Sara Seale

Judith Ware aged (20 but admitting to 27 on her resume) was hired as secretary for the guest house at Castle Slyne.  The owner   Michael "Raff" O'Rafferty remained aloof from the running of the guest house. The elegant but decaying home filled with antiques had recently started
accepting paying guests and was being haphazardly run by a charming

This has the ingredients of  the kind of Sara Seale books that really appeals to me. 2 motherless teenage sisters with an absent father are left to initially manage alone after the death of the aunt and the departure of

Lise was a heiress in the guardianship of her cousin David. They had decided to marry as if one married the inheritance would go to the other.

Lise was fascinated by an island where David had stayed. David however refused to take her to the island of Culoran, off the coast of Scotland.

Dr Adam Chantry met 19 year old  Miranda when she collapsed from hunger at a fair. He books her into his hotel (platonically) and presents the option of a marriage of convenience- business only. A home for Miranda and a new mother for his troubled daughter Fay.

After his fiance broke their engagement  after his injury, Julian Dane decided to get a young girl from an orphanage and groom her to be his wife. He selected 16 year old Jennet Brown and took her to live with his aunt - to be adopted. As Cousin Julian he guided her as she grew up.

This is the first book I read by Sara Seale in my teens (3 decades ago) and it is my favourite of hers.It is delightful.

Tessa and Jackie Lovaton were brought up on a farm near the moors and were very natural and carefree

A sweet story by Sara Seale of an orphan girl in charge of her self-absorbed and negletful stepmother. They go to live with the stepmothers's cousin Craig Pentreath, who champions  the sixteen year old  Tina ensuring she finishes her education and has time to grow up in a place she is welcome.