France, 1682. Louis XIV, the Sun King, is at the height of his power. The court at Versailles is a paradise for privileged young women.

Jeanne Yvette Mas Du Bois is unlike most other courtiers: her thirst for knowledge often incurs her father's brutal wrath. But her uncle encourages Jeanne's independence, secretly teaching her fencing in the palace's labyrinthine basement. When two of the king's Musketeers are beset by criminals, mere feet from Jeanne's fencing lesson, she intervenes and saves one of the Musketeers' lives.

Hidden behind her mask, Jeanne is mistaken for a man. As “Jean Luc,” she is admitted to an inner circle where she learns of an assassination plot against the Queen. As Jean Luc, she is permitted to bring her intelligence and swordsmanship to bear. And as Jean Luc, she is free to love the man of her choosing… even if she can never have him.

With the Queen in jeopardy and her own double life making her privy to the tangled intrigues at court, Jeanne finds herself in a powerful, yet increasingly perilous position.

Brimming with lush period detail and vivid, unforgettable characters, The Courtier's Secret will take you into an intriguing world of pageantry, adventure, betrayals, and secrets.

“Russo Morin debuts with a novel as opulent and sparkling as Louis XIV’s court and as filled with intrigue, passion and excitement as a novel by Dumas…a feast for the senses.” -RT Book Review

The Competition