the strict customs of Victorian society; a bird caged and without hope.Raised in two disparate worlds, with one fortune rising while the other tumbled, they might never have known each other.But when a disreputable old rogue dies unexpectedly and in spectacular, explosive style, a chain of remarkable events is destined to draw these two strangers close— to the bemusement of one and the disgust of the other.The last Will and Testament of Sir Mungo Lightfoot Mayferry McClumphy has gone astray, and a large number of claimants are fighting over a vast fortune.She wants nothing to do with it, her grieving heart bereft of hope. He is in the thick of it, a man of ruthless perseverance and— in her eyes— a dark, mercenary, unfeeling heart. Drawn together one Christmas, these two “Mortal Enemies” will have to find a way to put aside the strife and be civil. Whether or not they can survive the season remains to be seen. If they also find hope and love along the way, it will surely be a Christmas miracle.

Logan's Lady


Rosanne Bittner - 2019
    She leaves for America full of hope, only to lose everything to a villain hiding treachery behind his smile. Lost in this strange and lawless land, Elizabeth vows to track down the man who did her wrong...but she can't do it alone. What she needs is someone hardened by the west and unflinching toward its dangers: notorious bounty hunter Logan Best.Ill-mannered and seemingly ruthless, Logan exorcises his dark past by throwing himself into his vengeful profession—hunting wanted men. There's nothing about the pampered Englishwoman that should call to him, and yet as their adventure takes them across the wild and treacherous west, he realizes he'll do anything to keep her safe...and defend his Lady to his final breath.

Betrothed


Elsa Holland - 2019
    Fourteen years later the Petroski brothers arrived in London setting it alight with their breathtaking presence, bone melting accents and heart fluttering masculinity; eligible women were all interested in their availability. And yet the Prince’s betrothed, Miss Georgina Franklin, was yet to receive a visit.

Nobody's Duke


Scarlett Scott - 2019
    But the man charged with protecting her is no stranger.He's Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of a duke and the first man she ever loved. Eight years after he took her innocence and ruthlessly abandoned her, he's back in her drawing room and her life.This time, she's older, wiser, and stronger. She will resist him at any cost and make him pay for the past.A spy with a broken heartShe's the only woman Clay ever loved and the one he hates above all others. When Ara brutally betrayed and deceived him, leaving him with a scarred face and a bitter heart, he devoted himself to earning his reputation as one of the Crown's most feared agents.He wants nothing more than to finish his assignment so that he can remove all traces of her from his life forever. But walking away from her for good won't be as easy as he thinks.As secrets are revealed and danger threatens Ara, Clay discovers that the truth is far more complicated than deceit. Once she's back in his arms where she belongs, he'll wage the biggest fight of all to keep her there.

The Eidola Project


Robert Herold - 2019
    Will any of them survive? Based on true events!

A Christmas Spark


Diana Biller - 2019
    Unfortunately, she didn’t expect to find his very presence so… distracting during experiments.John thinks Winnifred Byrne is a disaster of an assistant. She makes a dreadful cup of tea and has caused not one but multiple explosions! Except...she's warm, funny, brilliant, and to make matters much worse, is probably the most beautiful woman he's ever met.As the snow falls and their friendship deepens, one thing becomes clear: he’s met his match in more ways than one.

The Lady and the Highwayman


Sarah M. Eden - 2019
    But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories—the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Mr. King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.   Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Mr. King started taking all of his readers--and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less-fortunate.   Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered.    For the first time, Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.

Land Beyond the Horizon


Julia Drosten - 2019
    During the arduous sea voyage from the Netherlands to the ends of the earth, he encounters artist Bethari de Groot traveling to the colonies with her father, an executive with the Dutch East India Company.Hannes is a hothead, Bethari is headstrong, and their initial encounter is less than cordial. When they are shipwrecked off the coast of South Africa, Bethari discovers an admirable man inside the adventurer while he, in turn, is captivated by the young beauty’s courage and determination.While Bethari waits in Cape Town to begin her journey to Asia, she and Hannes discover their love for each other. When Hannes is dispatched to Ceylon on a mysterious mission, Bethari follows him and discovers that her beloved is entangled in a dangerous web of intrigue and skullduggery. Together they must fight for their future and their happiness.

Marriage Training


Golden Angel - 2019
    When he meets Miss Vivian Stafford at a friend's wedding, he finds himself drawn in by the exact traits he was looking for in his own wife and immediately moves to make her his own. Once the betrothal papers are signed, he arranges for her to attend Mrs. Cunningham's Finishing School. This very special school will prepare her to be the wife of an Earl . . . and also prepare for her the very specific demands and discipline she'll receive from her new husband at night.

For the Magic


Donna K. Weaver - 2019
    She fears she’ll never meet a man who will see her for more than her fortune or ability to provide an heir.Landscape architect Michael Addington thinks his grandfather is mental but never dreams the old man will try to set Twickenham Manor on fire. In Michael’s struggle to stop the act of arson, a young woman appears out of nowhere. Flames and fae magic engulf them both, the first burning them badly and the second transporting them back to 1851.Ellen and Michael find they must rely on each other through the painful recovery. Day by day, their attraction grows. But Michael is riddled with guilt. If she discovers his dark secret, he could lose her forever . . . he’s the one who set her on fire.

The Last Word


Samantha Hastings - 2019
    Miss Lucinda Leavitt is shocked when she learns the author of her favorite serialized novel has died before completing the story. Determined to learn how it ends, Lucinda reluctantly enlists the help of her father’s young business partner, Mr. David Randall, to track down the reclusive author’s former whereabouts.David is a successful young businessman, but is overwhelmed by his workload. He wants to prove himself to his late father, as well as to himself. He doesn’t have the time, nor the interest, for this endeavor, but Lucinda is not the type to take no for an answer.Their search for the elusive Mrs. Smith and the rightful ending to her novel leads Lucinda and David around the country, but the truths they discover about themselves—and each other—are anything but fictional.

The Fireraisers


Malcolm Archibald - 2019
    After the mill of businessman Matthew Beaumont burns to the ground, Detective Sergeant George Watters is sent to investigate.Soon, George discovers that this is not the first property that has been targeted. When a man is found dead in the hold of a trade ship, George discovers a shocking connection between Beaumont and foreign powers threatening the very country.George tries to get to the bottom of the mystery, but clues are few and far between. What connects the enigmatic Beaumont to the murder and strange events taking place in the Dundee shipyard?

