A stunning historical tale of loss, desire and courage that is full of the terror and the beauty of the Australian bush, for readers of The Thorn Birds, The Naturalist's Daughter and The Widow of Ballarat. To forge a new life she must first deal with her past... 1871. Adelaide Greaves and her young son have found sanctuary in the Australian town of Maiden's Creek, where she works as a postmistress. The rough Victorian goldmining settlement is a hard place for a woman - especially as the other women in town don't know what to make of her - but through force of will and sheer necessity, Adelaide carves out a role. But her past is coming to find her, and the embittered and scarred Confederate soldier Caleb Hunt, in town in search of gold and not without a dark past of his own, might be the only one who can help. Can Adelaide trust him? Can she trust anyone? When death and danger threaten - some from her past, some born of the Australian bush - she must swallow her pride and turn to Caleb to join her in the fight, a fight she is determined to win... 'Meticulously researched and brilliantly realised, Alison Stuart's novel of vengeance, love and the power of a determined woman is hugely enjoyable.' Tea Cooper, author of The Woman in the Green Dress
The breathtaking conclusion to the GUARDIANS OF THE CROWN series, introduces a heroine with nothing left to lose and a hero with everything to gain… England, 1659: Following the death of Cromwell, a new king is poised to ascend the throne of England. One by one, those once loyal to the crown begin to return … Agnes Fletcher’s lover is dead, and when his two orphaned children are torn from her care by their scheming guardian, she finds herself alone and devastated by the loss. Unwilling to give up, Agnes desperately seeks anyone willing to accompany her on a perilous journey to save the children and return them to her care. After enduring imprisonment, exile and torture, the fugitive Daniel Lovell has returned to England, determined to find his brother and kill the man who murdered his father. But the King has one last mission for him and there is the small matter of a desperate woman who needs his help. Agnes finds her protector in Daniel Lovell and thrown together with separate quests – and competing obligations – Daniel and Agnes make their way from London to the English countryside, danger at every turn. When they are finally given the opportunity to seize everything they ever hoped for, will they find the peace they crave, or will their fledgling love be the final casualty of war?
They might be able to solve a crime - but can they build a life together? A compelling historical romance with a murder mystery at its core, for readers of Darry Fraser and Tea Cooper. 1892. It has been almost twenty years since Charlie O'Reilly left Maiden's Creek, the town where she once knew only injustice and fear. Now she returns as acting matron of the local hospital, determined to prove her worth - and to escape the attentions of a man she would rather forget. Despite his wealth and busy practice as a criminal lawyer, Danny Hunt has never found contentment. He is still haunted by memories of his childhood in Maiden's Creek and the strange and desperate man who was his father. When a court case goes wrong and Danny's life is threatened, he seizes the opportunity to visit Maiden's Creek with his friend Robert, whose sister, a nurse at the hospital, is the only woman Danny has ever proposed to. But danger follows Danny and Charlie and when a nurse is violently murdered, they are thrown together in a desperate bid to prove the innocence of a friend. When a devastating storm hits, threatening the hospital, old hurts and secrets come to the surface. Both can see that they make the perfect team, but Charlie is committed to her work and has one secret she plans never to reveal ... 'Betrayal, secrets and dastardly deeds abound in this page-turning story of ambition, revenge, and love. Another thrilling book from Alison Stuart' - Mary-Lou Stephens, author of The Last of the Apple Blossom
Once, on Christmas Day, she sacrificed her heart to save his life. Now, after nine years, will a single glance spark the fire of redemption? February 1816 Fabien, Comte de Mont Clair, once a highly decorated officer of the exiled Napoleon, cuts a dashing swathe through a London society ball, his eyes only for the glittering ladies of the ton. His heart jolts at the sight of a woman sitting in a shadowed corner. Not just any woman, but one he would have once given the world for. For Hannah, Lady Maxwell, catering to the spoiled darlings of the ton as a humble chaperone is nothing compared to the pain she suffered at the hands of her late husband. Alone and impoverished, she is a person of no consequence but once, a long time ago, she sacrificed her world for the dashing Comte de Mont Clair. Now all she can do is hope that he may glance her way ... Revised and updated. Previously published as Nine Years 'Til Christmas in the 12 Rogues of Christmas anthology
