I was going to wait till tomorrow to post the first excerpt, but what the heck, let’s get started!
Fact: Queen Victoria’s reign wasn’t always a smooth one. In the early years, before she married, she made some very human mistakes – and let’s not forget she was only 18 when she took the throne – mistakes that upset a lot of people. There was the Flora Hastings affair. Flora Hastings was a friend of Victoria’s mother who became one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting. Right there, she had a strike against her, and Victoria was certain the woman was spying on her and reporting back to the Duchess of Kent. Then Flora became ill with a stomach tumor, and Victoria accused the woman of being pregnant out of wedlock. It caused an awful scandal and did much to hurt Victoria’s credibility.
Then there was the Bedchamber Crisis, whenVictoria refused to change her Whig ladies-in-waiting for Tory, or Conservative, ones, despite the fact that Robert Peel, himself a Tory, was now prime minister. He was so put out by Victoria’s refusal that he immediately stepped down, allowing Victoria’s favorite, Lord Melbourne, to take up the reins of government once more. While these incidents might have been forgiven and forgotten, anti-royalist sentiments were growing in Great Britain, and the so-called “Radical Reformists” seized any opportunity to strengthen their bid to do away with the monarchy. In these early years,Victoria’s position was a tenuous one.
Luckily for her, she had the Sutherland Sisters, who were willing to risk their lives, hearts and even their virtue to protect their queen and friend!
Excerpt: (How it begins…)
Windsor,England
Spring 1839
…Holly and the footman threaded their way through a maze of courtyards, stables, and outbuildings, Roger’s steady pace prompting her to grit her teeth to keep from asking him to please hurry. Voices reached her ears, along with the clanging and clunking of the stable hands beginning their morning tasks. She rounded a corner into another enclosure, where a team of workers scurried back and forth carrying buckets, brushes, rakes, and armfuls of snaking tack. They seemed to have reached the very heart of the mews. The footman stopped before a heavy-looking door, reached into his pocket, and brought out a jangling set of keys.
She was surprised to step into a cozy room furnished with a faded but comfortable-looking settee and a small oak table and chairs; a cheery fire flickered in a small brick fireplace. The effect was of a slightly shabby retreat, the furniture too worn to remain in a drawing-room but adequate enough to accommodate the queen’s hunting parties.
“Her majesty’s private salon, miss,” Roger explained, confirming Holly’s guess. “Do make yourself comfortable, if you please.” With that, he turned on his heel and left her alone. She had no choice but to contain her impatience and wait.
It was all very puzzling. But even more puzzling had been the note Roger himself had delivered, only hours ago, to the Knightsbridge Readers’ Emporium, the London bookshop owned jointly by Holly and her sisters.
Dearest Holly,
I need you—and only you. You must come to me at Windsor at once! Tell no one. Except your sisters, of course. But please make no delay!
Yours,
V
She’d barely had time to comprehend the note’s meaning—that, like her sisters Laurel and Ivy before her, she was being called to the service of her country—before she had found herself scurrying to pack a bag, bid her sisters goodbye, and board the waiting brougham. Without further explanation, she had been whisked out of the city and across a moonlit countryside.
A clatter of footsteps echoed in the hall. Just before the door swung wide, Holly jumped up from the settee. A petite figure swathed in a cape of sumptuous forest-green velvet swept through the doorway, andEngland’s queen flipped back her hood and stretched out her hands. “My dearest Holly, thank goodness you are here!”
They rushed to each other, and Holly found herself enfolded in an embrace that for several lovely seconds renewed every sweet facet of the friendship that had marked her childhood years.
Here before her stood the only real friend she and her sisters had known during their sheltered upbringing at Uncle Edward’s country estate—and vice versa. As heir presumptive, little Princess Victoria had been allowed precious few influences beyond those of her mother and John Conroy, a man who early on had designs on controlling the throne Victoria would eventually occupy. At her mother’s insistence, the common-born Sutherland sisters had been tolerated against John Conroy’s advice only due to their father’s military ties toVictoria’s father, the deceased Duke of Kent.
