Title: The Queen of Last Hopes
Author: Susan Higginbotham
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-1402242816
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A man other than my husband sits on England’s throne today.

What would happen if this king suddenly went mad? What would his queen do? Would she make the same mistakes I did, or would she learn from mine?

Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, cannot give up on her husband—even when he slips into insanity. And as mother to the House of Lancaster’s last hope, she cannot give up on her son—even when England turns against them. This gripping tale of a queen forced to stand strong in the face of overwhelming odds is at its heart a tender tale of love.

Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham will once again ask readers to question everything they know about right and wrong, compassion and hope, duty to one’s country and the desire of one’s own heart.

My Review:

The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham is a stunningly beautiful portrayal of Marguerite of Anjou and a refreshing look at her life, which is usually told through the Yorkist viewpoint, but not this time. Higginbotham gives Marguerite, who becomes Margaret when she became the Queen of England, her own voice telling the events of 1444-1509 as she lived them. The narration is not solely through Margaret’s voice, several chapters alternate with the voices of key players during the turbulent years King Henry VI was on the throne and beyond. Most heart-breaking to me were the chapters told through the voice of Suffolk, a strong man who did his best to serve the crown. Higginbotham gives historical fiction fans a fresh look at the House of Lancaster and the strength of Margaret, a woman who has often been portrayed in a rather unflattering light, and yet in The Queen of Last Hopes, the reader will see a loving daughter, wife, friend, and mother. Higginbotham cleverly sets the scene during the War of the Roses, shedding an entirely vivid light on the Lancastrian’s side of the War and how one woman fought with tenacity not only for the thrown for her husband Henry, when even he wanted to give up, but also for their son Edward, Prince of Wales. The Queen of Last Hopes is an astonishingly vivid, detailed, and brilliant account of the life of Margaret of Anjou and I was unable to set the book down, Higginbotham kept me engrossed from the very beginning to the last word and I anxiously await her next book. I highly recommend The Queen of Last Hopes to every reader who enjoys historical fiction and to those who have not yet tried a historical fiction book, this is the one to read.

About the author:

Susan Higginbotham is the author of two historical fiction novels. The Traitor’s Wife, her first novel, is the winner of ForeWord Magazine’s 2005 Silver Award for historical fiction and is a Gold Medalist, Historical/Military Fiction, 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards. She writes her own historical fiction blog and is a contributor to the blog Yesterday Revisited. Higginbotham has worked as an editor and an attorney, and lives in North Carolina with her family. For more information, please visit her website.

I received a complimentary ARC of The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: The Passionate Brood: A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood
Author: Margaret Campbell Barnes
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-1402242052
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

In this compelling novel of love, loyalty, and lost chances, Margaret Campbell Barnes gives readers a new perspective on Richard the Lionheart’s triumphs and tragedies. Drawing on folklore, Barnes explores what might have happened if King Richard’s foster brother were none other than Robin Hood, a legendary figure more vibrant than most in authentic history. Thick as thieves as Richard builds a kingdom and marshals a crusade, the two clash when Robin Hood so provokes the king’s white hot temper that Richard banishes him. The Passionate Brood is a tale of a man driven to win back the Holy Land, beset by the guilt of casting out his childhood friend, and shouldering the burden of being the lionhearted leader of the Plantagenets.

My Review:

The Passionate Brood by Margaret Campbell Barnes is a re-release of a brilliant work of historical fiction, which focuses on Richard I, the Plantagenets, and the legend of Robin Hood. Campbell Barnes writes exquisite historical novels and this one is not an exception. Her choice in writing about the rather early years of the rise, struggles, tragedies and triumphs of the Plantagenets is quite well done. In The Passionate Brood, the reader is introduced to real and quite fictional characters, creating an exceptional story of King Richard I’s reign, the crusades, the man who becomes known as Robin Hood, and also the struggle of the Plantagenets. Campbell Barnes’ characters are well written and one is easily transported back to the twelfth century through her descriptive and vivid imagery. The Passionate Brood is a thrilling and fast paced novel, which brings together history with folklore to create an exceptional book. I would highly recommend The Passionate Brood to all readers, especially those who enjoy a well-written historical fiction novel.

I received a complimentary copy of The Passionate Brood by Margaret Campbell Barnes from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: Child of the Northern Spring: Book One of the Guinevere Trilogy
Author: Persia Woolley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
Paperback: 576 pages
ISBN: 978-1402245220
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

Among the first to look at the story of Camelot through Guinevere’s eyes, Woolley sets the traditional tale in the time of its origin, after Britain has shattered into warring fiefdoms. Hampered by neither fantasy nor medieval romance, this young Guinevere is a feisty Celtic tomboy who sees no reason why she must learn to speak Latin, wear dresses, and go south to marry that king. But legends being what they are, the story of Arthur’s rise to power soon intrigues her, and when they finally meet, Guinevere and Arthur form a partnership that has lasted for 1500 years.

