Rebecca Hill
Follow the story of the March sisters, as they learn to live without during the time of war, and as they grow up.
Each sister has something that they struggle with, and as we follow their stories through this book, we see them grow, mature and become more than the children we meet in the beginning.
This is such a sweet story, full of dreams, hopes, unrealistic and realistic goals in life. As each one moves through the different times of their lives, they find they must not only be unselfish, but help others along the way. Some of them find that money is not everything and cannot bring true happiness, while the others find ways to content themselves with the rise and fall of life.
Put this one on the must read list, you wont want to pass this one up!
Meg Wyatt is the best friend of Anne Boleyn, and one of her staunchest supporters. Growing up together in the country, the girls formed a bond that was never to be broken. As time and family circumstances take them apart for a while, they continue to meet and keep their friendship alive.
As Anne moves into the court circle and into the Kings gaze, Meg is there to support her friend and offer advice and support where she can. After her own husband died, and her brother tries to push her back into the marriage market, Meg digs in her heels, as the marriage is not one that she wants. She is still in love with her childhood sweetheart, Will, and cant picture marriage to anyone else, even though she knows that she can never marry Will.
After Anne marries King Henry, Meg stays as one of her ladies in waiting and all the intrigue that goes with the court. After Anne gives Henry a daughter and following two failed pregnancies, both of which would have been boys, Anne is accused of adultery and cast aside, thrown into the Tower of London to await her fate. Here too Meg resides, taking care of her best friend up until the end.
This story is told from the aspect of Meg, and tries to portray Anne Boleyn in a softer light than most books have. I dont know that she was as innocent as this book makes her out to be, but the change is a little refreshing and brings the ladies in waiting a little more to the front than most studies have done. It was an interesting and fast read, I finished it in one evening.
“Just a small peek.. no one will ever find out.” It was those famous last words of her husband Alexander that started Rinette on a long journey, one that she hated and feared all at the same time. After looking into the silver casket that the former queen had entrusted her into giving to her daughter, Queen Mary of Scotland, Rinette was determined to do so. On their journey to deliver it to the queen however, Alexander was murdered, and everything that Rinette knew came crashing down around her. She hid the casket, determined that it would not be delivered until her husbands murderer was found, and tried. At first Queen Mary was willing to go along with the demands, but through time her patience wore thin, and she was not the only one wanting the box. Several men approached Rinette about buying the casket from her, something Alexander set in motion before his murder, and something that he hoped would give them enough money to live comfortably on. She seeks comfort from the flowers, hoping that they can tell her something, but they only show her wisps of what is to come. The flowers speak to her, but for some reason they seem to be silent. How can she know what to really do or who to trust?
Nicolas de Clerac seems to be the only one interested in helping Rinette solve the murder, but can he be trusted? Rinette slowly learns that trust even in the hands of the right person can lead to devastating ends, but Nico seems to always be there when Rinette needs help. Is it coincidence or is he a little to convenient? The flowers, for so long her window into the future are frustratingly silent, only giving glimpses and more riddles than answers. Is it a friend or one of the many countless foreign visitors of the court who wants to put their hands on the casket? Would the queens own brother betray her for his own means? No one can be above suspicion for Rinette, not even some of the women in the queen's own household.
Soon the truth comes out, but will it be something that Rinette will live through or will the person who murdered her husband murder her as well, all over the silver casket of letters?
Elizabeth Loupas weaves an intriguing tale of court gossip, murder and royal intrigue. She has a few areas where the book seems to flounder (toward the middle) but then it picks up again and you are caught trying to put it down, but unable to walk away until you know who the murderer is! She stays within historical bounds, and gives a light into the court of Scotland, and the many people who inhabited the palace walls, all looking to gain further promise and wealth from the pretty young queen. Will it all be for nothing in the end?
This was quite an interesting read. I wasnt really sure which way the turns were going to take. Margaret Tudor was more than just the queen of Scotland. She was an ambitious woman whose reign was cut short by the death of her husband. Although she was regent for a short while, she fell victim to the Earl of Angus and his plans for Scotland.
Margaret struck me as a person who did not feel herself complete unless she had someone by her side. Her first marriage to King James was from all accounts a happy one. Whether they really loved each other or were just good friends throughout their short marriage isnt really known, but after his death, she was distraught and alone. While her young son assumed the throne, she was cast in the role of regent. She married twice more, although neither one was a really happy marriage.
Her life was quite interesting, and the book brought her from obscurity, showing how she tried to make her mark, and make it she did. Had she not married the Earl of Angus, things in Scotland might have been quite different and some of the bloodshed might have been avoided. Her friendships with men who were first her enemies is quite remarkable. Her Tudor determination for what she felt was best is something of legend. I couldnt help but compare her to her grandmother, Margaret Beaufort. Margaret Beaufort is someone who I feel isnt quite innocent in some of the goings on in England, but her drive to put her son on the throne of England was something that she fought and manipulated people for all of her life. She definitely instilled some hard lessons on her grandchildren and whether they would have admitted it or not, those lessons stuck with them throughout their lives. For all of her piety (true or not) it did not really stick with her grandchildren, but the lengths that she would go to in achieving her wants and goals were unbounded.
Margaret Tudor was a remarkable woman, daring to go against conventional thought of the time to get what she wanted. Good read!
When I first started this book, I wasnt sure that I was going to enjoy it. But as I got into the book deeper I had a greater appreciation for Lady Isobel.
As a young woman she was blinded by love for Sir John Neville, but knows that nothing can ever come of it, especially since they are different sides of the war, the Lancastrians and the Yorkists. Somehow Queen Marguerite de Anjou finally agrees to the match of Lady Isobel and Sir John.
Their love story is one of the greats, a true love of each other, not just a match for monetary gain. While Marguerite de Anjou wrecked havoc on the countryside trying to secure the throne for her son, Lady Isobel is busy trying to manage the small estate that she and her husband live on, and raise their growing family. There is never enough money and the constant fear for her husband keeps Isobel on her toes. Her friend and lady in waiting, Ursula is a calming force in her life, always there at her side, and with her children and the love of her husband, Isobel thinks that life is eventually going to calm down.
After the deposing King Henry from the throne, and Edward, Earl of March accends the throne. The entire country breathes a sigh of relief, as the handsome King Edward slowly starts to bring peace back through the country. At least, until the secret marriage of Edward and Elizabeth Woodville is revealed. Isobel and Ursula know that nothing good can come from this marriage and most of the gentry is up in arms, as this low-born commoner is raised to queen of England, and slowly, her entire family starts taking larger portions of revenue, marrying her siblings into the noble families, and arranging marriages to their benefit, and no one elses. Sir John rises in the gentry, becoming Earl of Northumerland, and then shortly afterwards its taken away, and given to one of the Percies, which makes life hard again. As much as John did for his King, it was slowly stripped away by the queen and her favorites, once again plunging the country into civil war. As things got worse for England, Sir John Neville, couldnt help but question where his loyalty really was. As much as he had done for his king, it had come to naught, and everything that he had taken away, he decided to stand with his brother, Warwick, the Kingmaker. As much as he couldnt stand what was happening to his country, he couldnt turn on his King. When he finally met his end at the battle of Barnet, it was discovered that he wore the Kings colors under his armor. Isobel through all of this tries to keep her family together and her children shielded from as much of the turmoil as possible. Richard of Gloucester, the younger brother of King Edward and pupil of Sir John was just as torn as John Neville was. Anne, the younger daughter of Warwick, and wife of Richard, promises Isobel that they will take wardship of her young son George, so that he doesnt fall into the grasp of the Woodville family, allowing her to die in peace surrounded by her friends. One wonders if King Edward ever fully realized the inner turmoil of his faithful subjects.
Through the entire book, one finds themselves placing themselves into the shoes of the characters, and wondering how things would have been different if one or another event hadn't happened. I enjoyed the read immensely. It is definitely a page turner!
This was an interesting read. It puts Blanche of Castille into a new light, one of unforgiving steadfastness and interest only in holding the kingdom together for her young son after her husband dies. She was truly a force to be reckoned with. It was a quick read as well, it took me about four hours to read through the entire book.
Her life was truly interesting, she was determined to prove that she was not just a weak woman, but one who was capable of other and better things. She held fast and was able to rally the men of Paris to her sons defense as needed and when he was away, she held the kingdom as regent, something that was almost unheard of for women in those days. It was seen as something as woman couldnt do, in holding a kingdom together. Her love for her son was remarkable, and her hold on him was even stronger. He loved her to the end, and she could do no wrong in his eyes. Great read!
For a woman who has lost everything, Revenge is the one thing that keeps her going. With her brother's support, who happens to be the King of France, Isabelle bides her time and exacts her price at just the right time. She hits when support for the English king is at its lowest, and his favorite Hugh Despenser is the most hated man in England. Her story is one that is riveting from the start, from bedroom to royal palaces, this story is an awesome read
After doing some brief research on Mountain Meadows, I wanted to know more. This book is a great resource for those who are wanting to know more about what happened on that terrible day. This massacre was the greatest loss of American life by other Americans until the civil war, and it was one that drew outrage from across the country, as women and children were included in that massacre. The insecurities that the Mormons felt were played out on this unfortunate wagon train, who were just trying to find a better life for their families. Their lives were ended after a short siege in which they were promised safety if they would come out and surrender. Instead they were separated and killed as they walked to what they thought was freedom.
The unfortunate outplay of these lives are mastered in this book, not only showing how it was set up, but showing some of the major players in the killings, as only one man was ever brought to trial, but it shows just how far up it went. The US Army investigated as well, as some of the children who were still young enough to be considered “innocents” were scattered among mormon families and raised there. The families of those were killed, demanded their release and the army spent two years investigating what happened. Although all those responsible were never brought to trial, the truth of what happened would not be fully uncovered for over a hundred years, until a site was to be dug for the memorial site, and bones were uncovered.
This book is truly one that is hard to read, yet hard to put down. You find yourself thinking almost that you are drawn into the story and wishing there was something you could do to go back and change time. Anyone who is a lover of history will enjoy this book, and there are several others out there that complement this book as well. I would suggest reading this one first and then moving on to some of the others and filling in the stories as you go along.
Juanita Brooks took a huge risk in writing this book. She was once a practicing member of the Mormon faith, and when she decided that she could not keep the secret quiet anymore, she wrote this explosive book. I was riveted from the first page, and could not put it down.
Anyone that loves history, will love this book!
This was an interesting read for me, because most everything else I had read put Simon de Montfort as a demon, a person who was only self serving, looking after himself and hoping to gain a crown from his endeavors. Instead Sharon Kay Penman paints him as a man who was a champion for those who had no voice in government, but who were burdened by the King and the government at large. These base-born invidivuals wanted their rights as well, but they were overshadowed by the Lords of the land, and their voice was diminished because of it. I will admit though, there were times that I was afraid I might never keep all the names straight! I finally conjured up mental images of what I thought each would look like and that did help some in remembering the names when I would come across them again.
Simon de Montfort was quite an enigma of his time. He fought to free those oppressed, and also sough to temper the government and to bring about reforms that would protect the lower classes while reigning in the upper classes. This man lived about 650 years to early for his time, and had he been born later, he might have accomplished all he hoped and dreamed. This novel was written in a way where it was hard to put down. It also painted the King and Queen in quite a different light. I read “The Sister Queens” by Sophie Perinot before this one, and it was quite a contrasting light to these individuals. One painting them as looking for the well being of their country, and the other as dis-associative and only looking out again for their own well being. I haven't done enough research myself to draw my own conclusions, but I find the differences quite interesting. I will look further into it for my own satisfaction, but I do recommend this book for a good read! Its long but dont let page numbers fool you, its one that you wont want to put down! As you turn the pages you feel as though you are riding along side these men as they go into battle, or standing beside the Countess as she digs in her heels and refuses to give way to anyone who might cross her. I think it would have been quite interesting to live along side these individuals and gain a first hand look into their lives, two people, a husband and wife, who dared to defy what the established view was of the day, and for one, to go against her own brother, the King of England!
I bought this book with the hopes of learning a little bit about the history and mystery of Washington after moving here. I enjoyed the stories although there were some that I thought could have used a little more research and time working on them, as they seemed a little choppy and didnt exactly flow well together.
But for anyone that wants to get an overall view of a few of the things that have happened here in Washington, this is a good place to get your feet wet.
In this last book, Richard and Anne, now King and Queen of England, suffer through their losses and the greed that is still tearing the country apart. Henry Tudor is making his claim for the throne, and his mother and step-father, Lord and Lady Stanley are heavily involved with his revolt, although Lord Stanley gives the air of being loyal to Richard.
As the world spirals out of Richards control, he learns of the loss of their son, Ned, and Anne's health is also declining to the point of there being nothing that the drs can to do help her. After her sons death, she quickly lost strength and will to live. Richard was hoping to shape his kingdom in the ideal of Camelot, and although the lower classes loved him, he had alienated some of the lords of the kingdom in his pursuit for everyone to have justice, and equality. In the end, during his battle with Henry Tudor, Lord Stanley defaults to his step-sons side and Richard is killed, bringing a new chapter into English history. The country mourned for Richard although Henry was able to keep his throne, he did so through bloodshed and even had his step-father killed for some trifle. Richard pardoned men that deserved death, but he gave them chances, as he wanted their loyalty out of respect, not fear.
great read! I loved this book!