The award-winning first book in the GUARDIANS OF THE CROWN trilogy covering the turbulent years of the Interregnum… Three stories of men who would die for their King and honour, and the women who will do whatever it takes to protect those that they love. England 1650: In the aftermath of the execution of the King, England totters once more on the brink of civil war. The country will be divided and lives lost as Charles II makes a last bid to regain his throne. Kate Ashley finds her loyalty to the Parliamentary cause tested when she inherits responsibility for the estate of the Royalist Thornton family. To protect the people she cares about, she will need all her wits to restore its fortunes and fend off the ever-present threat of greedy neighbours. Jonathan Thornton, exiled and hunted for his loyalty to the King’s cause, now returns to England to garner support for the young King. Haunted by the demons of his past, Jonathan risks death at every turn and brings danger to those who love him. Finding Kate in his family home, he sees in her the hope for his future, and a chance at a life he doesn’t deserve. In the aftermath of the Battle of Worcester, as Kate struggles to protect her home and family, Jonathan must face his nemesis, and in turn learn a secret that will change his life forever. Kate and Jonathan’s love is fragile, and their lives are manipulated by events out of their control. What hope can one ragged soldier and one woman hold in times like these?
Gold is a fever. Will it lead her to love ... or death? A suspenseful romance set on the turbulent goldfields of 1870s Australia, for readers of The Postmistress and The Woman in the Green Dress. 'There are people in this town with the gleam of gold in their eyes and cold steel in their hearts.' 1873. Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother, planning to make a new life for herself. Instead she finds a tragic mystery - and hints of betrayals by those closest to her. Mining engineer Alec McLeod left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Despite the best efforts of the eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek, Alec is determined never to give his heart again. As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in - although he has problems of his own, as he risks his livelihood and those he holds dear to oppose the dangerous work practices at the Maiden's Creek Mine. When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late? 'Suspenseful and compulsive reading, The Goldminer's Sister doesn't disappoint' - Darry Fraser, author of The Good Woman of Renmark
England 1642… A family ripped apart in a country divided by war. King or Parliament? Hardened mercenary, Adam Coulter returns to England sickened by violence, seeking only peace, but he finds England on the brink of civil war. He has seen first-hand what that will mean for every man, woman and child and wants no part of it. Neutrality is not an option and Adam can only be true to his conscience, not the dictates of his family. Having escaped a violent marriage, Perdita Gray has found much needed sanctuary and the love of a good man, but her fragile world begins to crumble as Adam Coulter bursts into her life. This stranger brings not only the reality of war to her doorstep but reignites an old family feud, threatening everything and everyone she holds dear. As the war and the family tensions collide around them, Adam and Perdita are torn between old loyalties and a growing attraction that must be resisted.
Continuing the GUARDIANS OF THE CROWN series with a story of spies and traitors and a time when the price of betrayal is death… London 1654: As England languishes in the grip of the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there are those who plot to restore the King. Fleeing her old life, Thamsine Granville has nothing left to lose. Alone and friendless, the desperate act of throwing a brick at the coach of Oliver Cromwell could well mean her death. Only the act of a stranger saves her. Kit Lovell is one of the King’s men, a disillusioned Royalist who passes his time cheating at cards, living off his wealthy and attractive mistress, and plotting the death of Oliver Cromwell. Far from the bored, benevolent rescuer that he seems, Kit plunges Thamsine into his world of espionage and betrayal – a world that has no room for falling in love. Torn between Thamsine and loyalty to his master and King, Kit’s carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel and to save Thamsine he must make one last desperate gamble – the cost of which might be his life.