This is Arthurian epic at its best—filled with romance, adventure, authentic Dark Ages detail, and wonderfully human people.

My Review:

Having always enjoyed historical novels about King Arthur and Guinevere and having read some expertly written series, Hellen Holick’s Pendragon series springs to mind, I have always wanted to read the legend through the eyes of Guinevere as she has always intrigued me and so when I heard there was a trilogy being re-released telling Guinevere’s version of events, I knew I had to read Child of the Northern Spring by Persia Woolley. It is evident from the beginning that Woolley took her time researching the history of the time period as she goes into extraordinarily vivid description. Her characters come to life and it is intriguing to view Guinevere’s childhood and how she met Arthur through her eyes. As with every Arthurian legend I have read there are revolts, uprisings, adventure, misadventure, danger and love, making Child of the Northern Spring a fast-paced and thrilling adventure and one I did not want to end. I look forward to reading the other two books in Woolley’s trilogy; Queen of the Summer Stars and Guinevere: Legend in Autumn. I highly recommend Child of the Northern Spring to anyone who enjoys strong female characters, Arthurian legends, and well-researched and written historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of Child of the Northern Spring by Persia Woolley from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: The Forever Queen
Author: Helen Hollick
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
Paperback: 656 pages
ISBN: 9978-1402240683
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

What kind of woman becomes the wife of two kings, and the mother of two more?

Saxon England, 1002. Not only is Æthelred a failure as King, but his young bride, Emma of Normandy, soon discovers he is even worse as a husband. When the Danish Vikings, led by Swein Forkbeard and his son, Cnut, cause a maelstrom of chaos, Emma, as Queen, must take control if the Kingdom—and her crown—are to be salvaged. Smarter than history remembers, and stronger than the foreign invaders who threaten England’s shores, Emma risks everything on a gamble that could either fulfill her ambitions and dreams or destroy her completely.

Emma, the Queen of Saxon England, comes to life through the exquisite writing of Helen Hollick, who shows in this epic tale how one of the most compelling and vivid heroines in English history stood tall through a turbulent fifty-year reign of proud determination, tragic despair, and triumph over treachery.

My Review:

Every so often a book comes along that takes the reader’s breath away, fully engaging the reader for days on end, transporting the reader to another place and time in history and The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick is just such a book. The Forever Queen is quite a tome, but once one begins the reader would have it no other way, as one is immediately transported back to 1002 Canterbury where the reader is introduced to 13-year-old Lady Emma who is awaiting her wedding to 34-year-old King Aethelred. A marriage arranged by her brother Richard to forge relations between Britain and Normandy, where Emma has no voice to object. Soon young Lady Emma becomes Queen Aelfgifu Regina, Queen of England. The injustices Emma endures along with the strength she finds in unlikely friends and a coming of her own, Emma is indeed a true heroine. Hollick’s diligence to history shines through in her descriptive writings of the shires, the people, their languages, dress, food, and customs along with her detailed and descriptive battle scenes. Hollick’s command of weaving together historical facts with imagined events is pure brilliance. Hollick masterfully conveys so many elements that make up a book well worth savouring; fear, jealousy, romance, mystery, intrigue, treason, compassion, and an all around extraordinary cast of characters, many are not as they seem and some are downright dreadful yet the story would not be the same without each and every one. The Forever Queen grabs the reader from the first page and keeps the reader fully engaged until the very end, making it an unforgettable read. A remarkable time in history is transformed into a engaging and delightful novel which will take the reader through a full series of emotions all the while cheering for young Emma, forced into a foreign land with a language she could neither speak nor understand, and a marriage and position she never wished for, to watching her transform into adulthood, becomes a mother and a force to be reckoned with. I cannot adequately praise The Forever Queen enough. Without hesitation I recommend The Forever Queen to all readers, especially those who enjoy historical fiction. While the book is long, I believe a book group could have great fun with this book over a series of time, as there is much to be discussed and debated over in The Forever Queen.

For information on the author please visit her website and/or follow her on Twitter.

The Forever Queen Book Club Schedule

November 1
http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
http://calicocritic.blogspot.com/
November 2
http://www.passagestothepast.com/
http://lifeinthethumb.blogspot.com/
November 3
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://www.luxuryreading.com/
November 4
http://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com/
http://historicallyobsessed.blogspot.com/
November 5
http://booksbythewillowtree.blogspot.com/
http://www.historyandwomen.com/
November 8
http://www.rundpinne.com/
http://www.bookwormsdinner.blogspot.com/
November 9
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
November 10
http://literatehousewife.com/
http://carpelibrisreviews.com/
November 11
http://web.me.com/quirion/Bookaddict/Welcome.html
http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/
November 12
http://www.brokenteepee.blogspot.com/
http://www.read-all-over.net
November 15
http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/
http://celticladysramblings.blogspot.com/
November 16
http://www.jennylovestoread.blogspot.com/
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/
November 17
http://bookalicio.us/
http://themaidenscourt.blogspot.com/
November 18
http://pushersink.blogspot.com/
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
November 19
http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
November 22
Book Club Chat on http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/
7pm-9pm EST

I received a complimentary copy of The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury
Author: Edith Pargeter
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1402239915
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

Henry Bolingbroke knows that he should be king of England. It’s his God-given destiny, and the young Richard II had no right to banish him and claim the throne. With the help of the powerful lords of Northumberland, especially Harry “Hotspur” Percy, Henry triumphantly overthrows Richard and imprisons him.

