All Things Royal...

Winner of Kiss Me I'm Irish Giveaway....

2011-03-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Michelle you are the winner of My Kiss Me I'm Irish Romantic Nora Roberts Giveaway!!! I will be contacting you through email for your address!

Unforgettable Fire...

2011-03-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

Who can forget U2 the best rock band to come out of the 80's and Ireland. This particular album, Unforgettable Fire is my favorite of theirs. Such classics as Pride in the Name of Love, Bad, A Sort of a Homecoming, MLK, Heartland (Elvis Presley tribute), etc.

A young Bono and Edge at about the time of the Boy Album

U2 is truly a homegrown Irish commodity with a voice. Out of Dublin comes 4 young men who attended high school together and formed a band in Larry Mullens (drummer) kitchen. They didn't have any political agenda they just wanted to make music. They came from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds. All very talented and committed young men who have become great mentors for future aspiring rock stars. They sky rocketed to fame after their Live Aid performance of Bad and Sunday Bloody Sunday in 1985.

Rattle and Hum days

In celebration of my St. Paddy's Day Party (that no one seems interested in) I absolutely had to include these guys, a living Irish legend.

Pride in the Name of Love, Unforgettable Fire, 1984

Live Aid Concert 1985. Fantastic!!! Performing Bad from Unforgettable Fire

Truly great biography of the Band. I love it, couldn't put it down. Available on Amazon (used) or Ebay. It's worth the investment if you are a fan.
Gives you some great insight into Ireland during in the 70's and 80's.

Don't forget to sign up for my Nora Roberts Irish Trilogy giveaway!!!
Feel free to grab my Kiss Me I'm Irish button for your side bar.

For Your Love for the Irish Viewing Pleasure...

2011-03-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

I am recommending today for my St. Paddy's Day month long party The Hanging Gale. A BBC production done in 1995 filmed on location in Ireland.
I really enjoyed this series. Great stars, the men are hot, hot, all very passionate and dramatic. Cinematography is beautiful. Just know that it is about the famine in 1846 so this isn't a warm and fuzzy type of flick, but so worth it. Gives you food for thought.
I found this on Netflix.

The four-part {@BBC1} miniseries {#The Hanging Gale} was set in 1846, the year of the Irish potato famine. As starvation stared them in the face, a group of farming families banded together to survive. Among these hardy souls were the {%Phelan Brothers} (played by the real-life {$McGann} brothers), who struggled to save their family farm despite the persecution of a cruel British land agent. Filmed on-location in Ireland, {#The Hanging Gale} was initially telecast from May 14 to June 4, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Kiss Me I'm Irish ROMANCE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

2011-03-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

O.K. ,like it has been forever since I have done a giveaway. Now it's time once again! I'm having fun with this one. I am giving away the Irish Trilogy by Nora Roberts in celebration of St. Paddy's day. Born of Fire, Born of Ice, Born of Shame
The next couple of weeks I am going to be featuring an Irish theme for your great reading and viewing pleasure.

I love the Irish!!! They are so passionate and have such a tumultuous history.

I thought I would start the month off with this romantic fiction give away by none other than Nora Roberts who does know how to write romance. I for one am not a big romance reader, maybe one book a year. These are the exceptions. I read these straight through in a week while on vacation in Florida!

Many of you probably have already indulged but I know there are some young ones out there who haven't had the pleasure.

There will be other give aways coming up in the next couple of weeks, and because I have started a little late I will be having this St. Paddy's party for the rest of the month so check back often and make sure you don't miss out.

Rules of the game:

Must be a follower
Make a comment indicating why you want to read these or let me know you already have.
Leave your email

Added Points:

Post my Kiss Me I'm Irish Giveaway button on your blog! Leave me the link.
Tweet or facebook about it

This contest ends:

Friday March 18th

USA followers only

Happy Monday
Susie

Black History Month 5 Star Recommendations!

2011-02-18T11:45:00.000-08:00

The following books are books I have read and loved every page! February is Black History Month and I am recommending these books in honor of this occasion.

The Warmth of Other Sons by Isabel Wilkerson is about the great American migration of the southern African Americans to the northern United States. Featuring three families and their trials and triumphs.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, autobiography simply is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. I read it in an afternoon, I just couldn't put it down. All Americans should read this book it's part of their heritage. Available for free kindle addition.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is the only fiction book I am recommending for Black History month. A delightful, beautifully written book. Started out as a sleeper and now has become a national bestseller. Couldn't put this down either. So much to love in this book!

Would love to hear from you if you have read any of these three or have other Black History Month recommendations of your own. All of these books are available on Amazon either in paperback or Kindle.

Susie

Book Review:Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horowitz

2011-02-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

Imagine if you will that your Great Great Grandfather at nineteen years old immigrates from Eastern Europe at the turn of the 2oth century. He can't speak a word of English. You might wonder
what does this adventurous 5'2" Yiddish speaking young man do when he first arrives in New York City? Of course, he wanders into a book store. Does he purchase an English translation book or a map of New York City? No, he purchases a pictorial history of the American Civil War!
Is this for real? Yes indeed it is. That young man was the Great Great Grandfather of Tony Horowitz the renowned war time journalist and author of Confederates in the Attic...

This one purchase by Isaac Horowitz 80 + years ago set the pattern for the future Horowitz men in the family. Tony, his father and grandfather all know Isaac's book intimately. They know every battle, general and both minor and major players of the conflict. Tony was woken up every morning by his father charging up the stairs brandishing a sword shouting "Rouse the TROOPS". The Horowitz family took the American Civil War very seriously. It wasn't just a hobby but a commitment of serious study for life.

Tony grew up and won a Pulitzer prize for his journalistic coverage of the volatile Middle East conflicts over the years as well as the war in Bosnia. Coming home to America to settle down with his new wife in Virginia he discovers an aspect of the Civil War that the Horowitz family wasn't really aware of THE REENACTORS! Oh my what a discovery it was too. You know there is a cast system classes of reenactors. There are the once in awhile hobbyist, then the more serious weekend group, but nothing compares to the hardcore enthusiasts.

Being the man Tony is he couldn't let this opportunity pass by he had to see for himself what it means to be truly hardcore reenactors of the Civil War. He sets upon a year long journey through-out the southern united states finding out more than he could ever imagine about The War Between the States.

Tony meets all kinds of folks, all with definite opinions about slavery, Yankees and state rights.
The journey will end with Tony finding out more about himself than he could ever imagine and what he stood for. Don't miss out on this journey with Tony. It will make you laugh out loud, cry, scare you to death and angry! Every one should read this book American or not. We can all thumb our noses at the actions of our ancestors in the past, but wait a minute, has things really changed in human nature that much? Find out!

This book is now available in Kindle as well as paperback through Amazon.

5 big stars rating from me!

Changed it up a bit...

2011-02-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

I needed a change for the new year. I no longer am a part of the HFBRT. I just couldn't keep up with it and found myself wanting to read other things. I am a very eclectic person especially when it comes to literature. One day I will get in a mood and need to read all about the American Civil War and then on another day jump back into 14Th century England.
I eat up anything worth reading about WWII in particular involving rescue and resistance stories. I am always surfing the net when something strikes me as interesting. I am not beyond reading trial transcripts about Adolf Eichman or researching the Opium Wars between China and England. I just never know what will strike me as interesting. I just find the world is a very interesting place and I want to learn as much as possible about the people, culture and history that inhabits it.

That is why from now on I will be reviewing what I read and there will be no rhyme or reason to it, but if I choose to review the book then I'm recommending it as well. Hopefully my followers will be pleased with some of my recommendations and find new discoveries.

I promise to be posting far more often now that I don't feel so confined. I really appreciate all you wonderful followers who have stuck with me in my absense!

I say to Kindle that is the answer...

2010-12-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

to the question To Kindle or not to Kindle. I love it!!!! I have had it for a month now and take it every where with me. It's easy to read and no glare. What is so fun is the highlighting feature that saves into your clippings folder. Also having the classics available for free is outstanding. You always have your wish list with you so when you finsih one book you can look at your wish list and start another one. I have read and recommend Kindle Editions:

The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff 4 stars Very exciting and fast paced. Great ending!!

The Girl with the Dragon Tatto by Stieg Larrson 4.5 stars~beware very graphic, but I couldn't put it down!!

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveria 3.5 stars A good story but sometimes a bit boring.

Moon Rock by Arthur Rees 4.5 stars Loved it!!! Had no idea about this author or the book. Found it in British classic mystery section of Kindle store for .99. Grabs you from the beginning. Very atmospheric. Takes place in Cornwal, England in Edwardian time period.

and currently reading~Pentacost Alley by Anne Perry.

Anyway I wanted to check back and let y'all know how I liked it. I ended up getting one for my husband for Christmas.

I say take the plunge and go Kindle!!

Book Review of Sarah's Key by Tatian de Rosnay

2010-11-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Recently I went on a field trip with my daughter. While visiting with one of the other mother's she mentioned this book and how good it was. I am a real fan of anything WWII especially concerning the surviving citizens. I quickly came home and purchased the book and was not disappointed. A wonderful read, grabbing you right from the beginning.

The story begins in Paris during the German occupation and deportation of Jews, many of which had recently immigrated from Slavic countries fleeing the same persecution. The Vichy government of France at the time were only too pleased to hand over their Jews, something I hadn't realized before. The local citizens couldn't move into the vacant residences after the Jews were gathered for deportation fast enough. The French anti-Semitic attitude was quite surprising to me, I always thought of the French as mainly being involved with the resistance. The story takes you from Paris to the French country side, eventually ending up in the United States covering at least 50 years and 2 generations. Sarah's Key is a heart wrenching story of a child and what it cost her and her descendants at the hands of the Nazi's. I read this book in a day and half. This is a great selection of the month for your book clubs.

To Kindle or Not to Kindle...

2010-11-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

that is the question...

I was very against this little devise at first. I love books, I love the feel of them and of course the gorgeous covers. In my mind using a Kindle you would lose all of the ambiance. I mean I can't really picture sitting curled up by the fire with a cup of tea and instead of a book you have a Kindle in your hand. However; with all this being today I broke down and purchased the little beast and I'm anxious to get it and start messing around with it. To be truthful the motivating factor was the lack of room I have to store any more books. I'm beginning to feel like a used book store.

I would love to hear any of your thoughts positive or negative about The Kindle. I look forward to it.

A Great Message for Americans...

2010-09-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is a message well worth viewing.

Announcing the WINNER!!!!

2010-09-28T09:27:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Kelly you were the random # picked by Randomizer.org to win The Countess and The King by Susan Holloway Scott!!
I have sent you an email.

Book Giveaway The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott...

2010-09-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

Great giveaway of this wonderful book!!!! To enter in the giveaway make a comment including your email address. This is for U.S. and Canada only. Sorry about that.
Giveaway runs from today 9/13 - 9/27.

Good Luck!!!!!

Book Review of The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott...

2010-09-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is a mesmerizing story of 17th century England during the regin of Charles II. Such a tumultuous time to have lived. Scandalous affairs, libertines, and religious unrest. This is the world that Katherine Sedley was born into and raised. Her mother was crazy and her father was a well known libertine and favorite of King Charles II.

Katherine went to live with her father at the age of 10 and was brought up with indulgence and no discipline in the company of less than desirable characters such as the Duke of Buckingham and Rochester. Her father was her world and she was his. Katherine was never considered a beautiful child even said to be homely. She made up for her lack of beauty with her scathing wit. She was clever and percoious.

It is said that the habits established in youth are the hardest to break as the years pass, and certainly that was the case with me. My father's indulgence gave me much freedom and little guidance, and like the fledgling bird that tries to fly too soon to flutter unformed wings, my first attempts to act beyond my tender years were often not sweet. I told unseemly jests, I swore when I lost at cards, I laughed too loudly, and my ever sharpening wit was much more suited to one of Father's libertine friends than a brash, ungainly girl of thirteen. The Countess and the King pg. 43.

When Katherine was 15 she was not the least bit interested in marriage much to the dismay of her father the girl just wanted to have fun. Her world was just fine as it was until her father found his true love, Mrs. Ayscough. Katherine's life of late nights and late mornings were about to come to an end along with her inheritance. Mrs. Ayscough would become Lady Sedley and produce the longed for male heir which diminished Katherine's fortune by half. Her father will no longer be the fun loving libertine but a faithful, dutiful and responsible husband.

Katherine will be invited to court to attend to the newly married Duchess of York who the King feels will relate well to Katherine because of their similar ages. Katherine will go to court and attend the Duchess of York where she will for-go a respectable marriage to become the mistress of the handsome Duke of York who will later become the King James II. The story continues with intrigue, betrayal and scandal. Katherine does find love and stays true to her Protestant convictions in spite of her lover being a Catholic who will have to morally rationalize to himself his affair with her.

There is so much more to this amazing story. I am usually stuck in 14th and 15th century England so this was a refreshing change. I really think it would make for a good period piece. I think we are all a little intrigued by Charles II's court.

Last summer I had the opportunity to visit Windsor Castle and my favorite part was visiting the apartments of King Charles. Also visiting London and seeing where the great fire started, etc. was fascinating to say the least.

I loved this book and I am a new fan of Ms. Scott's. She captures the essence of the feelings she is portraying. One part that was particularly poignant to me was when Katherine realized her father was in love with another woman and she was asked to accept her. I have been there and done that with my own father and I am ashamed to say that I acted in much the same way as Ms. Scott portrayed Katherine's reaction.

Thank-you Ms. Scott for giving me this opportunity to read and review your marvelous new novel I look forward to reading your previous works.

Book Review re-schedule...

2010-09-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

Just a little note to let everyone know that my review of The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott will be rescheduled for Tuesday Sept. 7.

Guest Post with Susan Holloway Scott author of the newly released The Countess and the King...

2010-09-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

It is a great privilege to present this awesome guest post from Susan Holloway Scott the author of the newly released The Countess and the King about Katherine Sedley who becomes the mistress of King James II the brother of King Charles II. It's an extraordinary story and Ms. Scott does an awesome job in presenting it. I am sure you will enjoy her post on Two Brothers, Two Kings...

Two Brothers, Two Kings
By Susan Holloway Scott

As a visitor here at All Things Royal, it seems only fitting to discuss the two king in The Countess and the King. Charles II (1630-1685) and James II (1633-1701) were the last two Stuart kings to sit on the English throne. They were also brothers. Charles was the elder, ruling from 1649 until his death. With no legitimate son and heir, James inherited the throne, though his reign was considerably shorter. But more about that later….

It’s unusual for royal brothers to both become kings, but then the lives of these Stuart brothers didn’t follow the customary plan for royal princes. The eldest sons of Charles I and Henrietta Marie, Charles and James were part of a large family of healthy, handsome children, including another brother and three sisters – a rarity for any family, high-born or low, in 17th century England. (They’re preserved with heartbreaking beauty in the lovely group portrait by court painter Anthony Van Dyck.) Even more rare, the king and queen weren’t distant parents, but dearly loved one another and their children as well. All three young princes were educated to be potential kings. English history was sadly filled with young heirs who died before their fathers –– Henry VIII was a second son, as was Charles I himself –– but no one expected the family to be broken apart as it was.

For although Charles I was an excellent father, he was a lamentable king who resisted the desires of his people. Most disastrously, he believed his monarchy was divinely appointed, and refused to listen to Parliament’s wishes regarding taxation and religion. His defiance led to the two English Civil Wars between his own Royalist supporters and the Parliamentary forces led by General Oliver Cromwell. The Royalists lost and the king was captured, tried for treason, and, on a cold January morning in 1649, beheaded.

While the teenaged Charles, Prince of Wales, fought for his father in the early stages of the Civil Wars, by 1646, he was sent abroad for safety’s sake. He never saw his father again. James, Duke of York, was seized by the Parliamentary troops and held as a prized political pawn. But the fifteen-year-old prince boldly managed to escape his captors and join his older brother in exile. The queen also fled to France with Henrietta, the youngest princess. The last brother, Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was only nine when his father was executed. Unlike his older brothers, he remained in England as a prisoner with his sister Elizabeth, who died in captivity 1650 at fifteen. At last, in 1652, Henry was released to join his mother in France.

The exile was devastating to the once-close royal family. Scattered among several royal courts in Europe and pawning jewels for living expenses, the Stuarts survived largely on hope. When Cromwell died, Charles II was invited back to London to be restored to his throne in 1660. Charles and his two brothers returned to the joyful celebration known as the Restoration. But the personal sorrow wasn’t over. Their oldest sister, Mary of Orange, died in 1660, and their youngest brother, Henry, died of smallpox the same year. The youngest sister, Henrietta, was unhappily wed to the younger brother of Louis XIV, and she, too, died too young at 26. Queen Henrietta Maria died in 1669. By 1670, Charles and James were the only ones left.

So much tragedy left its mark on both men, but in surprisingly different ways. Charles was determined not to repeat his father’s errors. He resolved not to keep himself apart from his people, but moved freely among them, in parks, playhouses, and churches. Ever-charming, he avoided conflict if he could help it, whether with his mistresses or with Parliament. To keep himself as independent from Parliament as he could, he engaged in elaborate secret diplomacy with France and other countries, even accepting private subsidies as part of his backstairs diplomacy. While known to history as the Merry Monarch, Charles had an inescapable air of melancholy about him that shows in his portraits. For a king who lived so publicly, he was also very private; though he most likely converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, he had always remained an Anglican for the good of England.

James, however, reacted very differently to the family’s misfortunes. Just as Charles was dark-eyed and olive-skinned while James was blue-eyed and fair, their personalities, too, were equally at odds. While James was known for his hearty bluster and bravery in battle, he lacked his brother’s wit and intelligence. He could be stubborn and inflexible, much as their father had been. Also like their father, James believed in the divine right of absolute monarchy, and regarded Parliament as something to be bent to royal will. When he followed his conscience and publicly converted to Catholicism, his popularity among Protestant England sank, and he refused to see the reason why. He endorsed a large standing army, and defensively wished to eliminate any sort of dissension among the people.

It was all the proverbial recipe for disaster, and when James became king at the childless Charles’s death, the disaster was not long in coming. After three years of James’s reign, he was chased from his throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and replaced by his son-in-law and daughter, William and Mary. Yet James was not a bad man (and certainly not the monster that many later historians have painted him.) He followed his conscience, however misguided the results, and he believed that he was acting for the good of England. He was, quite simply, the wrong man for a vastly complicated job.

When Katherine Sedley fell in love with a Stuart brother, it was not the charming Charles who caught her heart, but the challenging James. And that is the story of The Countess and the King.

