Title Synopsis: For fans of Philippa Gregory and Allison Pataki, Butterfly Games is Kelly Scarborough’s debut biographical historical fiction novel about a young Swedish countess whose youthful love affair with the heir to her country’s throne has profound personal and political repercussions.
In some games, winning means losing everything that matters.
In the opulent world of the Swedish royal court, Jacquette Gyldenstolpe walks a dangerous tightrope between romance and political intrigue. Neglected by her parents and ostracized by the people around her, the young countess falls in love with Prince Oscar, heir to the Swedish throne—but their passionate affair has far-reaching consequences for the new Bernadotte dynasty, which is already challenged by threats from inside Sweden and beyond.
By the time Jacquette learns that the butterfly game’s political and sexual maneuvering is not for the faint-hearted, it is too late. For she has a secret—one as precious to her as it is potentially devastating to the crown—and she will stop at nothing to protect it.
Based on a true story and set in stormy early-1800s Europe, Butterfly Games is a sweeping historical tale of forbidden love, fierce duty, and the cost of ambition. From the lavish ballrooms of Stockholm to the elegant manor houses of the Swedish countryside, Jacquette’s story will transport readers to a world where every whisper could lead to triumph or ruin.
Author Bio: Kelly Scarborough worked for more than two decades as a law firm partner and white-collar prosecutor, but her real passion is reading and writing biographical historical fiction about fascinating women navigating love, politics, and power in European history. Her debut novel, Butterfly Games, is inspired by her visits to Swedish castles and archival research. Kelly lives in Madison, Connecticut and Bluffton, South Carolina.
Series: Butterfly Games
Series #: 1
Author: Kelly Scarborough
Narrator: Esther Wane
Publisher: Standfast Publishing LLC
Copyright: 2026
Audiobook Release Date: 2026-01-20
Original Book Release Date: 2026-01-20
Running Time: 11:15:35
Track Count: 42
