Anna St. ClAire
Usa Today Bestselling Author
Sweet & Sassy Historical Romance
Dragonblade Titles
Anna St. Claire
is also a Multi-Published
Author with DragonBlade Publishing
The Earl of Excess
A British officer’s life is saved when a young woman and her dog risk their lives and rescue him from beneath dead bodies while trying to escape the New Orleans battlefield before shooting begins.
Welcome to book 1 in the new Rakes of Mayhem series from bestselling author Anna St. Claire!
Colonel Matthew Romney, a favored son of the British military, is gravely wounded during the Battle of New Orleans. With most available British forces dead and his weak pleas for help muffled beneath the dead soldier he lies below, the British report him missing in the aftermath.
Bethany Phillips and her dog visit the Villeré Plantation’s gardens searching for herbs and food and unexpectedly become caught in the crossfire of grapeshot and cannon fire and forced to take cover until the battle ends. When the smoke clears, Bethany follows the sound of a man’s moans and pulls him from beneath a pile of dead soldiers being readied for a mass grave. Bethany saves Matthew’s life but in doing so, threatens her heart and her own life.
Against all odds, sparks fly between Matthew and Bethany. A hired investigator for his father finds Matthew and encourages him to journey home. Matthew and Bethany leave the safety of her home and travel a dangerous path through the wilderness of America and across a ravaged, war-torn ocean to reach his family.
Can their romance survive the dangers and uncertainty that follow them?
★★★★★ "Having grown up along the bayous south of New Orleans, I find the story telling, the use of the locale and speech, to be rather good. I have seen the reenactment of the Battle of New Orleans and it was indeed a bloody battle for the British. The leprosy colony I grew up knowing and visiting in my nurses training was much further up the Mississippi River. Yellow fever was common back then as well. To have woven these facts through the storyline was good. It gave more depth to the story." ~ Brebre716
★★★★★ "What a wonderful start to a new series! Anna St. Claire has done a fabulous job with this one. An engaging tale of class differences in a time and place where the hero and heroine are on equal ground. Our heroine is strong, resourceful, and independent while our hero is wounded, determined, and more than our heroine thinks he is. Ms. St. Claire's descriptive writing has me imagining myself there in that place and time. Worth more than 5 stars!"~ Dee
★★★★★ "Ms. St. Claire has done a wonderful job of providing us with a distinct view of an often overlooked historty specifically The War of 1812 and especially the aftermath of The Battle of New Orleans. Her characters are rich and engaging while her commitment to historical themes and morays of the times is commendable to say the least. I'd highly recommend her new novel to any who love historical or romance. Well done ma'am, well done indeed." ~ fiddlertrain
★★★★★ Loved the entire story. Well written and entertaining. The characters are engaging and kept your attention. The secondary characters are just as colorful and appealing as the main characters. The storyline keeps your attention and the secondary characters leave you wanting to know more about them. All in all another well executed book. Ps. I love the fact that the author always tries to add a puppy into her stories and Dandie definitely doesn't disappoint !!” ~ Heather
★★★★★ “Anna St. Claire has again brought to life a period in America history that shaped our future with the unlikeliest pair of young hearts . The Earl of Excess presents us with a dutiful young Officer from a land far from the bayous of Louisiana who becomes the charge of a young and resourceful strong woman. Beyond her years, Bethany Phillips follows her sturdy moral compass on a path that changes courses for the dutiful Colonel Matthew Romney and her mission to only see he survived his wounds to that of saving the wishes of her own heart. To successfully complete her mission she must have the guidance of her Grandmere who as the rock in Her life must be consulted. The ensuing journey to complete her tasks forces her to enlist assistance which brings her both favor and mayhem. The conclusion of this ordeal has its twist and reminds us that Wars bring out the best and worse of its participants. This is an entertaining and enjoyable read.” ~ Paula Baldwin
RONE FINALIST 2022
The Marquess of Mischief
A chance at love could cost them their lives.