The Industrial Revolution: A History From Beginning to End


Hourly History - 2019
     The Industrial Revolution which took place in Great Britain between the middle of the eighteenth century and the middle of the nineteenth transformed British industry and society and made Great Britain the most powerful nation in the world. The Industrial Revolution didn’t happen due to one, single factor but rather to a number of separate yet related developments which interacted to change the world profoundly and completely. Improvements in the production of iron allowed the construction of efficient, reliable steam engines. These steam engines were then used in the production of iron to improve the quality and quantity of iron production even further. Manufacturing became concentrated in factories filled with automated machinery while canals and improved roads allowed raw materials to be brought to these factories and for finished products to be distributed. Inside you will read about... ✓ Transport and the Rise of Global Trade ✓ The Iron Heart of the Industrial Revolution ✓ The Power of Steam ✓ The Lives of Workers during the Industrial Revolution ✓ The Rise of Labor Movements And much more! During the the Industrial Revolution, people became used to the availability of cheap, mass-produced items transported to the point of sale from other parts of the country or even other parts of the world. However, people also became used to living in large cities and working in factories and mills, often for meager wages and in dangerous and exhausting conditions. Progress made a small number of people very wealthy, but it also condemned a large portion of the British population to living and working in danger and squalor. Opposition to the Industrial Revolution came from skilled workers who saw their jobs being replaced by machines and from influential poets who deplored the loss of what they regarded as an idyllic, rural, agrarian way of life. This opposition was brutally repressed, and even those who tried to champion the rights of workers sometimes found themselves under attack by the British Army. The Industrial Revolution changed almost everything about the British way of life, and it spread from Great Britain to most of the developed countries of the world. This is the story of a revolution which continues to affect all of us in the modern world.

Where Time Will Take Me


Nancy Moser - 2019
     In 1868, Justine Braden’s grandmother charged her with the task of standing up for what was right—no matter the cost. As a child of ten. Justine didn’t understand what Granny meant. Now, ten years later, Justine leads a frivolous life as a New York socialite. She doesn’t have to deal with issues of right and wrong. Or sacrifice. Not yet. For unbeknownst to Justine, generations of the women of her family share a secret that is revealed to them when they are twenty. They can travel through time. Such a gift presents them with a great purpose, one that is far beyond their imagining. The gift is given, but it can be declined. Or ignored. Or embraced. If a woman is strong enough, brave enough, and noble enough, the gift will facilitate justice and change many lives for the better. Join Justine on her journey from a fickle girl into a woman of great purpose and potential.

To Want a Rogue


Tammy Andresen - 2019
    Sprinting through the rain, she comes upon the only oasis in the storm, a dark castle with stone wolves at that gate. She doesn’t want to enter but she doesn’t have much choice. With her brother trapped in their carriage, she needs help. But the man she finds inside the castle… it’s not clear if he’s her angel or a devil. Lord Gavin deWolfe knows his old castle is off-putting, in fact, he prefers it that way. After the loss of his wife, he wishes to shut out the world. That is until a wet and pathetic girl lands in a puddle on his floor. He’ll help her and then send her on her way. The problem, her brother’s too injured to travel and she is no girl after all. She’s all woman and she stirs feelings in him he thought long dead. Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Kiss Me, Your Grace


Allyson Jeleyne - 2019
    Lawrence is set upon by a mangy cur, His Grace is outraged, but a compassionate beauty at the end of her tether pleads his forgiveness.Soon, Edward finds himself looking forward to early morning walks and easy company at Margaret’s side. Can the head of the illustrious Cherrill family choose love over duty, or will he come to heel like so many dukes before him?

Peterloo: Witnesses to a Massacre


Polyp - 2019
    This is a vivid, original and historically accurate 'comic book' visual account of the 1819 Manchester massacre, to be published as part of the 200th anniversary commemorations. More than 15 people died and 600 were severely wounded by sabre-wielding troops at a peaceful pro-democracy rally.The entire narrative is drawn exclusively from the direct testimony of the time (letters, memoirs, journalist's accounts, spies' reports, courtroom evidence...) carefully woven together by rich, vivid, graphic-novel style illustrations created by professional cartoonist, illustrator and graphic novelist Polyp.

Getting to Know Grace


Hilde - 2019
    She also has an incurable disease. Due to her family's high status in society, Andrew grew up with no friends save for her maid, Herta, whom she has become intensely infatuated with. Little does she know, her family is responsible for ruining Herta's life. Can Andrew break the hierarchy and be with her? Or will Herta end her suffering first...

Cameo Courtships: 4 Stories of Women Whose Lives Are Touched by a Legendary Gift


Susanne Dietze - 2019
    Told by the Queen the cameo is to be shared, Letitia gifts the "Victoria Cameo" to a woman in her family, hoping adventure and romance will follow each of its subsequent wearers.    PINNED ABOVE HER HEART by Susanne Dietze 1851 – Pittsburgh, PA After receiving the Victoria Cameo, aspiring journalist Clara Newton works to expose a smuggler, but reporter Byron Breaux must break the story first or lose his job. Working together is out of the question until they learn secrets that threaten Clara’s father. . .and her heart.   TAMING PETRA by Jennifer Uhlarik 1875 – Colorado Territory Trouser-wearing frontierswoman Petra Jayne Hollingsworth has no intention of donning the heirloom cameo, but when a crooked brothel owner steals the treasure, securing its return becomes Petra’s highest priority. Assisting her, Reverend Dustin Owens is appalled to learn the price of its ransom is that Petra must work in the brothel. He may save the woman’s virtue, but can he help Petra regain her cameo and rediscover her faith?   MEET ME AT THE FAIR by Kathleen Y’Barbo Spring 1885 – New Orleans during the 1884 World’s Fair and Cotton Exposition It takes a Pinkerton to find a Pinkerton, and Ethan Butler has been charged with finding Elizabeth Newton. Just when he locates her, the cameo he is to deliver is stolen. It appears his previous case has discovered his presence in New Orleans, but he can’t return to that case until the cameo is found. With Miss Newton as a reluctant partner in crime fighting, can Ethan Butler locate the cameo and its thieves without losing his heart?   LENDING MY HEART by Debra E. Marvin 1895 – Pittsburgh, PA The arrival of a handsome Scottish administrator ruins Miss Bertie Hart’s dream to oversee the new Carnegie Library children’s department. Yet bristly Mr. Russell Smart’s working-class determination and his love of books make him the perfect partner to better the lives of Pittsburgh’s poor. As for a partner in life? Not even her Victoria Cameo can narrow the social chasm he and her father keep between them.

The Victorian Vampire


Nick James - 2019
    So, instead of following in his father’s footsteps, Albert decides on adventure. However, fate has other plans. One drunken night on his way home, he responds to the blood-curdling scream of a woman. He rushes her attacker and in the ensuing fight, he is bitten. Alberts world is changed forever. With that one savage bite, he is turned into a monster that people had believed was just a creation of an authors mind. That night Albert becomes a Vampire. Days turn into months, then years to decades as he struggles with the loss of his soul and humanity. He thought he was alone but as his friends and loved ones pass into memory, his own kind begin to make their presence known.

Murder at Mondial Castle


Issy Brooke - 2019
    By using her wit, unconventional intelligence and good humour, she’s risen to marry an earl who dotes on her; she’s raised and married off seven beautiful daughters; what more is there for her now? What, indeed. Adelia’s looking for a new adventure. She’s not ready for her twilight years of slumber just yet…Then her daughter’s friend is found brutally murdered in the grounds of Mondial Castle – in the company of a man who is not her husband. That man is the Marquis of Mondial but he’s also injured and obviously above suspicion. Yet his subsequent peculiar behaviour soon sets fashionable tongues wagging…Adelia negotiates the gossips of the drawing room while her husband Theodore wrestles with the other gentlemen and their foibles.Adelia and Theodore are shocked as they peel back layers of deadly secrets in the household of the castle but the truth at the heart of it threatens their own daughter’s marriage … and their whole family’s place in society. Unmasking the murderer is impossible alone but working as a team, they are unique. And unstoppable.

