thequietwriter

It has been twelve years since Elinor Burke has seen her stepmother. The eighteen-year-old girl has accustomed herself to the company of her neighbors and the dwindling staff of Meadowbrooke Cottage. But with the arrival of the Earl of Berdwell at the neighboring estate, Mrs. Burke upends Ellie's life with a selfish plot.Alexander Turner has taken up the role of being steward to his cousin, the earl. He's come to the country to play his part and earn his keep. Meeting the cheerful and beautiful Miss Ellie is an unexpected bonus, but he has been charged with a serious responsibility. The Earl of Berdwell is guardian to a Miss Burke he has never met, and the girl's stepmother is making things difficult.In the countryside, anything can happen. Especially when a masquerade ball is on the horizon.…

thequietwriter

Why did she ever agree to this?Though she's found the man who killed her family, Juliet Sincliar's work isn't done yet. She agrees to help Mr. Oswyn Harper, her late brother's closest friend, uncover the larger conspiracy of treason connected to the death of her parents and brother. She once again assumes the identity of Julie Nelson, clever lady's maid, and joins the small household of dramatic actress, Miss Evelyn Russell.From the start, Juliet knows something isn't right in the house. Miss Russell is involved in something, but the proof is missing. Behind the stage of the Craven Theater, Juliet finds a tangle of connections that once unraveled might reveal the truth. But will she survive to see justice done?Book Four of the Sinclair Society Regency Mystery Series…

thequietwriter

An old friend of Dr. John Watson brings a strange music box to Sherlock Holmes. Can the detective solve how it is driving a woman mad?A short story written for the prompt: A RIDDLE FOR THE MIND…

thequietwriter

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a clever, charming, and lovely lady will always be of interest of a musketeer. Doña Maria Esperanza de la Vega, Marquesa de Molin, fled Paris when her life was endangered. When a mission takes the musketeers to Spain, their paths cross once again. What new adventures await?…

thequietwriter

Aboard the cruise ship, The Carrier, Clara Sutton is employed as a stenographer. She takes dictation, typing up whatever the passengers need her to type. When she realizes that she did work for a passenger not on the passenger list, she has no idea the trouble she's about to get pulled into.Written for a writing group prompt of "Gap".…

thequietwriter

Lucas Bywood has been happily working to restore the estate he won in an unfortunate card game. The unexpected arrival of his younger sister interrupts his plans and his peace. She declares her engagement at an end, and insists she must stay with him to recover herself. With Pearsend barely livable, Lucas is less than pleased with this development. Should he arrange a reconciliation between Philippa and her former betrothed, or let matters take their course?Add to that the concerning fact that someone has been trespassing, and Lucas is left with a complicated situation on his hands. Someone is spreading a ridiculous rumor that treasure was hidden by a previous owner. Can Lucas find the culprit before permanent harm is caused?…

thequietwriter

Thirteen-year-old Izzy has been raised by her grandfather and has always longed for adventure and the call of the sea. Izzy discovers an old journal filled with tales of pirate exploits. When the notorious Captain Thorn steals the journal, believing it holds the key to finding treasure, Izzy is thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. With the help of her loyal friend Sam, Izzy must outwit Thorn, reclaim the journal, and uncover the truth about her heritage.…

thequietwriter

What could possibly go wrong next?With the recent drama of his family behind him, Lucas Bywood wants nothing more than to stay out of trouble and pretend he is not pining over the absent Miss Darkin. What better plan than to visit Bath, the largest social town outside of London? However, it quickly becomes apparent he has picked the wrong friend as a traveling companion.Mr. John Ward has eyes only for the card tables and shows no interest in shielding Lucas from Bath's debutantes and matchmaking mamas on the hunt for a bachelor. But matters shift from annoying to alarming when Ward's determination to seek justice gets them both suspected of murder.As they say, "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry" and Lucas' plans weren't terribly well-laid to begin with...…

thequietwriter

Elizabeth Garrison has never had an interest in the newspaper advertisements of men seeking a bride. But life as the unmarried daughter of the family is taking its toll on her, mentally and physically. What's the harm in writing one letter? Noah Coleman has been in the Wyoming territory for nearly a decade. He's proved his claim and feels able to support a family. Better a bride he's never met than the sixteen year old daughter of a neighbor whose family has become too interested in him. But will disappointing a neighbor ruin everything he has built up?…

thequietwriter

Meet Dr. Elora Stephenson, a biologist joining a team on a small outpost on an alien world. As soon as she arrives, strange occurrences and unexplained deaths throw the outpost into chaos. Who can be trusted? Who is hiding who they are? Elora must navigate the treacherous web of suspicions and sabotage, racing against time to unmask the culprit before the outpost is completely wiped out.The fate of the team on uncharted world 550 rests in Elora's hands in this thrilling tale of mystery and deception.A 2023 Inkfort Publishing Derby contestant.…

thequietwriter

1902: Fourteen-year-old Aida Briar Norton's life at school is interrupted when two men arrive, claiming they are to take her to her parents. Every instinct declares that they are lying, but Aida has no choice but to go with them when they produce a letter allegedly signed by her father. On the train, every word they say makes her more certain she is not safe. She takes matters into her own hands and escapes them.With her parents missing and kidnappers on her heels, what is a girl to do but disappear in London? Aida does everything she can to search for clues of her parents' whereabouts. She takes up disguise after disguise until she becomes a maid in 221 Baker Street. There Aida waits for the return of Sherlock Holmes.Where have her parents gone? What secrets have they been keeping from her? Does she want to know or will the truth shatter her world completely?…

