Magic and Manners Book 1 If 14-year-old Cassandra Reed makes it through her first day at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies without anyone discovering her secret, maybe, just maybe, she’ll let herself believe that she really does belong at Miss Castwell’s. Except Cassandra Reed’s real name is Sarah Smith and up until now, she lived her whole life in the Warren, serving a magical family, the Winters, as all non-magical “Snipes” are bound by magical Guardian law to do. That is, until one day, Sarah accidentally levitates Mrs. Winter’s favorite vase in the parlor... But Snipes aren’t supposed to have magical powers…and the existence of a magical Snipe threatens the world order dictated during the Guardians’ Restoration years ago. If she wants to keep her family safe and protect her own skin, Sarah must figure out how to fit into posh Guardian society, master her newfound magical powers and discover the truth about how an ordinary girl can become magical.

Nearly done first year at Miss Castwell’s, servant born Sarah Smith might succeed posing as upper-class Cassandra Reed. But a vision of Lightbourne destroyed by a dead army shocks Sarah. Plus, the Mother Book, her ultimate entrée to Guardian society, stops Translating, causing trouble from the Guild. Then her school lady’s maid leaves in a rush and flurry of golden sparkles. Sarah's best friends Alicia McCray and Ivy Cowell will do anything to protect her secret, and their generous natures blossom. Her guardian Mrs Winters is pleased their summer is with Alicia’s influential family, but widow McCray wants son Gavin close. Their Scotland destination is the same mountain range rumored to hide Changelings. Just who the girls are looking for. Meanwhile Gavin McCray and Owen Winter look for romance.

After discovering and rescuing a group of magical Changelings just like herself, Sarah Smith must now figure out what to do with the unruly children – and how to keep them and the rest of the magical world safe! Having left the structure of Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magic Instruction of Young Ladies behind, Sarah and her two best friends, Alicia and Ivy, hide out with the Changeling children in the countryside while they try to formulate a plan. They have no weapons, no guidance, and the Mother Book is gone. They only have each other and the creeping threat of Miss Morton’s revenant army on the horizon… New alliances must be forged, and old friends provide what support they can, but the trio wonders who they can truly trust. They are searching for the mysterious artifact that may prove to be the undoing of the undead, after all! As the rest of magical society prepares for what they think is the highlight of Lightbourne’s endless party season, Sarah, Alicia, and Ivy throw themselves headlong into planning for the night that holds their last chance to protect the safety of the entire magical world! Join the ladies of Miss Castwell’s in this adventurous tale of magic, mystery and, occasionally, young romance!