Download or read book The Dark Queen written by Susan Carroll and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2005-03-29 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Brittany’s misty shores to the decadent splendor of Paris’s royal court, one woman must fulfill her destiny–while facing the treacherous designs of Catherine de Medici, the dark queen. She is Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, one of the Cheney sisters, renowned for their mystical skills and for keeping the isle secure and prosperous. But this is a time when women of ability are deemed sorceresses, when Renaissance France is torn by ruthless political intrigues, and all are held in thrall to the sinister ambitions of Queen Catherine de Medici. Then a wounded stranger arrives on Faire Isle, bearing a secret the Dark Queen will do everything in her power to possess. The only person Ariane can turn to is the comte de Renard, a nobleman with fiery determination and a past as mysterious as his own unusual gifts. Riveting, vibrant, and breathtaking, The Dark Queen follows Ariane and Renard as they risk everything to prevent the fulfillment of a dreadful prophecy–even if they must tempt fate and their own passions.

Download or read book THE VALOIS SAGA Queen Margot Chicot de Jester The Forty Five Guardsmen Historical Novels written by Alexandre Dumas and published by e-artnow. This book was released on 2017-06-28 with total page 1394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Valois Trilogy covers the historical context of French Wars of Religion, during the Valois dynasty. The trilogy contains novels Marguerite de Valois (The Reine Margot), Chicot de Jester (La Dame de Monsoreau) and The Forty-Five Guardsmen. Marguerite de Valois or La Reine Margot is a historical novel set in Paris in August 1572 during the reign of Charles IX. The novel's protagonist is Marguerite de Valois, better known as Margot, daughter of the deceased Henry II and the infamous scheming Catholic power player Catherine de Medici. Chicot de Jester or La Dame de Monsoreau is concerned with fraternal royal strife at the court of Henri III. Tragically caught between the millstones of history are the gallant Count de Bussy and the woman he adores, la Dame de Monsoreau. The action takes place between February and September 1578, six years after the massacre of St. Bartholomew with which La Reine Margot begins. The Forty-Five Guardsmen is the third and final novel of the trilogy of Valois. The action takes place between 1585 and 1586, thirteen years after the massacre of St. Bartholomew. Having succeeded his brother Charles IX, Henry III reigned for ten years without being able to calm the political and religious agitation that delivers the kingdom to factions. Alexandre Dumas, père (1802-1870) was a French writer whose works have been translated into nearly 100 languages and he is one of the most widely read French authors. His most famous works are The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

Download or read book Court of Lions written by Jane Johnson and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-03-06 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kate Fordham, escaping terrible personal trauma, has fled to the beautiful sunlit city of Granada, the ancient capital of the Moors in Spain. There she is scraping by with an unfulfilling job in a busy bar. One day, in the glorious gardens of the Alhambra—once home to Sultan Abu Abdullah Mohammed—Kate finds a scrap of paper hidden in one of the ancient walls. Upon it, in strange symbols, has been inscribed a message from another era. The message has lain undiscovered since before the Fall of Granada in 1492, when the city was surrendered to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Born of love, in a time of danger and desperation, the fragment will be the catalyst that changes Kate's life forever. An epic saga of romance and redemption, Court of Lions brings one of the great turning-points in human history to life, telling the dual stories of a modern woman and the last Moorish sultan of Granada, as they both move towards their cataclysmic destinies.

Download or read book The Dancer s Promise written by Olivia Horrox and published by Embla Books. This book was released on 2024-01-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Oh my gosh! What a beautifully written story!... I totally loved it... I literally could not stop reading... This is a must if you like historical fiction!!' Reader review 5 stars When their father loses the family fortune, and their mother locks herself away, sisters Grace and Clementine are left to raise themselves in a grand London house that is slowly falling apart around them. Each of them is determined to one day restore their fortunes and their family name and make a promise to do just that. Clementine dreams of being a star on stage, a celebrated ballerina who will tour the world, earning fame and fortune. She is adamant she won't put her fate into a man's hands but take charge of it herself. Grace, in contrast, sees security in a good marriage. Their eligible new American neighbour, with wealth, charm and looks, seems like the perfect match. But when Clementine falls unexpectedly in love, it throws both sisters' lives into turmoil and forces each of them to ask if they are prepared to break their promise for a chance at true love... A beautifully imagined historical novel about the bond between sisters and a changing world. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton. Readers love The Dancer's Promise : 'Brilliant... I loved the characters Grace and Clementine a true story of sisterly love and support in such difficult times... Truly memorable read... touching and inspiring' Reader review 5 stars 'What a treat! With its mystery element thrown in to enhance the plot, I found the time sped by and I was lost in another time and place' Reader review 5 stars

Download or read book The Girl in the Lighthouse All That Is Beautiful written by Roxane Sanford and published by . This book was released on 2011-12-16 with total page 680 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Arrington saga, book 1-2This combo book features the first two books in the Arrington series (The Girl in the Lighthouse & All That is Beautiful).

