Cover of Palace circle
Read Time: ~8.9 hr

Palace circle

by Rebecca Dean (2010)

About this book

Palace intrigue, romance, and illicit affairs--Rebecca Dean has written a glorious novel that will sweep Philippa Gregory fans off their feet.Delia Chandler, an eighteen-year-old Southern girl, marries Viscount Ivor Conisborough just before World War II, becoming part of the Windsor court. It's every girl's dream come true. But Delia is jolted from her pleasant life when she realizes, after the birth of her two daughters, that Ivor chose her only to bear an heir to his estate. Shortly thereafter, she begins an affair with her husband's handsome, titled, and frequently scandalous best friend. When Conisborough is appointed as an adviser to King Fuad of Egypt, Delia exchanges one palace circle for another, far different one. While she sees Egypt as a place of exile, her two daughters regard Egypt as their home. Only when war comes to Cairo--and Delia finally reveals the secret she has kept for so long--can she begin to heal the divisions separating her from those she loves.Rebecca Dean's irresistible combination of real events and masterful storytelling will keep readers fascinated until the very last page.

Setting / LocationLondon & UK
Story EraWWII Era
Protagonist / CorePalace circle Lead Character

Readers who enjoyed this also loved

Cover of Happiness Hill

Happiness Hill

Grace Livingston Hill

Will lovely Jane Arleth leave behind her old-fashioned ways - and handsome John Sherwood - to marry a man of great wealth? Chance Encounter The young man across the aisle from Jane Arleth could not take his eyes from her face. Everything about her placed her in a class of wealth and culture, and yet there was about her a look of strength, self-reliance, and sweet character that was rare. Just then her handbag slid from her lap, landing impertinently at his feet. Jane swung around and reached for it just as the man grasped the bag, and their fingers came in light contact as he handed her possession over with a bow. "Oh, thank you," said Jane, her cheeks glowing with sudden embarrassment. Her eyes met the stranger's gray ones in one quick pleasant look. She had a fleeting impression of a nice strong face, keen young yes, and an interesting smile...

Cover of Simply divine

Simply divine

Wendy Holden

"Jane is a twenty-something journalist who has the usual problems facing a woman: job stress, career angst, weight trouble, and an unfulfilling relationship with the man in her life." "Her best friend, Tally, wishes she had a boyfriend: a knight with a gold card, who could ride up and keep her beloved family estate from falling into the hands of greedy developers. Which is about as likely to happen as Jane embarking on a guilt-free, passionate affair with the sexy writer who lives upstairs.". "Instead, Jane has just been recruited for her magazine's latest circulation-boosting gimmick: ghostwriting the life and racy times of celebrity socialite Champagne D'Vyne. But following the grand diva of self-promotion across Europe and straight into tabloid hell can have its advantages. Especially if it leads to - cross your fingers - a new job, a new man, and just maybe, that long dreamed-of walk down the aisle."--BOOK JACKET.

Cover of The Eyes of Love

The Eyes of Love

Barbara Cartland

The Earl of Domoch arrived in Scotland -- reluctantly -- to take up his duties as Chieftain of his Clan. Raised in England, blinded by a Fakir's curse in India, the handsome, embittered peer felt lost among strangers... until lovely Vara McDorn became his guide. Spirited and gentle, Vara became the Earl's eyes and heart, teaching him to see the timeless beauty of his Clan's ancient ways, while a rival plots against him. When Vara learns how the Earl lost his sight, she thinks she may be able to help. Yet even as a healer worked her cure, the pretender was hatching treachery -- fated to be foiled by the resourceful lass. And in a joyous moment of truth, Vara and her Chieftain surrendered to the rare miracle of everlasting love.... This book is one of Dame Barbara's last ditch attempts to hold on to her fading glory of being the world's most famous writer. These books were accepted in the 30s and 40s as ooooh so romantic but by the 90s one had grown pretty tired of heroines who could read ancient languages,but couldn't string a sentence in English without taking 5 minutes between words.This...is...a...dream and the like. Very badly edited version so if you are reading this to improve your command over English,forgotten is not spelled" forgotton."No wonder Dame Barbara's yearly royalty for 40 million books published was around 1,800 pounds in the 90s.Would you buy a story with a heroine with a name made up of 1 vowel,and 2 consonants.Or some name like Zosina and her sister Helsa?How come none of her heroines were ever called Tortilla? This would be on par with names like Ola who decides to change it to Relola.Anyone sane heard names like Vava-yep BC idea of a Hungarian name- or Zoia?Zoya,yes but Zoi-a? And those macho heroes with names ending in _us. One could be easily named Platypus,the Duke of Bloomingdom.

Cover of Scandalous

Scandalous

Karen Robards

England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger's deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other -- and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love....

Palace circle by Rebecca Dean | Literally Just Books