Shackleford Sisters

The Shackleford sisters: Unruly, unstoppable, and about to unleash delightful chaos upon Regency England, beginning with one wounded duke who never expected to find love... Reverend Augustus Shackleford has one mission: secure wealthy, titled husbands for each of his eight headstrong daughters. A nearly impossible task, given that in the Reverend's opinion they don't possess a ladylike bone in the eight bodies they have between them. Where he'll find gentlemen willing - or foolish - enough to take them on remains a mystery that could well test even divine intervention. Battle-scarred and haunted by nightmares, Nicholas Sinclair never expected to inherit a dukedom. After twenty years away and grievously wounded at Trafalgar, the new Duke of Blackmore returns to his ancestral home with one pressing duty-to marry quickly and produce an heir. Yet the thought of navigating London's marriage mart in search of a suitable bride holds no appeal for his tortured soul. When an unexpected offer arrives for his eldest daughter Grace, Reverend Shackleford can scarcely believe their good fortune. Of course, describing Grace as "respectful," "meek," or "dutiful" required significant creative interpretation of those terms-but surely the duke needn't discover this immediately? What the Reverend never anticipated was how his daughter's spirited nature might not only capture the wounded duke's heart but potentially bring scandal raining down upon them all. As Grace's rebellious spirit clashes with Nicholas's carefully constructed walls, both discover that healing-and love-may come from the most unexpected quarters. A #1 Bestseller in Regency Historical Romance on Amazon, this first instalment in the Shackleford Sisters series delivers the perfect blend of witty banter, tender moments, and the sparkling charm of Regency England. Perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, and anyone who enjoys historical romance with humour and heart. Note: While this novel doesn't contain an excessive number of spicy scenes, it isn't closed-door and wouldn't be considered "clean" romance.

Reverend Shackleford was at a loss. He'd truly believed that in marrying his eldest daughter Grace to an extremely wealthy peer of the realm, his problems would be over. But as the Reverend was now beginning to realise, it wasn't sufficient to have a wealthy Duke in the family if the daughter he was trying to marry off had the manners of a stable hand. And to Reverend Shackleford's knowledge, his second eldest daughter Temperance's version of modest reserve was making sure to kick a miscreant in the shins rather than his ballocks. Put simply, Temperance was the exact opposite of her name and a harpy to boot. In fact the Reverend very much feared that unless he could find someone to teach her at the very least how to hold her temper, he would be stuck with her forever. But as he was always telling his curate, the Almighty works in mysterious ways. Indeed, Reverend Shackleford believed his prayers were finally answered when he found the very person to take Temperance in hand. Lady Gertrude Fotheringale was genteel, discreet and suitably impoverished. Or so he thought... Adam Colbourne, the eighth Earl of Ravenstone had no intention of taking a wife. As a boy he'd witnessed the cold, impersonal, not to mention loveless, nature of his parents' union. Marriage he concluded, was not anything he wished to experience. And the scheming matchmaking mothers of each Season's crop of debutantes in no way gave him any reason to change his mind. That was until a chance meeting with a foul mouthed raven-haired termagant, who in the space of one night turned his world entirely upside down... Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humor and a little bit of steam.

When Faith Shackleford found herself in the unenviable position of having to accompany her irascible father to convalesce in the genteel seaside town of Torquay, she envisioned three months of wearying monotony. She certainly wasn't expecting to be intrigued by the forlorn empty house situated next to their own elegant villa, especially when she discovered it belonged to a handsome captain in the Royal Navy who was currently away at sea. Unfortunately, she never imagined that fascination might cost her her life. Roan Carew grew up an orphan on the streets of Torquay, until he was press ganged into the Royal Navy at eleven. Through a combination of determination, shrewdness and sheer bloody mindedness he rose to the rank of Captain, but he was certainly no gentleman nor ever would be. Indeed, his purchase of Redstone House, a rundown mansion in Torquay's wealthiest district was more of an impulse than an aspiration towards respectability. He most certainly did not expect the house to come with a thirty-year-old secret that someone was prepared to commit murder to protect. Naturally Reverend Shackleford, who it was generally agreed would be 'in if he fell in,' simply had to investigate... Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humor and a little bit of steam.

