Coming Soon: The Queen's Pleasure by Brandy Purdy

KENSINGTON TRADE PAPERBACK

THE QUEEN’S PLEASURE by Brandy Purdy

From the author of the bestselling historical novels The Boleyn Wife and The Tudor Throne comes a captivating, Tudor-era novel of loyalty and betrayal, duty and freedom—a fascinating portrait of both the rise of Elizabeth I and one of the most compelling periods in history...

Historical Fiction ISBN 13: 978-0-7582-6598-2 PRICE: $15.00/$16.95
PAGES: 384

"When young Robert Dudley, an earl’s son, meets squire’s daughter Amy Robsart, it is love at first sight. They marry despite parental misgivings, but their passion quickly fades, and the ambitious Dudley returns to court.

Swept up in the turmoil of Tudor politics, Dudley is imprisoned in the Tower. Also a prisoner is Dudley’s childhood playmate, the princess Elizabeth. In the shadow of the axe, their passion ignites. When Elizabeth becomes queen, rumors rage that Dudley means to free himself of Amy in order to wed her. And when Amy is found dead in unlikely circumstances, suspicion falls on Dudley—and the Queen...

Still hotly debated amongst scholars—was Amy’s death an accident, suicide, or murder?— the fascinating subject matter makes for an enthralling read for fans of historical fiction".

• The Boleyn Wife was a Sunday Times bestseller in the U.K. • With its fascinating, true-life love triangle, The Queen’s Pleasure is guaranteed to intrigue fans of Tudor-set historical fiction.

• Fans of Philippa Gregory, Robin Maxwell, Diane Haeger, Donna Russo Marin, and Kensington’s own Barbara Kyle will relish Brandy Purdy’s vibrant historical storytelling.

PRAISE FOR THE BOLEYN WIFE “Recommended for readers who can’t get enough of the Tudors and have devoured all of Philippa Gregory’s books.” —Library Journal

Readers can visit Brandy's website at: www.brandypurdy.com.

Please note this book is published in the UK as A COURT AFFAIR by Emily Purdy.~Lizzie~

Today In History: Loosing Robert Dudley

Sept 4th 1588 Robert Dudley left this life for the after life. Anyone who knows me knows that Robert is by far one of my favorite historical people besides Charles II. Why you ask? He was romantic and a bad boy all rolled into one. He loved his Queen Elizabeth I like no one else could and he even suffered with her before she was queen when no one else could help them. Their story is so tragic and maybe in another life they would have been together the way fate wanted them to be. Alas what is meant to be is meant to be and Elizabeth was meant to be not just any queen but Glorianna herself. When Robert died Elizabeth was not with him. She was devastated when she received his last letter to her. She did not come out of her room for days.

Dudley always "remained at the centre of [Elizabeth's] emotional life", as historian Susan Doran has described the situation. He died shortly after the Spain's Armada was defeated, and after Elizabeth's own death, a note from him was found among her most personal belongings, marked "his last letter" in her handwriting.

This video I found on YouTube of a British TV Series that I think aired some years back. Either way this really reminds me of Robert and what today we would call his "swagger". Here is the shows info BBC The Virgin Queen


Amazon
A Favorite of the Queen: The Story of Lord Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I (A Novel of the Tudors)
The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne
The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley
~Lizzie~

Today In History: Happy Birthday Lord Robert Dudley

Happy birthday Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester! Born on June 24th 1532, Robert Dudley loved a woman that he could never have. Queen Elizabeth I locked herself in her room for days when she was told of his death and Cecil had to beat down her door.

"Elizabeth and Leicester miniatures by Hilliard"

Elizabeth and Robert

Roberts Signature

 "Robert Dudley"

Recommended on Amazon:
The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell
The Queen's Bastard: A Novel , Robin Maxwell
The Tudor Secret (The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles), C.W. Gortner
The Queen's Fool: A Novel (Boleyn), Philippa Gregory
~Lizzy~

Book Review: HIS LAST LETTER by Jeane Westin

This is the first review I have had the pleasure of posting a review on release day, it is cool it just happened that way. "His Last Letter" by Jeane Westin is in bookstores today. I am telling you this books cover is beautiful in person and it  would be a lovely addition to any HF lovers library.

Robert Dudley’s last letter he wrote to his Queen Elizabeth I has always captivated me. The letter was discovered after Elizabeth passed away. She had kept it in a keepsake box and had written on the outside of it “his last letter”. A treasure from the man I view as the only true love of Elizabeth’s lifetime. It has have been some time since I have read anything focusing on Elizabeth because I have been a bit burnt out on her lately. “His Last Letter” was just too irresistible for me to pass up. Jeane Westin skated from memory to memory of Robert and Elizabeth’s life of turmoil, love, and war. Giving the reader one of the best portraits of Robert and Queen Elizabeth’s complicated relationship.

Now as all of you know Robert Dudley was Queen Elizabeth I long time favorite, he passed away sometime before Elizabeth I. I loved Westin’s approach; she wisely keeps the story exclusive to the love between the two. Not at one time did it go beyond that and thank goodness because their love is my favorite aspect of Elizabeth’s life.

Westin sets the opening act on the eve of Elizabeth's victory celebration of defeating the Spanish armada. Elizabeth starts to wonder were her long time favorite Robert Dudley is. She knew after the victory he was unwell and had him take to the waters at Cornbury for a speedy recovery. When she demanded to know where he was, she received a letter from him that would change her forever. The color in Elizabeth’s whole world disolved away when she was told the devastating news that her “eyes” would not be returning to her. Robert was dead and the world froze. Her only real love was gone.  Elizabeth Locked herself alone in her room and would admit no one.

My favorite aspect of this book is it is limited to the cream of crop moments that are monumental events in their relationship. Reliving the memories as Elizabeth saw them all the good, the bad, and all the unspoken. Each chapter was a new time period and a change of location, weaving in and out of different memories. The best moments, all of my favorite moments were there, the tower, the coronation, the beheading of Mary, and the victory over Spain.

5/5 To be honest it was really good and very well written I think I just need to steer clear of Elizabeth for a bit more unless it is like this one. I did love it because I completely love Robert Dudley, this was the pair at their best. I gave it a five because it was a unique prospective on the details behind Robert Dudley’s last letter to Elizabeth. The read was a flood of emotions I felt through out Elizabeth’s memories and it made the ending such a twist that I never saw anything coming. This read is a lovely recommended romance and lenient HF lovers. Westin did take liberties but they were not line crossing to me and were most pleasurable.

R-Rating, sexual references
FTC-Book was sent to be by publisher

Sundays Art: The Amy Robsart Case

Michelle Moran posting an interesting link in the news a new incident report was found and holy smokes it is a big one. All of you know I can not pass up anything that has to do with Robert Dudley.

~Did Elizabeth I's 'lover' have wife killed so he could wed the Virgin Queen?~

"It has been the subject of fierce debate for more than 400 years.

Now new evidence has emerged that supports the theory that Amy, the wife of Elizabeth I's close friend and suspected lover Robert Dudley, was murdered so her husband could marry the Queen.

Amy died aged 28 in 1560 after breaking her neck while falling down the stairs at Cumnor Place in Berkshire."

William Frederick Yeames (1835 – 1918) Amy Robsart, 1884 Oil on Board, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

"Amy Robsart was the first wife of Lord Robert Dudley, the 1st Earl of Leicester and a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. Legend has it that Robert arranged to have Amy murdered, so he would be free to marry Elizabeth. An official inquest cleared him of wrongdoing, but the story persisted and the scandal is thought to have played some part to discourage the Queen from marrying Dudley. Robsart's story became very popular in the 19th century thanks to Sir Walter Scott, who made her the tragic heroine of his novel Kenilworth; I think it likely that the popularity of that work inspired both this painting and another by the same artist."

