"Impoverished and exiled to the French countryside after the overthrow of the English Crown, Frances Stuart has survived merely by her blood-relation to the Stuart Royals. In 1660, returned to favor by the Restoration of the Stuart Monarchy, Frances discards threadbare gowns and moves to gilded Fontainebleau Palace. At court she soon catches the Sun King's eye, but Frances has Stuart secrets to keep and her family to protect. King Louis XIV turns vengeful when she rejects his offer to become his Official Mistress and banishes her to England with orders to seduce King Charles II and help him form an alliance. Armed in pearls and silk, Frances maneuvers the political turbulence of Whitehall Palace, yet loses her heart to the very king she must control. In the tradition of Philippa Gregory, debut author Marci Jefferson brings to life a captivating woman whose beauty, compassion, and intellect impacted a king and a nation"-- Page 4 of cover.

Includes discussion questions.