He thinks she’s a traitor to her queen. She thinks he’s just a gardener.Dive into this new Tudor Historical Romance series Trysts and Treachery by the award winning Elizabeth Keysian. Read for Free in Kindle Unlimited!Despised by the cousin with whom she’s forced to live, the lonely but determined Alys craves escape. The most dangerous thing she could do is fall in love. Especially when the man … fall in love. Especially when the man who tempts her is Kit Ludlow, an exiled nobleman in disguise. Becoming involved in his secret mission proves more perilous than Alys could possibly have imagined.
Kit has been banished from Queen Elizabeth’s court, and the last thing he wants is to entangle Alys in his web of treachery and deception. It would also be folly to fall in love with her when he can’t be sure where her loyalties lie.
After helping Kit foil a plot against the queen, Alys’ life is at risk from her cousin’s nefarious schemes. Estranged from Kit, she’s forced to make a desperate decision.
Should she protect her family, or follow the demands of her heart?
Trysts and Treachery
Book 1 – Lord of Deception
Book 2 – Lord of Loyalty
Book 3 – Lord of the Forest
Book 4 – Lord of Mistrust
Book 5 – Lord of the Manor
more
I’m so in love with this series from Elizabeth Keysian.
So much intrigue!
Her attention to detail in conjuring the Tudor court is fabulous, and her characters have wonderful chemistry.
Simply brilliant.
A tangled Elizabethan web.
One of the things I like the most about Elizabeth Keysian’s books is that she gives us such likeable (and villainous) characters. This novel is no exception. From the moment we meet Alys Barchard on page one we know that her life isn’t going to be easy. And one of the most principal thorns in her side is probably going to be her spiteful cousin, Kate.
There is a definite nod to Shakespeare going on here: characters in disguise. Others not all they seem. Good turning evil in the blink of an eye and the space of a page. Ms Keysian’s attention to detail is purely for the reader’s delight and sweeps us back to Elizabethan England. There are a lot of reference points to actual historical events which for me made it an even more enjoyable read. As always, the author has a very light touch and an excellent writing syle which produces something fizzing with fun and excitement. Highly recommended!
This was a good paced story that had some tense moments. I was a little undecided on the character of Alys, at times she was completely downtrodden by her cousin and at other times she was very courageous. She was an intelligent woman but because of her inexperience often had doubts as to who she could trust. She did face a dilemma at times as to where her loyalty should lay. Kit, was all you would want from a hero, handsome, brave and honourable. Kit and Alys had an attraction to each other but Alys was wary of Kit’s reputation. There are also rivals for Kit at court and Alys feels out of her depth at times. This is the first in a new series and it certainly had the flavour of the time. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
What a page-turner! Alys is a feisty, courageous heroine who never, ever gives up, and Kit is a gorgeously hunky hero. The plot is not only gripping but realistic as well. I felt totally immersed in the Tudor era.
Lord of Deception by Elizabeth Keysian is the first book in her Trysts and Treachery series. I am REALLY looking forward to the next one! I am getting ahead of myself though. This story is fast paced and filled full of danger, adventure, intrigue and topped off with some drool worthy romance. There is a lot of bickering and misunderstandings between the characters and usually that turns me off a book but not with this book! I was drawn right in and couldn’t get enough. It was powerful and emotional and I wouldn’t change a thing! Absolutely loved the characters and the storyline! Definitely worth the read! I highly recommend Lord of Deception! 5 stars.
Lord of Deception by Elizabeth Keysian is book One in the Trysts and Treachery Series. This is the story of Alys Barchard and Christopher Ludlow ‘Kit’. Kit was a member of the court who now is spying and pretending to be a gardener. This is how Kit meets Alys who is a poor relations to her cousin who makes Alys a servant. Alys ends up getting involved with Kit’s seam which ends up getting her in danger. This was a page turning read for me. I do plan on reading more books by this author.
A true Tudor classic.
