Book Review: RODIN'S LOVER by Heather Webb

The impressionism era that began in Paris during the 19^th century. It gave birth to iconic art works that we cherish today. Paris at the time was the center of one of the greatest explosions of creativity and forward thinking the art world had ever seen. Times were changing yet some things remained the same. The modern art scene was a man's world that did not welcome many women artists. Camille Claudel was an ambitious young woman that showed great potential for sculpting. Growing up in the country outside of Paris her father patronized her talents and her mother berated her. Her mother never understood Camille’s hearts desire to be a famous sculptor but her father did. Luckily her father decided moved the entire family to Paris and send Camille to a reputable art school.

Once at her new school Camille’s artistic skills blossomed under the new tutelage. She loved school but her life at home was hitting a new level of tense with her overbearing mother. Finding a way Camille teamed up with her new friends from school and rented a small studio and eventually the girls got a new mentor: Alfred Boucher. With Alfred’s help Camille integrated herself into the art society. Finally accepted as an artist Camille still struggled to be considered an equal to her artistic peers based only on the fact that she was a woman. Surrounded by men Camille knew the heartbreak of being looked down upon solely for the fact that in a male dominated world she was a victim of her sex in their eyes.

Boucher in the end had moved on from tutoring and had asked his famous sculptor friend Augustus Rodin to take Camille on as his new pupil. Rodin helped Camille take her skills to the next level. She now won commissions, shows, and the respect of some of France’s leading male impressionism artists. She was on a new high and over time she had developed feelings for her mentor. Their illicit affair began like a whirlwind and Camille desired one thing above any other and that was respect. Respect for her skills as an artist and respect as a woman. Not feeling she was getting the respect she was due she became a complicated woman that was fully invested in a man that could never be hers. Rodin had been married for decades before he ever met Camille. Though Rodin no longer was in love with his wife that did not mean he still did not love her and want to make sure she was well cared for. The relationship turned toxic for Camille. She loved Rodin despite their deteriorating affair. Eventually violence and mental breakdowns would lead them down a tragic road that will leave every woman with a lasting appreciation for the times that we live in today where women can be genuinely appreciated for their capabilities and talents.

3.5/5 I enjoyed this one yet I found it dragged a bit for me in some moments. I can fully understand Camille’s position in the world and I found her tale a tragic fate for such a gifted woman. I would recommend this novel to historical fiction art fanatics because it really focuses on some of the most interesting artists of the impressionism era.

FTC ~ this novel was sent to me by the publisher. I received no compensation for this book review.

R ~ Rating for sexual references.

Amazon: RODIN'S LOVER by Heather Webb

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Book Giveaway: Killers of the King the Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I by Charles Spencer

Killers of the King the Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I by Charles Spencer ~ Hardback
"On August 18, 1648, with no relief from the siege in sight, the royalist garrison holding Colchester Castle surrendered and Oliver Cromwell’s army firmly ended the rule of Charles I of England. To send a clear message to the fallen monarch, the rebels executed four of the senior officers captured at the castle. Yet still, the king refused to accept he had lost the war. As France and other allies mobilized in support of Charles, a tribunal was hastily gathered and a death sentence was passed. On January 30, 1649, the King of England was executed. This is the account of the fifty-nine regicides, the men who signed Charles I’s death warrant. Recounting a little-known corner of British history, Charles Spencer explores what happened when the Restoration arrived. From George Downing, the chief plotter, to Richard Ingoldsby, who claimed he was forced to sign his name by his cousin Oliver Cromwell, and from those who returned to the monarchist cause and betrayed their fellow regicides to those that fled the country in an attempt to escape their punishment, Spencer examines the long-lasting, far-reaching consequences not only for those who signed the warrant, but also for those who were present at the trial and for England itself. A powerful tale of revenge from the dark heart of England’s past, and a unique contribution to seventeenth-century history, Killers of the King tells the incredible story of the men who dared to assassinate a monarch".
Book Giveaway: Killers of the King by Charles Spencer
Good luck everyone and happy reading!
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Mailbox Mondays: Jean Plaidy, Diane Haeger, Michelle Moran and NYX

