“Attention, ‘Game of Thrones’ fans: The most enjoyably sensational aspects of medieval politics—double-crosses, ambushes, bizarre personal obsessions, lunacy and naked self-interest—are in abundant evidence in Nancy Goldstone's The Maid and the Queen.” (Laura Miller, Salon.com) Politically astute, ambitious, and beautiful, Yolande of Aragon, queen of Sicily, was one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. Caught in the complex dynastic battle of the Hundred Years War, Yolande championed the dauphin's cause against the forces of England and Burgundy, drawing on her savvy, her statecraft, and her intimate network of spies. But the enemy seemed invincible. Just as French hopes dimmed, an astonishingly courageous young woman named Joan of Arc arrived from the farthest recesses of the kingdom, claiming she carried a divine message-a message that would change the course of history and ultimately lead to the coronation of Charles VII and the triumph of France. Now, on the six hundredth anniversary of the birth of Joan of Arc, this fascinating book explores the relationship between these two remarkable women, and deepens our understanding of this dramatic period in history. How did an illiterate peasant girl gain access to the future king of France, earn his trust, and ultimately lead his forces into battle? Was it only the hand of God that moved Joan of Arc-or was it also Yolande of Aragon?
The thrilling family saga of five unforgettable women who remade Europe From the great courts, glittering palaces, and war-ravaged battlefields of the seventeenth century comes the story of four spirited sisters and their glamorous mother, Elizabeth Stuart, granddaughter of the martyred Mary, Queen of Scots. Upon her father's ascension to the illustrious throne of England, Elizabeth Stuart was suddenly thrust from the poverty of unruly Scotland into the fairy-tale existence of a princess of great wealth and splendor. When she was married at sixteen to a German count far below her rank, it was with the understanding that her father would help her husband achieve the kingship of Bohemia. The terrible betrayal of this commitment would ruin "the Winter Queen," as Elizabeth would forever be known, imperil the lives of those she loved, and launch a war that would last for thirty years. Forced into exile, the Winter Queen and her family found refuge in Holland, where the glorious art and culture of the Dutch Golden Age indelibly shaped her daughters' lives. Her eldest, Princess Elizabeth, became a scholar who earned the respect and friendship of the philosopher René Descartes. Louisa was a gifted painter whose engaging manner and appealing looks provoked heartache and scandal. Beautiful Henrietta Maria would be the only sister to marry into royalty, although at great cost. But it was the youngest, Sophia, a heroine in the tradition of a Jane Austen novel, whose ready wit and good-natured common sense masked immense strength of character, who fulfilled the promise of her great-grandmother Mary and reshaped the British monarchy, a legacy that endures to this day. Brilliantly researched and captivatingly written, filled with danger, treachery, and adventure but also love, courage, and humor, Daughters of the Winter Queen follows the lives of five remarkable women who, by refusing to surrender to adversity, changed the course of history.
A columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, Nancy French blends her hilarious fish-out-of-water tale with humorous observations about the South's obsession with everything from church attendance to the blue-state notion that red staters think as slowly as they speak.
The riveting history of a beautiful queen, a shocking murder, a papal trial -- and a reign as triumphant as any in the Middle Ages. On March 15, 1348, twenty-two-year-old Joanna I, Queen of Naples, stood trial for the murder of her husband before the Pope and his court in Avignon. Determined to defend herself, Joanna won her acquittal against overwhelming odds. Victorious, she returned to Naples and ruled over one of Europe's most prestigious courts for the next three decades -- until she herself was killed. Courageous and determined, Joanna was the only female monarch in her time to rule in her own name. She was widely admired: dedicated to the welfare of her subjects, she reduced crime, built hospitals and churches, and encouraged the licensing of female physicians. A procession of the most important artists and writers of the time frequented her glittering court. But she never quite escaped the stain of her husband's death, and the turmoil of the times surrounded her -- war, plague, and treachery would ultimately be her undoing. With skill, passion, and impeccable research and detail, Nancy Goldstone brings to life one of history's most remarkable women. The Lady Queen is a captivating portrait of medieval royalty in all its incandescent complexity.
