The Uncrowned Queen (Short story prequel to The King's Concubine) by Anne O'Brien is just what it says in the title, about King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, free courtesy of publisher Harlequin's MIRA imprint.
The MIRA imprint seems to be the one under which they put their assorted not-primarily-romance-y chick-lit, suspense/thrillers, and action adventure/urban fantasy tales, so this seems likely to be closer to a romantic-influenced historical than a dedicated historical romance (especially considering how some of the real-life characters die, which in certain cases is not how I'd want to go at all), which author O'Brien has written for their more centrally Harlequin-branded lines.
Currently free @
Amazon UK, likely to drop in the
main store and show up elsewhere once it gets "officially" published in North America tomorrow on the 9th.
Description
Her path to the throne is paved with treason…
1330. Philippa of Hainault may be married to King Edward III but she’s penniless and powerless. England quivers in the clutches of the Dowager Queen Isabella and her darkly ambitious lover Lord Mortimer while her husband rots in jail, a prisoner at Mortimer’s hand. It will take a courageous young man to emerge from the shadows and rise up against this formidable pair. Philippa won’t sit back and see Edward puppeteered. She is determined to see justice done. It’s her words whispered into the young King Edward’s ear that will see the battle for England’s throne commence. Mightier have fallen. Treason threatens. The victor’s prize is England…failure is death.
It’s a powerful union that ties Philippa and Edward in this darkly captivating short story but will it always be so? Don’t miss Anne O’Brien’s new book THE KING’S CONCUBINE.