'TIS MORE WITH ROYAL SECRETS!

Royal Secrets

The Royal Series -Book 3

by

Francine Howarth

My Review:

        Until I saw the series The White Queen, I had no idea of the treachery in the royal courts, but Francine Howarth brings that same intrigue to her story of 17^th century England and the royal court of Charles II, in her historical romance Royal Secrets.

        A young aristocratic girl, Justine Thornton sets her eye on Richard Viscount Axebury, but Richard has a reputation for being a cad. Justine is naïve, infatuated, and determined to win his heart. Francis Axebury the more sensible brother is in love with Justine and the man her father favors for a match, but Justine is as wild as her horse Lancelot, and will not be reined in. Justine is willful - a true handful for her parents, but her father is determined to see her find true love. It is the relationship between father and daughter that was the true gem of this novel, at least for this reader.

        There is plenty of intrigue in this lovely historical romance and it's also the reason you'll want to read the next book in the series! I thoroughly enjoyed intrigue of the ladies in waiting, the power held by the King's mistresses, and all the Royal Secrets of this well-written novel.

              Although part of a series, Royal Secrets is a complete and stand-alone story, and I can't wait to read the other books in Francine Howarth's Royal Series, as the fight for power goes on!

Yolanda Renee © 2013

***** ***** *****

It's 1669, and Justine Thornton's heart is lost to that of Richard Viscount Axebury. Although wise and malicious counsel from family and friends warn of his reputation as a courtly rake, a chance encounter with James Scott Duke of Monmouth causes her heart to waver and suddenly her life seems infinitely charmed. But family indiscretion at the court of Charles II turns Justine's life from one of carefree bliss to that of surviving rogue intrigues and political ambitions.

As old and new feuds take precedence at court Justine becomes party to information that cannot be allowed to reach the King's ears, for not only does she pose a threat to one of the King's mistresses, the King’s brother too will be called to account for his actions. Upon Justine’s sudden abduction the heroic camaraderie of Viscount Axebury and the Duke of Monmouth pose an even greater threat to her kidnapper, and her father the Earl of Loxton is soon face to face with an old adversary. But who will prove to be Justine’s champion, the viscount or the duke, and can the king’s mistress be toppled from her elevated position?

Francine writes contemporary romantic suspense, historical murder mysteries and sensual historical romances. She has an eclectic reading taste, but history has always been her greatest love in terms of educational subject matter (since she was old enough to read), and historical novels became her life-blood in terms of entertainment value. A portrait, a landscape, wind whispering through trees, droplet of rain or snowflake on eyelashes can stir Francine's imagination and result in either a modern contemporary romance or that of a steamy historical.

Find Francine on Facebook 
Visit her blog
Buy her book at Amazon.com
 or 
Amazon.com/uk

 ***** ***** *****

'Tis More Blessed

A Blog Hop of Giveaways hosted by Milo James Fowler!

Remember just tell us in a comment your favorite romance, whether a book, movie or you own personal experience and you could win an eBook copy of Murder, Madness & Love and Memories of Murder the first two books in the Detective Quaid mystery series
&
Francine's book Royal Secrets!

*****

Congratulations Jo Wake!
The winner from last week's Ghosts of Aquinnah post! 

*****

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