Download or read book The Once Upon a Princess Saga A Historical Fantasy Fairy Tale Retelling of Sleeping Beauty written by C. S. Johnson and published by C. S. Johnson . This book was released on 2020-05-31 with total page 776 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE ONCE UPON A PRINCESS COLLECTOR SET Beauty’s Curse Beauty’s Quest Beauty’s Kiss Beauty’s Gift At her birth, Princess Aurora of Rhone—Rose to her friends—was cursed Magdalina, the wicked ruler of the fairies at war with her kingdom. Under the curse, Rose is doomed to die on her eighteenth birthday after pricking her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel. Along with her friends—Theo, a priest on a quest for his own revenge; Mary, a young and talented fairy; Ethan and Sophia, siblings with a troubled past; and a newcomer to the group, Prince Philip—Rose sets out to find a way to break her curse, willing to risk everything to fight the battle of her life—the battle for her freedom, her kingdom, and her heart. Includes all four novellas and special artwork by Julia Mae Busko!

Download or read book The Queen of Last Hopes written by Susan Higginbotham and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2011-01-01 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A man other than my husband sits on England's throne today. What would happen if this king suddenly went mad? What would his queen do? Would she make the same mistakes I did, or would she learn from mine? Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, cannot give up on her husband—even when he slips into insanity. And as mother to the House of Lancaster's last hope, she cannot give up on her son—even when England turns against them. This gripping tale of a queen forced to stand strong in the face of overwhelming odds is at its heart a tender tale of love. Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham will once again ask readers to question everything they know about right and wrong, compassion and hope, duty to one's country and the desire of one's own heart. Praise for Susan Higginbotham "A beautiful blending of turbulent history and deeply felt fiction, Susan Higginbotham's The Queen of Last Hopes brings alive an amazing woman often overlooked or slandered by historians. Higginbotham has given readers of historical fiction a gift to treasure." —Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Irish Princess "A compelling, fast paced, and well-written saga that is destined to both entertain and educate anyone interested in the spirited and fascinating Margaret of Anjou for generations to come!" —D. L. Bogdan, author of Secrets of the Tudor Court "The Queen of Last Hopes is an inspiring novel of a woman who, in the face of betrayal and loss, would not surrender. Susan Higginbotham brings Margaret of Anjou to life and tells the story of the Frenchwoman who was one of the strongest queens England has ever known." —Christy English, author of The Queen's Pawn and To Be Queen

Download or read book Cutting for Stone written by Abraham Verghese and published by Random House India. This book was released on 2012-05-17 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance and bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Moving from Addis Ababa to New York City and back again, Cutting for Stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, medicine and ordinary miracles—and two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined.

Download or read book Wildest Dreams written by Rosanne Bittner and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2012-02 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A sweeping saga of passion, excitement, and danger...as a beautiful young woman and a rugged ex-soldier struggle against all odds to carve out an empire--and to forge a magnificent love." Lettie McBride knows that joining a wagon train heading West is her chance to begin anew, far from the devastating memories of the night that changed her forever. She doesn't believe she can escape the pain of innocence lost, or feel desire for any man...until she meets Luke Fontaine. Haunted by his own secrets, Luke would never blame Lettie for what happened in the past. One glance at the pretty redhead is enough to fill the handsome, hard-driving pioneer with a savage hunger. Against relentless snows, murderous desperadoes, and raiding Sioux, Luke and Lettie will face a heartrending choice: abandon a lawless land before it destroys them, or fight for their Wildest Dreams. An emotional saga from the "QUEEN OF WESTERN HISTORICAL ROMANCE" that will captivate fans of Debra Holland, Jodi Thomas, Diana Palmer, and Linda Lael Miller. What readers are saying about Wildest Dreams: "I laughed and cried and mourned the end of this wonderful adventure!" "This is my idea of what love, marriage and family should be like." "This book kept me thinking long after I had read the last page." "I have not read a historical romance in years, and years. But, this one sucked me right in." "If I were stranded on an island and could only take 5 books with me, this would be one." What reviewers are saying about Wildest Dreams: "It's a rip-roaring soap opera that lets the reader follow a couple's life together over the course of 25 years." "Anyone seeking an emotional, sweeping Western saga need look no further..." "I was swept away into Luke and Lettie's story and loved every re-reading minute of it, and they and their story has stayed with me again long after I have finished." "Books like this aren't being published in the romance genre anymore -- and it's a damn cryin' shame." "In my opinion this book was everything a good western romance should be." What everyone is saying about RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award-winning and USA Today bestselling Author Rosanne Bittner: "Power, passion, tragedy, and triumph are Rosanne Bittner's hallmarks. Again and again, she brings readers to tears." "The strong flavor of the Wild West combines with a beautiful love story, creating a true saga of the era." "Ms. Bittner has a way of bringing the pages and characters to life which pulled me right in from page one and I hated having to put it down for even one second." "If you like authentic American West romances with in depth characterizations Rosanne Bittner is your author." "Rosanne Bittner has a way of weaving a story into your heart so that you can't help but love the characters and feel like you truly know them!" "We are very lucky to be living during a time when the TRUEE QUEEN OF HISTORICAL ROMANCE...keeps delivering epic novels that are forever engraved in our hearts."