Here’s a link (http://www.susanhollowayscott.com/books/countesspreview.htm) to an excerpt from The Countess and the King on my website (www.susanhollowayscott.com).
I hope you’ll also stop by my blog with fellow author Loretta Chase, where we discuss history, writing, and yes, even the occasional pair of great shoes: http://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com

Many, many thanks to Susie for having me here today!

Upcoming HFBRT Event The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott...

2010-08-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

We at the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table are proud to announce our upcoming event featuring Susan Holloway Scott's new release The Countess and the King beginning Sept. 1 through Sept. 7th. We each will be sponsoring a giveawy of this great book at the end. There will be the usual guest posts, an interview and our book reviews. Should be a great week.

Announcing Winner of For the King!!!!

2010-07-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations SouthernBelle you are the winner of For The King by Catherine Delors.

The new man in my life...

2010-07-16T10:12:00.001-07:00

Here he is Kilraeke's Hold The Wall Boys, Stonewall Jackson (Jackson for short). He came home with me last Saturday. I am so in love. He is my Markie's grandson. He is our future Mr. Golden Stud at Kilraeke Kennels.

For the King by Catherine Delors giveaway...

2010-07-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce this giveaway for a brand new hardback edition of For the King by Catherine Delors. Great book! Here's your chance to get a free copy.

~ Must be a follower
~ Giveaway only for U.S. and Canada
~ To enter just post a comment and make sure you include your email address.

Giveaway will end on Wedensday July 28. Winner announced Thursday July 29.

Good Luck!!!!

Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt Book Review...

2010-07-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

I read this book for the first time in the summer of 1978. I was pregnant with my 3rd child and was having complications. I was ordered to be on bed rest for 4 months. It was really a tough time with two children age 3 and under running around. To brighten up my day a friend brought over a big bag of books. They were mostly Victoria Holt books. I had never even heard of her. What a treat. Mistress of Mellyn was the first one I read and fell in love. I devoured Victoria Holt that summer and now 32 years later I'm devouring them again.

I just finished Mistress of Mellyn for the 2nd time. I had forgotten most of it so it was really fun to read it all over again. What could be better than a suspenseful romance set in Cornwall. Martha Leigh "Marty" is forced into taking a position as a governess in Connan TreMellyn's household. Her charge is the bright, but sassy 7 year old daughter, Alice, of Lord TreMellyn. Martha has never been to Cornwall and is completely mesmerized by the place, so far away from every where else. Mellyn Manor is a huge house with spooky dark corners and hiding places. There are hushed secrets between the servants that Marty is dying to find out. What really happened to the late Mrs. TreMellyn? Was she really an adulterer or a victim of a murder? Marty will make it her mission to find the answers even if it will put her own life in danger. She can't help but notice how unhappy Alice and her father are and maybe uncovering the truth will help them move on with their lives.

What a fun and fast read this is. Mistress of Mellyn was the first book that Elenore Hibbert wrote under the pen name of Victoria Holt in 1955. As she continues to write as Victoria Holt the stories will get even more intricate and suspenseful. Ms. Holt wrote several books that will take place in Cornwall, Mistress of Mellyn, Bride of Pendoric, and Lord of Far Island. She must have loved the place. I can understand her love and fascination with the country. I had an opportunity last summer to stay in Boscastle, Cornwall. It's breathtaking. A place where land meets the sea. There is an aura about the place that is a little spooky no matter how beautiful it is. It is a place filled with stories and legends of smugglers, pirates, and witchcraft.

There is an amazing Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle that my daughter and I went in. We thought it was probably going to be silly, but I am here to tell you there was nothing silly about it. It was seriously spooky and I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Smuggler caves are all over the place. You can see how Daphne De Demauer was able to create Jamaica Inn and Frenchman's Creek.

Do yourself a favor and take an afternoon or two and sit back and enjoy Mistress of Mellyn. It's on sale right now on Amazon for $5.99.
Enjoy!

Join The Holt & Heyer Summer Reading Challenge...

2010-06-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Holt and Heyer Summer Reading Challenge 2010
July 1 - September 22

All Things Royal is hosting a Holt and Heyer Summer Reading Challenge for 2010. The object is to read as much Victoria Holt and/or Georgette Heyer books as you can during the summer beginning July 1 – September 22. There will be monthly prices awarded and a surprise grand prize for the overall winner at the end of the challenge. Many of you know that I am a doll maker and sell my dolls all over the world, so you can guess what the grand prize will be!

As you read and finish your book report back to me with your accomplishments and I will post them.
Points awarded:

1 pt awarded if you post the book you are reading on your blog as Currently Reading and send me the link.
2 pts awarded for each book you read
3 pts awarded if you post a review.
4 pts awarded if you link back to me with your review.
15 bonus pts. for tweeting about this Challenge
So ultimately you can earn up to 10 pts per book and an extra 15 pts. for tweeting. The reviews do not have to be elaborate. I want this to be fun, fun, fun.
To enter:

~Canadian and U.S. Residents only
~Must follow my blog
~Copy the challenge button and put it on your side bar with link and report back by commenting on this post with link to your site.

That’s it!!!! Really this should be lots of fun. Summer is the time to relax and not be too serious! I will post information on what the monthly price is beginning July 1.

Follow the link(s) for a complete list of Holt and Heyer books to choose from:
Victoria Holt: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/victoria-holt/
Georgette Heyer: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/georgette-heyer/

Book Review of For the King by Catherine Delors...

2010-06-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

I really knew so little about the post revolution in France and Napoleon. I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't know a thing about King Louis XVIII and royal conspirators plotting to usurp Napoleon and reinstate the Royal household.
For the King is just one book, but was so enlightening regarding this time period. It was intriguing to read about the plotting to overthrow Bonaparte and the investigation of Chief Inspector Roch Miquel in uncovering the plot. This story takes you through the streets and boudoirs of Paris. No one can be trusted.
This is a great summer read and wets your appetite for more. I hope this won't be Inspector Miquel's last case we will read about :-).
Congratulations Ms. Delors for a well written novel and thank-you for sharing it with the HFBRT.

The Arc de Triomphe...The Trimpuh of Napeloen

2010-06-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Besides the Eiffel Tower The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most well recognized monuments associated with Paris. While in Paris a few years ago I was able to see this glorious monument up close and personal. It's just right there in the center of it all, traffic flowing all around it. I didn't know much about it's history other than I knew it was associated with Napoleon's victories.

It is really beautiful, as all Parisian monuments, being located in the center of town with the avenues radiating out from it in Pentagon shape, the best view being from the famous avenue Champs Élysées.

It was commissioned in 1806 by the Emperor Napoleon following his victory at Austerlitz. It was designed by the famous architect Jean Chalgrin in the Neoclassical version of the ancient Roman architecture. The Arc's sculptures represent the departing of the troops in 1792, the victories of Napoleon and the Revolution. Inside the walls of the Arc are found names of notable Generals and Soldiers who fought for French freedom from tyranny. In 1920 following WWI the tomb of The Unknown Soldier was laid to rest underneath the Arc.

The Arc de Triomphe has always represented victory for the troops and not withstanding two of the most memorable victory marches in recent history was the victorious Germans marching into Paris in 1940. Who can forget these pictures, they send chills down my spine just looking at them and thinking of the Parisians watching as the invaders march through their beloved landmark to change their lives forever.

1940 the Germans invaded Paris but it didn't stop the spirited French from plaguing their enemies with the resistance for five years. Paris was spared the bombs and destruction thank-goodness, however the devastation of life and morale was enough, so in the spring of 1945 it must have been such a glorious site to see another victorious army marching through the Arc this time liberators rather than conquerors.

Allied troops marching into Paris 1945

The Arc de Triomphe is a beautiful monument and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to see it in my life time. I have thoroughly enjoyed putting together this creative post for the HFBRT event featuring the soon to be released novel For the King by Catherine Delors.

Guest Post by Catherine Delors author of For the King...

2010-06-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to be able to present this wonderful guest post by Catherine Delors the author of the fascinating soon to be released novel For the King. This post is so interesting about Napoleon and Josephine. Thank-you Ms. Delors for providing this for my blog and for participating in the HFBRT event highlighting your new book.

Napoléon and Joséphine in 1800

An interesting couple if ever there was one… Bonaparte then is not the portly man we
have come to associate with traditional Napoleonic imagery. He has not yet crowned himself Emperor of the French, but he has seized power a year earlier in a bloodless coup. In 1800 he is the First Consul, a reference to the era of the Republic in Rome. But his regime is already authoritarian, and he will use the bomb attack described in my new novel, FOR THE KING, to eliminate many of his political opponents.

In 1800 Bonaparte is only 31. His valet describes him as thin to the point of emaciation, with a sallow complexion, deep set blue eyes, a high forehead, and already thinning hair. He is of average height for the late 18th century (5 feet six and a half inches in English measurements.)

Josephine is 37, six years older than her husband, and the Bonaparte siblings, who hate her, calls her la vieille (“the hag.”) In fact she looks rather younger than her age, a gracious, elegant brunette.

What about the state of things between them? Sadly, the romance is gone. Oh, Napoléon was utterly smitten in the beginning of their marriage, but within a few months of the wedding, while he was waging war in Italy, she dashed his illusions by taking a lover. He retaliated in kind, and a string of mistresses ensued.

Now she is the one who is jealous. There are a few other clouds on the horizon: Bonaparte would like a son and heir, but a middle-aged Joséphine shows no signs of fertility. Yet Bonaparte’s immediate concerns are to consolidate his grip on power, not –quite yet- to establish a dynasty.

There is also the small matter that Joséphine receives enormous sums, 1,000 francs a day, from Fouché, the redoubtable Minister of Police, to spy on her husband. If Bonaparte knew about this, he would not take kindly to this new kind of betrayal, but the important thing is that he doesn’t know.

The truth of the matter is that Joséphine is a compulsive spender, far more so than Marie-Antoinette ever was, and that she is always in debt in spite of the generous stipend she receives as the wife of the First Consul. Bonaparte cannot comprehend where all that money goes, and she dreads asking for still more to pacify her creditors. This too creates great stress in their marriage.

But what matters in 1800 is that Napoléon and Joséphine are political allies. He knows he owes his rise in the army and national politics to her and her connections. Without those, it is unlikely that his coup would have succeeded. Napoléon and Joséphine planned it together, they would have shared the consequences of any failures, and now they bask together in the glow of success. He may no longer be madly in love, but he values his wife as his closest associate, and also, because he is very superstitious, his lucky star. Maybe, in his mind, she is the one who allowed him to escape the bomb detonated on their path on Christmas Eve 1800 . . .

New HFBRT Event for June For the King by Catherine Delors...

2010-06-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce this month's event for the HFBRT featuring the For the King by Catherine Delors. It will be an exciting week. Please check in with HFBRT for daily updates on reviews, guest posts, creative posts and give aways.

My schedule is as follows:

Guest Post by the author Catherine Delors June 23

Creative Post on Louis XVIII June 24

Book Review June 26.

Book Review of The House at Riverton by Kate Morton...

2010-06-08T09:58:00.001-07:00

This beautiful debut novel by the Australian author Kate Morton is outstanding. Truly British, depicting the end of the Edwardian era along with the advent of WWI. If you are a fan of the BBC series Upstairs, Downstairs you will love this book.
Grace Reeves at 14 takes a job at the house on the hill known as Riverton. Her mother was a housemaid there until she left to give birth and raise Grace her only child. Grace becomes an integral part of the household upstairs and down. She is loved by the staff and the Hartford sisters whom she serves. Grace will see it all at Riverton, love, sorrow, despair, & betrayal. She will discover the answers to her own questions that her mother has kept silent about for years. She will have her own secrets and share in the desperate secrets of her employer.
Grace will learn a very hard, hard lesson that even the smallest deception can be life altering. She will eventually leave Riverton and go on with her own life until she makes a full circle back again to Riverton to put to rest events that have haunted her throughout her life. She is the only one who really knows what happened that night in 1924 that will change her life and Riverton forever.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I couldn't put it down. Ms. Morton has a lovely flowing way of writing. It is almost like you are on a boat peacefully sailing down a river, enjoying the beautiful scenery, taking it all in and then every once in awhile come the rapids that you have to sit up and pay attention to.

My favorite genre is British Historical Fiction and this book just fit right in. It's the type of book you will want to read a 2nd and 3rd time.

5 Royal Stars from me!

Thursday Thought...

2010-06-03T09:33:00.001-07:00

Book Review of The Secrets of the Tudor Court by D.L. Bogdon...

2010-05-28T11:10:00.001-07:00

I have been ignoring my blogging responsibilities lately due to some health issues, but I am feeling better and part of the reason is because of this book.
A couple of weeks ago I did a very clumsy thing and fell at work on my way to the Ladies room. Of all things my non-slip sandal actually got stuck on the floor and I just kept going falling face forward and hitting my chest on the door frame on my way down landing on both knees. Unfortunately I was alone in the office and it scared me to death. I couldn't get up for awhile. When I did I turned off my computer, locked the doors and went home crying my head off. It hurt like crazy. I managed to get ice on everything, get in bed and grab a book. The book I grabbed off the shelf was none other than The Secrets of the Tudor Court. To tell the truth I wasn't planning on too much because this is the author's debut novel , etc. Was I in for a surprise!!!! From the first page it got me. I love the Tudor era. It seems to be never ending. Always some intrigue or new character that hasn't yet been explored. This book doesn't disappoint.

Mary Howard the daughter of Thomas Howard the 3rd Duke of Norfolk is our lovely protagonist who grows up in the Tudor Court beginning with being a young lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn. She is there through it all, the banishment of Catherine of Aragon. The rise and fall of Anne Boleyn. Anne of Cleve's divorce. The execution of her young sweet cousin Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr's gentle care of King Henry in his final years. Mary marries the King's bastard son Henry FitzRoy and is not allowed to consummate the marriage. FitzRoy will die young never having made Mary his actual wife. She will be left destitute and have to fight for her rightful inheritance from her husband. She is used as a pawn by her scheming, ambitious father the Duke of Norfolk. She witness's her mother being abused by her father and she will know first hand betrayal, neglect and violence at her father's hand. Through all of this Mary maintains her dignity and, unbelievable as it sounds, her love and duty towards her father. She was the best contribution he ever made to this world, and in the end one would hope he realized this.
The author weaves an amazing story depicting their love/ hate relationship. The book is full of richly developed characters and plots. You might say the book could have been titled Yet Another Howard in The Tudor Court or the Tudor era could actually have been the Howard era. There were so many Howard's compared to Tudors. The Tudors were not prolific, but my word there were, and still Howard's coming out of the wood work. My goodness Katherine Howard was one of 10 children, the Duke himself was one of many as well. There are a lot of Howard descendants around including me. I never knew anything really about the Duke of Norfolk's immediate family. Somehow I could never imagine him having a wife and children. It was very interesting finding out about Mary and her brother the Earl of Surrey both of which were played by their father to meet his ambitions.
This book is well worth the purchase. You will not be disappointed. It will move you, it did me.
Ms. Bogdon is a talented author and this being her debut novel is amazing. I really look forward to her other books that will surely follow.

4.5 royal stars from me

Book Review of The Confessions of Catherine DE Medici by C.W. Gortner...

2010-05-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

It gives me great pleasure to review this outstanding book by the talented author C.W. Gortner author of The Last Queen and The Secret Lion.

Catherine is the last heir of the De Medici Dynasty of Italy in the 16th century. Her uncle is the infamous Pope Clement. Her childhood is controlled by her extended family. She is placed in a convent by her families adversaries. She witnesses the sacking of Rome by Charles the Emperor of Spain and sees things no child should ever have to witness.

She like most princesses is used as a political pawn in marriage. She is betrothed to Henri the son of Francois I of France and packed off to Paris where she will marry Henri whose life mission appears to be humiliating his new wife. He barely shows up for the wedding and has no mercy for her on their wedding night where it's slam, bam, thank-you mam and then he leaves to spend his honeymoon night with his mistress Diane le Poithers. In the beginning Catherine appears to be very timid and certainly not the Madame Serpent she is later refereed to as. Her husband is repulsed by the fact that she comes from mercantile heritage and not a true blue blood. In France according to her father-in-law Francois I pedigree is everything. It is finally made clear to Henri by his father that he has obligation to provide an heir for the kingdom, so he and Catherine finally get down to business with Diane le Poither's assistance and provide France with an heir, Francois II who is swept up by Diane and supervised by her in the royal nursery. Catherine and Henry will go on to have several children 4 of them being sons who will all at one time or another rule France. Catherine is bitter about sharing her husband with his mistress, but in time she will develop with Henri a loving relationship.

She will go onto rule France through her sons after her husband's death. She is determined to keep the kingdom in tack and Catholic. The world is turning upside down with religion. Holy wars are in abundance. In particular in France with the Huguenot's a Protestant faction that is ever threatening to over throw the crown. Catherine will seek drastic measures to assure that the crown remains in her family. St. Bartholomew's massacre of the Huguenots will be one horrible event that will earn her the title of Madame Serpent. Much has already been said about her association with the famed physic Notrotdamus so I will not be covering that here.

On page 321 of the book is a great summation of her life I would like to share.
Left alone I sank into my chair. I did not think. I simply put my face in my hands and wept as I hadn't in years. I mourned a thousand losses:for the child I'd been and the family I'd left behind, for the country I barely recalled anymore and country I now fought to save. I wept for my dead children and my living ones, who'd grown up infected by the poisonous hatred of our religious wars. I wept for my friends and my enemies;for all the lost hopes and illusions. But most of all, I wept for myself and the woman I had become.

Mr. Gortner tells a great story. This book is written in first person which is my favorite. I was captivated from the beginning to the end. The author really knows women , and how they express themselves and their feelings. I was amazed, it's not everyday a man can portray women so well.
I can tell you now that I will be reading The Last Queen and The Secret Lion soon. I would like to express my thanks to Mr. Gortner and HFBRT for the opportunity to review this book.

4.5 stars from me.

Upcoming HFBRT Event for May...

2010-05-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

This is such an exciting new book. I have never read Mr. Gortner before and I will say I am very impressed! I really enjoyed this book and will doing a review as well as a creative post for this event. Make sure your check out HFBRT for the schedule. It will be interesting for sure. My review is scheduled for Saturday May 15th.

The Power of Motivation to spruce up the old...

