{WATTYS 2020 WINNER} {FEATURED BOOK} Paris, 1663. 500 girls selected by King Louis XIV embark on a journey across the seas from their homeland. Each is given a dowry, and the expectation that they are to marry a French settler, in order to increase the population of New France. They are the historic Daughters of the King, or "les filles du roi." Eighteen-year-old Celeste Dubois is a free-spirited, educated and headstrong girl. She comes from a wealthy Parisian family that has squandered their money and is subsequently forced to journey to New France. However, Celeste doesn't plan on marrying a complete stranger. She hopes to use the dowry and the free voyage as a way to escape the poverty and social ranks of Paris. Matters are complicated when against her will, she falls in love. Romantic, kind and stunningly beautiful Lorraine Leblanc is a girl from a large family with children to spare. Unlike Celeste, she happily dreams of the day she will meet her future husband in New France. When she marries a mysterious widower with two young children of his own and still reeling after his broken heart, she realizes that married life isn't all she had hoped it would be, and begins to question her new husband's complicated past. - Wattpad Picks Blast to the Future Past list 2018 - The 50 Best Wattpad Stories of 2018/19 by Design Wizard - 2018 Youngblood Awards Winner (Romance) - 2018 True North Awards 2nd place for Historical Fiction and 2nd place Truly Canadian special category award - Featured by Wattpad Historical Fiction profile under Kings, Courtships and Empires, Young Adult Fiction profile under Love, Actually and Romance profile under Time will Tell *Please be aware that since this book covers the colonial period, it does contain sensitive themes of racism and violence that readers will find disturbing. There are resources at the back of the book that prompt further learning in the Historical Notes section.*

{EDITORS' CHOICE} {MAFIA ROMANCE} New York, 1954. Pamela Kelly gets an exciting job as a salesgirl. But there is a dark side to the glittering lights and fashions of New York City, complete with corruption, threats and La Cosa Nostra: an intricate and organized crime system run by the Italian American mafia. Suddenly, Pamela discovers herself in a world she barely knew existed, and worse still, her life becomes lethally intertwined with some of the most powerful mobsters in New York City. Pamela must fight her growing feelings for a particular charming mobster, as she challenges her ideas of what justice and love really are. Carlotta Mancini had a deceivingly happy childhood. Upon discovering her father is the most powerful mob boss in Brooklyn, her life changes dramatically. She finds herself profoundly disturbed by the violence surrounding her and yet cannot escape without risking her own life. What will happen when she attempts to run away with Tony Bellucci, one of her father's junior soldiers, and a man who is strictly off limits to her? Follow these women as they attempt to fight one of the greatest injustices of their time. Featured by Wattpad Detective and Crime profile under 'Like a Woman' Featured by Wattpad Historical Romance profile under 'Decades Fiction' Featured by Wattpad Dangerous Love profile under 'Feature Dangerous Love' Featured by Wattpad New Adult profile under 'There's Only One Bed | Romance' Featured by Wattpad Spiritual profile under 'Heart to Heart' Featured by Wattpad General Fiction profile under 'Finding Love | Romance' Featured by Wattpad Stories Undiscovered profile under the November reading list 'Mega Mashup' First place winner in General Fiction 2019 Glinting Quartz Awards! First place winner in Historical Fiction 2020 Glossy Awards! April 2021 Wattpad Editor's Pick! Between 80,000 and 90,000 words Some of the chapter titles are derived from popular 1950s song titles.

1334, Toulouse, Kingdom of France. Orphaned as a young child, Catherine Vimont dreams of nothing but the adventure and romance described in songs and stories. Confined to the walls of her manor, she resigns herself to the dull life of a laundress, guarding her dreams in secret and pining after her young master. When a storm ravages the manor and her young mistress perishes, a twist of fate propels Catherine into a position of royalty, one in which she is betrothed to the heir to the French throne. When one side of the royal family attempts to violently depose Catherine's new husband and spreads malicious rumours about her true identity, she must rise above the treachery and politics of the court, transforming from a meek peasant girl to the Queen of France.

Paris, 1940. As the Germans invade her beloved city of Paris, aspiring jazz singer Vivienne Dumont leaves everything behind for her family's summer villa in the charming seaside town of Bordeaux. Instead of finding refuge, Vivienne is forced to assume a new identity when Nazi troops encroach upon every corner of her home country. Hiding her Jewish heritage, Vivienne is swept into the upper echelons of Nazi high society, thwarting the romantic advances of a malevolent German officer as she attempts to survive. When given the opportunity, Vivienne risks everything to hide other refugees in plain sight under the guise of operating a quaint hotel from her summer home.

Paris, 1942. In one day, everything can change. That's what happened to Yvonne Bloch as she and her Jewish family are forced from their apartment and into a former Parisian racetrack to await their fates. *Based on true historical events.*

When Helene Lovell finds herself a penniless orphan, she is swept into the world of manners, money, and etiquette, where her cruel Aunt Lady Dorothea is the ringmaster, and never ceases to remind her of her burdensome existence. The only consolation is Henry, who shows Helene friendship and kindness in a place of sadness. Fast-forward a few years, where grown-up Henry and Helene meet again, but Helene must battle her ever growing feelings for him. As she stays as a guest at Henry's families residence, she is unwittingly submerged into the middle of family drama, tragedy, and love. Will Helene be able to overcome her social position, shyness and rank and follow her heart, or simply conform to what is expected of her? ~Dedicated to my grandma, who recently passed away but was the best story teller I knew~ UPDATE: I wrote this book a few years ago on a whim, and also to help distract me from the grief of losing my grandma. As such, it is very unedited! I am leaving it up because it was my first book on Wattpad, and came straight from my heart. I don't really plan on editing it so I am sorry if you notice any errors/holes/mistakes, but hope you can enjoy it in its very rough and unpolished form nonetheless :-)