thequietwriter

A brief moment in the evening with Ivy Steele and Remy Prater.Closed-Door Regency & Historical Romance Cross-Promo prompt of (last) week: secret.…

thequietwriter

Eighteen-year-old Calliope Burnham has a secret she shares with only one person.Closed-Door Regency & Historical Romance Cross-Promo prompt of the week: secret.…

thequietwriter

Trusting the wrong man has consequences.Once an Incomparable debutante of Bath society, Miss Rose Dunbar's life has been turned upside down. She has been sent to the countryside to conceal her shameful secret of being unwed and pregnant. Worse still is the fact that her father has hired the strict and watchful Miss Greaves to keep her company and out of trouble.As she struggles to come to terms with her new reality, Rose discovers that life in the countryside is not as dull as she had imagined. Garden View holds the secrets of her grandmother and she can't resist delving into the past of a woman she never really knew. As scandal threatens to destroy her reputation, Rose must grapple with the harsh realities of a society that values appearances over truth. Will she be able to find redemption and overcome the shame of her family's secrets?…

thequietwriter

"Lucas, you must return home." These enigmatic words are all the preparation young Lucas Bywood receives when he is summoned home early from his Grand Tour. He little expects the tangle of obligations that ensnares him from the moment he sets foot on the family estate. His best friend caught up in gambling debts, his father forcing him into an arranged marriage with a young woman he dislikes and who is in love with another, and his mother struggling to recover from a suspicious riding accident... Faced with pressure from all sides, Lucas wants nothing more than to turn around and escape back to the continent. However, he cannot leave without solving the mystery of his mother's accident. Finding the answer will take more than his usual stubbornness, and Lucas soon finds himself out of his depth. What is a young man to do when everything that can go wrong seems determined to do so?…

thequietwriter

After two years, Lady Celia Leith has had enough. When she married Sir Horace, she thought she knew what marriage would bring her: security, a home, a loving husband. What she wasn't expecting was a mother-in-law who despised her and criticized everything she did. She also believed her loving husband would actually be at home more than a week at a time.Taking a stand takes a strength of will this lady didn't know she had. With the help of a lady's maid who is more than she appears, Celia sets about making Clarendon her home. However, when Sir Henry returns with friends in tow, Celia must be resolved to continue her plans.Will the truth behind his travels bring her closer to the husband she loves, or will her heart be broken?…

thequietwriter

Twenty-year-old Diana Forester, a country-bred young woman fears that her inexperience and uncertainties have driven Mr. John Richfield away. On arriving back home from London, she learns that he is already there, ready to continue their acquaintance. If Diana thought that it was difficult in London, courting takes on a whole new aspect when Diana's younger siblings become involved. She finds herself dealing with her own feelings, her sister, her younger brother, jealous members of a house party, a jilted suitor, and a highwayman as she falls in love with the charming Mr. Richfield.This is the first chapter of the novel, which can be purchased on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and more!…

thequietwriter

In 1874, Ivy Steele's deafness is more than a handicap. It's a disease. Surrounded by a family that doesn't understand her, she's learned to cope and find solace where she can. Then, the unexpected happens. Her aunt dies, and her uncle sends her away to rejoin her father's family in Montana.Left to fend for herself, after the companion hired to escort her abandons her, Ivy faces continual hardship and danger. Several men see an unaccompanied Ivy as a flower ripe for the picking, and things only get worse when masked men hold up their stagecoach.Barely scraping through, Ivy makes it to Montana with her nerves shaken and what little money she has in her boot. Expecting a peaceful if not affectionate welcome, Ivy finds herself in greater hardship than she's ever known.Surrounded by a stepfamily that hates her, and flung into a life where hearing is vital, Ivy finds solace in a handsome cowboy named Remy. But things with her new family are not what they seem. And Ivy is about to find out that the danger she faced on the journey west, has followed her to Montana...Bethany Swafford dazzles with her stunning young adult debut, introducing a strong heroine, the hardships of frontier life, shocking twists, and a slow-burning romance that will leave you wanting more.Third place winner of the 2018 Rosemary Award…

thequietwriter

It is the evening of Daphne Burnham's debut. Though less than thrilled with the prospect of only dressing in white, the young lady is excited to be able to dance the night away. An unfortunate encounter with a young man and a full glass of wine brings Daphne's evening to a sudden end.Can Daphne survive the backlash after she loses her temper? Will she have a second chance at making a good impression?A 12K word short story.…

thequietwriter

Juliet Sinclair must unmask a murderer before her own false identity is revealed... Clarendon Estate, the country home of Sir Horace and Lady Celia Leith, has been a refuge for Juliet Sinclair after the traumatic events of Bath. It may also be the home of a murderer. All signs point to a significant connection between Sir Horace and Juliet's brother, and the more she investigates, the stronger her belief that the man may be the mysterious H she is searching for. But revealing a murderer has consequences Juliet hadn't expected. In continuing her ruse of servitude, Juliet finds herself forming a close bond with Lady Leith as they thwart the designs of Sir Horace's domineering mother, a woman who will do all she can to keep control of the household. Can Juliet condemn her new friend to a life with such a woman as her only family?Time is running short. A house party is set to descend on Clarendon, bringing with it the threat of more than one person who may reveal Juliet's true identity and destroy her careful plans to keep her name above scandal. But the truth is closer than she realizes...…