Best of
Victorian-Romance

2019

Seductive Danger


Wendy Vella - 2019
    Kate Sinclair leads him back to his estranged brother and a family he wants nothing to do with. He's drawn into the yuletide festivities against his will and soon captivated by everything about her. Rory desires Kate more than any woman he's ever met, yet he cannot pay the price she asks, forgiveness of the past and reuniting with his family.Join the Sinclair and Raven families as they celebrate the wedding and festivities of Christmas at Raven Castle.BOOKS IN THE SINCLAIR & RAVEN SERIESSensing DangerSeeing DangerTouched By DangerScent of DangerVision Of DangerTempting DangerSeductive DangerGuarding Danger

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?

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.

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?

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.

Imogen or Love and Money


G.L. Robinson - 2019
    Some months later, they meet in London, where Imogen has taken over her late husband’s affairs, reads the financial newspapers and is making money on the Stock Exchange. She tries to avoid him, but there’s just something about him… Told against the background of early nineteenth century England and the development of the railways, this is the story of a woman who is independent, financially acute and perfectly happy on her own. Or so she thinks. But Ivo has other ideas and the outcome is a surprise, especially to Imogen. This witty 1830's historical Romance sizzles with the undeniable attraction between two very different people.

Rebecca's Choice


Heidi Gallacher - 2019
    Businessman and meteorologist Geoffrey de Roussier is passionate about his weather station and railways, yet little of his passion seems to filter through to his shy, naïve young wife, Rebecca. Following his tragic demise, Rebecca discovers that Geoffrey’s railroad investments have failed, leaving her penniless. As the past threatens to engulf her, Rebecca realises she has to make a choice. Gwilym Llewellyn, Geoffrey’s trusted friend and advisor, has an emotional debt to repay to Geoffrey and meets Rebecca to offer her a solution. Meanwhile Rebecca has found passion in another direction … One man will save her from destitution, the other will offer her the love and excitement that she aches for. Whom will she choose? The book has a wonderful setting in Cardiff, South Wales. If you like a good mix of a charming, evocative depiction of the Victorian era and a modern-thinking heroine then Rebecca’s Choice is the novel for you. This is Heidi Gallacher’s debut novel, a historical Victorian romance of 62,000 words. Pick up ‘Rebecca’s Choice’ today to lose yourself in this wonderful story!

Falling for Mr. Thornton: Tales of North and South


Trudy BrasureM. Liza Marte - 2019
    Thornton and Margaret Hale. A mixing of contemporary and Victorian, this short story anthology by twelve beloved authors considers familiar scenes from new points of view or re-imagined entirely. Capturing all the poignancy, heartbreak, and romance of the original tale, Falling for Mr. Thornton is a collection you will treasure again and again.Stories by: Trudy Brasure * Nicole Clarkston * Julia Daniels * Rose Fairbanks * Don Jacobson * Evy Journey * Nancy Klein * M. Liza Marte * Elaine Owen * Damaris Osborne * Melanie Stanford ** Foreword by Mimi Matthews ** Modern On the IslandBy Melanie Stanford.Meg Hale doesn’t want to return to John Thornton’s resort. After all, another visit won’t change her bad review.But the resort has changed—and so has John. The more time Meg spends on the island, the more she realizes she may have made a mistake. A mistake that could cost John the resort, and Meg her heart. Time Slips Passages in TimeBy Kate Forrester Set just before Margaret arrives in Milton. Mr Thornton dies in a devastating fire at Marlborough Mill - or does he?The First Day of SpringBy M Liza Marte Spring this year will bring daffodils, singing birds, and the love of a lifetime. Humorous Loose Leaves from MiltonBy Damaris OsborneA spoof of North & South with a strong twist of tea, the British favoured beverage, and sprang from John Thornton being known as 'JT' in so many forum threads. J Tea was an obvious progression, and the story follows the television adaptation, loose-leafly, as his love for the haughty Miss Hale with the porcelain tea cup complexion, who looks down upon him upwards, brews until he has to pour out his love, unstrained. Continuation Reeducating Mr ThorntonBy Evy Journey When Mr. Thornton and Margaret arrived in Cadiz for a month’s visit with her brother and his new wife, he did not care much about the strange city. Nor did he have great expectations of what Cadiz could offer a visitor like him. But later, what he finds there and who he encounters change his outlook forever. Variations Mistakes and RemediesBy Julia DanielsWhen John Thornton’s sister goes missing, he seeks help from the one woman he can trust—the one who still holds his heart. Saving Fanny is all he hopes for, until a tender friendship begins to flourish between him and the love he had thought lost to him. Her Father's Last WishBy Rose Fairbanks Two hearts desperately in love divided by her wretched secret, one father's wish to unite them.The Best MedicineBy Elaine Owen What if Thornton found a way to change Margaret's mind about him earlier in the story? Could helping Margaret's friend Bessy be the way to winning Margaret's heart? This is a short story with more than one happy ever after for more than one beloved character!Cinders and SmokeBy Don Jacobson That space between the end of the riot and the new dawn where Thornton faces his demons as Higgins confronts him with questions about his humanity and where Margaret uses her compassion to bring the two sides together.MischancesBy Nicole Clarkston When the wrong person discovers Margaret in a compromising position, she is forced to decide who she really wants and just how much she can trust the one man who can help her. Alternate Endings Looking to the FutureBy Nancy Klein Starting from Margaret's return to London from her trip with Mr. Bell to Helstone, this story contemplates events solely from Margaret's point of view. Margaret rues her treatment of Mr. Thornton, and wonders if she will ever have a chance to set things to right.Once AgainBy Trudy Brasure A deeper look at Thornton’s emotional journey from despair to bliss as he arrives in London to sign the papers to give up the mill.

Victoria: Finding Faith (Brides of Grace Hill Book 3)


Lisa M. Prysock - 2019
    Victoria has grown up on the Kentucky meadows and fields of Grace Hill and Sarah Rose Hall, surviving the Great War with her family, unscathed. She’s beautiful, vivacious, and swarmed by one beau after another. None of them have held her heart captive like Lieutenant Langford does for her sister, Rose. When Langford appears to be drawn to Victoria, there’s sure to be trouble. Ridge and Geneva, alarmed by the tension in the household amongst their daughters and hoping their youngest will find the strength of her faith, decide a Grand Tour is in store for Victoria. Will their idea happen in time to mend broken hearts? Reminiscent of the Old Testament Biblical story of Joseph, what lies ahead for the descendants of the Rosemonts, and particularly Victoria Morgan? A stand-alone novel, be sure to purchase and enjoy your copy today.

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?

The Vignettes


Nicole Clarkston - 2019
    There are a few shorts that never made it into a larger novel and even some essays describing the great works that inspired Nicole Clarkston. Most of the scenes are connected to one of her published works, but are not included in the book. At the beginning of each segment, she has included a short word to establish context.Book available for download when you subscribe to the author's newsletter. https://nicoleclarkston.com/free-gift/