The Beggar Queen by Kelly Evans

 This must be the original rags to riches saga. Captured in a raid in England during the 7th Century, Bathilde is sold into slavery in what is now France. When she captures the attention of the young king, everything changes. This woman would become Queen and would see the unification of France and influence the policies and politics of the country. This is the incredible and true story of a strong yet gentle woman and what she could accomplish in her lifetime.

The author brings this era to life with all its splendor, cruelty, and nobility. Her research and attention to detail allows the reader to travel to this harsh yet breathtaking era through this incredible time capsule. Fans of Ken Follett’s Pillar of the Earth series will fall in love with this tale.