Book Review: The Gentleman Poet by Kathryn Johnson

Publish Date: September 2010

Format: Paperback 319pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher): 

"En route to the Americas in 1609, Elizabeth Persons, a young servant girl, sees her blinding headache as an ominous sign. Sure enough, a hurricane during the final leg of their journey tosses the ill-fated Sea Venture and its one hundred and fifty passengers and crew onto the dreaded shores of the Bermudas, the rumored home of evil spirits and dangerous natives. In the months that pass—time marked by grave hardship, mutiny, adventure, danger . . . and a blossoming love between Elizabeth and the wrecked ship's young cook—she despairs of their ever being rescued. But she finds hope and strength in a remarkable new friendship, forming a fast bond with the Sea Venture's historian, a poet traveling under the name of William Strachey. But Will is more than he seems. To many back home in England, he is known by a different name: Shakespeare. And he sees in their great shared travails the makings of a magical, truly transcendent work of theater."

My Review:

Elizabeth Persons and the rest of the Virginia Company aboard the Sea Venture have been blessed with a calm sea and easy voyage. But Elizabeth knows their luck is about to change when she is plagued by one of her excruciating headaches; a headache that always means foul weather is approaching. As the storm wreaks havoc upon the ship, Elizabeth's headache subsides and she soon believes the worst is past; but little does she know what other tribulations her headache foretold.

Although the crew and passengers fear the cursed Bermuda Islands upon which they have landed, Elizabeth believes she has found a special paradise. Unfortunately, her paradise is soon shattered by a series of events which destroy the last bit of normalcy she knows. With mutinous sailors, hidden identities and a tempest of various forms, no one is safe in their existence... especially a woman with a deadly secret.

The Gentleman Poet grabs your attention right from the beginning; the foreboding of the coming tempest builds with every page, and when it strikes, the reader can almost feel the turbulent sea roaring with fury. As the storm subsides, we are introduced to an array of characters ranging from the haughty and pious to the obnoxious with devilish ways. Although the personalities of the characters are broad, they are also very one dimensional, which hinders the readers ability to sympathize with the castaways plight. While the beginning of the novel was engaging, the rest of the book slowed down to a leisurely pace that was borderline too slow.

When I first began this novel, I was excited to discover what adventures the author created as possible inspiration for Shakespeare's The Tempest. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find that the novel barely had William Shakespeare as a strong figure and the actual connection to the play was minimal. This lack of connection was probably my main issue with the novel since all of the other issues were balanced out by the good qualities. Overall this was an easy read and one I would say is well suited for a relaxing spring day.

Book Review: The Secret Eleanor by Cecelia Holland

Publish Date: August 2010

Format: Paperback 368pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

"Eleanor of Aquitaine seized hold of life in the 12th century in a way any modern woman would envy! 

1151: As Duchess of Aquitaine, Eleanor grew up knowing what it was to be regarded for herself and not for her husband's title. Now, as wife to Louis VII and Queen of France, she has found herself unsatisfied with reflected glory-and feeling constantly under threat, even though she outranks every woman in Paris. 

Then, standing beside her much older husband in the course of a court ceremony, Eleanor locks eyes with a man-hardly more than a boy, really- across the throne room, and knows that her world has changed irrevocably... 

He is Henry D'Anjou, eldest son of the Duke of Anjou, and he is in line, somewhat tenuously, for the British throne. She meets him in secret. She has a gift for secrecy, for she is watched like a prisoner by spies even among her own women. She is determined that Louis must set her free. Employing deception and disguise, seduction and manipulation, Eleanor is determined to find her way to power-and make her mark on history."

My Review:

Eleanor of Aquitaine is most well known for her marriage to Henry II and for being the devout mother of Richard I, but in The Secret Eleanor, Cecelia Holland focuses on Eleanor's early adulthood and her marriage to King Louis VII of France.

From the Beginning of the book, Eleanor's ambition and thirst for power is quite apparent. While holding court in Paris, Eleanor meets Henry II and is quickly besotted with him. Already dissatisfied with her marriage to Louis VII, Eleanor decides at once that, with Henry II at her side, nothing can hold her back from the power she desires. She immediately embarks upon a course of action that is sure to set her free of her current situation. Eleanor is strong and ruthless when it comes to reaching her goals, yet not even she can accomplish this feat alone; She will need the help of her sister Petra and the loyalty of those whom love her. But when the stakes are so high, can one completely trust anyone? In a story of love, ambition, power and betrayal, The Secret Eleanor will have you questioning who is right in their actions and what price is too high for power and loyalty to those you love.

