Review & Giveaway: The King’s Man by Alison Stuart

The King’s Man

by Alison Stuart

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:

London 1654: Kit Lovell is one of the King’s men, a disillusioned Royalist who passes his time cheating at cards, living off his wealthy and attractive mistress, and plotting the death of Oliver Cromwell.

Penniless and friendless, Thamsine Granville has lost everything. Terrified, in pain, and alone, she hurls a piece of brick at the coach of Oliver Cromwell, and earns herself an immediate death sentence. Only the quick thinking of a stranger saves her.

Far from the bored, benevolent rescuer that he seems, Kit plunges Thamsine into his world of espionage and betrayal – a world that has no room for falling in love.

Torn between Thamsine and loyalty to his master and King, Kit’s carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel. He must make one last desperate gamble – the cost of which might be his life.

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My Review:

This was a great read that left me turning the pages, eager to know what was going to happen next.

It's a complete novel, nothing is missing: there is adventure, romance, mystery, intrigue, betrayal, war, friendship.

Cromwell ha ousted King Charles I and he is now at the helm of England. To guard against a possible return of the legitimate king, he assumes spies. Kit and Thamsine are two of these spies, not by choice and for different reasons. Thamsine is alone and hungry and makes a desperate act with disastrous consequences. Kit was a man of the king and is full of debts forced to go to the enemy. They meet while they are carrying out their assigned duties and unite to regain their freedom.

Kit and Thamsine are two great characters, a well-matched and special couple.

Last year I have read Lord Somerton's Heir, I had loved the style of this author, her historical novels are not usual and I was curious to read something else.

Although it is the second book in the series can be read as a stand alone, but I can not wait to read even the first.

It's really interesting reading to learn more about daily life in England in the sixteenth century. I do n't know much about that period of English history and it has been a very enlightening reading.

This is a wonderful story that is very well written with a great pace.

I have no hesitation in recommending it highly, especially to those who love historical novels full of action.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

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EXCERPT:

1 (Thamsine)

Thamsine Granville had not begun the day with the intention of killing Oliver Cromwell.

Around her a jovial crowd pressed against the barricades, determined to enjoy the spectacle of the Lord Protector’s ride in state to dine with the Lord Mayor of London. But from across the road, he had seen her. A triumphant smile crossed his handsome face and he raised his hand to his hat, doffing it as he bowed. She saw him mouth her name and push his way towards the barricade. Thamsine swallowed, her mouth dry with fear. She only had a few moments to make good her escape, but the press of people to her rear hemmed her in, pushing her toward the barriers.

The bells of London, silenced for so many years, rang out, and above her the flags of the City Guilds flapped in the chill wind. A roar went up from the crowd as the coach bearing Cromwell approached.

From where she stood she could see the Lord Protector, clad in a reddish-coloured suit embroidered with gold. He inclined his head to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd with all the aplomb of a man born to such a station. She could see no trace of the simple farmer he had once professed to be. Thamsine’s heart beat a rapid tattoo. Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, the false King, was about to become Thamsine Granville’s personal protector.

She stooped and gathered up the broken piece of brick at her feet.

Oblivious to his fate, Cromwell smiled, his right hand raised in a parody of benediction as if forgiving them their sins. At the sight of his face, solid and pudding-like, framed by the open

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Award winning Australian author, Alison Stuart learned her passion from history from her father. She has been writing stories since her teenage years but it was not until 2007 that her first full length novel was published. Alison has now published 6 full length historical romances and a collection of her short stories.  Her disposition for writing about soldier heroes may come from her varied career as a lawyer in the military and fire services. These days when she is not writing she is travelling and routinely drags her long suffering husband around battlefields and castles.

BUY LINKS

Kindle:  US Store:  http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Man-Guardians-Crown-Book-ebook/dp/B013AI1HVE

iBooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-kings-man/id1024910529

For all other BUY links: http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/product/9781760378141

Links

Website:  http://www.alisonstuart.com

Blogs:  www.alisonstuart.blogspot.com         

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/AlisonStuartWriter

Twitter:  @AlisonStuart14  https://twitter.com/AlisonStuart14

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4636079.Alison_Stuart

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Alison will be awarding a Kindle, 6" Glare-Free Touchscreen Display, Wi-Fi to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway