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The Shackleford Sisters #9

Anthony: The Shackleford Sisters, Book 9

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Get ready for more laughter and sparkling romance in this, the final instalment of the Shackleford Sisters…
Anthony Shackleford had long been acquainted with the word duty. Indeed, since the moment he could walk, it had been drummed into him every Friday between the hours of two and four in the afternoon, accompanied by tea and apple cake. His mother had always been especially partial to apple cake.

The essence of his obligation was this. The Duke of Blackmore could not be expected to keep his in-laws into their twilight years. Despite the fact that his sisters had all made extremely advantageous marriages, as the only son, it was his job to ensure his parents a comfortable dotage. So, for the most part, his duty had always appeared very simple. Marry an heiress, preferably with a title. But while Anthony was handsome enough to capture the eye of even the pickiest of debutantes, the fact that the Duke had seen fit to gift him with a manor house and twelve acres would certainly help in winning over any unduly ambitious mothers.

Though grateful for his brother in law's generosity, Anthony was nevertheless determined not to hang onto his benefactor's coat tails and stubbornly declared he would undertake the repairs to Bovey Manor himself. Unfortunately, that meant he would have to temporarily set aside his duty since the renovations were likely to take some time…

Georgiana didn't know her last name. In fact it was only by accident that she discovered her first one. Raised in the slums of Exeter, she'd been George to everyone for as long as she could remember and no one but her foster family had any idea she was a girl. She knew nothing of where she came from, only that Henry and Martha Atkins were being paid to keep her alive. Indeed, she'd always been a pain in her foster father's slovenly arse - until she began to blossom into womanhood. As he suddenly started looking for ways to be alone with her, Georgiana realised she had to escape.

But Henry Atkins was not about to simply let her go. In truth, he dared not, since she was the key to plans years in the making…

When Anthony crossed paths with a raggedy arsed lad named George, employing him out of pity to help with the renovations to Bovey Manor, he had no inkling that his life was about to change forever, and duty would be the very last thing on his mind…

Perfect for fans of Regency Romances with wit and humour and a little bit of steam...

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Published January 23, 2025

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About the author

Beverley Watts

48 books255 followers
Beverley spent 8 years teaching English as a Foreign Language to International Military Students in Britannia Royal Naval College, the Royal Navy’s premier officer training establishment in the UK. She says that in the whole 8 years there was never a dull moment and many of her wonderful experiences at the College were not only memorable but were most definitely 'the stuff of fiction.' Her debut novel An Officer And A Gentleman Wanted is very loosely based on her adventures at the College.
 
Beverley particularly enjoys writing books that make people laugh and currently she has two series of Romantic Comedies, both contemporary and historical, as well as a humorous cosy mystery series under her belt.
 
She lives with her husband in an apartment overlooking the sea on the beautiful English Riviera. Between them they have 3 adult children and two gorgeous grandchildren plus a menagerie of animals including 5 dogs - 3 Romanian rescues of indeterminate breed called Florence, Trixie, and Lizzie, a neurotic 'Chorkie' named Pepé and a 'Chichon" named Dotty who was the inspiration for Dotty in The Dartmouth Diaries.
 
You can find out more about Beverley’s books at www.beverleywatts.com

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5 stars
2,631 (60%)
4 stars
1,264 (28%)
3 stars
391 (8%)
2 stars
47 (1%)
1 star
29 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
105 reviews
April 29, 2024
Finally finished this series. It was enjoyable, light reading. The first books were better...they were really dragging toward the end. I so wish I could recommend these books to younger readers. But each book had a gratuitous graphic sex scene thrown in. They would have been better without. So I can't say these are fun, clean books due to that. So sad.
Profile Image for Wendy.
329 reviews
January 1, 2024
A great ending to a wonderful series!
The best news is a spin-off series with the second generation. Looking forward to it!
994 reviews10 followers
February 26, 2025
5 STARS, HISTORICAL HIJINKS & DRAMA

Book 9 gets 5 STARS & is the last of the exciting & delightful Series: The Shackleford Sisters. Great characters & most carried on from previous books. Reverend Shackleford had done it, married off all 8 of his incorrigible daughters & now he just has his son left, Anthony.

His wife wants him to marry a Lady with money but the Reverend knows Anthony will marry who he decides & nobody else. There seems to be some havy cavy goings on men that are smokey by half are looking for the skinny young boy Anthony hired to help do general work at the Estate the Duke gave him. It's run down & he needs to fix it up & he will be a gentleman farmer.

Unfortunately, the Reverend learns George, is a girl & more than 1 man is looking for her. Him & Percy need to go see the Bishop for information & then go warn Anthony. After, he sees if the Duke is back. He needs to inform Grace what is going on & get a carriage.

So much happens in this read. I guess God thought Augustus Shackleford & his family could stand the test of standing up to evil people & mean spirited people who dogs don't even like. I have really enjoyed these 9 reads & visiting with this quirky family and will miss them. I actually told family member that in the middle of this read.
18 reviews
December 31, 2023
The Shackleford Sisters et al.

Having been unwell and looking for some 'light' reading, I happened across this series of books. They didn't disappoint; characters of eccentricity and colourful language (of the Recency period), they kept me entertained whilst recovering during. a particularly difficult recovery period. Eight sisters, all of varying characteristics, an only brother and an eccentric meddlesome Reverend for a father. Not forgetting Freddy the fox hound, who loves a dish of bread and butter pudding and an occasional brandy. I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for an uncomplicated easy read .
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews68 followers
June 3, 2024
Anthony Shackleford was the only son of the nine Shackleford children. After his birth, his mother turned his raising over to his sisters and she retired to her chaise and her smelling salts. She did not ignore her son, she saw him between 1-4 every Friday afternoon where she instructed him on his duty to his parents, especially her. It would be his duty to marry a wealthy young lady so he could take care of his parents in the way they deserved. The rest of the time, he spent with his sisters teaching them their special skills. He climbed trees, learned to pick locks, learned to be sarcastic, outspoken, and above all honest. After his sister, Grace, married the Duke of Blackmore and gave him a son, Anthony spent much of his time at Blackmore where he shared Peter's tutors and learned the manners of a member of high society. After graduating from Eton, he worked until the Duke gave him a house and land that had once been the Duke's brother's house. The property was in disrepair and Anthony set out to renovate the house himself before looking for a bride.
One rainy evening, while on his way home, Anthony came across a drenched, ragged young lad and gave him a lift to town. He took him home and gave him a place to sleep in the stable and gave him food and water. When Anthony left for his new home, he gave the young lad, George, a chance to come work for him and learn a trade. Having no where else to go and to keep off the main roads, George went with him. The isolated property would give George a good place to hide and keep his secret from being discovered.
Author 2 books2 followers
May 29, 2025
Ms. Watts finished The Shackleford Sisters series with the youngest sibling and only son. I delayed reading this book because I was certain it could not possibly compare with the sisters' stories. I was wrong. Of course, rather than focusing on Anthony, it focuses on a girl named George, who had spent her entire life dressed as a boy. When Anthony hires him to help restore the house given to him by the Duke of Blackmore, a comfortable friendship develops between Anthony and the foul-mouthed boy. They rub along very well until Anthony insists that he take a bath because they both stink. Georgianna does everything she can to hide from Anthony learning her secret, but when the binding for her breasts begins to unravel in the bath water, the secret is out. Along with more secrets George has been keeping. Of course, that means a mystery to be solved, and we know how irresistible a mystery is to the Vicar. We are also provided with a bit more of Anthony's mother, who turns out to be a bit tougher than we have been led to believe in the other novels. Of course, Anthony, already drawn to George in ways he did not understand, had already begun teaching the boy, well, girl. Now he is determined to teach her to speak properly and protect her from those who are trying to find her for nefarious reasons. This is another fun story by Beverely Watts, with less angst then in some of the other novels in this series. But Ms. Watts never drags out the angst which I appreciate.
Profile Image for Sarah.
255 reviews
March 8, 2024
The reason I read through the whole series is for the scenes with the Reverend and his dog and Percy. And those scenes are still good in this book. All of the plots in the series are far-fetched but nature, but in this book it makes no GD sense, it's just a jumbled mess.

The twins separated at birth with a special birthmark that will prove she's actually the granddaughter of an Earl (what!), the poorly explained money motives, the subplot with the wife, the confusing inheritances (which suddenly at the end she just relinquishes?). The action requires the villain to come looking for her and to be evil/desperate enough to murder people, but it makes no sense that he insists on finding her. No one knows who she is, even her. Her running away/disappearing should make the whole thing easier for the villain, but instead he sends multiple people (why even bother having and naming a private detective who is in 2 scenes and is basically the same as the original chasers) looking for her which only draws attention to everyone.

Additional points off for the unlikable hero and having to read her terrible accent.

Will still probably read the next one.
Profile Image for Bailey.
190 reviews
September 15, 2024
End of this generations series

Anthony decides to do the work on the property given to him by his brother-in-law, the Duke, himself. Before doing his duty and finding an heiress to marry. So he hires George to help complete some manual labor at the neglected estate. Only “George” isn’t the boy Anthony thinks, and Georgina is running from a bad life and secrets even she doesn’t know.