2010-05-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

I love my home, I truly do, but lately(like the last 4 years) I have been totally unmotivated to do anything new to spruce it up. In my younger years I loved decorating, now I love blogging and making dolls. My standards beyond cleanliness has been in a rut. What could get me more motivated than hearing that my dear friend of 34 years is coming to visit with her husband? Motivated, more like complete panic. The last time she visited was my son's wedding 11 years ago. I don't think anything has really changed in 11 years.

I just couldn't have her see the rut I'm in, so my daughter and I sat down and made a list of what need changing and began making plans. We realized it was going to take some investment. We didn't want to spend a great deal, like a whole new room of furniture, we knew we had to be economical. We both love English decorating, we wanted something in between English country and formal. We began with a major declutter. We made a place for our doll making supplies to be hidden out of the way instead of in the dining room. We bought slip covers for the old couch and love seat.
I bought a whole bunch of accent pillows at Wal-mart to bring out the color in the wood and art work. We spent a lot of time in Ross and Marshalls and was able to pick up some fun decorating pieces such as table frames, tea trays, table cloths and pictures. We are both doll collectors/makers, but nothing looks worse than going into a home that is just overwhelming with dusty dolls.
My daughter found a vintage pram off of Craig's list for $150 in perfect condition. We chose one doll each that would compliment the room and have them in the pram. We completely redid the upstairs bathroom. I will have to show picture of that later. By the time we were finished it just looked beautiful. It was exactly what we were trying to achieve. All in all we figure we spent about $600 which is very reasonable for a makeover.
I wish I had before pictures, but I am sharing some quick pictures I took this morning on my way to work.

My friends were very impressed and when we were out shopping yesterday she found a Feltman Bros. vintage infant dress for one of my pram dolls. I love going home now and walking in my front door! I would love to hear how you have made over your home. It's fun to share ideas.

Congratulations! The Winner of Claude and Camille is...

2010-04-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

PRICILLA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who do you think you are?

2010-04-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite shows lately is Who Do You Think You Are? aired on NBC Friday's at 8:00 p.m. If you are interested in your family history at all this is the show to watch. Totally fascinating!!! I have also been reading The Confessions of Catherine De Medici by C.W.Gortner in preparation for our HFBRT event in May. It has been a real treat to see the Brooke Shields episode on Who Do You Thing You Are? She has family links back to Henri III and Catherine. One of her great grandmothers, the daughter of Henri IV was born in the Louvre. Perfect timing for the upcoming HFBRT event, it just makes it more real.
I am including a clip from her episode and a link to the full episode.
Enjoy!

Link for full episode: http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/brooke-shields/1216049/

Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth II pt 2...

2010-04-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

My daughter made this amazing movie in tribute to the Queen. It's just beautiful, so touching and so romantic. She has said with pictures and music far more than I could say in words. Hope you will enjoy this and let me know which part touched you the most. I have few favorite scenes but one in particular, but don't want to spoil it for you.

Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth II, A Royal Tribute by Elizabeth Fiorito

Queen Elizabeth II 84th Birthday Today...

2010-04-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

In commemoration of HRM Queen Elizabeth II 84th birthday today April 21 I would like to do a series of posts over the next few days highlighting her life.

What better place to start than at the beginning. Elizabeth Alexandria Mary Windsor the first child of Prince Albert, Duke of York and his wife Elizabeth was born by C-section April 21, 1926.
Her official title at birth was Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York. She was then 3rd in line to the throne behind her Uncle Edward, Prince of Wales and her father. There was no reason at the time of her birth to presume she would ever be Queen of England, it was always assumed that the Prince of Wales would marry and have children providing an heir to the throne.

Elizabeth was very close to her grandfather King George V he always enjoyed her company especially in his final days, she provided great relief to him. In 1936 he died leaving the throne to the still unmarried Edward Prince of Wales. Elizabeth now became 2nd in line to the throne after her father and within the year after her uncle would abdicate the throne to her father she would become the Heiress Presumptive , and was there after known as Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth.

Elizabeth grew up with her only sibling Princess Margaret born in 1930. She was much loved and doted on by both her parents and the royal household. She was known at a very early age to be "a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved". Winston Churchill described Elizabeth at two as "a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant."

The following pictures are newly released never before seen pictures of Elizabeth as a baby. They are now on display at Windsor Castle in commemoration of her 84th birthday.

Tomorrow I will doing her early to teen years. I hope you will drop by and check out the commentary and pictures.

“I have to be seen to be believed.” Elizabeth II

Claude and Camille giveaway...

2010-04-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Excited to offer this giveaway of Stephanie Cowell's newly released Claude and Camille. This give away is for follwers only.
Just comment on this post with your email address and follower ID.

U.S. and Canada only.

Winner will be chosen through randomizer.org Wedensday April 28th.

A Passion for Old Libraries, Guest Post with Stephanie Cowells

2010-04-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

I feel very honored today to be able to bring you a wonderful guest post by the marvelous author Stephanie Cowells. As many of you know the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table is featuring her newly released book Claude and Camille for this months event. I want to tell Stephanie thank-you for sharing with us this wonderful post on Old Libraries. I think I can safely say that all book bloggers are groupies of libraries and book stores. Something about the smell and feel of books that turn us all on :-). This was a perfect guest post subject for my blog.

From Stephanie Cowells:

Nothing makes my heart beat the same way than entering an old library. There are many such libraries in New York City where I live, among them the Frick Museum and the Morgan. I used to have fantasies of being locked into the Frick all night and able to take down any book I wanted and read it. They are huge and beautifully bound. The Morgan has books way back before the dawn of printing.

When traveling to Europe and England, all anyone needs to say to me is, “Would you like to see the old library at…” and my pulse quickens. So I approached Duke Humphrey’s Library, whose books have sat on those shelves since 1488; it is part of the magical Bodleian at Oxford. For twelve days I lived in its shadow at Jesus College. And some months ago I went to Dublin to see the Book of Kells (gospels copied and illustrated on calfskin around 800) and then climbed the steps to the ancient huge Trinity Library at whose sight I was so stunned that I stood motionless while my eyes filled with tears.

I understood while writing my first novel (Nicholas Cooke, which takes place largely in Elizabethan London) that with an accredited publisher standing behind me, I could be admitted to research libraries and read the books. And so I studied the science of 17th century London from books published at the time; I also studied the invaluable Stow’s Chronicles of London in its first 1596 edition in which John Stow intimately talks about every street and shop he knew in London when Will Shakespeare was a rising writer and the Queen very old and very fascinated by Lord Essex.

Several years ago, the curator’s assistant at the famous Berg Collection of manuscripts in New York’s Public Library invited me over to see some special things. Did I like the Brontes? Well then! He unfolded what I remember was a small leather envelope which held a scrap of brown paper and on it, in her tiny, faded writing, was an early poem by Emily. I touched the very paper she touched over a hundred and fifty years ago in a parsonage in Yorkshire. Another time I went to Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book Library and, in the vault of the adjoining Elizabethan Club where tea is served each day, I found and was able to study one of the 13 extant copies of the original publication of Shakespeare’s sonnets. It may have been his own copy; there were a few tiny holes in the pages where a candle spark had burned them.

But there is also a library I love dearly only a few feet away from my desk which has a good collection of books, if none of them as old as the Book of Kells. It is my library. I have a reproduction of Shakespeare’s First Folio and a friend gave me a Victorian housekeeping book printed 1848 in which I found very dry pressed flowers between the pages. Who put them there?

Old books and libraries! There time past is surely time present always.

Mary Cassatt an Impressionist...

2010-04-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

I have chosen to do my creative post for the Historical Fiction Round Table event featuring Stephanie Cowell's newly released Claude and Camille on Mary Cassatt~the only recognized woman and American Impressionist.

Mary was born in 1844 into a very wealthy family in Allegheny City Pennsylvania. She was one of seven children. Her parents were firm believers in education for both sons and daughters. They were very encouraging in broadening their children's horizons. They sent Mary as a pre-teen abroad to Europe visiting all the capital cities for five years. It was during this time that she began to pursue her talent as an artist. Her first exposure to the Impressionist was at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1855. Degas and Pissarro were exhibiting and would later become Mary's colleagues and mentors.

Upon returning to the United States Mary enrolled at the age of fifteen in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Her parents objected to her becoming a professional artist. They were concerned about the bohemian lifestyle and feminist indoctrination. Mary was not impressed with the academic at the Academy and left it with no degree granted. She wanted to study real art with live models. She finally was able to convince her father and she, her mother and a few family friends left for Paris. She studied with Jean Leon Gerome, Charles Chaplin and Thomas Couture.

Becoming a recognized and commissioned artist is a rough road at best. Mary was very frustrated. She had many admirers, but no sales. 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war Mary returned to the United States. Her father still adamantly objected to her chosen profession. He allowed her to live in the family home and paid for her living expenses, but would not allow her to spend one penny of his money on art supplies. She was so frustrated that in 1871 she wrote to her friend I have given up my studio & torn up my father's portrait...

In 1872 Mary returned to France with hopes of self starting her career. What she found was that the art world was a man's world. Female artists were seen with contempt and publicly ridiculed. Mary was very outspoken regarding this giving the public more reason to dismiss her work.

1877 was the lowest point of her career. She was rejected and humiliated. It was during this time that the Impressionist Degas came to notice Mary's work and invited her to exhibit with the Impressionists at independent exhibitions that were gaining much attendant notoriety. Mary was always an admirer of Degas, Renoir, Monet and the others. She was so grateful to Degas, they became life long friends. This was the launching of her career. Mary would go onto receive countless awards and recognition. Her legacy includes: SS Mary Cassatt a World War II Liberty Ship launched in 1943, the all-female Cassatt Quartet formed at Julliard in honor of the painter in 1985, and US Postal Service stamp collections. Her paintings have sold for as much as $2.9 million. She died in 1926 at the age of 82 near Paris and is buried in the family vault in Le Mesnil-Théribus France.

She was said to be the artist that captured the tender moment. Her art work was almost exclusively about real life scenes especially those of the mother and child. She often used her own mother, sisters, nieces and nephews as her models. She drew from observing those tender moments in life and transported them onto the canvas making them eternal. She is my favorite Impressionist.

The following are some of her more recognized works:

Kick Off Event for Claude and Camille...

2010-04-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

Drop by our HFBRT site for schedule of events,giveaways, etc.

Origins & Ten Commandments of Medieval Knighthood...

2010-03-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

To coincide with our HFBRT The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick event I have decided to do my creative post on Medieval Knighthood.

William Marshall being The Greatest Knight and my 27th great grandfather sparked a keen interest in me to explore the origins of Knighthood in the Middle Ages further. Through my research I have learned that knight is a "gentleman soldier". Knighthood in the Middle Ages found it's genesis with the Emperor Charlemagne, King of Franks in the 8th century. It was during the Crusades in the 11th century that knights began to gain their notoriety. A well known and often legendary order of knighthood during this time was The Knights Templar; a holy order of knights which William Marshall always had an affinity towards and joined the order with instructions to the Templar's regarding his burial while on his death bed.

Basically a medieval knight was a warrior, from a middle to upper class family who was considered a protector and servant of the realm. They really held no political office, knighthood was granted by the sovereign to a selected person for some merit of achievement. In the medieval era only the sons of a knight were eligible for knighthood. These young men who were singled out were sent off to a castle as pages, and then later squires for other knights. Around the age of 20 they would be admitted to their rank and expected to obey the code of chivalry at all times, no failure was accepted.

It would be rare, if not impossible during the middle ages for a poor man to become a knight. The heavy armor worn and weapons used by the soldier was very heavy and very expensive. The soldier needed family support to purchase his armor, and horse(s), it was not provided by the state, thus William's uncle was his sponsor and later through ransoms gained in battle or tournaments William supported himself.

A knight rode into battle on horseback he was not a foot soldier. In battle a knight would carry his colors on his horse, armor, or on a banner. This was an identification similar to dog tags used in today's military. His colors also indicated he was a knight, and if captured by the enemy was afforded military courtesy. Beginning in about the 12th century knights carried their color banners to tournaments for identification in the games. These colors were actually the beginning elements of a family's coat of arms, which became very popular from the 12th century to present day. Once a knight they were expected to obey the code chivalry at all times. Their social status was permanently controlled, and their lives were always under watchful eyes.

Below are the Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry:
1. Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.

2. Thou shalt defend the Church.

3. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

4. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.

5. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.

6. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.

7. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.

8. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.

9. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.

10. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this HFBRT event it's been my favorite so far. I hope you all will pick-up a copy of both The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick. I cannot recommend these two books enough. You will be in for a treat.

Book Review: The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick...

2010-03-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Another winner by Elizabeth Chadwick. The Scarlet Lion is the continuing story of William Marshall found in The Greatest Knight. The Scarlet Lion continues now with William and Isabelle Marshall's family and marriage.

The story begins during the labor and delivery of the Marshall's fourth child in Normandy while William is at the service of King Richard. William has been in the service to the royal family all his adult life. He has earned their trust through time and again proven loyalty to them.

King Richard will die of a festering wound leaving no heirs to the throne. He will name his youngest brother John rather than his nephew Arthur the son of his elder brother Geoffrey his heir. This will cause dissension among the barons, some in Arthur's camp and others in Johns. William Marshall will campaign heartily along with William De Brasoe for John being King believing he is choosing the best of two evils. Arthur is a teenager and will fight for his right to be heir to the throne leading him to seek the aid of the French. Nothing goes as planned. John will end up capturing Arthur and use him as a hostage. Eventually John will kill Arthur himself and have him dumped in the Seine no one being the wiser about what happened.

The Marshall's will travel to Ireland to claim Isabelle Marshall's estate Kilkenny Castle in Leinster. Isabelle is reunited with her mother Aoiefe who is the daughter of the late King of Ireland. Aoiefe doesn't take to well to William because he is of Norman descent. She becomes a wedge in their marriage and thank goodness she doesn't live long enough to do some real damage.

Kilkenny is the place of choice for Isabelle. She wants to live and raise her children there. Can you blame her it's beautiful. However; can anything be easy for the Marshall's other than having children? Local nobility resents the fact that an English Earl is now their overlord, and will stir up trouble and rebellion from the beginning.

The Marshall's family will grow to 10 children and they will move back and forth from Wales to Ireland to England. They will have joy and sorrow as all families. William and Isabelle will grow older physically and wiser, but will remain in love and devoted to each other through-out. There will times that will heavily strain their marriage. Isabelle will not understand how William can completely serve King John knowing how evil and manipulative John is. William will remain true to his character through-out his life and men and women will hold his name in reverence, a man of integrity.

The characters are richly portrayed. I was transported back in time, truly feeling how it must of been to raise a family in the Middle Ages. Ms. Chadwick's descriptions never went over the top, they were just enough to get her point across and I as a reader really appreciate that.

I really enjoyed all the labors and deliveries especially of their seventh child Sybrie. Sybrie is my 26th great grandmother so it was really fun reading about her. I know it was a fictional account of the birth but really well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I do recommend you read The Greatest Knight first, it will just make this story all the more enjoyable. Ms. Chadwick has a marvelous writing style that transports you right into the story. I look forward to reading A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick which is actually the prequell to The Greatest Knight, about John Marshall, William's father.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to win the HFBRT Chadwick Event giveaway of The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion.

The Scarlet Lion Event begins today...

2010-03-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Begins today!!! Check out HFBRT daily for updates on Guest Posts,

Book Reviews, Creative Posts and Author Interviews.

Friday's Royal Review The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick...

2010-03-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

I NEED A HERO, He's got to be strong, He's got to be good, He's got to be larger than life...

Imagine a father putting up his 5 year old son as collateral for a bargain being made to a King, and if he doesn't fulfill his part, his son will be hanged. Can't imagine this, well it's true. William Marshall was just that child, and his father failed in his part of the bargain with King Stephen, bragging that what is his child's life to him after all he still had "his hammer and anvils to produce another one".

King Stephen, fully prepared to keep his word and hang young William recognizes something tenacious and noble about the little guy and spares his life. William will grow up being a squire to the great knights and learns the trade very well. He will become a knight that truly adheres to the chivalrous code.

He becomes a part of King Henry II's household pledging his loyalty to the royal family. He is put in charge of teaching and preparing the heir, young Henry, to be King. He pledges his word and life to this young man being there through the good and bad, and at his bed side when the young heir dies of camp fever. He will travel to the Holy Land to bow at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to keep his pledge he gave to the dying Henry to ask for forgiveness in his behalf for his sins.

Through-out this story William will time and time again prove his loyalty and integrity. He is no bottom kisser for sure. Ms. Chadwick has done a marvelous job of portraying a man, a very good man, not a god that no one can relate to, but a man of flesh and blood. A man that is kind, funny, focused and passionate. In truth one HOT guy that every woman would desire.

I likened him to:

Russell Crowe as Maximus Mel Gibson as William Wallace Clive Owen as King Arthur

His character made me think of the song I Need a Hero from Shreck 2. Went on an YouTube search for a music video and found this:

Ms. Chadwick has now become one of my top 5 favorite Historical Fiction authors. I loved every chapter and that is saying a lot considering it is 529 pages. The book has it all: drama, comedy, adventure, intrigue, and romance. Treat yourself, get the book and go on a three day reading vacation. You will be transported back in time with a man that is larger than life.

This Sunday begins HFBRT The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick Event. Don't miss it. The Scarlet Lion (the continuing story of William Marshall) is another gem.

A Toast to you St. Paddy...

2010-03-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick was a gentleman,

Who through strategy and stealth,

Drove all the snakes from Ireland,

Here’s a toasting to his health.

But not too many toastings Lest you lose yourself and then

Forget the good Saint Patrick And see all those snakes again.

'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!

'Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Winner of The Secret of the Glass is...

2010-03-17T10:02:00.001-07:00

RACHEL. Congratulations! The luck of the Irish is with you today!

Single Black Female...

2010-03-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me.. Call (404) 875-6420 and ask for Daisy, I'll be waiting....

Miss Daisy
Over 150 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society.

Wordless Wednesday my latest creation Rhys Michael

2010-03-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Rhys Michael

born: February 19, 2010

Weighs: 4lbs 5oz

20" long
Now listed on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170454222154.

The Secret of the Glass by Donna Russo Morin Giveaway!!

2010-03-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

I am offering m advanced readers copy (ARC) of The Secret of the Glass by Donna Russo Morin as a giveaway. It is in EXCELLENT condition. I take very good care of my books.

If you would like to enter this contest please:

1 entry leave a comment and your email address.
2 entries become a follower, if already a follower please indicate.
3 entries comment, follow and leave this link on your blog or tweet

For USA mail only. Contest concludes Tuesday March 16,2010

Good book and this gives you the perfect chance to get to read it!

