Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen by Alison Weir

Young Catalina of Aragon is betrothed to Arthur, the Prince of Wales. Their young marriage quickly turns tragic after Arthur dies. Katherine, who also falls ill, is left without a future, a pawn between her father and father in law. Her pain becomes pleasure when she marries Henry, Arthur's young and affectionate brother. But their life together is not without pain. Soon Katherine is fighting for her husband, her crown and her future.

I have always enjoyed Alison Weir's books, but this one was of her best. Katherine is brought to life and the reader sees her as a young girl, instead of the queen she became. The love that develops between Katherine & Henry seems short lived, but is very well written. I think Weir captures the whole story in this book and I can't wait to see how the next books in this awesome series will turn out.

Confessions of a Young Nero by Margaret George

Tomorrow, Margaret George's newest book The Confessions of Young Nero is released.

The Confessions of Young Nero takes readers through the early life of Rome’s infamous Nero. Through the machinations of his mother, Agrippina the Younger, Nero became emperor at the age of sixteen, the last of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. But the road was a frightening one. The young boy, an intelligent, sensitive and watchful child, had a series of psychological shocks from an early age. His cruel uncle Caligula and his scheming cousin Messalina threatened his life, and his domineering and ambitious mother Agrippina married and poisoned two men en route to securing the throne for her son. Agrippina viewed Nero’s power as an extension of her own will. But once on the throne—like the teenage boy he was—Nero did not want to take orders from his mother. Soon the world was not big enough for the two of them. Thereafter he was remembered as a hedonist and tyrant who “fiddled” while his people burned. But the truth behind the caricature, revealed here, shows Nero to be instead a product of his mother’s relentless ambition, and the incest, violence, luxury, and intrigue that have gripped Rome’s seat of power for generations.

This book is wonderful. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that it's my first Margaret George book, though I have plenty on my shelf. I loved diving the life of Nero, and all the details that the are included in this book. George wraps fiction, history and myth into a wonderful package. The book is very descriptive and I enjoyed feeling like I got to know the real Nero, not the Nero history remembers. I also was pleased that Margaret makes the complicated Roman "Royal" line easier to navigate and understand. The plot isn't action packed, but rather intrigue packed. The book is amazing and I can't wait to finish my other Margaret George books.


AUTHOR BIO

Margaret George is the author of the bestselling Autobiography of Henry VIII; Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles; The Memoirs of Cleopatra; and Mary, Called Magdalene.



Thank you to the publisher for a copy.

Secret Language of Stones by MJ Rose

Opaline Duplessi, a young woman in Paris during World War I, works as a jeweler creating mourning jewelry  in a fantastic Russian jewelry store. Descended from  La Lune, one of sixteenth century Paris’s most famous courtesans, Opaline has a gift that makes the stones speak to her, passing on messages from soldiers who have passed on. Then one day, the stones speak to her. Opaline is grief stricken and fascinated by the voice talking to her from beyond. As she reaches out for his family, danger quickly presents itself.


I've read a lot of MJ Rose's books and this one was by far the most magical for me. I loved the jewelry making and Opaline is a great narrator. The reader is quickly pulled into her world. The plot is twisty, which kept me on my toes. Its a really great read. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.

Medicis Daughter by Sophie Perinot

Margot, a Princess of France, is summoned to her mother's court in 1564. At court, her widowed mother, Catherine de Medicis, rules over a country divided by religion. Margot easily makes friends of her mother's women spies, but finds that she must follow a different set of rules. Margot easily falls in love with the Duc de Guise, leader of the Catholic faction at court, but is betrothed to Henri of Navarre, her uncouth cousin to seal a truce. Margot sees behind the illusion of peace and begs her brother, King Charles, to spare her husband. The night that follows sets France and Margot's family into a path of chaos and destruction.  

This book was amazing. Margot is a perfect character. She is smart, caring and a little bit stubborn. I loved her evolution from a fresh convent girl to a Princess of France. Her family dynamics were captured with amazing clarity, even down to the most minuscule detail. Catherine's rule was far stretching and absolute, but Margot challenges her. Pick up this perfect book. I knew I'd love it as much as I loved Perinot's first book, Sister Queens. 

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.

An Almond for a Parrot by Wray Delaney

Young Tully Truegood never leaves her drunken father's house, but sees magical things. When she is forced into a marriage by her father at age 12, nothing changes. Only the arrival of her new stepmother change things. Tully soon learns her stepmother runs a brothel, and Tully is trained in the arts. Her stepmother's associate, Mr. Crease, trains Tully in the supernatural arts. Tully soon catches the eye of a lover, and learns the pain of heartbreak.  After her life and the life of those she loves are threatened by her estranged husband, Tully does what she must to survive. 

Wow. This was an amazing book. A seriously awesome read full of twists and turns. Obviously,  with the book being about a prostitute, sex is a part of the book. Tully is a wonderfully warm hearted girl. The plot is amazing. The characters are wonderful. The parrot is great. Readers won't be disappointed with this novel.

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.

Eleanor and the Iron King by Julie Daines

Eleanor de Lacy is being married off to her father's enemy and the man responsible for killing her brother. As the headstrong Eleanor braves a new homeland, a new husband and a new people, she finds herself facing the ghost of her husband's first wife warning her of impending danger. Eleanor chooses to see the worst in her situation, but finds herself needing to trust her husband. 

I enjoyed this book a lot. It could have been predictable, but Daines threw a couple of curve balls in there. I did love Eleanor, but I think I loved Brach Goch even more. The book was a good read. 

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.  

The Orphan's Tale

Sixteen year old Noa was kicked out of her house after she got pregnant  by a Nazi soldier. Her baby was taken from her and she has been cleaning a train station for a place to stay. One day she finds a train car full of Jewish babies and takes one, hoping to fill her loss. She finds her way to a circus, where Astrid, a trapeze Jewess raised in the circus, is hiding. Formerly married to a Nazi, Astrid is angry. Her family has disappeared and her life has been shaken. The two women can barely stand each other at first, but soon form a bond that will stand the test of time. 

I had no real idea of what to expect from this novel, but I soon learned I was in for a treat. This story was magnificent. Astrid and Noa are perfect. I loved how Astrid is so cautious and Noa, as a young girl is so optimistic. Their bond was amazing and they both taught each other things. The ending is really touching. I loved this book.

 

I received a copy from the publisher.  Thank you.