The past, with all of its childish secrets, promises, hopes, and dreams, flooded Holly’s heart as she pressed her cheek toVictoria’s. They had been orphans together, the Sutherland sisters and this dear, lonely little girl. But asVictoria’s importance to England grew, Holly and her sisters were deemed less and less suitable to be her companions.
Now she was their queen and could acknowledge their friendship openly if she chose to, which she did not because of one imperative matter.
We will always be your friends . . . your secret servants if need be. Holly and her sisters had spoken those words to the child Victoria nearly a decade ago, on a sunny summer’s day in Uncle Edward’s rose garden. At the time, none of them could have guessed what that pledge would lead to. In the past year, Laurel, the eldest, and Ivy, Holly’s twin, had each risked death in the service of their queen, though neither had quite explained to Victoria the dangers they had faced.
Risk, danger, fear . . . the vow had incurred all that and more for Laurel and Ivy. And now—oh, now it was Holly’s turn to finally stray from the safety of everyday life and embark on her own adventure.
Did that frighten her, even just a little? Good heavens, yes. It was a sensation that made her feel alive, vibrant, important. . . .
Victoria’s arms came away, and Holly stepped back to gaze into her friend’s face with a smile she could hardly restrain. “What is it you need me to do?”
Victoria rattled off her needs like items on a shopping list. “Prevent an international incident. Save the monarchy. Save me.”
Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of RECKLESSLY YOURS and/or a $15 e-gift certificate! Stop back each day through Sunday for more chances to win! Winners will be chosen by Random.org on Monday.
Alison I love your books I have the first one in book format and the second on in Kindle Format Cant wait to get Recklessly Yours.
great excerpt
meandi09@yahoo.com
Allison,
I loved the first two books. I can’t wait to read this one! Please enter me in the drawing!
Linda Cacaci
LinCaca3@aol.com
Cant wait to read this!
Sounds good.
The book sounds great, and the gift certificate would be handy to buy the first 2 books, too!
Ok, so now I definitely want to read the book! Would love to win and read a signed copy 🙂
I loved the excerpt and I’m really looking forward to reading Recklessly Yours and learn all about the Sutherland Sisters.
I can’t wait to read this, I am hooked!
Interesting excerpt. I can’t wait to read more.
Finally, Holly’s story! Thanks for the chance to win. 😀
I am a new fan!!!!!!!!! I will be picking this book up soon.
Ollie Moss
ollimo91@aol.com
I loved the excerpt, I’m looking forward to reading it
Loved the cover and excerpt. I can’t wait to read it.
klmc_37@yahoo.com
kimmyl
Thank you for introducing me to a novel I wouldn’t have read ordinarily. I am intrigued.
Fabulous & thank you for the excerpt. I’m looking forward to reading RECKLESSLY YOURS.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
What a great excerpt. I’m hooked! I’ll be putting these books on my kindle. It would be great to win this book three.
Great opening, can’t wait to read the rest.
Sounds like an interesting book.
I would really love to win your book as it looks like I would really enjoy it.
Great excerpt – more for TBR and Christmas! 🙂
Good choice for the excerpt, Queen Victoria was quite interesting.
I spent the day putting up Christmas items and am just now getting on the net. Enjoyed the excerpt; but am not involved in either Facebook or Twitter. Yes, believe it or not, cell phones are a choice not a necessity. LOL
Ohhhh! I’m a new reader of your’s, Allison, but, wow!, am I looking forward to reading your new book! (And going through your back-list….)
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by tonight! There will be more excerpts coming, so I hope you’ll come back, comment again, and increase your chances of winning. Nighty night, all!
This series has been on my wish list since I first heard about it. I always wait until all the books in a series are out before I read them. This type of “secret agent” type story is always enjoyable. Taking someone from their ordinary lives and thrusting them into the world of danger and intrigue makes for a good tale.
