Welcome!

Hi! I’m Mary Kingswood, author of traditional Regency romances. Keep up with new releases and special deals by signing up for my mailing list from the Sign up! tab, above.

If you’d like a printable reading list of all my books in recommended order, click here.

LATEST NEWS:

NEW!  The Chaplain’s Legacy series will be released during 2024 and 2025, wherein the murder of an earl’s chaplain has unexpected repercussions for the earl and his family. Book 1 is out now, and book 2 may be pre-ordered. As always there is a prequel novella FREE for all my faithful mailing list subscribers. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up from the tab above (I’ll email only for new releases and special deals, and you can unsubscribe at any time).

A SURPRISE FOR READERS OF BOOK 6: If you’ve reached the end of A Christmas Betrothal, you’ll know that it’s not quite the end of the series – there’s a sequel, and it’s FREE for all readers. Click here to find out more.

NEW AUDIOBOOKS: The first five books of the Mercer’s House series are now available on audiobook from Audible, as well as all of the previous series. Click here for more details.

NEW COLLECTION: For those of you looking for a bargain, you can now buy the first three books of the Strangers series in one handy ebook, at the low price of $9.99, or equivalent. The collection is also available free to subscribers of Kindle Unlimited.

SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH? Do you speak German? I don’t but for those of you who do, the first four books of the Mercer’s House series are now available in German. Prices are just €3.99 at the moment, and naturally, like all my books, they are in Kindle Unlimited. Click here to find out more at Amazon.de.

A fun Facebook group for fans of traditional Regency romance! I’ve got together with several other authors of Regency romances to create a salon for Regency fans to meet. We’ll be sharing our new releases, teasers, giveaways, sales, and other delightful treats, and (naturally) talking about our favourite Regency reads. All my new friends write (and read) the same style of Regency that I write – “Sizzle in the drawing room, not the bedroom.”

If you’re a Facebook user and you’d like to join us, you’ll receive a very warm welcome to Lady Catherine’s Salon from me and all my new friends. Come along and say hello! Click here to join.

FOOTNOTE: The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.

 

227 responses to “Welcome!

  1. Susan Brace

    Miss Mary Kingswood you have become my favorite author. I must slow down for I read a book a day oftentimes. I will be sad when I come to the end of all you’ve written . I now request MAry: The daughters of Allamont . 4.5 . This series is delightful.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you so much for the kind words! You can get Mary (and all my other free novellas) by signing up for my mailing list from the Sign up! link. If you have any problems, email me at mary@marykingswood.co.uk.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thanks, Elizabeth. It’s a little different from previous series, so I hope everyone likes it.

  2. Megan Terry

    I happened upon “The Widow” early in the pandemic, have read everything in the three series and am anxiously awaiting “ Stranger at the Hall”. I’m loving your style of writing, the variety of the characters and their lives and hope you have more in the pipeline

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you so much for the kind words. Yes, there’s definitely more in the pipeline. Once the Strangers series is finished, there will be The Mercer’s House, following the fortunes of a wealthy family, formerly in trade, trying to establish themselves as landed gentry, and bumping into all the prejudices of the aristocracy against them. I’m just finishing book 1 of that series, which will be published in June 2022.

  3. Veruska

    I just read the last one of the strangers series! OMG it was amazing! Soooo sooo good!!!! I seriously can not wait for the last one. Although it will make me sad to be the last one I can’t wait to find out about lord Saxby. Please Mary keep writing. I have read all your books and I really enjoy them all! You are so talented. Thanks you for entertaining me.

    • Mary Kingswood

      So glad you enjoyed Stranger at the Cottage, and thank you for the kind words. I think (hope!) you will enjoy the final book of the series, and don’t be sad, because there will be another series. Different characters, but I hope you will enjoy finding out about them just as much.

  4. Rose Hill

    I just wanted to say that I’m reading my way through every book you ever wrote and I’m enjoying every one of them. Entertaining, delightful, often deeply satisfying, occasionally thought-provoking sometimes full of humor or interesting historical details. I love the leisurely development of the storylines and love to see people grow and change their perspectives.
    Please keep writing:)!

    • Mary Kingswood

      What a lovely comment – thank you! And I definitely intend to keep writing. The next series is already in the pipeline, with two families whose lives become intertwined.

  5. Cambrea

    I love all your books and am planning to reread them all while awaiting the next strangers book. I was wondering if there is a list/resource of all your books in chronological order of when the stories happened?

    • Mary Kingswood

      There isn’t – perhaps there should be! The best order to read, and also the chronological order of events within the books, is the order they were written, which is the Daughters of Allamont Hall series, then Sons of the Marquess, Sisters of Woodside, Silver Linings and Strangers. The one oddball one, the novella The Captain and the Country Cousin, can be read at any time after The Apothecary (book 3 of Silver Linings), but is best enjoyed as book 2.5 of Strangers. I hope that helps!

      • Kellye S

        I read all of them totally out of order, but I will admit it was fun having those “aha” moments when I read something that was earlier and put the pieces together. I started with the strangers series and then kind of worked backward, although I did read the sisters of allamont series before the sons of the marquess series. I hope there is something new in the works and that we will get to revisit some of these families soon. I would particularly like to know if any more Marfords appear.

        • Mary Kingswood

          Kellye, yes, there’s a new series in the works, called ‘The Mercer’s House’. Book 1 will be out in June 2022 (although there’ll be a free novella before that), and in book 2 you’ll meet the Marchioness of Carrbridge again (Connie). One of the Marfords’ poor relations, the Whittletons, will be the heroine of that book.

          • Aileen

            Great news! Not that I must wait half a year for the start of a new series, but that there is a new series. ☺ I will re-read the sons of the Marquis to re-acquaint myself with the Whittletons.

          • Mary Kingswood

            The Whittletons are very much bit part players in that series – the perpetual poor relations!

  6. Charlie Duffy

    Hi Mary, I was wondering when your third stranger series book would be available on Audible and if there is a timeline for the rest of the series (4, 5, & 6)? I enjoy both reading and listening to your books simultaneously. Thanks

    • Mary Kingswood

      Yes, book 3 will be available, although I don’t know when. It is recorded and is just undergoing the proofing and corrections process at the moment. Book 4 will be starting recording soon. I can’t give exact dates, unfortunately, as it depends on the schedules of both my recording team and my proofing team, and it takes time to get these things done.

  7. Sallie Brown

    How have I just found you! I’m 52 years old and finally found my genre. I grew up reading every Victoria Holt novel and searched for someone who wrote similar. More mystery in the living room than the bedroom! I am home!

    • Mary Kingswood

      I used to love Victoria Holt, too! I’d never thought of my books as being like hers, but I suppose there are similarities, now that I think about it. She was certainly an influence, although Georgette Heyer was a much stronger one. Anyway, I’m really glad you’re enjoying the books. 🙂

    • Christine

      Sally, the books that finally made reading something I wanted to do were by Georgette Heyer and Victoria Holt. I have never stopped reading anything and everything since. I love this author and many others who write about the same period. I also appreciate that there’s no salacious bedroom scenes. That’s where Norah Roberts lost me as a fan. Thank you Ms. Kingswood for hours and more to come reading your books. I think I have them all at this time. Keep up the excellent work.

      • Mary Kingswood

        Thank you, Christine. I write the sort of books I enjoy reading, inspired by the incomparable Heyer, so no bedroom scenes! I also read a lot of Victoria Holt at one time, although not for a while now.

  8. Mel knopper

    How donInget in to your email list. I just discovered your books through bookbub. Would love to read the ebook above – The Catain and the Country Cousin.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Mel, if you click the Sign-up button at the top of the website, you will be able to subscribe to the mailing list and get The Captain and the Country Cousin, and all the other free books as well. I won’t bombard you with spam, I promise, but you can unsubscribe at any time.

  9. Juti

    First, I love these stories, all of them.

    I’m just about to start reading The Captain and the Country Cousin and I noticed that in your “about my books” section there’s an entry for The Mercer’s House. Is this a new series? If so, I can’t wait to read it. If it’s an old one, where do I find it?

    • Mary Kingswood

      The Mercer’s House will be the next series after Strangers. At the moment it’s not much more than a collection of post-it notes, but I shall start work on it properly in a few weeks.

  10. Betsy Habich

    Have just read through the Allamont and Marquess series, and am enjoying the wealth of period detail and complex continuing plot lines. Thanks for lots of good reading!

  11. Jenny

    I love, love the Silver Linings series! Any chance of an investigative series with Mr. Willerton-Forbes, Captain Edgerton, Mr. Neate, and Mr. Chambry? Might they need a courageous and smart female counterpart to be their eyes and ears in society?

    • Mary Kingswood

      What a lovely idea, but I don’t think there will ever be a series of their own for Captain Edgerton and his merry band of investigators!

      • Frances Abdul-Azeem

        I would love to hear a love story series on them. I love their characters; so funny and enthusiastic. Mary you are such a great writer.

  12. Yvette R

    I just finished listening to Stranger at the Dower House, and I loved it!

    I am curious about the cover art. Does the fact the the lady on the cover is wearing what could be considered a peach colored costume have anything to do with the much admired peach gown that Louisa wears in the book? If so, which came first, the cover art or the gown in the book?

    • Mary Kingswood

      Ah, well spotted! I always have the covers designed long before I actually write the books, so yes, the cover came first. I chose that image for Louisa because of the wonderful textures and colours, as well as the voluptuous nature of the lady in the portrait! It seemed so right for Louisa, and having got the image, I couldn’t resist using the peach gown in the book.

  13. Elizabeth

    Has your new novella gone out yet? I’m on your mailing list but have not received it.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Yes, but it seems the email to you bounced. 🙁 I’ve sent you an email with the link, but if you don’t receive it, let me know. We may have to try a different email address.

  14. Christina

    Your novels are divine. I’m enjoying every delicious word. I was wondering if there is a companion book that shares all the connections between all of your characters and estates. If so, I’m excited to obsess over it. Can’t wait till the release of your next volume. I’ve put in a pre-order and counting the days. xx

    • Mary Kingswood

      There isn’t a companion book! Maybe there should be. The nearest I get to that is the maps and family trees (which you can find under the ‘Extras’ tab on the website). One of the maps shows where all the places are. There are also notes at the back of the more recent books (labelled ‘Isn’t that what’s his name?’) which point out characters who’ve appeared before and in which books. But otherwise, I leave it to readers to spot all the connections. It’s a little treat for repeat readers to recognise familiar names. 🙂

  15. Anna

    I have a very important question: have you ever written a love story about Captain Edgerton?? Having read many of your books I find myself very curious about the Captain’s lady love….

    (P.S. I’ve very much enjoyed your books – I love that you wrote series concerning the same families!!)

      • Chantal

        Please stop writing on this page.
        You have books to write!
        I really really need you to finish this series by June at the latest. And don’t you dare skimp on the quality like some authors do, as I appreciate the care you took with your books so far. 🙂

        • Mary Kingswood

          Don’t panic! The books are getting written, I promise. Book 3 is finished. Book 4 is finished. Book 5 is at about 20% (that’s what I’m working on right now). Book 6 is 25% finished. It will all get done… although maybe not by June (sorry). And thank you for making me laugh on a day which has been mostly very meh. 🙂

          • Wendy Honnor

            Oh how wonderful. I have now read 33 of your books. I absolutely love them and cannot wait for the next in June, 2021. Thank you so much for such enjoyable reading and this beautiful insight into life in England in this interesting and colourful period in history.

          • Mary Kingswood

            Thank you for the kind words, Wendy! So glad that you are enjoying the books.

      • Nikki

        I have just spent a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon reading THE CAPTAIN AND THE COUNTRY COUSIN. Thank you so much for this novella and more information about the Captain and his life and love.

        But I have a question about the 2nd charade. The first is explained in the story, but how on earth did she determine what the 2nd one is? It is rather daunting that Luce figured it out so easily as I am not understanding how to arrive at the answer – even with knowing what it is!

        I have enjoyed your books and eagerly await each one as it comes out!

        • Mary Kingswood

          You’re right, I should have explained it in the book! Luce is a very well-educated girl, so she knows about Roman numerals. Here’s the solution:

          ‘Before a circle let appear, [The circle is ‘O’]
          Twice twenty-five and five in rear; [Twice 25 is 50 – ‘L’ in Roman numerals, and five is ‘V’]
          One fifth of eight subjoin and then [One fifth of eight is – the letter ‘E’!]
          You’ll quickly find what conquers man.’ [‘LOVE’]

          Sorry it was so hard!