Sybil Ingram Victorian Mysteries Collection


Amanda DeWees - 2019
    The set contains: Nocturne for a Widow (book 1): Sybil retires from the theater and stakes a claim on Hudson Valley haunted house, where she investigates a mystery and locks horns with a dangerous rogue named Roderick Brooke. “When Soft Voices Die” (short story): Sybil must use her newfound abilities as a spirit medium to solve the mystery of a speechless ghost. The Last Serenade (book 2): When Sybil and Roderick travel to Paris to rescue his former mistress from a blackmailer, they find themselves mixed up in a murder. Can Sybil’s skills as a medium solve the mystery—and help Roderick finally free himself from the ghosts of his past with Julia? “Her Silks and Fine Array” (short story): Sybil cuts her honeymoon short to help an old acquaintance rid her home of a ghost with a taste for fashion. A Haunting Reprise (book 3): When Sybil returns to London to see her dying father, her reunion with her former mentor, Gerhardt Atherton, ends in betrayal and murder. Sybil must call on an old acquaintance to help her identify the killer and thwart a poltergeist. “Spectral Strains” (short story): As Christmas approaches, Roderick falls under the spell of a haunted violin. Fortunately his old friend Professor Hartmann is on hand to help Sybil solve the mystery and free Roderick from the ghostly influence. “Christmas at Gravesend” (short story): Sybil and Roderick travel to Gravesend Hall to spend Christmas with Sybil’s former seamstress, Clara, now a baroness. But when there are screams in the night and a mysterious white figure roams the corridors, Clara and Sybil must work together to solve a mystery and bring a broken family back together. “One Good Turn” (short story): Sybil and Roderick help a governess who believes that her young charges are being possessed by the spirits of two former servants. You may think this story sounds familiar, but prepare for it to take a turn! The Sybil Ingram series is a delightful fusion of romance, mystery, humor, and period atmosphere, with a dash of supernatural spookiness. It’s perfect for readers who love smart, feisty Victorian women sleuths like Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell and Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody. Once you’ve made Sybil’s acquaintance, you’ll want to read all of her stories--and with this collection, it’s easier than ever before!

The Crimson Inkwell: A Gaslamp Trinkets Novel


Kenneth A. Baldwin - 2019
    In her journey to become Dawnhurst-on-Severn's most acclaimed writer, she discovers that her city houses dark, magical secrets too uncomfortable to believe. When an enigmatic carnival worker offers her a pen that can turn fiction to fact, she quickly learns that tampering with the unknown can be intoxicating, lucrative, and dangerous. Can she withstand the onslaught of enchanted consequences with her life and engagement intact?

The Pact of the White Blade Knights


Barbara Russell - 2019
    Having slapped the leader of the society when he groped her breasts might have something to do with losing her job. With bills to pay and a stomach to fill, she accepts a position as dealer in ancient artefacts. It’d be her dream job except that her new employer, Tyon Sancerre, has more secrets than an Egyptian tomb and is probably involved with the Whitechapel’s mob. When he says he needs her to find his long-lost fellow crusader knights, she thinks he’s mad, a rich, handsome, but mad man.Tyon claims to be a sin-eater, a human turned into an immortal to clean people’s souls from their sins. After he and the other sin-eaters—the knights of the White Blade—were cursed, they were separated and scattered around the world. Alone the sin-eaters don’t hold much power, and with their enemies—the sin-breathers—multiplying and causing wars and famine, the only way Tyon has to find his brothers is through a relic Hazel worked with at the museum. It’s all poppycock, that’s what she says. But when sin-breathers attack them, a ghost appears to her, and she witnesses wounds healing themselves in a moment, she wonders if her beliefs need to be reconsidered. And the worst thing? She’s falling in love with an immortal, cranky, too-many-centuries-year-old white knight.****Due to the content of the book, this novel is for an adult audience only****

The Spectacle of Illusion: Magic, the paranormal & the complicity of the mind


Matthew L. Tompkins - 2019
    Page after page of utter joy: I can't tear my eyes away' - Derren BrownIn The Spectacle of Illusion, professional magician-turned experimental psychologist Dr. Matthew L. Tompkins investigates the arts of deception as practised and popularised by mesmerists, magicians and psychics since the early 18th century. Organised thematically within a broadly chronological trajectory, this compelling book explores how illusions perpetuated by magicians and fraudulent mystics can not only deceive our senses but also teach us about the inner workings of our minds. Indeed, modern scientists are increasingly turning to magic tricks to develop new techniques to examine human perception, memory and belief. Beginning by discussing mesmerism and spiritualism, the book moves on to consider how professional magicians such as John Nevil Maskelyne and Harry Houdini engaged with these movements - particularly how they set out to challenge and debunk paranormal claims. It also relates the interactions between magicians, mystics and scientists over the past 200 years, and reveals how the researchers who attempted to investigate magical and paranormal phenomena were themselves deceived, and what this can teach us about deception.Highly illustrated throughout with entertaining and bizarre drawings, double-exposure spirit photographs and photographs of spoon-bending from hitherto inaccessible and un-mined archives, including the Wellcome Collection, the Harry Price Library, the Society for Physical Research, and last but not least, the Magic Circle's closely guarded collection, the book also features newly commissioned photography of planchettes, rapping boards, tilting tables, ectoplasm, automata and illusion boxes. Concluding with a modern-day analysis of the science of magic and illusion, analysing surprisingly weird phenomena such as ideomotor action, sleep paralysis, choice blindness and the psychology of misdirection, this unnerving volume highlights how unreliable our minds can be, and how complicit they can be in the perpetuation of illusions.

The Hidden Lives of Jack the Ripper's Victims


Robert Hume - 2019
    Their names might not be instantly recognizable, and the identity of their murderer may have eluded detectives and historians throughout the years, but there is no mistaking the infamy of Jack the Ripper.For nine weeks during the autumn of 1888, the Whitechapel Murderer brought terror to London's East End, slashing women's throats and disemboweling them. London's most famous serial killer has been pored over time and again, yet his victims have been sorely neglected, reduced to the simple label: prostitute.The lives of these five women are rags-to-riches-to-rags stories of the most tragic kind. There was a time in each of their lives when these poor women had a job, money, a home and a family. Hardworking, determined and fiercely independent individuals, it was bad luck, or a wrong turn here or there, that left them wretched and destitute. Ignored by the press and overlooked by historians, it is time their stories were told.