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
"When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the 1850s, it expects a quick and easy conquest. After all, India is not even a country, but a collection of kingdoms on the subcontinent. But when the British arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, expecting its queen to forfeit her crown, they are met with a surprise. Instead of surrendering, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies—one male, one female—and rides into battle like Joan of Arc. Although her soldiers are little match against superior British weaponry and training, Lakshmi fights against an empire determined to take away the land she loves.
Told from the perspective of Sita, one of the guards in Lakshmi's all-female army and the queen’s most trusted warrior, The Last Queen of India traces the astonishing tale of a fearless ruler making her way in a world dominated by men. In the tradition of her bestselling novel Nefertiti, which Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, called “a heroic story with a very human heart,” Michelle Moran once again brings a time and place rarely explored in historical fiction to rich, vibrant life".

The Heart of the Lion by Jean Plaidy
"At the age of thirty-two, Richard the Lionheart has finally succeeded Henry II to the English throne. And, against his father's wishes, he intends to make Berengaria, daughter of the King of Navarre, his Queen. But first he must fulfil his vow to his country to win back Jerusalem for the Christian world. Leaving England to begin his crusade, Richard's kingdom is left in the hands of his brother, John, who casts covetous eyes on the crown, and his sister, Joanna, who is willing to defy even a king".

The Queen's Mistake by Diane Haeger
"When the young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of the fifty-year-old King Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her undoing. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart?s desire in favor of her family?s ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who sought to bring her down a most effective weapon?her own romantic past.
The Queen?s Mistake is the tragic tale of one passionate and idealistic woman who struggles to negotiate the intrigue of the court and the yearnings of her heart".

The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall

"From the bestselling and award-winning author of Whistling Past the Graveyard comes an adventure tale about two daredevils and a farm boy who embark on the journey of a lifetime across America’s heartland in the Roaring Twenties.

Set in the rapidly changing world of 1920s America, this is a story of three people from very different backgrounds: Henry “Schuler” Jefferson, son of German immigrants from Midwestern farm country; Cora Rose Haviland, a young woman of privilege whose family has lost their fortune; and Charles “Gil” Gilchrist, an emotionally damaged WWI veteran pilot. Set adrift by life-altering circumstances, they find themselves bound together by need and torn apart by blind obsessions and conflicting goals. Each one holds a secret that, if exposed, would destroy their friendship. But their journey of adventure and self-discovery has a price—and one of them won’t be able to survive it.

As they crisscross the heartland, exploring the rapidly expanding role of aviation from barnstorming to bootlegging, from a flying circus to the dangerous sport of air racing, the three companions form a makeshift family. It’s a one-of-a-kind family, with members as adventurous as they are vulnerable, and as fascinating as they are flawed. But whatever adventure—worldly or private—they find themselves on, they’re guaranteed to be a family you won’t forget".

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E-Book Review: WHITE HEART by Sherry Jones

I am pretty late in posting this review because I accidentally put it in a folder and lost it on my computer until today. I decided to do a vlog on this review because it is a really short e-book that is only 56 pages which for me meant that it would be a really short typed review so instead I made a video about it. I hope you all enjoyed my first video book review on White Heart by Sherry Jones.

Amazon: White Heart by Sherry Jones
For more on Sherry check out my reviews of her other novels and more information on Amazon.
My review of Four Sisters, All Queens
Amazon: The Sharp Hook of Love by Sherry Jones
My review of The Sharp Hook of Love
Amazon: Four Sisters, all Queens, Sherry Jones

Also... check out Sherry's YouTube video's on The Sharp Hook of Love! She has a channel with a few other video's too if you want to check them out.
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New HF Release: Mademoiselle Chanel: A Novel by C.W. Gortner

In Sores today 3.17.2015
Mademoiselle Chanel: A Novel by C.W. Gortner 
"For readers of The Paris Wife and Z comes this vivid novel full of drama, passion, tragedy, and beauty that stunningly imagines the life of iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel—the ambitious, gifted laundrywoman’s daughter who revolutionized fashion, built an international empire, and become one of the most influential and controversial figures of the twentieth century.