There was no doubt that things had definitely looked better for Gabriel Atwood, one time Viscount Northwood. Mainly because everyone who knew him or of him almost certainly believed him dead - the bastard who'd betrayed him had made sure of that. His only hope was to seek aid from Nicholas Sinclair, his former mentor, now the current Duke of Blackmore, before his enemies realised that news of his demise had been greatly exaggerated. Unfortunately, on finally reaching the Duke's estate late on Christmas eve, Atwood discovered the house shrouded in darkness and realised with despair that his grace had undoubtedly chosen to spend the Christmas season elsewhere. Hope Shackleford did not relish spending the festive season under the same roof as her entire family, even though the roof beneath which the gathering was to take place belonged to the Earl of Ravenstone and was far grander than the modest vicarage in which she'd spent her whole life. Indeed, given that her two eldest sisters were married to influential members of the ton, it had to be said that her family were becoming increasingly accustomed to indulgences entirely above their station. Hope on the other hand, despite possessing a head of flaming red hair giving indication to the contrary, was a practical young woman who eschewed both whimsy and optimism, unlike the rest of her eccentric family - in particular her father whose calling as a man of the cloth seemed in recent years to play a secondary role to his passion for meddling in affairs that in Hope's view were entirely none of his business. Thus, the chances of their Christmas festivities being wholly focused on the simple joys of the season were, in Hope's opinion, slim to none. After the unexpected appearance of a handsome vagrant who was clearly more than he seemed, Hope had no idea just how correct her misgivings would turn out to be... Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humor and a little bit of steam.

With her four older sisters now married, it's Patience Shackleford's turn to take charge of her younger siblings' education. But given that Patience's most prodigious skill is lock picking, any abilities she passes on to her younger sisters are unlikely to provide any assistance in the drawing rooms of the genteel, especially as she has no interest in either high society, or horror of horrors... marriage. Indeed, her father the Reverend Augustus Shackleford is firmly of the opinion that the less society knows about his fifth daughter the better... When Grace and Temperance, now married to influential members of the ton, offer to take her in hand and bring her out, both Patience and her father are entirely horrified. For once in total accord, they endeavour to hatch a plan to somehow avoid the upcoming Season. But that's before a chance meeting with the enigmatic and undeniably handsome Marquis of Guildford when Patience discovers that lock picking is exactly the expertise he happens to be looking for... Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humor and a little bit of steam.

While Charity Shackleford might be considered far more outspoken than her twin sister Chastity, she was much less inclined to make a complete cake of herself. Something her twin appeared to be doing with increasing regularity. Indeed, when details of Chastity's latest faux pas threatened to travel beyond the confines of Blackmore, it appeared that removing her from the vicinity was the only answer. Naturally, as always, Grace, the eldest daughter and current Duchess of Blackmore was tasked with picking up the pieces. Unfortunately, just as she was about to inform their father of her intention to take Chastity for a short holiday to their sister Faith in Torquay, the Reverend was unexpectedly called upon to attend his curate's sadly dying mother. Firmly of the opinion that their father could not be trusted to stay out of mischief long enough to give anybody the last rites, Grace instructed Charity to accompany him. On reaching the trading port of Dartmouth, Charity quickly learned that nothing was as it seemed. Indeed, she discovered her sister's worst fears were well founded as she, her father and Percy found themself embroiled in a long-standing conspiracy involving smuggling and murder. Only the arrival of the mysterious Jago Carlyon stood between them and the infamous leader of the Hope Cove smuggling ring. Struggling to fight her undeniable attraction to the handsome Cornishman, Charity had to decide whether he could be trusted with her heart, or more importantly her life. Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humor and a little bit of steam...

