Victorian Outcasts Series by Barbara Russell

Maddie doesn’t have dreams. She has plans.Finally, after weeks of hard work, the painting she’s going to present to the Royal Women’s Academy of Art is finished. The next step? She’ll get a fellowship to study at the academy, become one of the few female artists in the British Empire, and live happily ever after.Her mother abhors the idea of her daughter being an artist—how vulgar! But the fellowship will grant six thousand pounds per year to Maddie... moreMaddie doesn’t have dreams. She has plans.Finally, after weeks of hard work, the painting she’s going to present to the Royal Women’s Academy of Art is finished. The next step? She’ll get a fellowship to study at the academy, become one of the few female artists in the British Empire, and live happily ever after.Her mother abhors the idea of her daughter being an artist—how vulgar! But the fellowship will grant six thousand pounds per year to Maddie.When eccentric Lord Hector ruins her precious painting and injures her hand—by accident, of course—she’s furious at first, distraught later. She lost the opportunity to receive the fellowship and maybe ever paint again because of Hector’s clumsiness.Mortified, he promises to make amends after he returns from his trip to the Amazonian Forest. Botany is his passion, and as the brother of the Duke of Blackburn, he has the money and support to pursue his dream. Money he’ll share with Maddie to help her become a painter.Not feeling particularly optimistic after being injured and witnessing her painting being destroyed, Maddie wishes to never see him again. Her wish is granted when his ship sinks in the middle of the ocean during a storm, and he’s pronounced dead.Eight years later, an ocean liner rescues him. Hector spent those years on a secluded island alone, hunting, fishing, and fighting against wild primates. In the meantime, his brother died, and the dukedom passed to his cousin, who has no intention of yielding it to a demented, savage man with a baboon’s manners.Maddie is the only person Hector trusts and confides in. Appalled by his cousin’s brutal treatment of the employees at the family’s factory, he’s determined to claim the title and help those workers, but first, he has to prove he’s in full possession of his mental capabilities. Maddie takes on the daunting chore of reintroducing the wild quasi-duke into society. If she succeeds, Hector, once he’s the Duke of Blackburn, will help her realise her dream. less

As one of the youngest earls in the empire, Brandon doesn’t find true friends easily. Everyone wants something from him—favours, money, help. So when he meets Emily on the Flying Scotsman, she wins him with her honesty and charm. The fact they have the same taste in books doesn’t hurt either.After another train crashes against the Flying Scotsman, Brandon and Emily are injured, and Emily’s parents die. He’s determined to take care of her, but Emily’s aunt wants to be her niece’s guardian... moreAs one of the youngest earls in the empire, Brandon doesn’t find true friends easily. Everyone wants something from him—favours, money, help. So when he meets Emily on the Flying Scotsman, she wins him with her honesty and charm. The fact they have the same taste in books doesn’t hurt either.After another train crashes against the Flying Scotsman, Brandon and Emily are injured, and Emily’s parents die. He’s determined to take care of her, but Emily’s aunt wants to be her niece’s guardian.Years later, Brandon meets Emily at a ball. The bond they forged on the Flying Scotsman is still strong, and they get close although the tragedy changed them both.Brandon learns her aunt is secretly planning to pocket Emily’s inheritance as long as Emily doesn’t marry in the next few weeks.Wishing to protect Emily, he proposes a red-hot marriage—a quick wedding in Scotland, which means taking the Flying Scotsman. The only problem? Emily doesn’t travel on a train anymore, especially on that doomed train. She’d have a fit if she had to sit on a train for hours on end.But she has only a few weeks before her parents’ legacy is gone forever. less

England, 1884An earthquake brings Cora and Ethan close. Literally.They find themselves trapped together under an altar in a half-collapsed church. With nothing better to do but wait for the rescue party to free them, they form a bond of friendship and shared secrets.She endures a loveless marriage with her abusive husband, Lord Roxbury, who mistreats and neglects her and their son, David... moreEngland, 1884An earthquake brings Cora and Ethan close. Literally.They find themselves trapped together under an altar in a half-collapsed church. With nothing better to do but wait for the rescue party to free them, they form a bond of friendship and shared secrets.She endures a loveless marriage with her abusive husband, Lord Roxbury, who mistreats and neglects her and their son, David. Ethan, a soldier and the next Marquess of Hertford, is about to be deployed to a Pacific island to fight against pirates.Cora and Ethan meet again a few years later after he returns to London to keep open the centre for veterans his father founded. Not an easy task since he needs Lord Roxbury’s support for legal reasons.When Cora tries to leave her husband to start a new life and protect her son, he shoots her. Desperate to help his mama and scared, David takes Cora to Ethan’s house and begs him to save her.Ethan hides them in his house and takes care of Cora’s injury. Helping Cora leave England and hiding her from Lord Roxbury proves to be a challenge for Ethan. The future of dozens of soldiers, who suffer from permanent physical and mental problems, depends on his good relationship with Lord Roxbury.On top of that, he didn’t expect to develop strong feelings for both Cora and David. As they carve their places into his heart, he has to decide which path is the worst. If he helps Cora and David move somewhere Lord Roxbury won’t find them, he won’t see them again. But if Cora gets a divorce, Lord Roxbury will take his revenge on Ethan, destroying everything important to him. Including Cora. less

England, 1887After a near-death experience in the Theatre Royal fire, Angeline wants to find love and have a family. But her mother has other plans. Marriage is overrated. Power is the only thing that matters.Angeline is supposed to follow in her mother’s become the mistress of many rich lords, collect compromising material on them, blackmail them, and make a lot of money. That’s the recipe for a happy life.Not for Angeline... moreEngland, 1887After a near-death experience in the Theatre Royal fire, Angeline wants to find love and have a family. But her mother has other plans. Marriage is overrated. Power is the only thing that matters.Angeline is supposed to follow in her mother’s become the mistress of many rich lords, collect compromising material on them, blackmail them, and make a lot of money. That’s the recipe for a happy life.Not for Angeline.A former cat burglar, turned footman, turned baron, Royston comes from the gutter, but the queen bestows him a title after he saved her grandson from the inferno of the Theatre Royal. London’s peers adore him; he’s a fascinating combination of wildness and courage, and well, the queen likes him. But no one wants to help him get a seat in the House of Lords. After all, he isn’t really one of the peers. If he wants to change society though, he has to be in Parliament. If only a peer supported him.The Earl of Havisham proposes a deal. If Royston uses his thief skills to retrieve some compromising documents Angeline’s mother has on the earl, Lord Havisham will be Royston’s champion.Royston accepts the deal. The only problem is his growing feelings for the beautiful and spirited Angeline. less