Anne of Brittany Series by Rozsa Gaston

“An enchanting blend of royalty, young love, and the French Renaissance.”—Publishers Weekly “A historically sharp and dramatically stirring love story.”—Kirkus Reviews When Anne of Brittany's father dies in 1488, she becomes Duchess of Brittany, her country's ruler at age eleven. For the next three years, the unmarried, orphaned duchess is relentlessly pursued by suitors while Brittany is invaded by its larger, more powerful neighbor of France... more“An enchanting blend of royalty, young love, and the French Renaissance.”—Publishers Weekly “A historically sharp and dramatically stirring love story.”—Kirkus Reviews When Anne of Brittany's father dies in 1488, she becomes Duchess of Brittany, her country's ruler at age eleven. For the next three years, the unmarried, orphaned duchess is relentlessly pursued by suitors while Brittany is invaded by its larger, more powerful neighbor of France. With no other way out, at age fourteen she agrees to marry Charles VIII, King of France, to save her country. Better to be a queen than a prisoner... Unexpectedly, a passionate relationship ensues. Yet Charles cannot shake off bad habits he has brought into their marriage, and Anne cannot help him in his darkest area of struggle. Together, they introduce the wonders of the Italian Renaissance to France, building one of Europe’s most glorious 15th century courts at their royal residence in Amboise, in the heart of the Loire Valley. But year after year they fail to achieve the one most important aim they must accomplish to secure the future of their kingdom. As they desperately attempt to make their shared dream come true, an unexpected twist of fate irrevocably changes the fortunes of both Anne and Charles. Anne and Charles is Book One of the Anne of Brittany Series, the gripping story of the only woman in history to be twice crowned queen of France. less

Winner, General Fiction, 2018 Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize"A dramatically engrossing and historically searching tale about a powerful duchess.”—Kirkus Reviews "A masterpiece that paints an extraordinary vision of its times. Satisfying, educational, and hard to put down.”—Midwest Book Review Anne, Duchess of Brittany, is the love of King Louis XII of France’s life. Too bad he’s already married... moreWinner, General Fiction, 2018 Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize"A dramatically engrossing and historically searching tale about a powerful duchess.”—Kirkus Reviews "A masterpiece that paints an extraordinary vision of its times. Satisfying, educational, and hard to put down.”—Midwest Book Review Anne, Duchess of Brittany, is the love of King Louis XII of France’s life. Too bad he’s already married. While his annulment proceedings create Europe’s most sensational scandal of 1498, Anne returns to Brittany to take back control of her duchy that her late husband, Charles VIII, King of France, had wrested from her. At age twenty-one, Anne is sovereign ruler of Brittany as well as Europe’s most wealthy widow. But can she maintain Brittany’s independence from France if she accepts Louis’ offer to make her Queen of France once more? With Italian arrivals to the French court from Cesare Borgia to Niccolò Machiavelli, Anne and Louis’ story unfolds as the feudal era gives way to the dawn of the Renaissance. Their love for each other tested by conflicting duties to their respective countries, the two rulers struggle to navigate a collision course that will reshape the map of sixteenth-century Europe. Book Two of the Anne of Brittany Series, the gripping tale of the only woman in history to be twice crowned queen of France. To begin your discovery of Anne of Brittany, read Anne and Charles , Book One. less

Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers is the stand-alone sequel to Anne and Louis, General Fiction Winner of the Publishers Weekly 2018 BookLife Prize. The year is 1501. Europe’s fate rests in the hands of two monarchs at loggerheads. Anne of Brittany meticulously orchestrates the perfect match for her only child by Louis XII, King of France. Her daughter will become the most powerful woman in Europe by marrying the future Holy Roman Emperor... moreAnne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers is the stand-alone sequel to Anne and Louis, General Fiction Winner of the Publishers Weekly 2018 BookLife Prize. The year is 1501. Europe’s fate rests in the hands of two monarchs at loggerheads. Anne of Brittany meticulously orchestrates the perfect match for her only child by Louis XII, King of France. Her daughter will become the most powerful woman in Europe by marrying the future Holy Roman Emperor.But when Louis abandons her wishes in favor of having their daughter marry his successor, Anne soon finds herself locked in a political struggle with the fate of Europe hanging between them. Things only get worse when Louis hatches a plan to conquer southern Italy.Anne orders him to stay away from Italy, but Louis is determined to gain a foothold there for France. Joining Ferdinand of Spain in a secret pact to divide southern Italy between them, he plans to secure glory for France and expand his empire. But with rivals on all sides and allies he can’t trust, Louis discovers, with devastating results, that the age of chivalry is over.As lovers, Anne and Louis are alive with passion. As rulers, they’re at each other’s throats. The future of Europe rests in their hands. Who will prevail?Book Three of the Anne of Brittany Series of which Anne and Charles is Book One, Anne and Louis is Book Two. less