England 1923. Grieving widow, Helen Morrow, and the wounded and reclusive Paul, are haunted not only by the horrors of the trenches but ghosts from another time and another conflict. As the two stories become entwined, Paul and Helen will not find peace or happiness until the mysteries are solved.
First love left them desolate ... can a new love heal their wounds? A tale of second chance love in aristocratic Regency England, for lovers of all things Bridgerton. Sebastian Alder's sudden elevation from penniless army captain to Viscount Somerton is the stuff of fairy tales, but the cold reality of an inherited estate in wretched condition leaves him little time for fantasy, and the memory of his wife's brutal death haunts his every moment. When he learns of the mysterious circumstances of his cousin's demise, he must also look for a potential murderer ... surely not Isabel, his cousin's ladylike widow? Isabel, Lady Somerton, is desperate to bury the memory of her unhappy marriage by founding the charity school she has always dreamed of. Her hopes are shattered from beyond the grave when she is left not only penniless but once more bound to the whims of a Somerton ... although perhaps the new Lord Somerton is a man she can trust ... or even care for? Suspicion could tear them apart ... honesty and courage may pull them together. 'In the wake of Waterloo, a richly detailed historical romance with plenty of danger, deception and derring-do.' - Anne Gracie, international award-winning author
From the dark days of the English Civil War to a family camping trip in the Australian bush, this lighthearted collection of ghost stories from Alison Stuart is guaranteed if not to scare, then at least to entertain. Stories: THE PROMISE Badly wounded at the battle of Worcester, the last battle of the English Civil War, Ben has returned to his home and someone is waiting for him, someone who has a promise to keep… THE GREY LADY The Grey Lady is only seen when the last male heir of the Compton-Barrs will die a violent death...But the Compton-Barrs have left Livingstone Hall. There are no male heirs... or are there? THE BALL OF THE LOST SOULS After a lifetime devoted to caring for others, Alice Collins takes a cruise to Bermuda... but this is a cruise unlike any other. What will she find at the Ball of the Lost Souls? LOST! A dark cloud covers Mt. Oberon and the wind blows in from the south... young Brad Cooper has gone missing on a family walk on the Lilly Pilly Gully track. Will he be found in time or will the Australian bush once more claim a life - just as it did eighteen months previously?
From award–winning author Alison Stuart comes a stirring historical trilogy about soldiers, spies, and the strong women that love them. By The Sword England 1650. In the aftermath of the execution of the King, England totters once more on the brink of civil war. Kate Ashley finds her loyalty to the Parliamentary cause tested when she inherits responsibility for the estate of the Royalist Thornton family. Jonathan Thornton, exiled and hunted for his loyalty to the King's cause now returns to England to garner support for the young King. Finding Kate in his family home, he sees in her a chance at a life he doesn't deserve. But love is fragile in the face of history. What hope can one soldier and one woman hold in times like these? The King's Man London 1654: Kit Lovell is a disillusioned Royalist who passes his time cheating at cards, living off his wealthy and attractive mistress and plotting the death of Oliver Cromwell. Penniless and friendless, Thamsine Granville has lost everything. Terrified, in pain and alone, she hurls a piece of brick at the coach of Oliver Cromwell and earns herself an immediate death sentence. Only the quick thinking of a stranger saves her. Far from the bored, benevolent rescuer that he seems, Kit plunges Thamsine into his world of espionage and betrayal – a world that has no room for falling in love. Torn between Thamsine and loyalty to his King, Kit's carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel. He must make one last desperate gamble – the cost of which might be his life. Exile's Return England, 1659: Following the death of Cromwell, a new king is poised to ascend the throne of England. Imprisoned, exiled and tortured, fugitive Daniel Lovell returns to England, determined to kill the man who murdered his father. But his plans for revenge must wait, as the King has one last mission for him. Agnes Fletcher's lover is dead, and when his two orphaned children are torn from her care by their scheming guardian, she embarks on a perilous journey to save them. She didn't plan on meeting the infamous Daniel Lovell. Thrown together with separate quests – and competing obligations – Daniel and Agnes make their way from London to the English countryside, danger at every turn. Will they find the peace they crave, or will their fledgling love be a final casualty of war?
