The Confessions of Catherine De Medici, Signed by C.W. Gortner
"Catherine de Medici uses her natural and supernatural gifts to protect the French throne in Gortner's (The Last Queen) portrait of a queen willing to sacrifice happiness and reputation to fulfill her family's royal destiny. Orphan Catherine has her first vision at age 10, and three years later is betrothed to Henri d' Orleans, brother of the sickly heir to the French throne. She heads to France with a vial of poison hidden among her possessions, and after negotiating an uneasy truce with her husband's mistress, she matures into a powerful court presence, though power, she learns, comes at a price. Three of her sons become king in succession as the widow Catherine wields ever-increasing influence to keep the ambitious de Guise clan at bay and religious adversaries from murdering each other. Gortner's is not the first fictional reinterpretation of a historical villainous—Catherine's role in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, for instance, is recounted in a way sympathetic to her—but hers is remarkably thoughtful in its insight into an unapologetically ruthless queen". 
For the King's Favor by Elizabeth Chadwick
"A captivating story of a mother's love stretched to breaking and a knight determined to rebuild his life with the royal mistress, For the King's Favor is Elizabeth Chadwick at her best. Based on a true story never before told and impeccably researched, this is a testament to the power of sacrifice and the strength of love. When Roger Bigod, heir to the powerful earldom of Norfolk, arrives at court to settle an inheritance, he meets Ida de Tosney, young mistress to King Henry II. In Roger, Ida sees a chance for lasting love, but their decision to marry carries an agonizing price. It's a breathtaking novel of making choices, not giving up, and coping with the terrible shifting whims of the king".
On Historically Obsessed today is the last day to enter for the giveaway of
On HFBRT today is also the last day to enter for the two C.W. Gortner Giveaways
All winners will be announced tomorrow
Ok...I will admit that I am green with envy over the Gortner book..enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThose books look familiar ;-) I just love the hardcover of Confessions...it's so pretty!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your books Liz!
I can't wait to see who the winners of the Confessions book and necklace are!
Jo-Jo, your so sweet I have to admit I feel very fortunate to have received it.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I knew you got the same one and now I have my own copy of the quote by you in it! I am green with envy over here but you so deserved it. It was a very good quote. Congrats Amy.
Can't wait to read these books.
ReplyDeletelibrarypat, To calm myself down I had the read the first chapter of Chadwick's.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get the Chadwick book :( but I love my Gortner hardcover!
ReplyDeleteArleigh, You guys got me hooked on her if I did not get it I was going to buy it either way. Is the cover for Confessions not to die for the little details make it pretty. So pretty I can not touch it and it has to sit on the shelf where it belongs like a hidden treasure.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, amazing blog! I stumbled across this by accident and I am enchanted. I can see that this is a true labor of love, or a labor of true love, your choice. Thank you for all your efforts.
ReplyDeleteAlexis Harrington
Alexis, it is a little bit of both and the best things I have found on blogs I stumbled across too. Funny how it works out that way. Come back and visit.
ReplyDelete