Wards of the Roses

W

Kate yearns to prove her competence.

During the Great War, Kate was able to take on new and interesting challenges as a member of Albion's Guard. Now the men have returned, she has been reassigned to routine duties. They are important, necessary - and boring.

When a mysterious manor reappears in England after centuries, someone must figure out how to get through the roses, wards, and magic that protect it. That someone might just be Kate.

Giles refuses to let his blindness change his life.

Blinded by gas in the Great War, Giles knows he is still a competent and creative cryptographer, mathematician, and magician. The rest of the world doesn't always agree.

Kate at least seems willing to listen to what he needs. She learns quickly, too. That's more than Giles can say for his secretary and distant cousin, who is becoming more difficult to live with by the day.

When Giles and Kate make a breakthrough in their investigation, it sends them tumbling into the lost manor and a tangle of fae enchantment. Only his skills and Kate's persistence can get them out of the sprawling country house.

Wards of the Roses is the fourth novel in the Mysterious Charm series. It is full of curiosity, using all the tools at your disposal, living with a life-changing disability, and a great deal of ancient magic. Enjoy this gentle romantic fantasy with a swirl of sex set in 1920 with a happily ever after ending!

Content note details
Hero was blinded during the War by magical gas. Vulnerabilities of relying on others for certain tasks (especially financial). Class and gender issues when dealing with people of higher status.

Want a little more background? Check out blog posts about Wards of the Roses.

Books about the Guard and Penelopes: 

Showing books 1-8 of 8

Period: Information not available

Romance: M/M

Content notes: Information not available

The cover of Four Walls and a Heart has a bright red background with a blue door. Two men are silhouetted against the background, one of slighter build in a Victorian wheelchair, missing his lower left leg, the other standing and talking, one hand at his side. Both are wearing hats, and they are intently focused on each other.
Four Walls and a Heart

Period: Edwardian

Romance: M/F, First relationship

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Pastiche. A man and woman in Edwardian dress silhouetted against a bright teal background, with a stained glass window in golden yellow and muted purple behind them.
Pastiche

Period: Edwardian

Romance: F/F, Late in life romance, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Complementary. Two women in Edwardian dress in silhouette stand talking with each other. One is taller and calmer, the other is shorter, gesturing. They are on a green background, with an artist's palette in the bottom right.
Complementary

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Wards of the Roses. A man and woman in 1920s clothing silhouetted on a red background that shades to vivid orange-peach at the bottom. A rose is inset in the top right.
Wards of the Roses

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, Established relationship, Closed door

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of Winter's Charms, a seasonal novella collection. Three figures are silhouetted on a blue background with snowflakes, in front of a roaring fireplace decorated with a red and green garland. One man is sitting in a chair, gesturing, a woman stands wearing a translucent shawl, and another man leans his hand on the mantlepiece. Oranges and cinnamon sticks are inset in the top left.
Country Manners

Period: 1920s

Romance: M/F, First relationship, Demisexual, Bisexual

Content notes: Click here to reveal

Cover of The Fossil Door. A man and woman in 1920s dress stand silhouetted on a bright burgundy and glowing orange background. An illuminated book is inset in the top left corner.
The Fossil Door

Period: Information not available

Romance: Information not available

Content notes: Information not available

The cover of Old As The Hills has a man with a can and a woman silhouetted on a green ground with a map. She holds out her hand, he is putting something into it, forming a doorway between them. An astrological chart behind them shows the symbols for Venus, the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn highlighted behind a splash of glowing stars.
Old As The Hills

Period: Information not available

Romance: Information not available

Content notes: Information not available

The cover of Upon A Summer's Day shows a man in a suit silhouetted over a map of northern Wales in a muted green. He is gesturing, holding his cane in one hand, a cap on his head. Behind him is an astrological chart, with Jupiter and Saturn highlighted in the sign of Taurus.
Upon A Summer's Day

Showing books 1-8 of 8

loading

By Celia

Explore my blog posts

Explore posts about each book

Get in touch

My contact page has all the latest on where you can find me (and a form if you'd like to email me directly).