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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Romance > Historical
It's 1569. Elizabeth I sits on the English throne, the Reformation
inflames the Continent, and whispers of war abound. But in
Troixden, just north of France, the Lady Annelore isn't interested
in politics. Times are hard, taxes are high, and the people in her
duchy need her help just to survive. Her widowed father is a good
man easily distracted by horses, and her newly knighted childhood
friend...well, he has plans of his own. Then Annelore receives a
call she can't ignore. When Troixden's sadistic king died
childless, his younger brother William returns from exile to find
his beloved country on the brink of civil war. He's in desperate
need of the stability that comes with a bride and heirs. But
Annelore, his chosen queen, won't come quietly. Now the future of
Troixden lies in the hands of two people who never wanted the power
they've received and never dreamed that from duty and honor they
might find love and a path to peace. Heirs & Spares is one part
history, two parts palace plotting, and a whole lot of juicy
romantic intrigue. Break out the spiced wine and sink in to this
rousing read.
A masterful story of the Santa Fe Trail in 1846 during a time of
fierce competition between traders who hauled goods past Bent's
Fort to Talvarez Hacienda near Taos in New Mexico Territory at the
dawn of the Mexican American War. Kate Willingham must hand-carry a
locked chest to an unknown aunt in Taos. To cross the unforgiving
wilderness, Kate hires on as Thomas McCann's personal cook, never
suspecting that he is President Polk's secret emissary. Kate's
journey becomes a test of endurance and honor. Trouble befalls her
at the hands of villainous Henry Nave. But she blames freighter
Luke Beckhart, a mercenary, bent on making a profit on the coming
war with Mexico. Determined to buy Talvarez Hacienda, Beckhart and
his partner Don Jacinto, suspects there is a spy in their midst.
They do not realize a villain other than Nave, wants the chest, and
will kill to get it. Love, loss, death and birth color the tightly
woven fabric of this classic human saga, as each traveler faces
circumstances that tries their soul and changes their heart.
When Rosalie Harrow found herself plunged into the middle of a house
party of society ladies in pursuit of the hand of the Duke of Norland,
though she was near destitute, she had no desire to be caged by
marriage. Yet, by evening’s end, she’d captivated not one, but three
gentlemen . . .
James Corbin, Viscount Finchley, has a dual mission. First, guarantee
that his debaucherous brother, George, the Duke, goes through with his
upcoming marriage. Second, ensure that his best friend, Burke, does not
get married . . . at least not to the living, breathing gorgon that is
Lady Olivia Rutledge. Burke is fully in agreement.
Together with their friend, Lieutenant Renley, the gentlemen concoct an
elaborate ruse to set Burke free. But as George’s wedding day nears,
secrets from the past emerge that threaten ruin upon each gentleman’s
future. Fortunately, it’s Rosalie to the rescue . . .
Rosalie has plans of her own, not only to save Burke from the altar,
but to save Renley from the ghosts that haunt him―and to save James
from himself. Meanwhile, to win her, each gentleman will try anything,
risk anything, and be anything she needs. As for Rosalie, she can’t
help but wonder, why choose?
The Gentle Revolutionaries is a novel based on the lives of two
prominent American missionaries, Dan and Emelie Bradley, who became
close friends with the famous monk, later King Mongkut. They
arrived in Thailand (Siam) in 1835 and made significant
contributions to Thailand's medical, social and intellectual
history. Their diaries and letters, as well as the Thai's
evaluation of them, destroys the false image of Thailand an English
writer had created. The Bradleys and their missionary coworkers
came from New York's "Burned Over District," famous for its policy
of accepting women as social equals. Thai nobles basically treated
missionary women as their husbands did, respectfully and
warmly.
Anna Leonowens, who served as an English teacher for the
children and wives of King Mongkut, later fabricated two novels
about him that were bestsellers. Unfortunately, these books were
innocently used as the basis for Margaret Landon's novel, Anna and
the King of Siam, which was made into successful Broadway and
Hollywood musicals.
The Thai and the missionaries were so close that two
missionaries negotiated Thailand's treaties with the United States
and England. Missionaries also led the battle against smallpox and
inspired the Thai to replace their antiquated educational system
with one similar to Western schools. The best example of the
Thai/missionary mutual respect came when an American ambassador to
Thailand was shocked to discover at a royal dinner with King
Chulalongkorn, that not he, but a missionary wife sat at the right
hand of the king.
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