The Emperor's Conspiracy, A Novel by Michelle Diener ~ Giveaway

About Book

From nineteenth-century London’s elegant ballrooms to its darkest slums, a spirited young woman and a nobleman investigating for the Crown unmask a plot by Napoleon to bleed England of its gold.

Chance led to Charlotte Raven’s transformation from chimney sweep to wealthy, educated noblewoman, but she still walks a delicate tightrope between two worlds, unable to turn her back on the ruthless crime lord who was once her childhood protector.

When Lord Edward Durnham is tapped to solve the mystery of England’s rapidly disappearing gold, his search leads him to the stews of London, and Charlotte becomes his intriguing guide to the city’s dark, forbidding underworld. But as her involvement brings Charlotte to the attention of men who have no qualms about who they hurt, and as Edward forges a grudging alliance with the dangerous ghosts of Charlotte’s former life, she faces a choice: to continue living in limbo, or to close the door on the past and risk her heart and her happiness on an unpredictable future.

• ISBN-13: 9781451684438
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Publication date: 11/27/2012
• Pages: 317
• Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.04 (h) x 0.87 (d)

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

About Michelle

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout and John Parker series starts with IN A TREACHEROUS COURT. Set in the court of Henry VIII, it features the real historical figures of artist Susanna Horenbout and Henry’s Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and Yeoman of the King’s Robes, John Parker. It was followed by KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS, also featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, and DANGEROUS SANCTUARY, a short story with the same characters, set between the two books, is currently available as an ebook only.

A new historical novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars in London in 1811, THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY was released on November 27th, 2012.

Michelle also contributed a short paranormal story to the ENTANGLED Anthology entitled BREAKING OUT. All the proceeds of the sale of ENTANGLED go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa, and now lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Author's website: http://www.michellediener.com

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The Emperor's Conspiracy

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Ends February 26, 2013

Winner announced on Feb. 27, 2013

My Thoughts

What were the odds for a beautiful child dumped in the slums of London to fend for herself? If not for a young boy of streets taking Charlotte Raven under his wings she would not have survived.  She disguised herself as a boy and worked as a chimney sweep.  The options for little girls was even worse than that of a boy chimney sweep.  She would have permanent scars from the work. One day as she is cleaning a chimney she becomes stuck in the chimney her only  alternative was to go further up the chimney and come out in another apartment.  What happens next will expose her as being a girl into the hands of a child molester.  She manages to escape the horrible man and get back up the chimney and into the apartment of an angel.  This angel becomes her guardian and gives her a life that is only for the rich elite of London. Charlotte never turned her back on the people that were there for her while living in the slums. They remained an important part of her life. 

 Charlotte turns into a beautiful woman of influential society attending parties and being sought out by potential suitors.  While attending a party she over hears a conversation from the very man that tried to molest her as a child.  He is planning to have the children of her hostess to come stay at his home.  She feels she must warn the woman. In an attempt to protect the children from this evil man the mother agrees to leave her home with the children and stay with her brother Lord Edward Durnham or with Charlotte. 

Now not only is Charlotte in danger but so is Lord Edward.  Something is not right, it seems Lord Edward's brother-in-law has gotten into something very shady and has put everyone in danger. Who is the villain behind all of this 
chaos?

The author has written a nail biting novel with mystery, suspense and romance.  A who done it that will no doubt surprise the reader. There is also a reconciliation of ones past in order to follow God's will.   

Charlotte's character is a headstrong and fearless woman not to be messed with.  Lord Edward reminds me of the saying, "his bark is bigger than his bite".  Which is an attitude he acquired from an unhappy childhood of emotional abuse.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I won a copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a review.  This is my hones opinion.

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