167 Results with the "Literary Fiction" genre


    • The Little Wretch Cover
      by LovelyMay The Little Wretch begins with Mrs. Hilary Musgrave sternly condemning young Johnny Tompkins, labeling him with disdain for his past indiscretions. To her, Johnny represents wasted potential and a dangerous flirtation with crime, especially after he embezzled nearly a thousand pounds. The fact that he wasn’t prosecuted, thanks to Hilary Musgrave’s influence, unsettles her more than she lets on. Mr. Carter, however, adopts his usual inquisitive charm, prodding gently at Mrs. Musgrave’s harsh…
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      My Last Chance

      My Last Chance Cover
      by LovelyMay My Last Chance begins with an air of finality, as Mrs. Hilary Musgrave lays out her terms with a tone that suggests she’s had enough. Mr. Carter is given one last opportunity to redeem his romantic record by winning over Miss Sophia Milton—a woman of admirable qualities, wealth, and a certain quiet sophistication. Mrs. Hilary paints Miss Milton as cultured, independent, and earnest, though not without her quirks. She plays the piano, reads Browning with devotion, and has opinions on government affairs.…
    • A Matter of Duty Cover
      by LovelyMay A Matter of Duty opens with Mr. Carter being beckoned by Lady Mickleham, newly returned from her honeymoon and eager to confide in someone familiar. She is learning the complexities of married life, particularly those involving her husband Archie's family, whose strong personalities come wrapped in polite expectations. Dolly shares her struggle with their traditions—many outdated, some peculiar—and the pressure to adapt while maintaining her own individuality. The dowager, in particular, overwhelms her…
    • The Perverseness of It Cover
      by LovelyMay The Perverseness of It begins with Mr. Carter accompanying Miss Nellie Phaeton on a brisk carriage ride through the Park, their lively conversation sparking with wit and layered meanings. Miss Phaeton’s energy contrasts Carter’s composed demeanor, yet they match intellectually, their banter circling the nuances of affection and societal ambition. She pokes at the contradictions of love and marriage, suggesting that romantic inclinations often crumble under the weight of expectations and fortune.…
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      Retribution

      Retribution Cover
      by LovelyMay Retribution begins with Mr. Carter firmly deciding to adopt a more prudent approach, particularly regarding Dolly Foster, whose flair for mischief often drags him into public spectacle. His resolve is tested almost immediately when he's summoned to meet Lady Mickleham, the formidable mother of Dolly’s fiancé. Their meeting unfolds with a cold politeness, heavy with scrutiny as Lady Mickleham methodically examines him through her pince-nez, a symbolic gesture of judgment as much as a practical accessory.…
    • Cordial Relations Cover
      by LovelyMay Cordial Relations begins with Mr. Carter paying a visit to Miss Dolly Foster, who is soon to become Lady Mickleham. In his hand is a farewell token—a broken pearl heart encrusted with rubies and diamonds, offered half in jest and half in lingering sentiment. The gift is not just a decorative trinket; it subtly signals the fractured affection he still holds for her. Dolly, never one to dwell too long on sentimentality, accepts it with an amused eye and a quip, diverting attention away from any deeper…
    • A Liberal Education Cover
      by LovelyMay A Liberal Education opens with Dolly Foster observing Phil Meadows, now a polished member of society, pass her by on the Row without the slightest nod of recognition. This moment stirs a reflective irritation in her, as she recounts to Mr. Carter how, just a few years earlier, he was a socially awkward and hopeless figure. Meadows once carried an unrolled umbrella and a brown paper parcel, wore ill-fitting clothes, and approached life with a sense of grim earnestness. He neither smoked nor drank, and his…
    • by LovelyMay Chapter XXI – Dawn O'Hara, The Girl Who Laughed Trashed begins with a tender acknowledgment of endings as Dawn reflects on Peter Orme’s passing. In New York’s fast-paced rhythm, even death feels like a whisper lost in noise. The city forgets quickly, yet Dawn carries the weight of memories that time refuses to erase. Her sorrow isn't dramatic, but quiet and personal, like pages turning softly in an old book. To heal, she steps away from the crowded energy of journalism, embracing the calm of…
    • by LovelyMay Chapter XX – Dawn O'Hara, The Girl Who Laughed Trashed begins with a quiet moment of reflection, as a tattered office coat hanging on a peg brings Blackie’s presence into sharper focus. It’s a small thing, yet it carries weight, symbolizing how objects outlast the people who wear them. The room feels haunted by absence even before the story turns to the accident. Peter’s sudden death, Dawn’s narrow escape, and Blackie’s fragile survival set the tone for what follows. With bandages still fresh…
    • by LovelyMay Chapter XIX – Dawn O’Hara, The Girl Who Laughed Trashed reveals the fragile balance between duty and desire as Dawn finds herself again torn by Peter Orme’s presence. What once stirred memories of tenderness now brings quiet unrest. Peter walks into her day as if time has been turned back, but it’s clear he no longer belongs in the rhythm she’s created. His arrival disturbs the space she’s fought hard to preserve, the one built on healing, habit, and slow self-discovery. Though Peter carries…
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