Tag: Boldwood Books

Book Review: “The Fourth Queen” by Nicola Cornick

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How far would you go to keep a secret? For Marris North in 16th-century England, the secret she keeps would change history forever. A secret such as this must be protected for centuries. But now, Jenna Bergin shares a deep connection with Marris. Can Jenna keep the secret that no one has known for centuries, or will an archaeological dig force it to be revealed? What is Anna of Cleves’ connection to Marris and the secret she carries?  Nicola Cornick explores this 500-year-old mystery in her latest dual-timeline novel, “The Fourth Queen.” 

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have enjoyed Nicola Cornick’s previous dual timeline novels, so when I heard that she was writing a new novel, I was excited. It was when I saw the cover and realized that this novel featured Anna of Cleves that I knew I wanted to read it. Anna of Cleves is one of my favorite wives of Henry VIII, so I was thrilled to read Cornick’s version of Anna and her life. 

We begin in the year 1539. Marris North, along with her sisters Rose and Bridget, is facing the end of their beloved monastery, Winterhill Priory, which is about to be sold to Sir William Sharington. Marris must find another place for her and her sisters to live, but Sir William has a proposition that Marris become a lady in waiting for Anna of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, since Marris knows German. Along the way, Marris marries William, and she sees how Anna’s marriage began and dissolved quickly. Henry moved on to Catherine Howard, but Marris stayed with Anna when Anna revealed a massive secret to Marris, one that, if revealed, would change Tudor history forever. Marris and William promised to keep the secret safe no matter the cost, and they do as they grow their own family.

In the modern storyline, we meet the Bergin sisters, Jenna, Molly, and Bree. Jenna has a deep connection to Marris as she is her reincarnation. Jenna can recall Marris’ memories and feels like it is her responsibility to protect the secret in the modern age. That proves a bit of a challenge when she falls for Owen Power, who is the accountant for the Swan Power Trust, who are in charge of the archaeology project at Winterhill Priory. While she is dating Owen, Jenna must keep her reincarnation a secret as well as Anna’s secret from centuries ago. Can Jenna do this and survive like Marris, or will the secret be revealed at the cost of everything she holds dear, including her family?

This was another delightful novel by Nicola Cornick that was able to balance the past and the present with a fantastical element. I also thought the way she weaved Anna of Cleves’ tale, especially the play on a rumor about Anna during her lifetime, was very clever. I had a lot of fun reading this novel, and I cannot wait for her next story. If you are a fan of Tudor novels with a dual timeline twist, I highly recommend you read “The Fourth Queen” by Nicola Cornick. 

Book Review: “The Boleyn Curse” by Alexandra Walsh

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The court of Henry VIII was a treacherous place for anyone, but especially for the Boleyn family. We all know the stories of Anne, Mary, George, and Thomas, but one figure from this illustrious family does not get enough attention: Elizabeth Boleyn, the mother of Anne, Mary, and George. What was her relationship like with her family, her husband, and most importantly, King Henry VIII? And what does a Chaucer manuscript recently discovered at Cerensthorpe Abbey have to do with Elizabeth and the Boleyns? Alxandra Walsh explores the life of Elizabeth Boleyn and the mystery of the missing Chaucer in her latest dual-timeline novel, “The Boleyn Curse.”

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoy a good dual-timeline novel, and when I saw that this one also featured Elizabeth Boleyn as the main character, I was intrigued. Elizabeth Boleyn has not been the focus of novels of the Boleyn family that I have read, so I was interested to see how her story would translate into historical fiction.

Since this is a dual timeline novel, there are two main timelines. We get to explore the Tudor period with Elizabeth Boleyn and the modern day with Tabitha Mundy, the archivist of Cerensthorpe Abbey. We begin with the modern storyline and Tabitha, who is employed by the owner of Cerensthorpe Abbey, Edith Swanne, to archive the entire estate. Tabitha is dealing with the death of her husband, Blake, when she meets Edith’s nephew and heir to the estate, Gulliver. Edith gives Tabitha the task of finding a missing Chaucer manuscript by decoding clues left behind in a journal from the 1900s. The journey to the missing manuscript holds a connection to Elizabeth Boleyn and the curse upon the family.

We also jump back to the life of Elizabeth Boleyn, who was Elizabeth Howard when the audience is introduced to her in 1485. Her father was arrested by the new King Henry VII for supporting King Richard III, but eventually the family rebuilt their reputation. Elizabeth falls in love with Thomas Boleyn and joins the glittery court of King Henry VIII, where she catches the eye of Henry VIII himself. Elizabeth fights for her family and the love of her husband, even if it means making an enemy of the crown itself.

