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A - ZA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Janet Woods

Janet is an Australian, who was born and raised in Dorset, UK. Happily married since her late teens, she and her husband migrated to Australia with the first two of her family of five, after her husband finished his term in the Royal Navy.

She became interested in writing when the kids grew up, because she thought she might be able to write a story as readable as some of the authors she was reading. As Janet's mother told her, and more than once! She always insisted on learning things the hard way!

Janet is interested in all types of writing, especially fantasy, but usually writes saga and mainstream historical romance. Creating characters, giving them emotional depth and bringing them to life is a constant challenge, and it fascinates her.

In 1999 she won an award for an unpublished manuscript in a national competition. After publication DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS won the Australian Romantic book of the year award for mainstream romance. Janet has also picked up several awards for short story writing. Many of her short stories have been published in popular women's magazines.

Although she never set out to write for children, Janet has penned an occasional children's story, and they have found homes in educational collections published by Oxford University Press, Harcourts, and Pearsons. Her novels have been published by Robert Hale, Simon & Schuster, and currently, Severn House.

She finds writing to be an absorbing and enjoyable pastime, but hard work at times.

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Recent titles

Secrets and Lies

A destructive secret is guarded by a network of lies . . . until they begin to unravel.



1933. Esmé Carr travels to Australia with her best friend in search of adventure. Left behind is Esmé's adolescent niece. Meggie Elliot has an imaginative and independent frame of mind, but there is mystery surrounding her birth - one she intends to unravel, despite her mother's warnings to leave the past alone. When the truth surfaces it's not what Meggie wants to hear, and Esmé must reconcile the rift between mother and daughter.

Tall Poppies

One woman - two loves . . .

Dorset, 1917. If it's not enough that a girl from a good background is forced to work as a maid, Livia Carr is then violated by her master and falls pregnant. But help unexpectedly comes from her attacker's son, Richard, a WWI hero who is not expected to live much longer. He marries her, and his death, though expected, comes as a great blow. Into the breach steps Livia's first love, Denton Elliot - but he does not know the truth about her child's parentage . . .

Lady Lightfingers

A novel of Victorian England

Raised in the slums in 1850s London, Celia Laws is a rarity, an educated young woman whose creative skills have attracted notice. But with family to care for, circumstances have driven her to pickpocketing. In Celia's harsh world, it's a small step from picking pockets to prostitution. When a young man offers her a fortune to spend a week with him, she takes the money and runs. But Celia's conscience can't allow her to forget the money she stole, and she is soon brought face-to-face with her past . . .

Without Reproach

New romantic suspense from a popular author

The death of Charlie Parker exposes a web of deceit. Wife Lauren finds herself providing for Charlie's newly discovered teenage daughter, as well as caring for her mother-in-law, Betty. Recently bankrupt, they rent an isolated cottage in Dorset with Kate, who is expecting a child, the result of an assault. Meanwhile DI Theo Ransom is investigating the affairs of Charlie, but can't fight his feelings for Kate . . .

Straw in the Wind

The stand-alone sequel to Salting the Wound

1835, England. A married woman, pregnant with her sea-captain lover's child, dies giving birth. The child, Serafina Finn, is abandoned to an orphanage and grows up longing to feel that she belongs somewhere. Eighteen years later, her father, hearing rumours that his lost daughter survived, dispatches a detective, Adam Chapman, to discover the truth. Adam finds, and falls in love with Serafina, but even if he can prove her identity, will her real family accept her? . . .

Salting the Wound

A captivating romance set in nineteenth-century Dorset

Charlotte Honeyman jilts her long-time swain, and on the spur of the moment marries a stranger. His pride damaged and his matrimonial plans upturned, sea captain Nick Thornton threatens to take revenge. Charlotte's younger sister, Marianne, takes pity on Nick and secretly boards his ship, where she meets with an accident. Nick regards Marianne as the perfect tool with which to get his own back, but in the process falls in love . . .

Hearts of Gold

A romance set against the background of the Australian Gold Rush

Western Australia, 1890. Sarette Maitland is orphaned when her father dies of a snake bite on the goldfields. Rescued by adventurer John Kern, she takes the place of his own dead daughter in his heart. When tragedy strikes and Kern is killed, Sarette is introduced to Kern's nephew, Magnus, whose honesty and heart are tested when he discovers his uncles has left Sarette a considerable fortune . . .

Edge of Regret

A compelling tale of romantic intrigue

When fiery Kenna Mackenzie refuses to comply with her guardian's wish that she marry an impoverished Scottish laird, Kenna is thrown out on to the streets of Victorian Edinburgh to fend for herself. After many struggles, and just as Kenna's luck is turning, it seems Robert Gilmore has not yet finished with her, and will do everything in his power to stall her in her quest for love and happiness . . .

Paper Doll

A moving romance set in the 1920s

Julia Howard is a perfect daughter to her father, a now-bankrupt toy manufacturer who created a paper doll in her image. Julia longs for freedom, but marries wealthy businessman Latham Miller to please her father. Latham soon proves possessive and controlling, and when Julia is reacquainted with troubled war hero Martin Lee-Trafford, the attraction between them grows to love. But when Julia gives birth to a child, she faces a heart-wrenching decision, for if she runs away with Martin, she'll be forced to leave her beloved son with Latham . . .

The Coal Gatherer

An engrossing saga set in the north-east of Victorian England

When Calandra Ingram (known as Callie) meets Patricia Lazarus and her brother James whilst gathering sea coal at the water's edge, they strike up a friendship that will last for ever, despite their different backgrounds. When Callie is offered the post of companion to Patricia, it is the first step in her journey to a better life . . .

Broken Journey

The new book from this well-loved author

Jilly Turner's consolation through a difficult wartime childhood is Alec, an evacuee from London. But when Alec is orphaned and sent to Australia, Jilly ends up pregnant at seventeen, with no choice but to give up the baby she loves so much. But does Alec, returned from Australia, hold the key to Jilly's future happiness? And will she ever stop grieving for the son she gave away? . . .




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