#BookReview : Mary - A Tudor Princess by Tony Riches #HistoricalFiction #Tudor #mustread @tonyriches

Mary – Tudor Princess

by Tony Riches

From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy, the true story of the Tudor dynasty continues with the daughter of King Henry VII, sister to King Henry VIII. Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her.

Born into great privilege, Mary has beauty and intelligence beyond her years and is the most marriageable princess in Europe. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies. Will she dare risk his anger by marrying for love?

Meticulously researched and based on actual events, this 'sequel' follows Mary's story from book three of the Tudor Trilogy and is set during the reign of King Henry VIII.

The Coffee Pot Book Club Review

"I ask you to consent to my choice of husband, if it is God's wish that I outlive King Louis..."

Sister to the newly crowned King Henry VIII, Mary's future is assured. She is destined to marry Prince Charles of Ghent, grandson of Ferdinand II of Aragon. But unbeknown to Henry, Mary harbours a deep longing for Charles Brandon, a young knight of Henry's court. Mary understands her duty and she will marry Prince Charles. But if wishes were horses...

Being a huge fan of Tony Riches' work, I could not wait to get my hands on his latest offering. Mary - Tudor Princess, was everything I expected from Mr Riches and then some.

I was swept away by the grandeur of the English and French courts. And the scheming, manipulation, and the endless currying of favour was forever present.

Mary was a woman in a man's world, but she knew her mind, and she cleverly weaved a promise from her brother that if the worst were to happened she could choose her own husband.  And choose him she did. It was a dangerous game Mary and Charles Brandon played. To go against Henry’s orders could have meant certain death. But to deny their love would have been an even great crime.

This book was certainly a compelling read with a host of historical characters that, if you are a fan of the Tudor era, you will already know much about. Seeing the Tudor court through Mary's eyes gave a unique perspective.

A beautiful tale of a princess who knew her own heart and was courageous enough to stand up to a king.

I Highly Recommend.

Amazon US  Amazon UK

Tony Riches

Tony Riches is a full-time author of best-selling historical fiction.

He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the fifteenth century, with a particular interest in the Wars of the Roses and the lives of the early Tudors. For more information about Tony’s other books please visit his websitetonyriches.com and his popular blog, The Writing Desk and find him on Facebookand Twitter @tonyriches.

#BookReview ~ COUNTERPOINT: Theo, Earl of Suffolk: The Lydiard Chronicles 1603-1630 by Elizabeth St. John #HistoricalFiction @ElizStJohn

COUNTERPOINT:

 Theo, Earl of Suffolk: 

The Lydiard Chronicles 1603-1630

By Elizabeth St. John

 

 

Theo Howard, Earl of Suffolk is torn. Betrothed to a child to satisfy his family dynasty, he longs for the freedom to make his own choice. And when he attends a lavish party at his family's newly-restored palace, he is immediately attracted to Lucy, a beautiful young lavender-seller. But in this enchanted world of Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream, all is not as it appears. Theo's headstrong sister Frances is determined to sabotage her own arranged marriage, and aided by the cunning of Frances and her friend Barbara St.John, perhaps Theo can find his own path to happiness and true love.

The Coffee Pot Book Club Review

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”
A Midsummer Nights Dream By William Shakespeare

Duty. A word Theo Howard, Earl of Suffolk, understands all too well.  It is a good match. It is good for the family. But Theo is less than enthusiastic about being betrothed to a child that is only six years of age.

As he tries not to dwell too much on his future, he meets a young lady whose innocent is alluring, but whose quick wit hints at an intelligent mind. He cannot help but fall for her. If only....

COUNTERPOINT: Theo, Earl of Suffolk: The Lydiard Chronicles 1603-1630 by Elizabeth St. John is a short and sweet story that swept me away to another time.

With elegant prose and characters that will linger in the memory, this is a story not to be missed!

Amazon US  Amazon UK

Elizabeth St. John

Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and Castle Fonmon to the Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it's hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth's family still occupy them - in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that's a different story...

Elizabeth loves to hear from readers, you can find her... Website Facebook Twitter

#Bookreview ~ (Untamed Regency Book 3) by Jackie Williams #Regency #Romance #mustread @wackyjackyful

A Ring of Midnight Orchids:

Flowers of the Aristocracy

(Untamed Regency Book 3)

 By Jackie Williams

Who would have believed it? His lifelong friend, Lord Pierce Trenchard engaged! To none other than the lovely, but frivolous Angelique Lancer. As if hurt pride, a broken nose, and crushed hopes were not enough, the surprise announcement in the London paper almost made Lord Lucas Caruthers choke on his breakfast.

