Mary Tudor, the headstrong younger sister of the ruthless King Henry VIII, has always been her brother’s favorite-but now she is also an important political bargaining chip. When she is promised to the elderly, ailing King Louis of France, a heartbroken Mary accepts her fate, but not before extracting a promise from her brother: When the old king dies, her next marriage shall be solely of her choosing. For Mary has a forbidden passion, and is determined, through her own cunning, courage, and boldness, to forge her own destiny.

The Secret Bride is the triumphant tale of one extraordinary woman who meant to stay true to her heart and live her life just as her royal brother did- by her own rules…

Mary Tudor is one that is not often talked about unless there are whispers about her marriage to Charles Brandon, or they are talking about her not overly historical portrayal on The Tudors. Diane Haeger creates a great story of the events of young childhood through to adult hood of Mary Tudor and it all takes place from her point of view. From the loss of her Brother Arthur, to her parents to watching as her Brother becomes a fine King in his own right, but then also begins down the path that he is most remembered for. How many Mistresses and Wives he had.

The story is solid and entertaining weaving a good amount of fact with in the fictions to keep it very interesting. There are a few points that drag on a little bit slow but over all it is an entertaining cover to cover read. A good read for the Tudor era.

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

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

The Second in the Secrets of the Tudor Court series this book was very enjoyable. There was a couple of points that for me dragged a little bit I think that seems to be a pitfall when getting into deep well covered historical time periods, like the Tudor era.

Anne Bassett was a real person in the court and this is based on her life with of course some creative license like you do in a fiction. Anne goes along many different paths in her life, from young love, a secret pregnancy, freeing someone from the tower, to the kings bed. You can not ask for anymore action and intrigue then what you get in this book. There were moments that I really disliked Anne, but in others I enjoyed her and I could understand what motivated her over all. Its a good book one I enjoyed it had just the right peppering of The King without being overwhelming it really did focus on the people around him.

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In Mistress Shakespeare, Elizabethan beauty Anne Whateley reveals intimate details of her dangerous, daring life and her great love, William Shakespeare. As historical records show, Anne Whateley of Temple Grafton is betrothed to Will just days before he is forced to wed the pregnant Anne Hathaway of Shottery. The clandestine Whateley/Shakespeare match is a meeting of hearts and heads that no one, not even Queen Elizabeth or her spymasters can destroy. From rural Stratford-upon-Avon to teeming London, the passionate pair struggles to stay solvent and remain safe from Elizabeth I’s campaign to hunt down secret Catholics, of whom Shakespeare is rumored to be a part. Often at odds, always in love, the couple sells Will’s first plays and, as he climbs to theatrical power in Elizabeth’s England, they fend off fierce competition from rival London dramatists, ones as treacherous as they are talented. Persecution and plague, insurrection and inferno, friends and foes, even executions of those they hold dear, bring Anne’s heartrending story to life. Spanning half a century of Elizabethan and Jacobean history and sweeping from the lowest reaches of society to the royal court, this richly textured novel tells the real story of Shakespeare in love.(

Whether or not there was another Anne in Shakespeare’s life has been something that has been hotly debated. Some say there was a clerical error and she never existed others have found some fairly supporting evidence that she did exist at the very least. The book starts off a little bit slow for me but it does pick up once Anne goes to London. The story is not a typical oh they meet oh they fall in love story and I love it for that. The two love each other deeply and passionately but they also fight, and at times seem to “hate” each other. A very real life kind of story.

There is danger around every corner and that also seems to effect their love story. The time of Elizabeth Tudor’s reign was not one of total peace by any means especially if you did not agree with everything the Queen does and say’s. Overall this was a great book with good writing and complex characters. If you like Shakespeare and the Tudor era your going to like this book.

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