Royal Bliss

Victoria and Albert: A Love Story for the Ages

2011-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

I recently finished the four books in the Victoria series by Jean Plaidy and all I can say right now is "Wow!" I loved every single page. Even after Albert's death, while some may get tired of reading about her undying devotion to her "dear angel, Albert," I found it amazing. The love she had for him was so deep and moving. I have read some people say that she was weak and had too much of a dependence on Albert, but I find the opposite. Loving someone so deeply to the depths of one's soul is not weak it is the opposite. She lived and ruled for forty years after his death. True, she had a few prime ministers that she loved and relied on but make no mistake she was the monarch and a monarch that opened herself to love a man with all her heart and even share her throne with him.

Murder in the Tower-The Story of Frances Countess of Essex

2011-09-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

I was a bit discouraged going into this novel because I had heard it was not that great. I was pleasantly surprised because of this. I should have known that NOTHING Plaidy has done is ever less then great.

The story is set during the reign of King James I of England who was the only child of Mary, Queen of Scots & her then husband, Lord Darnley.

James I loved to be surrounded by handsome men and always had a favorite. During the novel his main favorite was Robert Carr. The novel explains how Carr caught the attention of James after he fell of a horse. James was immediately taken by Carr and the latter rose through the ranks of court quickly.

Now enter: Frances Howard.

Frances is quite selfish and will do anything to get what she wants, above all costs. She was married when she was still a child and this marriage was not what she wanted. She falls in love with Carr and decides she needs to put an end to her marriage. She seeks the help of those involved in poisons, spells, and curses. She will do anything to get rid of her husband in order to have Carr. She seeks an annulment on the grounds that her husband cannot perform his duties in the bedroom, so therefore she is married yet still a virgin. Frances succeeds for a while, but eventually everything comes crashing down on her and Carr, whom she did indeed marry.

Sir Thomas Overbury is a good friend of Carr. He advises Carr in vain that Frances is trouble and not to marry her. His life is torn apart and eventually ended by Frances.

The end of the story was quite sad because justice did not seem to get served for Frances as she and Carr were pardoned for the murder of Overbury by James. Carr was portrayed as unknowing accomplice. He was horrified when he found out what Frances had done, but pleaded guilty to please the King. His life was quite sad as the woman he loved seemed to a wicked, manipualtive one.

I did not form an attachment to any of these characters, not because they were not described well, but because I didn't feel for them too much. I was hoping that Frances would be held responsible for her actions, but she was pardoned by the King. Carr was not very bright and didn't seem to be able to think for himself. Even though I did not like Frances or find Carr to be anything special, their story was facinating. I suppose it was so facinating because of their portrayal.

Frances was calculating and cold. Carr the King's favorite-handsome and not very intellectual falls blindly for her.

MAILBOX MONDAY

2011-08-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Catherine DeMedici Renaissance Queen of France: Leonie Frieda
I am looking forward to reading this biography on Catherine De Medici; she is one of the many facinating figures in royal history. I try to read a few nonfiction works each year. This will be my second biography this year.

The Murder in the Tower: Jean Plaidy

King James I of Scotland and his favorite men fill this merry court. I can't wait to see how this plays out and how Frances of Essex is involved.

The Royal Road to Fotheringhay By Jean Plaidy

2011-08-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

This novel chronicles Mary Queen of Scots up to her captivity. Mary became Queen of SCotland during the first days of her birth after the death of her father. Mary's mother was French from the House of Guise so she sends Mary to be raised in France. Everyone loves Mary as a child. She is beautiful, intelligent, and charming. She eventually becomes the Queen of France; marrying the Dauphin Francois at the time. The descriptions of the French court makes one feel like they are a part of it. The gowns, the decor, the noble demeanor of the characters set the background perfectly. The King Francois, was always weak and dies after only a couple of years of being king. Mary is send back to Scotland as their queen and then the real action begins. Scotland and France are the complete opposite, so Mary is in for a culture shock. Their is also religious turmoil going on, plus trouble between her half-brother. Mary eventually remarries and that proves to be distasterous.