Lovely she may be, but marriage to a woman who prefers to peruse books rather than follow the hunt? Not in Pierce’s lifetime! However, with essential body parts under threat of imminent amputation, what other options does a man have? None. The Peckham Pulveriser, a notorious cheating prizefighter, breaker of the Caruthers noble nose, and brother of Angelique, is not a man one can reason with... Unless Pierce can perhaps persuade someone else to do the dreaded deed! A visit to his most stalwart friend, the recently jilted Lucas Caruthers, is clearly in order.

Lucas could barely believe his own ears! Friends they might be, but marrying his archrival’s sister was stretching the boundaries too far. Although the suggestion did throw up certain ideas. Could Pierce’s ill fortune be Lucas’ salvation? A chance to seek retribution for his own pain and ruined looks, while saving his friend from a parson’s noose? It certainly seemed an opportunity not to be missed.

But the truth about Angelique is not quite what Lucas has been led to believe. His quest for revenge reveals depths he would never have imagined, and while Pierce disappears into hiding, Lucas’ is left with the delightful tilt of a stubborn chin, a pair of deliciously determined shoulders, and the heady fragrance of Midnight Orchids playing on his mind.

And this time he concedes that, if the Pulveriser wants to fight it out, it might not be simply the Caruthers nose that is broken. 

The Coffee Pot Book Club Review

There is always that one friend you would do anything for. When Lord Pierce Trenchard comes knocking on Lord Lucas Caruthers door with a plea to help him escape from his impending marriage, what else could Lucas do but help him escape the parson's noose?

But what Lucas did not take into account was Lord Pierce's betrothal. He had heard of Angelique, of course. She was considered shy and had a nose constantly stuck in a book. However, there was another side to her. A side that only Lucas had seen. And it was a side of her he would very much like to know a little better...

I have really enjoyed Jackie Williams Untamed Regency series. When I heard that a new book had been released, I could not wait to get my hands on it. A Ring of Midnight Orchids: Flowers of the Aristocracy (Untamed Regency Book 3) is a tender, emotional, hysterically funny story that grabbed me from the first sentence and kept me hooked throughout the rest of the book.

I adored the characterisation of Angelique. There is so much more to her character than the shy violet that the ton gossips about. Lucas is so different to any man she has ever met. He is tender, and loving, and kind. It is no wonder she falls for him. Likewise, Lucas is a real sweetheart. A very gentle man who, despite being a prize-fighter, feels everything with his heart. He wants to give Angelique — his Angel — everything that has been denied her.

As well as being a great romance, this is one of those books where you will find yourself laughing out loud. I am not going to give away any spoilers, but there is scene which was so brilliantly executed that I am still laughing now!

Book 4 of this series cannot come fast enough. Love. Love. Love it!

Amazon US  Amazon UK

Jackie Williams

I was born in Essex England during the mid sixties but I missed all the fun. Being only young, I assumed that all Beatles were six legged creatures and Flower Power was something to do with the vigorous way my mother kneaded the bread dough.

My wonderful parents brought me up with a huge love of books. We read anything and everything. Bedtime stories were a treasured time of adventure and mystery. My sister and I sat wide eyed in wonder and to this day I worry about Dinah and Dorinda being pricked with pins because they grew so fat, and I never pull faces at the a waning moon (or was it a waxing one?) just in case my chops stay that way . (The Wind On The Moon)

I began reading romance while still at school. The fuel for many a teenage fantasy leapt from between the covers of wildly romantic books and my passion still lingers now for all those dark haired heroes.

My own beautiful teenage daughter persuaded me to write my first romance. She was only fourteen at the time and between books for children and adults. She couldn't find anything that ticked all her numerous and particular boxes and so she asked me to write a book, with all the exact ingredients just for her. Though not just a book for teens, she enjoyed the resulting tale so much that she shared it with her friends and I eventually published A Perfect Summer as an ebook on amazon.

But I have discovered that writing is not easily stopped once you start. It has turned into a grand passion that I just cannot hold back. The fingertips start tapping the keys and ideas suddenly come flooding, far too many for just one book and so I began another and then another, and I am still nowhere near done.

I hope you enjoy all of my efforts and I look forward to your comments and reviews.

If you are interested in finding out more, you can see what I get up to at:

Romance Suspense Books

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