Born into rural poverty, Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother’s death. The sisters nurture Gabrielle’s exceptional sewing skills, a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood.

Transforming herself into Coco—a seamstress and sometime torch singer—the petite brunette burns with ambition, an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life. She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury, discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity. But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny.

Rejecting the frilly, corseted silhouette of the past, her sleek, minimalist styles reflect the youthful ease and confidence of the 1920s modern woman. As Coco’s reputation spreads, her couturier business explodes, taking her into rarefied society circles and bohemian salons. But her fame and fortune cannot save her from heartbreak as the years pass. And when Paris falls to the Nazis, Coco is forced to make choices that will haunt her.

An enthralling novel of an extraordinary woman who created the life she desired, Mademoiselle Chanelexplores the inner world of a woman of staggering ambition whose strength, passion and artistic vision would become her trademark".

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New HF Releases: Kate Quinn and Michelle Moran

Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn in stores today 3.3.2015

Elegant, secretive Sabina may be Empress of Rome, but she still stands poised on a knife’s edge. She must keep the peace between two deadly enemies: her husband Hadrian, Rome’s brilliant and sinister Emperor; and battered warrior Vix, who is her first love. But Sabina is guardian of a deadly secret: Vix’s beautiful son Antinous has become the Emperor’s latest obsession.

Empress and Emperor, father and son will spin in a deadly dance of passion, betrayal, conspiracy, and war. As tragedy sends Hadrian spiraling into madness, Vix and Sabina form a last desperate pact to save the Empire. But ultimately, the fate of Rome lies with an untried girl, a spirited redhead who may just be the next Lady of the Eternal City . . .

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran in stores today 3.3.2015
From the internationally bestselling author of Nefertiti and Cleopatra’s Daughter comes the breathtaking story of Queen Lakshmi—India’s Joan of Arc—who against all odds defied the mighty British invasion to defend her beloved kingdom.

When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the mid-nineteenth century, it expects a quick and easy conquest. India is fractured and divided into kingdoms, each independent and wary of one another, seemingly no match for the might of the English. But when they arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, the British army is met with a surprising challenge.

Instead of surrendering, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies—one male and one female—and rides into battle, determined to protect her country and her people. Although her soldiers may not appear at first to be formidable against superior British weaponry and training, Lakshmi refuses to back down from the empire determined to take away the land she loves.

Told from the unexpected perspective of Sita—Queen Lakshmi’s most favored companion and most trusted soldier in the all-female army—Rebel Queen shines a light on a time and place rarely explored in historical fiction. In the tradition of her bestselling novel, Nefertiti, and through her strong, independent heroines fighting to make their way in a male dominated world, Michelle Moran brings nineteenth-century India to rich, vibrant life.

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Book Review: THE MAID: A NOVEL OF JOAN OF ARC by Kimberly Cutter

Jehanne the peasant farmer girl from Domremy France started her quest to free France from the vicious marauding English because the angels had spoken to her. They told her it was god’s will that its uncrowned King Charles VII reclaim France. Given these holy visions of what she was expected to do Jehanne willingly run away from her abusive father and an almost forced upon her marriage. There was nothing good for her at home. Ever since her sister had been brutally murdered by the English her father had heaped abuse after abuse on her pious little soul.

Where there is a will there is a way and Jehanne found a way to escape her abusive home, she taught herself how to ride a horse and eventually convinced Sir Robert to send her to the King with a letter of recommendation. Sir Robert had been a skeptic at first of her self proclaimed mission but when she had rightfully predicted a massacre of French troops he believed the Maid was truthful. By the time she had reached her uncrowned king she had inspired quiet a following and had become know through the land as the Maid come to save all of France from the evil invading English. Taken into a world she had never known her faith never wavered and her angels had spoken to her of her duty to free France. Determined to save her King and country Jehanne dressed like a boy-fighting tooth and nail right besides the troops all for France’s freedom.