The vibrant, sprawling saga of Empress Maria Theresa—one of the most renowned women rulers in history—and three of her extraordinary daughters, including Marie Antoinette, the doomed queen of France. Out of the thrilling and tempestuous eighteenth century comes the sweeping family saga of beautiful Maria Theresa, a sovereign of uncommon strength and vision, the only woman ever to inherit and rule the vast Habsburg Empire in her own name, and three of her remarkable daughters: lovely, talented Maria Christina, governor-general of the Austrian Netherlands; spirited Maria Carolina, the resolute queen of Naples; and the youngest, Marie Antoinette, the glamorous, tragic queen of France, and perhaps the most famous princess in history. Unfolding against an irresistible backdrop of brilliant courts from Vienna to Versailles, embracing the exotic lure of Naples and Sicily, this epic history of Maria Theresa and her daughters is a tour de force of desire, adventure, ambition, treachery, sorrow, and glory. Each of these women’s lives was packed with passion and heart-stopping suspense. Maria Theresa inherited her father’s thrones at the age of twenty-three and was immediately attacked on all sides by foreign powers confident that a woman would to be too weak to defend herself. Maria Christina, a gifted artist who alone among her sisters succeeded in marrying for love, would face the same dangers that destroyed the monarchy in France. Resourceful Maria Carolina would usher in the golden age of Naples only to face the deadly whirlwind of Napoleon. And, finally, Marie Antoinette, the doomed queen whose stylish excesses and captivating notoriety have masked the truth about her husband and herself for two hundred and fifty years. Vividly written and deeply researched, In the Shadow of the Empress is the riveting story of four exceptional women who changed the course of history.
For fans of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser, acclaimed author Nancy Goldstone’s thrilling history of the royal daughters who succeeded in ruling—and shaping—thirteenth-century Europe Set against the backdrop of the thirteenth century, a time of chivalry and crusades, troubadors, knights and monarchs, Four Queens is the story of four provocative sisters—Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice of Provence—who rose from near obscurity to become the most coveted and powerful women in Europe. Each sister in this extraordinary family was beautiful, cultured, and accomplished but what made these women so remarkable was that each became queen of a principal European power—France, England, Germany and Sicily. During their reigns, they exercised considerable political authority, raised armies, intervened diplomatically and helped redraw the map of Europe. Theirs is a drama of courage, sagacity and ambition that re-examines the concept of leadership in the Middle Ages.
Chicks, start your sticks! This time it’s all about knitting Stop letting worry knit your brows, ladies. Let go of your fear of knitting, and take hold of The Chicks with Sticks® Guide to Knitting. With more than 30 simple, chic projects plus simple step-by-step instructions, this book is the complete guide to starting and enjoying this fun, rewarding hobby. New knitters can finish up their first projects in a weekend; more advanced beginners (that is, the ones who have knitted scarves before) can move to the next level. Call your posse and settle down in the living room or at the coffeehouse. The Chicks with Sticks will take care of the rest, from essential tools and materials to basic lessons to more than 30 doable projects, including cool belts, beautiful scarves, felted bags, stylish wraps, and snuggly sweaters.
Join the clique of the Chicks with Sticks! Anyone can do it. Anyone. Stop thinking. Stop being afraid. Stop sweating, you’ll get the hook all damp. Yes, with the help of the Chicks with Sticks, anyone can learn to crochet in just a weekend—and by Sunday night, beginners will know what they’re doing and have the confidence to do it. Advanced beginners (the ones who have already made an afghan square) will have fresh, fashion-forward projects to wear around town. First up is an introductory section on tools and materials. Then the Chicks present a series of lessons that each introduce a new skill and patterns that help readers learn and master it before moving on. The more than 30 projects range from cool belts to stunning scarves, from felted bags to stylish wraps and sweaters. Throughout, the Chicks with Sticks are standing by with quips and anecdotes, support and sisterhood. Learning to crochet has never been so entertaining . . . and so empowering!
Filled with intrigue and juicy stories, The Vamp of Savannah tells the story of one of Savannah's most colorful characters, Ms. Nancy Hillis. Now with ALS, Miss Hillis is telling the real story of Mandy Nichols, her character in the best selling book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. From her partnership with the piano playing, loving scoundrel Joe Odom in Sweet Georgia Browns, the hot jazz club in Savannah, Georgia; to her escapades with Minerva, the Voodoo Priestess; to her reign as a national beauty queen; and her heartbreaking dealings with the molestation of her son; Nancy tells it all--the good and not so good. You will laugh, cry and be amazed to read the story of this remarkable woman whose motto is "never, never, never give up.
The true story of the kind, unconventional queen who introduced the Christmas tree to her adopted country. Queen Charlotte brought her family's festive holiday yule bough from Germany to England. While planning a Christmas Day party in 1800 at Windsor Castle for over 100 children, she realized a single bough isn't enough. So she brought in the whole tree instead, making it the first known Christmas Tree in England. This story tells a little known fact about a favorite holiday tradition.