I think this was a decent novel, even though it explored my least favorite rumor about the Boleyn family. I also thought the diary entries were a bit distracting from the rest of the narratives, a case of too many stories going on at once. Overall, I did enjoy this book. If you want a novel that is a dual timeline or a novel that features Elizabeth Boleyn, you should check out “The Boleyn Curse” by Alexandra Walsh.

Book Review: “Daughter of the Tarot” by Clare Marchant

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A single deck of cards changed the fate of generations of women. The tarot cards, created in 16th-century Italy, will connect two women separated by centuries. One was a woman in 17th-century London, originally from Milan, who used the cards to rescue women from abusive relationships. The other is a woman from modern-day London starting her life anew when she comes across an old tarot card deck with a missing card. What began as a hunt for a missing card will connect the two women and change lives forever. The cards hold secrets to the past, but will they bring hope or disaster? This is the premise for Clare Marchant’s latest dual-timeline novel, “Daughter of the Tarot.”

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I recently read her novel, “The Shadow on the Bridge,” which I enjoyed, so when I saw this novel, it had such an intriguing description that I wanted to read it. I am not familiar with the history of tarot cards, and I have not read many novels set in the 17th century, so I was excited for a new adventure.

As this is a dual-timeline novel, there are two protagonists from two different periods: Portia from 17th-century England and Beatrice from 21st-century England. We begin in Milan in 1629, which has just been hit by the plague, where we are introduced to Portia and her baby daughter, Vittoria, who are struggling to survive. The next time we see Portia and Vittoria, iits 1644 and they are living in London. Vittoria is 15 years old, and Portia is using her talent with tarot cards to help those in need. What Vittoria does not know is that Portia uses her readings to help women escape abusive relationships by using the Devil’s Card as a message for the boatsman Jack, who is in love with Portia. Secrets and truths slowly begin to reveal themselves as someone from Portia’s past has come to London and may destroy her relationship with Vittoria.

In the modern storyline, we meet Beatrice, or Bea, who is starting a new life in London and is opening her own antiques shop. Bea has been avoiding her father and his new love interest since her mother died. She has the gift of reading tarot cards, and one day, she comes across an old deck of cards. The only problem is that it is missing a key card, the Devil’s Card. Bea and her landlord, Jack, search high and low for the missing card and find exactly what they are searching for, and some surprises.

It took me a while to get into this book as it was a slower pace than the previous novel that I read by Marchant. While I enjoyed the modern storyline, the 17th-century portion felt a bit slower, and it didn’t feel like the 17th century to me, but more like the 16th century. Overall, I think it was a decent novel with an interesting pair of protagonists. If you want a story about the 17th century with a unique premise, I recommend you read “Daughter of the Tarot” by Clare Marchant.

Book Review: “The Shadow on the Bridge” by Clare Marchant

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Have you ever had an incident that was so impactful that it defined your entire life from that moment on? For Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel, it was the death of her younger brother, George. She vows vengeance against those who were behind his untimely demise. In the present day, Sarah must return to her godmother’s home, which holds a lot of memories, mostly painful. It is in the halls of this ancient house that Sarah meets Anne through a book of poetry. Can these two women find peace or will the truths bring even more disasters? Clare Marchant tells the stories of these two women, the tragedies and the poetry that unite them, in her latest novel, “The Shadow on the Bridge.”

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I liked the cover and when I read the description, it caught my eye. I have had Clare Marchant on my blog for a guest post, but I have yet to read her novels, so I decided to take a chance. I was not familiar with the story of Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel, so I was excited to read her story.

We begin with Anne Howard, born Anne Dacre, and her family at Barnhamcross Hall. She takes care of her young brother George, who is supposed to become the 5th Baron Greystoke. However, tragedy strikes when George falls from his rocking horse. It seems like a tragic accident, but Anne soon discovers that it was done deliberately. While Anne is married to Philip Howard, she secretly plans revenge against her father-in-law, the Duke of Norfolk. Anne Howard is known for her poetry, so she uses her skills with a quill to uncover a plot a bit closer to home.

