When absolute Monarchs ruled from glittering seventeenth century courts, Frances Stuart captured the hearts of Louis the Fourteenth, Charles the Second, and James the Second. She rejected them all and graced England’s coins for generations as the model of Britannia, an enduring symbol of Britain’s independent spirit.
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Impoverished and exiled in the French countryside since the English Civil Wars, the Restoration of Stuart Monarchy in England returns Frances Stuart’s family to favor at last. Frances discards threadbare gowns and moves to gilded Fontainebleau Palace, where she soon catches the Sun King’s eye. But Frances is no ordinary court beauty, she has Stuart secrets to keep and her family to protect. King Louis XIV turns vengeful when she rejects his offer to become his Official Mistress. He banishes her to England with orders to seduce King Charles II and secure a political alliance. The Queen Mother seizes the opportunity to further her own Catholic cause, and commands Frances to usurp her son’s Protestant mistress.
Armed in pearls and silk, Frances maneuvers through the political turbulence of Whitehall Palace, but still can’t afford to stir a scandal – she is determined to shield her family from shame. Her tactic to inspire King Charles to greatness captivates him, and he believes her love can make him an honest man. Frances survives the Great Fire, the Great Plague, and the debauchery of the Restoration Court, yet loses her heart to the very king she must control. Until the discovery of a dangerous plot forces her to choose between love or war.
REVIEWS
STARRED REVIEW. ”Jefferson’s intoxicating first novel superbly draws readers into the mischief and maneuverings, loyalties and treacheries, and lust and hostility of powerful 17th century kings and scheming court sycophants. Frances Stuart, a young distant cousin of King Charles II, and other historical figures reveal the essence of Restoration England in this captivating story….Jefferson aptly recounts the passionate affair and resulting potential ‘political calamity,’ the queen’s infertility, the mistresses and illegitimate children, and the turmoil of London’s devastating plague, the great fire and the Dutch war….this is an exciting, solid debut.” -Publishers Weekly
” Jefferson fictionalizes the life of a little-known—yet exceedingly familiar—historical figure in her authentically detailed debut…Faced with some difficult choices regarding love, loyalty, family, and duty, Frances staunchly follows her own path into the annals of history as she poses as a model for the visage of Britannia, destined to grace coins, medals, and statues for centuries. This small leap from the Tudors is a must-read for Alison Weir-Philippa Gregory fans.” -Booklist
” Jefferson’s first novel focuses on a woman and time that recent historical novelists have overlooked: Restoration England.” -Library Journal
” A novel as rich and golden as the coin she graced. Frances Stuart’s face was truly her fortune and left its mark on history, a rare achievement.” -Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I: The Novel
” A delicious story of court intrigues, affairs and vibrant personalities, Jefferson’s novel is sure to please fans of historical fiction of all kinds.” -Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of The Counterfeit Mistress
” In her wonderfully evocative debut, Marci Jefferson recreates the fascinating story of Frances Stuart, whose influence over England’s Charles II became the talk of a nation. As vibrant and delightful as the woman it’s based on, Girl on the Golden Coin is a jewel of a novel!” -Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of The Second Empress
” Beauty is not always a blessing, as young Frances Stuart finds out when her lovely face pits her between the desires and politics of rival kings Louis XIV and Charles II. Frances makes an appealing heroine, by turns wary and passionate, sophisticated and innocent, as she matures from destitute young pawn to the majestic duchess whose figure would grace Britain’s coins for centuries. Her struggles to support her loved ones, uncover her family secrets, and somehow find a life of her own amid the snake-pit courts of the Sun King and the Merry Monarch make for lively, entertaining reading in this lush Restoration novel by debut author Marci Jefferson.” -Kate Quinn, national bestselling author of Mistress of Rome
” Girl on the Golden Coin is a sexy, exciting tale featuring vivid characters, rich historical detail, scintillating court intrigue, and a complexly rendered heroine in Frances Stuart, Maid of Honor to the Queen of England, who will capture the reader’s heart—as will the man she loves, that rascal King Charles II.” -Sherry Jones, internationally bestselling author of Four Sisters, All Queens
” Fans of historical fiction featuring interesting but previously overlooked women have reason to celebrate the release of Girl on the Golden Coin. With a deft hand, Marci Jefferson brings to vivid life Frances Stuart, Duchess of Richmond—a woman with the charms of Josephine Bonaparte and style of Marie Antoinette, who captured the hearts of Kings on both sides of the channel. Frances is a thoroughly likeable heroine who puts duty to her King, her country, and her family before the desires of her own heart. But Frances, as written by Jefferson, is no paper-saint. She is a flesh and blood woman who modern readers will recognize and identify with. The balance of the novel’s characters are equally well drawn—full of nuance and complexity. Do not miss this marvelous debut!” -Sophie Perinot, author of The Sister Queens
” Marci Jefferson spins a spirited yarn in Girl on the Golden Coin, a Restoration novel packed with beribboned courtiers and ebullient dialogue and the utterly likable and cunning Frances Stuart, distant cousin of King Charles II. A realistic view of court intrigue, this story of merry-making and mischief and the ultimate test of honor will delight readers and keep them turning pages long into the night.” -Heather Webb, author of Becoming Josephine
” Girl on the Golden Coin is a fantastic novel. I couldn’t put it down. The plot is fast-paced and compelling, with intriguing characters, lush settings and captivating narrative voice. Jefferson’s debut paints an intriguing portrait of Frances Stuart, a novel worthy of the determined, golden spirit of the woman whose face became the model for Brittania herself.” -Susan Spann, author of Claws of the Cat