Book Review: Reluctant Queen, the story of Henry VIII’s defiant little sister by Geraldine Evans
Editor’s Note: I would like to welcome Meredith to our ranks here at Read All Over Reviews. She’ll be handling most of our eBook reviews.
Reluctant Queen, the story of Henry VIII’s defiant little sister by Geraldine Evans Copyright 2011 (originally published in 2004 by Robert Hale under the name Geraldine Hartnett). Source: e-copy provided by the author for an honest review.
Mary, the beautiful, younger sister of English king, Henry VIII, reluctantly agrees to marry the aged and sickly Louis XII of France for reasons of state. But before agreeing, she extracts Henry’s promise that she may please herself for her second marriage. Mary is deeply in love with the low-born Charles Brandon, her brother’s boon companion, and is determined to wed Brandon should King Louis die.
Review: As an admitted history nerd, I’m predisposed to like this book. From the blurb it would seem to have a lot of elements that I like: lesser known history, a feisty heroine, a little romance. Unfortunately, the description only covers the first part of the book.
Historical fiction takes a lot of research and it’s clear that Ms. Evans did hers. There is a wealth of information here about Mary Tudor and the other royals of her generation in both England and France. I enjoy reading about political intrigue and the machinations of leaders. I learned quite a bit about Mary Tudor who is usually obscured by the shadow of her charismatic and controversial brother. Read more
“Surrounded by traitors, trapped by destiny, Britain’s spirited Queen Guinevere sees that the greatest dangers to Arthur’s crown may lie within the walls of Camelot. An undeniable spark ignites between Guinevere and Lancelot, but a powerful enemy puts the Queen’s loyalty to the ultimate test. As the heroes of the Round Table undertake the Quest for the Holy Grail, Guinevere’s heartbreaking honesty, courage, and integrity will be challenged by those she loves most.” – back cover
“Georgiana Darcy embarks upon a tour of Europe, where she meets two very different men, each of whom ignites her in an entirely different way. When she decides to pursue her musical studies in Paris, both men follow her there and begin a bitter rivalry to win her. But only one holds the key to her happiness, and Georgiana must learn to direct her destiny and understand her heart.” – back cover
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Synopsis: In a country still reeling from the collapse of the Roman empire, the young King Arthur and his wife Guinevere struggle to keep the barbarians at bay even as they establish the Fellowship of the Round Table. The spirited and outspoken Guinevere skillfully combats an accusation of planning to poison Arthur in a country simmering with unrest and scandal. But Guinevere’s greatest battles are dangers Arthur cannot see–ones she’ll have to fight on her own. And all the while, she must reconcile her thirst for freedom with her duties as queen, and her growing love for Lancelot with her loyalty to her husband.