Henrietta Szold took Queen Esther as a model and worked hard to save the Jewish people. In 1912, she founded the Jewish women's social justice organization, Hadassah. Henrietta started Hadassah determined to offer emergency medical care to mothers and children in Palestine. When WWII broke out, she rescued Jewish children from the Holocaust, and broadened Hadassah's mission to include education, youth development, and women's rights. Hadassah offers free help to all who need it and continues its mission to this day.
The riveting true story of mother-and-daughter queens Catherine de' Medici and Marguerite de Valois, whose wildly divergent personalities and turbulent relationship changed the shape of their tempestuous and dangerous century. Set in magnificent Renaissance France, this is the story of two remarkable women, a mother and daughter driven into opposition by a terrible betrayal that threatened to destroy the realm. Catherine de' Medici was a ruthless pragmatist and powerbroker who dominated the throne for thirty years. Her youngest daughter Marguerite, the glamorous "Queen Margot," was a passionate free spirit, the only adversary whom her mother could neither intimidate nor control. When Catherine forces the Catholic Marguerite to marry her Protestant cousin Henry of Navarre against her will, and then uses her opulent Parisian wedding as a means of luring his followers to their deaths, she creates not only savage conflict within France but also a potent rival within her own family. Rich in detail and vivid prose, Goldstone's narrative unfolds as a thrilling historical epic. Treacherous court politics, poisonings, international espionage, and adultery form the background to a story that includes such celebrated figures as Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Nostradamus. The Rival Queens is a dangerous tale of love, betrayal, ambition, and the true nature of courage, the echoes of which still resonate.
Casey will have to do a lot of pet-sitting to earn the money she needs to buy Lightning, a beloved horse. Her hopes of buying Lightning are dashed when she learns that his owner has found a buyer and must sell the horse immediately. Across the street from Casey's house a mystery unfolds as a seldom-seen woman who seems to be able to read minds prepares to host a carnival and a yo-yo contest that boasts a $1500 prize. Casey's yo-yo is buried in her closet. She has a great talent and a greater case of stage fright.
Return to a time of legend—the days of Guinevere and Arthur and the glory that was to become Camelot On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur’s spell. At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur’s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy–and the key to her ultimate downfall. “Guinevere comes alive—a strong, resourceful, and compassionate woman, accessible to modern folk . . . The Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle comes alive as well—believable, poignant, and bearing the seeds of tragedy.”—Katherine Kurtz
Examines the early life and explorations of Sir Walter Raleigh and Raleigh's legacy. When England's Queen Elizabeth I asked Sir Walter Raleigh to search for new lands to claim and colonize, her loyal subject pledged to found a colony in tribute to his Queen. This exciting recreation of the founding, loss, and reclamation of the Virginia colony in the late 1500s also describes Raleigh's unsuccessful search for the fabled wealthy kingdom of El Dorado, the deterioration of his relationship with the Queen, and his eventual execution.
Filled with intrigue and juicy stories, Nancy Hillis: The Vamp of Savannah tells the story of one of Savannah’s most colorful characters, Ms. Nancy Hillis. Now with ALS, Miss Hillis is telling the real story of Mandy Nichols, her character in the best selling book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. From her partnership with the piano playing, loving scoundrel Joe Odom in Sweet Georgia Browns, the hot jazz club in Savannah, Georgia; to her escapades with Minerva, the Voodoo Priestess; to her reign as a national beauty queen; and her heartbreaking dealings with the molestation of her son; Nancy tells it all—the good and not so good. You will laugh, cry and be amazed to read the story of this remarkable woman whose motto is “never, never, never give up.”
Raffaele makes the best pizza in all of Napoli. It is so good that even Queen Margherita has requested a taste. Raffaele runs around town collecting the finest ingredients for the pizzas he’s planning for the queen, but when a sneaky cat eats the anchovies, he has to revise his plans. Inspired by the colors of the Italian flag, the pizza Raffaele creates is one that delights not only the queen but pizza lovers for generations to come. Accompanied by a generous assortment of rich and detailed acrylic paintings, the story ends with a pizza recipe meant to tempt the taste buds of pizza lovers everywhere.
Raise the Flag Series Book 1 A diverse group of high school girls faces the challenges of standing up for what they believe is right. You'll cheer them on and learn more about yourself in each book of the Raise the Flag series! At King High, six girls who met at See You at the Pole meet again to pray for each other and for their school. And it's a good thing they do, because they're all going to need prayer this year. Even popular Tobey, who's in for more trouble than she could have dreamed up in a lifetime. As junior class president, member of the Judicial Board, cross-country team member, and star of the speech club, Tobey has gained a lot of friends on campus. But when she confronts the school's most popular coach about a very sensitive issue, Tobey is faced with a test of faith unlike any she has experienced before--and discovers a whole new, wonderful definition for the word "friend.