Welcome to book 2, Marquess of Mischief by USA Today Bestselling author Anna St. Claire.
As a second son, Christopher Anglesey never planned to become the Marquess of Banbury. However, his brother's death forced him to assume the title and its responsibilities. Still, he refuses to relinquish his dangerous job with the Crown or marry. His job requires he maintains a presence at most ton events. However, Christopher avoids the marriage-minded mommas and their vapid daughters.
On the heels of a successful first Season, a carriage accident on the way home from London leaves Lady Diana Lawrence blind. She resigns herself to a life without love or marriage and still attends ton gatherings only to please her mother—who still believes love will find her daughter. While attending a museum tour with her best friend, Diana overhears plans to kill the Prince Regent, placing her in the crosshairs of a killer.
Christopher's assignment brings him to the museum, where he discovers a beautiful young woman desperate to escape and recognizes her as his sister's best friend. She may be the one person who can help save the Prince Regent's life. Sparks fly as he tries to protect her and find a killer.
Can they survive the danger that pursues them and gain a chance at love neither thought could happen?
★★★★★ “Well written, full of drama, love, chemistry, romance, mystery, intrigue, villains and twists. All these characters are well developed and defined to fit the needs of this story. Will hold your attention till the end. Curl up and enjoy.” ~ rose
★★★★★ “It was a fun adventurous read, I loved the dynamic between the characters, and how the heroine despite her vision loss, she was determined to not give up on the fact that it could come back, and she had an amazing man to help her along the way of discovering new activities to do, such as fishing, riding again and so much more.” ~ Nicole Atkeson
★★★★★ “I am not very good at reviewing books, but I know what I like, and I liked this book it had love and drama, and it was well written the H and h were wonderful strong people, there were no foolish misunderstandings.” ~ Granny
★★★★★ “I am not very good at reviewing books, but I know what I like, and I liked this book it had love and drama, and it was well written the H and h were wonderful strong people, there were no foolish misunderstandings.” ~ Kindle Customer
★★★★★ “If you are looking for a story with lovely romance, which is also packed with suspense, drama and a few twists and turns then this is the book for you! It's got a heroine who is courageous despite her unfortunate circumstances, a hero who is honorable and fearless and will do anything to protect the love of his life, a few villains and wonderful characters. I guarantee you that you will be drawn into the story from the first page right up until the last page and be totally satisfied. The story is so well-written with great characters and a really well thought out plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it!” ~ Pat
The Duke of Disorder
He saves her from a runaway horse. Too late, she realizes her hero is the man she left years ago for another.
Lucas Pemberton, the fourth Duke of Dorman, enjoys the freedom life affords him and has no plans for marriage, having experienced the fickle nature of women years ago. On the way home, a woman’s piercing scream and an out-of-control horse grab his attention. He rescues her, only to discover that she is the woman who had spurned his affections years ago in favor of another.
Unexpectedly, he becomes guardian to two young women—a forgotten promise made long ago. A confirmed bachelor, Lucas finds himself wholly unprepared for the challenges his wards create and force him to seek a solution.
Newly widowed, Lady Harriett Dudley flees her dead husband’s home and vows to never relinquish her freedom to any man. Distracted by threats from his family, she is almost killed when something spooks her horse, only to be saved by the man who had professed his affection the very day her father betrothed her to another.
Did she owe him an explanation? Would he understand? Could forgiveness revive a long-ago courtship and give them an opportunity to experience everlasting happiness?