Appetites & Vices


Felicia Grossman - 2019
    Her Jewish heritage means she’s never quite been welcomed by society’s elite…and her quick temper has never helped, either. A faux engagement to the scion of the mid-Atlantic’s most storied family might work to repair her rumpled reputation and gain her entrée to the life she thinks she wants…if she can ignore the way her “betrothed” makes her feel warm all over and stay focused on her goal. She’s his ticket out… Former libertine John Thaddeus “Jay” Truitt is hardly the man to teach innocent women about propriety. Luckily, high society has little to do with being proper and everything to do with identifying your foe’s temptation—an art form Jay mastered long ago. A broken engagement will give him the perfect excuse to run off to Europe and a life of indulgence. But when the game turns too personal, all bets are off…

An Inconvenient Match


Susanna Malcolm - 2019
    Difficult. Rich. …Is the discourteous manner in which the Earl of Ashland would describe his new wife. In dire financial straits, Ash has sacrificed himself at the altar in order to salvage his lofty family name, grudgingly uniting himself to the wealthy tradeswoman with steel in her spine and ice in her veins. He can’t imagine he’ll ever find anything to admire about her, until a glimpse of the simmering heat beneath her cool façade arouses an undeniable attraction. Indolent. Irresponsible. Drunk. …Is precisely how Honora Botham would label her new husband. Marrying the handsome earl elevated her to a long-coveted status, allowing her to achieve her beloved grandmother’s dreams for the family’s ascent into the nobility. Eager to finally experience the sensual pleasures of marriage, Honora enters into matrimony willingly. But while she’s always admired Ashland’s looks, she can find little to approve of in his indulgent avoidance of responsibility. His indolence and her ambition make for a volatile union, and yet… Mutual desire grows stronger, but is it enough to overcome the discord between them?

Behind a Moonlit Veil


Tabetha Waite - 2019
    As the daughter of a prominent doctor, it never occurred to her to question his abilities, nor his associate’s rather unorthodox treatments. But the life of a sheltered woman has its disadvantages. She yearns to be free, to live an existence outside the same four walls. It isn’t until fate thrusts her into the path of Mr. Jackson Moreland that she begins to question everything she’s ever known. As a mysterious killer begins to terrorize the streets of London, Amaris realizes that things are not always how they may appear… But how close is the true villain? Jackson Moreland has lived the last two years of his life in a personal hell after the brutal murder of his wife. Released from an asylum, he struggles to come to terms with his reality. When he is engaged by Scotland Yard to assist in learning the identity of the murderer of Whitechapel, everything changes the moment he meets Amaris. He knows something isn’t right and he’s determined to find out what it is.As things progress between them and secrets are revealed amid their growing attraction, they begin to fear that the true threat may not be the Ripper after all.

Little Bird Flies


Karen McCombie - 2019
    Although she loves her island, with its wild seas and big skies, she guiltily nurses a secret dream of flight – to America and the freedom of the New World.But her family are struggling under the spiteful oppression of the new Laird, and it seems that even some of the Laird’s own household are desperate to leave. When the Laird’s full cruelty becomes apparent, there’s no more time for daydreams as Bridie needs to help the people she loves escape to safety.The first in a gripping, dramatic new series from much-loved author, Karen McCombie.

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?


Catherine Stein - 2019
    He only wants one. Too bad he doesn’t know her name.Eschewing his privileged life as heir to an automaton empire, William Ashton, Jr. spends his days diving into research and pining for the young woman who frequents his branch of the NYPL. Until one careless word from his mother leaves him with every Knickerbocker princess and penniless chambermaid eager to become his date for the biggest New Year’s Gala in Manhattan.Maddie Peters has long admired sweet and shy librarian Will Ashton, but his family’s position in high society means anything more than friendship is a fantasy. When a letter arrives to say that Will has invited her to his mother’s exclusive party, Maddie is flabbergasted. She’s sure it’s a mistake, but she’s not one to waste the opportunity to woo him.Angry neighbors, meddling guardians, and rampaging mechanical dragons all threaten Will and Maddie’s chance at holiday romance. But when the clock strikes midnight, these two lovers might find they have what it takes to wind up in each other’s arms.

Lieutenant Mayhew's Catastrophes


Emily Larkin - 2019
    True, he’s carrying kittens, but it’s only eighty miles. What could possibly go wrong?He’s not expecting to meet the enchanting Miss Willemina Culpepper. Nor is he expecting the kittens to be quite so good at vanishing.Mayhew has faced many challenges in his career as a soldier. Traveling from London to Southampton should not be a challenge. Except that it is.Lieutenant Mayhew’s Catastrophes was previously published in the duet Love and Other Perils.

To See Clearly: Why Ruskin Matters


Suzanne Fagence Cooper - 2019
    But his writings - on beauty and truth, on work and leisure, on commerce and capitalism, on life and how to live it - can teach us more than ever about how to see the world around us clearly and how to live it.Dr Suzanne Fagence Cooper delves into Ruskin's writings and uncovers the dizzying beauty and clarity of his vision. Whether he was examining the exquisite carvings of a medieval cathedral or the mass-produced wares of Victorian industry, chronicling the beauties of Venice and Florence or his own descent into old age and infirmity, Ruskin saw vividly the glories and the contradictions of life, and taught us how to see them as well.

Anyone But the Earl


Irene Davis - 2019
    Octavia Sewell has everything she could want: beautiful dresses, a place in Society, and an English earl on the verge of a marriage proposal. Correction: Octavia has everything her mother could want for her and no idea what she wants for herself. There's one thing she's certain about, though: she'd rather compromise herself with just about anyone than be forced into a marriage she dreads.W. Clifton is always prepared to assist a lady, especially when it's the sister of a friend he's known since his college days who turns up at his office. But while Octavia Sewell is obviously mixed up in something, she seems unable to say exactly what her troubles are. With each subsequent meeting, though, Clif finds himself more interested in helping her for reasons that are increasingly personal and far less chivalrous.When Octavia flees from a disastrous evening with the earl, she runs straight to Clif. In seeking to protect herself from a man she hates, though, she may have hurt the man she loves. Has she lost her chance for future happiness, just when she's finally figured out what it looks like?Set in the Gilded Age of 1896 New York, Anyone But the Earl includes…- a scandalous text describing the reproductive process,- a best friend to help a girl out of the trouble she’s gotten herself into,- midnight escapades,- meetings under assumed names,- Victorian flower language, and- insurance fraud

The Daemon Device


Jeri Westerson - 2019
    Prince Albert has survived his brush with death. Dirigibles, like dark leviathans, surge through the sooty air of London. Steam powers the engines that supply electricity to the new electric lights along the Thames. And Jack the Ripper appears to be on the loose again on the seamy streets.Someone is killing women and gutting them for their body parts. Is it Jack, or a far more sinister plot afoot than murder?Leopold Kazsmer is a magician, the Great Enchanter. Ashamed of his Jewish-Gypsy heritage, he has fashioned himself into a proper English gentleman, though he harbors a carefully guarded secret; He has learned the dangerous art of summoning daemons. When he was a child, a tattoo was bestowed upon his wrist by the denizens of the Otherworld…the same night his father was killed. Though it gives him true magical powers once he’s made a sacrifice of blood, it is also his curse, for through it the creatures of nightmares have become aware of him.With the help of Raj, a tarot-reading automated man, and Eurynomos, a shrewd Jewish daemon who helped Leopold through his tragic childhood, Leopold must discover what is behind the revolting murders that suddenly seem to involve tight-lipped German scientists, guarded Romani, ghosts, and the beautiful Special Inspector, Mingli Zhao. Is she truly from the secret depths of Scotland Yard or is she instead a heartless spy and murderess?In a breakneck chase through London’s streets and fighting hand-to-wand high in the skies inside a lethal airship, Leopold must destroy a secret society to defeat their plan for world domination, unmask the girl, and rescue his daemon friend from the deadly Daemon Device before all is lost.

