Crown of Tremontane

Alison Quinn, Countess of Waxwold, is content with her bookish life-until she's summoned to be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of Tremontane's mother for six months. Even the prospect of access to the Royal Library doesn't seem enough to make up for her sacrifice, but Alison is prepared to do her service to the Crown. What she's not prepared for is Prince Anthony North, Queen Zara's playboy brother, who's accustomed to getting what he wants-including the Countess of Waxwold.When the fallout from an unfortunate public encounter throws the two of them together, Alison has no interest in becoming the Prince's next conquest. But as the weeks pass, Alison discovers there's more to Anthony than she-or he-realized, and their dislike becomes friendship, and then something more-until disaster drives Alison away, swearing never to return.Then Alison is summoned by the Queen again, this time to serve as Royal Librarian. A threat to Tremontane's government, with her treasured Library at stake, draws Alison into the conflict…and into contact with Anthony once more. Can they work together to save the Royal Library and Tremontane? And can she open her heart to love again? Melissa McShane is the author of the novels of Tremontane, beginning with SERVANT OF THE CROWN, the Extraordinaries series beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, the Last Oracle series beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS, and COMPANY OF STRANGERS, first in the series of the same title. She lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one niece, and three very needy cats. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have. The story of the remarkable women of the North family, rulers of the fantasy kingdom of Tremontane.

Imogen, warrior of the Kirkellan tribes, has never wanted to be anything else. But when the long war between the Kirkellan and the country of Ruskald ends, the terms of the peace treaty require Imogen to be married to the vicious King of Ruskald for five years. Confined to his freezing city, forbidden to fight, Imogen sees nothing but darkness in her future-until the arrival of Elspeth North, heir to the Crown of Tremontane, brings three countries to the brink of war and sets Imogen free.Now, sent to be the ambassador of her people to Tremontane, Imogen faces new challenges as she struggles to maintain her warrior's identity in a world of glittering ballrooms and foreign customs. As a diplomat, Imogen discovers skills she never knew she had-as well as a forbidden attraction to the handsome and charismatic King Jeffrey North. But when war once again threatens not only Tremontane but her own people, Imogen must decide: is she the warrior, the diplomat-or something greater? Melissa McShane is the author of the novels of Tremontane, beginning with SERVANT OF THE CROWN, the Extraordinaries series beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, the Last Oracle series beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS, and COMPANY OF STRANGERS, first in the series of the same title. She lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one niece, and three very needy cats. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have. The story of the remarkable women of the North family, rulers of the fantasy kingdom of Tremontane.

Telaine North Hunter, Princess of Tremontane, is beautiful, spoiled, flirtatious, and the center of fashionable society throughout Tremontane.She's also a spy.As an agent of the Crown, Telaine uses her high society connections to gather information for her uncle, King Jeffrey. But when an overheard conversation reveals a sinister plot centered on the Baron of Steepridge, Telaine must pose as a common Deviser in the distant frontier town of Longbourne to uncover the truth.Fresh from her glittering world of the palace, Telaine is completely unprepared for rural life. She must conceal her identity not only from the townspeople, but from the suspicious, corrupt Baron as well. Her only assistance comes from Mistress Weaver, a local woman with an agenda of her own, and Ben, the handsome young blacksmith who reaches out a hand of friendship when others turn away.As the days pass with no success in sight, Telaine's pretense becomes real, and her growing attachment to Longbourne and its people comes into conflict with her mission. She can't keep up the lie forever, but when the truth comes out, will she face it as the Princess-or as an agent of the Crown? Melissa McShane is the author of the novels of Tremontane, beginning with SERVANT OF THE CROWN, the Extraordinaries series beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, the Last Oracle series beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS, and COMPANY OF STRANGERS, first in the series of the same title. She lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one niece, and three very needy cats. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have. The story of the remarkable women of the North family, rulers of the fantasy kingdom of Tremontane.

Zara North, Queen of Tremontane, has the ability to unconsciously heal herself-a magic that also keeps her from aging. Faced with the reality that public knowledge of her magic could destroy her family's dynasty and cost them the Crown, she faked her own death and set out to make a new life for herself, far from the capital and the family she loved. Never settling anywhere for long, Zara became an exile in her own country.Now, sixty years after her "death," Zara's ageless face forces her to leave her home yet again. Wanting something different from the quiet life she led for decades, she sets sail for the distant continent of Dineh-Karit, reclusive and alien. When unexpected catastrophe strikes, it strands Zara and a handful of her fellow voyagers in the jungles of Dineh-Karit. Far from civilization, their only guide a reluctant Tremontanan expatriate who has his own reasons for being there, the castaways struggle for survival and to return home.But Zara, entrusted with a secret by a dying man, finds herself caught between the woman she has become and the Queen she used to be. As an implacable enemy bent on retrieving the secret-a mysterious magical object-draws ever closer, Zara realizes her companions' survival depends on Zara's ability to lead them as she once did a nation. With an identity and a magical secret she still cannot reveal, Zara discovers depths in herself she thought were long gone-and gains a future she never expected. Melissa McShane is the author of the novels of Tremontane, beginning with SERVANT OF THE CROWN, the Extraordinaries series beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, the Last Oracle series beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS, and COMPANY OF STRANGERS, first in the series of the same title. She lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one niece, and three very needy cats. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have. The story of the remarkable women of the North family, rulers of the fantasy kingdom of Tremontane.

For the first time, all four Crown of Tremontane novels in one collection, PLUS the complete novella Exile of the Crown!SERVANT OF THE CROWN: Alison Quinn, Countess of Waxwold, content with her bookish life, never expected her world to collide with the playboy Prince Anthony North, but their initial animosity turns into friendship--and then something more. When catastrophe strikes, Alison must find a way to save her beloved Royal Library...and regain something she thought was lost forever.EXILE OF THE CROWN: Four stories about the life of the deathless Zara North, former Queen of Tremontane, as she finds friendship and love after sacrificing her throne.RIDER OF THE CROWN: Imogen, warrior of the Kirkellan, never wanted to be anything else, but the demands of war, politics, and even love force her to reach beyond what she was trained to do in the hope of an even more wonderful future.AGENT OF THE CROWN: Telaine North Hunter, Princess of Tremontane, is giddy, flirtatious, and fun-loving. She's also a spy. When her uncle the King sends her to a distant frontier village to investigate a corrupt Baron, Telaine discovers depths to herself she never imagined were there.VOYAGER OF THE CROWN: Sixty years after discovering the magical talent that prevents her from aging, Zara North sets off on an adventure--and gets more than she bargained for.

Where THE CROWN OF TREMONTANE and THE SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH leave off, TALES OF THE CROWN begins...This spoiler-filled companion volume to the Tremontane novels contains stories, novellas, scenes, and excerpts that never made it into the books! Here you will find: Four new short stories revealing details of the lives of Willow, Zara, Telaine, and others Half a dozen scenes from the books, retold from other characters' points of view. An alternate version of Rider of the Crown, told from Jeffrey North's perspective The complete text of the four-part novella Exile of the Crown The short stories "Long Live the Queen" and "Night Be My Guardian," previously published in Servant of the Crown and Agent of the Crown The Tremontane Encyclopedia, with background information on the geography, history, and customs of the world of Tremontane. When you've read the novels of Tremontane, pick up TALES OF THE CROWN for an enhanced reading experience!