Another amusing Shackleford family adventure. The Relationship was actually more fully formed in this book than any of the others.

My one issue with this book was the “uxley”Family secret and the explanations that weren’t satisfactorily given regarding how Georgina and Victoria came to be in their situations. There were so many pieces and actions taken by people around them that weren’t told or explained that lead to them being in their respective situations and those actions and explanations were not explained in a way that made since.
Profile Image for Wendy Tavenner.
1,328 reviews12 followers
January 29, 2025
His unexpected love

I absolutely loved George’s and Anthony’s story. He the youngest child of Reverend Shackelford and George not knowing where she came from.
Anthony always knew from a young age his mother wanted him to marry well but he wanted more. He wanted what his 8 sisters found. It was time for him to bring back to the former glory the estate his brother-in-law Nicholas gave him.
He needed workers and when he finds a young boy named George hobbling along the road he stops to help and invites him to Bovey Manor to help.
George has escaped finally from her foster family and is offered employment she greedily accepts. She needs to get as far away as possible so Atkins won’t find her.
When Anthony realizes George is actually Georgianna he feels she is his other half. But with men after her and not knowing why he will need his wits about him to keep her safe.
A wonderful read with a beautiful ending.
110 reviews
October 5, 2024
I have felt a compulsion to finish the series but they just kept getting worse.

She watches him have sex with someone else. It’s never mentioned again. And she still falls in love with him. He is the second person to be nice to her and he takes advantage of her naivety and troubled upbringing.

The “mystery” in this book was weird and didn’t make sense. A random bishop was thrown in. Some cousins. A locked up twin.

None of the humour from the reverend and his friend. None of the elder siblings banter or involvement. The husband is away and instead of being the forthright meddling family they have been made out to be. They just wring their hands.

And for 9 books he was built up to be the golden boy. The one they were all working towards. And then nothing. Not even an initial dalliance with someone from the ton.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
42 reviews
January 28, 2024
Needed more content

I liked Anthony's character and the direction the story was going, but then Georgina's family connection storyline was very loose and felt a bit lazy. The ending was so rushed, the whole book needed more meat on its bones. It's like the author has decided the story must be with 230 pages so let's just wrap it up. Didn't even do a transformation chapter where George gets to put a dress on for the first time etc. When I first started reading this series I absolutely loved the comical, whimsical quality to it but the last few books have all left me lacking and felt so rushed and not really thought out, it's a Shame as I had high hopes for the overall series but it just fell short in the end.
1,711 reviews6 followers
February 25, 2024
Action packed as the Vicars only son begins to get his literal house in order. Given a house and twelve acres by his brother-in-law, the Duke of Blackmore, Anthony is restoring the neglected manor to his needs.
Georgeanne has escaped her foster home where she has lived for years as a boy George. Unfortunately her foster father has made unwelcomed advances and as the sons grow, she knows they will follow suit. During her escape she meets a lady who gives her enough money to buy some food and a ticket to a town away from her foster home.
Before her plan becomes a reality the coach has a wheel problem. She spends the night in a hedge row. The next morning she realizes she has missed the coach. She is offered a job as a labourer by Anthony who doesn't realize he has hired a girl.
6 reviews
December 22, 2023
In my 67 years

I have not read a better series of books. Each story was such a wonderful way to spend my time. The ladies were strong and funny. The gentlemen were witty and smart. I was horrified to think "Anthony" was the last book in this series. Beverley Watts is a very gifted writer. From the dogs to the pastors, these books are the greatest. Thank you Ms. Watts for making this ole chick extremely happy!!!!
468 reviews2 followers
April 28, 2024
What a great ending to the series,

This was Anthony's story the ninth and only son of the reverend. A young boy is running from a horrible foster family and the story takes off from there. It is a story that will grip you with the twists and turns. W do get to see some of the characters that were in previous books and you will enjoy reading about them again. The book has humor, sadness, mystery, and wonderful characters. Enjoy!
6 reviews
May 12, 2024
Loved the whole series

Bungling vicar is the link throughout the series and is absolutely hilarious. It features a variety of plots and nefarious characters from society. The most unlikely marriages are made and blend into an oddball family which cocks a snoot at the ton. The books are littered with laugh out loud moments and are a joy to read. Lighthearted regency at its best. So glad the tales will continue
84 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2024
Humour at its best

I have just finished this nine book series. What a wonderful sense of humour the author has. A great cast of individuals. The Vicar and his wife with his offsider the curate. Add to that eight daughters and a son,various Lord's and gentlemen, all rich of course, and several dogs and horses all with individual characters. I laughed through every adventure. A must read
Profile Image for janet furgason.
18 reviews
June 3, 2024
What a delightful surprise

When I started reading this series, I wasn't really sure what I thought about it. The manner of speaking took some getting used to, but it didn't take long and if you can get passed the occasional vulgarity, you will find these books to be laugh out loud funny and riveting as well. Congrats to you, Beverly, on a job well done. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us in the upcoming books
Profile Image for Mandy Letort.
186 reviews
November 23, 2024
I loved the entire series!