Sarah, in the modern day, is a woman full of remorse and guilt. She has accepted to visit her godmother Cordelia at her home of Barnhamcross Hall, which holds many secrets and sorrows. Sarah knows what it means to lose a loved one as she lost her sister, Emily. Her parents blamed her, and they are no longer in her life. Cordelia is dying, and she wants to leave her home to Sarah. Sarah agrees to stay and help with organizing the estate, and while doing so, she finds a book of poetry from the past. It is through the story of Anne and George that Sarah finds the strength to confront her past.

This was a delightful read full of discovery, suspense, and healing. It was very well-balanced and gave a new perspective to the Howard family. It was such a gripping read that I want a sequel with the same characters because I became attached to them. I am looking forward to reading more novels by Clare Marchant. If you want a fun dual timeline escape that explores a lesser-known Tudor woman, I highly recommend you read, “The Shadow on the Bridge” by Clare Marchant.

Book Review: “The Secrets of the Rose” by Nicola Cornick

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Have you ever researched one person from the past for an assignment and found yourself gravitating toward another historical figure from a different era? Hannah Armstrong knows this feeling very well. She returns to her home in Bamburgh to write a biography about Grace Darling but is instead pulled towards an equally fascinating story of a Jacobite rebel. Dorothy Forster is a young woman who is trying to keep her family together as the world around her changes drastically. Can Dorothy protect her loved ones while fighting for her country and can Hannah find the truth hidden for far too long before it’s too late? Two tales of courage, strength, and love are told in Nicola Cornick’s latest novel, “The Secrets of the Rose.”

I want to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have been enjoying Nicola Cornick’s blend of modern-day and stories of the past to create thrilling novels, so when I heard that she had a new one coming out this year, I knew I wanted to read it. When I saw that it took place during the Jacobite Rebellion, it intrigued me because it is a period of English history that I am not familiar with and I wanted to learn more.

Let’s start with our friend from the past, Dorothy Forster. She was the daughter of Sir William Forster, the sister of Thomas and Nicholas Forster, and the niece of Lord Crewe. Dorothy is a strong independent young lady who does not want to get married and instead help her ailing father. It was a peaceful life until Earl Derwentwater convinced her brothers Thomas and Nicholas to the Jacobean cause to return Prince James Stuart to the throne, culminating in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. To top it all off, Dorothy finds out that her family, primarily the women in her family, are the Keepers of the Rose, a mythical talisman that both sides believe will make sure their victory is assured. When Dorothy’s brothers are taken prisoner, she must choose whether to leave her father and her beloved blacksmith John Armstrong, and travel to London or stay where it is safe.

Flash forward to the modern-day with Hannah Armstrong, a historian who came back home to study her latest subject, Grace Darling, a Victorian woman who saved her family and others from a shipwreck. It’s been many years since Hannah has been home and there is a lot of tension once she arrives. Her step-mother Diana is hiding both medical and personal secrets from Hannah and her friends Alice and Aaron welcomes Hannah back with open arms. However, her estranged brother Brandon lurks in the shadows, searching for a particular portrait of Dorothy Forster and the Rose. Hannah has to piece the clues together while balancing her crazy social and romantic life before it is too late.

I found this a rather enjoyable novel and it was so fascinating to learn about not only Dorothy Forster and the Jacobite Rebellion but Grace Darling and her daring rescue. It was a thrilling romantic read full of twists, turns, and callbacks to Cornick’s previous novels. I hope that this novel will inspire more authors to explore the Jacobite Rebellion. If you want a novel that explores a moment in English history that does not get much attention with dynamic characters, I suggest you read, “The Secrets of the Rose” by Nicola Cornick.

Book Review: “The House of Echoes” by Alexandra Walsh

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A love that can get through any obstacle even when the couple is married to other people is considered very rare. However, star-crossed lovers at court were practically unheard of, especially multiple couples from the same family. Anne Brandon knows how rare these matches are as her father Charles Brandon married the sister of King Henry VIII. Now she must figure out her feelings about romance while navigating court life. In the modern day, Caroline Harvey has relationship problems while she navigates the loss of her famous writer, grandfather Dexter Blake. How are these two women from different centuries connected and can they fight for who they love or are they destined to be alone? Alexandra Walsh tells both women’s stories in her novel, “The House of Echoes.”

I want to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. The concept of this novel and the cover were what pulled me into the story. I know about the children of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor, but when it comes to Charles’ other children, I don’t know much. I wanted to learn a bit about Anne Brandon and have a good time with the story of Caroline Harvey.

We begin with the story of Caroline Harvey as she returns home to England from America after a bad break-up with her former fiance Travis Hibbert. She is the personal assistant to her grandfather, the recluse writer Dexter Blake, the author of the Ether Heracles book series. Dexter Blake is dying and it is up to her and her family to announce it to the rest of the world while releasing the last book in the series and making movies about the books. While the world mourns Dexter’s death, Caroline is given the gift of Dexter’s home and she begins researching the history of the house, which will lead her to an old fling Gideon and his book store Ten-to-Midnight. It is through Caroline’s research that she discovers the story of Anne Brandon and the truth about her life.

Meanwhile, in Tudor England, Anne Brandon is getting used to being the step-daughter of Mary Tudor, the sister of King Henry VIII. She is not used to court life, but she has friends who will become famous like Anne Boleyn and Margaret More Roper. As a young girl, Anne falls head over heels in love with Randall Hanworth and she believes that she is destined to marry him. However, fate and her father have someone else in mind; Edward Grey 3rd Baron of Powis, which made Anne Baroness of Powis. That doesn’t mean it was a happy marriage as the couple never had any children. Anne lived throughout the reign of Henry VIII, saw two of his wives beheaded including her friend Anne Boleyn, and had a great falling out with her father Charles Brandon before he died, which meant that she was left out of his will. Anne was willing to fight for the lands that she believed rightfully belonged to her and the love of her life Randall.

This was a fun novel with so many twists and turns, including one at the end that I did not see coming. I especially love the little details that Walsh included especially coming up with blurbs for each of the Dexter Blake books as well as the inner workings of the Brandon household. As someone who reads a lot about the Tudors, it was refreshing to read about Tudors that were new to me. If you want a fresh take on the Tudor with a modern twist, I greatly recommend you read, “The House of Echoes” by Alexandra Walsh.

Book Review: “The Other Gwyn Girl” by Nicola Cornick

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the other gwyn girlThe year is 1671 and England is slowly recovering from the horrors of the English Civil War. King Charles II lives lavishly with his many mistresses, including the famous beauty Nell Gwyn. On the other side of London, Nell’s eldest sister Rose Gwyn is caught in the middle of a high-profile robbery that could cost her her life. In the present day, Jess Yates, a librarian and history lover, is dealing with her family’s struggles. When Jess enters Fortune Hall to help her sister Tavy, with a project, Jess begins to follow the clues to discover the connection between the great house and the Gwyn sisters. What secrets does this great hall hold and can the reputation of the Gwyn family be saved in time? The mystery of the past and the present collide in Nicola Cornick’s latest novel, “The Other Gwyn Girl.”

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have read two other novels by Cornick, “The Forgotten Sister” and “The Last Daughter of York,” and I thoroughly enjoyed both dual-timeline novels. When I heard about this novel, it was a compelling premise to me as I know very little about Nell and Rose Gwyn.

Nell and Rose Gwyn were the daughters of Captain Thomas Gwyn and Helena Smith Gwyn. When their father died, Helena had to raise her daughters to survive the cruel world, but we soon find out that Helena’s favorite is her youngest daughter Nell. The sisters may have started as simple orange sellers, but Nell’s star was on the rise as she became an actress and then the favorite mistress of King Charles II. Rose was less fortunate as she married John Cassells and now finds herself in prison for a third time, this time for the theft of the Crown Jewels, a scheme orchestrated by Colonel Thomas Blood. Now, Rose must team up with the officer who arrested her, Guy Forster, to clear her name and save her sister Nell’s reputation by finding the Crown Jewels before it is too late.

The lives of the Yates sisters mirror that of the Gwyn sisters. Jess is down on her luck after her ex-boyfriend ends up in prison and the whole scandal is splashed on every newspaper and tabloid due to her sister’s fame. Jess thinks that she is going to Fortune Hall for a reunion of sorts with her mother and sister, but that is not the case at all. Tavy, the younger sister, is a style influencer/ TV star who needs her nerdy older sister’s help with a project. Tavy has agreed to renovate Fortune Hall because of its alleged connections to Nell Gwyn and she has asked her sister Jess for help. As Jess hunts down clues to the history of Fortune Hall, alongside Ethan Sterling whose family has a connection to the home, she discovers shocking truths about the Gwyn sisters.

This novel was such a wild ride from the start and I could not put it down. The English Civil War is not usually an area of study for me, but there was just something about the way Cornick wrote this novel that I want to learn more about Nell and Rose Gwyn as well as King Charles II and his many mistresses. If you are a fan of dual-timeline novels or Nell Gwyn, you must check out, “The Other Gwyn Girl” by Nicola Cornick.