I would love to hear what others think about this because for the longest time I just have always had this feeling. Either way poor Robert did not get Elizabeth and he lost Amy too, maybe some things are better off just being left alone?

Today In History, Losing Robert Dudley

On September 4Th 1588 the favorite of Queen Elizabeth I the famous playboy Robert Dudley passed from his realm to the next. Robert is absolutely one of my favorite historical leading men. It is said that when he suddenly lost his life that Elizabeth had barricaded herself in her chambers and would not admit anyone for days. Her leading councilor William Cecil had to literally break down the door to make sure she was alright.

Upon Elizabeth's passing fifteen years later, they found among her personal affects a letter from Robert. It was labeled his last letter. She had saved it all those years. The letter proved how deeply Elizabeth truly loved Robert. For more information on Robert check out my birthday post for him.

"I most humbly beseech your Majesty to pardon your old servant to be thus bold in sending to know how my gracious lady doth, and what ease of her late pain she finds, being the chiefest thing in the world I do pray for, for her to have good health and long life. For my own poor case, I continue still your medicine, and it amends much better than any other thing that hath been given me..."

Today In History, Happy Birthday Robert Dudley

The notorious ladies man Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester's birthday was June 24Th 1532. He was long time favorite of Queen Elizabeth I being named master of the horse, privy councillor, and later became Lord Steward of the Royal Household. He was Elizabeth's champion of the Protestant faith. Lavishing Elizabeth in frequent entertainments designed specifically to please her.

He was also married to Amy Robsart who fell down a flight of stairs and died in 1560. Court rumor's had been flying over Robert and Elizabeth's close relationship many believed them to be lovers, and now that his wife was dead in a freak accident. Many took the opportunity to slander the queen's favorite, and go so far to speculate that he had done away with her.

His grandfather, father, and brother were all executed for treason to the crown. The latter trying to start a monarchy called "The Tree of Commonwealth" was executed after trying to escape by Henry VIII. Father and brother were later executed for unsuccessfully trying to place lady Jane Grey on the throne. Jane was executed and Dudley was still imprisoned for aiding his rebellious father with Jane's placement. Robert was condemned to die with them but miraculously he remained a prisoner in the Tower of London by Queen Mary. Coincidentally Elizabeth also had been sent to the Tower on the orders of her half-sister, the Queen.

After being released it is said the two became close at Hatfield Robert even helped her out financially at one point. All the while he was still married to Amy. Elizabeth came to the crown when her half sister Mary died childless. Robert planned an elaborate coronation for Elizabeth. Having been close most of their lives Elizabeth bestowed upon him titles, lands, estates, and eventually Dudley's bedchamber at court was invariably adjacent to Elizabeth's or had a private access to her.

Sadly Elizabeth would never marry Robert after Amy's death. The court would not tolerate him as king, they had a hard enough time excepting him as favorite. The court would try to push Elizabeth into a different direction of a foreign marriage. Robert was a notorious lover of many women and many men hated him and who he descended from. He ended up marrying Lettice Knolly's first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth on her mother's side. He could not have Elizabeth so he settle for her cousin. A rift had developed between them but it did diminish her fondness for him. Elizabeth although did pretty much ban Lettice from all social events and refereed to her as "the she-wolf".

In July 1588, the Earl of Leicester was appointed "Lieutenant and Captain-General of the Queen's Armies and Companies" as the Spanish Armada came nearer, he was beside Elizabeth on her famous review of the troops. After victory, he dined every day alone with the Queen. A week after farewell to Elizabeth, he died on his way to Derbyshire to take the bath. Elizabeth was devastated at the loss of her old friend and "honorary consort" and locked herself in her apartment for a few days, until Lord Burghley had the door broken down. She kept his letter that he had sent her only six days before his death, and wrote on it "His Last Letter." She put it in her treasure box at her bedside, and it was still there when she died 15 years later.

For further reading about Robert my favorites are The queens Fool by Philippa Gregory and The Queen's Bastard by Robin Maxwell