Nancy Bilyeau

Dreamland

For Genevieve Planché, an English-born descendant of huguenot refugees, porcelain holds far less allure; she wants to be an artist, a painter of interational repute, but nobody takes the idea of a female artist seriously in London. If only she could reach Venice. Sir Gabriel Courtenay offers her an opportunity she can't refuse; if she learns the secrets of porcelain manufacture, he will send her to Venice. But in particular, she must learn the secrets of the color blue... -- adapted from publisher.

The Blue

Leaving her Dominican Order to stand by a cousin who has been condemned to death by Henry VIII, novice Joanna Stafford and her father are arrested and ordered by the Bishop of Winchester to recover a religious artifact believed to hold a sacred power.

The Crown

In sixteenth century England, Joanna Stafford matches wits against powerful men when she is caught up in a shadowy plot targeting Henry VIII.

A Novel

The Chalice

A sequel to Nancy Bilyeau's The Blue, The Fugitive Colours again reveals a dazzling world of glamour and treachery in Georgian England, when beauty held more value than human life.

The Fugitive Colours

After her priory in Dartford is closed-collateral damage in tyrannical King Henry VIII's quest to overthrow the Catholic Church-Joanna resolves to live a quiet and honorable life weaving tapestries, shunning dangerous quests and conspiracies. Until she is summoned to Whitehall Palace, where her tapestry weaving has drawn the King's attention. Joanna is uncomfortable serving the King whom she has twice attempted to overthrow-unbeknownst to him. She fears for her life in a court bursting with hidden agendas and a casual disregard for the virtues she holds dear. And her suspicions are confirmed when an assassin attempts to kill her moments after arriving at Whitehall. Struggling to stay ahead of her most formidable enemy yet, an unknown one, she becomes entangled in dangerous court politics. Her dear friend Catherine Howard is rumored to be one of the King's mistresses. Joanna is determined to protect young, beautiful, naïve Catherine from becoming the King's next wife and possibly, victim. Set in a world of royal banquets and feasts, tournament jousts, ship voyages, and Tower Hill executions, this thrilling tale finds Joanna in her most dangerous situation yet, as she attempts to decide the life she wants to live: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. Joanna must finally choose her fate.

The Tapestry

New York City, 1923. A young widow named Zia De Luca finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, but to bring the killer to justice, she'll have to beat notorious racketeers Arnold Rothstein and Lucky Luciano at their own game.

The Orchid Hour

"The next page-turner in the award-winning Joanna Stafford series takes place in the heart of the Tudor court, as the gutsy former novice risks everything to defy the most powerful men of her era. After her priory in Dartford is closed--collateral damage in tyrannical King Henry VIII's quest to overthrow the Catholic Church--Joanna resolves to live a quiet and honorable life weaving tapestries, shunning dangerous quests and conspiracies. Until she is summoned to Whitehall Palace, where her tapestry weaving has drawn the King's attention. Joanna is uncomfortable serving the King whom she has twice attempted to overthrow--unbeknownst to him. She fears for her life in a court bursting with hidden agendas and a casual disregard for the virtues she holds dear. And her suspicions are confirmed when an assassin attempts to kill her moments after arriving at Whitehall. Struggling to stay ahead of her most formidable enemy yet, an unknown one, she becomes entangled in dangerous court politics. Her dear friend Catherine Howard is rumored to be one of the King's mistresses. Joanna is determined to protect young, beautiful, naive Catherine from becoming the King's next wife and possibly, victim. Set in a world of royal banquets and feasts, tournament jousts, ship voyages, and Tower Hill executions, this thrilling tale finds Joanna in her most dangerous situation yet, as she attempts to decide the life she wants to live: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. Joanna must finally choose her fate"--

