Showing results by author "VL McBeath" in All Categories

With no husband and two small children to care for, survival is Mary's only concern. She needs money . . . and can't be too choosy about the job. Mr. Wetherby doesn't need any more workers for his expanding business, but as a favor to an old acquaintance, he'll make an exception . . . for Mary. He wants her. She needs him. Can they build the foundations of a happy life together? Or will a web of lies and deceit be their undoing?

Recently home from their trip to Brighton, Eliza and Connie are deep in preparation for the local village fete. Half the villagers are involved too, and once the marquee is assembled, it soon fills up with eager stall holders. With the competition prizes awarded, the afternoon is almost at an end, but everything stops when a body is found hidden amongst the debris. Dead!

How can a smile be so misunderstood? For Nell, it's a sign of friendship. To her male colleagues, it's so much more. With two men intent on securing her affections, and little chance of escape, life for Nell is challenging. Until she finds an unexpected guardian. Her savior is charming and chivalrous, but when he unwittingly causes more problems than he solves, she finally snaps.

Life hasn't been easy for Nell. Orphaned as a child, her elder sister Maria is a substitute for the mother she barely remembers. All she wants now is a husband and family of her own. Second mate Jack Riley loves his life at sea and dreams of one day captaining his own ship. Settling down to life in the back streets of Liverpool holds no appeal. Until he bumps into his old flame, Nell.

Farm laborer Charles Jackson doesn't expect much from life. For the price of a few pints of ale and enough food on the table, he's happy to take work where he can get it. Until he finds himself at Chadwick's farm. Falling in love with the farmer's daughter wasn't part of his plans. But when they're found in an intimate embrace, his troubles are only just beginning . . .

July 1905: A family holiday to the seaside, at Brighton’s most prestigious hotel, promises to be a grand affair. And bumping into an old friend adds to the excitement. But when a body is discovered in one of the beach's bathing machines, all plans are put on hold. Eliza needs to know what happened. Despite the police insisting the death was accidental, Eliza is convinced it’s more sinister, but when she suggests it was murder, they refuse to listen. Until they have no choice.

April 1901: A weekend house party at the stately home of the Earl of Lowton...with an invitation to his daughter’s debutante ball. It should have been perfect. And it would have been…had it not been for the body found dead in the lake. The timing couldn’t be worse. With only hours to go before the biggest event in the Lowton’s social calendar, the family have no intention of letting it ruin the occasion. But Eliza isn’t family. Determined to prove the death was murder, Eliza enlists the help of husband Archie, and best friend Connie.

Eliza Thomson is back in Moreton after nearly 30 years away. Her best friend Connie is eager to introduce her to the villagers, but their excitement vanishes when they bump into the ill-tempered Mrs. Milwood. Days later, when Mrs. Milwood is found dead, the evidence confirms she was murdered...and there are no shortage of suspects. With the finger of suspicion pointing at a childhood friend, Eliza is keen to clear her name. But an inspector from New Scotland Yard has other ideas. He won't have her interfering with the investigation.

Jack's due back...and Nell is waiting. She's dreamt of this moment for a long time. Nine years after their plan was hatched, Master Mariner Jack Riley is ready to take control of his own ship. And Nell is preparing to travel with him. Counting down the days until he gets home, she longs to see America...and nobody is going to stop her. Not her two young daughters...and especially not her sister, Maria.

Nell's dream of traveling on a transatlantic steamship is about to come true. Although not in the way she expected. Life is hard, and with only three women working amongst a crew of eighty, there are challenges Nell had not foreseen. While she struggles to cope with the constant attention of her colleagues, not to mention their criticisms, there are some who will do whatever they can to support her.

September 1905: In need of an outfit for Connie’s special day, Eliza treats them to a day’s shopping at her favorite London store. After a successful morning, tragedy strikes. Connie is knocked to the ground as two men push past them, but there is no help at hand. Feet away, a man lies dying, a knife protruding from his side. With no witnesses, and the identity of the victim a mystery, the only clue is the four calling cards found in the man’s jacket pocket. Can they shed any light on who he is? And why anyone would want him dead?

Keen to get away from her abusive father, Lydia happily accepts the post of housekeeper at the Jackson family home. But when William senses romance in the air between Lydia and his son William-Wetherby, he is determined to put an end to it. For good.

She has the money to live like a lady . . . but there are plenty who want it from her. When an enigmatic stranger steals her heart, can she know he wants her for the right reasons? Widowed at the age of twenty, Ann has no optimism for the future. At the beck and call of her domineering mother...

Setting off in search of his brother, William-Wetherby heads to Liverpool. Since they were last together their world has changed and with no one to turn to, he needs a friend. When he rents a room with a local family, he refuses to tell his landlady or her daughter, Bella, anything about his past. But their curiosity is piqued. As their friendship develops and he begins to trust her, Bella hopes he'll settle down. But a final surprise from Mr. Wetherby reignites past grievances...and this time, William-Wetherby is ready for a fight.

In 1860s England, it's a man's world and women aren't expected . . . or allowed . . . to upset the status quo. Living with her domineering uncle, Harriet is desperate to break free. Could the charming young man who has come to stay with them be her way out? Or will he be just like the rest? Happy to keep her in her place . . . Not prepared to sit around while her dreams die, Harriet risks everything to stand her ground. But she underestimates how far some will go to silence her.

As Mr. Wetherby's wealth and power increase, he won’t tolerate interference in his affairs. From anyone. But Harriet isn't "just anyone," and when she sees him involved in a serious incident, she stores the information away. Maybe one day she can use it to get the future Mr Wetherby is intent on denying them. Biding her time, she finally gets her chance. But facing the wrath of Mr. Wetherby, she soon discovers she has more to worry about than her own ambitions.