I found the Shackleford Sisters Series about a month ago. The books are so good and easy to read that I’ve read the whole series! I love regency romance books and these were down to earth, funny, and heartwarming with a bit of intrigue thrown in. Most of all they showed how even those with titles aren’t perfect! I am starting the legacy series now! Thank you, Beverly for such great books!!
Profile Image for Rudhmellowen .
146 reviews
November 23, 2024
I have loved the Shackleford family SO MUCH. Each and every one of them made me laugh out loud, and their characters were brilliant. I loved the character development and expansion of those we got to know through the series, I truly wish this series would become a tv series!
Finishing Anthony I was a little sad. He turned into a hero and his George was such a brilliant character, a female that was similar yet opposite to his sisters... Brilliant!!!!
160 reviews
April 12, 2025
OK, not as good as the others

I did not like it as much as the others. I could not stand George. She was too coarse and rough around the edges. Despite how she was raised, she could’ve made an effort to be more ladylike. Hopefully in the future books she is. I honestly don’t understand what Anthony saw in her romantically. I could understand if he wanted to care for her as a friend or
family-like member. But not as a romantic interest I just can’t see that.
5 reviews
December 23, 2023
Hilarious!

Absolutely loved this book . What a series! I wished the dear reverend had had twenty children, so that I could have enjoyed more of it. The humour was second to none.
I look forward to other books that I can devour of this particular author and thank her from the bottom of my heart.
9 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2024
The excessive slang ruins it

After 9 books you might think that the author might have learnt that how to use old slang phrases properly. Tedious and annoying.

To vomit is NOT to "cast your account". It's "cast UP your accountS"

No more ridiculous than any other romance novel I've ever read.
Profile Image for Christine Errington.
104 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2024
A sheer delight

Having read all eight of the wonderfully engaging Shackleford Sisters series, I was keen to read Anthony’s story.
Intrigue, romance and laugh out loud moments abounded, securing the author’s place in my list of favourite romantic comedy writers.
I can’t wait to read more in the next generation!
131 reviews
April 24, 2024
Best series ever!

Started with Grace didn't stop till Anthony ! Start reading now and every book was a treasure. Humor,great characters, good writting,romance,adventure! Each book had everything! So sad I can't start another Shackleford story right now! Can't Waite till Jennifer is out. Thank you Ms. Watts you brighten my world with your words! Keep writing!
75 reviews
March 20, 2025
Great read!

This was a great story for Anthony! What a journey for George! I laughed out loud several times while reading it. The Reverend and Percy along with Agnes didn’t disappoint
I don’t like that there’s not much information on what happened after the crook got arrested or what happened with the title.. that was disappointing.
34 reviews
March 23, 2025
I loved this series!!

I couldn't out down these books, I was entertained and looking forward to every line. I laughed so much. I loved the combination of laughter and love. This is my first reading from this author and a big fan, and now one of her followers. My predicaments this family found themselves in was just hilarious.
24 reviews
July 3, 2025
NOT AS GOOD AS THE OTHERS

I appreciate Ms Watts trying to change it up a bit, but I could not connect with Charles or Anthony. I did enjoy Percy acting out the book he read, and I liked getting to know Mrs. Shackleford better. I just couldn't get into this story like I did the others. I didn't really like Charlie. She seemed to course and love did not change that.
336 reviews
July 26, 2025
Blessings to a large family.

This was a hilarious series, you will fall in love with the eight daughters and one son of the Reverend Shackleford. Each book finds the Reverend in the middle of a mess one of his children has found themselves in. Do not worry there is finding love and usually a mystery and many chuckles. This could be a wonderful series for TV.



1,032 reviews2 followers
August 18, 2025
quick read with an individual with a mysterious identity

This is a quick read. George is a mysterious person who is pretending to be a boy, and was stolen as an infant from her mother who died giving birth. She escapes and is being hunted. Another mystery for the Shackleford and Sinclair to solve.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews

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