The Queen's Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire

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As the French Revolution devastates the country, Desiree Clary confronts the harsh reality that her beloved world has vanished, and it falls to her to protect her family from the guillotine. A chance meeting with the ambitious Napoleon Bonaparte offers her a glimmer of hope. When her sister Julie marries Napoleon's brother, their fates become intertwined. Their passionate courtship leads to a secret engagement, with plans to reunite in the capital after Napoleon's career is secured. However, Desiree's dreams are shattered when Josephine de Beauharnais emerges as a rival. Thrust into the glamorous circles of Parisian society, Desiree becomes enmeshed with Napoleon, his family, and the new Empress. Her fortunes shift again upon meeting Napoleon's confidant, General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. As the two men become political adversaries, Desiree faces a dilemma: choose between her new husband and her loyalty to the Emperor. From the opulent French Riviera to the bustling streets of Paris and Stockholm, Desiree navigates the complexities of a changing empire, evolving from an impressionable girl into a resilient woman. To survive, she learns to trust her instincts and her heart, ultimately shaping her destiny in a tumultuous era.