Alys is an orphan and works for her cousin Kate Aspinall…Asp is right. Her cousin is brutal, viperish and just a nasty person to be around. Alys lives a life above reproach. She meets the gardener and feels the attraction but knows it will cause a scandal so does her best to stay away. Well her cousin has other ideas, she starts a contest then continues to torment Alys right into a friendship with the gardener.
Kit is a spy! He is being punished by the Queen (when another woman accuses Kit of taking advantage)…so he is sent to be a gardener and ferret out the treasonous group who wants Queen Elizabeth I dead. He starts to fall for Alys and prays she is not involved.
The two work together and through much betrayal, love, and more lies and comes together to defeat the would be murderers.
Quite an intricate tale Elizabeth Keysian writes. Can’t wait for book 2~
I felt I came into the story in the middle. The background info is given at the end of our h and her cousin. It was hard to get a feel for the character’s. The h was rude to the H and acted superior. The H is someone who made the story somewhat enjoyable.
Many villains, much mistrust that when on forever. The H is popular at Court and I just could not envision what he saw in the h. This is basically a clean story with some kisses. The act, within marriage, is not described except he was naked.
As far as I am concerned, there is no romance to this story. The H though loyal and honorable, went begging or mostly groveling to the h over and over.
Violence, no cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, no romance and kisses. (ljb)
Wow! Lord Of Deception is a magnificent historical romance by Elizabeth Keysian. Ms. Keysian has given readers a book that is well-written and hard to put down. The characters are spectacular and my favorite part of this book. Alys lives with her cousin and is the one that does all the dirty work while her cousin plays lady of the manor. Christopher is masquerading at Kit, a gardener, hoping to find who the traitors are in the household. Alys and Kit’s story is loaded with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense. I loved this book from cover to cover and can’t wait to read more from Elizabeth Keysian. Lord Of Deception is book 1 of the Trysts and Treachery Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
When is a handsome gardner not really a gardener? When he is a spy trying to figure out who is harboring traitors… Is it the lady of the house, Kate Aspinall or maybe her cousin Alys. Then Kate has the audacity to come try to get him to kiss her! Sir Christopher knew his guise as a gardener would not go over well!!
Alys had been living with her cousin Kate, who really did not treat her well. But what choice did she have? Kate, a widow, could be scandalous and she did treated Alys poorly. The only way for Alys to escape her servitude was to marry. She felt Kate was involved in something but not sure what.
I loved this story! A mystery, intrigue, deceit and a plot that needed to be averted.. Loved these two together and the Tudor period. Elizabeth Keysian’s research for this timeframe paid off with this tale weaving in history, romance and everything needed for a spellbinding journey that will capture your attention to the end! I cannot wait for more in this series!
Kit has been banished by the queen and is pretending to be a gardener to try to get back in the queens good graces by to try to discover if Alys or her cousin are traitors to the crown.
Alys has no place to go and is forced to be a servant to her cousin, Alys life has become very lonely. When Alys notices something very different about Kit the gardener she becomes suspicious of him. Thinking he is sleeping with her cousin, Alys confronts Kit and threatens to fire him.
Afraid that he has been discovered Kit will have to confide in the lovely Alys and hope his instincts are correct and she is not a traitor. They will need to trust each other in order to work together. Good story with mystery, intrigue and romance. Definitely a good story, you will enjoy the characters!
Lord of Deception by Elizabeth Keysian is a book about deception and underhanded behavior in the time of Elizabeth I of England. The new gardener was not a gardener at all, but a member of court: Sir Christopher Ludlow, and he was here to pay a debt … to Her Majesty. Something was afoot here and it was Kit who was left to discover what. Alys Barchard was Kate Aspinall’s cousin, and in reality, little more than a servant. Her only way out of this situation was by marriage (or Kate’s death, but marriage seemed more likely). Kate was a widow and therefore able to behave more independently that Alys was, with men. Alys knew something was going on but not exactly what. Kit hoped that whatever it was, Alys was not involved. It was a huge conundrum and Kit spent plenty of time putting together the clues.
