Syrie James

 

Hi! I’m Syrie James. Welcome to my writing world. It’s time for an updated blog about my books, so here goes!

I have 16 novels published in more than 20 languages across several genres that have been international, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers. I love writing about strong, smart women and bold, swoon worthy men who will stop at nothing to achieve their dreams. My goal is to write page-turning love stories and mysteries you can’t put down.

I’m also a published playwright with stage plays licensed by theatres across the world. I live in L.A. and love live theatre, film, gardens, and traveling. I’m a huge Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, and Agatha Christie fan.

My novels are available in print, e-book, and audiobook wherever books are sold. Please scroll for an overview!

 

 

MY JANE AUSTEN NOVELS

I have three novels that bring Jane Austen to life as never before:

 

THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN(opens in new tab)

This award-winning novel recounts the powerful, life-changing love story that inspired Jane Austen’s return to writing and the publication of her first novel. An international and USA Today bestseller.

“Tantalizing, tender, and true to the Austen mythos, James’s book is highly recommended.” —Library Journal, starred review, Editor’s Fall Picks; Best First Novel

 

THE MISSING MANUSCRIPT OF JANE AUSTEN(opens in new tab)

In this critically acclaimed book-within-a-book, the romantic tale from a priceless, long lost Jane Austen novel is interwoven with the story of the modern-day librarian who discovers it.

“This richly imagined Jane Austen ‘road novel’ is such a page turner … A standout addition to the archive of Austen homages.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

 

JANE AUSTEN’S FIRST LOVE(opens in new tab)

Inspired by a true-story, this page-turning tale brings to life Jane Austen’s little-known romance as a teenager with a charming, highly educated, unique and unforgettable young man.

“Not only based on James’s extensive research on the enigmatic Edward Taylor, but so many of the personalities are real, and the dates and events astonishingly match, which make this masterwork feel like a real memoir. Highly recommended.” —Historical Novel Society

 

 

 

THE SECRET DIARIES OF CHARLOTTE BRONTË(opens in new tab)

Have you ever wondered what inspired Charlotte Brontë to write her masterpiece Jane Eyre, one of the most beloved novels in the English language? My novel The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë brings to life the true story of Charlotte and her brilliant yet troubled family, her secret passion for a married man, and her tempestuous relationship with the Irishman who loved her for years.

It is Charlotte’s story, just as she might have written it herself.

WINNER: AUDIOBOOK AUDIE AWARD

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BOOK ASSOCIATION GREAT GROUP READ

“Syrie’s story of Charlotte offers it all: longing and yearning, struggle and success, the searing pain of immeasurable loss, and the happiness of a love that came unbidden and unsought. I did not want this story to end.” —Jane Austen’s World

“Readers will be glued to its pages from start to finish. Syrie James’s extensive research shows all throughout the book. The style in which the novel is written imitates Charlotte Brontë’s.” —Bronte Blog

 

 

HISTORICAL MURDER MYSTERY ROMANCE

The AMAZON BESTSELLING Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire Series

This series features three bold sister sleuths in Victorian England who are swept up in murder mystery, Gothic suspense, and romance set in ancient English country manor houses. Each sister gets her own novel with a page-turning murder mystery to solve while falling madly in love with a dashing hero!

 

THE MYSTERIES OF PENDOWAR HALL(opens in new tab) (Book 1 )

When bright and spirited governess Diana Taylor investigates a mysterious death at Pendowar Hall, a coastal Cornwall estate that’s full of secrets, she falls in love with a charismatic but brooding Royal Navy Captain — but her bold quest leads her into terrifying danger, for someone is determined to end her life before she can discover the truth.

“A Victorian mystery crafted with impressive skill, style, and lovely echoes of Jane Eyre. Conflicting clues, mounting danger, and sweet romantic tension keep the pages turning, all in a wonderfully atmospheric setting—an old house on the coast of Cornwall shrouded in fog and myths.” —Julie Klassen, author of A Castaway in Cornwall

THE SECRETS OF THORNDALE MANOR(opens in new tab) (Book 2)

When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at Thorndale Manor, a maid is found dead under suspicious circumstances and whispers soon stir of a murder committed nine years earlier. As secrets unravel and a killer grows desperate, Athena puts her life on the line, caught between the pursuit of truth and justice and a powerful attraction that threatens to derail everything.

