Karen Essex

"...now, from Mina's own pen, we discover that the story is vastly different when told from the female point of view." --inside front cover.

Isabelle d’Este, daughter of the Duke of Ferrara, born into privilege and the political and artistic turbulence of Renaissance Italy, is a stunning black-eyed blond and an art lover and collector. Worldly and ambitious, she has never envied her less attractive sister, the spirited but naïve Beatrice, until, by a quirk of fate, Beatrice is betrothed to the future Duke of Milan. Although he is more than twice their age, openly lives with...

High drama and ancient history combine in this novel of the early life of Egypt's infamous queen, at once a beautiful seductress, brilliant politician, and the most powerful ruler of her time.
Even as a child, Kleopatra demonstrates the charisma and intelligence that will ensure her destiny. During an Egyptian coup, she and the King are banished to the worldly capital of Rome, where she accepts the terms of her rightful ascent to power....