Having read only one other book on Eleanor of Aquitaine, I was eager to learn more about this fascinating woman through Cecelia Holland's The Secret Eleanor. Unfortunately, I found this description of Eleanor to be lacking in depth and it was quite hard to derive any pleasing qualities from her demeanor. In the first few chapters she meets Henry II and has an intimate, and might I add cleverly descriptive, rendezvous with him; which lead me to ask: "Why? Where did that come from?". There were many times during the course of the novel I found myself pondering how their love came about. If only there would have been a bit more history between them it would have improved the plot greatly.

Although my issues with Eleanor were great, they became less prevalent as the book went on. This was mainly do to the sift in focus from Eleanor to her sister Petra, who's motives were not without reason. It was through her that everything was put into perspective and the story began to draw me in.

After the switch in focus, the plot quickly becomes more in depth and it twisted with great surprise. By the end of the book, I found myself wanting it to continue! I was not ready to leave Eleanor and Petra; it seemed their story had just begun. All things considered, this was a good read; though one that could have been better, especially in the beginning. I have another book by Cecelia Holland awaiting me on my bookshelf; I shall indeed be reading it.


FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always, these are my own honest opinions.

Book Review: The Dark Rose by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Publish Date: July 2010

Format: Paperback 592 pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"The second book in the epic bestselling Morland Dynasty series which spans from the Wars of the Roses to Queen Victoria's long reign into the courts of kings and the salons of the Regency, onto the battlefields of Culloden and the Crimea, and beyond.

In The Dark Rose, the turbulence of Henry VIII's reign brings passion and pain to the Morlands as they achieve ever greater wealth and prestige. Paul, great-grandson of Eleanor Morland, has inherited the Morland estates, and his own Amyas is set to be his heir. But Paul fathers a beloved illigitimate son, and bitter jealousy causes a destructive rift between the two half-brothers which will lead to death. Through birth and death, love and hatred, triumph and heartbreak, the Morlands continue proudly to claim their place amongst England's aristocracy."

My Review: 

From the beginning of The Dark Rose, it is quite clear that intense jealousy and hatred runs deep within the Morland family, and through the generations, revenge has played a significant roll in the molding of this dynamic dynasty. Following closely the lives of Paul and Nanette Morland, we are given a close retelling of the turmoil during Henry VIII's reign, both within the court and at the Morland estate. 

Having bypassed the first novel in this series, I was curious at to whether or not I would be missing some important background information about the Morlands. Thankfully, after reading the first few chapters, I found myself quite at ease with the family history and could feel the plights of the current generation with great understanding.

This novel was a bit up and down with its intensity. Most of the book was a steady flow of events that did not seem to have much purpose, but there were a few moments of great drama and shock which kept the book interesting. Knowing Tudor history quite well, I was surprised that Nanette's life at court seemed to be rather dull. If the chaotic times of King Henry VIII's reign would have been used a bit more, I think it would have helped make the novel move at a faster pace and increased the plots intrigue.

Overall, this lengthy book captured my attention just enough to entice me to pursue the series further. I would suggest this book to someone who may not know a lot about Tudor England and want's a preview of the turbulent reign of King Henry VIII.

FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always, these are my own honest opinions.

Book Review: The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

"In this exhilarating cross between The Da Vinci Code and The Birth of Venus, an irrepressible young woman in 15th-century Italy must flee for her life after stumbling upon a deadly secret when she serves as a model for Botticelli...

When part-time model and full-time prostitute Luciana Vetra is asked by one of her most exalted clients to pose for a painter friend, she doesn't mind serving as the model for the central figure of Flora in Sandro Botticelli's masterpiece "Primavera." But when the artist dismisses her without payment, Luciana impulsively steals an unfinished version of the painting--only to find that somone is ready to kill her to get it back.

