17th Century Series

Determined not to allow a band of roaming Cavaliers to enter her home, Caro threatens their leader with a pistol. When he ignores her challenge she shuts her eyes and fires. Compelled to nurse him when her shot grazes his head, she gradually realises she must protect him from his enemies. But that is not enough. His enemies become hers, and to escape them she has to trust herself to his protection. Previously published under the pseudonym Livvy West, and based on "Honor and Passion" published under the pseudonym Vesta Hathaway.

In the turbulent 1640s, English families and friends were divided by war, their loyalties fragmented. Lysbeth was one who came to hate both factions. Her first encounter with the realities of war came when she clashed with Sir James Howard, a Royalist officer, requisitioning sheep to feed the army. Opposing her Royalist family, she turns for reassurance to her childhood friend, Tom Bridges, who is a soldier for Parliament. As the conflict grows, she experiences Parliamentary atrocities, witnesses the bloody carnage of the battle of Naseby, and is threatened by the unbridled, battle-weary soldiers in its aftermath. She has to resolve the turmoil of her own emotions, influenced by the two men who, in their different ways, have helped to shape her life.

As a child, Caroline helped a fugitive Cavalier escaping from the Battle of Worcester in 1651. When her aunt dies years later and her Puritan uncle remarries and sires a son Caroline is disinherited, and threatened with a hateful marriage. Escaping to London where she hopes to find help, she once more meets her Cavalier.

Miles Talbot, spy, is sent to England by the exiled Charles II in the mid-1650s, to sound out what support there is for a restoration. He meets Cherry Weston, a beautiful and wealthy young widow who holds many entertainments for Parliamentarians at the time of the Parliament of the Saints. Among her frequent guests is Dare-to-be-Faithful-to-God Denham, a man who believes all enjoyment is wicked, but who is drawn to Cherry despite himself. Miles is soon welcomed to Cherry's bed, but while he fails to learn anything from her, he suspects she is attempting to discover his secrets. She has at least two other lovers, young Parliamentarians. He has to leave her while he travels the country, on the pretence of purchasing a small estate, but in reality to visit known Royalists and gauge what support there is for the King. He is involved in setting up the Sealed Knot, a secret society hoping to coordinate the various plots n behalf of the King, but not all the plotters are willing to be guided by a body they feel is not active enough. Marina Oliver has published over fifty novels and several non-fiction books. Many of her historical novels, twentieth-century sagas, contemporary romances and crime books are now available as e-books.

After the Battle of Naseby Sir John Emrey brings a dying Highland chieftain's heir to his home, and promises to restore his sword to his clan. When his mother and sister Blanche are driven from their home in the north of England, they plan to go to relatives in Ireland after delivering the sword, but are persuaded to stay in Scotland where Blanche becomes a friend and companion to Fiona Macdonald, the new heir. Sir John goes to fight with Montrose, while Fiona is beseiged with suitors eager to take control of her inheritance. There are her cousins, and her neighbour the Black Campbell. And there I danger from her aunt and uncle, the next in line to rule the clan.

Drusilla's family are urging her to accept an offer from another merchant's son, but she is reluctant, even more so when she meets the dashing Cavalier, Sir Randal Thornton, and he aids Drusilla during the Parliamentary siege of Reading. She realises how impossible it would be for her attraction to come to anything, especially as her brother is fighting for Parliament, and joined the protest against the King's Ship Money tax. Then the town of Reading and its inhabitants are in greater danger, and Drusilla longs to go back to her home in Devizes.

Cornwall is remote, but not therefore isolated from the war in the rest of England. Kate, living in Saltash, is looking forward to marriage with Jonathan, and disappointed it has to be delayed when he joins the King's army. Then the arrogant Petroc Tremaine, owner of a ship which harasses Parliamentary vessels, sweeps into her life and insists Jon is not the right man for her. Kate longs to be safely married and away from his perturbing influence, especially when she discovers his suspicions about Jon and Jon's dislike of Petroc. As the war comes closer Kate and her mother go to stay with relatives in Fowey, and she sees more of Petroc whose family live nearby.

