For fans of The Tudors comes a captivating drama about the only woman who could defy Henry VIII -and keep her life. Mary Tudor, the headstrong younger sister of the ruthless King Henry VII, has always been her brother's favorite-but now she is also an important political bargaining chip. When she is promised to the elderly, ailing King Louis of France, a heartbroken Mary accepts her fate, but not before extracting a promise from her brother: When the old king dies, her next marriage shall be solely of her choosing. For Mary has a forbidden passion, and is determined, through her own cunning, courage, and boldness, to forge her own destiny. The Secret Bride is the triumphant tale of one extraordinary woman who meant to stay true to her heart and live her life just as her royal brother did- by her own rules... Henry VIII adores his younger sister, Mary Tudor, but that doesn’t stop him from using her as a pawn in his political machinations. When Henry aligns himself with France, he arranges for Mary to marry the sickly old king. As a Tudor, she knows that she cannot marry for love, yet she can’t help but fall in love with Charles Brandon, Henry’s best friend. Charles is an orphan with no land or title of his own and has only achieved his position at court through friendship. Before leaving for her odious marriage, Mary makes Henry promise that her next marriage will be for love; if only Henry will remember his pledge. Haeger masterfully brings the past alive in her latest historical novel. A tale of thwarted desire and sacrifice, it is rich in court intrigue and lavishly detailed descriptions of court life during the early years of Henry VIII’s reign. Both fans of Haeger and readers new to her novels will relish her insightful story about the one woman Henry truly loved: his sister. --Patty Engelmann Diane Haeger  is the author of several novels of historical and women's fiction, including four novels set in the court of King Henry VIII:  I, Jane ;  The Queen's Rival ;  The Queen's Mistake;  and  The Secret Bride . She has a degree in English literature and an advanced degree in clinical psychology, which she credits with helping her bring to life complicated characters and their relationships. She lives with her husband and children.