Not Every Girl #2
Jane McGarry
YA Fantasy
Clean Reads
August 11, 2016
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Olivia Davenport
is looking forward to her future. After all, Prince Liam has professed his love
and King William has promised her a reward for her role on a recent mission.
She fully expects to continue her knightly training while enjoying a blossoming
romance with her Prince. The King, however, has other ideas, appointing her as
a lady-in-waiting to Queen Helen.
Thrust into unfamiliar territory and left to fend against the malicious women of court, Olivia feels awkward and confused. With the help of her new friend, Kat, and her sister, Anne, she tries to find her footing among the courtiers, their protocol, and the added complication of Jocelyn Crawford, a lady who has her eyes set on becoming Liam’s bride.
When, a disturbing prophecy puts the safety of the King in question, fear spreads through kingdom.
Intrigue abounds at the palace with an enigmatic witch
and a strict Friar at the center of the controversy. Olivia must use her
training and instincts to unravel what is truly going on in order to protect
the King. Through it all, she questions if she will ever be able to fit into
Liam’s life and if, in the end, their love can prevail.
Excerpt
“Excuse me, Sir
Davenport, Lady Davenport,” says a voice, and suddenly Liam stands beside us.
“But I would very much like to have a dance with your daughter.”
“Of course, Your
Highness,” Mother replies in awe, dipping into a curtsey.
My
acknowledgement is a much stiffer bow of the head. The moments with my family
had briefly smothered my worry, but now it hurtles back full force. He takes my
hand and I follow him onto the floor, silently praying my knees don’t give out
from the terror that rises in me like the tide. One hand fits on the small of
my back, the other grasps mine. His palms are uncharacteristically sweaty.
Something is
definitely wrong.
I look into his
beautiful, blue eyes. They swim with misery. Now that I am going to find out
the reason, I am not sure I want to anymore.
He clears his
throat. “I didn’t want to have to tell you in public, but I can’t let the night
pass and deceive you.”
Not good.
At my silence,
he continues, “Somehow Jocelyn has influenced my father. He wants me to court
her, to give her a fair chance, because he considers her a more suitable
match.”
There she sits
now, right next to King William, her usual smug expression in place. Our
monarch absently surveys the room. The monarch I saved—who praised me for
it—stabs me in the back without a second thought. I should have left him to die
in that escape tunnel.
“And what do you
think of that?” I ask pointedly.
“Naturally, I
protested…abundantly, but…” He stops, won’t meet my eyes.
But? But cannot
be good. But can only be disastrous.
I stop moving and we stand looking at each
other like mannequins while
couples rotate around us.
“But what?” I
whisper, the cacophony of music and chatter turning into an otherworldly buzz
while my senses brace for the impact of his answer.
“But…my father
told me if I did not give Jocelyn a fair chance, he would not only send you
from the palace, but ship you down to Prescott and arrange a marriage for you
there. I don’t
know what to do, Olivia. I don’t
know how to fix this.”
A barrage of
thoughts leap to mind, none of them in any way accepting of this information.
Send me away? Ship me to Prescott? As if I were livestock? And arrange a
marriage? So many protests, I hardly know where to begin.
The music ends
and couples saunter off the floor. Liam and I stand alone in the center.
Eyes will be upon us soon if we
remain here like statues.
With every ounce
of composure I can muster, I curtsey and hear my voice say, “Thank you for the
dance, Your Highness. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Then, I walk away.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 27th 2015
Clean Reads
Summary from Goodreads:
Olivia Davenport’s plan is destined to fail.
She is going through with it anyway, of course. After all, it is the chance of a lifetime. The unreasonable rules of others should not stand in her way.
In her small kingdom of Stewartsland, Olivia trains with the squires and harbors a secret dream. She longs to become a knight under the command of the Master-of–Arms, who just happens to be her father. He has indulged her passion so far, but they both know a simple fact – girls may not attain knighthood. Dismayed by the constant discouragement of her ambitions, she makes an impetuous decision to disguise herself as a boy in order to sneak on a mission. The consequences are not at all what she anticipated.
When her deception is revealed, she is sent home in disgrace; however, an unexpected turn of events puts her at the center of a dangerous plot against the King. The ensuing adventure finds her grappling with mercenaries and outlaws, yet these pale in comparison to her newly awakened emotions. She finds not only her life at risk, but also her heart, when the aloof Prince Liam begins to affect her in ways she never thought possible. In the end, it is her courage and unique spirit which must guide her through the challenges she encounters both physical and emotional.
About the Author
Reading was always a big part of my life. Creating my own
stories developed out of this love. Finally, I decided to try my hand at
writing a novel and that was when Not Every Girl was conceived.
I live in New Jersey with my husband, two sons and an extremely
spoiled cat. When I am not running around with my family or writing, I can be
found curled up with a good book and said cat. It is my belief that a good
book, a loyal pet and anything made of chocolate can brighten just about any
day.
Author Links:
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Not every girl series sounds great! Thank you
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!!
DeleteI'd like to read this.
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
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