Lady of Fortune

Description

Reissued and repackaged for the very first time since 1988, Lady of Fortune is a classic story of one woman's perseverance and strength in the face of insurmountable odds in the wake of the French Revolution. A countess turned servant . . . Forced to escape the French Revolution, resilient young Comtesse Marie-Christine D'Estelle flees to London. But when she finds herself unexpectedly penniless, Christa hides her aristocratic background to become a lady's maid. . . . Until rebuffing advances from both her tyrannical mistress's husband and her lover gets Christa cast into the street-directly into a hero's arms . . . A Royal Navy commander . . . After a long absence, Captain Lord Alexander Kingsley has returned to England on medical leave. Now head of his family, he must take charge of his younger siblings. He feels a special duty to his sister Annabelle, a shy debutante in need of a maid. So Alex is delighted to discover that the intriguing, outspoken, and lovely young woman who serendipitously landed in his arms is in need of just such a position . . . The heart of a household . . . With her warmth, charm, and surprisingly refined intellect, Christa soon wins the hearts of all the Kingsleys-especially Alex. And while their mutual attraction deepens to something more, the gap in their social stations seems an impossible obstacle. Only when Alex and Annabelle become the targets of fortune hunters, will the truth about Christa have a chance to be revealed. But will it mean a chance for true love to triumph?

Mary Jo Putney is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels and novellas. A ten-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA award, she has won the honor twice and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. In 2013 she was awarded the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. Though most of her books have been historical romance, she has also published contemporary romances, historical fantasy, and young adult paranormal historicals. She lives in Maryland with her nearest and dearest, both two and four-footed. Visit her at MaryJoPutney.com.

Praise for Mary Jo Putney's Rogues Redeemed Series "Putney continues her Regency-era Rogues Redeemed series with this enthralling fifth installment about a pair of outcasts who find comfort with one another...With this emotional romance, Putney again proves why she's a star of the genre." -Publishers Weekly on Once Dishonored "In her own signature style, paying impeccable attention to period details, Putney continues to vindicate the honor of scoundrels in this fifth entry of the stunning "Rogues Redeemed" series. Fans of historicals will root for our brave, intelligent heroine and the hero who stands beside her." -Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW on Once Dishonored It's an intense, dramatic love story with improbable twists and turns, adventure, and visits from old friends. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read." -All About Romance on Once Dishonored "She is such a solid writer that every story makes a worthwhile read." -Novels Alive on Once Dishonored "A story laced with dynamic characters and strong messages about gender inequities, Once Dishonored is a great novel for readers who enjoy strong historical romance." -One Book More on Once Dishonored "An abundance of heartfelt emotions...With actual historical events scattered throughout ONCE DISHONORED along with a very intriguing romance, the Regency period is compellingly depicted with entertaining situations." -Always Reviewing on Once Dishonored "A beautifully rendered romance...Exquisitely developed characters, a stunning setting, and the perfect amount of history and engineering detail to make this an excellent start to what promises to be another of Putney's insightful, riveting series."-Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW for Once a Soldier "The intelligently plotted and impeccably researched Once a Scoundrel, third in the Rogues Redeemed series, proves once again why RITA (R) Award-winning Putney's books are the literary equivalent of catnip to historical romance fans. Not only does she perfectly calibrate the ratio of high-stakes action to high-octane sexual chemistry, but her willingness to eschew the familiar Regency landscape in favor of something new and different is commendable." -Booklist, STARRED REVIEW "Love and danger breathtakingly intertwine in Once a Spy...Readers will root for this couple and their hard-won wisdom and open hearts. Putney's depiction of the days surrounding the Battle of Waterloo is thrilling and adds just the right amount of historical detail to this superlative romance." -BookPage, STARRED REVIEW "With this fourth installment in the Rogues Redeemed series, Putney continues to offer a fascinating historical perspective combined with a tender love story that slowly moves from friendship to desire to love, making this an excellent addition to any collection." -Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW on Once a Spy "Filled with action and adventure and spiced with an intriguing glimpse of American history, Once a Rebel is not to be missed." -Bookpage "With superbly drawn characters (including historical figures such as Francis Scott Key); a setting so vivid one can taste the lemonade and smell the gunpowder; and a gripping plot that addresses the harsh realities of slavery, prejudice, cruelty, and abuse...A story that deftly balances fascinating historical detail, adventure, and menace with a passionate romance. Another "redeemed rogue" gets the future he deserves." -Library Journal on Once a Rebel "Putney's commitment to historical research shines throughout the book...Putney's continued foray into the new setting of the United States in the early 19th century is a welcome addition to the historical romance shelf. Though suspense and adventure drive this story forward, the love at its center sets it apart." -Kirkus Reviews on Once a Rebel "RITA (R) Award-winning Putney begins her new Rogues Redeemed series on a high note with an impeccably written book that realistically integrates the cost of the Napoleonic Wars into a compelling story that neatly balances dangerous adventures and passionate romance." -Booklist on Once a Soldier "A thrilling, romantic tale." -BookPage, Top Pick of the Month on Once a Soldier "Putney brings Will and Athena's bond to life." -Woman's World on Once a Soldier "Putney's multifaceted and well-developed characters add depth to this romance, which is complete with the trials of war and the promise of future series installments." -Publishers Weekly on Once a Soldier