The Darling Strumpet

The Darling Strumpet

Author: Gillian Bagwell

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2011-01-04

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 1101478438

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From London’s slums to its bawdy playhouses, The Darling Strumpet charts the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles II—and becomes one of the century’s most famous courtesans… Witty and beautiful, Nell Gwynn is born into poverty, and trades her mother’s treacherous grasp for the grim life of a prostitute at a precious young age. But before long she finds herself drawn to the theater, where she earns a place in the King’s Company. As one of the first actresses in the newly opened playhouses, her talents and charms win the crowds’ affection—and the heart of her leading man. But when she catches the eye of the king himself, her life is transformed in ways she could never have imagined. Surrendering her body and heart to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court—and discover a world of decadence and passion she never imagined was possible…


The Darling Strumpet

The Darling Strumpet

Author: Gillian Bagwell

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2013-06-04

Total Pages: 386

ISBN-13: 0425263428

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Nell Gwynn, born into poverty but drawn into the world of theatre, manages to capture the heart of King Charles II in 17th century London and must maneuver the ruthless and shifting alliances of the royal court.


Venus in Winter

Venus in Winter

Author: Gillian Bagwell

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2013-07-02

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 1101624558

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The author of The September Queen explores Tudor England with the tale of Bess of Hardwick—the formidable four-time widowed Tudor dynast who became one of the most powerful women in the history of England. On her twelfth birthday, Bess of Hardwick receives the news that she is to be a waiting gentlewoman in the household of Lady Zouche. Armed with nothing but her razor-sharp wit and fetching looks, Bess is terrified of leaving home. But as her family has neither the money nor the connections to find her a good husband, she must go to facilitate her rise in society. When Bess arrives at the glamorous court of King Henry VIII, she is thrust into a treacherous world of politics and intrigue, a world she must quickly learn to navigate. The gruesome fates of Henry’s wives convince Bess that marrying is a dangerous business. Even so, she finds the courage to wed not once, but four times. Bess outlives one husband, then another, securing her status as a woman of property. But it is when she is widowed a third time that she is left with a large fortune and even larger decisions—discovering that, for a woman of substance, the power and the possibilities are endless . . .


The September Queen

The September Queen

Author: Gillian Bagwell

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2011-11-01

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 1101545798

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Charles II is running for his life-and into the arms of a woman who will risk all for king and country. Jane Lane is of marrying age, but she longs for adventure. She has pushed every potential suitor away-even those who could provide everything for her. Then one day, adventure makes its way to her doorstep, and with it comes mortal danger... Royalists fighting to restore the crown to King Charles II implore Jane to help. Jane must transport him to safety, disguised as a manservant. As she places herself in harm's way, she finds herself falling in love with the gallant young Charles. And despite his reputation as a breaker of hearts, Jane finds herself surrendering to a passion that will change her life forever.


Four Sisters, All Queens

Four Sisters, All Queens

Author: Sherry Jones

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2012-05-08

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 1451633254

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Rich in intrigue and scheming, love and lust, Sherry Jones’s vibrant historical novel follows four women destined to sway the fate of nations and the hearts of kings… Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother—and to abide by the countess’s motto: “Family comes first.” With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite’s illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Eléonore—independent and daring—is betrothed to Henry III of England. In turn, shy, devout Sanchia and tempestuous Beatrice wed noblemen who will also make them queens. Yet a crown is no guarantee of protection. Enemies are everywhere, from Marguerite’s duplicitous mother-in-law to vengeful lovers and land-hungry barons. Then there are the dangers that come from within, as loyalty succumbs to bitter sibling rivalry, and sister is pitted against sister for the prize each believes is rightfully hers—Provence itself. From the treacherous courts of France and England, to the bloody tumult of the Crusades, Sherry Jones traces the extraordinary true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions, conquests, and progeny shaped the course of history.


