Karen Harper

Before there was Meghan Markle, there was Consuelo Vanderbilt, the original American Duchess. Perfect for readers of Jennifer Robson and lovers of Downton Abbey. Karen Harper tells the tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt, her “The Wedding of the Century” to the Duke of Marlborough, and her quest to find meaning behind “the glitter and the gold.” On a cold November day in 1895, a carriage approaches St Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward, awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just 18, the beautiful bride has not only arrived late, but in tears, yet her marriage to the aloof Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother, Alva, Consuelo loves another. But a deal was made, trading some of the vast Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige, and Consuelo, bred to obey, realizes she must make the best of things. At Blenheim Palace, Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties, including producing an “heir and a spare,” but her relationship with the duke quickly disintegrates. Consuelo finds an inner strength, charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats including Winston Churchill, as she fights for women’s suffrage. And when she takes a scandalous leap, can she hope to attain love at last…? From the dawning of the opulent Gilded Age, to the battles of the Second World War, American Duchess is a riveting tale of one woman’s quest to attain independence—at any price.

A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt

American Duchess

Assigned as a lady in waiting to the queen of France, the sister Henry VIII, beautiful but sheltered Mary Boleyn is drawn into the treacherous secrets and illicit love affairs of the glittering French court when she becomes the mistress of the French prince François and catches the eye of the powerful English king Henry VIII. Original. 25,000 first printing.

A Novel

The Last Boleyn

"1939. As the wife of the King George VI and the mother of the future queen, Elizabeth, the queen mother--shows a warm, smiling face to the world. But it's no surprise that Hitler himself calls her the 'most dangerous woman in Europe.' For behind that soft voice and kindly demeanor is a will of steel ... Elizabeth holds many powerful cards, she's also hiding damaging secrets about her past and her provenance that could prove to be her undoing. In this ... novel of royal secrets and intrigue, Karen Harper lifts the veil on one of the world's most fascinating families, and how its 'secret weapon' of a matriarch maneuvered her way through one of the most dangerous chapters of the century"--Publisher marketing.

A Novel of England's World War II Queen

The Queen's Secret

Based on a seldom-told true story, this novel is perfect for everyone who is fascinated by Britain’s royal family—a behind the scenes look into the nurseries of little princes and the foibles of big princes. April, 1897: A young nanny arrives at Sandringham, ancestral estate of the Duke and Duchess of York. She is excited, exhausted—and about to meet royalty. . . . So begins the unforgettable story of Charlotte Bill, who would care for a generation of royals as their parents never could. Neither Charlotte—LaLa, as her charges dub her—nor anyone else can predict that eldest sons David and Bertie will each one day be king. LaLa knows only that these children, and the four who swiftly follow, need her steadfast loyalty and unconditional affection. But the greatest impact on Charlotte’s life is made by a mere bud on the family tree: a misunderstood soul who will one day be known as the Lost Prince. Young Prince John needs all of Lala’s love—the kind of love his parents won’t…or can’t…show him. From Britain’s old wealth to the glittering excesses of Tsarist Russia; from country cottages to royal yachts, and from nursery to ballroom, Charlotte Bill witnesses history. The Royal Nanny is a seamless blend of fact and fiction—an intensely intimate, yet epic tale spanning decades, continents, and divides that only love can cross.

The Royal Nanny

Hoping to redeem her family's disgraced name, Joan of Kent journeys to the intrigue-filled court of King Edward III, where, as part of her revenge on the royal family for their betrayal of her father, she targets Edward, Prince of Wales, but her vengeance is undermined by her growing feelings for the prince. Reader's Guide included. Original. 25,000 first printing.

The First Princess of Wales

From New York Times bestselling author Karen Harper comes a novel based on the lives of two amazing sisters . . . One sailed the Titanic and started a fashion empire . . . The other overtook Hollywood and scandalized the world . . . Together, they were unstoppable. They rose from genteel poverty, two beautiful sisters, ambitious, witty, seductive. Elinor and Lucy Sutherland are at once each other’s fiercest supporters and most vicious critics. Lucy transformed herself into Lucile, the daring fashion designer who revolutionized the industry with her flirtatious gowns and brazen self-promotion. And when she married Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon her life seemed to be a fairy tale. But success came at many costs—to her marriage and to her children . . . and then came the fateful night of April 14, 1912 and the scandal that followed. Elinor’s novels titillate readers, and it’s even asked in polite drawing rooms if you would like to “sin with Elinor Glyn?” Her work pushes the boundaries of what’s acceptable; her foray into the glittering new world of Hollywood turns her into a world-wide phenomenon. But although she writes of passion, the true love she longs for eludes her. But despite quarrels and misunderstandings, distance and destiny, there is no bond stronger than that of the two sisters—confidants, friends, rivals and the two “It Girls” of their day.

