Mary Howard has always lived in the shadow of her powerful family. But when she’s married off to Henry Fitzroy, King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, she rockets into the Tudor court’s inner circle. Mary and “Fitz” join a tight clique of rebels who test the boundaries of court’s strict rules with their games, dares, and flirtations. The more Mary gets to know Fitz, the harder she falls for him, but is forbidden from seeing him alone. The rules of court were made to be pushed…but pushing them too far means certain death. Is true love worth dying for? Historical fiction often challenges a writer to weave an entertaining story around actual events and people. But the more the audience knows about a time period, the more criticism of embellishing is apt to surface. In her third novel about Henry VIII’s reign, Longshore circumvents this dilemma by choosing as her heroine Mary Fitzroy, the rarely referenced 14-year-old bride of Henry’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond. History tells us little except that Mary was outspoken in defense of her land and title after her husband’s untimely death. Longshore has crafted this tidbit into a delightful character study of a quiet, yet spunky young woman who skirted the edges of treason and subsequent censure in part due to her friendship with members of the court. With detailed descriptions of both the lavish royal lifestyle and the brutal horror of Henry VIII’s determination to become the head of the church, readers will find themselves both fascinated and terrified as this independent young woman fights to live and love on her own terms. Grades 9-12. --Frances Bradburn PRAISE FOR KATHERINE LONGSHORE: “A more literary version of “Gossip Girl” overlaid onto 16th-century England . . .”— The Los Angeles Times on Gilt “I found my new favorite series . . . see for yourself why I couldn't put the book down.”—MTV.com on Gilt “A good, juicy story . . . royally riveting for the reader.”— Booklist on Gilt “The raw emotions and unflinching honesty of a young girl caught in a whirlwind of history shine through, keeping readers engaged to the end.”— Kirkus on Tarnish “Swoon overload . . . Funny, witty and entertaining, Tarnish is a must-read for anyone wanting to add invigorating drama and sensual romance to their bookshelf.”—MTV.com on Tarnish “Great for readers of romance, royal fiction and history, or those looking for a summer read that makes them think a bit, too.”—Shelf Awareness on Tarnish "...readers will find themselves both fascinated and terrified as this independent young woman fights to live and love on her own terms." — Booklist  on  Brazen "Longshore skillfully blends history with romance, weaving a compelling, poignant story of love, loss and betrayal." — Kirkus  on  Brazen "Fans of the author’s other offerings about the Tudors—Gilt (2012) and Tarnish (2013, both Viking)—and the TV show Reign will enjoy this steamy historical romance, perfect for teens not yet ready for Philippa Gregory’s novels." — School Library Journal  on  Brazen "This book makes a great entry for readers not yet introduced to the novels of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir." — Library Media Connection  on  Brazen Katherine Longshore is also the author of Gilt and Tarnish. She lives in Northern California with three British citizens and one expatriate dog.