A well-worked absorbing mystery with welcome twists and turns … An engaging page turner.” —Historical Novel Society

 “An immersive gothic suspense. The plot crackles with tension and misdirection, and the lovely romantic elements add depth to the story. Syrie James has crafted another vivid, atmospheric, and thoroughly entertaining historical mystery. Highly recommended!” — Vanessa Kelly, bestselling author of The Emma Knightley Mysteries

DANGER AT DARKMOOR PARK(opens in new tab) (Book 3)

Hidden treasure. Murder. Mystery. Romance. All while snowbound at Christmas.

While trapped by a blizzard at a remote country manor house, Darkmoor Park, over the Christmas holidays, school headmistress Selena Taylor teams up with a charismatic doctor to solve a murder, search for a ruthless killer, and hunt for hidden treasure—while trapped with guests who all seem to be hiding a secret.

“Swept me away from the very first page. With its pitch-perfect pacing, richly atmospheric setting, and characters you can’t help but adore, this is a compulsively readable mystery threaded with romance and a thrilling treasure hunt. A perfect winter escape I couldn’t put down!” —Eliza Knight, bestselling author of Confessions of a Grammar Queen

 

 

DRACULA, MY LOVE(opens in new tab)

In this reimagined take on the classic Bram Stoker tale, Mina Harker is torn between her devotion to her fiancé and her secret, scandalous passion for the vampire he is hunting: Count Dracula. This Dracula is very different: he’s a powerful, cultured, and passionate man with a tender, romantic side … and he may not be evil after all. Soon, he and Mina are connected in a way she never thought humanly possible. Yet to surrender is surely madness, for to be with him could cost Mina her life.

 “A rich revisiting of the Dracula story. Mina’s secret journal introduces an abundance of loopholes, alternate plot paths, and reinterpretations of the original characters.” —Publishers Weekly

“A gripping story, infused with passion, excitement, and emotional turmoil. It sheds a whole new light on Count Dracula. I loved it!” —American Book Center

“Only Mina Harker, who once fell under the seductive spell of literature’s most famous vampire, knows Dracula’s true story. James gives readers an intriguing alternate theory as to the events that occurred in Stoker’s classic horror tale while at the same time delivering a spooky yet thoroughly romantic love story.” —Chicago Tribune

 

 

VICTORIAN HISTORICAL ROMANCE

The AMAZON BESTSELLING Dare to Defy Series

In the late Victorian era, three college-educated American heiress sisters are sent to England by their power-hungry mother to marry noblemen and earn a prestigious title. But these women all have goals of their own.

“A female-empowering Victorian romance trilogy that is captivating and inspiring! Three talented and resourceful women follow their aspirations and find deep-abiding love at the same time. In each book Syrie James strikes a perfect balance between heart-stopping romantic moments and pertinent historical detail.” –Austenesque Reviews

 

RUNAWAY HEIRESS(opens in new tab)  (Book 1 )

To escape an arranged marriage, Alexandra Atherton abandons her life of privilege and poses as a governess in Cornwall. But as her relationship with a guarded earl unleashes their hidden passions, the truth she’s been forced to hide may come between her and the only man she’s ever loved.

“A fast-paced ‘romp’ through a historical romance. I loved it! Swoon worthy romantic hero and completely entertaining.” –Vine Voice

 

SUMMER OF SCANDAL (opens in new tab) (Book 2)

Aspiring author and American heiress Madeleine Atherton flees the London Season for Cornwall only to find herself falling for a brilliant English earl. As they fight against the conventions of society and their sizzling attraction to each other, can two dreamers dare to defy convention and find their own happily ever after?

“Charming and sexy, with plenty of lingering glances and tingling will-they/won’t-they moments. The perfect beach read.” — Library Journal

 

DUKE DARCY’S CASTLE (opens in new tab) (Book 3 )

Heiress Kathryn Atherton is determined to become the first woman architect in Britain. When she’s sent to a duke’s small tidal island in Cornwall to remodel a castle, the scorching chemistry between her and the duke blazes out of control. But duchesses can’t be architects, and Kathryn has worked too long and too hard to give up her dreams.