Lord of Deception was a little more specific setting than most Dragonblade offerings. Elizabeth appeared in it, for one. She was actually a sympathetic character who liked Kit, despite the fact he had not behaved as a gentlemen should. He was also very smart and totally loyal. Alys was as well, but she was a creature from the country, not used to the ways of court and the ways of spies and those people working against the queen. It was a good mystery as well as a good romance. There was plenty of angst as well as deceit and betrayal and several plots, which almost succeeded. It was enjoyable read; one which I recommend highly.
I was invited to read an ARC of The Lord of Deception by Dragonblade, through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #lordofdeception
This is an interesting and refreshing book to experience. Elizabeth Keysian has brought us into the Tudor era with her wonderful descriptions and her choice of dialect. There are spies, romance, a spiteful cousin and of course mystery. As your knowledge of the characters grow, one becomes hopeful that Alys; the poor relation is not ruined by her spiteful cousin, that she must live with. The new gardener is the most handsome man nothing like a gardener should be. But Kit, has been banished from the Queen’s court, only to find treachery and deception among members of the peerage that have turned against the Queen. Alys and Kit end up in the middle of the plot and must survive to save the Queen. A great mystery makes this a page turner.
This is such a thrilling read. I’m a fan of historical fiction, add spies, romance, and mystery into the mix, and it becomes perfect. The story flows so beautifully and I love the conclusion as well. This is not an everyday kind of historical romance because there is so much more going on between these pages. I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for an entertaining read. As far as I’m concerned, this book is perfection.
Kit is on a mission, posing as a gardener but his real job is to find out more about the two ladies of the house. One or both of them might be traitors to their Queen and it is his duty to find out the truth. However, he likes Alys and hopes that she has nothing to do with what her cousin is planning. Otherwise he will find it very difficult to fulfill his task well.
There is something strange about the gardener or so Alys thinks. Not only that the man is exceptionally hot but also he has an air of authority which is not found in people of his station. She fears that she might be falling for him. And wonders if she will be able to resist his charm or not.
Soon the two are knee deep in conspiracy and have no time for romance. But once the dust settles, things might work out in their favor or maybe their romance is doomed from the very start.
This is one hell of a page-turner. Once I started reading, I couldn’t get enough of these amazing characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this stories and I hope that others do too.
A fast-paced Elizabethan romance that keeps the reader enthralled from the beginning to the entertaining conclusion, this well-written novel encompasses suspense, espionage, and treachery as the main characters strive to discover who is behind the threat to the Crown. Hiding behind the facade of a gardener, Kit sees and discerns the events unfolding in the Selwood Manor, including the cruel manipulation of kind-hearted Alys Barchard by her spiteful cousin. Even whilst he suspects that Alys may be part of the plot, each encounter with her stirs his heart and he finds himself becoming attracted to the resourceful lady. When Alys figures out the truth about Kit for herself, he has no choice but to start involving her in his mission, but when circumstances go beyond their immediate control, Kit realises that he has put Alys in danger. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I am definitely going to look out for more of her books as I found it witty and entertaining, as well as romantic. I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Alys Barchard had lost everything and now lived with her cousin who treated her no better than a servant. Kate Aspinall was her cousin and a widow. But she got Jealous easily and Alys knew that she would end up a spinster. She had just spent months on her embroidered pocket and Kate wanted it.
She forced Alys into a ridiculous bet that she could kiss the new gardener before her and she would get the pocket. Alys could not, yes, he was handsome, tall, long fingers, but he was a servant.
Sir Christopher Ludlow was not at all what he seemed. He was being punished by the Queen one of the Ladies at court accused him of something and this was his punishment. He had to work with the spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham.
