A Sunday Times BestsellerEngland’s Forgotten Queens‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’ The TimesPhilippa of Hainault selects a young orphan from a convent. Alice Perrers, a girl born with nothing but ambition. The Queen has a role waiting for her at court.‘I have lifted you from nothing Alice. Now you repay me.’Led down the corridors of the royal palace, the young virgin is secretly delivered to King Edward III – to perform the wifely duties of which ailing Philippa is no longer capable. Power has a price, and Alice Perrers will pay it.Mistress to the King. Confidante of the Queen. Whore to the court.Her fate is double edged; loved by the majesties, ostracised by her peers. Alice must balance her future with care as her star begins to rise – the despised concubine is not untouchable. Politics and pillow talk are dangerous bedfellows.The fading great King wants her in his bed. Her enemies want her banished. One mistake and Alice will face a threat worse than any malicious whispers of the past.Praise for Anne O’Brien‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’ – The Times‘A gem of a subject … O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’ – Daily Telegraph‘Joanna of Navarre is the feisty heroine in Anne O’Brien’s fast-paced historical novel The Queen’s Choice.’ -Good Housekeeping‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue.’ -Woman & Home‘Packed with drama, danger, romance and history.’ -Pam Norfolk, for the Press Association‘Better than Philippa Gregory’ – The Bookseller ‘Anne O’Brien has joined the exclusive club of excellent historical novelists.’ – Sunday Express ‘A gripping historical drama.’ -Bella@anne_obrien
A Sunday Times BestsellerEngland’s Forgotten Queens‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’ -The TimesWidow Lady Katherine Swynford presents herself for a role in the household of merciless royal prince John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, hoping to end her destitution. But the Duke’s scandalous proposition leaves her life of pious integrity reeling…Seduced by the glare of royal adoration, Katherine becomes John’s mistress. She will leave behind everything she has stood for to play second fiddle to his young wife and ruthless ambition. She will live in the shadows of the most powerful man in England in the hope of a love greater than propriety.But soon the court whispers – whore, harlot, vile temptress – reach the ears of not just John’s bride but his most dangerous political enemies. As the Plantagenet prince is accused of bringing England to its knees, who better to blame than shameless she-devil Katherine Swynford?Dragged from the shadows, Katherine must answer for her sins.Praise for Anne O’Brien‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’ – The Times‘A gem of a subject … O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’ – Daily Telegraph‘Joanna of Navarre is the feisty heroine in Anne O’Brien’s fast-paced historical novel The Queen’s Choice.’ -Good Housekeeping‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue.’ -Woman & Home‘Packed with drama, danger, romance and history.’ -Pam Norfolk, for the Press Association‘Better than Philippa Gregory’ – The Bookseller ‘Anne O’Brien has joined the exclusive club of excellent historical novelists.’ – Sunday Express ‘A gripping historical drama.’ -Bella‘This book has everything – royalty, scandal, fascinating historical politics and ultimately, the shaping of the woman who founded the Tudors.’ – Cosmopolitan@anne_obrien
‘Gripping’ The Times‘Fans of Philippa Gregory and other historical fiction writers will love Anne O’Brien’s A Tapestry of Treason’ YoursHer actions could make history – but at what price?1399: Constance of York, Lady Despenser, proves herself more than a mere observer in the devious intrigues of her magnificently dysfunctional family, The House of York.Surrounded by power-hungry men, including her aggressively self-centred husband Thomas and ruthless siblings Edward and Richard, Constance places herself at the heart of two treasonous plots against King Henry IV. Will it be possible for this Plantagenet family to safeguard its own political power by restoring either King Richard II to the throne, or the precarious Mortimer claimant?Although the execution of these conspiracies will place them all in jeopardy, Constance is not deterred, even when the cost of her ambition threatens to overwhelm her. Even when it endangers her new-found happiness.With treason, tragedy, heartbreak and betrayal, this is the story of a woman ahead of her time, fighting for herself and what she believes to be right in a world of men.Praise for A Tapestry of Treason‘O’Brien’s page-turner vividly brings to life the restriction of women, and the compassion and strength of this real-life figure from medieval times’ Woman‘Anne O’Brien does not disappoint . . . there are so many twists and turns . . . If you love Philippa Gregory or Alison Weir, you will love Anne O’Brien too’ My Weekly‘A wonderful novel . . . a rich, gripping, enchanting read. Anne’s vivid writing took me straight to the year 1400 and kept me wonderfully lost there throughout’ Joanna Courtney‘A detailed portrayal of a fascinating character’ Woman’s Weekly‘An engaging novel of political intrigue’ ChoicePraise for Anne O’Brien‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale’ The Times‘O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’ Daily Telegraph‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue’ Woman & Home‘Packed with drama, danger, romance and history … the perfect reading choice for the long winter nights’ The Press Association‘A gripping historical drama’ Bella