What could possibly be so valuable about the picture? As friends and clients are slaughtered around her, Luciana turns to the one man who has never desired her beauty, novice librarian Brother Guido. Fleeing Venice together, Luciana and Guido race through the nine cities of Renaissance Italy, pursued by ruthless foes who are determined to keep them from decoding the painting's secrets.

Gloriously fresh and vivid, with a deliciously irreverent heroine, The Botticelli Secret is an irresistible blend of history, wit, and suspense."

My Review:

Luciana Vetra is a girl who lives day by day. Abandoned at a young age, she succumbs to life on the streets and the occupation of prostitute. When given the opportunity to model for one of the famous painters of the city, Luciana is thrilled at the idea of her beauty being admired by all and the prospect of a chance for something greater in life...

Unfortunately, the painting session is not as lucrative as Luciana imagined; a startling situation takes place and she is cast out with her only payment being confusion and shock. Angered at modeling all day and receiving no proper payment, Luciana steals the painting she modeled for. She immediately feels the pettiness of her action and is determined to return the art, but little does she know that her theft has already resulted in some deadly consequences...

Thrown into a web of political intrigue and vile murder, Luciana must discover what secret she has stumbled upon with the stolen painting. Forced to make rash decisions, live moment to moment, and flee shrouded murderers across the country, Luciana must unravel this mystery and save innocent lives from unthinkable destruction...

While reading this novel, I was constantly undecided weather I liked it or not; but even in those moments of dislike there was always something that kept me wanting to read further. The plot was very complex and well thought out, and even though it seemed a bit far stretched at times, it always kept the reader guessing with its many twists. I had a couple issues with this novel, with the most prominent one being the main character. Luciana was a very crass figure who's language was quite vile, even for that of a prostitute. No matter how much I tried, I found it impossible to have positive feelings towards her. This inability to connect with Luciana might have been less apparent if not for the abrupt beginning, which is my second issue. The reader is thrown into the intense plot right from the start, and there is no time to gain any understanding of Luciana's harsh character. This abrupt start also had an unfortunate result of giving the reader a disconnected feeling, never feeling submerged in the story and just simply reading a book. Although these issues were very frustrating, I am very happy that I finished the book because the ending was great. It brought closure to every aspect and left the reader happy with the conclusion. This great ending managed to ease my frustrations and brought my rating up to a solid 3 stars. 

FTC: I received this book for review from the publisher. As always, these are my own opinions.

Book Review: Secrets of the Tudor Court, Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

THE SECRETS OF THE TUDOR COURT SERIES IS

"RICH AND LUSHLY DETAILED, TEEMING WITH PASSION

AND INTRIGUE," SAID ROMANTIC TIMES. NOW TALENTED

KATE EMERSON CONTINUES A SAGA AS DRAMATIC

AND SEDUCTIVE AS THE COURT ITSELF. 

"Pretty, flirtatious, and ambitious. Nan Bassett hopes that an appointment at the court of King Henry VIII will bring her a grand marriage. But soon after she becomes a maid of honor to Queen Jane, the queen dies in childbirth. As the court plunges into mourning, Nan sets her sights on the greatest match in the land...for the king has noticed her. After all, it wouldn't be the first time King Henry has chosen to wed a maid of honor. And in newly Protestant England, where plots to restore the old religion abound, Nan may be the only one who can reassure a suspicious king of her family's loyalty. But the favor of a king can be dangerous and chancy, not just for Nan, but for her family as well...and passionate Nan is guarding a secret, one that could put her future — and her life — in grave jeopardy should anyone discover the truth.

Based on the life of the real Anne Bassett and her family, and drawing extensively from letters and diaries of the time, Between Two Queens is an enthralling picture of the dangers and delights of England's most passionate era."

My Review:

Nan Bassett is a woman who knows what she wants. Full of high ambitions and unwavering determination, Nan is sent to court in hopes of securing a position as a maid of honor to the new Queen Jane. To Nan's great surprise she not only obtains the desired placement within Queen Jane's house but also attracts the attention of King Henry VIII. Before Nan can put any plan that might increase her own importance at court into action, Queen Jane tragically dies in childbirth and her household is dispersed. Time passes slowly for Cat and she soon begins to find other means of entertainment, in particular a dallying and secret romance with Ned Corbett. Unfortunately, Ned is a man with no title or wealth, so when the King requests Nan to return to court, her ambition to raise her status prevails over a peaceful and quiet life in the country.