The Courts of Love By Jean Plaidy

2011-08-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

I have never read anything on Eleanor of Aquitane so I decided what author better to start off with than the awesome Jean plaidy.
Plaidy sets the tone by creating the "court of love" in which Eleanor grew up. From the begninng we are able to understand how she grew up and how women were viewed upon in not only the court in Aquitane, but later in various parts of the world as well. Eleanor marries Louis of France who will only become king because his brother was killed in a tragic accident. Their marriage lacks passion and Eleanor begans to loathe him for his weak political stances along with his lack of interest in the bedroom. She eventually is granted an annulment and married the future King of England. Eleanor becomes Queen of England and the story focuses on her marriage; strength and bravery along with the feuding of her sons. This novel was very detailed and did not miss a beat. I felt like I got to know Eleanor as a ruler as well as a woman. She was a woman well ahead of her time in regards to women rights, etc. This was a very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading more on Eleanor of Aquitane.

Mary Queen of France By Jean Plaidy

2010-11-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

This was a short novel, yet it told so much about a side of Henry VIII many would never think existed. Henry VIII did have a soft spot in his heart; he felt love. Was this love toward one of his wives? What about his children? Surely he most have felt love toward them. No, the answer to the question was his sister, Mary. Mary seems to have been the one person that Henry could not refuse; the one person that touched his heart in a way that not even his children did. This novel chronicles the life of Mary and of course the relationship between the siblings plays a major role here. Of course the relationship was not without Henry attempting to bully Mary and marry her off to someone who politically would be an advantage for England and the house of Tudor. The turn of events and way Henry handles them may come as quite a shock to readers not familiar with Mary and Henry's relationship.

In the Shadow of the Crown By Jean Plaidy

2010-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

Queen Mary I. I have wanted to read this book for some time now, but I wanted to read more about the wives of Henry VIII before I dove into Mary I. After reading this novel, I would love to attempt a nonfiction read on her. This novel touched upon all the issues that were relevant to her life. Plaidy did an excellent job highlighting Katherine of Aragon's banishment and the how it affected Mary. The same goes for the way Henry VIII shunned Mary and then, when he needed an heir took her back in his graces. There was so much sadness in her life. Losing her mother, being rejected by her father and even her husband who did not truly love her. I enjoyed reading the small parts between Mary and Elizabeth as well. I could not help but in a way feel sorry for her because her life had no happiness in it whatsoever. It was a sad, hollow life.

Legend of the Seventh Virgin-Victoria Holt

2010-07-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

This novel is about Karensa Carlee who is a peasant girl who dreams of someday being the mistress of the house. She is not satisfied with her social status and has herself convinced that she will do whatever it takes to shed it and become "upper class." She has her sights on becoming the mistress of the Abbas mansion. This novel chronicles her steps to the top. She uses her position as a lady in waiting at the Abbas mansion to her advantage and does not seem to mind who she betrays in the process. It does not seem to matter to her that her devoted friend Mellorya is the reason that she has the position in the first place. There are other characters interwoven as well that are all part of the central plot. The reader may find themself either rooting for or against Kerensa. I myself was always torn, sometimes I wanted her succeed, but not quite in the way she went about it. This character is quite different than some of Holt's other heroines. She is very selfish and prideful. She is the only one of her heroines so far that I have mixed feelings toward. This was another page-turner, set with the usual gothic like mansion that has been in the family for centuries and contains dark family secrets.

