Ascending

AscendingRoyalty Series Book #1NICOLE PYLANDPYLAND PUBLISHING LLC Copyright © 2022 Nicole PylandAll rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.ISBN-13: 979-8-88696-007-5 AscendingRoyalty Series Book 1 Growing up fifth in line for the throne, Elizabeth never thought she would have to rule the small island nation of St. Rais. When a plot to take down the monarchy also takes her entire family from her, Elizabeth is thrust into the role of reluctant Queen. Not only did she lose most of her family, but she also lost the only love she’d ever known.Palmer Honeycutt, a reporter for a popular New York City newspaper, was on vacation in a country nearly no one had heard of before. A deal she’d gotten at the relaxing resort and spa had been just what she’d needed. Little did she know that while she was trying to relax, the whole royal family would nearly be lost to tragedy, and a young Queen would present her a perfect story.Both women approach their new relationship cautiously at first, but it doesn’t take long for Palmer to start wishing the new Queen was someone she could spend more time with. Elizabeth also seems to have a lot of time for Palmer, which only confuses Palmer more.After all Elizabeth has lost and what she’s willing to give up for her country, is she also willing to risk it all to possibly find love again in an American reporter who’s been there for her during the toughest part of her life? To contact the author or for any additional information,visit: https://nicolepyland.comYou can also subscribe to the reader’s newsletter to be the first to receive updates about upcoming books and more:https://nicolepyland.com/newsletter By the AuthorChicago Series:• Introduction – Fresh Start• Book #1 – The Best Lines• Book #2 – Just Tell Her• Book #3 – Love Walked into The Lantern• Series Finale – What Happened AfterSan Francisco Series:• Book #1 – Checking the Right Box• Book #2 – Macon’s Heart• Book #3 – This Above All• Series Finale – What Happened AfterTahoe Series:• Book #1 – Keep Tahoe Blue• Book #2 – Time of Day• Book #3 – The Perfect View• Book #4 – Begin Again• Series Finale – What Happened AfterBoston Series:• Book #1 – Let Go• Book #2 – The Right Fit• Book #3 – All Good Plans• Book #4 – Around the World• Series Finale – What Happened AfterSports Series:• Book #1 – Always More• Book #2 – A Shot at Gold• Book #3 – The Unexpected Dream• Book #4 – Finding a KeeperCelebrities Series:• Book #1 – No After You• Book #2 – All the Love Songs• Book #3 – Midnight Tradition• Book #4 – Path Forward• Series Finale – What Happened AfterHoliday Series:• Book #1 – The Writing on the Wall• Book #2 – The Block Party• Book #3 – The Fireworks• Book #4 – The Sweet Escape• Book #5 – The Misperception• Book #6 – The Wait is Over• Series Finale – What Happened AfterFire Universe:• Book #1 – The Fire• Book #2 – The DisappearedStand-alone books:• Reality Check• The Show Must Go On• Future WifeYoung Adult / New Adult:• The Moments• Love Forged• Pride FestivalAnthology:• The Meet Cute Café (a collection of 8 interconnected love stories featuring couples of different ages and backgrounds)Erotica:• Once a Month Contents Title PageCopyrightAscendingBy the AuthorPROLOGUECHAPTER 1CHAPTER 2CHAPTER 3CHAPTER 4CHAPTER 5CHAPTER 6CHAPTER 7CHAPTER 8CHAPTER 9CHAPTER 10CHAPTER 11CHAPTER 12CHAPTER 13CHAPTER 14CHAPTER 15CHAPTER 16CHAPTER 17CHAPTER 18CHAPTER 19CHAPTER 20CHAPTER 21CHAPTER 22CHAPTER 23CHAPTER 24CHAPTER 25CHAPTER 26CHAPTER 27CHAPTER 28CHAPTER 29CHAPTER 30CHAPTER 31CHAPTER 32CHAPTER 33CHAPTER 34CHAPTER 35CHAPTER 36CHAPTER 37CHAPTER 38CHAPTER 39CHAPTER 40CHAPTER 41CHAPTER 42CHAPTER 43CHAPTER 44EPILOGUENext in seriesBy the AuthorAfterwordAbout The Author PROLOGUE“Victoria, will you sit down already? We’re landing soon,” Elizabeth told her sister.“Oh, my apologies. Are you the pilot now? No, you’re my pain-in-the-ass, older sister.” Victoria flopped into the empty luxury seat next to her. “Do you think Father will approve?”“He hasn’t met him yet.”“You have.” Victoria turned her head toward Elizabeth as she buckled her seatbelt. “That’s what this little mission was all about. Your opinion is important. If you sign off, Daddy will meet him next.”“You know you don’t actually need his permission, right? That’s just an old custom,” Elizabeth replied.“Please. It is not just an old custom; it’s the law.”“That literally no one cares about anymore,” Elizabeth added.“Stop stalling and tell me what you think about David, Lizzy.”“You really love him, don’t you?”Victoria’s eyes brightened as she said, “I do. I want to marry him. I know I’m only twenty-three, and Father said he wants me to wait a bit, but David and I have already been together for a year. Father hasn’t even met him.”“He is pretty busy,” Elizabeth reminded.“He met both of our brothers’ girlfriends by the time they’d been together for only three months.”“They’re a little more important than us, though, aren’t they? You know that,” Elizabeth told her sister.“Alex is a little less important now, isn’t he?” Victoria argued. “Martin has Edwina and Anthony, so Alex is off the hook,” she added, speaking about her two brothers and the oldest, Martin’s, two children.“I suppose that’s true,” Elizabeth laughed.The private secretary she and Victoria shared approached them with an ashen-white face and an expression that told Elizabeth the woman was either about to be ill from the slight turbulence of the aircraft or that something terrible had happened. Elizabeth hoped it was just the turbulence. Then again, she supposed, it could be both. The secretary stood over the two of them and attempted to gather herself.“Your Royal Highness, Princess,” she greeted both of them. “I am afraid I must inform you of something I am quite unprepared for.”“Rebecca, what’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked, sitting up fully