The exceptionally dramatic and previously unchronicled life of the medieval queen Joanna I. On 15 March 1348, Joanna I, Queen of Naples, stood trial for her life before the pope and his court in Avignon. She was 22 years old. Her cousin and husband, Prince Andrew of Hungary, had recently been murdered, and Joanna was the chief suspect. Determined to defend herself, Joanna won her acquittal against enormous odds. Returning to Naples, she ruled over one of Europe's most prestigious and enlightened courts for more than thirty years - until she was herself murdered. As courageous as Eleanor of Aquitaine, as astute and determined as Elizabeth I, Joanna was the only female monarch in her time to rule in her own right. The taint of her husband's death never quite left her, but she was also widely admired. Dedicated to the welfare of her subjects and her realm, she reduced crime, built hospitals and churches, and encouraged the licensing of women physicians. But the turmoil of her times swirled around her: war, plague, intrigue and the treachery that would ultimately bring her down. Nancy Goldstone brings one of history's most remarkable women to life in this impeccably researched and captivating portrait of medieval royalty.
The story of a love and a treachery that would live for all time. Guinevere and Arthur. Lancelot and Merlin and Morgan Le Fay -- all the names of myth are given flesh and blood in this Del Rey Discovery of the Year book!
The Childless Queen The prophecy spoken at Queen Guinevere's birth had been fulfilled. Guinevere reigned strong and true, at the side of her beloved King Arthur. Together, they had forged a legendary kingdom, and its fame would live forever. Yet there had been a dark side to the prophecy, and the white shadow of fate ever hung over the Queen. Now Guinevere thought she knew what that shadow was: she was barren. She accepted that -- just as she accepted that Arthur must have an heir And the only true heir of his body was Mordred -- offspring of a cursed encounter with Arthur's own sister, the witch Morgause. Guinevere couldn't give Arthur her own child, so she would give him his own son: Mordred. She would raise the boy, teach him to be a king. He would be like Arthur -- wise, coolheaded. He would honor Camelot and all it stood for. She would love him like a mother. He was to be her greatest joy, and her greatest despair...
The sequel to "White Feather," this book follows a young woman who experiences life threatening challenges and meets the man who will change her life. Both books are based on history of the Trail of Tears.
Crown Princess Victoria Kaiulani was dubbed the "Hope of Hawaii" during her lifetime. She was born the daughter of Princess Miriam Likelike (sister of Queen Lili'iuokalani) and the Scotsman Archibald Cleghorn. She was destined to someday rule as queen. Kaiulani would lose her royal birthright when American interests overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. Left stranded in Europe, Kaiulani made her way to America to plead for her nation's independence. The America public was expecting an uneducated barbarian, but was charmed by this highly educated, multilingual beauty. Having failed to persuade America to free Hawaii, Kaiulani returned to her homeland in a move to support her aunt, the deposed Queen. Despite the love and respect of her people, Kaiulani was subjected to cruel treatment by the American puppet government. Kaiulani was to suffer an untimely death at age 23 in 1899, shortly after her country's annexation by the United States.
Today women are led to believe that beauty can only be achieved through the latest diet, exercise craze, miracle potion, or surgical procedure. In this era of physical perfection, it is sometimes hard to remember that beauty shines from within. It is the untold stories of lifelong experiences-the light, love, hardships, and successes that pour out of the body-that make a person beautiful. Beautiful Women focuses on the life experiences of thirty-five women, of all ages, and what has truly made them beautiful in their present moment. They are the mothers, daughters, wives, and neighbors you see every day-at school and work, in the grocery store, in a doctor's office waiting room, or walking through a mall. Through their stories, women can realize that they are not alone in their insecurity and quest for self-acceptance. These women redefine the word "beauty" by showing us that what makes us beautiful is how we choose to face both the trivial and monumental moments in our lives.