Descending from William Marshall 3rd Earl of Pembrooke,27 generations...

2010-03-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

I have currently been reading the The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick about William Marshall. I never even really heard about him until reading this book in preparation for the HFBRT event featuring the Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick. I thought it would be best to read The Greatest Knight first since Scarlet Lion continues the story of William Marshall. While reading I started recognizing different names and places mentioned beyond the obvious royal characters. I knew I had seen these names before somewhere and then I put two and two together and pulled out my genealogy and found out that William Marshall 3rd Earl of Pembrooke is my 26th great grandfather. I have skimmed by his name so many times, never giving it much thought. I will never do that again. After reading this fantastic book I am in awe of this man and in awe that he is my direct ancestor.

I have had several people contact me a little skeptical of my claims to my royal heritage. I just chuckle, because as unbelievable as it is to them it is just as unbelievable to me :-). I am not the only one to descend from these people, many of you out there reading this if you had the inclination to do your family history you may be surprised to find out who you are related to.

Anyway I'm really not out to prove anything, but I did think it would be fun to create a descendant chart of my relationship to William Marshall, so I did and I'm including it in this post below. If any one's interested you can follow beginning with William 27 generations down to me. The bold type individuals represent a generation and the bullet italicized individuals are their spouses. This is just represents one direct family line.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Descending from William Marshall “The Protector”
3rd Earl of Pembrooke

William Marshall 3rd Earl of Pembrooke (1143-1219)

• Isabella Fitzgilbert De Clare (1172 – 1220)

Sibyl Marshall (1209 – 1238)

• William De Ferrers (1200 – 1254)

Matilda De Ferrers (1228 -1299)

• William “Fort” De Viivonne (1225 – 1259)

Joan De Viivonne (1249 – 1314)

• Reginal FitzHerbert (1232 – 1285)

Peter Fitz Herbert Baron of Chewton (abt 1254 – 1323)

• Alice Broadspeare (1254 - ?)

Herbert Fitz Piers ( 1269 - ?)

• Margaret Walsh (1270 - ?)

Adam Fitz Herbert (1290 - ?)

• Christian Verch Gwarin Ddu (1295 - ?)

John J, Gwarin Lord of Adam (1316- ?)

• Gwinillian ap Bleddin (1328 - ?)

William ap Lord of Gwarinddu Herbert (1346 - ?)

• Gwinillian Vaughn (1350 - ?)

Thomas ap Gwillem Herbert (1372-1438)

• Maud Morley (1380 - ?)

Jevan ap Thomas Ragland (Died 1416 Ragland Castle Monmouth Wales)

• Margaret Grant (Glamorgan Wales)

Robert ap Jevan Ragland (1408 - ?)

• Joan Clerke (1410 - ?)

Lewis ap Robert Ragland (1440 – 1526)

• Joan David (1442 - ?)

Robert Raglad (1510 - ?)

• Alice Matthew (1510 - ?)

Thomas Ragland (1530 – 1565)

• Mary Carne (1530 - ?)

John Ragland (1545 - ?)

• Alice Kingson (1543 - ?)

Thomas Ragland (1575 - ?)

• Marie Ingram (1605 - ?)

Thomas Ragland (1628 – 1653)

• Jane Morgan (1628 - ?)

Evan Ragland (1656 – 1716)
shanghaied by Colonist Captain in Cardiff, Wales and sold as a white slave to Stephen Pettus in Baltimore, Maryland at age 16. He later married Susanna Pettus, Stephens daughter and inherited a large estate.

• Susanna Pettus (1656 – 1717) New Kent, Virginia

Stephen Ragland (1687 - ?)

• Mary Hudson (1692 - ?)

Agnes Ragland (1723 – 1760)

• Eprahim Merritt ( 1705 – 1760)

Elizabeth Merritt (1743 – 1814)

• William Rose (1757 – 1835) Revolutionary War Soldier

Elizabeth Rose (1782 – 1860)

• Edward Bennett (1791 – 1880)

Mahala Jane Bennet (1848 - 1913)

• Eprahim Rose ( 1847 – 1915)

William Merritt Rose ( 1871 – 1940)

• Elizabeth Lawson (1874 – 1904)

Lawrence Rose (1898 – 1989)

• Anna Mae Bryant (1899 – 1998)

Ruby Elizabeth Rose (1921 – 1994)

• Harvey Walter Fritz (1917 – 2008)

Susan Kay Fritz (1954 - )

• James Anthony Fiorito ( 1951 - )

Royal Book Review of The Secret of the Glass by Donna Russo Morin...

2010-02-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since I am one of the last to do a review I will not belabor the point by telling the story all over again instead I have decided to bullet the main points and highlights.

Sophia Fiolaro is the eldest daughter of Zeno Fiolaro a Murono Glass Maker

She is a no nonsense kind of gal, rather reserved compared to her two younger boy crazy sisters

She has inherited the artistic gift of glass making from her father

She has to create her pieces in secret because it is against the law for women to pursue glass making.

In fact the government controls the glass making industry. Don't think you are going to leave for another country to pursue your glass making career. The Venetians will track you down and kill you. The Murano glass makers are the best in the world and the secret of their glass making is not going to leave Venice.

Being the eldest daughter with no brothers and the fact that her father, Zeno, has dementia puts Sophia in an uncompromising position. She must marry money so her family is provided for and her younger sisters have dowry's otherwise they will end up in convents.

The man that has offered marriage to Sophia is of course older, chubby, with bad manners and a horrible family. He could care less about Sophia other than the fact that she gives him some notoriety.

Predictably Sophia hates him and falls in love with a tall, dark handsome young man that she can't marry. Of course they are drawn together, Sophia lamenting that her life will be without love and she can't abide that.

This is just the gest of the story to get you interested in reading the book. There is oh so much more to the story which does make it worth while to read.

Highlights:

Traveling through Venice in the gondolas

Becoming acquainted with the glass making process

Learning about the measures that were taken to protect the secret of the glass

Galileo's involvement~I really knew nothing much about Galileo. It is still amazing to me that as late as the early 17th century mankind still viewed the earth as the center of the universe. It was only a century before that the earth was still viewed as being flat.

Learning about St. Mark's body being buried in Venice and that he is their Patron Saint

How women were excluded from art and viewed really as fluffy, nonsensical beings in 17th century Italy.

Learning about the politics involved between the Doce, Pope and the glass makers.

Critique:

Sluggish. Too much description and information crammed in.

Predicable with the arranged marriage, and impossible love

Well researched

Beautifully described scenes

Loved the Italian phrases

Learning about Galileo was my favorite part, that was done very well.

All in all it was an entertaining book and fast read.

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-02-24T13:15:00.000-08:00

A view from a double decker bus in London crossing Tower Bridge

Click on picture(s) to enlarge

Secret Of The Glass Event...

2010-02-23T12:05:00.001-08:00

Click here for event schedule

Don't miss out on some great reviews, interviews, and creative posts on The Secret of The Glass by Donna Russo Morin. You can find the schedule on HFBRT site.

History of the Canals in Venice and How They Work...

2010-02-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

To coincide with this months HFBRT event featuring Donna Morin's soon to be released novel The Secret of the Glass I have chosen to do my creative post on the Canals of Venice.

I have always been fascinated with Venice. I haven't been there yet but plan to go, it's on my bucket list. My main fascination with Venice is the canal system, a miraculous civil engineering feat. The city of Venice is located in North Eastern Italy in a lagoon on the Adriatic sea. It is not built on solid ground, but on a cluster of 117 mud islands connected by 177 canals. It dates far back into the Roman empire when it was broken up into small villages with houses built on stilts. During the 9th century Venice became an important fishing and commerce site. The villages became connected into one government which began building residences and businesses along the canals.

The city is built on wood pilings driven 15' into the clay below. Wood is used for the pilings. When wood is underwater with no oxygen it does not corrode or decay, but rather petrifies and turns into a stone substance. The city is connected by 25 miles of canals which are tributaries of the Grand Canal which empties into the Adriatic Sea. The canals function as roads and every form of transportation in the City of Venice is on water or on foot. The only land entrance into the city is in the north east portion where there is a railroad connection and car parks. Venice is Europe's largest urban car free area, remaining the only city in the 21st century entirely without automobiles or trucks.

The purpose of the canal system was to avoid flooding and create drainage. Despite this system Venice still floods. All through the city there are wooden poles which mark the water level. If the water level reaches a certain height then the flood alarm is sounded throughout the city. The greatest recorded flood was in 1966. Since then the population has been on a steady annual decrease. Venice is considered a dying city today only propped up by the tourist trade.

Although the natives may be leaving it is still one of the number one European cities visited by tourists every year. Mainly they come to see the fabulous palazas, art, venetian glass works and of course to take a ride down the Grand Canal in a gondola. Most locals use the city's Water Buses and Taxis or their own private boats for transportation. The tourists almost exclusively use the romantic gondolas. In the 18th century there were thousands of gondolas on the canals of Venice but now there only remains a few hundred. I always wondered about the long pole they use to navigate rather than oars. There is a reason, the poles are several feet high and the gondolier pushes his pole along the bottom of the canal to steer the gondola.

You don't want to go swimming in these canals. They may look the beautiful blue green of the Adriatic Sea but you can imagine how polluted they are after centuries of waste being transported through them out to the sea. This brings to mind one of my favorite "old" movies Summertime starring Katherine Hepburn and Renato Di Rossi filmed in Venice in 1955. Ms. Hepburn does a stunt in the movie where she falls backwards into a canal. As a result she contracted conjunctivitis in both eyes which plagued her the rest of her life.

I hope you enjoyed this mini history of the the grand canals of Venice. I know I surely enjoyed the research and I want to thank Ms. Morin for giving me the opportunity to read The Secret of the Glass. It was very motivating for me to study up some on this fascinating city.

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-02-17T10:32:00.001-08:00

Marion Rose Wallace

my granddaughter now 7 months old.

Winner of O Juliet by Robin Maxwell giveaway...

2010-02-15T09:27:00.001-08:00

Congratulations REM you are the winner of this lovely book. I will be contacting you through email for your address info.

Wordless Wedensday on Thursday...

2010-02-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

La Jolla Cove, CA

1.5 hrs from my driveway!

Book Review~The Follies of the King by Jean Plaidy...

2010-02-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

This book has it all, treachery, adultery, murder and intrigue. Lord Byron coined the phrase Truth is stranger than Fiction and in the tale of Edward II and Isabella, Byron is spot on!

Prior to reading this book I knew next to nothing about Edward II. My only reference being the movie Braveheart which now I see as a total Hollywood myth.

A few clarifications in reference to the Braveheart myth:

Isabella was not married to Edward II when Edward I was alive. They were betrothed and Edward II would go to France to marry her following his father's death.

Isabella never met William Wallace. William was executed before Isabella and Edward II would marry.

Edward I never pushed Piers Gaveston from the window. Edward I had Gaveston banished to his home land Gascony, forbidding him to ever return to England.

Edward II was not a fopish, feminine man. He was a tall, handsome, strong man who loved the outdoors.

With that out of the way; what I now know about Edward II:

He was fond of young men.
He married Isabella and they had four children together. Yes he was the sire of all her children.
He neglected his duties as King and husband in favor of his current paramour, Piers Gaveston and Hugh le despencer were his favorites. He spent a lavish amount of money, bestowed estates and titles on these young men all at the expense of his subjects.
He was no military strategist. He hated conflict and war. He had no control in Scotland and the Northern borders were constantly being raided by Robert de Bruce. He lost miserably at Bannockburn.
He brought the country to the brink of civil war because of his affair with Piers Gaveston and disregarding the advise of the Barons.
He was a kind man.
He loved nature and being outdoors.
He commuted the death penalty for Roger Mortimer the traitor to life imprisonment which he would later regret.
He loved his children, in particular his son and heir Edward III.
He was generous to a fault with his friends.
He abdicated his crown in favor of his son.
He was betrayed, imprisoned and murdered for his Follies and remains in history as one of the most maligned monarchs of England.

One of the unfortunate things about this story is that Edward II is remembered for all his Follies and never for the mercy he showed for the Knights of the Templar. I was so impressed with this bit of history that I have to share it. King Phillip of France, Isabella's father waged war on the Templar's because of all their riches. Rumors were raging throughout France regarding these Knights. They of course were false and totally based on ignorance. However; these rumors were fuel to the fire for King Phillip it was his chance to get his hands on all the Templar money. He was rounding them up, torturing them into false confessions, burning them at the stake and seizing their fortunes. This went on for quite a few years. During this time Phillip encouraged his son-in-law Edward to do the same in England. Edward just ignored him at first, and then after much prodding by his father-in-law put his foot down and told him that he would not do the same in England, that the Templar's were safe on English soil. Edward had great respect for the service they provided for his father during the Crusades. To me this one heroic and compassionate act needs to be remembered in history just like the Danish King who rode out among the Nazi invaders wearing the yellow star of David in WWII. It took a lot of courage to stand up to King Phillip of France, who was known as a ruthless character.

As my followers know Jean Plaidy is one of my all time favorite historical fiction authors and she certainly did not disappoint in The Follies of the King. I was intrigued from page one until the end. It was a great, thought provoking tale. Edward II is my 18th great grand father and I wanted so badly to find some good and redeeming qualities in him. To me Ms. Plaidy has done a masterful job of portraying his character, leaving me with a great deal of love and compassion for this man.

The Bard Unveiled~pt III of The Life and Times of Will Shakespeare

2010-02-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

In early 2009 a great discovery was made. An original portrait of William Shakespeare was found adorning the walls of Newbridge House, home base of the Cobbe family outside Dublin. It had be languishing there for centuries. One day in early 2009 Alec Cobbe was visiting the National Portrait Gallery in London. It was during this visit that he noticed quite a resemblance of the man in the portrait in his home and a certain portrait of Shakespeare in the Gallery.

He was so certain that this was one and same man he contacted Professor Wells, a famous Shakespeare scholar. Upon seeing the portrait Professor Wells was convinced himself of it's authenticity, especially after finding out that Cobbe's portrait was inherited through his cousin’s marriage to the great granddaughter of Shakespeare’s only literary patron, Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton.

The portrait was put through all manner of testing possible. As a result Professor Wells and other Shakespearean scholars were convinced that this was the Bard himself. The portrait is now on display in the museum next to Shakespeare's home on Henley street in Stratford.

It is believed the Shakespeare's retired in Straford around 1613. There are no plays attributed to him after this date. He and Anne returned to Straford as a wealthy couple. While driving on the bus down the main street of Stratford last summer it was pointed out to us certain Tudoresque type buildings along the street that were built by Shakespeare as retirement homes. He was very concerned about the elderly that didn't have family. He wanted make sure that they had assisted living provided for them in their later years. I was just blown away by this information. It was just such a forward thinking idea for the time period. To me this information says volumes about the character of this man.

Shakespeare died 23 April 1616 at the age of 52. He is buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. He left the bulk of his estate to his eldest daughter Susanna and one third of his estate along with his second best bed to his wife Anne. Second best bed refers to the matrimonial bed.

As it seems with such great artists, Shakespeare was not revered in his lifetime. He did have success and died a wealthy man. But he had his critics. Over the years there has been much speculation regarding his life and works, such as; Was he gay? Was he really a Catholic during a Protestant reign? Did he really write all of his work, or was it written by another who just used his name? Volumes have been written concerning the above controversies, too much information to share on one little blog. My take is that the Bard was married, had children, was a literary genius, and no saint. He wrote 17 comedies, 10 historical plays, 10 tragedies, and any number of sonnets and poems. He has been the foremost influence in English literature and theatre for the last 400 + years.

My favorite well known quotes by Will are as follows:

All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players;They have their exits and their entrances,And one man in his time plays many parts,His acts being seven ages. ~ As You Like It.

This above all: to thine own self be true,And it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man.Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!~ Hamlet

Two households, both alike in dignity,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrowsDoth with their death bury their parents' strife~ Romeo and Juliet

You would be surprised at how many Shakespeare isms we use in our daily life:

A pound of flesh
A sorry sight
An itching palm
Bated breath
Budge an inch
For goodness sake
Good riddance
Heart on my sleeve
In my heart of hearts
In my mind's eye
It smells to high heaven
Knock, Knock! Who's there?
The milk of human kindness.

These are just a few in over 200 famous quotes from Shakespeare's works. I am sure you recognise these quotes, and like me have used them in conversation many times.

I have so enjoyed this past week posting about Mr. Will!!! Really as a man in literature I revere him. All of this came about because of the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table event promoting the newly released O Juliet by Robin Maxwell. I look forward to our continued events over this year and hope you will all check often to see what is coming up.

O Juliet by Robin Maxwell Giveaway!!

2010-01-29T14:37:00.001-08:00

Don't miss out on this opportunity to win a copy of O Juliet by Robin Maxwell. Such a very good book. How to win a brand new copy:

1. One entry post your comment here with your email address

2. Two entries if you become a follower. If follower already please indicate.

3. Three entries if you tweet or post this giveaway on your side bar.

International bloggers please feel free to enter. Everyone is welcome!

Contest ends midnight Saturday February 13.

London Calling~Life & Times of Shakespeare Pt. II

2010-01-29T11:03:00.000-08:00

Between 1585 - 1592 are the"lost years"of Shakespeare. He seems to have disappeared and shows up again in London in 1592 as an actor and playwright. Not all of his early recognition was positive. Critic Robert Greene refers to Shakespeare as an "upstart crow" in the London Theatre. Greene saw Will as an unschooled player and writer who used material written by his better educated contemporaries. This was just one man's opinion . Will made fine head way into the theatre in spite of his critics until 1593 when tragedy struck London. The plague which forced all the theatres and public places to close.

In 1594 when it was safe to return to the theatre again Will joined an acting troupe called the
Lord Chamberlain's Men sponsored by Queen Elizabeth I Chamberlin~Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon. It was during this time that Shakespeare wrote one of my favorites, The Taming of the Shrew. By now Will had hit London like gang busters. He was the talk of the town. Both common and nobility flocked to the Blackfriars theatre to see his plays.

In Elizabethan London plays were big!!! There was money to be made. As soon as one play was produced it hit the stage. The citizens couldn't get enough and Blackfriars couldn't keep up. This prompted Shakespeare and friends to invest in the Globe Theatre built in 1597. It was a huge theatre compared to Blackfriars. It not only served as a theatre but a brothel and gambling house. All plays were done in the afternoon because there was no artificial lighting to be had. The commoners would pay 1 penny to stand and watch, gentry would be seated on the benches and nobility would have a comfortable chair in a theatre box. Shakespeare himself would receive 10% of the take in each day. He became very wealthy.

Theatres did have critics mainly the Church of England. They were very concerned with the unsavory characters surrounding the theatres and the increase in crime. In 1574 the Common Council of London issued this statement:

" great disorder rampant in the city by the inordinate haunting of great multitudes of people, especially youth, to plays, interludes, namely occasion of frays and quarrels, evil practices of incontinency in great inns having chambers and secret places adjoning to their open stages and galleries, inveigling and alluring of maids, especially of orphans and good citizens' children under age, to privy and unmeet contracts, the publishing of unchaste, uncomely, and unshamefast speeches and doings . . . uttering of popular, busy, and seditious matters, and many other corruptions of youth and other enormities . . . [Thus] from henceforth no play, comedy, tragedy, interlude, not public show shall be openly played or showed within the liberties of the City . . . and that no innkeeper, tavernkeeper, nor other person whatsoever within the liberties of this City shall openly show or play . . . any interlude, comedy, tragedy, matter, or show which shall not be first perused and allowed . . . "

Because of the outcry in 1596 the Common Council ordered that all theatres within the city limits of London be closed and relocated to the South side of the River Thames.

The Globe Theatre became number one. Some of Shakespeare's best works were first performed on the Globe Theatre's stage; Much Ado about Nothing (1598- 99); Julius Caesar (1599); and As You Like It (1599- 1600). Hamlet (1600-01); Othello (1603-04); King Lear (1605); and Macbeth (1605-06). These are just a few.

June 29, 1613 a canon loaded with gunpowder and used for special effects was fired off during the play. The canon ball hit the thatched roof and the theatre burned to the ground. Can you imagine the panic and pandemonium that occurred. It is not known if there were any casualties.

The Globe was rebuilt in 1614. The moral critics never let up and in fact increased their demands to shut down all theatres in London. In 1644 the Puritans lead by Oliver Cromwell demolished the Globe and by 1648 all play houses in London were ordered to be pulled down. All was not lost for the London Theatre. When Charles II became King he allowed the theatres to re-build and re-open. The site of the Old Globe was discovered in the 20th century and a New Globe has been re-constructed near the spot.

That is all Mr. Will for today I will continue and wrap-up The Life and Times of Shakespeare on Monday.

Have a great weekend and thanks for visiting!

O Juliet by Robin Maxwell Book Review...

2010-01-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

A good book will remain with you forever. You may not remember all the names or events, but you will always remember how you felt during the journey.

O Juliet is one of these books, it's a journey you take into another world, into the past that feels like the present. Ms. Maxwell transports you to 15th century Florence where you can feel the warm Italian sun on your face and smell the rich spices. You walk along the corridors and feel the hard coolness of the marble under your bare feet. You visit the Tuscan country side for dinner with Romeo's family and learn how olive oil is created through the olive press. You lay on your back on the earth's rich carpet and look up at the stars. It's earthy and sensual. You can smell the figs, the soil, the flowers. You feel young, in love and alive. Remember when you were a teenager discovering love for the first time, that is how you feel in O Juliet.

You run through the streets of Florence at night when all the dregs of society appear, you are more excited by the adventure than scared. You see things that night that you never knew about. You climb the precarious stairs to the top of the Cathedral and look out over the beautiful city and receive your first real passionate kiss. You know then that you will never feel this way kissing the man your parents have chosen for you to marry. Something must be done, you know you will die if forced to live your life with a man you find completely repulsive. That is impossible! Unthinkable! Events will happen. Heart breaking events, which will lead you to the ultimate decision to die living without freedom and love, or die with the one you love knowing you were free to make that decision.

This is what you have to look forward to reading O Juliet by Robin Maxwell. I suggest you find a quite, comfortable place and take the journey. You will not regret it. In the end you will bring the book up to your heart, close your eyes and breath out a long satisfied sigh.

Life and Times of William Shakespeare pt. 1...

2010-01-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

To co-inside with our Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table event for Robin Maxwell's soon to be released O Juliet I have chosen to do my creative post(s) on William Shakespeare the English poet and playwright who made the story of Romeo and Juliet famous.

This summer I had the privilege of visiting Stratford-upon Avon where Shakespeare was born and raised. It is a lovely village, and of course a main tourist attraction. We visited the home on Henley st. that he was born and raised in. It was really quite overwhelming to stand in the very room of his birth. His father was a glover, he made gloves. His shop was attached to the home. I guess you could say he worked out of his home. He apparently was very good at his trade, because he was considered one of the more wealthy citizens of Staford.

Will was born in April of 1564, the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son. Not much is known about Will's education or early years, but you can be sure that he was well educated. His father being an important man in the community and having the means, would have wanted his children to have the best education available.

Staford is close to the Cotswold's which has to be some of the most beautiful country in the world and a major sheep-producing area. The town was built on the banks of the River Avon which is interesting in itself. Avon is the Welsh word for river. When the Romans invaded they kept asking the Welsh guides what the name of this and that river was and they kept responding with Avon :-).

Will was 18 when he married 26 year old Anne Hathaway. Her home was just a couple of miles walking distance over the fields from his. Nothing is much known about their courtship, except that 6 months after the couple were married, Anne delivered a healthy baby daughter, Susanna in 1583. Two years later Anne gave birth to twins Hamnet and Judith in 1585.

After the birth of the twins Shakespeare historical references seem to disappear until he shows up on the scene in London in 1592. There has been speculations that he was a school master. However, there are no records to substantiate this information. There is also a legend that the family had to flee to London because he was being prosecuted for deer poaching. Because of these "urban legends" with no fact behind them the time period between 1585 and 1592 are known as Shakespeare's "Lost Years".

My daughter and I were also able to visit Anne's home this summer as well. What a beautifully situated home. It was rather large for the period and well furnished. We were able to sit on the narrow high back bench that Will and Anne sat on while he was visiting. The gardens are breathtaking! It was easy to see how two young people could fall in love in such surroundings. Anne and Will were very much of the same social status, their father's were both well off men in trade.

I will pick up on Thursday with Will in London beginning his career. Hope you will join me. Be sure to visit HFBRT for a schedule of events on our other member blogs.

Announcing Historical Fiction Roundtable Event...

2010-01-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

Don't miss out on our latest event featuring Robin Maxwell's new to be released O Juliet on HFBRT. For a schedule of events on our individual blogs click picture. I will be doing a 3 day feature on Will Shakepeare's life and times along with a book review and giveaway. There will be several different giveaways on our blogs so make sure you visit and sign up. Check out Ms. Maxwell's blog for creative giveaways that go along with the most famous love story of all time.

Winner of Notorious Royal Marriage by Leslie Carroll...

2010-01-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Just Peachy!!! You just one a great book. I will contact you by email to get your mailing address.

A Tribute to Lord Byron...

2010-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

In honor of George Gordon Lord Byron's birthday I am posting this blog. Lord Byron is considered one of Britian's greatest poets and is still influential and read in the English world today.

Some of his best known works are She Walks in Beauty, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, and Don Juan. These are just a few.
Byron was no saint and his morals and lifestyle were shocking to the British citizens. He was a rake and libertine, but had a genius for capturing the human spirit in the English prose.

22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824

Some of my favorite quotes of his are:

For truth is always strange; stranger than fiction.

Friendship may, and often does, grow into love, but love never subsides into friendship.

Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.

Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.

The French O-La-La Challenge...

2010-01-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

This is another exciting challenge I am entering. Sponsered by Lucy at Enchanted by Josephine. Check it out. I am going for the La Princessee category. I haven't read anything much regarding French History so this will be a challenge for me. I can't seem to get out of the 15th or 16th century England.

Monday's Musing with Malcolm...

2010-01-18T11:52:00.001-08:00

Today's Scottish trip is to Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland. I found such interesting things about this online. Mom thought I might be interested because of Greyfriar's Bobby, a little Cairin Terrier that lived long ago in Edinburgh with his Dad, John Grey. There is a monument to Bobby in the Kirkyard. John and Bobby were very popular on their walks around the town and when John died of Tuberculous in 1858 he was buried in the Kirkyard in an unmarked grave. Bobby was so loyal that every night he would sleep on top of John's grave. He wouldn't be moved. The town took good care of him. Every afternoon at 1 p.m. when the Guards would sound the cannon from the Edinburgh Castle at the top of the hill Bobby would run up the hill into the Castle yard for his lunch. He never missed. He did this for 14 years until he died and was buried next to his beloved John. Later they made a monument to him for his courage and loyalty. The Scots are big on courage and loyalty. I once watched a movie called Brave Heart with Mom and I was impressed with how much courage it took to stand up to that stinky Edward I and the English army. Mom says I shouldn't call Edward stinky, because after all he is her 19th great grandfather. She told me that the movie Brave Heart wasn't exactly how it all happened, but I liked the movie anyway, I thought that Queen Isabella was very beautiful.

Anyway back to Greyfriars Kirkyard; I found out that Kirkyard means Church yard and that Greyfriars Kirk was built in 1602 by the Franciscan Monks~Grey Friars. It's located right outside the Old Town of Edinburgh along the Royal Mile.

Greyfriar's has a poltergeist name Mckenzie. Mom seems skeptical about this, but I believe it's real. That awful Mckenzie was in charge of the Covenanters Prison located in the Kirkyard. They were men who rebelled against the church of England and put in prison. Stinky Mckenzie tortured them and starved them before he executed them. When he died he was buried in the kirkyard. In 1999 a homeless man broke into his mausoleum and opened his casket to sleep in it, that was when Mckenzie got loose and is now haunting the Kirkyard. He attacks people when they go on the ghost tour, there have been many reports of this. Mom says I shouldn't believe everything I read. Well, whatever mom if I was there I would sound the alert and try and chase him right back into this coffin and slam the lid shut. I am sure that is what Bobby would do if he was still alive. Mom said maybe on our Scottish tour we could go on the ghost tour so I could try and catch that old stinky Mckenzie.

I hope you enjoy the pictures I found and my editorial. I have enjoyed reading my comments you left me. I want to tell D.J. that I tried your trick of running around the house alerting after Mom told me to come in, but she didn't love it like you said, she made me go up to my bed in her bedroom and I wasn't aloud to come out for awhile. Gigi I know you love me and I love you too, but you know Mom is my beloved. Miss Prodigal Wife my Mom is really enjoying Sunne in Splendour, she reads to me every night when we go to bed. And Amy Mom said you are more than welcome to go to Scotland with us. The more the merrier.

Remember I love comments and thanks for reading my musings!

Aujoir

Malkie

Join the 2010 Grand Plaidy Challenge...

2010-01-18T10:33:00.001-08:00

Arleigh and Lucy from Plaidy's Royal Intrigue are sponsoring a 3 level challenge for 2010. Check out their blog for more information. I was in the 2009 challenge and loved it. I look forward to the motivation to read more Plaidy this year. I am going for the Grand Plaidy reward.

Wordless Wedensday on Thursday...

2010-01-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Monday's Musing with Malcolm...

2010-01-11T10:20:00.001-08:00

Allow me to introduce myself I am Crownridge Malcolm of Kilraeke, Malcolm for short. I am a purebred West Highland White Terrier better known as a Westie. I am 4.5 years old and my mother's best boy. Mom and I had a long talk last night and she agreed that I could have my own special day on her blog once a week.

I have so much to say about my beloved Scotland, well I wasn't born there or anything but my roots come from the West Highlands of Scotland. My great grand fathers were very useful to the farmers of the West Highlands. They would hunt the foxes and the badgers flush them out of their burrows, crags or cairns. That is why my legs are short and I am kind square looking so I can dig fast and squeeze into the hole. There are no badgers or foxes for me to hunt in my backyard, but there are these pesky little rascals called gophers. Well, they don't stand a chance with me on the job! When I spot one, I alert the entire neighborhood that I am on the job. I get down to business digging and squeezing in the hole. Sometimes I'm lucky and catch one, they are kind tricky little guys, but they know I'm on patrol so beware! Mom calls me the Sheriff of Bancroft (that's the street I live on ) because I take my job so seriously. Sometimes I am so good at alerting the neighborhood that mom tells me to come inside and go lay down. I can't figure out why she does that, doesn't she realize that I am passing on good doggie news to others. I think she really just wants to give the other guys in the neighborhood a chance to alert.

I often dream (I sleep a lot) about my beloved Scotland and how it must feel to run over hill and dale, through the heather with the wind on my face and my nose picking up wild scents. I can see in my minds eye me standing at the top of hill and looking down at the ancient castle Eilean Donan Castle. Such a place to be, a mighty fortress built in the 13th century to protect the land from those pesky Viking raids. I wish I would have been there. I would have alerted everyone of their approach and bit their ankles when they came ashore.

My mom is trying to figure out a way to go to Scotland and take me! We would have so much fun. She said she would even buy me my own Scottish Clan Tartan jacket for me to wear. That would be grand but I don't want to look like a sissy or anything. I told her the jacket would be cool but no booties, absolutely no booties. I do like to dress up in my Sheriff of Bancroft outfit, I feel special in that and there are no booties.

Oh, got to go Mom is telling me I've shared enough for today. I will be back next week, hope you will visit and leave me comments, I love visiting!!! I will be online this week finding out more cool things about Scotland to share.

Raise nae mair deils nor ye can lig: Don't bite off more than you can chew

GIVEAWAY of Notorious Royal Marriage by Leslie Carroll and brief book review..

2010-01-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

This has been a fun week featuring Notorious Royal Marriages by Leslie Carroll on my blog, as well as the other blogging members of Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table. If you have been following HFBRT's bloggers with their book reviews, author interviews, creative posts and author guest posts you have been enriched by stories, art work and getting to know Ms. Carroll.

I personally have enjoyed the guest interviews with Ms. Carroll, she is a spunky, witty gal who definitely knows her royal history. I have also enjoyed reading NRM. I am a big fan of well written non-fiction and this book was like dessert a little something sweet to top off your meal. 31 luscious stories about royal couples and their marital secrets. Each chapter is a different story. I love this type of book, much like one of my favorite authors, James Herriott in his All Creatures Great and Small series. You can pick it up and begin at any chapter and it's a story with in itself. This way the book can sit by your bedside and you can read a chapter a night or week or whatever. Ms. Carroll writes in a no nonsense kind of way. She gets to the point without a lot of unnecessary fru fru.

She is a witty and charming author. From the stories that I have read so far I have learned a great deal that I didn't know. In particular about Juana (the mad) and her husband Philip the Handsome and Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson. This is a great reference book as well. My daughter is working on a project concerning the French Revolution and she found the chapter in NRM about Louis XVI and Marie most interesting and informative. I have learned much about the individuals themselves, their time period as well as their marriages and families.

Here's your chance to win a copy of this great book. For my followers who are not much into royal fiction and prefer the "true facts" this really is up your ally. Don't miss out on this one. It' s a keeper in any body's library.

To enter, just leave a comment and a thank-you for Ms. Carroll's gracious participation this week. Sorry this one is good for USA residents only.

Contest ends: Jan 23, 2010

Notorious Royal Marriages by Lesile Carroll

Leslie Carroll's Guest Post on Notorius Royal Marriages...

2010-01-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

I want to thank Leslie personally for providing this quest post for my blog. It has been a wonderful week so far for the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table kick off event with Leslie. There has been some awesome posts re: Ms. Carroll's Notorious Royal Marriages. If you have not had a chance to read all of the book reviews, guest and creative posts I encourage you to visit HFBRT and do so.

Now for Leslie...

Was Anne Boleyn’s greatest “failure” in fact her greatest success?

She reigned for only a thousand days, but perhaps the only other queens of England to have received so much attention over the centuries have been two women who ruled in their own rights, and for exponentially longer: Queen Victoria, and Anne’s only child, Elizabeth I.

Anne’s influence on Henry VIII shaped England’s destiny and affected the kingdom’s relationship with continental Europe as well. Over time, she has been portrayed as a schemer, an evangelical, and even as Henry’s “concubine” before their marriage. It took nearly seven years of parry and thrust (personally as well as politically) before the “I do’s” were exchanged on January 25, 1533—by which point Anne was fairly sure she was pregnant.

“Maternal” is not a word that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Anne Boleyn. But producing an heir was at the core of her job description as queen. Although a female could by law inherit England’s throne (unlike France, where only a male could inherit), anyone who does'nt know how desperate Henry VIII was to have a son has either been living under a rock or dozed through countless history classes.

On June 1, 1533 the six-months-pregnant Anne was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey. She wore an ermine-trimmed mantle of violet-colored velvet with a high starched ruff; the folds of her gown cleverly concealed her condition.

The royal couple was in high spirits as they awaited the birth of the son they had so long desired. Anne had endured a difficult pregnancy, particularly in her final months. The king was so anxious about her health that it was said he’d welcome a miscarriage if it would save Anne’s life.

Henry had confided to François I that he had to have a son “for the quiet repose and tranquility of our realm.” He’d already chosen the baby names, expressing a preference for Edward or, of course, Henry. However, at three p.m. on September 7, 1533, Anne gave birth to a flame-haired daughter, whom the monarchs named Elizabeth after both of their mothers.

Because of Anne’s rough pregnancy, Henry’s initial reaction was relief that both mother and child were healthy, followed briefly by delight that his daughter’s coloring was identical to his own. But he could not conceal his overall disappointment at the birth of a girl.

Nor, at the outset, could Anne. Her fortune had risen as far as it ever would, reaching its zenith on September 6, 1533, the day before Elizabeth’s birth. Within the space of a year, Anne had become Marquess of Pembroke, the king’s wife, the Queen of England, and the mother of the heir to the throne—but when that heir turned out to be a girl, her star plummeted. For all Anne’s education, culture, and wit, she was already failing in the one job requirement of a royal consort: she could not bear Henry VIII a son.

Henry cancelled the joust and the other grand celebrations that had been set to take place upon the birth of his son. He had been so sure Anne would give him a boy—she had practically guaranteed it—that the formal documents had been drawn up with the word “Prince” on them. All that was lacking was the insertion of the heir’s name and date of birth. Henry seethed as “ss” was added to every announcement.

By September 1534, Anne was several months pregnant again, her “goodly belly” a subject of discussion since April 27. She was in her mid-thirties during this second pregnancy, and Henry was forty-three. To their mutual consternation, she miscarried the fetus, and both of them were desperate for her to become pregnant again as soon as possible.