Mating Habits


Catherine Stein - 2019
    Nor is she what he expected. Nonetheless, science does not wait, and the intrepid pair press on.As Mia and Evi work together to observe and record the mating habits of the Nightwing Dragon moth, these two scientists just might find themselves learning a little something about the mating habits of humans as well.This volume contains the full Mating Habits serial, collected and edited for your reading pleasure.

Pre-Raphaelite Sisters


Jan Marsh - 2019
    Styling themselves the ‘Young Painters of England’, this group of young men aimed to overturn stale Victorian artistic conventions and challenge the previous generation with their startling colours and compositions.Think of the images created by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and others in their circle, however, and it is not men but pale-faced young women with lustrous, tumbling locks that spring to mind, gazing soulfully from the picture frame or in dramatic scenes painted in glowing colours. Who were these women? What is known of their lives and their roles in a movement that, in successive phases, spanned over half a century?Some were models, plucked from obscurity to pose for figures in Pre-Raphaelite paintings, whileothers were sisters, wives, daughters and friends of the artists. Several were artists themselves, with aspirations to match those of the men, sharing the same artistic and social networks yet condemned by their gender to occupy a separate sphere. Others inhabited and sustained a male-dominated art world as partners in production, maintaining households and studios and socialising with patrons. Some were skilled in the arts of interior decoration, dressmaking, embroidery, jewellery-making –the fine crafts that formed a supportive tier for the ‘higher’ arts of painting and sculpture. And although their backgrounds and life-experiences certainly varied widely, all were engaged in creating Pre-Raphaelite art.

Too Clever by Half


Nancy Yeager - 2019
    James Alcott has carved out his place in the world with an esteemed position at Harrow School. But when the school changes direction, he’s set adrift. He can redeem himself by founding a scholarship program if he wins the annual Duke’s Trust competition for seed money. A seemingly simple task. Until a mysterious competitor enters the race. Lady Tessa Harmsworth has fabricated the reclusive Mr. Pettibone as the champion of her women’s education fund. It’s the only way a woman can enter the Duke’s Trust competition, let alone win it. And Tessa intends to win. Until her annoyingly clever opponent sets out to uncover her ruse. As Tessa and James match wits, their spirited rivalry turns into a passionate affair. With the coveted prize hanging in the balance, they must choose between their lifelong dreams and their reckless hearts. Too Clever by Half is the kickoff novella of the Harrow's Finest Five series, Victorian Romances about smart women, sexy, men, steamy passions, and the occasional scandal.

Charles Booth's London Poverty Maps


London School of Economics - 2019
    Booth’s team of social investigators interviewed Londoners from all walks of life, recording their comments, together with their own unrestrained remarks and statistical information, in 450 notebooks. Their findings formed the basis of Booth’s color-coded social mapping (from vicious and semi-criminal to wealthy) and his seventeen-volume survey Inquiry into the Life and Labour of the People of London, 1886–1903.Organized into six geographical sections, Charles Booth’s London Poverty Maps presents the hand-colored preparatory and printed social mapping of London. Accompanying the maps are reproductions of pages from the original notebooks, containing anecdotes and observations too judgmental for Booth to include in his final published survey. An introduction by professor Mary S. Morgan clarifies the aims and methodology of Booth’s survey and six themed essays contextualize the the survey’s findings, accompanied by evocative period photographs.Providing insights into the minutia of everyday life viewed through the lens of inhabitants of every trade, class, creed, and nationality, Charles Booth’s London Poverty Maps brings to life the diversity and dynamism of late nineteenth-century London.

The Angel of Bishopsgate: Book One in the Darker Cities Trilogy


Eloise Reuben - 2019
     Struggling each day in the Old Nichol slums, Tessie and Finn dream of life in the New World. When Tessie is attacked by an underworld figure known only as the Angel of Bishopsgate, that dream all but disappears along with her beloved Finn. Desperate to find him, and oblivious to why the Angel wants her dead, Tessie's only clue points home to Dublin and a past long left behind. As the layers of Victorian London unfold around her, how far will Tessie go to challenge the city's most powerful villain and be reunited with Finn? The Angel of Bishopsgate is the first instalment in this exhilarating historical series, drawing you across the world in a fight for survival, love and freedom. Content Advisory: Adult concepts, some violence, some course language.

The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall


Sebastian Nothwell - 2019
    At her lowest moment, she is rescued from her agonies by the mysterious and alluring Alexandra Cranbrook, sister of a visiting English baronet. Alexandra is beautiful, charming, and effortlessly beguiling. Kit cannot help but fall in love with her.When Sir Vivian Cranbrook proposes marriage, it seems natural for Kit to accept—if only to live with the woman she desperately loves.But the Cranbrook’s ancestral home of Heatherhurst Hall is not all it seems. The attic is forbidden. Strange scratching noises echo from within the walls. Wraiths stalk the corridors by night. And worst of all, Alexandra’s love has turned to scorn.Still, Kit is determined to earn her happily-ever-after and save the Cranbrooks from the horrors of Heatherhurst Hall.If only she could know Alexandra loved her in return.~ The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.

Invitation to a Cornish Christmas


Marguerite Kaye - 2019
    But could his meeting with Emily Faulkner on the wild beaches be even more life changing? Find out in Marguerite Kaye’s The Captain’s Christmas Proposal. Then, discover what happens when Treeve invites composer Cador Kitto to complete the celebrations, and Cade clashes with local girl Rosenwyn Treleven in Unwrapping His Festive Temptation by Bronwyn Scott…

A Lady Never Tells


Lynn Winchester - 2019
    So when he stumbles upon a house maid with defiance in her striking blue eyes and a dagger hidden in her skirts...well, color him intrigued.Raised with a rather...peculiar upbringing, Lady Victoria Daring is full of secrets and surprises. As part of His Majesty’s personal homeland spy network and as a master of disguises, Vic is charged with infiltrating high society to uncover the enemies hiding in plain sight.But Robert is the first man to see through her disguises—and infiltrate deep into her heart. Too bad his family is at the top of her list of suspects...

A Christmas Carol


Karen Kovacs - 2019
    He is angry about all the goodwill, and he wants to spend Christmas alone. Then he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, who has a warning for him. Can Scrooge learn the true meaning of Christmas before it is too late?Penguin Readers is a series of the best new fiction, essential non-fiction and popular classics written for learners of English as a foreign language. Beautifully illustrated and carefully adapted, the series introduces language learners around the world to the bestselling authors and most compelling content from Penguin Random House. The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework nd include language activities that help readers to develop key skills.A Christmas Carol, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels.

