Samantha Hastings

1851. Bounced from one begrudging relative to another their whole lives, orphaned identical twins Sophie and Mariah Carter have always relied on each other for love and support, even though the sisters couldn't be more different. Brash Sophie wants to be an inventor, and demure Mariah wants to be an artist. Both long to visit London for the summer—Sophie to see the Queen’s Great Exhibition and Mariah to study the world’s finest collection of paintings. But when their cantankerous aunt answers their letter pleading for a place to stay, she insists she only has time and room to spare for one of them. So, Mariah and Sophie hatch a clever scheme: They will travel to London together and take turns playing the part of "Sophie". At first the plan runs like clockwork. But as the girls avoid getting caught by increasingly narrow margins and two handsome gentlemen—both of whom think they’re falling in love with the real Sophie Carter—enter the equation, the sisters find they don’t have the situation quite as under control as they thought. With all sorts of delightful Parent Trap-style identical twin hijinks, The Invention of Sophie Carter is the perfect light-and-sweet palate cleanser.

The Invention of Sophie Carter

Set against the smoky, gaslit allure of Victorian London, this sweetly romantic historical debut is full of humor and stars a whip-smart female heroine ahead of her time. Where one story ends, another begins. 1861. Miss Lucinda Leavitt is shocked when she learns the author of her favorite serialized novel has died before completing the story. Determined to learn how it ends, Lucinda reluctantly enlists the help of her father’s young business partner, Mr. David Randall, to track down the reclusive author’s former whereabouts. David is a successful young businessman, but is overwhelmed by his workload. He wants to prove himself to his late father, as well as to himself. He doesn’t have the time, nor the interest, for this endeavor, but Lucinda is not the type to take no for an answer. Their search for the elusive Mrs. Smith and the rightful ending to her novel leads Lucinda and David around the country, but the truths they discover about themselves—and each other—are anything but fictional. Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Last Word by debut author Samantha Hastings is a fun yet intellectual romp through Victorian London—the perfect book for book-lovers. Praise for The Last Word: “Make[s] history accessible to YA readers. It's light, fun, and has a modern flare that many readers will appreciate.” —Cassie Rose, reader on SwoonReads.com "I adored this story, especially all of the characters and the very fitting humor and modern messages. ... This book was amazing!" —Bluestar, reader on SwoonReads.com

The Last Word

Readers looking for a light, fun read full of holiday mischief will be delighted by Samantha Hastings' A Royal Christmas Quandary, perfect for fans of A Christmas Prince and The Crown. When you spend Christmas in a castle, anything is possible. 1860. Lady Alexandrina Gailey is looking forward to a cozy holiday at Windsor Castle with her best friend, Princess Alice, and her long-time crush, Lord George Worthington. But Drina's plans are all but dashed when Alice's parents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, declare that Alice must choose one of two royal princes to become engaged to before Christmas. There's just one problem: George, a junior member of the Foreign Office, has accidentally misplaced one of the princes. Together, Drina and George scour the town of Windsor for the missing prince, desperately hoping to deliver him to the royal dinner party with the queen none the wiser. They might just need a royal Christmas miracle to pull it off.

A Royal Christmas Quandary

The Girl With Golden Eyes

Lady Margaret Huntington (Meg) is the dyslexic daughter of a Duke who longs for escape from her dull, proper existence. Meg's older sister is still unmarried, so Meg is forced to stay at Hampford Castle with her father instead of going to London for the Season. She feels like one of her father's exotic pets—an animal in a cage. Her dull existence changes when a new handsome tutor arrives to help with her reading. She gives him a tour of the estate and they find a human body in the lion's cage. Meg soon learns that most of the small village of Tewsbury had a reason to kill the Justice of the Peace, Sir Sylvester Lumley. She decides to solve the murder herself and it takes all of her intelligence and a little magic just to stay alive.

A Regency Amulets Mystery

Magic and Murder

Once upon a time, a beautiful princess was asleep under a terrible curse...but she really isn't a main character in the story, because all she did was snore. And most likely drool.My name is Liddy Rosebush and I am the fairy who will set the record straight.Yes, it took about a hundred years, The Three Good Fairies rock band made several appearances, and King Stephan's daughter slept an inordinate amount of time. But everything else you've heard is lies.Except for the handsome prince part--completely true. That's why I kissed him...

Sleeping Brat

Hana's life is forever changed when the Comtesse de Champagne, a wealthy and eccentric Englishwoman, sees a painting of her. The comtesse purchases Hana from her father, and Hana's existence transforms from one of poverty to one of privilege. For years Hana enjoys the comforts of her new position, but she hates how controlling and neurotic the comtesse is. When the comtesse is accused of murdering Sir Reginald Shipley over a painting, Hana must do all in her power to prove the comtesse's innocence or she'll lose everything. She reluctantly works with Aaron Shipley, Sir Reginald's grandson, to track down the true murderer, only to discover shocking secrets that will shake everything Hana and Aaron thought they knew about themselves and their families. And falling in love could prove deadly.

The Girl with the Golden Eyes

“Who would suspect a young lady in her first season would have any thought beyond that of her clothing, and of course catching an eligible husband?” Miss Harriet Cole is not a typical Regency debutant. She is more accomplished with a pistol than with a pianoforte. She knows more about Roman magic than proper manners. Harriet is sent to London to stop of assassination plot of a high-ranking official. The only difficulty is she does not know who the target or the assassin is. She narrows the suspects down to two gentlemen—both handsome, wealthy, and her two most prominent suitors.

Samantha Hastings

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