★★★★★ “I cried, I laughed, and truly enjoyed this second chance at love story. One of my favorites so far. Off to the next adventure” ~ Heather
★★★★★ “Anna St. Clair writes charming, clean romances that will lighten your reading time with love. I have just recently found her and thoroughly have enjoyed the Rakes of Mayhem series.” ~ Maggie Jo’s Messages
★★★★★ “This is a new author for me and I totally love her writing style. This story grabbed my interest right from the start with wonderfully interesting and complex characters. The story was well-developed and was complex, with drama, memories of heart-break, emotion and some very good humor intermixed in the story. This story of long ago heart-break is suddenly relived when they unexpectedly come together again when the hero rescues the heroine from a dangerous situation. From that moment on the story gets more and more interesting, and more and more engaging. You will wonder if the two of them an overcome the heart-break of losing each other from long ago when she suddenly married another and if they will discover what really happened to result in that unexpected marriage.” ~ Pat
★★★★★ “The character's were written with such depth that you could feel their anguish at times a good story with mystery, misfortunes, and love interests, gripping plot, so many assumptions, misunderstandings that is well written.” ~ Phylis
★★★★★ “A wonderful cast of characters, a few determined family and friends and a love that truly never died may just bring these two back together! Another delightful addition to this great series I have enjoyed so much!” ~ Lori Dykes
★★★★★ “I enjoyed the characters that made up this story that filled it with hope and romance. Even the two little wards that come into Lord Lucas’s life were enjoyable. I wish there had been more of a chance to have their characters grow and enlighten the story. Bea and Cat were quite the smart and enjoyable personalities that helped to make the story line flourish.” ~ Barbara Michael
The baron's return
She saved his life. Can he heal her heart?
He crossed an ocean to find her...
Baron Edward Sinclair, affectionately known as Sin, never imagined himself the marrying kind until he encountered the captivating Elizabeth in the American colonies. When illness brought him to death's door, it was the young widow who tenderly nursed him back to health, but they became separated when he left to continue his assignment. Now, fate reunites them in England, where he discovers that Lizzie, his mysterious angel, is none other than the companion to his beloved aunt.
She crossed an ocean to forget him…
For Lizzie, being widowed in the colonies triggered a cascade of hardship, fear, and grief. Returning to England, she yearns to reunite with her brother, whom she has not seen in several years. Fortunate to secure a position as a companion, she finds solace in her employer’s warmth and generosity, treating her more like family than hired help. However, an unexpected encounter with the dashing Edward Sinclair, a man etched in her memory and her heart, disrupts her plans for a solitary life. While the handsome and wealthy baron attracts the attention of debutantes and their matchmaking mothers, Lizzie resigns herself to the belief that her fate is to live out her days alone.
As Edward and Lizzie navigate the intricacies of their rekindled connection, they must confront the ghosts of their pasts and face the threats that conspire to keep them apart.
★★★★★ "Second chance romance is the best, and this one has so much more besides. Filled with intrigue and suspense, the ups and downs of this story will keep you reading well into the night.” ~ Catherine Burhans
★★★★★ “WOW - what an intense story! This is my first story by this author and I will definitely be reading more. This was so riveting that at the 34% mark I was worn out and thought how much more of suspense can this old heart take! Story is filled with twists, suspense throughout, many villains to choose from, intrigue, great main and secondary characters and some romance.” ~ NavyWave62
★★★★★ “This book is definitely one to put on your shelf to read again. With scenes are so strikingly detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that makes you feel like you are one with the story. Anna St. Claire has written a romance that brims with tension building twists and turns, remarkable emotions, filled it with a great cast of characters that I adored, they hold your attention as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you into their story that keeps you involved until the very end, with a action packed plot that will keep you guessing, and as the danger builds and intrigue escalate with secrets abound will keep you turning the pages until the very end.” ~ Kindle Customer 123
★★★★★ “What an entertaining and well written love story. It had so much drama, action, intrigue, mystery, with other intense and exciting plot twists and turns that kept me engaged. The characters were complex and strong-willed. I enjoyed how a romance cut short found its way back despite everything and became a beautiful love. The ending was wonderful.” ~ Lyndrose
★★★★★ “A heart warming, sweet story of healing in multiple manners. First Liz spends months nursing Sin back to health. As he must continue on with his mission, they part company. Liz returns to England as a companion and they meet again. They both have things from their past that need to be healed and dealt with. Add in a villain, a mystery or two, some extra drama, a terrific auntie, a dog and two very cute kids and you have a story that is thrilling and enjoyable from being to end. I love how the characters were developed, met and interacted with each other. A really well written story.” ~ Jo
to win a viscount's heart
It was love at first sight. Almost…
A scandalous past…
Viscount Gerald Lawrence never imagined that one reckless kiss with a notorious temptress, the hostess of the Season’s most prominent ball, would ignite a scandal. Caught in the act by his outraged parents and, worse yet, his innocent and unsuspecting fiancée, Lady Selena Bowles, Gerald paid the ultimate price. Banished to his family’s crumbling estate, he vowed to leave his reckless ways behind. Now, four years later, Gerald is a man transformed—his estate thriving, his reputation restored, and a successful horse-racing venture under his care. But on a stormy night, the past returns with a vengeance when a half-frozen, injured Selena appears on his doorstep.
