The Maiden's Hand

📘 About This Book

A foiled execution, a queen's tense reign, and an unlikely romance: sparks fly between a hedonistic noble and a feisty activist in this thrilling historical tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs. Roguishly handsome Oliver de Lacey has always lived lavishly: wine, weapons and women are his bywords. Even salvation from the noose by a shadowy society provides no epiphany to mend his debauched ways. Mistress Lark's sole passion is her secret work with a group of Protestant dissidents thwarting the queen's executions. She needs no other excitement—until Oliver de Lacey drops through the hangman's door and into her life. As their fates become inextricably bound together in a struggle against royal persecution, both Oliver and Lark discover a love worth saving…even dying for. Books in the Tudor Rose Trilogy: At the King's Command The Maiden's Hand At the Queen's Summons Previously published.

📖 Summary

The Maiden's Hand by Susan Wiggs is a thrilling historical fiction novel set during a time of intense political and religious upheaval under a queen's tense reign. The story weaves together themes of danger, activism, and unexpected romance, focusing on two deeply contrasting central characters whose lives collide in the most dramatic fashion possible. Oliver de Lacey is a roguishly handsome and hedonistic noble who has spent his life living lavishly. For Oliver, wine, weapons, and women are the guiding words of his existence, and he has little regard for convention or consequence. Even when he faces the grim reality of the gallows and is saved from execution by a mysterious, shadowy society, the brush with death fails to spark any profound epiphany that might mend his debauched and reckless ways. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Mistress Lark, a feisty and dedicated activist whose sole passion is her secret work. Operating in the shadows, Lark collaborates with a clandestine group of Protestant dissidents dedicated to thwarting the queen's cruel executions and resisting royal persecution. Lark finds immense fulfillment and purpose in her dangerous underground efforts, believing she needs no other excitement in her life. That is, until Oliver de Lacey literally drops through the hangman's door and crashes directly into her world. What begins as an abrupt and jarring intersection of their completely different lives quickly evolves into a shared destiny. As their fates become inextricably bound together in the high-stakes struggle against royal tyranny, Oliver and Lark are forced to navigate perilous circumstances that test their courage, their beliefs, and their loyalties. Amidst the constant threat of discovery and death, the hedonistic noble and the fiercely devoted activist find themselves drawn to one another. Sparks fly as an unlikely romance blossoms between them, proving that connection can be found in the darkest of places. Through their unfolding journey, both Oliver and Lark discover a love so profound that it is worth saving, fighting for, and ultimately even dying for. Susan Wiggs delivers a sweeping historical narrative filled with tension, high drama, and memorable characters navigating a turbulent era.

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