Victorian Drama

She’s seventeen, spontaneous, and entirely too clever. He’s twenty-nine, serious, and completely off-limits. But the more they clash, the harder it is to stay apart. Octavia Shelford is doing her best to dazzle the beau monde—and more importantly, her mother—on their Grand Tour. But a year of elegant soirées and polite conversation has only left her exhausted and no closer to impressing the one man whose opinion truly matters. Guy Claybury, the Duke of Woodford, gave up on finding a love match years ago. He is far too old and far too occupied with preventing war between England and...

A Mystery Book set in New York City during the late 19th century. Sudden Poverty is a poignant and dramatic story set in late 19th-century New York City. Betty Farnham, once prosperous, faces severe hardships after her father's death and the resulting financial ruin. Struggling to support her ailing mother, Betty encounters further distress when a gold coin she receives for work is declared counterfeit, leading to her wrongful arrest. The narrative touches on themes of poverty, resilience, love, and societal norms. As Betty's situation unfolds, she meets Royal O'Neill, a young lawyer who ...

Why do the fallen women in The Magdalen House refuge continue to die mysteriously? A devastating fire at Danvers’s ancestral home induces Charles to accept his brother Frederick’s plea for help with his work among fallen women and impoverished orphans in York. Charles soon finds himself struggling to identify a ruthless murderer while Antonia helps feed the women and children living in the asylum Frederick runs. The trial of notorious poisoner William Dove leads to surprising discoveries and sets legal precedent still followed today.

The Governess by H. Wilhelm Starkweather is a captivating psychological fiction novel set in the eerie, atmospheric world of Victorian England. This chilling tale explores themes of isolation, supernatural encounters, and the unraveling of the human psyche, all within the confines of a mysterious country estate. Step into the shadowy corridors of Bly Manor, where secrets are whispered in the dark and every creak of the floorboards tells a story. Discover the unsettling experiences of a young governess as she navigates the eerie halls of Bly Manor, where not all is as it seems. Follow the ...

She’ll marry for duty and lie for honor—but her brother’s charming best friend might ruin everything. Eleanor Barrington hovers on the edges of London’s glittering society, clinging to propriety while her reckless father threatens to expose the scandals they’ve kept buried. Her only hope is a sensible marriage—one that promises safety, not affection. But Percy Hauxton has never followed the rules. As the younger son of an earl, he can't afford to marry for love—but that doesn’t stop him from charming Eleanor at every turn. And it certainly doesn’t stop her from noticing. ...

Her brother’s best friend is the only man who’s ever made her feel safe. Too bad he’s completely off-limits. Shy, rule-following Alice Loughton has adored Frederick Kempton for as long as she can remember. He’s the only man she can talk to without trembling, the only one who doesn’t frighten her—and the only one she wants to marry. There’s just one problem: her brother. No one will ever be good enough for his baby sister, least of all his irresponsible best friend. With more suitable suitors ready to line up, there’s no way he’d ever approve of a match between Alice and ...

A gothic mystery set in Victorian London during the late 19th century. Submerge yourself in the chillingly atmospheric streets of fog-shrouded Victorian London, where *Ghosts of River Hall* weaves a captivating tale of intrigue, love, and spectral whispers. This suspense-laden narrative follows the Craven & Son law firm, gripped by the haunting mystery of "The Cursed House," a property overshadowed by unsettling events and spectral presences. Embrace the relentless tension of a house torn between worlds—a beloved residence and an ominous ghost dwelling by the River Thames. The tale ...

Four stubborn hearts. Four shattered histories. Two couples—and one matchmaking duchess determined to fix it all. Lord Arthur Yelverton hasn’t forgotten the woman who once refused his proposal. Gone is the eager young puppy who fell in love with every woman in London. Now he’s a serious, steadfast diplomat stationed in Paris—with no time for romantic folly. When Lady Agatha arrives at Versailles, she’s stunned to find Arthur transformed—mature, thoughtful, and still just as handsome. But no matter how much he’s changed, her refusal to reconsider him is as ironclad as ever. ...

The mid-1800s is a time of great change for James McGrother and his family. Friendship and loyalty draw the Irish fisherman into a world he would rather stay away from. Choices must be made that could bring the wrath of an old enemy upon James' head. How many fresh starts should a person have to make in their lifetime? Why is it that just when you think your boat has reached the shore, the tide turns and sweeps you back out to a stormy sea?

She’s sworn off marriage. He’s ready to prove he’s the exception. Rachel Wickford has vowed to follow in the footsteps of her heroine, Florence Nightingale, dedicating her life to nursing. She’s certain love would only distract from her calling—especially when it comes to the determined colonel who seems to turn up everywhere she goes. Colonel Curtis Loughton needs experienced nurses to help launch Miss Nightingale’s new training program in London. But more than that, he needs a partner—and he’s sure Rachel is the one. Winning her heart, however, may prove to be the hardest ...

