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The Darnalay Castle Series Book 1

Roses in Red Wax (Paperback)

Roses in Red Wax (Paperback)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 600+ 5-Star Reviews

“Reading this book was like being transported to Scotland 200 years ago.”

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Amidst the smoke-choked alleys of Glasgow and the untamed beauty of the Highlands, a spellbinding tale of love and rebellion unfolds.

Jane Stuart has lost everything. Her betrothed, her ancestral castle, and her cherished orchard—her life’s work—have all been ripped away. Now, exiled and adrift in the cold fog of Glasgow, she's numb to the weight of her grief, resigned to a desolate future shrouded in loneliness and grey.

But fate has a different plan.

Percy Sommerbell is a musician, a free spirit who holds nothing but disdain for his industrialist father. But when familial duty forces Percy to travel to Scotland, he’s confronted with a painful truth—a truth that threatens to unravel the very fabric of his carefree existence. His family’s money, the fortune that funds his hedonistic enjoyment of all life’s pleasures, is generated by the suffering of children in his father's mills.

In the midst of Glasgow's smoke and shadows, Percy encounters Jane, a mysterious Highland beauty whose sad eyes and luscious curves promise both distraction from his guilt and inspiration for his music. Against all reason, Jane falls under Percy's spell. But when the mills become the first spark in a violent radical insurgency, their budding connection faces a perilous trial beyond anything they could have imagined.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"A compelling story full of love, secrets, pain and hope that is as riveting as it is heart wrenchingly full of historic truths. I couldn’t put it down."

- Holly, website reviewer

 

 ~An Excerpt from 'Roses in Red Wax'~

She’d made it halfway up the spiral staircase when footsteps sounded below.

“Miss Stuart?”

Of course. It was him.

She said nothing, but she heard him begin to climb, the dull thud of his footfalls breaking the golden silence. 

He rounded a corner, and she could just make him out—a silhouette hidden in shadow. The disheveled black hair. The angled planes of his face. The arch of his brow . . . 

If there were a princess imprisoned in this tower, this was not the chaste prince come to rescue her and carry her away on a white horse. No, this man had arrived on a black stallion. He was the wickedly gorgeous villain who had come, not to rescue, but to ravish.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"A truly beautiful book"

- Gloria, BookBub reviewer

 

Published on March 3, 2023. 282 pages.

Frequently asked questions:

How long will my book take to arrive?

Paperback orders are generally dispatched within 3-5 business days. Shipping times vary by country and shipping method - look for estimated shipping times listed along with the shipping method choices during checkout.

What if I don't like the book? Can I return it?

Yes! If you are unhappy with your paperback for any reason, you may return it within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

What's the steam level?

This novel has two multi-page sex scenes and several other explicit scenes and references.

What are the content warnings?

Roses in Red Wax includes graphic descriptions of child labor, dire poverty, forced isolation and the grief that comes from the death of loved ones. The hero of the novel starts his journey in a place of arrogant privilege, which some readers may find off-putting.

Do you offer book club discounts?

Yes! I'm happy to offer discounts on purchases of three or more books. Email me (louise@louisemayberry.com) with the details and we can work something out.

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  • "I really cannot write just how much I loved this book. At my age, it's harder and harder for me to stay up to finish reading something, but I just couldn't put it down once I was settled in, then next thing I know, it's 3AM!" - Amy

  • "The scenery and setting are developed in a way that guides the reader to envisage, smell, and feel nineteenth century Scotland as if it waits to greet them outside the front door." - Tim

  • "Mayberry artfully weaves a compelling story full of love, secrets, pain and hope that is as riveting as it is heart wrenchingly full of historic truths. I couldn’t put it down..." - Holly

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The Darnalay Castle Series

Step into the early industrial age—a world of radicals and romantics, capitalists and aristocrats—in these evocative, ground-breaking historical romances.

  • Transportive History

    "The scenery and setting are developed in a way that guides the reader to envisage, smell, and feel nineteenth century Scotland as if it waits to greet them outside the front door." - Tim

  • Literary Quality

    "Mayberry’s books are unique in the way they meet at the intersection of romance, historical fiction, and literature. Her writing is exquisite and layered." - Helen

  • Heartrending Romance

    "So good I needed to take a reading break for a couple of days so I could put the pieces of my heart back together." - Amy

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About Me

Hi there! I'm Louise. I write steamy historical novels that blur the lines between romance and historical fiction.

I believe in the transportive power of love, and I'm fascinated by the connection between the past and the present - how threads that were spun hundreds of years ago are still woven into the fabric of our lives today.

My stories are angsty and steamy and full of adventure... and of course they always end with a happily ever after.♥️

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