BOOK 1: THE HANDMAID
SYNOPSIS
In a bold political move, Sir Branford claims a handmaid as his bride instead of the expected princess in an attempt to spark a war. Poor Alexandra knows little of how to behave as the wife of a future king and knows nothing of the man who is suddenly her husband.
Alexandra knows she is being used as a pawn and must do her best to avoid scheming noblewomen and the scorned princess, accept her position as her husband ascends to the throne, and overcome her fears of the man with whom she now shares a bed.
Sir Branford is determined to have it all – the kingdom, a wife of his choosing, and the revenge he seeks for the death of his father. He doesn’t expect the naïve handmaid to become more important than he ever could have foreseen.
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I have loved everything that I have read by Shay Savage. She does not disappoint. But this story I have known was in the works for some time and was super excited about it. And boy am I itching for more.
Alexandra has been the handmaiden the horrible princess her whole life. She was chosen when she was younger to be a playmate to the princess and knows nothing about how to be noble. She never expected that it would lead her to be a political pawn and the wife of a future king. Sir Branford is the future king of a neighboring land. He decided to choose his bride instead of being told who to marry. He also has a hidden agenda. Instead of choosing the princess as his bride, he chooses her handmaiden. He has no intention of staying faithful to her as she is to service a purpose in his plan. But fate has stepped in and cases things to change. Can she become noble in a land she doesn’t know the customs too? Can she even be a future queen? Can he get all he hopes for and more? Or will his plan backfire on him? What is his true plan?
This is book 1 and leaves you wanting more. At least we will not have to wait very long to get it. I love the characters. Sir Branford is cocky, stubborn, and has an attitude problem. Alexandra is very young and naïve, but has a beautiful heart. He fails to give her instructions on the customs of his land and she is, in a sense, thrown into the lion’s den. She feels lost but has no place to go. The book leaves you itching for more and wondering what is truly going on. I cannot wait for book two.
Excerpt:
“Parnell, I’m only going to say this to you once.” Branford’s voice turned cold. “Regardless of your feelings regarding my marriage, Alexandra is my wife now, and you’ll not speak of her with any disrespect. I will not have you refer to my marriage as ridiculous. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sire,” Sir Parnell responded, the tone in his voice switching quickly from jovial friend and cousin to properly chastised servant. “Forgive me.”
I felt Branford’s hand through my hair again, nearly lulling me into true unconsciousness. The carriage bounced through a rough section of the road, then continued on as the driver called out to the horses. The rain lessened, and the pattering sound on top of the carriage became softer.
“Something has changed, has it not?” Parnell said quietly.
“Perhaps.”
“What is it, Branford?”
There was a significant pause before Branford responded.
“Parnell,” he said, “when I came up with this plan, I thought I was considering everything. Edgar would be angered but impotent to react since he brought it on himself. Whitney would be insulted, and between both those reactions, one of the next blows would lead to war. At the same time, it gets Camden off my back about finding a wife. Sunniva holds her tongue about wanting grandchildren, and I get it all—the kingdom expanded when we invade, the crown, an heir, and nothing else changes. At home, I have someone who can take care of me and my needs. I didn’t have any intention of being faithful, so it’s not as if my life away from home would change with the introduction of a wife.”
“I thought I had gone through all possibilities,” Branford said, continuing. “The woman who would be the catalyst was always nameless and faceless. It didn’t matter who she was as long as she wasn’t Whitney. I decided on one of her handmaids while I was out on the field because they sat close to Whitney, and it would be more…visually dramatic. I could walk up right in front of her and turn away at the last second. It would also anger her intensely, which is exactly what I wanted. There must have been a half dozen of them, and I didn’t care which. They would all be skilled in matters of the home, which keeps me from having to employ any servants whose loyalties are questionable. I only picked Alexandra because she looked at me early on, when I was first declared victorious, and she blushed when her eyes met mine. The color on her cheeks was simply lovely, and she has beautiful eyes.”
“Now your bride is no longer nameless and faceless,” Parnell said. “No, she is not,” Branford replied.
“When I took her up to my room, I had every intention of bedding her. I had been staring at her in that dress all evening, and I was ready to see what was underneath it.”
“And was she lacking?” Parnell asked. “You can still annul since you haven’t consummated the union.”
“I thought I had gone through all possibilities,” Branford said, continuing. “The woman who would be the catalyst was always nameless and faceless. It didn’t matter who she was as long as she wasn’t Whitney. I decided on one of her handmaids while I was out on the field because they sat close to Whitney, and it would be more…visually dramatic. I could walk up right in front of her and turn away at the last second. It would also anger her intensely, which is exactly what I wanted. There must have been a half dozen of them, and I didn’t care which. They would all be skilled in matters of the home, which keeps me from having to employ any servants whose loyalties are questionable. I only picked Alexandra because she looked at me early on, when I was first declared victorious, and she blushed when her eyes met mine. The color on her cheeks was simply lovely, and she has beautiful eyes.” “Now your bride is no longer nameless and faceless,” Parnell said. “No, she is not,” Branford replied. “When I took her up to my room, I had every intention of bedding her. I had been staring at her in that dress all evening, and I was ready to see what was underneath it.” “And was she lacking?” Parnell asked. “You can still annul since you haven’t consummated the union.” “She’s a commoner, Parnell.” His voice turned hard and callous. “I could open the doors of this carriage in the middle of a busy marketplace, take her in front of a dozen witnesses, declare her a lousy fuck, and still have the marriage annulled.
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1rni4pE
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01F3Q9TT8
Amazon CA: www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01F3Q9TT8
Amazon AU:www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B01F3Q9TT8
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Book #2 PRE-ORDER LINKS ($0.99!) Release 6/14/2016
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1T7kj7N
Amazon AU: www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B01FG5R67S
Like&RT to enter $25 #Giveaway! Unexpected Circumstances drops 5/31! PreOrder for only $0.99 https://t.co/K6leTsQu1V pic.twitter.com/JbhdkX9YGp— Shay Savage (@Savage7289) May 20, 2016
Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. When the geek fun runs out, she also loves soccer in any and all forms - especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
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