Henry IV will need all his strength to defend the crown, but the relationships between the king, Hotspur, and the king’s son Prince Hal contain the seeds of their own destruction. The king’s powerful enemies are poised to pounce as the three men are drawn to bloody collision some two miles from Shrewsbury. Filled with the glorious historical detail that fans of Edith Pargeter have come to expect, A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury is a skillful tapestry of the feuds, loves, and triumphs of Henry IV.

My Review:

Edith Pargeter is well known for her in-depth historical fiction novels and A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury is no exception. The book begins in 1399 and presumes the reader has some knowledge of English history, which in short starts with Henry Bolingbroke, now King Henry IV taking the place of deposed King Richard II. The book is divided up amongst the three key players in this turbulent time in history, King Henry IV, Harry “Hotspur” Percy, and Prince Hal who will eventually become King Henry V. Prince Hal comes into his own at the young age of 12, wary of his father and trusting of Lord Percy. Henry IV’s reign is not an easy one, the people are questioning Richard II’s mysterious death and there is trouble brewing in Wales. Hotspur is working on establishing a Welsh connection and hopes to gain a foothold through the young Widower Julian Hussey and her father Rhodri Parry. Pargeter writes an in-depth, vividly detailed and brilliantly executed book which admittedly can be a tad bit difficult to get into, but honestly it is worth the effort and pays off after about 40 pages or so, creating an intriguing web of loyalty, treachery and history. Pargeter has masterfully captured a way to portray the late 14th and early 15th century England and Wales in such a manner that the reader will feel as though the reader is there as Prince Hal matures, Lord Percy, well I cannot say, due to spoilers, and King Henry IV who weathers the rocky road that is his first decade as King and beyond. A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury covers the thirteen years of King Henry IV’s reign, his joys, struggles as well as the various battles both internal and external will keep the reader moving rapidly through this book and looking forward to reading other re-released books of Edith Pargeter. I strongly recommend A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury to anyone who enjoys an exceedingly well-written historical fiction novel.

About the Author:

Edith Pargeter (1913-1995) has gained worldwide praise and recognition for her historical fiction and historical mysteries, including The Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet. She also wrote several novels of crime fiction as Ellis Peters. She was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire). A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury was originally published in 1972.

I received a complimentary copy of A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury by Edith Pargeter from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: Désirée
Author: Annemarie Selinko
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Paperback: 608 pages
ISBN: 978-1402244025
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

To be young, in France, and in love: fourteen year old Desiree can’t believe her good fortune. Her fiance, a dashing and ambitious Napoleon Bonaparte, is poised for battlefield success, and no longer will she be just a French merchant’s daughter. She could not have known the twisting path her role in history would take, nearly breaking her vibrant heart but sweeping her to a life rich in passion and desire.

A love story, but so much more, Désirée explores the landscape of a young heart torn in two, giving readers a compelling true story of an ordinary girl whose unlikely brush with history leads to a throne no one would have expected.

An epic bestseller that has earned both critical acclaim and mass adoration, Désirée is at once a novel of the rise and fall of empires, the blush and fade of love, and the heart and soul of a woman.

My Review:

Delightfully enchanting, Désirée by Annemarie Selinko is an exquisite book based on the fascinating life of Désirée Clary. Selinko chose to write her narrative through diary entries of Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary beginning in 1794 when she was 14 years old and meets and becomes engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte, and ending on August 29, 1829 as she is crowned Queen of Sweden, and the 35 years in between. Most have heard of Napoleon Bonaparte and some know he was first engaged to Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary, but many do not know her full story, for which Selinko does an extraordinarily detailed job chronicling, from her family life to friends and extended parties including the rich and detailed description of the court of Napoleon Bonaparte to the Swedish courts, which she is not as fond of as the French courts. Désirée is rich in vivid detail and imagery, taking the reader back to the world Bernardine Eugenie Désirée Clary inhabited and the numerous conflicts that surrounded her life and the turbulent times she lived. The characters are well developed and I found myself extremely intrigued by Josephine de Beauharnais and will be looking for a book from her perspective next. Selinko masterfully writes not only an unforgettable love story but also an in-depth historical tale, which draws the reader in from the very first page and keeps the reader’s rapt attention until the last word is read. To say I enjoyed this book immensely would be an understatement. I found myself riveted to my seat from beginning to end and could not help but care deeply for Désirée Clary. This is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read and I recommend without hesitation Désirée by Annemarie Selinko to all readers.

I received a complimentary copy ofDésirée by Annemarie Selinko from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.