Victory after victory was theirs and her fame spread like wild fire because she had inspired a new hope for the future. Masses of people had flocked to her banner for guidance from the famous Maid. Having all of France backing her Jehanne was confidante in her abilities but her indecisive King Charles was unsure of his position and was pulling back at the worst moment for Jehanne because it would led to her famous downfall.

3/5 I did enjoy this read because it was fast paced and filled with adventure. I gave it a lower rating not because I did not think it was good but because it was graphically violent. I found the details of the battles and her struggles a bit too much for my taste. I am the type of reader that cannot stomach too much graphic violence or sex and even though I enjoyed the read I found myself wincing at the gory descriptions of this brutal time period. I would recommend this novel for historically fiction lovers that can stomach the violent bits.

FTC ~ this novel is from my personal collection.

R ~ Rating for graphic violence.

Amazon: THE MAID: A NOVEL OF JOAN OF ARC by Kimberly Cutter

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Book Review: TO DEFY A KING by Elizabeth Chadwick

Daughter of England’s greatest knight William Marshall, Mahelt Marshall was the soft spot in her fathers heart. Only having his daughter’s best interest in mind William made the best marriage match he could possibly make for his beloved Mahelt. Hugh Bigod the heir to the Earldom of Norfolk was a handsome youth that like his father was man of high integrity. Her father had perfectly matched them on many different levels. Mahelt was a bold and stubborn while Hugh was calm and reasonable. Together they connected on a deeper level of understanding and love.

Leading up to their marriage the Marshall family had been the focus of the tyrant King Johns wrath. Mahelt’s beloved brothers had been held as royal hostages for confirmation of the marshall’s good will towards the king. The Bigod household had taken Mahelt in at a younger age than most marrying women because with King Johns eye on the marshal’s her father knew the safest place for her was as far away from john as possible. She would be safe under the Bigod family’s protection. The safety of her new family lasted for a time but King John had been on a rampage of an abuse of his power. He was a ruthless king that had turned against his loyal Bigod and Marshall supporters. John was determined to bring the Bigods and the Marshall’s to heel or crush them into submission. With John determined to destroy both of her families Mahelt was forced to defy the king and fight for her family  marriage, and their future.

4/5 Everybody needs a little Chadwick in their life because I think she is right up there with Jean Plaidy as far as historical fiction greats go. I really enjoyed this novel because I never expected Mahelt to be so feisty! This novel I would highly recommend to all historical fiction lovers because Chadwick is gifted at weaving such beautiful stories.

FTC ~ this novel is from my personal collection.
R ~ Rating for violence and sexual references.

Amazon: TO DEFY A KING by Elizabeth Chadwick

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Fifty Shades of Grammar

With the new Fifty Shades of Grey finally out in theaters I thought that many of you would get a kick out of this post that was pitched to me by Grammarly. I really want to see the new movie because I am kind of hoping it will be one of the rare instance where the movie is better than the book because if you do not know I found the book poorly written and I am no prude but the "tampon scene" was just crossing the line for me into a land where no man should be allowed EVER. Enjoy the post and if you have seen the movie let me know what you think of it because the reviews have not been great for it. Thank you Grammarly for this interesting post and happy readings everyone!
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HF Lovers Unite to Help Author Kate Quinn

Hey all! I heard this week that author Kate Quinn had devastating house fire that claimed everything she owns. Being the wonderful person and author that Kate is many fellow authors and book lovers have pulled together to help Kate in her darkest hours. Fellow HF author Stephanie Dray has started a Go Fund Me page to help Kate get back on her feet. The fund will go directly to Kate and her husband. Now I totally understand if you are not in a position to donate but you can also help Kate by pre-ordering her upcoming release: Lady of the Eternal City which will hit bookstores 3.3.2015 and if that is not in your budget then can you please help spread the word about the fundraiser or the upcoming release? Blast it on FB, Twitter, Instagram and ANY other media outlet you use because we all need a little extra love in hard times so lets all pull together and help this lovely HF author who has given us some incredible novels to read.

Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn in stores 3.3.2015

Elegant, secretive Sabina may be Empress of Rome, but she still stands poised on a knife’s edge. She must keep the peace between two deadly enemies: her husband Hadrian, Rome’s brilliant and sinister Emperor; and battered warrior Vix, who is her first love. But Sabina is guardian of a deadly secret: Vix’s beautiful son Antinous has become the Emperor’s latest obsession.

Empress and Emperor, father and son will spin in a deadly dance of passion, betrayal, conspiracy, and war. As tragedy sends Hadrian spiraling into madness, Vix and Sabina form a last desperate pact to save the Empire. But ultimately, the fate of Rome lies with an untried girl, a spirited redhead who may just be the next Lady of the Eternal City . . .

Kate Quinn House Fire Recovery Fund

Check out Kate's other novels too!

Empress of Rome Series: Mistress of Rome ~ Daughters of Rome ~ Empress of the Seven Hills

The Borgia's Series: The Serpent and the Pearl ~ The Lion and the Rose

Kate's Amazon Page

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Mailbox Monday: Books Galore!

Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I by Charles Spencer

"On August 18, 1648, with no relief from the siege in sight, the royalist garrison holding Colchester Castle surrendered and Oliver Cromwell’s army firmly ended the rule of Charles I of England. To send a clear message to the fallen monarch, the rebels executed four of the senior officers captured at the castle. Yet still, the king refused to accept he had lost the war. As France and other allies mobilized in support of Charles, a tribunal was hastily gathered and a death sentence was passed. On January 30, 1649, the King of England was executed. This is the account of the fifty-nine regicides, the men who signed Charles I’s death warrant. Recounting a little-known corner of British history, Charles Spencer explores what happened when the Restoration arrived. From George Downing, the chief plotter, to Richard Ingoldsby, who claimed he was forced to sign his name by his cousin Oliver Cromwell, and from those who returned to the monarchist cause and betrayed their fellow regicides to those that fled the country in an attempt to escape their punishment, Spencer examines the long-lasting, far-reaching consequences not only for those who signed the warrant, but also for those who were present at the trial and for England itself. A powerful tale of revenge from the dark heart of England’s past, and a unique contribution to seventeenth-century history, Killers of the King tells the incredible story of the men who dared to assassinate a monarch".

Rodin's Lover by Heather Webb"A mesmerizing tale of art and passion in Belle Époque France
As a woman, aspiring sculptor Camille Claudel has plenty of critics, especially her ultra-traditional mother. But when Auguste Rodin makes Camille his apprentice—and his muse—their passion inspires groundbreaking works. Yet, Camille’s success is overshadowed by her lover’s rising star, and her obsessions cross the line into madness.

Rodin’s Lover brings to life the volatile love affair between one of the era’s greatest artists and a woman entwined in a tragic dilemma she cannot escape".

The Strangled Queen by Maurice Druon ~ The Accursed Kings Series #2
"The King is dead. Long live the King. Philip IV is dead and his great kingdom is in disarray. It seems the fatal curse of the Templars is plaguing the royal house of France.
His son has been enthroned as Louis X; but with his disgraced wife Marguerite imprisoned in the Chateau Gaillard for her adultery, Louis can produce no heir with which to secure the succession. But neither can he marry again while she lives…

The web of scandal, murder and intrigue that once wove itself around the court of the Iron King continues to draw in his descendants, as the destruction of his dynasty continues apace".

His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm
"That's my last duchess painted on the wall... Seduced by the hot sun and blinding passions of Renaissance Italy, sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de' Medici sees a gilded life stretching ahead. Her wealthy new husband handpicked her to be his bride, and his great castle in Ferrara will be her playground. But Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara quickly proves to be just as dangerous and mysterious as he is dark and handsome, and the stone walls of the castle seem to trap Lucrezia like a prison.
Only the duke's lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury, as his desperate need to produce an heir drives him deep into precarious obsession. With her head full of heartbroken dreams, Lucrezia flees from him down a dangerous path that may cost her everything.
Step into the elegant world of the Robert Browning poem "My Last Duchess," as imagined by Gabrielle Kimm, where she brings to life the passions and people of sixteenth-century Tuscany and Ferrara. It is a chilling story of forbidden love and dark decadence that will haunt you".

