Silver Linings Mysteries Series by Mary Kingswood, Joanna Stephens

A novella-length prequel to the Silver Linings Mysteries series.Off the coast of Cornwall in the southwestern tip of England, the sturdy ship the Brig Minerva is making its way from Dublin to its home port of Southampton. But tragedy strikes: the ship hits rocks and sinks almost at once, with only three survivors. For fiercely independent Ginny Chandry, struggling to hold her family together after her father’s death, the wrecking turns her life upside down... moreA novella-length prequel to the Silver Linings Mysteries series.Off the coast of Cornwall in the southwestern tip of England, the sturdy ship the Brig Minerva is making its way from Dublin to its home port of Southampton. But tragedy strikes: the ship hits rocks and sinks almost at once, with only three survivors. For fiercely independent Ginny Chandry, struggling to hold her family together after her father’s death, the wrecking turns her life upside down. And the most unsettling aspect is injured Jonathan Ellsworthy, a humble clerk looking for work. Is this the moment for Ginny to finally surrender to love? Or does Jonathan have secrets in his past to keep them apart?This is a complete story with a HEA. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. less

A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Nell Caldicott awaits the return of her violent sailor husband with trepidation, but for once her fears are not realised. Her husband’s ship, the Brig Minerva , has sunk off the Cornish coast. Nell is free, but her husband has left her with little money and many questions about his past. Gradually, as his secrets are laid bare, she realises she didn’t know her husband at all... moreA traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Nell Caldicott awaits the return of her violent sailor husband with trepidation, but for once her fears are not realised. Her husband’s ship, the Brig Minerva , has sunk off the Cornish coast. Nell is free, but her husband has left her with little money and many questions about his past. Gradually, as his secrets are laid bare, she realises she didn’t know her husband at all. Can she uncover the truth? And can she ever learn to trust a man with her heart again? Nathan Harbottle is on a quest to find his missing cousin, but the tragic wife of the Minerva ’s captain attracts him more than he cares to admit. He wants to help, but he’s powerless to intervene. However, their lives are destined to collide in unexpected ways, and his resolve to be nothing more than a friend to the beautiful widow is sorely tested. Can he set aside his own past and convince her to take a chance on love? This is a complete story with a HEA. less

A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Caroline Milburn and her younger sisters live in two cramped rooms, struggling to survive by their skills in lace making and weaving. When their previously unknown grandfather drowns on the Brig Minerva and bequeaths them a cottage in the country, their lives seem set to improve... moreA traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Caroline Milburn and her younger sisters live in two cramped rooms, struggling to survive by their skills in lace making and weaving. When their previously unknown grandfather drowns on the Brig Minerva and bequeaths them a cottage in the country, their lives seem set to improve. But where will the daughters of a linen draper fit into rural life, now that they are better off? How will Caroline find husbands for her younger sisters? Why have purses of money been buried in the garden? And why are the neighbours so interested in them? Charles Leatham was happy in the army, where all he had to do was to follow orders. With both his older brothers dead, he’s forced to return home and he knows where his duty lies - he must marry, and soon, to secure the inheritance. He doesn’t care who he marries, but why is his step-mother so keen to pair him with the ill-bred linen draper’s daughter? She’s a termagant and a shrew, but he always follows orders so he resigns himself to the inevitable. At least she’ll be grateful for the offer… won’t she? This is a complete story with a HEA. Book 2 of a 6 book series. less

The sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind…Annie Dresden is twenty-six years old, with no fortune, and nothing but a quick, practical mind to recommend her. Taken in by her apothecary uncle after her father’s death, she’s happy to be his assistant, but there’s no future for her as an apothecary... moreThe sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind…Annie Dresden is twenty-six years old, with no fortune, and nothing but a quick, practical mind to recommend her. Taken in by her apothecary uncle after her father’s death, she’s happy to be his assistant, but there’s no future for her as an apothecary. The only proper career for a woman is as a wife and mother, but for Annie, the possibility is dwindling.When a long-forgotten suitor returns, it seems fate has given her another chance. A man turned away by her father years ago for lack of fortune is unexpectedly wealthy after his brother drowned aboard the Brig Minerva. For eight years, he’s dreamed of marrying Annie, and she’s not about to throw away her last opportunity for a family of her own. He loves her, and he’s a respectable man—that’s a strong enough foundation for marriage, isn’t it?But Annie soon finds that her husband has his own ideas about marriage, making her new life unexpectedly difficult. And when disaster strikes, all her hopes of a happy future are thrown into turmoil, and she is left wondering who she can trust.This is a complete story with a HEA. Book 3 of a 6 book series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. less

The sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind… Felicia Oakes is the illegitimate daughter of… well, someone or other. A pirate, perhaps, or a spy, or a royal prince… who knows? Her vivid imagination conjures a myriad possibilities, all more exciting than her position as governess to two motherless children... moreThe sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind… Felicia Oakes is the illegitimate daughter of… well, someone or other. A pirate, perhaps, or a spy, or a royal prince… who knows? Her vivid imagination conjures a myriad possibilities, all more exciting than her position as governess to two motherless children. But when their father is drowned aboard the Brig Minerva , Felicia must take them to their new guardian in the North of England, where her life is about to be turned upside down. The Earl of Finlassan has turned his back on the world to pursue his art, and the prospective guardianship of two young girls horrifies him. He soon finds that it’s not his wards who unsettle his life, it’s their governess, who is irritatingly impertinent with a distractingly mischievous smile. Gradually he finds himself drawn out of seclusion by his new muse. But when danger strikes, they will have to uncover the past before they can look to the future. This is a complete story with a HEA. Book 4 of a 6 book series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. less

The sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind…Evie Parfitt is almost thirty, penniless and with no prospect of ever marrying. She has her hands full helping turn a jewel merchant’s wilful heiress into a lady able to move in good society... moreThe sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind…Evie Parfitt is almost thirty, penniless and with no prospect of ever marrying. She has her hands full helping turn a jewel merchant’s wilful heiress into a lady able to move in good society. When the sinking of the Minerva leaves her charge an orphan and she selects a notorious rake as her guardian, Evie is determined to protect both of them from his attentions. But faced with the most charming man she’s ever known, can she protect her own heart?Eliot Armitage is rich, idle and spoilt, whiling away his life with a succession of mistresses. He’s not tempted by his eighteen-year-old ward, but it would be an amusing game to seduce her cool and oh-so-ladylike companion. When Evie disdains his approach and challenges him to find the jewel merchant’s missing diamonds, he sets out to prove that he’s not the worthless rogue she thinks him. But will he ever be able to convince Evie that a rake can change his ways?This is a complete story with a HEA. Book 5 of a 6 book series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. less

The dramatic conclusion to the series!The sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind...Lord Randolph Litherholm has spent a year coming to terms with the death of his twin brother, Gervase, the 7th Duke of Falconbury. Now it’s time to set aside his mourning and accept his role as the 8th Duke... moreThe dramatic conclusion to the series!The sinking of the Brig Minerva results in many deaths, while for others, the future is suddenly brighter. But it’s not always easy to leave the past behind...Lord Randolph Litherholm has spent a year coming to terms with the death of his twin brother, Gervase, the 7th Duke of Falconbury. Now it’s time to set aside his mourning and accept his role as the 8th Duke. It’s not the management of the vast Litherholm wealth that bothers him, for he’s been running the estate for years. No, his reluctance is all due to the marriage that was arranged for his brother, and the expectation that Ran will take on his brother’s bride as well as his title.Lady Ruth Grenaby’s marriage was arranged when she was twelve. Now she’s twenty-one and still waiting for her wedding day. Her intended husband is dead, but to her father, the younger brother will do just as well. He’s a duke, after all, and his eldest daughter can’t possibly marry a less exalted man. She’s a dutiful daughter, so she’ll do as her father says and marry Ran, even if he only sees her as another inherited obligation. But shattering events cause her to re-evaluate everything she’s ever believed in, and she must decide between duty and love.This is a complete story with a HEA. Book 6 of a 6 book series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. less