The It Girls

Elizabeth “Gera” Fitzgerald, born into the first family of Ireland, takes refuge in England, navigates ever-shifting alliances and nurtures her secret plot for revenge after Henry VIII imprisons her father and destroys her family and the home she loved. Original.

The Irish Princess

A young widow and candlemaker, Varina Westcott, agrees to travel to Wales to investigate the suspicious death of the newly married Prince Author as a secret request of Queen Elizabeth of York, the wife of Henry VII. 25,000 first printing.

Mistress of Mourning

Volunteering with a support group for children affected by domestic violence, forensic psychologist Claire Britten, aided by partner Nick Markwood, investigates a suspicious death at a wildlife sanctuary, only to be confronted by an attack that is too close to home.

Shallow Grave

J. B. Hartnett

Nancy Thompson

My name is Genevieve Clare, professional mourner, destined to spend my days donning a black suit and throwing myself on top of caskets for money. Sometimes I mixed it up and threw myself on top of a willing warm body instead. Finding the right warm body though, that was a different story.

The Morbid and Sultry Tales of Genevieve Clare

Forensic psychologist Claire Britten and lawyer Nick Marwood team together to solve a murder in St. Augustine, Florida. An attraction between them blossoms, but once Claire discovers Nick's personal connections to the case, she may no longer be able to trust him.

Chasing Shadows

Mistress Shakespeare

Tess Lockwood, who cannot remember anything about her abduction and captivity as a young girl, resolves to face her past with the aid of Sheriff Gabe McCord when a local child goes missing after Tess's return to Cold Creek, Ohio.

Shattered Secrets

A violent past leads to a present danger… When an old college roommate invites Claire Britten to join her on an archaeological dig at a Florida peat bog, it’s an offer the renowned forensic psychologist can’t refuse. Claire’s husband, criminal lawyer Nick Markwood, is comforted to see Claire working on a prehistoric burial site instead of an open grave for once. But Claire’s investigative instincts kick in when some of The Black Bog’s perfectly preserved corpses show signs of a grisly fate. What really happened to these people? What started as an exploration of the past soon escalates into an all-too-current danger. Someone is watching—someone who really doesn’t want Claire digging into the past or Nick making connections to a current, violent murder case he’s investigating. The bog’s corpses may be long dead, but if Claire and Nick don’t figure out who’s gunning for a fresh kill, the next bodies to be discovered will be their own.

Silent Scream

Passion's reign

Evil takes root… As a child, Jessie Lockwood spent many hours helping her mother, Mariah, count the endangered ginseng plants hidden in the local woods of Deep Down, Kentucky. There she learned to appreciate the tiny Appalachian town—and ginseng’s healing powers. Now a PhD, she’s made her home in Lexington, even though that meant leaving Deep Down and her beloved mother—and Sheriff Drew Webb, the man she secretly loved. When Jessie is notified that her mother never returned from her last walk in the woods, she comes home to Deep Down—and to Drew. As Jessie and Drew race to find her mother, several suspects emerge: an agent for those who market the herb for its life-giving properties; Mariah’s disgruntled suitor; and an old Cherokee desperate to protect the sacred tribal herb. In the mist of legend and fear, only two things make sense to Jessie. At any cost, she is desperate to find her mother. And she can’t help falling desperately in love with Drew all over again. Originally published in 2009

Deep Down

Hurricane (MIRA)

Assisted by her band of loyal courtiers and retainers, young queen Elizabeth I spearheads the investigation into the brutal murder of a high-living lady of her court, only to stumble upon a sinister plot against the queen herself. By the author of The Poyson Garden. Reprint.

The Tidal Poole

After spending nine months in a coma, Tara Kinsale awakes to devastating news. Her best friend, Alexis, has been murdered, leaving Tara as guardian to her daughter, Claire. And Tara's husband has divorced her for another woman. Forced to start over, Tara focuses on reopening her P.I. firm and caring for Claire. But soon her world is shattered again when Nick MacMahon, Claire's uncle, returns from military service in Afghanistan to take guardianship of his niece. The bad dream turns unbearable when Tara learns that something precious was taken from her while she was in a coma. Working with Nick, a man haunted by his own past, Tara begins to investigate the missing months of her life. Together, they will find that secrets don't stay buried forever…even when they are kept in the darkest of hiding places.

The Hiding Place

Released from the Tower of London by an insurrection against Queen Mary, her half sister, the twentyfiveyearold Princess Elizabeth immediately puts herself back into harm's way by investigating a multiple poisoning. Reprint.

Karen Harper

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