The Interview (Humiliation at Berridge’s Department Store Book 1)


Sadie Red - 2019
    Eve finds herself more and more exposed, humiliated and alarmed as the tests proceed, but to her dismay, she's aroused by the process, too, a fact that's not lost on the management team. Will she suffer the ultimate humiliation, or enjoy it, before the job is hers? Note: Intended for mature readers. Please do not buy this book if scenes with female humiliation offend you. "The Interview" can be read as a standalone story, but it is also the first part of a series about Eve at Berridge's. Enjoy one or read them all!

Gearheart


Maia Strong - 2019
    That hope is dashed by the arrival of Philip Heatherton-Ames. Has Philip come to expand the airway to the west, or is his purpose more insidious and personal? Caleb must weigh the threat of discovery against his attraction to the newcomer, knowing that either road will lead to its own kind of danger. One way or another, the past is about to catch up with Caleb. Will Philip be its agent or an ally against it?

The Secret of the Spellbook (The Iron Girls Academy #1)


Isabel Riley - 2019
    And that’s exactly what I am.The Iron Academy for Girls is the only place that can offer me sanctuary, but when I arrive, I find out that sanctuary comes at a hefty price.In order to stay at the Academy, I have to decipher the spells of a mystical book I’ve had for longer than I can remember. But the spells have never made sense, and the only way I can decipher them is with the help of a handsome tinkerer who I’m forbidden from interacting with.He has an idea that could set us both free forever. The perfect alchemy of mechanics and magic.If we’re caught, he’ll lose his inheritance and be banished from London, and I’ll be turned out from the Academy and locked up in the asylum forever.We have to do this in perfect secrecy.But with gossip and magic running amok in the Academy, it seems we’re doomed before we even begin.

The Warm South


Paul Kerschen - 2019
    The daringly imagined, masterfully realized story of poet John Keats's second life abroad. What if Keats had not died in Rome at only twenty-five, just as he was coming to realize his poetic gifts? In this audacious alternate telling, the young poet is pulled back from the brink of death only to find his troubles far from over. He is short on money, far from home, his literary reputation anything but assured--but his life and imagination have been spared, and a new country awaits. In an Italy at uneasy peace, full of foreign armies and spies, Keats is drawn into Percy and Mary Shelley's expatriate circle, resumes his old profession of surgery and falls in with student revolutionaries who are plotting a more radical cure for their nation. His fiancée in London expects his return, and everyone is expecting his next poem, but he has not returned from his deathbed quite the same person--or poet--that he was. Written with deep knowledge, compassion and brio, Paul Kerschen's debut novel is a spellbinding historical yarn and a heady engagement with the literature of the past, a thing of beauty in itself and a meditation on the writer's duty in troubled times.

Shadow of Justice


Jess Faraday - 2019
    It's a dangerous proposition for many people in 19th century London, but for an ambitious copper climbing Scotland Yard's greasy career ladder, it's out of the question. He doesn't believe in monsters, either, though there seem to be a lot of them about. Whether it's a ghost haunting a London churchyard where men seek men's companionship, a phantom hound in Edinburgh that's hell-bent on revenge, or a murdered businessman on a cross-country train who just won't stay dead -- the mysterious has a way of finding Pearce, whether he wants it to or not. But are these happenings truly supernatural? Or is something worse -- something thoroughly human -- to blame? Pearce has his theories -- about crime, about monsters, and about love. But life has a way of testing even the most carefully considered ideas. And as he chases mysteries from one end of Britain to the other, he may just have to reconsider his ideas about all three.

THE DEMETER DIARIES


Marge Simon - 2019
    The dialogue, written in both poetry and prose, imagines a psychic connection that develops between the two even before Dracula arrives in England. As Dracula makes his way from Transylvania to Whitby on the doomed ship Demeter, the two would-be lovers transmit their thoughts across the waves and lands that separate them, alternately wooing and terrifying one another with the idea of love eternal and all the dark delicacies necessary to ensure it. Front cover art by Wendy Saber Core, interior illustrations by Luke Spooner

The Summer Queen


Margaret Pemberton - 2019
    Queen Victoria has occupied the British throne for over forty years. Bringing together her extended family from across Europe offers a chance for old alliances to be strengthened and new unions to be forged.May Teck, daughter of a Duke and Princess, is constantly reminded that she lacks the pedigree to be a true royal. Considering herself an outsider, she finds comfort in meeting two kindred spirits at Osborne; creating a bond with them that she thinks will last forever. Alicky lives in the shadow of her older siblings and has never recovered from the death of her mother. Until she meets Nicky, heir to the Russian throne, who sweeps her off to his homeland where life will never be the same again.And then there is Willy, destined to be the future Kaiser of Germany. Suffering from a birth defect, he’s always kept his true feelings locked away and all the world sees is the bombastic persona he projects. As shifting forces of power send warning ripples across Europe, an unavoidable war looms on the horizon . . .

The Asylum Oracle


Emilie Autumn - 2019
    This deck has 51 oracle cards and a guidebook.

The Wimbourne Book of Victorian Ghost Stories, Volume 14


Alastair GunnMary Ann Bird - 2019
    With an introduction by author Alastair Gunn, Volume 14 contains stories published in the first half of the Victorian age (1837 to 1869). Readers new to this genre will discover its pleasures; the Victorian quaintness, the sometimes shocking difference in social norms, the almost comical politeness and structured etiquette, the archaic and precise language, but mostly the Victorians’ skill at stoking our fears and trepidations, our insecurities and doubts. Even if you are already an aficionado of the ghostly tale there is much within these pages to interest you. Wait until the dark of the snowy night, lock the doors, shutter the windows, light the fire, sit with your back to the wall and bury yourself in the Victorian macabre. Try not to let the creaking floorboards, the distant howl of a dog, the chill breeze that caresses the candle, the shadows in the far recesses of your room, disturb your concentration. Includes the stories; The Blind Ghost-Seer (1839) – Abraham Elder; The Souls of the Drowned (1841) – William Henry Farn; The Haunted House in Yorkshire (1845) – Dudley Costello; The Watcher (1847) – Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu; Le Femme Noir (1848) – Anna Maria Hall; The Ghost of the Late Mr. James Barber (1850) – William Henry Wills; The Punishment of Gina Montani (1851) – Ellen Wood; The Lumber-Room (1851) – Mary Ann Bird; M. Anastasius (1855) – Dinah Maria Mulock; A Night in a Cathedral (1856) – William Fulford; The Haunted Ship (1857) – Anne Sarah Bushby; A Ghost Story (1858) – Ada Trevanion; The Lady in the Mirror (1858) – George MacDonald; The Girl with the Golden Hair (1860) – Eliza Craven Green; The Ghost of Gashleigh Court (1863) – George Augustus Sala; The Story of the House in Garden Reach (1864) – Frances Browne; The Underground Ghost (1864) – John Berwick Harwood; The Spectral Rout (1865) – Frances Power Cobbe; No. 1 Branch Line: The Signalman (1866) – Charles Dickens; The Scene-Painter’s Wife (1869) – Mary Elizabeth Braddon.

