Frustrated by societal restrictions that prohibit women from writing for the stage, three late 16th century women from different classes band together in secret to write plays and hire a footloose actor called Will Shakespeare as their front man – all while navigating their complicated love lives.
Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, is the frustrated poet behind the work, while Emelia Bassano, a member of a family of court musicians, provides prose and the trove of information needed for the complex stories. However, it is the odd, lightly educated but imaginative seamstress, Jane Daggett, who spins the fantastic plots. Their endeavor is fraught with peril, for only Queen Elizabeth is allowed to write rhetoric. She would surely consider the writing of plays by women as a challenge to her authority – and those who challenge the queen end up is prison or dead.
Behind the façade of their co-conspirator, Will Shakespeare, the women’s first plays take the London stage by storm. Their attempts to remain anonymous go awry when they come under the scrutiny of a vengeful anti-Catholic spy for the queen, who mistakes their clandestine efforts as a Catholic plot. As the plague buries its grip on London and the queen’s man closes in on the truth, the women are forced to choose between admitting what they are doing or delivering Jane to the Crown as a scapegoat – unless they can find a third way that preserves them all.

Available July 29, Currently Available for Pre-Order

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/787001/the-shakespeare-secret-by-d-j-nix/
https://books2read.com/theshakespearesecret

Where You Can Find David

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⚔️ Timeless Romance, Modern Giveaway Alert! ⚔️

To celebrate the Historical Romance Day, I’m hosting a special giveaway! One lucky reader will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card 📚✨

How to Enter:

1. Comment below with your favorite historical romance trope. 😉
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The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Friday, March 7.  Don’t miss out on your chance to dive into a world of passion, intrigue, and unforgettable characters. 💖

Good luck, and happy reading! 📖💕