A dangerous present…
On the run after her mother is poisoned by a ruthless relative, Selena has no one else to turn to but the very man she never thought she’d face again. Traumatized and suffering from memory loss after a fall, she has no recollection of Gerald’s past betrayal—only the growing bond between them. As Gerald becomes her unlikely protector, Selena finds herself falling for him all over again. But shadows of the past loom large, and a dangerous foe will stop at nothing to see Selena destroyed.
A love worth fighting for…
As danger closes in, Gerald and Selena must confront old wounds, untangle a web of deception, and battle a powerful adversary. Can they overcome the sins of the past to claim a future filled with trust, redemption, and a love that defies all odds?
A Gift for Agatha
Can a ghost show Agatha the way to happiness?
Years after the death of her husband, Lady Agatha Wendt has become a surly, cold-hearted miser, increasingly left to her own company, particularly during the holiday season. Childless and with little family, the wealthy widow fears falling into unexpected poverty and spurns even the smallest gestures of Christmas giving. A determined spirit visits Agatha and forces her to see how others regard her. He warns her change must happen.
Charles Bentley, her butler has been the one constant in a revolving household of embittered staff. Charles sees goodness in her, a trait she takes pains to hide, and finds himself attracted to the real Agatha—despite knowing he could never be with her, given the class difference between them.
Can the spirit awaken Agatha to her real fears and help her to overcome them in time to realize the gift she has always wanted?
Once Upon a Haunted Heart
A vengeful ghost wants them dead for crimes they didn’t commit.
Edward Baxter inherits an earldom upon the death of a distant uncle and within a Season, becomes betrothed to Lady Violet Hanson in a celebrated match. Shortly thereafter, strange, and vicious occurrences threaten their lives and the continuation of the Whitlock earldom.
Edward’s uncanny resemblance to his late cousin attracts not only the curiosity of the town but the vengeance of a ghost. When Edward recognizes the attacks are connected to tragedies from his late cousin’s family, he goes to extreme lengths to unravel the mystery before the ghost kills his betrothed.
Will Edward discover the dangerous curse and placate the ghost in time to allow him and Violet a chance at love and happiness?
(Note: This story was first published as part of the USA Today Bestselling Boxed set Upon a Midnight Dreary, October 2021)
A Lyon of Her Own
He’s determined to find out the truth…
Alexander Douglas, the fifth Earl of Wrotham, returns home from the war to discover his estate in financial ruin, thanks to his late father’s greedy mistress. Convinced that Mrs. Dorothy Marble duped his father out of huge sums of money and forced him to sign over one of the family’s townhouses, Alex makes it his mission to expose her as the criminal she is. With a widowed mother and younger siblings to support, Alex enters the notorious Lyon’s Den to use his considerable skill at cards to win enough to repay the creditors. When he encounters a mysterious young man who manages to beat everyone he plays, Alex uncovers the youthful cardsharp’s clever ruse.
