THE SPYMASTER'S DAUGHTER

AUGUST 2012

In the court of Elizabeth I, the daughter of the queen’s powerful spymaster becomes a secret agent, and plays a dangerous role in saving her country from its ruthless enemies.

In Tudor England, traitors are everywhere and the queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, is assembling the greatest intelligence-gathering network in the world.  Walsingham’s only daughter, Lady Frances Sidney, smart, courageous, and unhappy in love, longs for the excitement of decoding encrypted messages and setting traps for  those working for rival Mary, Queen of Scots.  But Frances's father refuses her any opportunity to contribute to the desperate effort of keeping England safe.

Then Elizabeth, impressed with Frances’s fiery spirit, calls her to court as a lady-in-waiting, and Frances seizes the chance to prove herself. Soon, she wins the trust of her father’s de-coders and begins her secret work, thrilled with the freedom to test her talents.  But her peril is compounded as her beauty and wit also attract the romantic attention of two men, one the reckless Earl of Essex and the other her own brilliant but low-born servant, Robert Pauley. And when Frances uncovers the most dire plot of all, she will risk her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her very life to safeguard her queen.

Praise for The Spymaster's Daughter

"... it is a must-read for Tudor history fans who enjoy historical fiction. The characters and setting are brought to life beautifully and the plot-line keeps the reader hooked."
—Tudor Book Reviews

"Rich in historical detail and intrigue, Westin's latest is an impeccably crafted novel." 
—Chicago Tribune

"Westin offers a fresh take on Tudor-era intrigue in her well-paced newest.  Lady Frances Sidney, is the unhappily married daughter of Elizabeth I's spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham.  All she wants in life is to become a spy...Frances is a strong protagonist and readers will enjoy the chemistry between her and (her servant and also a spy) Robert Pauley who proves more than a match for her tenacity and charisma. "
—Publishers Weekly

“A compelling, unforgettable historical novel.”
—Karen Harper, author of The Queen’s Governess

“Highly recommended.”
—Historical Novels Review (Editor’s Choice)

HIS LAST LETTER:
ELIZABETH I AND THE EARL OF LEICESTER

One of the greatest romances of all time--between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley--is finally revealed through the missing page of his last letter...

They were playmates as children, impetuous companions as young adults and for thirty years were the center of each other's lives.  Astute to the danger of choosing any one man, the Virgin Queen could never give Dudley what he wanted...to be a king...yet she insisted he stay close by her side.  Possessive and jealous, they survived quarrels, his two disastrous marriages to other women, her constant flirtations, and political machinations with foreign princes. Yet still, there is no written evidence that confirms the depth of the love between Elizabeth I and her "Sweet Robin."  Or was there?  His Last Letter exposes the hidden depths of an impossible love...impossible to fulfill and impossible to stop.

His Last Letter is also on sale at Costco and Target!

THE VIRGIN'S DAUGHTERS:
IN THE COURT OF ELIZABETH I

The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I was profoundly aware of the dangers of mixing power and sex. Torn between opposing needs—to fulfill her destiny as a strong monarch and to follow her own sensual yearnings—she was fated never to experience true love…and became determined to thwart the romantic desires of all around her. Now, Elizabeth’s story is told as never before—through the eyes of two ladies-in-waiting who were closest to her…   click for more information