In the eyes of her family, Chastity Shackleford was impulsive, flighty, overly emotional and inclined to sentimental overtures. All in all, a disaster waiting to happen should she accept the Duke of Blackmore's offer of a Season in London. But what else was she to do since her twin sister and best friend had abandoned her for the wilds of Cornwall? Naturally she might have hoped that disaster had waited a little longer before striking, but at least she faced the possibility of marriage with someone who had all his own teeth. The fact that the gentleman was also wanted for murder was a little off-putting, but then one couldn't have everything. When Christian Stanhope was forced to jump ship after being accused of a crime he didn't commit, he'd never expected to return to England. But then he'd never expected to become the next Earl of Cottesmore either. However, if he was to survive the merciless world of England's aristocracy, clearing his name was essential. And for that he needed the help of his former First Lieutenant Nicholas Sinclair, now the Duke of Blackmore. But first he had to convince the Duke that he was not guilty of a heinous murder committed seventeen years earlier. A task easier said than done. But just when he despaired of ever finding the real culprit and bringing him to justice, help, or possibly hindrance, arrived from an unexpected quarter... Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humour and a little bit of steam...

Prudence Shackleford had not expected to be a spinster at three and twenty, but unfortunately, as she'd quickly discovered, very few men were prepared to tolerate either her ghoulish sense of humour, or her macabre taste in literature. And those were the ones she'd got as far as holding a conversation with. When invited to London by the Duke and Duchess of Blackmore to witness the Coronation of King George IV, she was equal parts horrified and intrigued. Especially after a chance meeting with a Bow Street Runner on the trail of conspirators it was feared were planning to murder the King. Jamie Fitzroy had been a Bow Street Runner for five years. In that time he'd risen swiftly up the ranks, gaining a reputation for both ruthlessness and guile. Such were his successes in ridding London's streets of thieves and murderers, his name had become almost legendary. But in the wake of the Cato Street Conspiracy, he was now on the trail of a gang intending to assassinate the King during his own Coronation. And with less than two weeks to go, and a London packed to bursting, the stakes had never been higher. The last thing he had time for was a russet haired chit who was too ripe and ready by half - even if she did haunt his dreams every night...

Anthony Shackleford had long been acquainted with the word duty. Indeed, since the moment he could walk, it had been drummed into him every Friday between the hours of two and four in the afternoon, accompanied by tea and apple cake. His mother had always been especially partial to apple cake. The essence of his obligation was this. The Duke of Blackmore could not be expected to keep his in-laws into their twilight years. Despite the fact that his sisters had all made extremely advantageous marriages, as the only son, it was his job to ensure his parents a comfortable dotage. So, for the most part, his duty had always appeared very simple. Marry an heiress, preferably with a title. But while Anthony was handsome enough to capture the eye of even the pickiest of debutantes, the fact that the Duke had seen fit to gift him with a manor house and twelve acres would certainly help in winning over any unduly ambitious mothers. Though grateful for his brother in law's generosity, Anthony was nevertheless determined not to hang onto his benefactor's coat tails and stubbornly declared he would undertake the repairs to Bovey Manor himself. Unfortunately, that meant he would have to temporarily set aside his duty since the renovations were likely to take some time... Georgiana didn't know her last name. In fact it was only by accident that she discovered her first one. Raised in the slums of Exeter, she'd been George to everyone for as long as she could remember and no one but her foster family had any idea she was a girl. She knew nothing of where she came from, only that Henry and Martha Atkins were being paid to keep her alive. Indeed, she'd always been a pain in her foster father's slovenly arse - until she began to blossom into womanhood. As he suddenly started looking for ways to be alone with her, Georgiana realised she had to escape. But Henry Atkins was not about to simply let her go. In truth, he dared not, since she was the key to plans years in the making... When Anthony crossed paths with a raggedy arsed lad named George, employing him out of pity to help with the renovations to Bovey Manor, he had no inkling that his life was about to change forever, and duty would be the very last thing on his mind...