          • Nikki

            Thank you! Roman numerals never occurred to me! I was trying to work it out with the numerical value of the letters (A=1 etc.). Obviously I was making it much too hard for myself!!

  16. Rix Scaedu

    I very much enjoyed the first two books in the Stranger series, so I went back and read the prequel novella.

    I know have suspicions. Possibly unfounded suspicions, and nothing that would hold up in a court of law. It’s a good thing investigators are already in the village, isn’t it?

    • Mary Kingswood

      LOL! The prequel novellas are designed to arouse suspicions, so you may be on the right track. And yes, it will be very handy to have Captain Edgerton and Mr Willerton-Forbes already in the village. 😉

  17. Karen Lauther

    I just finished Dulcie and would love to read the Novela about Mary before I begin Grace. I am a fan. I started with Silver Linings series and enjoyed all of them thoroughly. I love how your characters are interlaced throughout the books I have read so far. Please let me know how to obtain book 4.5 of the series.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Karen, all you need to do is to sign up to my mailing list to get access to all the free novellas. That way, you’ll also hear about new releases, too. If you don’t want to sign up, just email me at mary@marykingswood.co.uk, and I’ll send you the link privately.

  18. Elizabeth

    I’m enjoying the new series very much. I think it might be my favorite scenario, with a new person arriving in a community with recurring characters that we get to know a little more through each book. The maps are great, too.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you, Elizabeth. A lot of readers have said that they enjoy that aspect of the series. It’s also fun for me to develop characters throughout the series. Watch out for mousy Miss Beasley, who gets her own romance in book 4. 🙂

  19. Susan Forbes

    What a lovely surprise to find Stranger At The Grove on my Kindle this morning! I’ve already finished it, well, devoured it and will be preordering the next one. I thoroughly enjoy your writing and can’t wait for what’s next.

      • Barbara Anderson

        Thanks for another intriguing book. Loved it as all your other books. Your inventiveness and imagination combined with your understanding of all things Regency provide your readers with a huge amount of enjoyment. It is a delight also to read grammatically correct texts. There are so many poorly written books on the market which irritate rather than entertain.
        I’m greatly looking forward to the next instalment in this delightful series.

  20. Dora Duarte

    Just started on the Daughters of Allamont, and have to say that I quite enjoyed it. Will start on Belle’s story next, which I think will be even better than Amy’s.

    Thanks!

    • Mary Kingswood

      I think (hope) you’ll like Belle’s story – it’s possibly my favourite of the series. Very different from Amy. Happy reading!

  21. Susan Robson

    I just discovered audiobooks this year, and have really enjoyed the Sons of the Marquess series, and the Daughters of Allamont Hall. I am trying to be patient to wait for Hope’s story in this format as well 🙂 You are very talented and I thank you for the hours of entertainment and escape from the “real” world.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Hope’s audiobook is coming! It is currently awaiting approval from Audible, so I hope it will be live there in a week or two. I should also get it uploaded to other sites within the next few days, so it will available to buy at a lower price than Audible from my Authors-Direct page. You can check that out from the Audio books tab, above.

  22. Lisa Beasley

    Just finished book one of your new Strangers series. Though I’m not typically a fan of mystery novels this one has me hooked! I so enjoy your new characters and their histories and experiences and was pleased to see old friends from previous novels make an appearance. I look forward to the next adventure. I’ve read all of your series and enjoy each and every story. What a gift you have for crafting a character and the surrounding village and secondary folks who help bring the story to life. Thank you for giving me hours of joy during this difficult year.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Lisa, thank you so much for the kind words. I’m so glad you enjoyed the book, and that it helped alleviate some of the stress of this dark year. Books are a wonderful escape for me too – both reading them and writing them.

    • Carolyn Elmore

      I just read The Painter. What a lovely, well written story. I look forward to reading more of your works.

  23. Ruth Knowles

    I enjoyed reading “Stranger At The Dower House”. I was intrigued with the mysteries within the story and the way they came to an end…. I love your writing style….. makes me want to keep reading..

  24. Brenda

    I have read every book you have written, thus far. I was reading the Stranger at Dower House, again, and I was visiting here, hoping to see if you had a link somewhere to the map, or the “trees.” I have a Kindle Paperwhite, and while the text can be enlarged, the graphics cannot.

    However, thank you again for your lovely stories, and lovely words.

  25. Deana Alzapiedi

    I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading all your books I discovered you last year and have read all your wonderful stories in sequence. I have just finished the first Stranger book and I loved it I have already pre ordered book 2 thank you for giving me hours of pleasurable reading and keep on writing.

  26. Cathie Vaughn

    I know you’ve mapped out story lines for your Stranger series but please, please , please let Louisa & Lawrence have children together….TWINS! please!
    PS have read all your books and love your plots and detailed stories! You are my FIRST Regency writthe Silver Linings series…I was hooked and went and read ALL your other books! I live how characters overlap and inter-marry etc among the various books.someone HAS to catch Mr. Wilburton (Viola?) And Mr. Chandry!

  27. Cathie Vaughn

    I know you’ve mapped out story lines for your Stranger series but please, please , please let Louisa & Lawrence have children together….TWINS! please!
    PS have read all your books and love your plots and detailed stories! You are my FIRST Regency writthe Silver Linings series…I was hooked and went and read ALL your other books! I live how characters overlap and inter-marry etc among the various books.someone HAS to catch Mr. Wilburton (Viola?) And Mr. Chandry! .

    • Mary Kingswood

      Keep reading the series to find out if Louisa and Laurence have children! 😀 I don’t think Mr Willerton-Forbes is a marrying man, but someone just may catch Michael Chandry (I haven’t found out yet how that ends up).

      • Cathie Vaughn

        Awesome….and thank you not only for your books, but answering your fans…you are truly the best!

  28. Yvette R

    I have read 2 of your series, and am working on another (not much time on my hands), but I wanted to say that I enjoyed the comment that you made to someone several months ago (I’ve been reading various Welcome! replies) that you weren’t going to go farther into the story of one of the side characters because their marriage was too complicated, and it was more fun to leave it to the reader’s imagination.