Lay Down Your Hand (The Cinder Chronicles #1)


Cherie Mitchell - 2019
    A chimney sweep who has dealt with more than his share of grief. And a spin through time that will provide a chance to right heinous wrongs.When Victorian chimney sweep Elliot Cinder's fiancee is horribly murdered by Jack the Ripper, Elliot thinks he'll never recover from his despair. However, a chance meeting with an inventor in a tavern by the docks soon has Elliot spinning through time in an adventure he hasn't had time to consider.As a time traveler propelled unwittingly into the present day, Elliot finds himself in the unexpected role of a protector of women who are seeking to meet strange men through dating apps. He thrives in the role, happy for the chance to prevent the past from repeating itself and to honor his beloved Annie.However, Elliot was fooling himself when he thought he'd left his heart back in Victorian London...

Гарбузова відпустка / Pumpkin Holiday


Oleksandra Orlova - 2019
    Запрошуємо вас у гарбузову відпустку незвичайної мишки Кукурбіти, яка вміє створити затишок і маленьке свято на щодень.Autumn is a time of magical colors and delicious stories. Enjoy your pumpkin holiday with a wonderful Cucubrita Mouse, who knows how to create coziness and make every day a little celebration.

Some Strange Disturbances


Craig Hurd-McKenney - 2019
    A choral performer who can't fit in. A Comtesse trapped against her will and in her own body.Victorian London & the evils within will bring these three together to fight against the darkness, both personal and phantasmagorical, that threatens to consume them all.

The Rogue's Offer


Monica Burns - 2019
    A Counter Offer. The stakes are higher than either imagined. Her Reckless Proposal — Ophelia Templeton’s dead husband, Viscount Havenstock, convinced her she was a cold, unfeeling woman incapable of passion. When her drunkard of a father loses her home to the Earl of Thornbury in a wager, Ophelia presents the man with a rash proposal. The return of her home in exchange for the challenge of teaching her to feel passion. Unfortunately, she’s propositioned the wrong man. His Counter Offer — Mathias Gilchrist has always protected the interests of his brother, the Earl of Thornbury. When Ophelia mistakes him for his brother, he thinks she’s one more in a long line of women eager to be a countess. Despite his initial impression, Mathias is intrigued by Ophelia, and he makes her a counter offer in the game of seduction and passion. Now the stakes are higher than either imagined. — When pleasure becomes a dangerous game of hearts, it will take meddling by the Reckless Rockwoods to ensure their friends have their HEA.The Reluctant Rogues series is a spin-off from the popular Reckless Rockwoods series. If the Rockwood family has anything to do with it, these reluctant rogues are going to have a lot of help finding their HEA. CONNECTED SERIES — The Reckless Rockwoods Obsession Dangerous The Highlander's Woman Redemption The Beastly Earl (coming 2019)

A Lyons in Winter: A Box Set


Pamela Sherwood - 2019
     The Advent of Lady Madeline: Responsible, level-headed, and invariably good-humored, Hugo Lowell, Viscount Saxby, has his plans for Christmas—and his future—all mapped out. Until a surprise invitation lands him at the country estate of Harold Lyons, the rich and powerful Duke of Whitborough. Drawn into his host’s charming, often contentious family circle, Hugo finds himself matching wits and words with the Duke’s eldest daughter, Lady Madeline. Striking, clever, and as sharp-tongued as she is sharp-witted, Madeline is the polar opposite of the placid, proper beauty Hugo intends to marry. So why can’t he get her out of his mind? And how is it that she can persuade him to attempt things he’s never tried before? As Advent yields to Christmas, Hugo’s future becomes far less predictable…and infinitely more exciting. Devices and Desires: From childhood, Lady Margaret Carlisle’s life has been entwined with the rich, powerful, and contentious Lyons family, until her intended’s untimely death five years ago. Now a widow, she finds herself drawn into their intrigues once more… and unexpectedly tempted by a brilliant, lonely man, whose friendship she has long taken for granted. They call him the Clockwork Solicitor, the perfect lawyerly device. But the icy demeanor of Lord Gervase Lyons conceals a vulnerable heart–and an undying passion for the one woman he can never have: his dead brother’s fiancée. Summoned to his family’s Christmas gathering, where old wounds will be reopened, old quarrels revisited, and old secrets revealed, Gervase receives the chance to win her love at last. Twelfth Night: After the life-changing events of Christmastide, the Lyons Pride is attempting to move forward. Romance, however, is on Lord Gervase’s mind as he plans a special celebration for his beloved Margaret on Twelfth Night. Meanwhile, the annual Servants’ Ball promises surprise and intrigue for those both upstairs and downstairs… Epiphany: Tilda James is an impeccable lady’s maid. Simon Farnsworth is an ideal gentleman’s gentleman. Both agree that their employers are perfect for each other and decide to encourage their budding romance. But will an upstairs match lead to a downstairs love affair, especially when old secrets come to light?

A Marriage of Many Interests


Dina Thala - 2019
    However, she does not yet know that General Xander Valentine is a ruthless warrior, famous for having destroyed entire planets. Reluctantly, she puts her own dreams to the side to take her place in society. But Mara's marriage does not turn out to be anything like what she had been led to believe. Valentine is cold, distant, and with time she realizes that he is hiding a secret large enough to rip their lives apart, a secret even more dangerous than the countless war crimes he perpetrated during his career. And it has something to do with the presence of Sir Edan Brenlin, which she is expected to accept without question. Who is that mysterious brooding knight, really? This complicated love story between a closeted man and his young wife, set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, is followed by a free ‘what if’ short story. **Dark Erotic Romance, bittersweet HEA.

The Pendywick Pair: A Collection of Vignettes About the Denizens of No. 26 Pendy Corner and 221B Baker Street (The Mute of Pendywick Place Book 9)


Alydia Rackham - 2019
    Their adventures take them to the depths of an Oxford laboratory on a Halloween night, to an illegal Shoreditch boxing match, across the ice of the Serpentine River, and trailing after the mysterious Keeper of Her Majesty's Broom Cupboard. Here are a few glimpses into these, and even more, of our heroes' thrilling daily escapades.

The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits


Alys Clare - 2019
    How are the two private enquiry agents supposed to investigate threats from beyond the grave? But after she attends a seance at the Stibbins family home, Lily comes to realize that Albertina is in terrible danger. And very soon so too is Lily herself...The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits introduces a thoroughly likeable pair of sleuths in the first of this engaging and entertaining Victorian mystery series.

Women, Periodicals and Print Culture in Britain, 1830s-1900s: The Victorian Period


Alexis Easley - 2019
    This was also a significant period in women's history, in which the 'Woman Question' dominated public debate, and writers and commentators from a range of perspectives engaged with ideas and ideals about womanhood ranging from the 'Angel in the House' to the New Woman.Essays in this collection gather together expertise from leading scholars as well as emerging new voices in order to produce sustained analysis of underexplored periodicals and authors and to reveal in new ways the dynamic and integral relationship between women's history and print culture in Victorian society.

