Nicola Claire's captivating new Gothic romance series introduces a dark and sinister early settler New Zealand at the end of the nineteenth century - brightened by a fearless and talented heroine and a loyal and secretive police inspector...
Free spirit. Brilliant. A Liability?
Doctor Anna Cassidy has been trained by the best; the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force. She knows how to dissect a body. She knows how to treat any ailment. And she knows how to find a cause of death.
But society is not ready for a female surgeon.
Fighting for what she believes in has been ingrained in Anna since she was a young child. But the battles she faces now are not all based on equality. A murderer stalks her fellow Suffragettes and the police inspector in charge of the case could be Anna's downfall.
Experienced. Dedicated. Something to hide?
Inspector Andrew Kelly holds duty and honour in the highest regard. His role as a detective proves just that; he never stops until justice is served. Love is something he has forsaken, for reasons he'd rather you didn't know.
But Anna is not a woman a man can ignore.
Fighting his instincts with cold determination is something Kelly has become accustomed to. But a murderer is loose in his adopted city, bringing memories to the fore of a killer who walked in the shadows of Whitechapel, and shining light on a dark past the Inspector is trying hard to forget.
A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.
This is not your average historical romance. You'll find no bad-boy earl deflowering his virgin lady here.
It's gritty and twisted, authentic and a little dark. It's Whitechapel meets early settler New Zealand, Jack The Ripper mixed up with Suffragettes.
It's the type of historical romance I've always wanted to read, but could never find.
It's real. It's Victorian. It's shocking.
It's the true and sometimes devastating vagaries of love.
And like Jack, it will rip you apart in the end.
But it is a love story... mixed up with a whole lot of mystery and death.
"I've really been missing out. Nicola can lay her writing hand to anything she imagines. Her use of language is realistic and sympathetic to the era... Incredibly well written!" Carlene Barton (Sweet Street Seducer Reviewer)
"Nicola Claire has the exceptional talent of bringing her fictional characters to life and of making them seem real to her readers. [...] In fact, I love Anna's character. She is a strong (perhaps even willful) woman who will not compromise her beliefs even when it is to her detriment." Amie Gaudet (Amie's Book Review Blog)
"I loved this book. I'd even go so far as to say it's a top read of 2015. From the very start, it was a whole new world, and a huge learning experience. Words, speech, appearance, behavior, laws, everything was new, yet old at the same time. Nicola did an utterly fantastic job interweaving elements of history with her patented brand of love, mystery, and danger." Jamie Webb (Sweet Street Seducer Reviewer)
"Nicola has a way with words and storytelling that truly captivates the reader and drags you into the beautiful worlds that she creates." Open Book Society
About the Author: Nicola Claire lives in beautiful Taupo, New Zealand with her husband and two young boys. She has a passion for all things suspenseful, spiced up with a good dollop of romance, as long as they include strong characters - alpha males and capable females - and worlds which although make-believe are really quite believable in the end. Creating rich stories with dynamic characters and unexpected twists that shock and awe has been pure bliss for this author. And just as well, because there's a lot more story yet to tell... You can get Nicola's Starter Library - three popular full-length first-in-series romantic suspense novels, with hundreds of positive reviews between them - by signing up for her mailing list at www.nicolaclairebooks.com.
