1338:  England has declared war on France, and  Jeanette of Kent , cousin to King Edward III, says goodbye to her family and travels overseas with the royal court for the first time. Once in Antwerp, she is captivated by talented household knight  Thomas Holland , just as he in turn is powerfully drawn to her. Although both know their romance is forbidden, their love for each other grows stronger than the danger they face, and they marry in secret. But before they can make their tryst known, Thomas has to leave for war, and in his absence, Jeanette is forced into a second marriage and locked away from the world. Then Thomas returns, and the real fight begins. As hostile family members battle to keep Jeanette and Thomas apart, the defiant lovers vow to be reunited - whatever the cost... From the award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick, comes an epic love story set against the tumultuous backdrop of high chivalry, deadly warfare, devastating plague and savage rivalry in the fourteenth century - the first of two parts telling the remarkable story of a woman who rose from royal rebel to formidable influence. Real readers loved  The Royal Rebel : ' Another brilliant book  by Elizabeth Chadwick...well-written and  you can feel yourself immersed in the time and the dangers  that surround members of the household close to the throne' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Perfect as always  from Elizabeth Chadwick...The author is  brilliant at bringing the medieval world to life ' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' I loved  The Royal Rebel . The author has woven  an engrossing tale  around the historical facts' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I  devoured this book in one sitting !...clearly well researched' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A  fantastic historical read  and a  wonderful story of enduring love ' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Another great book  from this author...I can't wait for the follow up.  Thoroughly recommend !' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I adored this novel,  so rich in historical detail . It  all feels so real ... an emotional read . I  cannot wait for the next !' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Forbidden love, families at war, based on true events and people,  this book has it all . The writing and research do it such justice... fascinating and very interesting . I enjoyed this book immensely and would  highly recommend it to any lover of historical books ' NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ New York Times  bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick lives in a cottage in the Vale of Belvoir in Nottinghamshire with her husband and their three dogs. Her first novel,  The Wild Hunt,  won a Betty Trask Award,  To Defy a King  won the Romantic Novelist Association's Historical Novel Prize and  The Scarlet Lion  was nominated by Richard Lee - founder of the Historical Novel Society - as one of the top ten historical novels of the last decade. She often lectures at conferences and historical venues, has been consulted for television documentaries and is a member of the Royal Historical Society.