Category Archives: suspense

Finding Love the Hard Way: A Touch of Honor: Book 7 in the REALM Series

What can I say about this book? I never planned it, but it has become one of my favorites in the Realm series. Originally, I planned four books. The other three gentlemen of the Realm would possibly have their own … Continue reading

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The Book That Made My Friend Cry: A Touch of Mercy, Book 5 of the REALM Series

  This was the book in which my friend Kim said, “You should have warned me about what was happening. I was in tears for hours afterwards.”  The heroine of the book is Miss Mercy Nelson. She is the younger … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, books, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, heroines, historical fiction, Inheritance, Levirate marriage, Living in the Regency, marriage, primogenture, Realm series, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Feud Between Romantic Heroes and a Look Back at A Touch of Grace, Book 4 of the REALM Series + Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way”

Next month, I hope to release a new romantic mystery/suspense series. This one is from Dragonblade Publishers, so I thought I might revisit my very successful Realm series and some of what made that particular series so special. In this book … Continue reading

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Burning Wool as a Plot Device in a Mystery + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

in the last year, I have added the concept of burnt wool to a mystery. What should a reader know about this? The website By Hand, which is located in London, has a new piece on what happens when a … Continue reading

Posted in Always Austen, anthology, book excerpts, book release, Dragonblade Publishers, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, mystery, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, science, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Burning Wool as a Plot Device in a Mystery + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

What is a Glass Cone? And a Look Back at A Touch of Cashémere, Book 3 of the Realm Series

Next month, I hope to release a new romantic mystery/suspense series. This one is from Dragonblade Publishers, so I thought I might revisit my very successful Realm series and some of the history regarding each of the stories in the series. … Continue reading

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the UK, mystery, real life tales, Realm series, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, Scotland, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

When the First Book of a Series Becomes the Second: A Touch a Velvet: Book 2 of the Realm Series

When I first began to write the Realm series, I envisioned only four books, with the possibility of one or two novellas. However, the “best laid plans” turned into an eight-book series: one for each of the seven members of … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, books, British history, Georgian England, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, Napoleonic Wars, reading, reading habits, Realm series, Regency romance, romance, suspense, war | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Demoiselle en detresse, a Popular Story Telling Trope + the Anticipated Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

What does it mean to be a “damsel in distress”? In today’s culture, such a phrase will likely set off triggers of some kind or another. Please remember that I am 77 years old, and we never thought of “triggers” … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, books, British history, Chaucer, Dragonblade Publishers, Georgian England, Georgian Era, hero, heroines, historical fiction, mystery, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Demoiselle en detresse, a Popular Story Telling Trope + the Anticipated Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Handfasting as a Means to Marriage

Although Sir Alexander Chandler and Miss Alana Pottinger do not come to their Happily Ever After in Lady Chandler’s Sister through handfasting, it is a subject of discussion. They met in Scotland, and handfasting was a more common practice there. But … Continue reading

Posted in Black Opal Books, book release, British history, eBooks, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, Scotland, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Handfasting as a Means to Marriage

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MR. DARCY was originally published on February 18, 2013. It is a cozy mystery set in Dorset, and it is a real thriller. There are witches and resurrectionists and a mass murderer, oh my!!! I hope … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, Dorset, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, research, suspense, Vagary, witchcraft acts, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mystery and Suspense Month: The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

When writing any mystery, the author cannot just have a murderer and a victim. He/She must also have suspects, red herrings (false clues), motives, and deception. There must be a balance between the suspense and the story’s pace must be … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment