The Thief and the Traitor Bride Book Bash with V.L. Bovalino

Set in the world of THE SECOND DEATH OF LOCKE, a spy and thief who were married and are now estranged enemies are forced to work together.
About this Event

Please note: If you a copy of the book, you will receive an access code to register for free event entry via email. If you've pre-ordered the book and have not received the code, please contact us at [email protected].

Join V.L. Bovalino in celebrating at Lovestruck Books & Cafe with an author conversation followed by a meet and greet and book signing.

Step into a sweeping fantasy where secrets are currency, trust is the greatest risk, and an estranged husband and wife must pretend to be happily married while chasing a powerful relic through enemy territory. Packed with espionage, impossible choices, simmering romantic tension, and second chance sparks, this story asks whether love can survive betrayal when every disguise hides another lie.

Hear V.L. Bovalino discuss the inspiration behind this irresistible fantasy romance adventure, then meet the author and have your copy signed. The author will sign The Thief and the Traitor Bride as well as up to two backlist titles brought from home. The author will provide two personalizations.

⭐️ Can’t wait to get reading? Books purchased through Eventbrite ticket checkout can be picked up before the event, after September 29 (release day). Just remember to bring your book with you to the event to have it signed!

Purchasing a book through Eventbrite ticket checkout will place you on the preorder goody recipient list! Retrieve your bookish treats along with your book at Lovestruck.

Event Details

• 6:30 PM: Doors Open – Settle in and get ready for a great discussion!
• 7:00 PM: Discussion Begins – V.L. Bovalino will dive into The Thief and the Traitor Bride.
• 7:45 PM: Q&A Session – Your chance to ask the author anything!
• 8:00 PM: Signatures, Snapping Pics, and Salutations – Meet the author, get your book signed, snap a photo, and feel free to shop the store for your next favorite read!
• 8:30 PM: Head to the register to make any final purchases.
• 9:00 PM: Event Wraps Up – Thanks for joining us!

Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon! If the event sells out, you can join the Eventbrite waitlist by selecting “Reserve a spot” followed by “Join Waitlist”. Should any spots open up, you’ll have 24 hours to register before we offer it to the next person.

Accessibility

Check-in will take place at our front entrance on Brattle Street. If you have any accessibility needs, you're welcome to use our side entrance (located on the right side of the building), which is wheelchair accessible and has a ramp.

Guests who would benefit from priority seating or any additional assistance are encouraged to reach out in advance — just email us at [email protected]. We're more than happy to make arrangements to ensure you feel comfortable and supported.

We’re always learning and looking for ways to make our events more accessible. If you have suggestions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you!

Book Pickup Policy

If you purchased a book with your event ticket but can’t make it to the event—and don’t request a refund—we’ll happily hold your book for pickup for up to 30 days after the event date.

We’ll be in touch via the email you provided at checkout to help coordinate pickup. After 30 days, if we haven’t heard from you or made other arrangements, we’ll consider the book abandoned property and may donate it or return it to inventory so it can find a new home.

Thanks so much for your understanding and for supporting our events—we love doing this with you!

About The Author

V.L. Bovalino is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now lives in the UK. She loves obscure academic facts, folklore, and oversized sweaters. Find her on X as @toribov and Instagram as @toribovalino.

About The Thief and the Traitor Bride

A devastatingly romantic epic fantasy between a spy and thief who were married and are now estranged enemies forced to work together, perfect for fans of The Knight and the Moth and The Six Deaths of the Saint.

A ruthless spy. A deadly mission. A thief who could ruin it all. 

Nore Gordon is a woman of many talents: she can speak a variety of languages, disguise herself in plain sight, and has made a name for herself as a successful wine merchant. But unbeknownst to those closest to her, it is all a front for Nore’s true role as the favoured spy of the Lindle crown. 

Tasked with infiltrating enemy lands in search of a powerful relic, Nore is forced to engage the services of a great thief. Unfortunately, the only person for the job is her estranged husband Caspian. 

Both Nore and Caspian bear the scars of the disastrous end of their marriage, but if they are to survive their deadly new assignment, they must pose as a happily married couple to avoid detection. As danger closes in, Nore finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit-and though Caspian is at the centre of it all, she may not hate him as much as she once did. But Caspian has betrayed her before, and trust can be far more deadly than deception.

About The Conversation Partner

Fonda Lee is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling fantasy and science fiction author. Her modern epic, the Green Bone Saga, has been translated into fifteen languages and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. She is also the author of the novella Untethered Sky and several young adult novels: Zeroboxer, the Exo duology, and, cowritten with Shannon Lee, the Breathmarked duology. Fonda is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the Locus Award, as well as a six-time winner of the Aurora Award and a finalist for the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. A former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist, she hails from Canada and the Pacific Northwest and currently resides in New England.

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PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO

Your presence at the Lovestruck Books & Cafe event acknowledges that you have been informed of the potential to be documented as part of a video or photo release, and that you grant permission for your likeness to be included in publication of any footage.