The paper looks at feasible concrete action that can be taken by correspondent and respondent banks, money transfer operators, the Pacific authorities, the Australian and New Zealand authorities, and international organizations.
Faith and Ruby are inseparable. Both orphaned at birth they've survived a lot together and their friendship has got them through many tough times. But when Ruby is drawn deeper into a web of self-destruction, their friendship is tested to the limit.
When Nathaniel Preston stumbles into Dr Jessica Shepherd’s garden, she is reluctant to believe he has crossed more than three hundred years to seek her help. He must help her understand why he has travelled from the midst of civil war to the quiet English countryside of the twentieth century. But is falling in love with him destined to end in heartbreak? Jessica knows he must return to his own time and face certain death in battle. Why has Nathaniel been sent to find Jessica? Can their love survive a bloody battle…and overcome time?
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Alison Weir's Mary Boleyn. Handsome, accomplished, and charming, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, staked his claim to the English throne by marrying Mary Stuart, who herself claimed to be the Queen of England. It was not long before Mary discovered that her new husband was interested only in securing sovereign power for himself. Then, on February 10, 1567, an explosion at his lodgings left Darnley dead; the intrigue thickened after it was discovered that he had apparently been suffocated before the blast. After an exhaustive reevaluation of the source material, Alison Weir has come up with a solution to this enduring mystery. Employing her gift for vivid characterization and gripping storytelling, Weir has written one of her most engaging excursions yet into Britain’s bloodstained, power-obsessed past.
In the shadow of the Great War, grieving widow, Helen Morrow and her husband's cousin, the wounded and reclusive Paul, are haunted not only by the horrors of the trenches but ghosts from another time and another conflict. As the desperate voice of the young woman reaches out to them from the pages of a coded diary, Paul and Helen are bound together in their search for answers, not only to the old mystery but also the circumstances surrounding the death of Helen's husband at Passchandaele in 1917. As the two stories become entwined, Paul and Helen will not find peace until the mysteries are solved.
When Nathaniel Preston stumbles into Dr Jessica Shepherd's garden, she is reluctant to believe he has crossed more than three hundred years to seek her help. Why has Nathaniel been sent to find Jessica? Can their love survive a bloody battle...and overcome time?
The first time they met, she tried to kill him... Deliverance Felton has been left to defend her home, Kinton Lacy Castle in a time of civil war. She can shoot and wield a sword as well as any man and anything she needs to know about siege warfare she has learned from a book...but no book can prepare her for what is to come. Everything Captain Luke Collyer knows about siege warfare - and women - he has learned from experience. When he is sent by Sir John Felton to defend Kinton Lacy Castle against the Royalists, he will be up against a formidable force. He had not reckoned on that force being Sir John's daughter, Deliverance. Deliverance will not give up her command lightly and Luke will have to face a challenge to his authority as fierce as the cavalier foe outside the walls. As betrayal surfaces, they must learn to trust each other and uncover the traitor within the castle walls before it is too late for the castle... or their hearts. (Previously published as Claiming the Rebel's Heart)
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As the English Civil War divides England and tears families apart, Deliverance Felton will do whatever it takes to defend her family home against the royalist forces ranged against it. Anything she needs to know about siege warfare she has learned from a book...but no book can prepare her for Luke Collyer, soldier of fortune and a man with his own secrets.
Built on the grounds of an old Roman ruin, Livingstone Hall Country House Hotel and Spa has a long history of unexplained and tragic death. Paranormal investigators from all over the world have been perplexed by the hauntings with numerous ghost sightings felt, heard and often seen by guests.
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