BRAZEN

Anne Boleyn’s younger cousin Mary Howard has always followed the rules and lived in the shadow of her powerful family. But when she marries Henry Fitzroy (“Fitz”), the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, and joins the retinue of Anne Boleyn, she discovers that not all rulers are fair and some may be downright wicked.

With the help of her friends, Mary finds her place in the ever-shifting structure of the court while navigating the conflict objectives of her father’s wishes, the king’s directives and the de- sires of her own heart. The more Mary gets to know Fitz, the harder she falls for him—but to consummate their marriage would mean breaking the law. Soon, Mary and her friends find themselves at the center of the king’s case against Queen Anne. And Mary’s forced to choose between betraying her beloved cousin and losing her beloved Fitz. Which is more important: love—or survival? Katy Longshore is the author of Gilt and Tarnish, the first two books in this drama-filled series set in the court of Henry VIII. She grew up in a small community behind the “Redwood Curtain” on the northern California coast. She earned a BA in Third World Studies and Communications from Humboldt State University, planning to travel and write. Forever. Four years, six continents and countless pairs of shoes later, she went to England for two weeks, stayed five years, and discovered history. She lives in California.