Best of luck with the release of RECKLESSLY YOURS.
thanks for the sneak peak & chance to win 🙂 will look forward to more
Enjoyed the excerpt! Sounds like an interesting book.
Recklessly Yours sounds like a great addition to this now trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two and it makes me proud that women in Victorian England could act in this fashion. Just goes to show that what is under the surface is often fascinating and mysterious and always enticing for another peak. Keep up the great writing.
Please keep posting more exerpts!
I SO can’t wait for this book.
I already have the first two books and was looking forward to this one.
Aw…are you excluding Hawaii? The USPS delivers to HI, & has book or media rate.
Love the first two books in the series and can’t wait for Holly’s book.
I love to read thank you .
I thoroughly enjoyed Most Eagerly Yours and Outrageously Yours and am so glad that Recklessly Yours is finally here. We’ve had some financial setbacks this year so I can’t buy new books anymore- have to wait til the library finally (!!!) gets them so a win this week would be a lovely pre-Christmas gift for me.
Happy Holidays to you and yours as well and do keep up with the great writing. You provide hours of great entertainment for us,
Blessings,
M
I understand those financial setbacks. We’ve experienced them here, too. But I love libraries and am always honored when I discover a library that carries my books. And the more people who take those books out, the more likely that libraries will buy my next books. So thanks! And good luck!
Thank you for this little insert from your 3rd book in Her Majesty’s Secret Servants series and a chance to have a signed copy. I have the other two here beside me and enjoyed reading both of them. I can hardly wait for the 3rd book to come out.
It’s good to have friends.
For some reason Queen V has always fascinated me. Such an intriguing character. Your excerpt is wonderful!
Can’t wait to read the rest.
Anxious to read Hollie’s story.
My sister-in-law raved about your first two books. I would love to give this to her.
Hi Allison,
I enjoy reading stories that blend fact with fiction. I’m a history buff and I love history with a big dash of romance. RY sounds delightful!
I look forward to reading it.
I love being able to learn more about history at the same time as enjoying really good fiction! Throw in some romance, and you’ve got me.
I love historical fiction and would love to read this book. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks.
I love the Sutherland spy sisters…I’m looking forward to reading Holly’s story. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh, Allison! I cannot tell you how much I want to read Holly’s story. Just reading the excerpt you shared today has peeked my interest even more. Thanks for offering a giveaway as well. That’s so generous of you!
HI, I guess i should have popped over yesterday… I can’t believe Queen V actually accused a lady of being pregnant and it was a tumor!!! Well actually I can believe it but what a shocker 🙂
~Brandy
brandyzbooks at yahoo dot com
Not too late, Brandy! Victoria really did behave badly when it came to Flora Hastings, because she never apologized. But again, she was basically still a child and had good reason to suspect anyone connected to her mother. The Duchess of Kent isolated the princess Victoria and completely controlled her every move while she was growing up, all in the hopes that she and John Conroy, comptroller of her household, would become the power behind the throne when Victoria was crowned. Their little plan backfired, but poor Flora was punished unnecessarily for their crimes.
Sounds sooo good!
I love to read and the excerpt was really good.
I can’t wait to read the book.
Keep up the good work
Got your email, saw that I needed to wait one more day to enter then when I came to blog tonight to enter for first excerpt, you have second one already posted. Yikes!! LOL
I hope this still counts as entry for day 1?!
Ah, now I see, looks like I should have reread excerpt#1, You got started early!! LOL
Ii can’t wait to find out about these Spy Sisters and their Queen. Thanks. lisagk(at)yahoo(dot)com
Looking forward to reading this.
Love your books and been a huge fan since Dark Obsession. Can’t wait to read the new one
On my list of books to read.
This series is on my TBB list. Can’t wait to read them. Thanks for the giveaway.
I always enjoy learning snippets of history! I was thinking of the movie ‘Young Victoria’ as I rad your post.
sounds good
Another great excerpt