This spellbinding novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer tells the fascinating story of a beautiful and successful woman who appears to have it all—but gives it all up to find real happiness. As the host of the successful television show Fabulous Homes, Joanna Jones travels the country showcasing the glamorous homes of the rich and famous. Pouring every ounce of herself into her demanding, rewarding work, Joanna is living her dream. Despite great professional success and an intense, passionate relationship, she still feels something is missing. When an unexpected pregnancy forces her to reevaluate her life, Joanna decides to leave behind frenetic Manhattan. Beckoning her to the gorgeous island of Nantucket is an old sea captain’s house set above the Atlantic Ocean. There, entranced by the aroma of the sea air and roses, Joanna builds a new life for her small family. But New York isn’t done with her yet. Handsome television executive Jake Corcoran appears at her front door, eager for her attentions and enticing her back to the city. Torn between the past and the future, Joanna must decide what it is that truly makes a house into a home. Includes a captivating excerpt of Nancy Thayer’s novel Nantucket Sisters! Praise for the novels of Nancy Thayer “The queen of beach books.”—The Star-Ledger “Thayer has a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship, of where the two complement and where they collide.”—Elin Hilderbrand “Thayer’s gift for reaching the emotional core of her characters [is] captivating.”—Houston Chronicle “One of my favorite writers.”—Susan Wiggs “Thayer portrays beautifully the small moments, inside stories and shared histories that build families.”—The Miami Herald “Thayer’s sense of place is powerful, and her words are hung together the way my grandmother used to tat lace.”—Dorothea Benton Frank
In this fast, steamy novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer, residents of a seemingly picture perfect New England town struggle to hide their shocking secrets . . . until they can no longer. From his position behind the pulpit, Reverend Peter Taylor has a unique view of his affluent congregants. By and large, they appear respectable and morally upstanding, but they have their share of troubles—and perhaps even more than their share of sins. Liza Howard is a notorious Jezebel who seduces young and old alike, and who now has her sights set on Judy Bennett’s son, despite his engagement. Meanwhile, Judy hides her own family secrets behind her relentless judgment of others. Widow Suzanna Blair’s newly found passion for her female professor has her questioning the life she’s always known. And Peter Taylor himself struggles with faith and lust despite an eighteen-year marriage. As their turbulent lives and their scandalous stories intersect, one thing is certain: small town secrets never remain hidden for long. Includes a captivating excerpt of Nancy Thayer’s novel Nantucket Sisters! Praise for the novels of Nancy Thayer “The queen of beach books.”—The Star-Ledger “Thayer has a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship, of where the two complement and where they collide.”—Elin Hilderbrand “Thayer’s gift for reaching the emotional core of her characters [is] captivating.”—Houston Chronicle “One of my favorite writers.”—Susan Wiggs “Thayer portrays beautifully the small moments, inside stories and shared histories that build families.”—The Miami Herald “Thayer’s sense of place is powerful, and her words are hung together the way my grandmother used to tat lace.”—Dorothea Benton Frank
Lynn Blum, founder of Once Upon a Child, Plato's Closet, and Clothes Mentor, shares the background that led her to resale, the triumphs and challenges that marked her path to success, her flourishing marriage and business partnership with her husband, and the business philosophy that made her a millionaire and crowned her the queen of resale.
The second book in the Chrysalis Queen Quartet, starring the young Guinevere. Much has changed over the last few months in Gwynedd, but Guinevere is still uncertain where her future lies. She recently made the unsettling discovery that she has been guarded all her life by a pagan tribe who believes she is destined to save them—they believe she and the great king will one day wed. But this prophecy is so at odds with her inferior position in the castle as Queen Alyse and King Pellinore’s lowly ward, she can’t believe it’s true. Now more complications arise as Guinevere and her cousin accompany Alyse and Pellinore to a meeting between Welsh kings, presided over by one of the High King Arthur’s knights. While there, Guinevere discovers she has a powerful enemy: King Arthur’s sister, Princess Morgaine. But why would Morgaine hate her? Guinevere is tumbling into her destiny in ways she never imagined, and she may soon have to face the prophecy with new eyes. . . .
Set in the winter of 1147, the second book in The Queen's Guard series follows Lady Catherine le Rochefort, who was welcomed into the ranks of Queen Eleanor's guard after escaping a deadly encounter. The French army makes its way through Asia Minor, with King Louis determined to recapture Edessa, a holy undertaking blessed by the Pope. After leaving Constantinople, Queen Eleanor waits with her guard and retinue in Nicea for King Louis to decide which route the caravan should take toward Antioch and her uncle Raymond's palace. Eleanor caused trouble in Constantinople, so Louis asks his trusted friend Lord Payen de Montfer to infiltrate the guard and listen for dissent. Payen, whose painful past has taught him that beauty makes a man weak, does his best to ignore the fair Catherine, while Catherine tries to protect her deadly secret from the observant man. Catherine seeks only to reach Jerusalem, where absolution awaits, but soon she's fighting her feelings for Payen. If the two give in to their attraction, Payen's honor is at stake and Catherine fears she could lose her soul.
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