    This made me smile because it reminds me of an issue with Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver mystery series (written from 1928 to her death in the 1960s). There are repeated references throughout the series to “the case of the poisoned caterpillars.” There are 32 books in the series, and you keep expecting to get a more complete story of the poisoned caterpillars, but it never happens – just vague and sinister references. After reading the books, you start to get a picture of her snickering to herself every time she refers to the poisoned caterpillars in another story.

  29. Alison Hiltabidle

    So, I started with the Allamont Hall series; then I just found the Strangers series. So, of course, I had to get the rest. I will say that you are fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

  30. ail cyl

    Ms. Kingswood, I have been enjoying your work and have read several of your series. You are such an excellent writer. For example, I quite disliked Lord Gilbert; however, by the end of the book, you had brought me around to liking him! But expecially I wanted to thank you so much for including your unique and sly sense of humor, liberally sprinkled through your stories, yet adapted to the voice of each individual character or situation. Those one liners, or a paragraph, which snag my eyes and cause me to laugh. They are very much appreciated!

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you for the compliments – sly sense of humour! I like that description. 🙂 I must admit, it’s a challenge to take a thoroughly spoilt, arrogant character like Gil and make him a bit more likable. I don’t know if you’ve read the previous series, The Daughters of Allamont Hall, but I think Dulcie from that series was the biggest challenge in that way. She was pretty horrible in the first three books, and I really didn’t know if I could redeem her at all!

  31. Minna

    I have been enjoying your books but there seems to be a timeline discrepancy in The Companion that’s been bugging me so I’m hoping you can clear it up. You write that Margaret was in the tower until Wednesday but at the same time it’s clear that Mel comes to find her on Monday. Audley said he went to look for her that morning after staying in his inn on Sunday and by the end of the day they go to the tower. That timeline also holds true for Mel’s activities from Sunday to Monday. It’s just Margaret’s that’s off. Am I missing something? Appreciate you shedding light on this!

    • Mary Kingswood

      It’s a long time since I wrote The Companion, so I had to reread that section of the book to check and I believe you’re right! I think the intention was to spread all the searching by Mel and Audley over a couple of days, because, to be honest, they do far too much jumping around for one day, but somehow all mention of the intervening nights got edited out. And in two years and thousands of copies sold, you are the first person to spot the error – well done!

      • Minna

        Haha, thanks! I do a lot of editing at work so I guess little details stick in my mind. Glad to know I wasn’t missing something obvious. Thank you for the quick response. Now I can stop wondering 🙂

  32. Jen-Maree

    I’ve just finished Sons of the Marquess series – love it, like everything you write Mary! Do you have any plans for Lady Harriet? I know she says she doesn’t need to be married, but I do so love a HEA for everyone 🙂 and I know she would be a great character to match with a clever man. It could give you the opportunity to give any last details of Mr Sharp’s deceptions and wrong doings… any more mysteries there left to solve? Blessings, J-M

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you so much for the kind words. Regarding Lady Harriet, she does eventually marry and find her own HEA, somewhat unconventionally, as she is not a conventional lady, however, I won’t be giving her her own book. If you go on to the next series, the Sisters of Woodside, and read book 4, The Seamstress, carefully, you should be able to work out Harriet’s story. 🙂 If not, email me at mary@marykingswood.co.uk.

      • Jen-Maree

        Oh, I have read that book, but I don’t remember that reference and didn’t know the connection, I’ll go back and read it again. I’m reading Dulcie ATM. I so love your work, you are a modern day Jane Austen 🙂 Blessings JM

  33. Nicky Manning

    Loved the final book of the Silver Linings series, in fact loved it so much i have started again from The Widow. Its even better the second time!
    May even now have to re-read the Sisters series.

    • Mary Kingswood

      So happy to hear that! If you’re rereading, I highly recommend you read the prequel novella first, The Clerk, which tells the story of the wreck of the Brig Minerva and how Ginny rescued Jonathan Ellsworthy. The ebook is free! All you have to do is sign up to my mailing list (you can unsubscribe afterwards, if you want), or email me at mary@marykingswood.co.uk for the link. Reading it makes The Duke far more resonant, I think.

      • Nicky

        I read The Clerk ages ago, and re-read it prior to The Duke…..now Ive started re-reading this series, and its betterthan the first time through, i am going to re-read all your other books. Hopefully will keep me occupied til the new series starts.
        As i go through i am going to have to make notes of all the connections to other books. Loved picking up the connections in the Widow.

        • Mary Kingswood

          I’m glad you’re enjoying the reread, and finding the connections. Don’t know whether you’ve discovered it yet, but I’ve added a section called ‘Isn’t that what’s his name?’ at the front and back of all the Silver Linings books, pointing out the characters who’ve come from other books.

  34. Kare!n Lee Scraga

    Thank you for solving the Benefactor mystery as well as the loss of Brig Minerva. I find your novels so engaging that chores are frequently skipped in favor of “one more chapter.” I am forced to limit my reading, but then find the taking up of it again even more of a treat, a reward in fact. My appreciation to you for the countless hours your works have provided me.

  35. C Allen

    Ms. Kingswood, for clean romance stories. Thank you also for saving my Saturday–a dark, gloomy and extremely wet day. Perfect reading. Then I remembered it was September 12 and The Duke was available. It was wonderful while also being almost agonizing a time or two.

    Just one case you want to know, there was a slight error in content when in Chaper 3 Ruth is riding a lively young mare, but a couple pages over her mount was referred to as a he.

    Again, thank you for the wonderful books–they are always something to which I look forward.

    • Mary Kingswood

      So glad you enjoyed the read, and that it brightened a gloomy day! And thank you so much for spotting the error. I’ve noted it and will fix it asap.

  36. Barbara St John

    Can we get a glimpse of a married Caroline and Charles in the “The Duke” ?
    They are my favorite couple by far in your books. I love an epilogue.

    • Mary Kingswood

      I’m so glad you like them – I do too! I’m not sure I can squeeze them into The Duke, though – there’s so much going on already and the connection was very fleeting. If you like to see the couples after they’re together, you’ll probably enjoy the series I’m working on at the moment. The whole series is set in a single village, so the same characters recur throughout and the couple who pair up in the earlier books will pop up in the later ones. Not quite an epilogue but a bit of a ‘catchup’. 🙂

    • Mary Kingswood

      The easiest way to download it is to sign up to the mailing list. All the novellas are available for free download that way. Alternatively, email me at mary@marykingswood.co.uk and I’ll send you the link.