The tapestry

From the author of The Blue and the Joanna Stafford trilogy--a compelling mystery set in the faded glory of New York's Gilded Age. In this unforgettable story, bestselling author Nancy Bilyeau takes readers to J. P. Morgan's private library in December 1912, when two very different people haunted by lost love come together in an unexpected way. Helen O'Neill, part of a tight-knit Irish-American family in the Bronx, is only too happy to report to work at the spectacular private library built on Madison Avenue by millionaire financier J. P. Morgan. The head librarian, the brilliant and beautiful Belle da Costa Greene, had hired Helen away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after she witnessed Helen's unusual talent with handling artifacts. Helen soon discovers the Morgan Library is a place like no other, with its secret staircases, magical manuscripts, and mysterious murals. But that's nothing compared to a person Helen alone sees: a young woman standing on Madison Avenue, looking as if she were keeping watch. In learning the woman's true link to the Morgan, Helen must face the pain of her own past. She finds herself with a second chance at happiness--if she has the courage. From the author of The Blue, the Joanna Stafford trilogy, and the soon-to-be published Dreamland, set in 1911 Coney Island, comes The Ghost of Madison Avenue, a story both thrilling and moving. Praise for Nancy Bilyeau's Fiction "Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books" --Alison Weir, bestselling historian and novelist On The Ghost of Madison Avenue: "The Gilded Age splendors of the Morgan Library come to life in this wonderful, warm-hearted tale of Christmases past, present, and future. Bilyeau weaves a wealth of gorgeous period detail into her ghost story of old New York, delivering genuine chills, family drama, and poignant romance with equal skill. A gorgeous holiday treat!" --Mariah Fredericks, author of Death of a New American On Dreamland: "This fast-paced, engrossing novel from Bilyeau ... gives readers an up-close and personal view of New York's Gilded Age" --Library Journal, starred review "Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Dreamland is a rollicking ride." --Fiona Davis, author of The Chelsea Girls "A marvelous book!" --Ellen Marie Wiseman, author of What She Left Behind On The Blue: "Definitely a winner!" --Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network "Fascinating" --Ian Rankin, international bestseller On the Joanna Stafford Trilogy: "All the ingredients of the best historical fiction ... will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans." --Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches "Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy and betrayal." --Oprah Magazine

A Novella

The Ghost of Madison Avenue

In the midst of England’s Reformation, a young novice will risk everything to defy the most powerful men of her era. In 1538, England’s bloody power struggle between crown and cross threatens to tear the country apart. Novice Joanna Stafford has tasted the wrath of the royal court, discovered what lies within the king’s torture rooms, and escaped death at the hands of those desperate to possess the power of an ancient relic. Even with all she has experienced, the quiet life is not for Joanna. Despite the possibilities of arrest and imprisonment, she becomes caught up in a shadowy international plot targeting Henry VIII himself. As the power plays turn vicious, Joanna realizes her role is more critical than she’d ever imagined. She must choose between those she loves most and assuming her part in a prophecy foretold by three seers. Repelled by violence, Joanna seizes a future with a man who loves her. But no matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape the spreading darkness of her destiny. To learn the final, sinister piece of the prophecy, she flees across Europe with a corrupt spy sent by Spain. As she completes the puzzle in the dungeon of a twelfth-century Belgian fortress, Joanna realizes the life of Henry VIII as well as the future of Christendom are in her hands—hands that must someday hold the chalice that lies at the center of these deadly prophecies. . . .

L'ultimo velo

In eighteenth century London, porcelain is the most seductive of commodities; fortunes are made and lost upon it. Kings do battle with knights and knaves for possession of the finest pieces and the secrets of their manufacture. For Genevieve Planché, an English-born descendant of Huguenot refugees, porcelain holds far less allure; she wants to be an artist, a painter of interational repute, but nobody takes the idea of a female artist seriously in London. If only she could reach Venice. Sir Gabriel Courtenay offers her an opportunity she can't refuse; if she learns the secrets of porcelain manufacture, he will send her to Venice. But in particular, she must learn the secrets of the color blue... The ensuing events take Genevieve deep into England's emerging industrial heartlands, where not only does she learn about porcelain, but also about the art of industrial espionage. With the heart and spirit of her Huguenot ancestors, Genevieve faces her challenges head on, but how much is she willing to suffer in pursuit and protection of the colour blue? -- adapted from publisher.

Nancy Bilyeau

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