My Enemy the Queen-Victoria Holt

2010-07-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

My Enemy the Queen is told from the point of view of Lettice Devereaux who is Mary Boleyn's grandaughter. In this novel, Lettice is portrayed as selfish, headstrong, and vain. She is determined to have the Earl of Leicester take notice of her, even though it is known throughout court that he is Queen Elizabeth's. There is some mystery involved with the Earl and his dead wife, along with another woman who claims that the Earl married her and fathered her child. It does not take long for Lettice to get the Earl for herself and eventually they marry. Of course, Lettice soon finds that she does not have Robert, the Earl of Leicester to herself at all and never will. The Queen is portrayed as jealous and possessive. She is enraged at the marriage between the two of them, but always seems to forgive the Earl for anything he does against her wishes. This story interweaves the lives of the three of them, this triangle so to speak and also involves Lettice's children. The Queen loves young, handsome men and soon becomes taken with Lettice's much beloved son. This book has so many twists and turns. It is filled with intrigue, lust, rage, jealosy, and mystery. Each of the three characters contain these traits. This was such a thrilling novels, definately one of my favorites thus far.

The Queen's Confession

2010-02-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

The Queen's Confession by Victoria Holt is a historical fiction novel which is told in the first person by Marie Antoinette. She is recalling every step of her life from birth to the walk to her death. It is a captivating story mainly because of the way it is written in the first person. The reader can feel like they are really getting to the heart and soul of the Queen as she is telling her innermost thoughts and feelings. The book started with her birth and explained every detail about her family life and all of her siblings. It also included her sadness at the death of her father, her relationships with her mother and a few of her siblings, and it clearly set the foundation for her marriage with King Louis XVI, then the Dauphin of France.
The stress of their marriage is told and it does not leave out any detail when it comes to the inability of King Louis XVI to consumate the marriage for some years. The stress and pain that this caused the Queen is highlighted in her words and she feels rejected and is even blamed by her own mother by not being attractive enough for her husband to want to be with her. Her desire for children is something that also puts her through much stress and sadness. The Queen was portrayed sympathetically in this novel and one may find themself feeling sorry for her many times thoughout. She talked about her love for her children and how much being a mother meant to her. The book went discussed the war, the people turning on her, and of course the diamond necklace scandal.
This is a wonderful historical novel where the reader feel close to Marie Antoinette and her secret thoughts and feelings.

Shivering Sands By Victoria Holt

2010-02-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

Shivering Sands is a thrilling suspense novel. It does not have quite the gothic feel that some of her other novels do. (Night of the Seventh Moon, Mistress of Mellyn, etc)However if you like mystery and suspense you will not be disappointed with this book. Caroline Verlaine is a widow of an accomplished pianist. Her archaeologist parents are dead, and now her sister Roma is missing. Roma, an archaeologist, was working on a dig at Lovat Stacy which is a grand estate. Caroline takes a job there teaching music to three young girls in order to find out about what happened to Roma. She does not reveal herself as Roma's sister because she is afraid that the family will send her away. She finds out many family secrets while she is there. She meets Napier who is a dark & mysterious man with a suspicious past. Napier is blamed for the death of his brother who was the much beloved heir of the family. When Napier's wife mysteriously vanishes he is the number one suspect. Caroline's life is eventually in danger as well. Caroline does find the answer that she was looking for, but who she gets it from is very surprising. I found Caroline to be a strong, determined woman. She wanted answers about her sister's disapearance and was willing to put her own life in danger to do it. She had to be coy and secretive so that nobody would guess that she was related to the missing archaeologist, Roma. She reminded me a lot of Caroline Tressidor of Landower Legacy, which is one of my favorite Holt novels. I love it when she paints a strong female heroine who is independent and determined to succeed, but at the same time not afraid to fall in love.

The ending of the novel really shocked me. I know there are some people who said they were able to guess who the person involved in the disapearances were, but I was not able to do so. I liked that I was in suspense the entire time and could not guess the guilty party. The novel contains the typical Holt elements which I adore: The mysterious man, the woman in some type of peril or distress, a big estate or mansion, etc...I absolutely love the way she takes these elements and weaves them into an exciting, thrilling, novel. This one was no exception. If you like Holt novels this one is a must-read. If you have never read her, but like mystery you will not be disppointed.

