<p>&lt;b&gt;She was raised to be beautiful nothing more. And then the rules changed . . .&lt;/b&gt;&lt;P&gt;<br /><br />In icy Dasnaria rival realm to the Twelve Kingdoms a woman&rsquo;s role is to give pleasure produce heirs and question nothing. But a plot to overthrow the emperor depends on the fate of his eldest daughter. And the treachery at its heart will change more than one carefully limited life . . .<br />&nbsp;&lt;P&gt;<br />&lt;b&gt;The Gilded Cage&lt;/b&gt; &lt;P&gt;<br />Princess Jenna has been raised in supreme luxury&mdash;and ignorance. Within the sweet-scented golden confines of the palace seraglio she&rsquo;s never seen the sun or a man or even learned her numbers. But she&rsquo;s been schooled enough in the paths to a woman&rsquo;s power. When her betrothal is announced she&rsquo;s ready to begin the machinations that her mother promises will take Jenna from ornament to queen.<br />&nbsp;&lt;P&gt;<br />But the man named as Jenna&rsquo;s husband is no innocent to be cozened or prince to charm. He&rsquo;s a monster in human form and the horrors of life under his thumb are clear within moments of her wedding vows. If Jenna is to live she must somehow break free&mdash;and for one born to a soft prison the way to cold hard freedom will be a dangerous path indeed&hellip;<br />&nbsp;&lt;P&gt;&lt;b&gt;Praise for The Mark of the Tala&lt;/b&gt; &lt;P&gt;<br /><br />&ldquo;Magnificent&hellip;a richly detailed fantasy world.&rdquo;<br />&mdash;&lt;i&gt;RT Book Reviews&lt;/i&gt; 4&frac12; stars Top Pick<br />&nbsp;&lt;P&gt;<br />&ldquo;Well written and swooningly romantic.&rdquo;<br />&mdash;&lt;i&gt;Library Journal&lt;/i&gt; starred review<br />&nbsp;</p>