She’s determined to hide the truth…
Lady Priscilla Gifford despairs she will never find a husband. Her well-meaning but overbearing mother insists on purchasing horrible gowns that make Priscilla and her sisters look like puffed-up peacocks. Worse still, Priscilla and her sisters must perform in endless musicales, even though they have no musical talent. Between the dismal dresses and pitiful performances, Priscilla is finding it a challenge to control her stutter, something she’s had since childhood. Tired of being the focus of the ton’s ridicule and determined to break free, Priscilla devises a plan to boost her financial independence and bolster her self-confidence, a daring plan that requires the discrete assistance of Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the matron of the infamous Lyon’s Den. When she encounters Alex at the Den, Priscilla realizes the earl is as clever as he is handsome.
But as feelings begin to bloom between Priscilla and Alex, a sinister plot threatens to destroy any future they might have.
The Heart of a lyon
Enter the world of the most notorious gambling den in London, where matches are made... unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves.
She needs a miracle to save her, but he refuses to consider marriage, until a pretend betrothal changes how he sees her.
Riddled with guilt and haunted by nightmares over the tragic death of his father, Henry Stanton, the Earl of Egerton, returns home a broken man and seeks solace in the excesses of the Lyon’s Den. He’s sworn to never marry, but a chance meeting with the woman who captured his heart over a decade ago forces him to rethink his decision. Unwillingness to change his mind may prevent him from discovering what his heart and soul needs most.
Lady Olivia Dawson wants a love match, but her family’s financial ruin upends her perfect life, and worse, the vile man who holds her family’s fortune demands her hand. When she meets the childhood friend she’s never forgotten, she realizes he’s everything she wants.
A mother desperate to save her daughter’s future appeals to the Black Widow of Whitehall who spins a web of hearts, high-stakes bets, and intrigue—but the widow’s plan places Olivia’s life in the path of a killer.
Henry and Olivia’s futures will hang in the balance unless they can find a way to trust one another with their lives and hearts.
Lyon's Prey
Haunted by his wife’s death, he vowed to never marry again...until he meets her!
Evan Prescott, the fifth Earl of Clarendon lost his wife during the birth of their child. Broken, Evan seeks solace in the Lyon’s Den, a world of drink, cards, and excess—where wins and losses are easier to navigate than responsibilities. Overconfident and in his cups, he makes a bet that will change his life.
Still mourning the loss of her father and elder brother…
Lady Charlotte Grisham saves her young brother from the path of a speeding carriage. In a fit of pique, she throws propriety to the wind and storms up the steps of the owner’s London townhouse—and meets the man that upends her world.
The stars align when his high-stakes bet and her lapse in judgment give the Black Widow of Whitehall the perfect opportunity to spin her web of hearts, while untold danger lurks a step behind.
Can a marriage of convenience give rise to love in time to avoid a deadly disaster?
(Note: This is an introductory novella to the Rakes of Mayhem Series -The Earl of Excess, Book One.)
Once Upon a winter's tale
Can an unexpected encounter lead to love at first sight?
He wasn’t looking for a bride…
Albert Stanton, the new Duke of Kendall, is on a mission to assess each of his late father’s properties. Drawing closer to his family’s estate, he hears what sounds like a wild dog attack and speeds ahead to help. Before he can lend assistance, gunfire startles his mount, and his horse throws him. Landing in a large mud puddle, Albert finds himself looking into the surprised eyes of the most breathtaking beauty he has ever beheld and a snarling bullmastiff—the largest dog he has ever encountered.
She wasn’t looking for a hero…
Miss Brianna Thomas is sure of two things: her pet mastiff, Nero, can handle almost any altercation, and she does not need to be rescued by any man— even if he is tall, fair-haired, handsome, and with the most mesmerizing green eyes she has ever gazed into.
Stranger things have happened than two people from different backgrounds falling in love. But dark and deadly secrets begin to surface that could threaten Albert and Brianna’s chance at happiness, and they risk everything to uncover the truth.
(Note: This story was first published as part of the Anthology set titled A Duke in Winter in December 2022.)