“A captivating hero, a brilliant heroine, and a delightful, steaming love story that will keep you intrigued and excited till the last page.” –My Jane Austen Book Club

 

 

NOCTURNE(opens in new tab)

AMAZON BESTSELLER

In this haunting, deeply romantic story, Nicole Whitcomb is saved from death and snowbound high in the Colorado Rockies with a handsome and enigmatic stranger. But who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding?

Soon, they are falling deeply in love. But when Nicole learns the terrifying truth about her host, there is nowhere to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and Michael may be the only one who can save her life.

Romantic Read of The Week —Barnes and Noble
Best Snowbound Romance —Bookbub
Best Novel of The Year —Suspense Magazine
Best Novel of The Year —Romance Reviews
Favorite Novel of The Year —Austenesque Reviews

“Lyrical, lush, and intensely romantic … will weave its way into readers’ hearts, with its complex characters and compelling emotions sure to linger long after the last page has been turned.” —Library Journal

“The kind of book that makes you want to turn off the phone and the television so you can do nothing but read.” —Barnes and Noble

 

 

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

The Struck by Love series

FLOATING ON AIR(opens in new tab) (Book 1)

A successful radio deejay embarks on a thrilling, long distance love affair with a charismatic entrepreneur, a relationship that plays havoc with her carefully controlled life—and heart.

”Tender, heart-stopping, and exquisitely passionate … A deliciously ardent hero and an endearing and hardworking heroine fall irrepressibly in love with the backdrop of 1980s nostalgia. Treat yourself to this heart-melting and profound story about risking your heart and finding love!” —Austenesque Reviews

 

TWO WEEK DEAL(opens in new tab) (Book 2)

In this romantic romp set in wintry Lake Tahoe, a talented graphic artist gets the opportunity of a lifetime working with the headstrong owner of an advertising agency. But can business and pleasure mix?

“I loved, loved this perfectly crafted, lush love story … This poignant, steamy romance will have you believing there can be love at first sight. 5 stars!” —The Quill Ink

 

 

THE FORBIDDEN SERIES

I had the best time co-writing this action-packed Young Adult paranormal romantic suspense series with my son Ryan M. James!

FORBIDDEN(opens in new tab): Book 1

A teenage girl struggles to discover the origins of her mysterious paranormal powers before an avenging angel can destroy her.

“A YA novel that hits all the right notes: Claire, a teen girl who starts to ‘change’; Alec, the boy who knows better but can’t help but be drawn to Claire; and secrets, tons of secrets, that will make everyone’s lives difficult … The plot and storyline are great, and the characters strong. If you enjoy angels, ‘forbidden’ romance and dashing heroes, then this should be added to your TBR.” —USA TODAY

“Syrie James & Ryan M. James knock it out of the ballpark! A story of pure fun, fantasy, romance, humor – you name it – Syrie James and her son have brought it!” —St. Augustine News

 

EMBOLDEN(opens in new tab): Book 2

Claire Brennan must hide astonishing new powers as she and her angel-gone-AWOL boyfriend Alec struggle against dangerous celestial beings and stage a risky search for her missing father.

“5 stars! I devoured it in one sitting. Like watching a movie with superb scriptwriting.” —NightlyReading

“Truly a spectacle! Readers will find themselves in the front row of this roller-coaster ride of emotions and get a first-hand feel of this unique take on angels. Mystery, adventure, and magic.” —Jean Book Nerd

 

 

CHECKLIST OF NOVELS BY SYRIE JAMES

HISTORICAL FICTION
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s First Love
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë

HISTORICAL MURDER MYSTERY
The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall
The Secrets of Thorndale Manor
Danger at Darkmoor Park

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Runaway Heiress
Summer of Scandal
Duke Darcy’s Castle

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Dracula, My Love
Nocturne

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Floating on Air
Two Week Deal

YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE (with Ryan M. James)
Forbidden
Embolden

STAGE PLAYS
Jane Austen in 89 Minutes
Jane Austen in 39+ Minutes

Learn more at syriejames.com(opens in new tab). I’d love it if you’d subscribe to my newsletter(opens in new tab)! I send occasional updates with exclusive content just for subscribers.

Have you read any of my novels? Which ones intrigue you? I’d love to hear!

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Reading!