  37. Maria Phelan

    Thank you Mary Kingswood for all you write. I love all your regency books and have them all. You have become my favorite author and I put you right up there with my other favorite author Catherine Cookson.

  38. Rhon

    I really enjoyed your books! I am reading about the sisters 1 is a governess and she married the boss well the owner and then the other 1 i read is a companion and she’s married above herself both were great reads.. I was wondering though if that did happen in that time Would the neighbors accept them as equals Or would they ostracized them? Also,If the sister killed those babies that were her brothers shouldn’t she have been punished.She is a murderer of babies and yet her father allows her to marry. If you consider that marriage in those days meant having children it’s very risky to allow her that Privilege.And although her children with not have stopped her from living after her husband’s death They could in fact stop her from inheriting a large amount of money to support herself So it makes makes you wonder why he would put other human beings in jeopardy By allowing her any Freedom At all. I understand all the reasoning you used to not lock Her up but in reality he just put his future grandchildren in danger. I did notice that he was willing to lock up his wife but not his daughter On far less evidence.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Society was very pragmatic in those days, especially about a woman who married ‘up’, as it were. So long as she behaves according to society’s expectations and produces the heir and the spare, she’ll be accepted, although some high-sticklers would always be a bit snooty about it.

      As far as Deirdre Kingsley is concerned, I probably should have spelt out her fate a bit more clearly. Obviously, the family wanted to hush up any scandal, but also get her away from England so she couldn’t be a threat to any future children. I don’t think she would ever be a threat to her own children, only to her brothers. However, I left it fairly vague as to what actually became of her, and I plan to revisit her fate in a future book.

  39. Kristen

    I am new to reading romance novels and I discovered your wonderful writing December 19, 2019. I stayed up past midnight last night (February 18, 2020) reading the last of all of your Regency novels to date and have March 13 on my calendar for The Painter. It has been such a delight being immersed in the world you’ve created, getting to know your characters, and learning about how they are interrelated. Thank you for keeping me enthralled and entertained so very well! Now that I’ve sped through the books I’ll have to go back and re-read them at a more leisurely pace (and in the proper order!). 🙂 I also look forward to your fantasy fiction, which will be up next on my reading list. Thank you again for many hours of enjoyment!! You do wonderful work.

    • Mary Kingswood

      What a lovely comment to read – thank you so much for the kind words. Be aware that the characters in my fantasy books are very different from my prim and proper Regency ladies and gents, and don’t shy away from sex and cussing. 🙂

      • Patricia Lambert

        Thanks for the warning. I’ll stick to the Regency books; they are perfect. I learn several new words in every one of your books. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

  40. Deena

    Hello, everytime a read about dinner scenes it irks me. So here it goes: in UK, dinner seating was always by rank. Always. Even getting escorted in was structured for the ranking.
    Mostly enjoy your interweaved stories. But found Sharp far, far too unbelievable. And Gil’s mistress would never have scandalous. To remain in Connie’s home. It would have been far too scandoulous.

    • Deena

      Using phone so the sentence on mistress messed up completely : but cannot edit nor delete.
      Also, I do enjoy 90% your work! Which is saying a whole lot!!!!

    • Mary Kingswood

      I’m always wary of the word ‘always’! The Regency was set between the very relaxed Georgians and very stuffy, rule-bound Victorians, and a lot of things were changing. It also depended on the circumstances – a very formal dinner in town would certainly work by rank, but in rural parts or for less formal meals, people sat where they wanted. Jane Austen certainly allows her characters to do so. My books are set slightly pre-Regency, so I allow my characters to be less formal if they wish.

      As for Gil’s former mistress, she wasn’t a courtesan who was kept by him, she was a viscountess who still lived with her husband, and a more-or-less respectable member of society.

  41. Paula Miller

    I’m looking for your book that contains the story about Lady Harriet and Dr Hays. I’ve enjoyed all of your books. The interrelationships between families makes your books so rich.

    • Mary Kingswood

      I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that’s one story that will never be written. Their marriage is a complicated one, which I prefer to leave readers to ponder for themselves.

      • Lorraine Epand

        I opened the forum also to find out about lady Harriet. When did she marry?

        • Mary Kingswood

          Lorraine, Lady Harriet married sometime after the end of ‘Lord Gilbert’ and before the start of ‘The Governess’. That’s all I know about it!

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you for the kind words. I tend not to go back to characters once they’ve reached their happy endings – there are always so many new chatacters to discover!

  42. Galadrielle

    Dear Mary, I just finished reading the Governess and I am quite hooked to the story of Annabelle and her sisters of Woodside ! I shall continue to read their stories very soon. Congratulations on the beautiful writing ! Jane Austen would certainly be proud 🙂

  43. Xóchit Martínez

    Hello!!! I love your stories, !!! But muy english Is not very good, do you have your books un spanish??? Please say yes!!!! Saludos desde Monterrey!!!

  44. Marion Hughes

    I just finished rereading the Sisters of Woodside. I am eagerly awaiting the third book in The Silver Lining series. I may reread the Sons series as I wait. I enjoy your recency novels as they stay mainly in the drawing room and leave the rest to the reader’s imagination.I
    I grew up in a ranch in West Texas and was reading Louis L’Amour and Georgette Heyer, with a little Dragons of Pern. Honor was the main thread among them.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Loved the Pern books! Yes, honour is so important to a Regency gentleman, and I love writing honourable heroes, and heroines who value their virtue. So many readers comment that a book without sex is very important to them, and as a writer, I prefer to follow Heyer’s traditional and stay out of the bedroom.

    • Sher Piper

      I completely agree. If I happen to buy a book with extremely descriptive bedroom scenes I totally skip over them. I love your books that contain the Drawing Room scenes, NOT BEDROOM scenes.

      • Lorraine Epand

        I skip them also. A complete waste of time. It is the story that is important and yours are great thank you.

  45. Ealasaid

    I have a question that occurred to me way back when I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time, and again recently when I read The Lacemaker: Why was it considered so rude in Regency times to introduce yourself to someone? Why did you have to wait for a third party to perform an introduction? I remember my young self being puzzled that Mr. Collins shouldn’t approach Mr. Darcy, given that they had an acquaintance in common (Darcy’s aunt).

