The Longleigh Chronicles Series by Lynn Shurr

Lady Flora believes she has met her perfect match in Pearce Longleigh, the half-Shawnee son and heir of a duke. Her hopes are squelched when Pearce offers to guide her father into the hostile Ohio Territory. Undaunted, she invites herself along, unknowing that Pearce has no intention of returning to England. Her love wars with his freedom.

Joshua, the second son of the Duke of Bellevue, reneges on a promise to marry Kate Morely because of an incident that occurred when she was twelve. Instead, he intends to pursue the rich and beautiful prize of the Season, Lady Camilla. Kate takes up the challenge and intends to attract Harold Brumley, heir to a duke. Unfortunately, he is addicted to taking snuff. She must convince him she loves the habit to gain his attention... moreJoshua, the second son of the Duke of Bellevue, reneges on a promise to marry Kate Morely because of an incident that occurred when she was twelve. Instead, he intends to pursue the rich and beautiful prize of the Season, Lady Camilla. Kate takes up the challenge and intends to attract Harold Brumley, heir to a duke. Unfortunately, he is addicted to taking snuff. She must convince him she loves the habit to gain his attention. When Joshua starts to look her way again, Camilla plots to remove Kate from the competition which may prove fatal. less

When doing research for Lion in the Heather, I forced myself to read all of Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, Waverley, every verbose word of it. Let’s just say it is no Ivanhoe. Known as a poet, but in desperate need of money, he sold out to write popular romantic fiction and chose as his subject the Scottish Highlands just before the defeat of the clans and the attempt to wipe out their culture by the British victors... moreWhen doing research for Lion in the Heather, I forced myself to read all of Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, Waverley, every verbose word of it. Let’s just say it is no Ivanhoe. Known as a poet, but in desperate need of money, he sold out to write popular romantic fiction and chose as his subject the Scottish Highlands just before the defeat of the clans and the attempt to wipe out their culture by the British victors. His tale was all the rage in 1814 and went a long way toward restoring all things Scottish, from kilts to bagpipesIn my story, Lady Euphemia Longleigh has just completed reading Scott’s book and is besotted by the idea of brave warriors wearing plaids. The past comes to life when she is abducted by a Scottish laird in full regalia and taken across the border to be his bride. Of course, her father, the Duke of Bellevue, is in hot pursuit to keep that from happening. But it turns out that Phemie would rather stay with her laird. less

In Of Turtles and Doves, two members of the Longleigh family find their matches outside of Almack’s and the drawing room, in fact outside of England. Jason, the family poet and romantic, is smitten with a lovely young lady and heiress from America. Her father has dragged Miranda to London hoping to find a noble husband for his peculiar child who will not eat meat and is uncommonly interested in sea turtles... moreIn Of Turtles and Doves, two members of the Longleigh family find their matches outside of Almack’s and the drawing room, in fact outside of England. Jason, the family poet and romantic, is smitten with a lovely young lady and heiress from America. Her father has dragged Miranda to London hoping to find a noble husband for his peculiar child who will not eat meat and is uncommonly interested in sea turtles. She stands to inherit an island and one-hundred slaves, which doesn’t bother Jason all that much.However, the Longleigh family has abolitionist beliefs. Though attracted to Miranda’s brother, Daniel, Lady Pandora Longleigh is horrified that he owns even one slave. When Jason and Miranda run off to Georgia, the whole family sets out after them. They will encounter storms at sea, voodoo spells, love potions, and kidnapping in the wilds of a great swamp. But the Longleighs always overcome whatever is thrown in their way to happiness. less

This story grew out of an earlier book in the Longleigh Chronicles, Lion in the Heather, when Lady Flora, who prides herself on matchmaking, is asked by her feminist daughter, Pandora, to find a husband for Lucia Stilwell, a homely spinster of twenty-four with a small dowry and a tart tongue, but strong character. Quite a challenge for both me and Flora... moreThis story grew out of an earlier book in the Longleigh Chronicles, Lion in the Heather, when Lady Flora, who prides herself on matchmaking, is asked by her feminist daughter, Pandora, to find a husband for Lucia Stilwell, a homely spinster of twenty-four with a small dowry and a tart tongue, but strong character. Quite a challenge for both me and Flora. What better idea than to pair her with the newly blinded Earl of Edgemont, a man sunk into depression, that only a woman who will show him no pity can breach?After Lucia leads him into a garden he knows well, giving him tips to find his way back before she leaves him, Edgemont asks her to move to his estate and teach him more. He contends that he can no longer be a gentleman who can ride, shoot, play at swords, gamble, and whore, but Lucia finds ways for him to accomplish all of that and more. She comes to love him, but knows theirs would be a match of unequals. Even worse, he seems to be regaining his sight and will soon see her as she is, a woman often mocked for her looks. Lucia makes an excuse to leave, but will he follow her now that he can do as he wishes and marry whom he will?I had so much fun writing this as Lucia teaches him how to cheat at cards and braves a bawdy house to find a woman to restore his confidence in bed. Once a reader for the blind, I was able to use much I learned from them. less