Nan quickly focuses on how to win the love of King Henry VIII; after all he is in need of a new wife and he has chosen a woman of lower rank before, so why not her? As Nan embarks on her new goal she soon finds that she is not the only one with secrets and high ambitions and she soon she finds herself at the mercy of those powerful enough to destroy herself and everyone she loves....

The passing years only bring more danger and uncertainty for Nan but through all the tragedy that befalls her, an new chance for love and happiness emerges. At the same time, the King grows more volatile and begins to set his sights on Nan for his sixth wife. Will Nan chose love over the ultimate goal she had been striving for and if so, is she cunning enough to escape the King's fatal grasp?...


It is always refreshing to read a book set during the Tudor court without it being directly about one of King Henry VIII's Queens. Secrets of the Tudor Court, Between Two Queens focused more on the time in between the queens of England, hence the title. The author did a great job of portraying the vast personality differences with each queen. Nan was a very unlikable and most of her suffering she brought on herself, but I was still able to sympathize with her sometimes because at least she did not try to blame her problems on someone else. It is a very hard thing to be able to write a unlikable character but still make them likable; Kate Emerson did a wonderful job of this. The only issue I had was how many times the plot branched off with other characters. In the beginning, it left the reader wondering "ok what does that have to do with anything?" but towards the end all the pieces started to come together and it all made sense. Overall I found this book to be quite enjoyable and will be looking forward to Kate's next novel.


A Little Extra:
In this book there were many characters and it was great to be able to read a mini-biography about them in the back of the book. Kate Emerson has even more mini-biographies of those who lived at the Tudor Court on her website at: kateemersonhistoricals.com.


If you have an ebook reader you are even more in luck! Kate has just announced that she has released A Who's Who of Tudor Women that holds 622 entries of mini-biographies and it is now available in ebook format! A Who's Who of Tudor Women is the most recent and accurate version of Kate's mini-biographies. This wonderful ebook is available exclusively from awriterswork.com.

Book Review: The Queen's Mistake: In the Court of Henry VIII by Diane Haeger

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
From the author of The Secret Bride, the tragic tale of the fifth wife of Henry VIII...

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.

My Review:

Catherine Howard, an impoverished child who grew up to be the doomed fifth wife of King Henry VIII.

We first meet Catherine at her family home, Horsham. She is wild, flirtatious and enjoys toying with mens affections. Henry Manox and Francis Dereham are the two men she is intimately involved with. It quickly becomes apparent that she has no emotions for them and that boredom is the only reason she has impure relationships with them. Her guardian/grandmother knows all the unclean things Catherine is involved in and believes that it is a good education for her future life at court. The Duke of Norfolk (her uncle) soon visits Horsham and decides it's time for Catherine to come to court and be a lady in waiting to the Queen.

When Catherine arrives at court she is overwhelmed. All of the Queens ladies ignore her and she is constantly compared to her late cousin and former Queen...Anne Boleyn. The only two who show any kindness is the current Queen and Lady Jane Rochford. In her first few weeks at court she continues to act as she did at Horsham and ends up having a quick affair with the first charming man she meets. A few days after that incident she becomes attracted to Thomas Culpeper and they begin a passionate love affair.

Unfortunately, Catherine soon discovers her uncles true meaning for bringing her to court. King Henry VIII will soon be free of his current wife/queen and Catherine is to be her replacement. King Henry is quickly besotted with Catherine and lavishes her with the most extravagant things. Catherine plays her part well and feigns innocence with the King, while at the same time continuing her love affair with Thomas.

Threats from her past, at Horsham, come to her in full force at court. There is no one she can truly trust and everyone has some selfish use for her. She tries to think a way to escape and live a happy life with Thomas, but she soon realizes where her inevitable and unwelcome destiny lies.

Catherine is now Queen and her physical love affair with Thomas ends, but she can not help what her heart still feels. She shows King Henry VIII all of the love and respect possible and ends up truly caring for him. Catherine believes herself to be safe from all of her past threats and soon, with the help of Lady Rochford, secretly meets Thomas. She remains faithful to the King but those who are still a threat to her view it as an opportunity to seal her fate. King Henry VIII soon learns of Catherine's transgressions and joins her fate with that of her cousin Anne Boleyn...


When I first decided to read this book, I was excited at the prospect of learning more about Catherine Howard, a queen I knew little about. Unfortunately after reading it I still feel as though she is a distant character. Catherine was very unlikable in this novel; it was impossible to see anything deeper then her childish and one dimensional character. Since everyone was so one dimensional, it unfortunately resulted in not really caring what happened to them. The characters might not have been in depth but the scenery was. The author's descriptions of clothing, banquets, gardens, etc. were absolutely wonderful. I was able to read the book quickly and never felt tired of it but at the same time I did not have a strong desire to find out what happened next. I do have to say the ending was really emotional, touching, and beautifully written. If only the rest of the book had been written in that manner, it would have been an excellent read.


A little extra:
After reading this book I can definitely say that my interest in Catherine Howard has been piqued. Below is the actual letter from Catherine to her lover Thomas while she was Queen.

~The surviving letter from Queen Catherine Howard to Master Thomas Culpeper~

"Master Culpeper,
I heartily recommend me unto you, praying you to send me word how that you do. It was showed me that you was sick, the which thing troubled me very much till such time that I hear from you praying you to send me word how that you do, for I never longed so much for a thing as I do to see you and to speak with you, the which I trust shall be shortly now. That which doth comfortly me very much when I think of it, and when I think again that you shall depart from me again it makes my heart die to think what fortune I have that I cannot be always in your company. It my trust is always in you that you will be as you have promised me, and in that hope I trust upon still, praying you that you will come when my Lady Rochford is here for then I shall be best at leisure to be at your commandment, thanking you for that you have promised me to be so good unto that poor fellow my man which is one of the griefs that I do feel to depart from him for then I do know no one that I dare trust to send to you, and therefore I pray you take him to be with you that I may sometime hear from you one thing. I pray you to give me a horse for my man for I had much ado to get one and therefore I pray send me one by him and in so doing I am as I said afor, and thus I take my leave of you, trusting to see you shortly again and I would you was with me now that you might see what pain I take in writing to you.
Yours as long as life endures,
Katheryn.
One thing I had forgotten and that is to instruct my man to tarry here with me still for he says whatsomever you bid him he will do it."

Book Review: The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
The richly imagined tale of Deborah, the courageous Biblical warrior who saved her people from certain destruction

In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah, a highly respected leader, has coerced the warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with Asherah and Nogah, daughters of the Canaanite King, as his prisoners. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses.

Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, develops a surprising affinity for Barak. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life.

Filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, The Triumph of Deborah is the absorbing and riveting tale of one of the most beloved figures in the Old Testament, and a tribute to feminine strength and independence.

My Review:

 Deborah, Judge and Prophetess of the Israelites, is upon the highest hill overlooking a battle being fought between her people and the Canaanites. The Canaanites have been attacking Israelite lands for a long time and it is finally time to end it. She has chosen the warrior Barak to lead the Israelites into battle, but her choice comes at a great cost. The story quickly changes to the narration of Asherah, a Canaanite princess also anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this battle. She describes the weeks leading up to the battle; which includes the most touching story of her marriage to Sisra, the leader of the Canaanite army.

The battle is over but the havoc that it created is far from over. Barak triumphantly leads his army home with the spoils of war. Among those spoils are Asherah and Nogah, the two Canaanite princesses. Barak takes Asherah and Nogah for himself; wedding Asherah and keeping Nogah as a servant. Asherah is cold and selfish but Barak can not see this past her great beauty. He also does not realize the pure love that Nogah has for him and how it hurts her when she sees him with her sister. Deborah has also fallen for Barak, adding even more confusion to this twisted love triangle. When Nogah runs away Barak is stung, and begins to take a deeper look at his actions.

As the book switches narration between these main characters, we begin to see treacherous plots form against Israelites. Only together can they save Israel from a horrible destruction. After causing each other so much pain, can these strong characters look past each others faults and save a nation....


This book was a good and interesting read. It was great to see that all of the characters were in depth, not just the main ones. I was surprised how intense the love triangle was, it just kept building. My main issue with the novel is how often the narration switched between characters and from past to present; it caused a lot of confusion (especially the beginning). Any confusion was forgotten at the end, when everyone's story came together for a climactic and complete ending.