The Dead Don't Forget

The Dead Don't Forget

Author: Robert Weibezahl

Publisher: Dark Oak Mysteries

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781610090391

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Even Silent Film Stars Sometimes Scream! Amateur detective Billy Winnetka is back, once more reluctantly investigating a peculiarly Hollywood crime involving some anonymous death threats. Who would want to scare an old actress who hasn't made a movie in years? As Billy discovers, there is a considerable list of suspects-from Gwendolyn's money-grubbing high society relatives to her less-than-honest business manager. But simply scaring an old woman is one thing-killing her is another. Early Readers Say... "Robert Weibezahl's screenwriter Billy Winnetka has his hands full sorting through suspects galore in this zesty mystery played out against the background of a typical Hollywood motion picture production and the people who make the movies, while at the same time Billy works to resolve the unexpected romantic entanglement brought on by a new woman in his life." -Robert S. Levinson, bestselling author of A Rhumba in Waltz Time, The Elvis and Marilyn Affair and The James Dean Affair ..".highly enjoyable, good old-fashioned murder mystery, leavened with generous doses of romance and humor, and set against the picturesque backdrop of the not-quite-golden age of Hollywood." -Gillian Bagwell, author of The Darling Strumpet and The September Queen "I raced through Robert Weibezahl's sly and knowing Hollywood murder mystery, smiling all the way." -Mitchell James Kaplan, author of By Fire, By Water ..".Hollywood and movie trivia will keep you turning pages to see what's next." -J. L. Greger, author of Coming Flu About the Author: Robert Weibezahl's books include The Wicked and the Dead, which introduced screenwriter-sleuth Billy Winnetka; and A Taste of Murder and A Second Helping of Murder, co-edited with Jo Grossman. A columnist for BookPage since 2002, his work has also appeared in many national and regional publications. He lives in California.


Exit the Actress

Exit the Actress

Author: Priya Parmar

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2011-02-01

Total Pages: 464

ISBN-13: 1439171181

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From the critically acclaimed author of Vanessa and Her Sister, the debut novel hailed by New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory as “a vivid imagining of the restoration London of Charles II with Nell Gwynn as a powerful and engaging heroine.” While selling oranges in the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, sweet and sprightly Ellen "Nell" Gwyn impresses the theater’s proprietors with a wit and sparkle that belie her youth and poverty. She quickly earns a place in the company, narrowly avoiding the life of prostitution to which her sister has already succumbed. As her roles evolve from supporting to starring, the scope of her life broadens as well. Soon Ellen is dressed in the finest fashions, charming the theatrical, literary, and royal luminaries of Restoration England. Ellen grows up on the stage, experiencing first love and heartbreak and eventually becoming the mistress of Charles II. Despite his reputation as a libertine, Ellen wholly captures his heart—and he hers—but even the most powerful love isn’t enough to stave off the gossip and bitter court politics that accompany a royal romance. Telling the story through a collection of vibrant seventeenth-century voices ranging from Ellen’s diary to playbills, letters, gossip columns, and home remedies, Priya Parmar brings to life the story of an endearing and delightful heroine.


The Darling Strumpet

The Darling Strumpet

Author: Gillian Bagwell

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13: 9780425238592

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Nell Gwynn, born into poverty but drawn into the world of theatre, manages to capture the heart of King Charles II in 17th century London and must maneuver the ruthless and shifting alliances of the royal court. Original.


Nell Gwyn

Nell Gwyn

Author: Derek Parker

Publisher: Sutton Publishing

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 9780750927048

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Nell Gwyn Entertains the reader with the story of the actress nell Gwyn, daughter of a brothel keeper who became Charles II's favorite mistress.


Freedom's Song

Freedom's Song

Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

Publisher: WaterBrook

Published: 2021-10-19

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 0525653708

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Her voice made her a riverboat’s darling—and its prisoner. Now she’s singing her way to freedom in this powerful novel from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow. “[An] enjoyable faith-filled adventure . . . Sawyer’s episodic narrative and rich assortment of characters fighting for freedom provide the story with many twists and unexpected side-plots.”—Publishers Weekly Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. So when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape—an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . . Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn’t arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . . After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat’s captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past—and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . . Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, Freedom’s Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.