Prelude of Promise
The Gilded Age 1868-1878
Part of The Destiny Chronicles
About This Book
1868 New York City on the brink of change. As the Gilded Age dawns, the city is a powder keg of ambition, scandal, and staggering wealth. Railroad and industrial empires are on the rise, the fight for women’s suffrage is sparking controversy, and Fifth Avenue mansions are hallmarks of a new aristocracy.
When Lottie Villard married Emory Endicott, she never anticipated they would have eight children. As their offspring approach adulthood, Lottie’s elder sister, the indefatigable Duchesse Madeleine de Montault, arrives from Paris with her vast fortune and purchases side-by-side mansions near Madison Square—one for herself and twin sisters, spinsters Cora and Nora; the other for Lottie, Emory, and their large family.
Upon completing their education, the Endicott siblings settle in their new residence, unaware of the dangers inherent to New York City. Dark forces surround the family, who become embroiled in a variety of clandestine affairs, ambition, greed, and treachery among some of the most villainous and affluent people of 19th-century New England.
Tension arises at Emily Astor’s sixteen birthday party when sisters Emmelia and Araminta compete for the affection of banker Lex Wintervall, the most eligible and handsome bachelor in New York. In the years to come, each sibling’s life unfolds in drama: Stephen, a seminary graduate, debates whether to become a Methodist or Presbyterian minister. Lawyer Ben is sent on a mission to South America and returns with a wife who immediately incurs his mother’s disapproval and father’s high regard. Duchesse Madeleine founds the Eagle Eye Detective and Security Agency for twin nephews, Gaspar and Jaspar. Lottie resists sending Juliette, her youngest, to law school at Columbia College, and when daughter Cornelia falls pregnant, Lottie consults her knowledgeable stockbroker, Victoria Woodhull, an outspoken women’s vote activist. Even the Endicotts’ coachman, Zsoltan Nikolin, and their maid, Sophia Gulliver, hold secrets of their own, which threaten all they hold dear.
Prelude of Promise is a sweeping, multigenerational family saga that brings the glamour and grit of 1870s New York to life. The saga continues in Passing of Princes, where the adventure moves to London, featuring Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, before leading to the Tsar’s court in St. Petersburg. If you love immersive historical fiction, intricate family drama, and stories of strong female protagonists forging their own path, step into The Destiny Chronicles. This captivating tale is sure to immerse fans of Downton Abbey and Outlander in the drama of the Gilded Age.
As a child, Charlotte “Lottie” Villard came to America from provincial France, ward of her sisters. As a young woman, she marries attorney Emory Endicott, and they become parents of eight children.
When the children approach adulthood, the family settles in up-and-coming Manhattan, and Lottie’s elder sister, the indefatigable Duchess Madeleine de Montault, arrives from Paris with her vast fortune. As the family grows, and New York City evolves, so do the dangers. Dark forces surround the Endicotts, who become embroiled in a variety of clandestine affairs, ambition, greed, and treachery among the villains and affluent of New England. Even the Endicotts’ coachman, Zsoltan Nikolin, and their maid, Sophia Gulliver, hold secrets of their own, which threaten all they hold dear.
Prelude of Promise, the first title in The Destiny Chronicles, is a richly detailed historical journey from 1830s France to 1870s New York. This captivating tale is sure to immerse fans of Downton Abbey and Outlander in the drama of the Gilded Age.
Praise for Prelude of Promise
The past isn’t only shaped by kings and queens; sometimes the people living in their shadows have stories of their own. In Sherry A. Jones's Passing of Princes, the experiences of the Endicott, Breconwood, and Nikolayev families unfold over more than two decades of political and social change. From London and New York to St. Petersburg and other parts of Europe, they cross paths with royalty, politicians, revolutionaries, and some of the era’s most recognizable names. The years bring many changes for Queen Victoria and the rest of the British royals. At the same time, Russia faces growing unrest. Meanwhile, the characters navigate relationships, secrets, betrayals, shifting fortunes, and dangers that follow them across borders. Historical events ranging from political assassinations to scandals and the rise of revolutionary movements become part of their world as the nineteenth century gives way to the twentieth. With old choices continuing to affect a new generation, what awaits these families as Europe moves toward an uncertain future? Passing of Princes by Sherry A. Jones brings the Victorian era to life through an interesting mix of fiction and actual history. I especially enjoyed encountering familiar names such as Queen Victoria, Nicholas II, Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and Oscar Wilde, along with individuals I knew much less about. Jones clearly did a great deal of research, and the details about royal families, politics, society, and everyday experiences gave me a strong sense of the period. The writing is clear and easy to follow, while the pacing keeps the book moving despite the time span it covers. The personal side of the story includes relationships, family secrets, and loyalties that don’t always stay the same. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction filled with real people and events will find a lot to discover here, especially those fascinated by royalty, the Gilded Age, and turn-of-the-century Europe.
— Review by Jennifer Senick · Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite
Updates About This Book
About the Author
Sherry Jones has always been a passionate reader of history and historical fiction. When a mystery surfaced within her own cache of 19th century family documents, the investigation sparked her passion for writing. She resides in Orlando, Florida, near her children and grandchildren.
Book Details
- Series
- The Destiny Chronicles
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Pages
- 500
- ISBN
- 978-1-998315-21-5
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