England's 19 Crimes

"e;You shall never brand me as a thief!"e; When Cordelia maliciously accuses her of stealing Mrs. Lansing's priceless diamond bracelet, Maleficent knows her fate is sealed. In the rigid world of high society, the hue of her skin dictates exactly how she is to be treated—and innocence means nothing when the scales of justice are weighed against her. Convicted without mercy, Maleficent is sentenced to Botany Bay, one of Australia's most notorious and brutal penal colony work islands. She has no idea how she will endure the grueling labor or survive the harsh environment, but she makes a silent, fierce vow: even if it takes her very last breath, she will find a way to return home to her mother and brother... Captain Callum Sinclair has governed Botany Bay for four long years, acting as absolute magistrate, judge, and jury. His word is absolute law, and the King has granted him total leeway to maintain order on the island. With his grueling commission finally nearing its end, Callum has no intention of remaining in this unforgiving territory. After sixteen years of loyal service in His Majesty's Naval forces, his only wish is to return to England, purchase an estate, and set himself up as a proper gentleman.But his retirement plans vanish the moment Captain Morse hauls a new group of convicts ashore.Thrown to her knees before his feet, Maleficent looks up, and Callum is left completely astonished. Never in his long military career has he seen a more captivating or beautiful woman. Despite her rags and her chains, her eyes flash with defiance, meeting his gaze with a proud fury that catches the powerful captain completely off guard.Callum knows that because he is the law on this island, she belongs to him—one way or another. But as Maleficent fights for her freedom and Callum battles his growing, forbidden obsession, they are both about to learn that you can chain a woman's body, but a fierce heart can never be caged. For a full list of trigger warnings and content levels, please visit the author's official website.