The Pre-Raphaelites


Aurelie Petiot - 2019
    These were among the young British artists who, in the revolutionary year of 1848, set out to return a lost vibrancy to European art. Calling themselves the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, they and their later followers—including Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris—mounted an artistic front against what they saw as the confining standards of the Victorian art world, and the dehumanizing aspects of the industrial age. Their works drew on Shakespeare, Keats, Tennyson, and medieval lore. They also treated religious and contemporary themes with striking realism, bringing viewers into intimate contact with the subject and causing scandal in their time. In this authoritative yet highly readable volume, art historian Aurélie Petiot traces Pre-Raphaelitism from its beginnings as a secret brotherhood to its dissemination in multiple strands of British art and beyond. Petiot offers keen analyses of Pre-Raphaelite painting, drawing, and decorative art alike. She gives particular attention to the role of women in the movement, not only as models and muses, but as pioneering artists in their own right, whose work has only begun to receive its proper recognition. Uniquely, the last chapters of the book are devoted to the enduring (yet often underestimated) Pre-Raphaelite influence on the later course of modern art and on our contemporary culture. More than 300 full-color illustrations reproduce all the great Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, as well as many fascinating lesser-known works, with all the luminous brilliance and detail for which the Pre-Raphaelites are renowned. This splendid volume is a must-have for any art history lover.

Blythe Court: Romance With a Kiss of Suspense


Vicki Hopkins - 2019
    Nuptials of convenience blended family fortunes and kept bloodlines pure. When her parents suggest John Broadhurst, the Marquess of Dorchester, as a potential mate, Ann dislikes their choice. Even though he appears dashingly handsome, she finds him to be a boorish and aloof man. Ann harbors a dark premonition that one day the marquess will break her heart. After beginning their married life together, her fears are realized as she is engulfed by a world of secrets, betrayal, and danger at Blythe Court.

Kilvert's Diary


Francis Kilvert - 2019
    A country clergyman born in 1840, Kilvert spent much of his time visiting parishioners, walking the lanes and fields of Herefordshire and writing in his diary. Full of passionate delight in the natural world and the glory of the changing seasons, his diaries are as generous, spontaneous and vivacious as Kilvert himself. He is an irresistible companion.This new edition of William Plomer’s original selection contains new archival material as well as a fascinating introduction illuminating Kilvert’s world and the history of the diaries.‘One of the best books in English’ Sunday Times'Kilvert has touched and delighted (and mildly shocked) readers of his diaries ever since they were first published. New readers are in for a treat' Alan Bennett

Waltzed


Anthea Lawson - 2019
    Eleanor Tremont never expected her father to pass away so unexpectedly - leaving her with a horrible stepmother, two grasping step-sisters, and no dowry whatsoever. Relegated to the status of a servant in her own home, she struggles to come to terms with her bleak new life. When she is summoned to Queen Victoria's Stuart Ball, can Ellie find her happily-ever-after despite impossible odds?Add an absent-minded Godmother, an orange carriage, and a slipper mishap, and prepare to be swept away into this fairytale romance...Heat level - SWEETWaltzed is a novella of approximately 75 pages, and first appeared in the Timeless Victorian Collection anthology The Queen's Ball.

In Her Dreams Boxset


Joanna Reeder - 2019
    Sure, I get to re-live the good memories. But I also get to experience pain, heartbreaks, and sometimes even death.For a long time, I had zero friends so when I dreamed of Victorian-era Lucy (who just got engaged… eek!) I had an escape. And then Lucy met her future cousin-in-law, Andrew. **swoon**My life felt less… tragic when the Lucy dreams started. Oh! And I met this new boy, Duncan and finally had a friend. (He’s easy on the eyes too…**sigh**)But one night I changed the outcome of one of my dreams by accident and shifted my reality in a major way, so now I have to make some important decisions about choices and control. And what I believe is right.**Buy today to read the entire series, plus a bonus story, First Dreams, previously only available to email subscribers.***EXERPT FROM IN HER DREAMS:Everything flashes purple. Then blinding white. And I know myself. It’s rare. I’m usually so immersed in the experience that I can’t really see myself or my surroundings. I start cataloging the facts. Through Nora’s eyes I see the limb, at least two feet in diameter. The far end of it has punctured the edge of the ice, sending spider-web cracks everywhere. The snow-saturated appendage still hangs sickly from the tree, attached by less than a sliver of wood. The branch will fall.I gasp, and the minuscule movement causes more pain. Twitching my fingers locked in my hair, I feel the devastating injury. My heart lurches with panic. How is she still conscious? A steady flow of blood silently pools past my fingers, creating steam on the ice.Nora is dying. I’ve died fifty-seven times, and it sucks. Every. Single. Time. I brace myself for number fifty-eight.

Whitefield Hall: Romance With a Kiss of Suspense


Vicki Hopkins - 2019
    She accepts a new position to keep company with the mother of the 4th Baron of Warrington, who is not interested in having a companion. As the weeks pass in a strife-filled home occupied by bickering adults, Elizabeth wonders if she will be the next companion to mysteriously disappear from Whitefield Hall.

Of Night and Dark Obscurity


Nicola Italia - 2019
    He is respected and well regarded until a series of murders thrusts him into the spotlight. Nicknamed the Primrose Strangler, a killer is running loose on the streets of London, strangling women and leaving behind his signature--a white primrose with each victim. When Val’s own fiancee is killed, the case becomes personal. When a fourth woman is murdered, Val comes face to face with her sister, Caroline Derry. Caroline is an unusual woman for her time. Not content to sit at home and embroider, she is seeking help from her father to purchase buildings and renovate them to help give people in the Victorian slums a chance at a better life. When her sister is killed, Caroline looks to the Inspector for justice. But as the clues become red herrings and the list of suspects grows, Val becomes convinced that the woman he is falling in love with may also be next on the killer’s list. He must solve the case and bring the killer in before another woman is found dead with a white primrose in her hands.

Before Queer Theory: Victorian Aestheticism and the Self


Dustin Friedman - 2019
    Works by these queer artists have rarely been taken seriously as contributions to the theories of sexuality or aesthetics. But in Before Queer Theory, Dustin Friedman argues that aestheticism deploys its "art for art's sake" rhetoric to establish a nascent sense of sexual identity and community.Friedman makes the case for a claim rarely articulated in either Victorian or modern culture: that intellectually, creatively, and ethically, being queer can be an advantage not in spite but because of social hostility toward nonnormative desires. Showing how aesthetes--among them Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde, Vernon Lee, and Michael Field--harnessed the force that Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel called "the negative," Friedman reveals how becoming self-aware of one's sexuality through art can be both liberating and affirming of humanity's capacity for subjective autonomy.Challenging one of the central precepts of modern queer theory--the notion that the heroic subject of Enlightenment thought is merely an effect of discourse and power--Friedman develops a new framework for understanding the relationship between desire and self-determination. He also articulates an innovative, queer notion of subjective autonomy that encourages reflecting critically on one's historical moment and envisioning new modes of seeing, thinking, and living that expand the boundaries of social and intellectual structures. Before Queer Theory is an audacious reimagining that will appeal to scholars with interests in Victorian studies, queer theory, gender and sexuality studies, and art history.