    • Mary Kingswood

      I think it’s because being introduced to someone implied a great deal more than it does nowadays. Once introduced, you were committed to acknowledging that person and therefore recognising them as someone worth knowing. If you passed them on the street or met at a party, you would be obliged to at least bow to them, and possibly speak to them. You might even be expected to introduce them into your ‘circle’. So you had to be absolutely sure you wanted to know them in the first place. Thus it was always the higher in rank who requested or approved the introduction, because they were the ones who would be most particular about who they knew.

  46. Rochelle Worthing

    I am so happy to find you and your books! No silly tales about dukes and earls…just real people. I am now reading “The Companion”, after finishing the first two books in the series. I’m also going to read your fantasy books as I read mostly Fantasy and SciFi. Your new fan, Rochelle

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you so much for the kind words, Rochelle! If you try the fantasy books, be aware that they’re not ‘clean’ like my Regencies are – there’s cussing and sex in them! But if that doesn’t bother you, I hope you enjoy them.

      • Mary Emery

        Excuse me, but what fantasy books? All I can find by Mary Kingswood are regency stories, which I love, but I’m hungry for good sci f/fantasy.

        • Mary Kingswood

          I write epic fantasy under my real name, Pauline M Ross, but be warned, they’re not the gentle, sex-free tales of the Regencies – plenty of sex and violence (as with almost all epic fantasy – like Game of Thrones!). You can find out more here: http://paulinemross.co.uk/

  47. Cecilia Guice

    I can not get enough , I have read and enjoyed all your books. I want to continue after he Widow with the Lacemaker and beyond Also free novels Mary .

  48. Pat Hathaway

    I just finished The Clerk and really liked it. I was going to look for the rest of the books in the series so I could read book six and see the rest of Jonathan’s story, but it appears that book is not available yet, right? Any idea when it might be ready for reading? I’m really curious about his history and just what his true identity is. He seems to be hiding something and that makes for some fun
    possibilities. I hope he and Ginny have a HEA.

    • Mary Kingswood

      This series is still in progress, so unfortunately you have something of a wait! The final book in the series, which reveals Jonathan’s history, won’t be released until September 2020. You will find out a little bit more about him in book 5, due out in June 2020. Sorry!

  49. Ealasaid

    Will we ever get the story of how Harriet Marford married Dr. Hay? Reading the Woodside series, particularly The Seamstress, made me wonder a bit about the nature of their marriage.

    • Mary Kingswood

      I don’t have any plans to write about it. I think there’s enough information given in The Seamstress to work out the unconventional nature of the marriage, and to suggest why Harriet might have married Dr Hay. The arrangement works to everyone’s advantage.

      • Cathie Vaughn

        I feel Harriet deserves a full “love” stories,comparable to her brothers. Hasn’t she suffered enough as the old maid spinster….please write her story…

        • Mary Kingswood

          Cathie, I really don’t feel qualified to write Harriet’s love story. She’s found happiness in her own unconventional way, so I’m content to leave that particular story unsaid.

  50. Rita Wings

    I am not fond of romances in general, but I read the Governess and was hooked. Near the end, I turned every page afraid that it would be the end. I am pleased that not only do I have more books to read, but you wrote a satisfying end to this book–unlike many authors of series who leave us hanging to try to entice us to buy the next one.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you, Rita! I’m not a big fan of contemporary romances, but historical romance offers such a different perspective, and traditional Regencies in particular focus heavily on the manners and mores of the era, in the classic style of Georgette Heyer and the incomparable Jane Austen. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.

  51. Jane Carey

    Hello, I know that I’ve signed up for your mailing list at least two times, but somehow I still don’t receive your emails?… I do hear from Amazon when one of your books comes out but not from your email list. Could you please send me any emails to all of your ebooks which I may download?
    Thank you so much for your books! I think I’ve read them all except for the new one that just came out (and your ebook links!) I so enjoy your books!

    • Mary Kingswood

      Jane, I’ve checked the mailing list and the email you’re using now is definitely signed up and is registered as opening every email that was sent, so I don’t know quite what is happening there. I have emailed the address you’re using now with the links to all the free downloads. If you don’t receive it, and it isn’t in your spam folder, then email me directly at mary@marykingswood.co.uk and we’ll try to sort it out.

      • Anne

        I have just finished the first 3 books of Sons of the Marquess. I truly enjoyed the stories and am determined to find out if the dastardly Sharpe/Harcourt/Ballard is caught, stripped of all purloined gains and punished! Thank you for your delightful storytelling.

        • Mary Kingswood

          Thank you for the kind words. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series, and that you feel that Sharp gets his just desserts!

  52. Texaslonghorn

    I must tell you that I think your books are delightful and I particularly like them because they are set in the drawing room and not the bedroom. I am a 78 year old cowboy from Texas and my wife got me started on Georgette Heyer several years ago and I have been hooked on regency era romance and history ever since. I have 6 of your books and will eventually collect them all. I abhor the writers who do not take the time to research proper titles and how peers should be addressed. Thank you for your books.

    • Mary Kingswood

      I’m delighted to know that I have a cowboy reading my books! I’m so glad that you enjoy them, and you are definitely not alone in liking a story that stays in the drawing room. Many, many of my readers feel the same way. It’s a shame there are so few writers catering to that style of book. Give my regards to Texas. I lived in Houston for a while many years ago, and have fond memories of the place and of Texans. Happy reading, cowboy!

        • Mary Kingswood

          If you click on the Woodside cover in the sidebar, you’ll be taken to your local Amazon to buy it (or borrow, if you have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited).

  53. Tracy Cagliero

    Hi – I don’t think I received the prequel to the Silver Linings Mysteries yet and I’m on your mailing list, how can I get it?

      • Tuna Hodgson

        Hi Mary
        Was so excited to see a new series. I am on your mailing list but didn’t get The Clerk?

        • Mary Kingswood

          You should have had an email from the list when it was released – the middle of last month. Or if you signed up after that it should have been in the welcome email. Maybe it went in the spam folder? But not to worry, I’ve emailed you the link. I hope you enjoy the read!

  54. Gale

    In what order should I read each series? I already 3 books in to “The Daughters of Allamont Hall”. Which series should I read after this?

