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| Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands |
Keeping with the Royal Theme, I spotlight Michelle Diener's innovative story of Tudor England, KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS:
A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high . . .
The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . .
With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all.
THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS follows last year's debut, IN A TREACHEROUS COURT, which introduced us to non aristocrats characters who serve King Henry VIII. John Parker is the king's trusted courtier and Susanna Horenbout is a distinguished painter from Belgium. In the first book, they formed an accidental alliance to identify a traitor who threatened Susanna. Along the way, they found love.
THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS offers another mystery for the engaged couple to solve. Once again, Diener delivers a roller coaster ride through the viper pit disguised as the King's Court. Susanna and John rely on their wits - and each other - to find the stolen jewelry and secure Henry's power. Fans of Showtime's THE TUDORS and even THE BORGIAS will enjoy Diener's "out of the box" look at Medieval Times (the historic era, not the entertainment venue) with an independent heroine, a resourceful hero, a riveting plot, and a genuine romance.
THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS can be read as a stand alone story. But history buffs will want to read the first book, IN A TREACHEROUS COURT, to see how Diener introduces the characters. One particularly intriguing villain is the Duke of Norfolk, who remains in the shadows as the Machiavellian player in royal politics.
To learn more about Michelle Diener, including links to purchase her books, check out her website at www.michellediener.com. I am giving away a print copy of THE KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about a dynasty that intrigues you - Egyptians? Greeks? Vikings? Crusades? Renaissance? Regency? Victorian?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 29.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
April's month long giveaway is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!
CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.
CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.
These beach goers have their own secrets ...
I've always been fascinated with the Egypt and its political intrigue.
ReplyDeleteEach era has its own mystique! Thanks for the review and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSara
I love my History, so I find all and any Dynasty absolutely fascinating. Such power & ruthlessness to hold on.
ReplyDeleteThe regency is my favorite time, but I enjoy most others, too.
ReplyDeletemarlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
There are so many but Henry VIII always fascinated me.
ReplyDeletemine will be Vikings, Regency & Victorian.
ReplyDeleteI love the Victorian period followed by the Regency period.
ReplyDeleteMy choice was hard to make because I find history fascinating. When I was in High School one of our required courses was to study the civilizations through the ages and the politics that effected them to prepare us to understand the birth of an the United States and the influences past civilizations had on the choices made when our country was formed.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that one of the reasons I have to choose Egypt is that my husband is a Master Stone mason and his love of Egypt is his admiration of the Pyramids! Many don't realize that the men who did the actually work building them were "employees" that were well paid and taken care of with good food and living conditions and their families lived with them in good housing. Many people in the past thought they were slaves or forced laborers but instead they were valued employees.
Personally I think that Cleopatra was a fascinating example to women today who is an example of a powerful ruler in an era filled with intrigue.
My husband would probably be surprised by my answer because of my love in reading Victorian and Regency romance but when you consider that by understanding the political and cultural periods of the past is important in understanding the views of the following political and cultural decisions made.
Kim -
DeleteJust so you know the above posting is really me! I was using my son's computer and didn't realize he also had Google connect! Sorry about that!
Jeanne Miro
Celts always interested me first, then the Viking, and then Regency
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post! I really like history and reading how intricate and complicated these dynasties were is thrilling :) I particularly like Egyptian and Roman histories.
ReplyDeleteI've always been fascinated with Egypt. I'd love to go there someday. And wow, it has already been one year since Kate and William's wedding ceremony. I really enjoyed watching it. Love the carriages.
ReplyDeleteVictorian and Regency are my favorites but I love history so read others also. I have added Michelle as new author and both books on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I just adore the book cover it looks so stunning! For me it is the regency that really grabs my attention ,I do read other as well but regency that can grab and hold my attention for hours. Thank you so very,very much for the lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteDesere
I have always been intrigued by Vikings.
ReplyDeleteI do like them all. I would like to start at the oldest and work my way up.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a great book. I fell in love with The Tudors show and since have tried to find books during that time period.
ReplyDeleteThough I really love to read about Vikings (since I have to pick one and ALL wasn't an option).
I have very little knowledge about these dynasties, but I'm most fascinated by the Greeks, Vikings, and Egyptians.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young I had little interest in history but now that I'm older it is interesting to see how they rose and fell. I would pick the Romans as an interesting dynasty but then again they all are.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about the Regency and Victorian eras.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. I'm not interested in any dynasty in paticular but would love to read this!
ReplyDeleteI love The Tudors TV program. When it comes to time periods, I like the Renaissance and I like the roaring 20s.
ReplyDeleteI loved watching The Tudors and am now enjoying The Borgias. These books sound very interesting. As far as time periods I enjoy romances with Greek,Victorian, Viking, Renaissance and Regency.
ReplyDeletepurpleunicorn19(at)yahoo(dot)com
The Egyptians are interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe Regency & Victorian eras intruige me. I love all the gowns, balls and rakes :D
ReplyDeleteI love so many!! My favorites would be Victorian and Regency. I haven't read anything with egyptians yet. But I am open. I also love the Jacobites.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
IN A TREACHEROUS COURT was great.
ReplyDeleteI'm going with the Ancient Greeks as favorites.
Choices again! I like them all equally, but you're making me choose one: Egyptians. There. But each time period had their own special something to offer. Their pros and cons. OMG!!! The only television I really enjoy watching are the period pieces with The Tudors, The Borgias, and Spartacus being recent ones I'll tune in to watch.
ReplyDelete