Synopses & Reviews
Elizabethan glamour and intrigue abound in this heart-pounding follow-up to andlt;Iandgt;Maid of Secretsandlt;/Iandgt;, which andlt;Iandgt;Kirkus Reviews andlt;/Iandgt;called and#8220;lively and fast-pacedand#8221; with and#8220;plenty of action and plot twists.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Beatrice Knowles is a Maid of Honor, one of Queen Elizabeth Iand#8217;s secret protectors. Known for her uncanny ability to manipulate menand#8217;s hearts, Beatrice has proven herself to be a valuable asset in the Queenand#8217;s courtand#8212;or so she thinks. It has been three weeks since the Maids thwarted a plot to overthrow the Queen, and Beatrice is preparing to wed her betrothed, Lord Cavanaugh. However, her plans come to a crashing halt as rumors of a brewing Scottish rebellion spread among the court.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Beatriceand#8217;s new assignment is to infiltrate the visiting Scottish delegation using her subtle arts in persuasion. The mission seems simple enough, until the Queen pairs Beatrice with the worst of the lotand#8212;Alasdair MacLeod. Beatrice cannot help but think that the Queen is purposefully setting her up for failure. But Alasdair could be the key to unlocking the truth about the rebellionand#8230;and her heart. Caught in a web of ever-more-twisting lies, Beatrice must rise up among the Maids of Honor and prove what sheand#8217;s known all along: in a court filled with deception and danger, love may be the deadliest weapon of all.
Review
"This lively and fast-paced debut has plenty of action and plot twists to keep readers fully engaged."
Review
"Whether recounting her perilous missions or her moral dilemmas, Megand#8217;s first-person narrative is consistently engaging. Megand#8217;s adventure comes to a satisfying conclusion while leaving the door open for sequels."
Review
"This novel encompasses all the glory, excess, and intrigue of Queen Elizabeth Iand#8217;s reign; the issues surrounding Catholicism versus the Church of England; and the poor relationship between Spain and England. Full of adventure and romance and starring a very likable, spunky protagonist, this is an enjoyable historical read."
Review
"This historical romance stays true to the politics and fickleness of the Elizabethan court. The language, thoroughly modern in places, can take readers out of the period. This, however, does not detract for the intrigue, drama, and heartache of the well-developed plot. This series will be a hit with teens and quite a few adults."
Review
and#8220;McGowanand#8217;s formula combines fast-paced action untroubled by excess period detail, likable characters in the persons of Beatrice and her fellow maids, and a sentimental love affair.This quick-paced romance should thrill and engage readers with a penchant for history.and#8221;
Review
"The well-paced narrative creates a drama of court intrigue laced with treacherous secrets, dangerous liaisons, and passionate embraces. Readers who enjoyed Maid of Secrets (2013) will delight in the return of all five maids and their queen."
Review
and#8220;This quick-paced romance should thrill and engage readers with a penchant for history.and#8221;
Review
"The real intrigue of the story is in the blending of history and secrets."
Synopsis
Elizabethan glamour and intrigue abound in this heart-pounding follow-up to Maid of Secrets, which Kirkus Reviews called "lively and fast-paced" with "plenty of action and plot twists."
Beatrice Knowles is a Maid of Honor, one of Queen Elizabeth I's secret protectors. Known for her uncanny ability to manipulate men's hearts, Beatrice has proven herself to be a valuable asset in the Queen's court--or so she thinks. It has been three weeks since the Maids thwarted a plot to overthrow the Queen, and Beatrice is preparing to wed her betrothed, Lord Cavanaugh. However, her plans come to a crashing halt as rumors of a brewing Scottish rebellion spread among the court.
Beatrice's new assignment is to infiltrate the visiting Scottish delegation using her subtle arts in persuasion. The mission seems simple enough, until the Queen pairs Beatrice with the worst of the lot--Alasdair MacLeod. Beatrice cannot help but think that the Queen is purposefully setting her up for failure. But Alasdair could be the key to unlocking the truth about the rebellion...and her heart. Caught in a web of ever-more-twisting lies, Beatrice must rise up among the Maids of Honor and prove what she's known all along: in a court filled with deception and danger, love may be the deadliest weapon of all.
About the Author
Jennifer McGowan was born in Ohio, grew up in Montana, and studied in Paris. She fell in love with the Elizabethan era as a college student and is now an unrepentant scholar of the period, happily splitting her time between the past and present. An RWA Golden Heart Award winner and multiple finalist, Jenn is the author of the Maids of Honor series. She lives in Ohio. Visit her (and the Maids of Honor) at JenniferMcGowan.com.