Yet Anne had not utterly forgotten her daughter, Elizabeth, in her rage to give birth to a son. She doted on her little girl, and breast-fed the baby herself, scandalizing the court. Anne even forced Elizabeth’s half sister to dance attendance on her as a servant, banishing Mary (Henry VIII’s daughter by Katherine of Aragon) to a tiny, dark room and demanding that the eighteen-year-old girl’s ears be boxed by her governess “for the cursed bastard she is,” if Mary dared refer to herself as “Princess.” Henry’s elder daughter was now styled the Lady Mary, stripped of her title and birthright when Henry’s marriage to her mother was annulled.

Anne was pregnant again in October 1535, though her condition did not deter Henry from paying a visit early in the month to the Seymour family at their home of Wulfhall. There, Sir John Seymour made certain that his demure and modest daughter Jane fell under the royal gaze as much as possible. It was not long before Henry gave Jane a miniature portrait of himself, which she ostentatiously wore about her throat at court. Anne was so infuriated by Jane’s impudence that she ripped the chain from her neck.

On the day of Katherine of Aragon’s funeral on January 29, 1536, Anne lost a male fetus said to be fifteen weeks old, blaming the miscarriage on two incidents that had caused her great anxiety. Sparked by Henry’s latest flirtation, they’d had a violent quarrel, during which Anne angrily exclaimed, “I saw this harlot Jane sitting on your lap while my belly was doing its duty!” And on January 24, 1536, five days before Anne’s miscarriage, Henry’s horse had fallen heavily in the tiltyard at Greenwich, and after the king in his hundred pounds or so of armor was thrown from the saddle, the mount may have rolled on top of him. Henry had lain unconscious for two hours, and naturally his queen despaired for his life and feared for her own future, should the king die of his injuries.

But Henry was'nt buying either reason. Utterly insensitive to Anne’s grief at losing another baby, he bewailed the death of his son. “I see God will not give me male children,” he lamented, leaving his wife devastated, and terrified of losing his love.

Yet Anne may have conceived again soon after this miscarriage, because in April, Henry was very indiscreetly boasting to his ambassador in France that God might yet see fit to “send us heirs male,” averring, “You do not know all my secrets.” However, there is no mention of this pregnancy in any surviving records. As Henry would never have executed his pregnant queen, it’s likely that if Anne had been with child in the spring of 1536, she lost that fetus as well, unless Henry’s “secret” was his plan to marry Jane Seymour.

There were also international matters that were nearly as pressing as Henry’s need for a son. Charles V was willing to enter an alliance with England, and even accept the legitimacy of Henry’s marriage to Anne, if his cousin Mary were to be recognized at Henry’s heir presumptive. But Henry refused to countenance the validity of his first marriage, which meant that Mary remained illegitimate and therefore unable to succeed him. The way Henry’s Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell saw it, Henry’s allegiance to Anne was jeopardizing, if not obstructing, England’s safest and most effective foreign policy.

Therefore, Anne had to be eliminated from the picture. So Cromwell, who had once been Anne’s staunchest ally for religious reform, switched horses and allied himself with the court’s pro-Seymour faction. It took the crafty Cromwell just a month and a day to transform Anne from Henry’s beloved wife and queen to the executioner’s victim.

It was politically expedient for the minister to destroy Anne’s supporters as well, and within a brief space of time, Cromwell had all his scapegoats in the pen, awaiting slaughter.

On the weekend of April 29 and 30, Anne had an enormous spat with Henry Norris, the king’s groom of the stool, in which she accused him of being attracted to her. Norris stammered that if he ever had such a thought, “he were his head were off,” whereupon Anne threatened to undo him if she chose. Witnesses to their altercation interpreted the quarrel as a come-on from Anne to Norris. To succeed in toppling Anne from the throne, Cromwell’s commission needed to compile a dossier of Anne’s purported lovers; the contretemps between the queen and Norris (because it included a hypothetical exchange about the king’s death), allowed them to put a treasonous construct on it, thereby ensnaring Norris in their lethal net.

Anne’s argument with Norris led to another, even more volatile one with Henry. A letter sent twenty years later to Queen Elizabeth from an eyewitness to the aftermath of the royal squabble, a Scottish Lutheran clergyman named Alexander Ales, describes the mood:

Never shall I forget the sorrow which I felt when I saw the most serene queen, your most religious mother, carrying you, still a little baby, in her arms and entreating the most serene king your father, in Greenwich Palace, from the open window of which he was looking into the courtyard, when she brought you to him. I did not perfectly understand what had been going on, but the faces and gestures of the speakers plainly showed that the king was angry, although he could conceal his anger wonderfully well. Yet from the protracted conference of the council (for whom the crowd was waiting until it was quite dark, expecting that they would return to London), it was most obvious to everyone that some deep and difficult question was being discussed.

Anne was arrested on May 2, 1536, on the charges of adultery, incest with her brother George, and conspiracy to kill the king. As her barge was rowed to the Traitors’ Gate, Anne was on the verge of collapse. “I was treated with greater ceremony last time I was here,” she exclaimed woefully, referring to her coronation procession. Her trial began on May 15 in the Great Hall of the Tower of London. Her brother George, Viscount Rochford, was to be tried by the same council of peers, on the charge of committing incest with his sister. Their uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, presided over the proceedings as High Steward. Two thousand spectators watched the circus from purpose-built stands. Among the bogus charges against the queen was an allegation of statutory treason pursuant to the 1534 Succession Act: “slander, danger, detriment and derogation of the heirs” of Henry and Anne. In other words, Anne was charged with being a traitor to her own daughter, Elizabeth.

Her conviction was a foregone conclusion; and on May 19, 1536, Anne was executed on Tower Hill. It was a sad day for English justice, and for the kingdom’s history. And while it’s true that Anne lost her life—by dint of her own intellect and abilities she had managed to achieve what others could merely dream of. Although her ambitious father and uncle were seasoned courtiers whose success afforded her an entrée into the highest echelons of Tudor society, once she arrived, she was there to stay—despite her family—until an equally self-made individual, Thomas Cromwell, destroyed her.

Few question the fact that Anne Boleyn was innocent of the charges for which she forfeited her head. And although her religious views had a measurable influence on the history of Church and State, perhaps her greatest achievement was as a mother. Neither Anne’s bloodline nor her spirit perished on Tower Hill: she left behind a little redheaded daughter who would become England’s most venerated queen, and perhaps the greatest female monarch the world has ever known: Elizabeth I.

Today HFBRT events:

Leslie Carroll interview with Marie Burton

Creative Post by Heather on Peter III & Catherine the Great

Notorious Royal Marriages book review by Arleigh

Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves "God Send Me Well To Keep"

2010-01-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

To coincide with our Historical Fiction Round Table event of the new release Notorious Royal Marriages by Leslie Carroll I am pleased to contribute my creative post on the marriage of Henry VII and Anne of Cleves.

It wasn't until this past year that I really knew anything about Henry's 4th wife Anne of Cleves. She was only married to Henry for four months. She was a modest, unassuming character and often overlooked in history. Certainly not the celebrities that Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were and are still today.

I first came upon Anne while reading The Boleyn Inheritance by Phillipa Gregory. I became fascinated and began to study more. After Henry's 3rd wife, his beloved Jane Seymour died in 1537 his constant quest for another male heir and new woman in his bed led him to pursue marriage once again. He employed his Chancellor Thomas Cromwell for assistance in finding him a suitable wife, one fit for the King. Cromwell as always put his best efforts into the pursuit and began scouting all over Europe for the next Queen of England. Top of the list of candidates was Christina, the Duchess of Milan. She was 16 years old, and one very smart cookie. When approached about an engagement to the King of England she insisted that if God had given her two heads she would willingly risk one to marry the King of England, but as she only had one...pg 160 Notorious Royal Marriages.

It seems that Henry's reputation of disposing of wives created fear in possible prospects for marriage. This being the case and the fact that France and Spain, both Catholic countries were becoming quite chummy and could possibly form an alliance against England created a problem. The possible invasion was a real threat to Henry's Kingdom and Cromwell being a good protestant approached Wilhelm the Duke of Cleves in the western region of Germany. The Duke himself was a protestant and this alliance would further commit England to the new reformed religion and provide an alie in case of war with the Catholic super powers, best of all he had two unmarried sisters.

Henry saw the wisdom in this but being the egotist that he was refused to marry any woman unless he was pleased with her appearance. The King's artist Hans Holbein was commissioned to go to Cleves and paint portraits of the Anne and Amelia, the Duke's two sisters. Holbein was well like and had been commissioned many times by the King himself to paint portraits. He went to Cleves painted the portraits and returned to Henry. Henry liked very much what he saw and agreed to propose a marriage contract with Anne the eldest of the two sisters. She was twenty-four years old and that would be more suitable for a forty-eight year old King.

If you could ever imagine one of Henry's marriages to be froth with humor this would be the case. In all of his other marriages the situations were almost always tragic in someway. The joke really was on him. Ms. Carroll does a marvelous job of portraying this.

The marriage was arranged and Anne left her home and sailed for England. She was to meet the King in London, but the King being the "joker" that he was couldn't wait, arranged a party to ride with him to meet his new bride. Their first meeting was a disaster brought upon by himself. His ego was hurt, and for all of his faults his over expanded ego was his greatest. He never could lay blame to himself and true to form he began plotting ways to get out of the marriage almost immediately. Upon realizing that he could not break the contract he married her and tried to consummate the marriage and failed. Of course this couldn't be his fault he laid the blame on Anne stating that she had a loose belly and flabby breasts. Now I find this very unlikely since Anne was twenty-four and a virgin. Anne was raised in a very sheltered environment and knew very little of what was expected of her in the bedroom. She thought laying down and holding hands would be enough. She certainly wasn't one of the little vixens that the King was used to. I can imagine just how I would feel if a big, fat, hairy man with a stinking ulcerated leg, over twice my age tried to make love to me. I would be sick. She just wasn't jumping his bones.

It was during this time that Henry met Catherine Howard who knew everything about sex. Henry was determined to get rid of Anne and make Catherine his queen. He found a loop hole and Anne was set aside after 4 months of marriage. Bless her heart at first she was hysterical when she heard the news because she thought he was going to kill her. After the relief that she wasn't dying she couldn't sign the divorce settlement fast enough. She knew what a good thing she was getting: an extraordinary annual income, 3 manor houses of her own including the Hever Castle the late Queen Anne Boleyn's childhood home and the title of the "King's Sister". She would be 2nd only to the Queen of England in rank. She was one of the first independently wealthy women of the age. She loved England and never returned to Cleves.

Anne's peers always treated her with tremendous respect, complimenting her "accustomed gentleness" and her religious devotion. It might not have seemed so at first glance, but Henry's high honor of considering her his "good sister" was, in his own way, a mark of genuine esteem in which he held her character, if not, alas, her face and figure. pg 172 Notorious Royal Marriages.

This has just been one teaser post of the 31 royal marriages covered in Ms. Carroll's outstanding book Notorious Royal Marriages.

On the Roundtable Today:

Leslie Carroll's Guest Post on Catherine de Medici: Passages to the Past
Notorious Royal Marriages Book Review: Hist-FlicChick

Announcing upcoming Leslie Carroll Event...

2009-12-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

Historical Fiction Roundtable is sponsering Leslie Carroll the author and her new book Notorious Royal Marriages Jan 4-Jan 10. It promises to be a fun and enlightening week. I will be doing a book review here on Jan 9th. I also will be featuring a guest post by Ms. Carroll during the week so check back often.

Winner of the Murder Most Royal Giveaway....

2009-12-28T14:13:00.001-08:00

Is RKCharoon. Congratulations!!!!

Books I've read this year and ratings...

2009-12-22T09:30:00.000-08:00

2009 books read, ratings and those highlighted link to review:

I owe a special thanks to the Phillipa Gregory forum and to Arleigh and Lucy of Plaidy's Royal Intrique, Enchanted by Josephine and Historical Fiction for turning me onto Jean Plaidy and many other wonderful historical fiction authors. Amy of Passages of the Past also has many great recommendations listed on her blog homepage, that is where I found The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly now one of my favs. Alaine from the Queen of Happy Endings sent me The Luxe which I found to be very good, and ended up reading the sequel Rumors.

I'm looking forward to reading even more in 2010.

The Other Boleyn Girl: Phillipa Gregory ****

The Boleyn Inheritance: Phillipa Gregory *****

The Secret Bride: Diana Haeger ***

The Innocent Traitor: Alison Weir *****

The King's Fool: Margaret Campbell Barnes *****

To Hold the Crown: Jean Plaidy ****

The Bastard King: Jean Plaidy ****

On the Road to Forthingay: Jean Plaidy ****

The Hammer of the Scots: Jean Plaidy *****

Murder Most Royal: Jean Plaidy *****

Lady of Hay: Barbara Erskine *****

The Kingdom of Shadows: Barbara Erskine ****

Katherine: Ana Seaton ****

The Tea Rose: Jennifer Donnelly ****

The Luxe: Anna Godberson ****

Rumors: Anna Godberson ****

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane: Katherine Howe ***

Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy: 5th and final review post + Awesome Giveaway!

2009-12-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

Today marks the end of the story and reviews. I have enjoyed reviewing this book so much. It's a wrap up now. Closing events in Catherine Howard's life comes very swiftly. After Anne is executed on trumped up charges King Henry will waste no time in marrying Jane Seymour. She is already pregnant which pleases the King very much. She loses the baby a few weeks later causing much distress for the King. Will he ever get his son, the heir to the throne. It is not just the loss of the baby causing the King distress but his eldest daughter Mary refuses to sign the affidavit proclaiming herself a bastard and acknowledging that her mother, Katherine of Aragon, was never truly the King's wife. She holds out as long as possible, until the King makes it very clear that if he can execute his wife he can execute his daughter as traitor. She signs the paper and is admitted back into court where she will befriend her new step mother Jane Seymour.

The King also has problems with his subjects rebelling against the new religion in Lincoln, North of England. He will solicit the help of the Duke of Norfolk and Duke of Suffolk to put down the rebels sparing neither woman or child. He is really out of control at this point.

Great happiness comes into his life when Jane Seymour delivers him a legitimate son. Oh the celebrations for the kingdom. Jane dies a few days later from complications. The King almost immediately will solicit Cromwell to find him another wife. Cromwell has his own interests to protect and seeks after a protestant wife. He finds Anne from Cleves. Cleves being part of the German Empire. She is protestant to be sure. The King will send the court artist Hans Holbein to paint her portrait so he can be a judge of her beauty. Holbeins goes to Cleves paints the portrait a miniature and returns it to the King. The King is very impressed and desires to marry her post haste. Arrangements are made and Anne sails to England. The King cannot wait to have her brought to court to meet him, he will ride to the coast to meet her upon her arrival. He meets her and is very disappointed and takes no qualms in letting his advisers, namely Cromwell that he is very displeased. He likens Anne to a Flemish Mare. He begins immediately to plot his divorce. Cromwell must find some loop hole to bail him out of this. Cromwell realizes his fate is sealed the King has no more use for him. Once in the King's poor favor your head becomes shaky on your shoulders. A loop hole is found and the King promises Anne the title of Anne of Cleves, Hever Castle, Richmond Castle and 3000 pounds a year. Is Anne stupid? Hello.... how good does this offer get. She can't sign the divorce agreement fast enough, for if the King found her unattractive she found him grotesque, old, smelling horrible from his leg.

Anne retires to Hever Castle and enjoys the rest of her life in service to the community with her head intact.

Catherine was sent to court with the hopes of possibly having an arranged marriage with Thomas Culpepper. Franic Derham is now back in the country and apparently their fictitious marriage is at an end and Catherine let's him know in no uncertain terms that their relationship is over. She has eyes only for Thomas. Catherine will serve Queen Anne for a few weeks as her Lady in Waiting. It is during this time that the King will take notice of a little, plump, rosy cheeked girl, Catherine Howard. He is just over come with desire for her. As soon as he has divorce he marries this poor child. She is 16 and he is 50!!! She is a sweet, rash girl. The King considers her the most modest of all, she is A Rose Without a Thorn. Catherine has made enemies in her past at her grandmother's home who will come back to bite her. Catherine has in her household her previous lover Henry Mannox and Francis Derham. She has no friends or advisers to tell her this was a deadly mistake. She is still in love with Thomas Culpepper and recklessly seeks him out for romantic interludes set up by one of her ladies, Jane Boleyn.

Bishop Cranmer who is fearful that Catherine's Catholic ties will influence the King to once again turn to Rome is zealous in finding something that will implicate her. Through his contacts Cranmer will unearth juicy secrets of Catherine Howard. He can't wait to divulge this information to the King. He is waiting for the King and Queen to return to Hampton Court. Upon their arrival he sets upon the King with his grim news. When the King heard the news the proverbial crap hit the fan. The King left Hampton Court and Catherine was locked away in her room with all attendants ordered to leave.

Francis Derham was arrested, tortured and met the traitors death on Tyburne Hill. Thomas Culpepper was beheaded on the tower green. The Duchess of Norfolk, Catherine's grandmother would be sent to the Tower and die. Queen Catherine would sail down the Thymes from Sion to the Tower Green for execution. On her way her barge will pass under the London Bridge where she will look up and see the severed heads of her lovers, Thomas Culpepper and Francis Derham. She met her death with grace and dignity on 13 February 1542, not yet 20 years old.

The King will retire to Hampton Court feeling lonely and unloved:

A movement beside him startled him and the hair was damp on his forehead, for it seemed to him that Anne was standing beside him. A second glance told him that it was but an image conjured up by the guilty mind of a murderer, for it was not Anne who stood beside him, but Anne's daughter. There were often times when she reminded him of her mother. Of all his children he loved her best because she was the most like him; but then, her mother had angered him, and he had loved her. He loved Elizabeth, Elizabeth of the fiery hair and the spirited nature and the quick temper. She would never be the dark-browed beauty that her mother had been; she was tawny-red like her father. He felt sudden anger sweep over him. Why, oh why had she not been born a boy! Murder Most Royal~Jean Plaidy pg 444.