It is engrossing and well written. The characters are realistic in the portrayal of the personality of the cast. It is wonderful reading their shenanigans. There are some surprises along the way to add to the entertainment aspect of this book. It is difficult to put down but there is so much you want to interpret. I loved the way they came to their first kiss. She had fallen from her horse and he picked her up, took her to a gardener’s hut to clean her wounds. I highly recommend this excellent story.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it. Really lovely.
Lord of Deception
Trysts and Treachery Series #1
Elizabeth Keysian
https://www.facebook.com/LizKeysian/
Release date 06/23/2020
Publisher Dragonblade Publishing
Blurb :
He thinks she’s a traitor to her queen. She thinks he’s just a gardener.
Dive into this new Tudor Historical Romance series Trysts and Treachery by the award winning Elizabeth Keysian. Read for Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Despised by the cousin with whom she’s forced to live, the lonely but determined Alys craves escape. The most dangerous thing she could do is fall in love. Especially when the man who tempts her is Kit Ludlow, an exiled nobleman in disguise. Becoming involved in his secret mission proves more perilous than Alys could possibly have imagined.
Kit has been banished from Queen Elizabeth’s court, and the last thing he wants is to entangle Alys in his web of treachery and deception. It would also be folly to fall in love with her when he can’t be sure where her loyalties lie.
After helping Kit foil a plot against the queen, Alys’ life is at risk from her cousin’s nefarious schemes. Estranged from Kit, she’s forced to make a desperate decision.
Should she protect her family, or follow the demands of her heart?
My review :
Will the web of deceit surrounding her distort her opinion and bring her on the wrong trail …
I do think it is my first Tudor set romance, and while I loved to learn about the period, the heroine is far from my favorite.
While her cousin is a shrew, Alys is meek, prude and judgmental. And instead of standing against her cousin she brings her wrath on the weakest because it is the easy path.
And her misplaced sense of loyalty to someone who faulted her was nearly my undoing, when she can’t trust the one man who rescued her.
Yet she also proved she could be resourceful and inventive when needed.
But each time, her narrow mind made her step back instead of going forward.
Kit was my champion, here is an honorable man. He is fun, full of sass and courageous.
What he sees in Alys is a mystery. Sure she is a hard worker, but she tends to believe others than him when he had done nothing.
She vilipends her cousin for her sins yet she acts the jealous woman at many occasions.
What a contradictory and gullible character. She was not deserving of Kit’s love.
Yet, with one last twist, I saw coming, that she ran eagerly straight in, she finally understands the wrongness of her deeds, and the errors of her way.
But it not be too late?
So while the heroine is not someone I came to like, I would recommend this book for its honorable hero and the insight of Queen Bess court’s life, I loved this part of the story. Kit’s relationship with the Queen is one to experience and enjoy.
Thus my 3.5 rate rounded up to 4 stars.
I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/642099283045913/?d=n
Alys is the poor relation living at her widowed cousin’s home. She is more or less the housekeeper, making sure her cousin and her guests are well looked after. What she doesn’t know is why the gentlemen seem to act as if it’s their own home.
Kit is the new gardener but he doesn’t always act like one. There are a lot of secrets in this home, most of them deadly. Just who are the real villains??
This is an Elizabethen romantic suspense with danger and treachery on every page. There are so many twists and turns you almost get dizzy.
It made a nice change to visit this historical period. The court of Elizabeth the first was very full of intrigue, so it makes an ideal setting for this story.
I loved it.
Nice debut for a new series! 4 stars
Lord of Deception is my fist book by Elizabeth Keysian, and I found it was very good . It’s the first story in her new series ‘Trysts and Treachery’.
Kit is a nobleman and spy disguised who thinks she’s a traitor to her queen. Alys thinks he’s just a gardener. I have to say that the heroine Alys is hard to like at first, but she fully understands what is going on, she’ll be more pleasant. Her words could be harsh sometimes, however Kit, being a gentleman, will be very patient with her. Despised by the cousin with whom she’s forced to live, only drams of escaping! Kit may come to her rescue with his espionage adventures! They embark on a journey of twists and turns!
“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dragonblade Publishing Group and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”