In the second book, Richard takes the throne as king of England, after the death of his brother and the declaration of the illegitimacy of Edward's children. Richard quickly tries to turn the country around, and starts trying to rid the country of corruption. He learns though as the book unfolds that men are always driven by greed, and as small revolts turn up about the king, mostly driven by Elizabeth Woodville, he tries harder and harder to turn the country to peace. With the disappearance of the young princes from the tower, Richard is hit with the realization that they may have been murdered, but he was blamed from the start for their deaths.
This was an interesting look at the young life of Richard, brother to Edward king of England. This book gives a more indepth look at the young man who would grow up, in his brothers shadows, always there, yet sometimes unnoticed. He is placed in the Warwick household, where he befriends John, Lord Warwicks brother, and who teaches him how to properly become a knight. The struggles that Richard undertook, as he dealt with his feelings of inadequacy, illegitimacy, and where he fit in the world all begin to play out. His love for Anne, daughter of Warwick, is also first seen in this book, where they begin to spend more and more time together, and nurturing a friendship that would last them for the remainder of their lives, through love and marriage, they both had nothing but the upmost respect for each other.
As Edward assumes the throne, and the Woodville clan settles at court, Richard begins to see the cracks starting, although no one wants to heed his advice, he watches as greed tears apart the brothers that he loves and the hoops that his brother is jumping through to keep his wife, Elizabeth Woodville, happy. Rumors that she was a witch, or that her mother cast a spell over the king in order for him to marry her were swirling around the country, although he remained married to her until death.
I thought this book took a little bit of time to get into, but once it really took off, it didnt disappoint.
Elizabeth of York did not have the fairy tale upbringing of most princesses. She was born to Edward, King of England and her mother Queen Elizabeth, or known to most as Elizabeth Woodville. Much of her childhood was spent in sanctuary, where her mother, a power and greed driven woman, stayed until she knew she could come out, either by safe return of her husband, or assurances from King Richard that he was not responsible for the deaths of her sons.
When Elizabeth of York became queen of England, she did so after the death of her Uncle, Richard II, who she had loved dearly, and after the death of his wife Queen Anne, had hoped to marry. Instead she married the man who defeated her uncle, Henry Tudor, or Henry VII. As much as he did to disclaim it, Tudor only married her to solidify his claim to the throne. She was for all accounts an invisible queen, shadowed by his mother, Margaret Beaufort, who commandeered everything and felt she deserved much more. Elizabeth lived her entire reign under the watchful eye of this woman, and her spies who reported every move that she made. When she finally died, it is reported that she cried out Richards name in her dying breath.
Elizabeth of York is really an interesting person. She defied her mothers tactics of governing and instead did what she could to gain her husbands ear, yet everything was passed through his domineering mother, but she got her way once in a while, and was able to plead for those who could not plead for themselves. She was beloved by all the people in England, and much of her example for queen, I believe came from Anne Neville, married to Richard II. She did as much as she could to ease the suffering of her people, that she endeared herself to them forever. Elizabeth as a lady in waiting to Queen Anne picked up much from her, and chose to leave her mothers teachings by the wayside. She had been imprisoned to long to desire to return to it. Had Margaret Beaufort not been so overbearing, and stepped back as she should, I believe that Elizabeth would have been a great queen and left a better legacy to England than the slight shadow that she imprinted upon England.
This book was an interesting read. It not only showed how families sought to better themselves with marriages, but the lengths that they would go to. These four sisters, although they tried to band together, ended up working against each other in some instances, but as their mother always reminded them, family came first. These four girls were extraordinary for their times. They rose from Count's daughters to royal queens, and used their power not only to negotiate with their husbands but to help out their sisters as they were able. I would definately recommend this book to read. There were some parts that were rather slow and took me a little while to get through, but there are a few other books that go hand in hand with it and give some extra information.