The main players:

King Henry VIII ~ dies stinking in his bed at 56 years old having ruled England for 38 years

Anne Boleyn ~ 2 wife of Henry VIII; executed 1536

Cardinal Wolsey ~ dies on his way to prison 1530

Thomas More ~ Chancellor of England; executed 1535

Bishop Fisher ~ Bishop of Roman Catholic Church in England; executed 1535

Mark Smeaton ~ Queen Anne's musician; tortured and executed 1536

George Boleyn ~ Queen Anne's brother; executed 1536

William Breaton ~ Queen Anne's friend; executed 1536

Henry Norris ~ Queen Anne's friend; executed 1536

Mary Tudor ~ Henry VIII and Katherine Aragon's daughter; Will become Mary I or Bloody Mary, Queen of England

Jane Seymour ~ Henry VIII 4th wife and mother of his son Edward VI dies in childbirth 1537

Anne of Cleves ~ Marries Henry for 3 months~divorces and lives a safe life

Thomas Cromwell ~ The King's Chief Minister; executed 1540

Bishop Cranmer ~ Archbishop of Canterbury; executed in 1556 by Queen Mary I

Catherine Howard ~ 5th wife of Henry VIII; Executed in 1542

Jane Boleyn~ Wife of George Boleyn~ Lady Rochford; Executed along with Queen Catherine in 1542

Thomas Culpepper ~ Queen Catherine's 1st cousin and lover; Executed 1542

Francis Derham ~ Queen Catherine's one time betrothed; tortured and Executed 1542

Duchess of Norfolk ~ Queen Catherine's step grandmother; imprisoned in the Tower 1542

Elizabeth Tudor ~ Daughter of Henry VIII and Boleyn; will become Elizabeth I the greatest sovereign of England reigning 45 years. She will die in her bed as old woman of 70 in 1603.

Indeed in their story Murder is Most Royal~ you be the judge!!

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In honor of this great book and this great author I am hosting a giveaway! I will be giving away:

1 brand new copy of Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy &

1 brand new DVD of Anne of a Thousand Days

Rules to participate:

1 entry for becoming a follower or if you do follow please indicate

2 entries for posting this giveaway on your blog & send link

2 entries for twitting about the giveaway!

3 entries for picking out your favorite review of my 5 reviews on Murder Most Royal and commenting on it on this review.

Please leave your email address

This giveaway is available for all including my international followers

Drawing will be Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Total of 8 possible entries

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Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy: 4th review post in series of 5...

2009-12-08T13:48:00.001-08:00

Princess Elizabeth has been born much to chagrin of her father King Henry VIII. At first he was patient considering both his and Anne's age. Surely they had time to conceive a son. However; Anne did not conceive quickly after the birth of Elizabeth which worried her to the point that she would lie to the King and tell him she was pregnant hoping that she would be soon. He was outraged to find out that she had deceived him. He felt manipulated by this woman who had bewitched him. Henry had already begun seeking out other women, particularly a mousy Jane Seymour. She was everything that Anne wasn't. She was somewhat plain in appearance, she was mild and unassuming. She did not rail on the King as Anne did, and appeared to have no temper at all. She worshiped him, and being the egotist that he was he thrived on it.

Anne knew that she had to do something desperate to hold onto the King. She had Jane removed from court in spite of the King's protests. She actively tried to be more demure and sweet in the King's presence. This worked for awhile and he was all Anne's again. She did get pregnant and all were overjoyed! She did all in her power to assure the safety of her unborn child, which had to be a son or she was doomed. Anne knew that the King's interest in her was fading, having a son would assure her place on the throne.

During Anne's later pregnancy the King began again his affair with Jane Seymour who just happened to always be within his reach. Anne was informed, sending her into the rage of rages which caused her to go into premature labor delivering a still born boy 2 months early. The King taking no responsibility as usual curses her and declares he will never have another child with her. Anne knows now that her number is up and lives in fear. She hears the whispers, she sees the sly smiles of her enemies. Life at court is electrified with tension. Those who are jealous of Anne begin plotting against her, in particular her infamous sister-in-law Jane Boleyn. Jane is just waiting behind curtains and doors to make her move against Anne.

The King wants nothing more to do with her and begins plotting on how to get rid of her and marry Jane Seymour. He wants her to resign herself to her fate and go to a nunnery. Knowing Anne as he does he realizes that her quietly going to a nunnery is ridiculous. He seeks out his advisers for a solution. He does not suggest a solution of course, that would actually make him responsible, he just suggests that he is in a bind that he doesn't know how to get himself out of. Cromwell knowing his future depends on making the King happy begins plotting and scheming. He notices how the Queen dotes on her musician, Mark Smeaton, a young man from humble circumstances that has found favor with the Queen. Mark is a beautiful youth, but rather frail and vulnerable. This will be to Cromwell's advantage. Mark is invited to dinner at Cromwell's estate. He is all excited that the nobility is recognizing him. Little does he know that he will never return to safety. He is seized and tortured into false confessions about the Queen having lovers. Cromwell wants there to be no doubt of the Queens treachery so he keeps torturing until he gets enough false information from Mark to seal the case against the her. Mark is taken to the tower to await trial.

Cromwell goes to the King and tells him what he has discovered. The King is outraged that the Queen has betrayed him, but secretly happy because now there will be no doubt that she will be removed from the scene allowing him to marry Jane Seymour. The King very willingly believes these accusations and orders the arrest of several young men in court including Thomas Wyatt (my 11th great grandfather) and George Bolyen, the Queen's brother.
George is accused of incest with his sister Anne and it will be his wife Jane Boleyn who will sign an affidavit declaring that she saw them together in an incestuous situation.
Anne will be at dinner at Greenwich when her uncle the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard will come to arrest her and take her to the tower of London. Her Uncle will mock her and show her no mercy while taking her to her final destination. She will enter by boat through the Traitor's Gate and climb the stairs. She will be greeted by the head Constable who will later declare that she wept and laughed hysterically upon arrival. She will be housed in the same quarters she spent the eve of her coronation in 3 years earlier. Her ladies in waiting will be spy's who are constantly badgering her for a confession. There will be trials and verdicts. All the young men will be executed by beheading on Tyburne Hill excepting Thomas Wyatt. Who knows really why he was let off, except that his wife's father was a great friend to King.
Anne was taken to the Tower Green an executed on 19 May 1536 two days after her brother George and the others were executed on Tyburne Hill. It was not public, the King did not want any public sympathy. Her final words were "To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesus receive my soul." She was then buried in an unmarked grave in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.

Catherine Howard who is about 14 years old and in love with Francis Derham a distant cousin who finds employment in the household of the Duchess of Norfolk. They have a hot and steamy affair planning their eventual marriage. They are discovered by the Duchess and all hell will break loose in the household. Catherine is beaten and sent into exclusion. Francis fears for his life and manages to get away. The Duchess is afraid as well because the rumors are circulating all over the neighborhood. Her step son the Duke of Norfolk will condemn her for her neglect and possibly have her removed. Every where there is chaos. The King has remarried, now to Jane Seymour. The King's daughter Mary is stirring up trouble to avenge her mother, Katheriene of Aragon. There seems to be no place truly safe any longer.

Teaser for tomorrow, the final post in the review...

Henry was furious at the reports brought back to him. He swore that he could not trust Mary. He was an angry man. It was but a matter of days since he had married Jane Seymour and yet he was not happy. He could not forget Anne Boleyn; he was dissatisfied with Jane; and he was enraged against Mary. A man's daughter to work against him! He would not have it! He called the council together. A man cannot trust those nearest to him! was his cry. There should be an inquiry. If he found his daughter guilty of conspiracy she should suffer the penalty of traitors. Murder Most Royal~Jean Plaidy pg. 363

Murder Most Royal Review: 3rd post in series of 5...

2009-12-07T13:57:00.001-08:00

We left off on Friday with the sweating sickness plaguing southern England, in particular London. Rats were everywhere in the streets, houses, gutters, and pubs. You could cross the road walking on them as bridge. It was disgusting. In the summer when the weather warmed up was when the sweating sickness would attack. If you were of nobility or a wealthy merchant you could take your family to the country and escape it. Anne was sent to country by the King to protect her. She got the disease anyway, but survived.

The people of London wanted a reason that this plague would purge them so. Thousands of people dying. It had to be the King and His secret matter of displacing Queen Katherine. The people loved the humble, pious Katherine of Aragon and were not happy that the King would consider divorcing her in the first place let alone divorcing her so she could be replaced by the "Whore Nan Bullen". Every woman in London was mindful of the example the King was setting for his male subjects. If you don't like your wife, just get rid of her.

The citizen's were very aware of their social status and that of royalty. Who was this Nan Bullen~she was just a merchants daughter~not fit to be a queen.

Anne would take this negative opinion about her poorly. It would make her all the more ambitious as well as bringing out the haughty and mean side of her. When Anne has recovered and the plaque has subsided she will return to court and to Henry. He is all the more in love with her and determined now to make her his Queen. Once she is assured that he will do all to follow through she finally submits to his amorous attention and sleeps with him and does become the King's mistress. Henry will put into motion all who will bring to pass the divorce from Katherine. Wolsey is sent to Rome and comes back without the approval of Pope Clement. The King is in a rage at Wolsey. His Cardinal had always been able to bring to pass the King's desires. Anne is whispering disparaging remarks in the Kings ear regarding Wolsey. Wolsey cannot believe the King is determined to make Anne his queen, he knows now that it is just a matter of time before the House of Wolsey will come tumbling down around him. He is fully aware that Anne hates him. He will end up giving Hampton Court, his magnificent palace to King to help him save face.

The King will arrest Wolsey, his beloved friend, and mercifully for Wolsey he will die of a heart attack on his way to the tower. After Wolsey's death the King confers the Chancellorship onto Thomas More. More is an honest and very pious man, he takes this responsibility very seriously. He loves his religion.

left: Sir Thomas More~Holbien

A new man, Thomas Cromwell will become one of the King's advisers. He is a great advocate of the "new religion". Cromwell will introduce the King to Bishop Crammer a voice for the new religion who will ultimately give the King the idea to separate himself from Rome and make himself the leader of the Church of England granting himself his own divorce from Katherine of Aragon. This course of action will up root English politics. Many priests including Bishop Fisher will be sent to their deaths for protesting the establishment of the new religion and break from Rome. Thomas More will be executed because he will not sign the manifesto supporting the King as the head of the church. The citizens are in an outrage. Many want their traditions, holidays and saints. However; none will say a thing in public for fear for their lives. If someone were to object openly they would be burned at the stake. Not a very pleasant way to die. The public was outraged at the death's of Bishop Fisher and Thomas More. The outrage is focused on Anne. They considered her a witch that has bewitched the King. It was not safe for her to go out in public.

Anne eventually will become pregnant. The King will then be in a hurry to get Katherine dumped and put away so Anne's baby will be legitimate. This was going to be the boy he longed for. It was written in the stars. I found it very interesting how Ms. Plaidy described the King praying to God for an heir, an excusing himself from any wrong doing re: Katherine, surely the Lord understood that it wasn't for lustful desire that he needed to marry Anne, but for the sake of the future of the Kingdom. The Lord would surely grant him his desire to avoid a civil war if the King were not able to produce a male heir. Ms. Plaidy makes it very apparent how Henry VIII will never take responsibility for his actions, but always put the blame on someone else.

Anne and Henry marry in secret. Within a short time the marriage is made public and Anne's coronation is planned. Her coronation takes place 1 June 1533. She is not well received in public. Very little jubilation is felt. The citizens are very subdued. The King is very anxious for his son to be born. The astrologers have predicted a fine healthy boy. On 7 September 1533 princess Elizabeth Tudor is born. She is a fine healthy baby girl. The King is outraged however; he calms down long enough to say they are both young yet, and still can conceive a boy.

In the mean time Catherien Howard still resides with her Grandmother the Duchess of Norfolk at Lambeth. She is now 12-13 years old and will take on Henry Mannox her music teacher as her lover. There are no boundaries surrounding Catherine and very little proper education provided. She is growing up rash and wild.

Tomorrow's Teaser:

She had believed, when she told the King that she was with child, that soon she must be. Why was it that she was not? Something told her the fault lay with him, and this idea was supported by Katherine's disastrous experiences and her own inability to produce another child. The was Elizabeth, but Elizabeth would not do. She murmured: "oh, Elizabeth my daughter, why wast thou not born a boy!" Murder Most Royal~Jean Plaidy pg. 254

Murder Most Royal Review...2nd post in a series of 5

2009-12-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

This is my 2nd post out of 5 that will be reviewing Jean Plaidy's marvelous historical novel~ Murder Most Royal The Story of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.

We left off yesterday with Anne's first intimate meeting with Henry VIII in her garden at Hever Castle. The King had seen Anne at court after her return from France and was highly interested in her. He announced that at some point in the near future he would be passing Hever and would stop in. The Boleyn's prepared for days to accommodate the King's visit. He finally did show up and found Anne alone in her garden. He was completely smitten upon seeing her. She fully knew who he was but played the part of an ignorant maiden. The King seemed to like these type of masquerading games.

She flirted with him, seeming to care less who he was. This behavior only heightened the King's desire for her. Of course eventually he disclosed his identity. She answered this by telling him she would never be a King's mistress and left the garden. The King may have been very impressed, but Anne according to Ms. Plaidy found him to be a large, red, tubby, man with small eyes and mouth. She refused being his mistress knowing the plight of her sister Mary whose reputation was in ruins because of the King.

She didn't think much about it ever going any further and spent her summer in pursuit of her new love Henry Percy the son of the Earl of Northumberland.

These two young people fell madly in love and prepared to marry in secret. The deed was to be done in secret because Anne's family was not of nobility and Henry was contracted to marry Lady Mary Shewsbury. Henry Percy, at the time was in Cardinal Wolsey's household and Anne was at court making it convienant to see each other. Henry made the mistake of divulging his love for Anne and their plans to marry. Wolsey repeated this to the King who became outraged and demanded that Wolsey intercede and send Henry home to Northumberland and Anne back to Hever. They were not to be allowed to marry. Henry did return home and within a short time married Lady Mary Shewsbury. Anne returned to Hever with a deep and abiding hate towards the Cardinal Wolsey.

In the mean time Catherine Howard's mother dies leaving 10 motherless children. Her father is so poor that the children are farmed out to various relatives. Catherine is sent to live with her aunt and uncle where she will meet her 1st cousin Thomas Culpepper. She lives in the household until she is around 7 years old upon which she is sent to live with her step grandmother the Duchess of Norfolk in Lambeth. The Duchess of Norfolk prides herself in her magnanimity towards the unfortunate and takes on several young ladies of the town to be raised in her household. Fine idea, but she doesn't follow through well. She is a fat, lazy old woman. The girls are all housed in a dormitory with no supervision. This leads to many nightly visits from young men in the household or community. Catherine is privy to all of this. She learns at a very early age all about promiscuity. This will later become her down fall.

The story takes you back and forth between Anne and Catherine which I find delightful. Anne will return to court and be pursued relentlessly by the King. He does have a problem, his wife who cannot bear a son. The pursuit of a legal heir is all consuming to the King. He will lie, cheat, steal and even murder in this pursuit. No one is safe. Anne continues to refuse him and he continues to beg, finally getting the idea that Anne will never be his with-out the crown upon her head. Anne will later admit that she never really loved the King she just loved the idea of being queen and that ambition was her doom. Thus begins one of the most historic events in the Western World, the separation of Church and State.

Monday's teaser for the 3rd installment:

The King sat alone and disconsolate in his private apartments. He was filled with apprehension. Through the southeastern corner of England rage that dread disease, the sweating sickness. In the streets of London men took it whilst walking; many died within a few hours. People looked suspiciously one at the other. Why does this come upon us to add to our miseries! Murder Most Royal~Jean Plaidy~pg 129

Please check back Monday December 7th for 3rd installment.

Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy...1st post in a series of 5

2009-12-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to review this book. I am a huge fan of Jean Plaidy and this has been my favorite so far. I just couldn't do it justice in one post so I decided to have a little fun and divide my review over the next five days.

The story is about Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard~the 2nd and 5th wives of Henry III. I never get sick of this story. I have read several books including one of my favorite(s) The Other Boleyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance both by Phillipa Gregory. I have to say hands down Ms. Plaidy's Murder Most Royal is the best in my opinion.

The story begins with Anne living at Hever Castle as a child of seven getting ready to accompany Mary Tudor the sister of Henry VIII on her trip to France to marry Louis of France. The company is held up at Dover Castle where Anne will first meet Henry. She is impressed with his size and confidence. As a child she idolizes Mary Tudor~in Anne's eyes she is beautiful, funny and self-assured. The English Channel is storm ridden~delaying the trip to France. The more Anne is in the company of Mary she learns confidences re: the love Mary has for Charles Brandon the Duke of Suffolk. Anne learns at an early age to be told confidences and keep them.

Hever Castle located in Kent, England. The birth place and childhood home of Anne, George, and Mary Boleyn. It is truly a gorgeous spot of southern England. It's out in the middle of nowhere, far from any crowded city. It's easy to see why the Boleyn's loved it so. I had the privilege of visiting here this past summer.

To the left is Dover Castle where the company of Mary Tudor stayed while waiting out the storm on her way to France. Anne was among the company as a seven year old child.

Anne grows up in the French court where she is well educated by royal scholars. She becomes an accomplished musician and vocalist. She is a favorite of the court, being witty, beautiful and charming. She is no country bumpkin despite the fact that she was born in the country, her father, Thomas Boleyn being a merchant of no distinctive pedigree. It is Anne's mother Elizabeth Howard that descends from the noble & great, her father being the Duke of Norfolk with a claim to the throne of England.

Thomas Boleyn by artist Hans Holbein

When Anne returns to Hever as a teenager she quickly becomes a favorite among the younger people. She has a keen sense of fashion and excellent taste. It isn't long before her personal designs of dresses become copied among the court. She will soon discover that her sister Mary is consider a slut because she not only was the King's mistress but apparently mistress to several others at court. Anne is appalled that Mary could be so self effacing, does she have no pride? Anne will also learn of her Uncle Edmund Howard's poverty in his household with a wife and 10 children, among which is darling little Catherine Howard who bonds immediately with her older 1st cousin Anne. It is here at Hever that she will first meet the King on an intimate level.

To the right: A view from Anne's bedroom over looking the courtyard of Hever Castle

Tomorrow's teaser:

She had sat on a seat in the rose garden for an hour or more, half dozing, when she decided it was time she gathered the flowers and returned to the house; and as she stood by a tree of red roses she was aware of a footfall close by, and turning she saw what she immediately thought of as "a Personage" coming through the gap in the conifers which was the entrance to this garden. She felt the blood rush to her face, for she knew him at once. Murder Most Royal pg 37~Jean Plaidy

The review continues Friday December 4th...

Wedensday Royal Tour of University of Oxford...

2009-12-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

The great hall in Christs Church used in the Harry Potter film.