She’s engaged to his brother. She’s falling in love with him anyway. Mining heiress Lucy Maldon is determined to make her engagement more than a business arrangement—even if it means following her elusive fiancé on his Grand Tour. But Walter, Lord Chelmsford, has no intention of playing the part of devoted husband-to-be. His younger brother, Peter, has always lived in his older brother’s shadow. Tasked with accompanying his brother across the Continent, Peter never expected to spend so much time with Lucy—or to fall for the woman he can never have. Torn between loyalty and love, ...

BRITISH LEGAL HISTORY - The Fielding Brothers & Bow Street Runners - the early days and beginnings of policing in England with the infamous Fielding Brothers, the early Bow Street Runners, Robert Peel, Jerome Caminada, and other brutal crime fighters, covering highway robberies, gruesome murders, street crime and a host of dangerous attacks on society. A fascinating slice of legal history and nostalgia, featuring Victorian & Edwardian Manchester crime.

The Dressmaker and the Duke A sweeping Edwardian romance of secrets, scandal, and stitches of the heart. With nothing left but a silver thimble and a borrowed name, Evelyn Bright boards a midnight train to Windmere Hall, summoned to craft a mourning wardrobe for the reclusive Lady Helen Greystowe. What she finds is a house draped in shadows—and a family bound by silence. Julian Ashborne, the Duke of Windmere, returned from war bearing scars no uniform could conceal. Haunted by the death of his brother and rumours whispered in drawing rooms, he rules Windmere with precision and ice. But ...

Historic Romantic Saga England 1881. Sent away during her brother’s trial, Phyllis Forster returns home as mistress of Burnside Hall only to find that the Weardale people have turned against the Forster family, and she desperately wants to win back their respect. At 28 years old, she gives up hope of marriage and throws herself into managing the family estate, until two very different men come into her life. Ben, troubled by the past and full of anger and distrust, is a shepherd who shuns the company of others until the new boss arrives at Burnside Hall. Timothy, the new vicar, is ...

Historic Romantic Saga England, 1895. Josie Milburn meets Elliott Dawson, a man who shares her interest in collecting crystals. Defying an age-old superstition, Elliott takes Josie into a lead mine, an action which sets off a sequence of dramatic events, beginning with a miner’s death that same day. Elliott and Josie face a series of trials involving tragic loss and the unveiling of family secrets, which change their lives and fortunes in ways that they could never have imagined. Will these traumatic circumstances bind them together or break them apart? Follows on from Margaret ...

Lord Lacy’s daughter, Emily, is persuaded by her parents to marry the ageing Lord Dalrymple. After all, he has a title, Earl of Morpeth, and a mansion, Crookhill Abbey, that is even more extensive than Lord Lacy’s mansion in Buxton. However, when Emily gets to Northumberland, she finds that Crookhill Abbey is little better than a crumbling mausoleum. Crookhill Abbey is not quite a Jane Austen sequel – but there are echoes of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – also Eliza Parsons’, The Castle of Wolfenbach, and Ann Radcliffe’s, The Mysteries of Udolpho. However, there are also ...

Lady Marion is most displeased. Her father, Lord Audley, is determined that she should marry a gentleman of his choice. However, when his favored suitor is one Lord Haddington, Marion finds herself bitterly disappointed. Alexander, the Earl of Haddington, finds himself quite caught up with Lady Marion. Determined that he will not allow himself to feel anything for her, he seeks to court her but holds his emotions back. However, a sudden illness begins to strike Alexander down each time he draws close to Lady Marion. Weak and confused, he does his best to find a remedy but finds himself ...

"Hampshire Stories by Joe Giampaolo is a stellar collection of short stories” (Literary Titan, 2020) - "A delightful story brimming with sophistication and charm" (Indies Today, 2022) The Hampshire Stories Series, Deluxe Edition is an award-winning anthology of selected short stories set in 19th-century England. This collection includes twelve short stories divided by genre (Previously published). -- 2020 Literary Titan Book Award, Gold Medal, (Hampshire Stories) -- 2022 Global Book Awards, Bronze Medal, Historical Romance, (Hampshire Stories) -- Readers' Favorite, Five Star Seal, (The ...

Nestled within the rugged North York Moors lies Ashford Manor, a grand estate shrouded in secrets and cloaked in Victorian elegance. Here, the sudden and mysterious death of Lord Reginald Ashford sets the stage for an enthralling narrative woven with intrigue, betrayal, and hidden desires. As the esteemed inhabitants of Ashford Manor mourn the loss of their patriarch, the arrival of Inspector Hargreaves and Constable Barkley marks the beginning of an intense investigation that promises to unearth more than just the cause of Lord Reginald’s untimely demise. Set against the evocative ...

When one man's scheme to create the Greatest Freak Show on Earth leads to an insane obsession that can only end in devastating tragedy. The ghoulish proprietor of a Victorian arcade specifically designed to showcase the myriad of freaks, outcasts, and oddities that abound in old London town is a man driven by his own dark desires. Rodney Thompson is an emotionless, sadistic person who craves glory above all else - at least until the beautiful Violet wafts into his world. From the very day when Violet first takes a dainty step inside the arcade, Rodney is determined to make her his own. A ...