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PRAISE FOR

Venus in Winter

“A vast panorama of Tudor history, from the viewpoint of a legendary woman who loomed large in it.”

—Margaret George, author of
Elizabeth I: The Novel

“
Venus in Winter
does justice to the extraordinary, powerful, and dangerous Bess of Hardwick. Gillian Bagwell has brought to vivid life one of the great women of Tudor England.”

—Bernard Cornwell, author of
1356

“The crushing anxiety of family financial burdens, the marital expectations placed on high-born young women, and the uncertainties of life under Henry VIII and his children are all explored in this richly imagined and beautifully written novel. I think it’s Bagwell’s best!”

—Patricia Bracewell, author of
Shadow on the Crown

“Bagwell proves that a Tudor heroine doesn’t have to be royal to fascinate us. An eyewitness account of the turbulent reigns of five English monarchs,
Venus in Winter
is a refreshing, engaging, and impeccably researched novel.”

—Leslie Carroll, author of
Royal Romances

“A wonderful portrait of one of Elizabethan England’s most fascinating—and most long-lived—women. A great read, rich with detail and story.”

—Diana Gabaldon, author of the bestselling Outlander series

PRAISE FOR

The September Queen

“Gillian Bagwell did an exceptional job at writing Jane and Charles’s on-the-run romance. Charles not only seduces Jane, but the readers as well . . . Sprinkled with Shakespearean references that add a magical touch to Jane and Charles’s romance,
The September Queen
is a love story that will stay with you long after you finish the novel.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“Bagwell’s telling of Charles and Jane’s romance is bittersweet and full of passion. This richly detailed story will delight lovers of a hot romance!”

—
Dolce Dolce

“The real hero in this tale is the ever-patient and admirable protagonist, Jane Lane. Her story—her survival and constancy through unthinkable hardships and impossible circumstances—is one that shouldn’t be missed!”

—
Historical Novel Society

“Bagwell may be one of the newer writers in the historical fiction genre, but she is one of the most talented. Her love and knowledge of the time period shines through as well as her beautifully written words and descriptive details. This novel is guaranteed to be a favorite among historical fiction readers!”

—
Pittsburgh Historical Fiction Examiner

“An extraordinarily engrossing read! . . . It had everything that I look for in a novel—drama, romance, danger, and adventure. I devoured it in two sittings.”

—
Passages to the Past

“Bagwell reimagines [Jane and Charles’s] relationship with insight and conviction . . . A fast-paced, sensual chase and a tribute to a courageous woman who made her mark on England’s history.”

—
The Misadventures of Moppet

PRAISE FOR

The Darling Strumpet

“Bawdy and poignant . . . An ebullient page-turner!”

—Leslie Carroll, author of
Royal Pains

“[A] richly engaging portrait of the life and times of one of history’s most appealing characters!”

—Diana Gabaldon, author of the bestselling Outlander series

“Hard to resist this sort of seduction—a Nell Gwynn who pleasures the crowds upon the stages of London and the noblest men of England in their bedrooms. A vivid portrait of an age that makes our own seem prudish, told with verve, humor, pathos . . . and not a little eroticism.”

—C. C. Humphreys, author of
A Place Called Armageddon

“An absolute triumph as a debut novel . . . [It] is an absolutely brilliant addition to the historical fiction genre and might be the best novel on Nell Gwynn ever . . . Nell would have applauded in approval and probably done a little jig to celebrate her tribute.”

—
Pittsburgh Historical Fiction Examiner

“Gillian Bagwell’s meticulously researched novel takes us from the cobbled, rubbish-strewn alleys of Covent Garden to the Royal Theatre in Drury Lane and into the royal court. She handles the seventeenth-century London street vernacular with aplomb . . . I can thoroughly recommend this book, and look forward to Miss Bagwell’s next foray into seventeenth-century England.”

—
Historical Novel Reviews
(five stars)

“The reader is kept in absolute rapture from start to finish! . . . I enthusiastically recommend
The Darling Strumpet,
and if her debut novel is any indication of the fabulousness we can look forward to in future books by Gillian Bagwell, then consider me hooked!!”

—
Passages to the Past
(five stars)

“For . . . Restoration England lovers this book is a must . . . The sky is the limit for Gillian’s future in historical fiction.”

—
Historically Obsessed
(five stars)

“This book was just all around solid. The characters were rich and complex, the plot was paced well, and the period language felt natural . . . I LOVED it . . . If you are a Nell fan, or a fan of historical fiction in general, this is a must read, and if you haven’t read much historical fiction, this book would be a great introduction!”

—
The Book Buff
(five stars)

“The atmosphere of Restoration London is beautifully rendered in this richly textured novel. Sedan chairs, frost fairs, hot wassail, changeable silks—the details on every page evoke time and place . . . I would definitely recommend
The Darling Strumpet
to anyone looking for a rich and spicy January read.”

—
The Misadventures of Moppet

“Written in the vein of Philippa Gregory’s
The Other Boleyn Girl
and Tracy Chevalier’s
The Lady and the Unicorn
 . . . Gillian Bagwell is a masterful writer . . . A thrilling and enchanting story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.”

—
The Season for Romance

“As bawdy and engaging as Nell herself was reputed to be. Bagwell’s well-researched novel accurately captures the rowdy, sexy Restoration period . . . Romantics will devour this engaging, sexy page-turner.”

—
Dolce Dolce

“Fans of historical fiction or the Restoration era, or simply desirous of an immersive, fast-paced look into another time, will likely find much to enjoy here.”

—
Pop Matters

“After this fabulous debut piece of work I cannot wait to see what else Gillian Bagwell has for us historical fiction fans.”

—BurtonReview.blogspot.com

“I loved it . . . I found myself caught up in the story and just didn’t want to put it down . . . This is a very enjoyable book on an extraordinary woman.”

—
Broken Teepee

“Nell claims her place in history and Charles Stuart’s heart, a memorable footnote to an era of flourishing theater and outrageous personalities, ever the people’s darling . . . The lusty, good-hearted Nell has secured her place in England’s turbulent past, a destitute girl who wins the undying love of the Restoration king. Bagwell does her story justice.”

—
Curled Up with a Good Book

“Bagwell delights readers with tales of Nell Gwynn’s escapades in historically accurate detail . . . Nell would have given Madonna and Lady Gaga a run for their money had they been around back then!
The Darling Strumpet
is a well-told historical romance that will be enjoyed by Anglophiles and fans of the days of old alike.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“This is probably not a book I will ever re-read. I don’t need to . . . I will never forget it . . . Gillian Bagwell spent twenty years researching this, her debut book. The wealth of historical detail makes it obvious that the time was well spent.”

—
Seductive Musings

Books by Gillian Bagwell

THE DARLING STRUMPET

THE SEPTEMBER QUEEN

VENUS IN WINTER

VENUS in WINTER

GILLIAN BAGWELL

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.

Copyright © 2013 by Gillian Bagwell.

Excerpt from
The Darling Strumpet
copyright © 2011 by Gillian Bagwell.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

BERKLEY
^®
is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley trade paperback edition / July 2013

eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-62455-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bagwell, Gillian.

Venus in winter / by Gillian Bagwell.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-425-25802-6 (alk. paper)

1. Shrewsbury, Elizabeth Hardwick Talbot, Countess of, 1527?–1608—Fiction. 2. Great Britain—History—Elizabeth, 1558–1603—Fiction. 3. Biographical fiction. 4. Historical fiction. I. Title. PS3602.A3975V46 2013

813'.6—dc23

2013007797

Cover design by Lesley Worrell

Cover illustration by Trish Cramblet

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.