Alexandra

Shackleford and Daughters Book 1

By: Beverley Watts

Narrated by: Emily Mount

If you enjoyed the romance, humour, mystery and fun of the Shackleford Sisters, get ready for more mayhem with the Victorian Shacklefords...

In the seaside town of Paignton, England, 1891, twenty-two-year-old Alexandra Shackleford faces an uncertain future when her father, Chief Inspector Henry Shackleford, is forced into early retirement from the police force. Living with her five sisters and their outspoken Aunt Charlotte at Cliff House, Alex has resigned herself to spinsterhood—until fate brings the enigmatic Baron Tavistock back into her life.

Three years earlier, Lieutenant Rhys Gould stole Alex's heart during a brief, passionate encounter before vanishing without explanation. Now he returns as the newly inherited Baron, desperately seeking help for his mother who has fallen victim to a mysterious blackmailer. What begins as a simple case of fraud soon unravels into something far more sinister, drawing the Shackleford family into a dangerous web of secrets that threatens everything they hold dear.

As dark truths emerge about the past, Alex must navigate not only the perils of their investigation but also the painful mystery of why Rhys has kept her at arm's length. With her father's investigative skills, her aunt's decidedly unconventional methods, and her own fierce determination, Alex finds herself at the heart of a deadly game where love and justice hang in the balance.

Set against the backdrop of Victorian England's rigid social conventions, Alexandra weaves together romance, mystery, and family loyalty in an unforgettable tale. With memorable characters—from the razor-sharp Charlotte to the irrepressible young Billy—this atmospheric story combines the charm of a period mystery with the emotional depth of a passionate love story, complete with Beverley Watts’s trademark wit and humour.

A tale of courage, redemption, and the power of love to overcome the darkest secrets, Alexandra marks the thrilling beginning of the Shackleford and Daughters series—where one family's quest for justice will change their lives forever.©2025 BaR Publishing (P)2026 W. F. Howes Ltd