Dignity (To Be Sinclair) [Kindle Edition]

Eva Caye (Author), Tracy Seybold (Editor)

Book Description

What will the greatest ruling family in the history of the galaxy be like?

When the studious, determined microengineer Lady Felicia Sorensen is asked to partner Emperor Victor Sinclair at a ball, little does she realize that her world is about to be overturned. Sick of the socialites who can only see his status, the Emperor falls madly in love with her. But she is so single-minded in her dedication to her scientific career that she treads, more than once, on his most painful memories and psychological issues!

Nevertheless, he is so determined to have her that he entices her with all the resources at his command, from sexual stimulation and outrageously expensive gowns to promising her that she can ‘write her own job description’. Is it love, or is it manipulation? Felicia does not want to be merely the source of ova for the Imperial Heir, nor does she like being the center of attention. And an assassination attempt proves that the publicity of being an Imperial fiancée means her mere presence generates continuous danger, even from rival scientists on other planets!

Will Felicia choose her Imperial lover and tough out the extreme political and social pressures with the supreme ruler of the Empire, or will she choose her goals and help thousands, millions, possibly billions of people through her intellectual achievements?


This science fiction romance is the first of the seven-part To Be Sinclair series. The saga begins with DIGNITY and its companion volume MAJESTY, which detail the romance and first years of marriage of the Emperor and Empress of the Sinclair Demesnes. A few scenes describe sexually explicit behavior.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After a health crisis, Eva Caye morphed from dilettante writer into obsessive author, publishing DIGNITY, the first of seven books in the To Be Sinclair series, as an e-book in August 2012, with MAJESTY following in October, FEALTY in December, ROYALTY in January, and a new book, EASTER EGGS, an anthology of the four free short stories added to her first three books. The author's goal is to have the series (plus one add-on book) all published within one year. Eva lives with her magnificent husband and two lovely mutts in a tiny farmhouse in Louisville, Kentucky.

Product Details

• File Size: 625 KB
• Print Length: 331 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0093NW9BI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,979 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars DIGNITY tweaked my fancy on many, many levels October 1, 2012