Download or read book The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street written by Susan Jane Gilman and published by Grand Central Publishing. This book was released on 2014-06-10 with total page 471 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A clever and complex woman builds an ice cream empire after immigrating from Russia in this stunning novel of power, Prohibition, and performance set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America. In 1913, little Malka Treynovsky flees Russia with her family. Bedazzled by tales of gold and movie stardom, she tricks them into buying tickets for America. Yet no sooner do they land on the squalid Lower East Side of Manhattan, than Malka is crippled and abandoned in the street. Taken in by a tough-loving Italian ices peddler, she manages to survive through cunning and inventiveness. As she learns the secrets of his trade, she begins to shape her own destiny. She falls in love with a gorgeous, illiterate radical named Albert, and they set off across America in an ice cream truck. Slowly, she transforms herself into Lillian Dunkle, "The Ice Cream Queen" -- doyenne of an empire of ice cream franchises and a celebrated television personality. Lillian's rise to fame and fortune spans seventy years and is inextricably linked to the course of American history itself, from Prohibition to the disco days of Studio 54. Yet Lillian Dunkle is nothing like the whimsical motherly persona she crafts for herself in the media. Conniving, profane, and irreverent, she is a supremely complex woman who prefers a good stiff drink to an ice cream cone. And when her past begins to catch up with her, everything she has spent her life building is at stake.

Download or read book Twice Royal Lady written by Assistant Professor of History Hilary Green and published by Robert Hale. This book was released on 2015-05-29 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A novel bringing to life the tale of Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I, and her decision to fight for her rights as her father's heir Destined from childhood to be an important piece in the intricate chess game of power, Matilda is the granddaughter of William the Conqueror but also descended, through her mother, from the ancient line of Anglo-Saxon kings. Betrothed to Emperor Henry of Germany at the age of eight, she is married at 12 and crowned Empress. By her early twenties she is a widow, and the only surviving legitimate heir to her father, Henry l of England. Forced into a second marriage to a boy 10 years younger, she gives birth to three sons, the male heirs her father longs for. However, on his sudden death, the throne is usurped by her cousin, Stephen. Matilda is forced to choose between her husband and her rights as her father's heir. Intelligent, determined, and courageous, she chooses to fight for her rights.

Download or read book Queen of Hearts written by Colleen Oakes and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2016-05-03 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first novel in Colleen Oakes’s epic, imaginative and twisted series, perfect for fans of Dorothy Must Die and Heartless, tackles the origin of one of the most infamous villains—the Queen of Hearts. This is not the story of the Wonderland we know. Alice has not fallen down a rabbit hole. This is a Wonderland where beneath each smile lies a secret, each tart comes with a demand, and only prisoners tell the truth. Dinah is the princess who will one day reign over Wonderland. She has not yet seen the dark depths of her kingdom; she longs only for her father’s approval and a future with the boy she loves. But when a betrayal breaks her heart and threatens her throne, she is launched into Wonderland’s dangerous political game. Dinah must stay one step ahead of her cunning enemies or she’ll lose not just the crown but her head. Don’t miss Blood of Wonderland, the must-read sequel to Dinah’s story!

