Holly Newman is a pseudonym for Holly Thompson. She lives in Florida seven miles from the Gulf Coast with Ken and their six cats. Holly decided to be a writer when she was in the fifth grade and filled notebooks with stories—until a mean-spirited high school teacher told her she had no talent for writing. Crushed, for several years she stopped writing, but the writing bug didn’t go away. Her first book won first place in the University of Texas at Dallas fiction writing competition and was first runner-up for the Rita award from Romance Writers of America.
Holly’s interest in the Regency period came while in high school and she volunteered to re-shelve returned books at the community library. Every week there were Georgette Heyer novels to be shelved. Curious, she checked one out and became immersed in the world of the regency.
Fast forward ten years. When attending Science Fiction Conventions she met people who read science fiction; but also enjoyed the works of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, just as she did. They liked these books so much that they wore regency costumes at the science fiction convention. They even had regency era dancing on the convention program. These Science Fiction readers and writers knew a lot about the regency era. Intrigued, Holly did research on the era and quickly went from being a casual regency reader to a regency history buff. After that, with encouragement from science fiction authors, it was just a small step to writing regencies.
From Rogue to Ruin
10 full length romances from 10 bestselling authors, including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers!
From Rogues to Ruin includes TEN Regency and Victorian romances from 10 bestselling authors— full length romances intended to introduce you to fabulous new authors and exciting new series. From Scotland to the moorlands, from ballrooms to seafaring galleys, you’ll find a swoon worthy collection of Dukes, Earls and Lords and the ladies (both wicked and sweet) who love them.
More info →All I Want for Christmas… Is You
Five beloved holiday tales never before presented together in a box set. All I Want for Christmas... Is You features five Regency and Victorian holiday novellas from five beloved authors... available only for a limited time.
More info →Murder in Gold (A Chance Inquiry Book 2)
When newly-weds Sir James and Lady Cecilia Branstoke come to the aid of a new-made widow, somethings don’t add up about the death of her young lord husband. Worse, a man who won’t state his purpose, but is obviously military, wants a carte blanche to search the dead man’s library! The sheer effrontery!
Their search for answers takes the Branstokes and the widow to the white cliffs of Dover and a search for answers from Folkstone to Dover. Is this a murder, or a ruse? And if a ruse, Why?
More info →Murder in Trade (A Chance Inquiry Book 1)
A husband murdered...
A widow's ruse to find the killer...
A nobleman's curiosity...
Lead to a white slavery ring destroyed and a love found...
Although her marriage to George Waddley has been passionless, the beautiful widow Cecilia Haukstrom Waddley vows to unmask the man responsible for her husband's murder. Suspecting the culprit traveled in society circles, she diverts attention from eavesdropping and prying with constant and tiresome complaints of illness.
But nothing is as it seems...
More info →Reckless Hearts
Mountain man Zachariah Connelly regretted his contract to captain Dwayne Marley's Santa Fe trading caravan without complete authority to say who would be part of the company. Unfortunately, Marley had hired the crew before he'd hired Zach. They were a rough mix of mountain men, greenhorns, and fortune hunters.
The daughter of a Charleston society belle and a Spanish diplomat, Savanah spent the first twelve years of her life on a ranchero built on her father's Spanish land grant in Mexico before being sent to live in Charleston to learn to be a lady.
More info →The Rocking Horse: A Regency Christmas Novella
Miss Jocelyn Maybrey held doubts about the life mapped out before her, marriage to a man as active in politics as her father--even if he was the heir to a title. While her parents thrived in the London political social scene, Jocelyn did not share their enjoyment. Did she want to continue as her parents did for all her life?
More info →A Heart in Jeopardy (Flowers & Thorns)
She risked her life for honor... And risked her heart for love.
The scions of Crawford’s Dean did not like the family who rented Leona Leonard’s ancestral home, and so they came to tell her. There was something strange going on in that house.
More info →The Heart’s Companion (Flowers & Thorns)
They say, "Love conquers all," but with loves destroyed and lives damaged by vicious lies, will the Devil's Disciple and The Ice Witch share a passion strong enough to conquer rumor's power?
Miss Jane Grantley—society dubbed her the Ice Witch, London’s most elusive debutante. Janes calm self-assurance and cool green gaze intimidated all but the most calculating of suitors. She scoffed at the many scheming designs on her virtue—and her dowry. Jane swore never to marry for any reason but love. With relief, she left London at the end of the season and settled at her sister’s house with her companion to provide a steady hand to her young nephews while her sister and husband were out of the country. She had just begun to relax and appreciate the rural environment when she learned the Earl of Royce, nicknamed The Devil’s Disciple, had returned to his neighboring ancestral property to see what could be salvaged from years of neglect.
More info →A Grand Gesture (Flowers & Thorns)
When Catherine Shreveton was invited to London to make her debut under the auspices of an aunt, her family insisted she go. In a pique, Catherine disguised herself to look as dull and drab as her aunt supposed her to be, and she kept everyone in the dark about her fortune. But Catherine had not counted on the dashing Marquis of Stefton. This nobleman knew she was an heiress, and he had his doubts about her drab appearance. Wouldn't it be a lark, he mused, to gain the little wren entrée into the most fashionable and prominent circles? And so two pretenders had set their traps unaware that love was the prize.
More info →Honor’s Players (Flowers & Thorns)
Every bachelor in London sought the attentions of the beautiful Helene Monweithe. Unfortunately, pursuit was futile. Helene's father had decreed that she could not wed before her older sister, Elizabeth, wed. Considering Elizabeth's reputation as The Shrew of London, this was cause for alarm.
More info →Gentleman’s Trade: A Regency Gentleman Abroad
Rain fell in sheets that day and, to lovely Vanessa Mannion’s dismay, had turned New Orleans’ main street into one big mud puddle. Even with skirts held high, she could not prevent mud from spattering her gown and legs. That wasn’t half as alarming as being caught with muddy ankles by that arrogant Britisher, Hugh Talverton. Distressed, Vanessa tried to ignore Hugh at a party. But when Creole and plantation beauties swarmed around him, she simmered in irritation and, in a fit of pique, pursued another would-be suitor. How could she have known that her feminine ploy would lead to a tangle of heartstrings, romance awry, and a lesson in love?
More info →Murder with Lilies (A Chance Inquiry Book 3)
For the past six months, since solving the thefts of England’s subsidies meant for its war allies, Lady Cecilia and Sir James Branstoke have concentrated on renovating their estate in Kent. But with most of the work done, and winter approaching, Lady Cecilia is restless. She doesn’t want to hibernate like a bear for the winter. Her husband, Sir James Branstoke, cautions her to be careful of what she wishes for.
More info →