    • Mary Kingswood

      Hi Gale! After The Daughters of Allamont Hall, I’d recommend you move on to Sons of the Marquess, starting with Lord Reginald, and then the Sisters of Woodside Mysteries, beginning with The Governess. Although the three series can be read in any order, some characters pop up in more than one series and it’s more fun if you know their complete history.

  55. Flo Adar

    I am a new member (I think), but must commend you on all the research you have done to write about men and women with titles during the Regency. And I agree that you also should use your own voice. Yet don’t let the love scenes get too soppy. Georgette Heyer never did. I have just finished The Seamstress and am ready for the final one in a wonderful series.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you for the kind words, Flo! Glad you’re enjoying the books.

  56. Deborah Lawson

    Chiming in from Bloomington, indiana. I’m just beginning The Companion and looking forward to eventually learning Jeremy’s fate. I’m thoroughly enjoying your gentle Regency romance-mysteries.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you, Deborah, and hello to Bloomington. 🙂 One of the joys of being a published author these days is ‘meeting’ readers from all over the world. We may live thousands of miles apart, but we have a common interest in the way of life in the Regency era.

  57. Alma

    I feel really guilty because for the past month I have done very little housework or any of the jobs I should have done. My problem has been putting your books down.

    Now I really am going to have a break from reading, for a couple of days anyway, and I shall clear my conscience by doing some housework and ironing and silly things like that.
    .

    • Mary Kingswood

      Alma, I have a similar problem – I neglect the ironing because I’m so caught up in writing these books. 🙂 I’m so glad you found the books unputdownable, even if the housework suffered a bit.

    • Angela Oddo

      So, I just finished reading the first book in your New Silver Linings series, wonderful by the way, and couldn’t take the time to get the clothes out of the dryer before they wrinkled. I just threw in a damp towel and sent them around again while I’m downloading Lacemaker! Much more important to read than to iron, don’t you agree? I promised myself for the last 10 years that once I retired, I would read to my heart’s content, and so far I’m keeping that promise.

      • Mary Kingswood

        This made me laugh! I’m very much of your mind – reading is FAR more important than ironing! Although I’ve found an unexpected use for the iron now that I’m an author. Whenever I get stuck on a tricky plot point, I go and iron a few shirts. It’s astonishing how often the plot problems get sorted out that way (and there are clean shirts, too – win win!). Thank you for the kind words and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the books.

        • Jean

          So glad to hear others have the same problem with not being able to put your books down Mary! It is not just the housework, you are so totally responsible for the sky high weeds in my garden. I am really enjoying the Strangers series …..Stranger at the Villa was so absorbing, a real page turner with a very determined heroine and a touching hero . Thank you so much for brightening my days during lockdown. I live on my own and have missed my family a lot but have been able to ” borrow” the families you have created even though my self discipline has totally disappeared!

          • Mary Kingswood

            So glad that my little stories have been company during lockdown. I’ve been reading a lot more, too, and taking great comfort in retreating into the world of two hundred years ago – not a perfect time, by any means, but a lot simpler than the present day. Sorry about the weeds. 🙁

  58. Jennifer Ratzlaff

    I very much enjoyed the Woodside series, the characters were delightful
    and the mysteries kept me guessing. I have always enjoyed the Regency
    Period too. I look forward to reading your new series in June.
    Jenny, Vancouver, Canada

    • Mary Kingswood

      Jenny, thank you so much for the kind words, and I’m delighted that you enjoyed the Woodside series!

  59. Cd

    I think I started reading your books about a year and a half ago. I was amazed at the quality of your writing. It’s very good.

    I enjoyed the Woodside series and am finishing up Fanny’s story before I read Woodside.

    You have a big fan on the Southside of Chicago.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you for your kind words! How lovely to know that my words, written in the Highlands of Scotland, are being read in Chicago. We may be far apart in miles, but united in our enjoyment of the Regency era. Happy reading!

  60. Virginia Jones

    This was my first time to read any of your books. I thourouly enjoyed this 3 book box set of the Daughters of Allamont Hall. I left a review on Amazon.

    • Mary Kingswood

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the read, and thank you for taking the time to write a review – every review is much appreciated.

      • Nancy McKeever

        Hello

        I have just finished reading Dulcie, my favourite of all your books though I have to say I loved them all, and ordered most in advance I would love to get Mary: The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 4.5 the novella. but do not seem to be able to download it. Let me know what I can do , meantime I am about to order Grace, perhaps you could send someone to do the house work while I get on with my reading Nancy

        • Mary Kingswood

          Nancy, I’d love someone to do my housework, too, so I could get on with writing! Mary is a free gift to all my mailing list subscribers, so all you have to do to get it is to click the signup button on the website. You’ll also get the other free novellas (there’s one for each series), and the first notice of new books, special deals and giveaways.

  61. Dawn Newton

    Thank you, I loved reading about Amy,Belle and Connie. I look forward to reading the rest when I can afford to.

  62. Karen Parker

    I have read all of your books now, having just completed Woodside. I was having a yippee moment thinking a NEW series. Not out yet. Boo hiss. Your books are excellent with great story lines, Please continue your work. I have greatly enjoyed each one of them.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you for the kind words, and I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the books! I love writing them, so they will keep coming for a while yet. 🙂

      • Celia Jolley

        Your books leave me so sad, because they are over. Thank you for the preview of things to come.

        • Mary Kingswood

          I’m glad you enjoyed them, but sorry you’re sad. 🙁 Lots more books to come, with luck.

  63. Ealasaid

    Also, why was trade considered so terrible in the 19th century? I recall reading something similar in Jane Austen.

    • Mary Kingswood

      This is an interesting question. Yes, Jane Austen was slightly scathing about the fact that Mr Bingley’s wealth had come from trade (unspecified), and the Bennet sisters’ aunt and uncle, the Gardners, lived in London “within sight of their own warehouses”. England in Regency times was incredibly class-conscious, and there were lots of invisible lines drawn to differentiate the higher ranks from the lower. The royal family was the top of the heap, then the nobility in order (dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, barons), then the upper gentry (baronets, knights) and then the rest of the gentry (people of independent means, living on rents from land or interest on investments). Below that were all the poor souls who had to work for a living. The professions (lawyers, clergymen, army officers, etc) were treated like gentlemen, but below that you got the merchants and shopkeepers (trade! eek!), with whom persons of quality would never mix, except to buy stuff from them. And below that, the vast mass of the population, the labouring classes.

