Book Review: THE TUDOR THRONE by Brandy Purdy and Giveaway

It was raunchy, sexy, and downright wild in all the right places, man I love the Tudors. Brandy Purdy really is coming in to her groove with The Tudor Throne here. Some readers however might not be able to overlook things like complete historical accuracy. If complete historical accuracy is a must in your readings then Brandy Purdy is just not the author for you. Purdy’s novels fall for me into this new type of genre being thrown around in the book world called “historical entertainment”. I feel that in that area of historical fiction authors take more liberties with the actual historical events. A prime very popular example is Carolly Erickson which I enjoyed her novels also. Brandy does take liberties yet I still felt I was left with a feeling that the novel was well written, and since I have read every spin on the Tudors I could ever shake a stick at, I admit I like a wild off the wall pure fun read every once in a while.

In the Tudor throne the novel is split between the two fractions. One part of the novel is Elizabeth I and the other Elizabeth’s oldest half sister Mary I. In the beginning of the novel readers follow sweet Mary as she goes from the doted on princess “marigold” of the Tudor court to the banished bastard of the unwanted wife Catherine of Aragon. Mary became a sad soul and one shining light in her life became her baby sister. Their relationship had its ups and its downs and even as Mary later regained the Tudor throne for catholic fraction she still failed to gain the people of England’s love. She always was so bleak even in the few glory moments she had because next to the future Elizabeth I, Mary would always be as dull as an old penny next to a shining dime like Elizabeth.

Elizabeth also loved her older sister even though she suffered real hardship for her ties to Mary. Mary did love her but that does not mean that she trusted her completely. They were of course of two different faiths Elizabeth the church of England and Mary a diehard Catholic. It was the same turmoil with her younger brother Edward and when Edward became king Mary had many problems with the path her brother chose. It drove a wedge between the siblings and when Henry VIII died it would cause problems for the years to come. Elizabeth was sent to live with her father’s last wife Catherine Parr after his passing. Catherine was beautiful, educated and still so young that she surprised her step daughter with a fly by night marriage to Thomas Seymour. Naughty Thomas Seymour would touch Elizabeth like no other and one of the biggest dangers of being around the Tudors is keeping your head even if the other Tudor was your own sister.

⅘ I think Brandy really impressed me this time around. I was extremely entertained with this novel but did not find it line crossing or to outlandish. I enjoyed “The Boleyn Wife” with its creepy Anne Boleyn ghost but I feel The Tudor Throne is done in a much better form. I have a feeling that Brandy’s next novel is going to be even better. I feel that this one was a bit wilder but...it still had the perfect mix of lust and history that was still very somewhat believable. I would love to recommend this novel to readers who have enjoyed authors like Carolly Erickson previously because if complete historical accuracy is a must then Prudy is be a no fly zone for you.

• FTC~this novel was sent to me by the publisher for review. I do not get paid for my reviews.
• R-Rating for graphic sexual references.

The Giveaway

The giveaway is for one finished paperback copy. Giveaway ends September 11th 2011 at midnight west coast time. The giveaway is for one autographed copy and open to US Only
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Amazon
The Tudor Throne
The Boleyn Wife
The Confession of Piers Gaveston
Vengeance Is Mine: A Novel of Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard, and Lady Rochford--the woman who helped destroy them both.
~Lizzie~

Giveaway THREE MAIDS FOR A CROWN by Ella March Chase

"In the second novel from Ella March Chase, we meet sixteen-year-old Jane Grey, a quiet and obedient young lady destined to become the shortest reigning English monarch. Her beautiful middle sister Katherine Grey charms all the right people—until loyalties shift. And finally Lady Mary Grey, a dwarf with a twisted spine whose goal is simply to protect people she loves—but at a terrible cost.

In an age in which begetting sons was all that mattered and queens rose and fell on the sex of their child, these three girls with royal Tudor blood lived under the dangerous whims of parents with a passion for gambling. The stakes they would wager: their daughters' lives against rampant ambition".

Amazon 
Three Maids for a Crown: A Novel of the Grey Sisters
The Virgin Queen's Daughter: A Novel

The giveaway is for THREE copies. This one is only open to the US. Giveaway ends August 26th 2011 at midnight west coast time.

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For 3 entries share this and add a real link to where you shared it.

~Lizzy~

Today In History, Jane Grey looses Her Head

456 years ago on February 12th 1554 Jane Grey the nine days queen was beheaded by her own cousin Queen Mary Tudor. The hardest part for me to accept is that this poor girl did not even want the crown. She was a pawn in other peoples ambitious scams of taking controlling of the crown. Mostly her parents and her father in law, sadly her nasty mother did not even try to plead for her daughters life. Her husband Guilford Dudley was also executed in public earlier that day and her father was executed a week after Jane. I found this picture and it is stated that it is Jane Grey but in the caption it also say Jeane.

"Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed, against the Queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day."

The image on the left is one of Guilford Dudley

"She pleaded the axeman, "I pray you dispatch me quickly". Referring to her head, she asked, "Will you take it off before I lay me down?" and the axeman answered, "No, madam". She then blindfolded herself. Jane had resolved to go to her death with dignity, but once blindfolded, failing to find the block with her hands, began to panic and cried, "What shall I do? Where is it?" An unknown hand, possibly Feckenham's, then helped her find her way and retain her dignity at the end. With her head on the block, Jane spoke the last words of Jesus as recounted by Luke: "Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" She was then beheaded."

The "Jane" inscription in the Beauchamp Tower in the Tower of London

I had never noticed until just now that there is a woman throwing herself towards the wall like she just can not take it to watch Jane die. More than likely it is Jane's long time nurse who loved her like her own child.