I read this book in three days! It was hard to put down once I got started and became hooked. Jane Dunn goes beneath the initial layers of these women to reveal just what made these girls tick, what they were really made of and what kept them going. Both were deeply religious, and one grew up with every benefit befitting her station, while Elizabeth was the underdog at first. Mary was used to using her charm to get what she wanted and when her short reign as Queen of France was over, she was ready and hungry for bigger and better things to come. When Elizabeth came to the throne, she knew the entire world was watching her, just waiting for her to make one mistake, in order to prove that men were really the only ones fit for running a kingdom. Elizabeth however, confounded them all. She ruled with a fair hand, and although she had to make decisions that were not only unpopular with her subjects but uneasy for herself to make. She wrestled quite often over the smallest decisions she had to make, wanting to make sure that it was in everyones best interest as much as she could. Elizabeth truly loved her subjects as just more than those who put money in her coffers. She really wanted the best for them, while Mary wanted everything handed to her, no matter who had to suffer for it. Mary was a spoiled human being, who while granted good graces and charm, somehow never managed to learn from the mistakes that she made. It would have been interesting to see what sort of queen she would have made if she had become more cautious of those around her, and surrounded herself with those who had the best interest of her kingdom at heart, and not their own subservient wants.
A great read and an unbiased view of these two dynamic ladies, one of whom proved the entire world wrong in that women were not fit to lead. I highly recommend reading this book!
Leave it to a woman to never be satisfied with the story of the first wife, she must figure out by herself if the story that is floating around is the true story, or if there is something else at play. Barbara, Duchess of Ferrara is bound and determined to do just that. She sets off after her wedding to find out whether her husband, the Duke, really murdered his first wife or if he was unfairly accused. What she uncovers at first angers her husband, but then they decide to work together to uncover the truth, and together they find out much more than they originally thought was possible. Nuns, priests, nobility, and lay-people all come together in this fascinating story as the Duke and Duchess slowly and quietly start to unravel the truth behind the first Duchesses demise. A great read! I could not put the book down. I read it in two days time, and just found myself lost in the story!
If you want a short synopsis on several queens who met interesting ends, this is the book for you! I read it in about two hours, and it was interesting. Full of facts, yet not so drawn out as to have you lose interest in the character that is being portrayed. Great for young readers interested in history to get their feet wet into royal history.
Loved this book!! Instead of telling the story through the eyes of the Queen, Anne Boleyn, it instead follows her cousin, the lady Margaret Shelton. Madge finds herself in all sorts of situations as she helps the queen to regain her standing in the court and the love of her husband. It has all the ups and downs of life at court, and a little intrigue thrown in, as a very little used theory of the marriage of Anne and Henry is ut to use here.Madge herself finds love and although the ending left off in a little bit of a disappointment, the entire book was one that was hard to put down. I read it in two days, as I was hard pressed to stop to do anything else. As a history instructor, I thought it was well thought out and historically accurate in the majority of her details, although as a historical fiction, there is plenty of the artistic license thrown in, but not enough to dilute the hard facts that are there. This is a must read!
Great Book!! Susan Higginbotham did a great job in reviving history through the eyes of Margaret of Anjou. Her struggles and hopes for peace, as well as the future of her son and husband are born out beautifully through this novel. Royal history is sometimes a hard thing to fathom as the names, people and genealogies are a hard grasp for many, but Higginbotham manages to smooth sail over many of these anomalies and bring the reader not only a sense of what is going on, as the queen moves to rebuild her lost kingdom, but in the lives of those around her. She is able to seamlessly guide the reader through a small portion of history that has had much debate over the years. Was this woman really just scheming to get her own hands on the throne, or was it as Higgenbotham recounted it; a woman moving to get her husband placed back on the throne and ensure her sons future as the future King of England. I would suggest reading this book before reading “The Traitors Wife” also by S. Higgenbotham. I read in a reverse order, but they really go hand in hand. A must read!
The author did a great job of not only drawing out the characters, but by building upon the story line always leaving the reader wanting more. She draws out the female characters, which shows how they could have used the behind the scenes ways to get their wants across, but also showing the relationship between Harry and Kate, and the trials that they grow through as they chose whether to honor the king or overthrow him :)
I loved this book!! I laughed and cried my way through its entirety. I had a very hard time putting it down! Elizabeth Owens takes readers through a sad tale of friends and loss, all the while adding the day to day that she and her husband are going through and the stress that seeing someone that you are close to and love fight cancer, and the feelings of helplessness and loss that go along with it as you stand by that person. This book was one that helped me to realize the good friends I had, and to rekindle some old friendships that I had let grow stale. Ms. Owens brings the day to day humdrum that we all dread back with a refreshing laugh as she tries to bake cookies and then ends up feeding them to dog next door, while pouring out her troubles to a eager listener. I would recommend this book to everyone! Its a must read!