Lucy has been brought up with her cousins, and never knew her parents, or even who her father was. When she hears that her grandmother, living in a small village, is ill, she insists on going to care for her. At first all is well, but after the grandmother dies the villagers begin to treat Lucy with suspicion, claiming she is a witch. When Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General, arrives, Lucy is in great danger until there is unexpected relief from the reclusive Squire and his heir.

There were many arranged marriages in the seventeenth century. Barbara's took place when she was still a child. Her husband Ludovick was a supporter of the King, fighting in his armies, and comes to claim her only to find Barbara has fallen in love with a neighbour and wants to have her marriage annulled. Ludovick refuses to free her, and sets about wooing his bride.

Sanchia is stranded in Limoges when her father is killed and their money stolen. She is working at an inn to earn money to travel to her uncle in Orleans when she encounters Royalist Sir John Morriss and the arrogant Comte de St Savin (need to check). Rejecting the demands of the Comte and the innkeeper, she flees, and again meets Sir John, who is working for the Restoration of Charles II. Discovering her uncle has moved to Brussels she accepts Sir John's escort, and becomes involved in the plots surrounding the King as he awaits the call from England.

Callias is brought to the Restoration Court by her husband John Cobden, who married her for her money, but once there he neglects her. She is pursued by many amorous gallants, including the King, but has eyes only for Sir Richard Weston. His betrothal to Anne Laver, arranged by their families, is broken by her jealous cousin. Fate, in the guise of an angry John, a malicious Anne, and even the intervention of the King, separates them, and Callias faces terrible danger.

Honour Atwell is the despair of her father, a wealthy City merchant. She is too beautiful, too lively, too rebellious. She must be married as soon as possible to a suitably sober husband, but Honour prefers the romantic Robert Reade, who sails in his father's ships. She is fascinated by the newly opened Restoration Theatre, and determines to visit it. She persuades her father's apprentice to accompany her to Drury Lane, where she is enthralled by the play. Outside, however, disaster strikes. Rescued by the charismatic Gervase Dunstone, her life changes and she begins to realise her dream.

Hugo, Earl of Winton, needs a wife and an heir if his weak cousin William and his unpleasant French wife Hortense, with the son who might not be her husband's, is not to succeed him. He decides Phillipa Stannerly will be suitable. She is pretty, and an heiress. Phillipa, in love with Charles, is distraught. Then her French cousin Sophie du Plessis comes to London and promises to help her. Their mothers were twins, and the girls are sufficiently alike to confuse people who do not know them well. When Hugo sees Sophie on her own he offers her a lift home, intending to pursue his suit in the belief she is Phillipa. She maintains the deception, hoping to prove to her uncle that Hugo is not a fit husband for Phillipa. Her behaviour is, however, unlike Phillipa's shy response, and Hugo is intrigued.

The Earl of Winton was a notorious rake at the Court of Charles II, but falls in love with Sophie when he abducts her in mistake for her cousin Phillipa. They plan their wedding, but Sophie and her parents must go home to France, where her grandmother is ill. Strange happenings follow them, and they suspect Hugo's discarded mistress, Kate Trent, and Monsieur de Terville, a probable agent of King Louis XIV, both of whom wish them ill.

While Isabella and her family were with King Charles II in exile, she was jilted, and has set her mind against any marriage. Instead, she wants the lovely Clare, her younger sister, to restore the family fortunes with a wealthy husband. When they visit London for the coronation festivities she decides it is the ideal time for Clare to attract eligible suitors, such as Jason Marlowe, but he appears to be destined for their cousin Frances. Meanwhile, men who are far from eligible have to be deterred. Clare, however, is unwilling to be sacrificed, especially as she has her own ideas of who will be the best husband for her. This brings Isabella into unexpected danger as she attempts to save Clare from an improvident move.

This privateer is not what Sibylla expects! She is in love with her brother Gerard's former friend, Randolph, and meeting him secretly. When she discovers he means to betray Gerard, who is working to help restore Charles II to the throne, he dare not leave her and abducts her, taking her on a fishing boat. They are captured by Josselin, a French Privateer, who takes them to his chateau. Randolph escapes, and fearing for Gerard they chase him to St Malo, and the wide bay with its rapidly retreating tide. How can Gerard be saved and Randolph defeated?