House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty
"In the early 1600s, Elizabeth Báthory, the infamous Blood Countess, ruled Čachtice Castle in the hinterlands of Slovakia. During bizarre nightly rites, she tortured and killed the young women she had taken on as servants. A devil, a demon, the terror of Royal Hungary — she bathed in their blood to preserve her own youth.
400 years later, echoes of the Countess’s legendary brutality reach Aspen, Colorado. Betsy Path, a psychoanalyst of uncommon intuition, has a breakthrough with sullen teenager Daisy Hart. Together, they are haunted by the past, as they struggle to understand its imprint upon the present. Betsy and her troubled but perceptive patient learn the truth: the curse of the House of Bathory lives still and has the power to do evil even now.

The story, brimming with palace intrigue, memorable characters intimately realized, and a wealth of evocative detail, travels back and forth between the familiar, modern world and a seventeenth-century Eastern Europe brought startlingly to life".

The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones
"A'isha bint Abi Bakr is the daughter of a rich merchant from Mecca in the harsh, exotic world of seventh-century Arabia at the time of the foundation of Islam. When she is married to the Prophet Muhammad at the age of nine, she must rely on her wits, her courage, and even her sword in a struggle to control her own destiny and carve out a place for herself in the community, fighting religious persecution, jealous sister-wives, political rivals, and her own temptations. As she grows to love her kind, generous husband, her ingenuity and devotion make her an indispensable advisor to Muhammad. Ultimately, she becomes one of the most important women in Islam, and a fierce protector of her husband's words and legacy.Extensively researched, The Jewel of Medina evokes the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past. At once a love story, a history lesson, and a coming-of-age tale, it introduces readers to the turmoil that surrounded the birth of the Islamic faith through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine".

The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory
"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the Starz original series The White Queen comes the story of lady-in-waiting Margaret Pole and her unique view of King Henry VIII’s stratospheric rise to power in Tudor England.
Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII’s claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter—Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret’s contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. Margaret soon becomes a trusted advisor and friend to the honeymooning couple, hiding her own royal connections in service to the Tudors.

After the sudden death of Prince Arthur, Katherine leaves for London a widow, and fulfills her deathbed promise to her husband by marrying his brother, Henry VIII. Margaret’s world is turned upside down by the surprising summons to court, where she becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. But this charmed life of the wealthiest and “holiest” woman in England lasts only until the rise of Anne Boleyn, and the dramatic deterioration of the Tudor court. Margaret has to choose whether her allegiance is to the increasingly tyrannical king, or to her beloved queen; to the religion she loves or the theology which serves the new masters. Caught between the old world and the new, Margaret Pole has to find her own way as she carries the knowledge of an old curse on all the Tudors".

The King's Concubine by Anne O'Brien
"A child born in the plague year of 1348, abandoned and raised within the oppressive walls of a convent, Alice Perrers refused to take the veil, convinced that a greater destiny awaited her. Ambitious and quick witted, she rose above her obscure beginnings to become the infamous mistress of Edward III. But always, essentially, she was alone... Early in Alice’s life, a chance meeting with royalty changes everything: Kindly Queen Philippa, deeply in love with her husband but gravely ill, chooses Alice as a lady-in-waiting. Under the queen’s watchful eye, Alice dares to speak her mind. She demands to be taken seriously. She even flirts with the dynamic, much older king. But she is torn when her vibrant spirit captures his interest...and leads her to a betrayal she never intended. In Edward’s private chambers, Alice discovers the pleasures and paradoxes of her position. She is the queen’s confidante and the king’s lover, yet she can rely only on herself. It is a divided role she was destined to play, and she vows to play it until the bitter end. Even as she is swept up in Edward’s lavish and magnificent court, amassing wealth and influence for herself, becoming an enemy of his power-hungry son John of Gaunt, and a sparring partner to resourceful diplomat William de Windsor, she anticipates the day when the political winds will turn against her. For when her detractors voice their hatred,and accusations of treason swirl around her,threatening to destroy everything she has achieved, who will stand by Alice then"?

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