      We still have the same sort of invisible lines between ranks nowadays, but the distinctions are more subtle, not just based on titles and/or money, but to do with whether you have the latest iPhone or buy organic bananas. 🙂 The nuances of the class system are endlessly fascinating, aren’t they?

  64. Ealasaid

    I have a question about the Woodside series. In what part of England is Brinshire County located?

    • Mary Kingswood

      Brinshire is a county of my own invention – squeezed into an imaginary space between Staffordshire and Shropshire. I use a mixture of real and imaginary places to give me the maximum flexibility.

      • Ealasaid

        I realized it wasn’t a real county when I tried to google it but I wanted to have an idea of its relative position to Lancashire and London. I finished Woodside today and it might be my favorite of the Woodside series. I really liked both protagonists, and I enjoyed the mystery/puzzle plots of this series. One of the aspects I appreciate most in your books is that the characters seem like true characters of that time, and not like modern characters merely placed in a Regency setting.

        • Mary Kingswood

          It occurred to me after talking to you that it might be helpful to put a map on the website so that people can see where all these places are! In the new series, my characters are down in Cornwall and Hampshire, the southern-most parts of England. Lord Carrbridge’s home, Drummoor, is up in Yorkshire, very much in the north, while ‘Brinshire’ is the Midlands. And then Shropshire, the setting for Lucy’s and Margaret’s stories, is right on the Welsh border, so some of the characters and names were Welsh. Well, it makes a change from London and Bath, doesn’t it?

          • Ealasaid

            That would be great. I’m familiar with the location of most of the English counties on the perimeter of the country, but I get a bit lost with regard to the ones in the middle. When you announced your new series about a shipwreck off Cornwall, I thought of Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn. I guess that technically takes place in the Regency period, though I’ve never considered it to be of that genre of novels.

  65. Susan Forbes

    I was both delighted and saddened to reach the end of the Woodside series; a very clever and satisfying end to an enjoyable series. I’m looking forward to your next series, of which you have given out a sample chapter. Your “Sons of the Marquess” and Allamont Hall series were also wonderful reading.

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you, Susan! It really makes my day when readers take the trouble to write and tell me that they’ve enjoyed the books – your comments are much appreciated.

      • Susan Forbes

        I have just finished “The Widow” and enjoyed both the new story and seeing characters from the other books. I’ll be looking forward to the following books of the series.

        Your writing is lovely, not a word out of place and not a single jarring note.

        • Mary Kingswood

          Susan, thank you so much for the kind words, and I’m delighted that you enjoyed The Widow.

  66. Beth Lyons

    I have just finished the Sons of the Marquess series, having already read the Woodside and Allamont series (except of course the yet to be released final book in the Woodside series). I am sad to be done with them! I look forward to your next series!

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m delighted that you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read. 🙂

  67. mo

    The Betrothed
    Thank you, Mary Kingswood.
    Reading The Betrothed was truly a pleasure.
    The book is definitely a treasure!

    mo

  68. David Buckland

    For men, a liking for Regency romance tends to be viewed as a guilty pleasure (I own up), though I note that Georgette Heyer’s legion of fans includes Stephen Fry, who unveiled a Blue Plaque in her honour recently.

    Surveys of the huge American market for romance titles indicate that male readers are c. 15% of the whole, which given the massive size of this sector of publishing implies a significant male readership (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-rodale/who-is-the-the-romance-novel-reader_b_7192588.html – this is for romance readers as a whole, but would there be any reason to suggest that the proportion was less for Regencies?).

    • Mary Kingswood

      Wow, 15% is huge! I had no idea it was as big a market as that. And I imagine it would be similar in the Regency sub-genre, too. Perhaps more so? Maybe the history aspect would appeal to men in particular? Anyway, gentleman readers are more than welcome.

  69. Marc Chavez

    I’ve greatly enjoyed the Woodside books and look forward to the last, when we officially discover what happened to the younger brother. I look forward to reading more of your delightful books, and man enough to say I enjoy a good Regency romance!

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you, Marc! I suspect that quite a few gentlemen enjoy reading Regency romances, although they may be too shy to admit to it!

  70. Mary Kingswood

    Nicole, you can read Mary’s story free when you sign up for the mailing list via the Sign up! button above. Alternatively, email me direct via the Contact page.

  71. Fran Moree

    I really have enjoyed your series of the Woodside mysteries. Looking forward to the conclusion.
    Fran

  72. Elaine Graf

    I apologize for my own mistakes above! I did not edit it correctly. I do appreciate you writing books that are drawing room rather than bedroom!

  73. Elaine Graf

    I have been enjoying your Woodside books. I was disappointed that the final one won’t be out until March. In one of your books, you provided the opportunity for readers to correct you on appropriate time. Information. My concern is a grammatical construction that you have used many times. It seems to me that in a sentence like the one that follows, you should have written either just the word “nor”, or you should have written “but neither”.

    She could not imagine what Mel had said to drive him away with his object not attained, but nor could she imagine what the viscount had to say to her.

    The use of both “but” and “nor has” two conjunctions in a row. Was this proper during the Regency era?

    • Mary Kingswood

      Thank you! I think you are right, although I’ve been doing it wrong for so many years now that I’m not sure I can change now!

      • Rix Scaedu

        I admit that during the period I was in school the teaching of English grammar was rather sketchy in my country, but I’m not sure that the quoted sentence does have two conjunctions. Could “but nor” count as a compound conjunction? Or an idiomatic compound one?
        I think the construction avoids “neither/nor” when the two things aren’t direct opposite choices, and it avoids the second phrase being “but she could not imagine…” or “Also she could not imagine…” Also, “nor” sounds more straight down the line to me while “but nor” suggests there might have been other thoughts. (Honestly, the more I think about it, the more “but nor” sounds like the most elegant solution.)

        • Mary Kingswood

          Gosh, I had to search a long way down to find the comment you were replying to! I’m not really a grammar guru, so I tend to go with whatever just sounds right to my ears. It pleases me, though, that more learned people than I spend time analysing these constructions. Thank you for an interesting comment.

    • Deborah Lawson

      This is a matter of voice, in my opinion. If writers become too concerned with the perfection of language, we run the risk of stripping away a out voice and individuality. Know the rules but don’t let them paralyze you. Be yourself.