By Beach Bum Books

Format:Kindle Edition

I'm not sure at what point I simply hunkered down at the recognition of a kindred spirit, one who understands the value of a story told with respect, in depth and with exquisite attention to detail, and allowed myself to be swept away into a galaxy and time far, far away, but as current as today, as compelling as yesterday.
Told with the lush prose of a Jane Austen, as well as with that author's incisive, detailed and quite pointed barbs at social strata and the constraints on actors thrust onto stages not of their own choosing, this is science fiction masquerading as historical fiction on the grandest scale. It also had me reminiscing about the opulence of the Russian literary tradition--certainly the staging reeks of Imperialist Russia and the machinations of members of the Imperial House waging a form of class warfare for political and social advantage.
Then throw in wormholes, arcane technology, competing planets/houses of commerce, space travel, sophisticated methods for oversight, loyalty, brotherhood, social niceties, mannerisms, sexual discrimination, depression, horrendous/heinous acts of violence... ball gowns to die for, fashion as weapon, symbology. And a sigh-worthy love story.
Do I have your attention? I certainly hope I do.
Told from Felicia's Sorenson's point-of-view throughout, this young woman is definitely to the manor born, wealthy, privileged, albeit a bit naďve and untutored in the ways of court. That little problem is taken care of by her sorority's matron and mentor, Lady Brighton, whose main task is to see to the proper upbringing of the High Royals placed in her charge as they further their education at university, an education with a singular goal: marriage and propagating lineage. Felicia does not fit into that mold, nor does she recognize it as worthy of her talents and goals. She is a scientist, an engineer, brilliant, dedicated and naďve--but not stupid. This young woman can hold her own in most social situations, but she chooses to keep herself at a remove from them in order to concentrate on her studies.
Victor Sinclair is Emperor, thrust into that role after the horrendous death of his family, the event burned into his consciousness, leaving scars and a life-long fight against depression. He despises the pretty, vapid cute young things constantly being pressed under his royal nose as potential consorts. More than once he bemoans his fate, until one chance encounter with the open and honest and oh-so-different Felicia changes everything.
Sparks fly, hearts are tasked, endearments and vows exchanged, and it all seems easy and smooth, seamless.
But is it?
The key concept, an Imperial power structure, with competing interests, will slowly, inexorably eat away at dreams and plans; and young Felicia must learn to first recognize those who would use her for their own advantage and then find out how she can fit into a class system that neither recognizes nor values strong, intelligent women willing to face problems head on.
Felicia and Victor have their supporters who work tirelessly behind the scenes but events conspire to thrust planets and economic interests at odds with the Imperial system, and the couple will face efforts to tear them apart, even putting Felicia's life in danger.
This is a story of shifting glass ceilings, decisions about reconciling hearth and home with career and dedication to something larger than oneself, about donning the mask of neutrality when all about those who seek control and self-aggrandizement prick at the edges of sanity. It is about grace under fire, no matter the cost to self. It is about learning to say no, measuring the costs and finding how not to lose the self in a sea of demands. It's about living life on a very public platform and the price one must pay for that privilege.
And lest I forget, there's enough technology to satisfy the hard-core geekster. We never forget that Felicia is an engineer to her core, it is the one thing that informs how she perceives her world and the people within it.
There are, of course, some downsides to this book: the pace is languid and not exactly familiar to modern sensibilities, with long descriptive passages and what might seem to some to be `stilted' dialog. The story builds to conflict rather than having it thrust like an incendiary device onto the first few pages, and the couple comes to an understanding early on, removing the usual pabulum of boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl. But it is the romance itself that is one of the principal forces of conflict. Neither Victor or Felicia can possibly predict how events will unfold, nor can Felicia know exactly how her life must change to adapt to the competing, dangerous elements all about her. The minute she says `yes' is when all she knows and understands will threaten to implode.
I do have some quibbles about the technologies (to wit: the communication systems) but that's just me nit-picking.
Dignity may not be for everyone (certainly not for anyone with ADD) but if you appreciate a story told well (and wonderfully edited), I have no reservations about recommending this one.
Four & 1/2 stars for quibbles, bumped to five just because (and looking forward to book two).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dignity October 1, 2012

By Casey Logan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

One thing I really appreciated about this book is that the science is important, but not at all overwhelming. A lot of people think science fiction is all about the concepts. Ms. Caye is all about the story, as Felicia's scientific knowledge shows itself little by little, and ends up helping Victor save the day. What's most important is how she shows science isn't just a disipline. It's research by real people for real needs.

Dignity is a very easy, free-flowing read. It is precise and clear, as if someone were describing the scenes of a movie, except they also know what's going on in the character's head.

I am anxiously awaiting Ms. Caye's next book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable October 14, 2012

By Wade

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I like the characters of this book, and the writing is good. Very professionally done and interesting world. I look forward to reading the next book.

More About the Author

After twenty years as a teacher and dilettante writer, a health crisis forced Eva Caye to re-evaluate everything in her life. Three years of obsessive writing, research, and finding ways to pay for an editor led to the debut of the first book of her seven-part To Be Sinclair series, DIGNITY, in August 2012. Book two MAJESTY was published in October 2012, book three FEALTY in December 2012, book four ROYALTY in January 2013, and books five and six, DYNASTY and LOYALTY, in April 2013. The add-on to the series, Evan's Ladies, is due in May, with #7 NOBILITY expected sometime this summer. Her goal is to have all eight of her completed novels edited and published within one year, with a series finale and two prequels on the horizon.

The To Be Sinclair series focuses on a future 600 years from now in which humanity has spread to over 100 planets, with all the concomitant travails such as how colonies set up governments, how they travel and trade among the stars, and how they unite, and fight, for power. Yet one of the most important decisions anyone can make is choosing a life-partner; these novels specifically address the personal needs of the main characters, to show how progressive, benevolent rulers struggle to find the love and support of people willing to live with the dangers of being Imperial.

Eva lives with her magnificent husband and two beautiful mutts in a tiny, century-old farmhouse in Louisville, Kentucky.