Stain glass in Christs Church

I had the privilege to visit University of Oxford this past summer. It was magnificent. Very Medieval. You feel a reverence there. You can't help but think of centuries past and all that the University has contributed to the world, through knowledge and education.

University of Oxford is located in the City of Oxford in southern England. It is the oldest surviving university in the English speaking world. It is unclear on the date that Oxford was founded but there is evidence of teaching there as far back as the 11th century. Of course the ancient students were monks. At the time they were basically the only people who could read and write. In 1120 Anglican Monks took over a nunnery located in Oxford and built a chapel that later would become the famous Christs Church Cathedral. By 1167 there were three monastic schools of learning at Oxford, Christs Church being one of them. At this time during the reign of Henry II other students rather than monks were allowed to attend and pursue an education if they showed promise. Many English Scholars were attending the University of Paris until Henry II recalled all those students, forbidding them attendance at the University of Paris. This course of action increased Oxford's student body substantially. Henry II encouraged education and his patronage was important for the development of Oxford as a recognized University.

The original students were not of nobility but humble "men" who showed educational prowess and contributed much to the development of the state through the centuries.

By 1214 Oxford was recognized as an University. Over the last 800 years countless scholars have graduated and contributed much to the ancient and modern world.

Among those are:

John Wyclif

John Locke

Christopher Wren

John Ruskin

Edward VII

John Wesley

William Penn

Albert Einstein

JRR Tolkein

Dudley Moore

Oscar Wilde

CS Lewis

Cardinal Wolsey

Hugh Grant

Kate Beckinsale

Margaret Thatcher

Tony Blair

Bill Clinton

Percy Shelly

A note of interest: Women were not officially admitted to Oxford until 1920!!!!!

Meet Devynn Marie by Bebes Cheris Nursery...

2009-11-30T14:50:00.000-08:00

Can't help myself have to share my latest creation with all of my faithful followers. One of my favorite hobbies besides reading is the Art of Reborning which simply means making dolls that look like real babies. I have been doing this for 2 years now and have sold dolls to new mommies all over the world now. This Devynn Marie which is now listed on ebay click picture to take you to the auction.

Teaser Tuesday...

2009-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B~Should be Reading

The rules are as follows:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers

Here's mine:

This was disquieting news which set Henry trembling; Anne's defiance of Rome, her lack of superstitious dread, angered him against her, for he did not care that she should show more courage than he; although his conscience explained that hi felling was not fear but eagerness to assure himself that he had acted with the will of God.
pg. 223 Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy

Another awesome book Ms. Plaidy!!!

Book Review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

2009-11-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe:

Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin is working on her doctoral dissertation when she is asked by her goofy mother to clean out her late grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, Mass. Connie agrees to do this odious job for her mother even though she has time constraints and doesn't want to. She reluctantly drives up there and moves in for the summer with her little dog, Arlo. She can't even find the place on Milk St. because the front is so over grown with foliage from years of neglect. She finds the house as bad as the yard, with no phone, no electricity, but at least a flush toilet. From the beginning she realizes that she is sharing her new abode with rats, spiders, snakes and strange supernatural phenomenons. The first night she is rummaging around in the dark for something to read by the oil lamp and comes across an old bible with a strange, mysterious key inside. Upon investigating the key she discovers the name Deliverance Dane written on a small piece of parchment tucked away inside the key. This is of course where the story takes off and the quest for information on who Deliverance Dane is begins. Connie will travel back and forth between Marblehead, Salem and Cambridge Massachusetts in her pursuit for answers. Along the way she will pick up a new friend, Sam, who will eventually become her romantic interest and provide keen assistance in discovering who Deliverance Dane is and where is her Physikc Book, and how does Connie fit into this equation.

The author will take the reader back to the Salem witch hunt and trials where you will learn about Deliverance and her place in history. The story moves back and forth between the late 18th and 20th centuries. I was so excited to get this book. I simply loved the premise of the story. Early New England history is very fascinating to me, especially the Salem witch trials.

When the book came I dropped my current read and settled in with a cup tea for a long evening read. It kept my interest along the way, but that was about it. The characters were not developed well. The author would take the reader just so far and then drop the subject, especially at the beginning of chapters. I hate that. I kept expecting more development of what happened. The readers can figure out the whole plot long before the characters. It wasn't a puzzle to figure out. I knew how Connie was related to Deliverance, but I'm not sure she ever really figured it out in the story or it just wasn't that important to the author to develop the answer. This was not a complex story. There just wasn't any "ah ha" moments. I found myself saying out loud "well duh" to Connie~the protagonist several times. I came away from the book rewriting the story in my mind, wondering why the author didn't include this or that, and really wanting to know more of the story.

The premise of the story is excellent and in the right hands it could have been a block buster!! I give the author two thumbs up for her original and creative idea. This is Ms. Howe's debut novel. I'm sure many readers will find entertaining. For me, I found it disappointing, I expected so much more. Ms. Howe does have talent and with a little development and maturity I believe she will go far.

I give this 3 royal crowns out of 5:

1 crown for originality

1 crown for time period

1 crown for subject matter

Wordless Wedensday...

2009-11-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

click on picture to enlarge

Hermione pups growing now 2 weeks old!

Wordless Wedensday...

2009-11-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

click to englarge photo

Hermione and her 7 babies

born 29 Oct 2009

A New Award Received and Pass On to...

2009-11-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank Virginie at Virginie Says for sending me this lovely award!!

Here are the rules :

■ Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

■ Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

■ Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

■ Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

■ Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I would like to pass this award to the following people/blogs:

Gigi at Gigi Loves Paris

The Cross of Laeken

Amy at Passages of the Past

Marie at The Burton Review

Monday Royal Review; Hammer of the Scots by Jean Plaidy

2009-11-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

Hammer of the Scots by Jean Plaidy:

First off prior to reading this book my only reference for Edward I was his portrayal by Patrick Mcgoohan in the 1995 film Brave Heart. The movie portrayed him as a one dimensional character, a ruthless tyrant, widowed with only one child, a disappointing son. I love the movie Brave Heart and I was very apt to believe that Edward I was indeed nothing more than a Medieval dictator.

I really had no desire to pursue further research until this year when I discovered two very important things, one Jean Plaidy and two that Edward I was my 19th great grandfather. With these two things in mind it was a delight to discover that Ms. Plaidy had written a book about Edward I. The title alone Hammer of the Scots I found intriguing. The best part was finding this book at Waterstone's in Bath, England.

After reading this book I can say What I didn't know about Edward I was a lot.

What I didn't know was;

He came from a large family of brothers and sisters

He was dearly loved and adored by his parents Henry III and Eleanore of Provence

He was considered a very handsome youth favoring his Viking ancestors

He was named Longshanks because of his height and long legs

He was devoted to his parents. He loved his father dearly

He married Eleanor of Castile and remained faithful to her their entire marriage. He was devoted to her and she him. She accompanied him on the ninth Crusade to the Holy Land where he was nearly killed and she nursed him back to health. It was there at Acre that she delivered a daughter one of 16 children they would have. The baby died and is buried at Acre in the Holy Land.

Of the 16 children only 6 would live to adulthood and of the 6 there was only one son the youngest child Edward II.

He was devoted to his family, he loved his wife and children.

He would conquer Wales and create the Prince of Wales

He would expel the Jews from England. 16 -20,000 Jews would be ordered to leave by Edward I.

He would design the special torture of being drawn and quartered for traitors

He was just and generous to his family, servants, and citizens, but woe to those who were his enemies. He valued loyalty and loathed insincerity.

He was determined to make England a great, respected kingdom with an invincible army.

He placed a shrine to his wife Elenore every where her funeral procession would stop between Winchester and Westminster.

He requested on his death bed to have his bones carried before the troops while engaged in battle against Scotland so he could be part of the victory.

His heart would be taken and buried in the Holy Land as an act of penance before God for his sins.

These are just a few of the highlights of this great story. Ms. Plaidy has not left William Wallace out of the story at all. In fact the last few chapters of the book are devoted entirely to him. Very interesting and not so much the Brave Heart version, in fact I liked it better.

I love the way Ms. Plaidy writes. She gets to point and doesn't waste time with loads of description. She doesn't hesitate to tell you just how it was. Sometimes you love the character and sometimes you truly can't stand them.

I highly recommend this book for Jean Plaidy fans as well as Medieval History buffs. Believe me Edward I was far from being a one dimensional character, there was many facets to this man. I would have to say he was a great king, one that was needed to unify England. He took his calling in life very seriously and honestly did try to do the best he could. He had regrets to be sure.

I give the book 4.5 royal crowns!

Tuesday Teaser...

2009-10-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hosted by:
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share with us two "teaser" sentences from that page somewhere in the middle
Make sure to share the title and author of the book
NO SPOILERS PLEASE

My teasers come from pg 197: The Virgin and the Crab by Robert Parry:

To the very south there is the river, the broad Thames with its teaming populations of ships and small craft, while all around there stand the mighty ramparts that mark the boundaries of the fortress itself - the numerous towers and turrets in which prisoners are kept in all manner of conditions ranging from the most damp and rat-infested holes to rooms which by many people's standards would be considered quite palatial, even if not luxuriant in certain instances, depending on the status and wealth of the occupants.

Enjoying this book very much!

Royal Freaky Friday...

2009-10-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

While traveling in London this past summer one of the highlights was visiting the Tower of London. So much history stored up in that place. I particularly wanted to see the infamous "Traitors Gate". It was eerie! One could truly imagine the boat pulling in through the gate with the prisoner being let out at the bottom of the stairs, then climbing up the stairs to be imprisoned waiting for execution.

Originally Traitors Gate was called the Water Gate which was commissioned King Edward I to have a water entrance into the Tower of London which was used at the time for Royal family accommodation. Over the years the Tower became a prison for traitors to the crown. To be imprisoned in the tower you had to be of some notoriety, otherwise you were sent to Newgate prison in London.

Most people will associate The Tower with Tudor history and rightly so. More imprisonments and executions were carried out in the Tower in this era than any other time period.

The journey for the condemned would start on the river Thames in a prison barge. The barge would sail down the river under the London Bridge which usually had the heads of recently executed prisoners on spikes for all to see. After passing under the bridge the barge would sail through the river entrance to the Traitors Gate coming to rest at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to St. Thomas Tower, one of 23 towers in the Tower of London
complex. This grisly practice would continue until 1648.

Some of the most famous people to make this journey were Anne Boelyn, Sir Thomas Moore, Catherine Howard, and the Lady Jane Gray. While Catherine Howard passed under the London Bridge she would look up and see her former lover Thomas Culpepper's head on a spike, thus she arrived at Traitor's Gate hysterical. Queen Anne upon arriving at the top of the stairs asked the Tower Constable if she were to be thrown into the dungeon. He told her she would have the same accommodations as she did on the eve of her coronation. Queen Anne began to alternately weep and laugh hysterically at this news.

Lady Jane Gray at Traitors Gate, Tower of London

Traitors Gate is closed now only to serve as a reminder of a grisly and sad past.

Suggested reading below. Please feel free to add to the list or mention other notable Tower prisoners. Some I have purposely left out to draw in some comments :-).

Thursday Royal Trivia...

2009-10-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

The Origin of the Prince of Wales: During the Reign of Edward I he conquered the Welsh people. They knew they were a conquered people, no one could defeat the mighty army of the King of England. Edward was so taken with his new country that he renovated Caernarfon Castle in north Wales. There his 11th child Edward was born on February 1, 1284. He was the 2nd living son and would become the heir to the throne. Alfonso, Edward's 1st son would die within a few weeks.

Edward II the 1st Prince of Wales

The Welsh people wanted to have Prince of their own, one that was born in Wales and could speak neither English or French. He must speak Welsh. The Barons went to the King with their request. He thought it was a good idea. He wined them and dined them, and then brought out his infant son Edward, declaring him their Prince of Wales. He was born in Wales and he could speak neither English or French. He promised them that he would make sure that the first language the Prince would learn to speak would be Welsh. He asked the Barons if they would be willing to serve his son as the Prince of Wales. What could they say? They agreed and on 10 May 1301 when Edward was 16 years he was formally invested as the Prince of Wales in Lincoln.

From this time forward the heir to the Crown of England has been formally invested as the Princes(ses) of Wales. It is not a hereditary title or conferred at birth, it must be conferred in an official ceremony. The jewels that the Princes have received over the centuries as gifts now make up the official Crown of Wales.

Suggested Reading:

Mailbox Monday #1

2009-10-19T09:53:00.001-07:00

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page

I haven't posted Mailbox Monday before because I do not always receive books during the week or I receive too many to list all at one time. However; I did receive a goody this week.

Virgin and the Crab: Sketches, Fables and Mysteries from the early life of John Dee and Elizabeth Tudor by Robert Parry

Robert was good enough to send me a copy of his book to read and review. I checked him out on Amazon and he has received excellent reviews.

Product Description:
The brilliant young mathematician and astronomer John Dee has one overwhelming obsession:liberty. Abandoned and humiliated, Elizabeth Tudor has one simple aim: survival. What will happen when these two are thrown together by circumstances neither can anticipate or control? This is their story as Dee and the mysterious brotherhood of the Rose Lodge - working against almost insurmountable odds and threatened by a vengeful and unforgiving Queen - attempt to guide the nation towards enlightenment and stability. Here, a parallel universe of secrecy and faith is revealed in which the unseen forces of nature support all that is visible and real - a place, too, where the special alchemy of the Virgin and the Crab works its magic, growing from childhood friendship, through adolescent flirtation to mutual respect and admiration as together they prepare to sacrifice everything for the world they wish to inherit. "One of the most extraordinary and yet untold relationships of the Tudor age."

I am thrilled at the prospect of reading this book. It sounds like it is right up my alley for the genre I love to read. What could be a better read than something royal, especially Tudor royal!!

I will be posting my review soon.

Thank-you again Robert for sending me your book!

Tuesday's Old Friend...

2009-10-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz is a relatively new friend. My husband purchased this book a few years ago while we were on vacation. It sat on the shelf for quite awhile until about 3 years ago I picked it up and started reading it. Here again it is a true story with animals so I found it very appealing. When my husband first bought the book I wasn't really interested ,I thought it would be about training dogs and that's just not my speed. I was very happy to discover it was about Jon Katz, a journalist from Manhattan purchasing a sheep farm in Bedlam, New York.

Did Jon know anything about farming? Heck No, but he was going to find out. He had always dreamed of owning a sheep farm and at least two Border Collies to help with the herd. Finally when he was in his mid 50's and very close to retirement he fulfilled his dream and purchased his sheep farm, collies and moved out of the crowded city to become a farmer. The story is very entertaining, full of humorous exploits of Jon learning how to tend sheep, a farm and train dogs. His wife, family and friends thinks he's crazy, but humor him along. The towns people of Bedlam have their doubts about his capabilities, but are there to give advise, asked for or not.

Winter sets in and Jon for all his preparation is really not prepared for the bitter minus zero weather. The winter brings about discouragement, loneliness and illness. It will be Jon's neighbors who come to his rescue, with their unselfish acts of kindness. His insight through-out the story is very thought provoking. I have laughed and cried in this book. I have shared his story many times with my friends. A very heartwarming story full of humor and drama.

MY OLD FRIENDS WEEK...

2009-10-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have created an Old Friends Week. I hope you will all join the fun. This weekend my husband was cleaning out our garage and he came across a box of books that had been stashed away for quite a few years. He was thrilled to find these books. He told me later that it was like getting in touch with some old friends again. That got me thinking about how I have a section of my book shelf that is just for old friends like these. You know what I'm talking about, books that you could never get rid of to a thrift store, or garage sale. These are books that you go to and just pick out parts to read over and over again. They bring you such comfort. I believe we all have these Old Friends in our book shelves and I think it would be a lot of fun to share with each other our Old Friends and why they mean so much to us. I have decided to go ahead and create a link picture you can post on your blog for this week or when ever you come across it. Just pick an Old Friend from your shelf everyday to share with all of us. Think of how all of our horizons will be broadened with new authors to investigate. It will be fun to see how many of us share the same Old Friends.

I am going to start with All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott. I would say this book is probably one of my oldest friends on my shelf. I found this book 33 years ago when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I had such miserable morning sickness it was hard to function. Everyday I would put my 15 month old baby down for a nap and I would take that time to nap myself and read. My friend brought this book to me and insisted I read it. She just raved and raved about it. It looked good to me. It was a true story about the life of a vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the late 1930's. I love true stories and I love stories about animals. From the very first page I was hooked! I read the book twice before returning it and was happy to discover that the sequel All Things Bright and Beautiful was already published and the same friend had a copy. I devoured that book the same way and was so anxious for the the third book All Things Wise and Wonderful to be published. I was the first on the reservation list at our local library.

Over the last 33 years I have read and re-read these stories countless times. Every chapter is an individual story. These books have truly been my friends during happy times and dark times as well. When I need some happiness and grounding in my life I will just grab one of these off the shelf and go to bed with it. They have become an institution in our home, my children know the stories, they have read the books several times themselves and I believe most of them have their own copies. I am sure many of you have read these books as well. BBC has done a wonderful job of creating a series based on these books. Check these as well. Available on NetFlix. I would love to hear from you.

Wordless Wedensday...

2009-10-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

Edgar Allan Poe

American Writer and Poet

January 19, 1809 ~ October 7, 1849

Climbing out of the rut...

2009-10-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been here where you pick up book after book and nothing talks to you. Ever since I finished Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnely I have been in a rut. I can't seem to finish a book. They start out pretty good and then become so boring to me. These are all books that I have had on my TBR list and I am so disappointed that I can't get into them :-( .

After going through 4 books like this during September I think I've found a book that will do it for me. It's an Oldie but Goodie to be sure. Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I loved Wilkie's Lady in White. I have a TBR pile that is at least 4' tall but for some reason I just need a diversion, something to climb in bed with that won't put me to sleep. So far so good with this little gem. Wish me luck that I can stay interested, I have to get out of this rut!!!!!

Would love to hear your reading rut stories!!

My Halloween theme...

2009-10-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

As you can see I get bored easily :o ). Autumn, Halloween and Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors, I love the spooky, I love the fun family get togethers. I decorate my house for Halloween. I dress my dogs, I dress all my dolls up, we just generally have a lot of fun.
I think it's because October marks the end of the heat for us. I can actually pull out my cute sweaters, etc. for the office. Had to get my blog up to speed too.

Winner of Hampton Court Portrait Giveaway...

2009-10-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Marie Burton of Burton Reviews you are the winner!!!!