Download or read book Once Upon a Marquess written by Courtney Milan and published by Courtney Milan. This book was released on 2015-12-08 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The last man Judith Worth wants to see again is Charles Trent, the Marquess of Ashford—the man who spent summers at her family home, who kissed her one magical night…and then heartlessly ruined her father. But when a tricky business matter arises, he’s the only one she can ask for help. She expects that he’ll engage a servant to take care of the matter, and she won’t even have to talk with him. But Ashford has never forgotten Judith. He knows she will never forgive him for what he’s done, but when offered the chance to assist her, he arrives in person. His memory of Judith may have haunted him, but it pales in comparison to the reality of the vivacious, beautiful woman he rediscovers. Throughout his life, he has always done what is correct. But now, he finds himself doing something utterly wrong…falling in love with the one woman he can never have. Once Upon a Marquess is the first book in the Worth Saga. The second book, After the Wedding, is available now.

Download or read book Jane the Quene written by Janet Wertman and published by Janet Wertman. This book was released on 2016-04-14 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "One of the Best Books of 2016" - Open Letters Monthly; Finalist, 2016 Novel of the Year - Underground Book Reviews; Semi-Finalist - 2017 M.M. Bennetts Award All Jane Seymour wants is a husband; but when she catches the eye of a volatile king, she is pulled deep into the Tudor court's realm of plot and intrigue.... England. 1535. Jane Seymour is 27 years old and increasingly desperate to marry and secure her place in the world. When the court visits Wolf Hall, the Seymour ancestral manor, Jane has the perfect opportunity to shine: her diligence, efficiency and newfound poise are sure to finally attract a suitor. Meanwhile, King Henry VIII is 45 and increasingly desperate for an heir. He changed his country's religion to leave his first wife, a princess of Spain, for Anne Boleyn -- but she too has failed to provide a son. As Henry begins to fear he is cursed, Jane Seymour's honesty and innocence conjure in him the hope of redemption. Thomas Cromwell, an ambitious clerk whose political prowess keeps the King's changing desires satisfied, sees in Jane Seymour the perfect answer to the unrest threatening England: he engineers the plot that ends with Jane becoming the King's third wife. For Jane, who believes herself virtuous and her actions justified, miscarriages early in her marriage shake her confidence. How can a woman who has committed no wrong bear the guilt of how she unseated her predecessor?

Download or read book Song of the Sparrow written by Lisa Ann Sandell and published by Scholastic Inc.. This book was released on 2008 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: She is Elaine of Ascolat, the Lady of Shalott. At sixteen, Elaine is beautiful and brave, with a temperament as fiery as her long red hair. She lives on Arthur's army base with her father and brothers, the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. As she mends torn battle garments and heals wounds, Elaine often slips into daydreams, wishing the handsome Lancelot would see her as more than a tomboy. Then a new girl arrives, and Elaine is thrilled-- until Gwynivere proves to be cold and cruel. But when the two of them are thrown into a situation of gravest danger, they must band together in order to survive. Can Elaine find the strength to fight for the kingdom she has always believed in? This highly acclaimed novel is a beautiful contribution to the Camelot canon.

Download or read book Cinder written by Marissa Meyer and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2013-01-08 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Queen Levana is a ruler who uses her 'glamour' to gain power. but long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story - a story that has never been told ... until now.

Download or read book The Lost Queen written by Signe Pike and published by Atria Books. This book was released on 2019-06-04 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Outlander meets Camelot” (Kirsty Logan, author of The Gracekeepers) in the first book of an exciting historical trilogy that reveals the untold story of Languoreth—a powerful and, until now, tragically forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotland—twin sister of the man who inspired the legendary character of Merlin. Intelligent, passionate, rebellious, and brave, Languoreth is the unforgettable heroine of The Lost Queen, a tale of conflicted loves and survival set against the cinematic backdrop of ancient Scotland, a magical land of myths and superstition inspired by the beauty of the natural world. One of the most powerful early medieval queens in British history, Languoreth ruled at a time of enormous disruption and bloodshed, when the burgeoning forces of Christianity threatened to obliterate the ancient pagan beliefs and change her way of life forever. Together with her twin brother Lailoken, a warrior and druid known to history as Merlin, Languoreth is catapulted into a world of danger and violence. When a war brings the hero Emrys Pendragon, to their door, Languoreth collides with the handsome warrior Maelgwn. Their passionate connection is forged by enchantment, but Languoreth is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of the High King who is sympathetic to the followers of Christianity. As Rhydderch's wife, Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way, her kingdom, and all she holds dear. “Moving, thrilling, and ultimately spellbinding” (BookPage), The Lost Queen brings this remarkable woman to life—rescuing her from obscurity, and reaffirming her place at the center of the most enduring legends of all time. “Moving, thrilling, and ultimately spellbinding, The Lost Queen is perfect for readers of historical fiction like The Clan of the Cave Bear and Wolf Hall, and for lovers of fantasy like Outlander and The Mists of Avalon” (BookPage).