Historica Fiction Challenge hosted by Royal Reviews

2010-01-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

I will be joining the Historical Reading Challenge hosted by Royal Reviews. I will be attempting the obsessed category which means I have to read at least 20 historical fiction novels. Being new to this genre, I have a ton of books that are on my to read list, so now it is just a matter of accomplishing it.

HTF Plaidy Novels

2010-01-21T16:30:00.001-08:00

I am dying to read Milady Charlotte, Queen of Diamonds, and Madame Du Barry. I am hoping that one day soon these will be released again. In the meantime I guess I will be stalking some sights to see if I can eventually find them.

Ordered some Plaidy novels!

2010-01-21T16:03:00.000-08:00

Just ordered The Queen's Confession, Lady in the Tower, Murder Most Royal, and Daughter of Satan off of Alibris. They are all in hardback and I cannot wait to get them! I will definately be reading this for the Plaidy challenge!

Light on Lucrezia-Review

2010-01-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

I had always attributed Lucrezia Borgia with evil. I did not read much about her, but did hear about the Borgia family. Because of this I truly expected Lucrezia to be depicted as a cruel, heartless woman. Throughout the novel I kept expecting her sweet demeanor to change to evil. This never happened. The novel starts starts where "Madonna of the Seven Hills" left off-Lucrezia's second marriage. At this point she is married to Alfonso of Aragon and she is truly happy. They are devoted to one another and Lucrezia really blossoms at this time in her life. Of course this is cut short when Alfonso is murdered by Lucrezia's brother Cesare.(or at least it is implied it was Cesare or one of his men) This marks the beginning of profound tragedy in her life. It is hard to condense everything into a short review and I hate to give everything away to those who have not read it yet, but this novel painted a portrait of Lucrezia that was not familiar to me. She is loving and sincere. Her conscience is often conflicted between the morally right thing to do and the loyalty and love she has for her family. Even though Cesare and her father are evil she still loves them and it seems as though she is torn by her feelings. The Borgias are shown to have a strong love for one another. It is implied that Cesare and her father may have felt more than just a father/sister love toward her, but that is left up to the reader to decide. Despite their love for Lucrezia they still use her as a pawn in their appetite for political power. After finishing the novel, I was felt with sadness for Lucrezia. She led a sad and tragic life where everyone who truly loved her-family, Alfonso of Aragon, lovers, friends, and even children were eventually taken from her. I highly recommend this novel. It painted a side of Lucrezia that I never imagined.

Plaidy's Royal Intrigue Challenge

2010-01-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

I will be using this blog to post & review the Plaidy novels I am reading for the 2010 Plaidy's Royal Intrigue Challenge. A picture and link is posted on the sidebar.
I finished Madonna of the Seven Hills today and the review is already posted.

Madonna of the Seven Hills

2010-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

This is my first Plaidy historical read and I loved every single part of it!
This is the first novel of the Lucrezia Borgia series. (There are two)

Madonna of the Seven Hills chronicles the life of Lucrezia Borgia from her scandalous birth to just as she is getting married for the second time. At that point she is approximately 20 years of age. The Borgia family is on center stage where they are full of sin and corruption. They will do anything for the power that they crave-all but gentle, sweet Lucrezia Borgia. Yes, those are adjectives that I am using to describe Lucrezia Borgia who, at this point of the novel, is innocent while her controlling family is full of sin. Her father and brother Cesare are ruthless men that have a twisted facination for Lucrezia that seems to go beyond the love of a family, but at the same time they are using Lucrezia for their own political gain.
I like the way Plaidy has written Lucrezia up to this point because it is so different than what I expected. I thought she would be written as the rest of her family is. It will be exciting to see what Plaidy does with her in the second novel. I am waiting for all of the cruel,criminal, and twisted behavior that Lucrezia has grown up seeing by her family to change her from good to evil. Will that happen? I will soon find out!