From Sunday Times bestseller Anne O’Brien . . .To those around her she was a loyal subject. In her heart she was a traitor.1399: England’s crown is under threat. King Richard II holds onto his power by an ever-weakening thread, with exiled Henry of Lancaster back to reclaim his place on the throne.For Elizabeth Mortimer, there is only one rightful King – her eight-year-old nephew, Edmund. Only he can guarantee her fortunes, and protect her family’s rule over the precious Northern lands bordering Scotland.But many, including Elizabeth’s husband, do not want another child-King. Elizabeth must hide her true ambitions in Court, and go against her husband’s wishes to help build a rebel army.To question her loyalty to the King places Elizabeth in the shadow of the axe.To concede would curdle her Plantagenet blood.This is one woman’s quest to turn history on its head.‘O’Brien is now approaching Philippa Gregory status’ Reader’s Digest‘O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’ Daily Telegraph‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political’ The TimesPraise for Queen of the North:‘Once more Anne O’Brien takes her readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride…Elizabeth Mortimer’s story joins the growing list of female lives Anne has gloriously rescued from history’s recycling skip’ Joanna Hickson‘Enthralling … with masterful skill Anne O'Brien takes the reader on an action packed journey back to the tumultuous and uncertain days of the fifteenth century. A medieval masterpiece’ Nicola Tallis‘With Anne O’Brien’s trademark attention to period detail, it’s a fascinating read’ Woman’s Weekly‘Imaginative, rich in detail and immaculately researched’ Lancashire Post
**Queen of the North, Anne O’Brien’s enthralling new novel, is available to pre-order now**The Sunday Times Bestseller ‘O’Brien is now approaching Philippa Gregory status’ – Reader’s Digest‘A dangerous word, perhaps, for a woman. Power.’From her first clandestine marriage, Joan of Kent’s reputation is one of beauty, rumour and scandal.Her royal blood makes her a desirable bride. Her ambition and passion make her a threat.Joan knows what she must do to protect her reputation…the games to play, the men to marry. She will do anything to get what she wants: The Crown of England.A tale of ambition, treachery and desire, The Shadow Queen tells of a woman’s ascent through the court to command royal power alongside her young son, King Richard II.
Reckless rogue or man of honour?Riding on a Sussex beach, Alexander Ellerdine fights through the waves to rescue a young lady trapped by the tide. He’s instantly captivated by her beautiful face and dauntless spirit – but as a smuggler with a tarnished reputation Zan has nothing to offer a woman such as her.Marie-Claude is determined to unravel the mystery of her brooding rescuer. His passionate kisses are as dangerous as his reputation. The integrity in his eyes indicates he’s a gentleman…but the secrets and rumours say that he’s a rake beyond redemption…
A Sunday Times BestsellerEngland’s Forgotten Queens‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’ -The Times 'I was a penniless, landless petitioner, my Neville blood a curse, my future dependent on the charity of those who despised me…’Anne Neville is the heiress and daughter of the greatest powerbroker in the land, Warwick the Kingmaker. Trapped in a deadly tangle of political intrigue, she is a pawn in an uncertain game, used by the houses of Neville, York and Lancaster alike.In England’s glittering, treacherous court, not all wish to see the Nevilles raised high. The Earl of Warwick’s ambition and pride lead him into an attempt to depose the Yorkist King; his treason forces his family into exile.Humiliated and powerless in a foreign land, Anne must find the courage and the wit to survive in such a dangerous man’s world.Compulsively readable, Anne O’Brien vividly evokes the story of Richard III’s queen with a passion and vibrancy reminiscent of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir.Praise for Anne O’Brien‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’ – The Times‘A gem of a subject … O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’ – Daily Telegraph‘Joanna of Navarre is the feisty heroine in Anne O’Brien’s fast-paced historical novel The Queen’s Choice.’ -Good Housekeeping‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue.’ -Woman & Home‘Packed with drama, danger, romance and history.’ -Pam Norfolk, for the Press Association‘Better than Philippa Gregory’ – The Bookseller ‘Anne O’Brien has joined the exclusive club of excellent historical novelists.’ – Sunday Express ‘A gripping historical drama.’ -Bella@anne_obrien