There's a war coming, and Wren Aisling is at the center of it.
Wren's deepest desire is to fall in love, marry, and raise a happy family like her adoring parents. Her prospects are meager, given her father's minimal income and stature, but she has hope, prayer, and copious love in her heart. What her future holds, though, is more than Wren ever could have imagined.
The kingdom of Willowspire has been cursed-their former king promised death and destruction would fall upon Willowspire for their role in his son's death. But when a mysterious stag shows Wren glimpses of the future, she begins to realize the story about their kingdom doesn't quite add up.
Jude O'Ryan knows his place is not to fall in love with his employer's daughter, especially when he harbors secrets that would put his head on a chopping block, but he can't help himself. Destined for a fate worse than death, he follows Wren into the depths of despair to save their kingdom from the curse of The Wild.
Prince Cavalarius Alsandair is sick of being sick, but he cannot escape his torturous, humiliating illness no matter how far or fast he might run. His people hate him for his weakness, and prospects for marriage are nonexistent, bringing further shame to his family name. But his heart is wild and free, and all it takes is one chance encounter to change everything.
Wren, Jude, and Cavalarius's worlds collide as they try to save Willowspire from certain death and to set right all that went wrong long before their time. However, among all the startling discoveries and the lies they uncover stands one undeniable truth: It was never their fight at all.
M. J. Padgett is first and foremost a mom. Her free-spirited kindergartener has quite the vivid imagination, and her antics sometimes find their way into her mommy's work. She is a lover of all things chocolate, a Grimm and Dickens addict, a self-proclaimed smarty-pants, and an introvert to the core.
Writing is her true passion (after raising her daughter, of course), and she writes as often as possible. One of her favorite things about writing is creating a world where people can escape reality for a little while, maybe even walk away feeling hopeful about the real world around them. When it comes to reading, she loves a book that can make her forget where she is no matter the genre. If she can get lost and feel like the characters are her real friends, she's a happy reader.
