The only thing I felt was a strong hand around my neck, another around my waist, and -- before I could cry out -- I smelled the thick, sweet sce... read full description
reviews
Oct 06, 2010
Rosanne
rated it: 
“This plot is ridiculous.” I was about a third of the way through The Canterbury Papers when I uttered those critical words to my husband. Eleanor of Aquitaine wanted Alais, the French princess who used to be betrothed to her son Richard, to travel to Canterbury and obtain some secret letters hidden in the altar near Thomas Becket’s tomb. In return, the princesse Alais would receive some information about a mysterious child that had long been presumed dead. “Why?” I kept asking myself. “Why in t
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Dec 24, 2008
Sara
rated it: 
let me preface this review by saying that i am absolutely in love with historical fiction that deals with the british monarchy. i thought i only liked stories of the tudors, but turns out the plantagenets aren't so bad either.
i actually enjoyed this book better than books by authors like phlippa gregory. maybe it had more to do with the fact that i'm less familiar with this period of history, but i felt that this story wasn't as forced as did some of the plot lines involving he tud More...
i actually enjoyed this book better than books by authors like phlippa gregory. maybe it had more to do with the fact that i'm less familiar with this period of history, but i felt that this story wasn't as forced as did some of the plot lines involving he tud More...
Jul 18, 2009
Lexi
rated it:
I'm getting tired of saying "this was better than expected" so I guess I'll have to expect better in the future! A gutsy, smart heroine; a bunch of royalty, knights, and monks; mysterious kidnappings and letters; and love, passion, and old betrayal. There's a lot in this book. The dialog is fun, the emotion good (if a bit over-dramatic at times), and the action is well-played. Oh, and it takes place in 1200, so there are horses and maids and everything, thankfully excepting the bod
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Apr 28, 2010
Mark
rated it:
A highly entertaining historical novel, set in the year 1200 in France and England and full of several familiar names from medieval history. Palace intrigue, lively characters, and a decent mystery kept this reader entertained. The novel's protagonist, Princesse Alais, feisty old gal that she was, the daughter of a king and sister to another, provided the central narrative. One came to completely admire her courage and determination, even as one wondered how she could not see what was right in f
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Jul 14, 2009
Anna
rated it:
Alaiis, Princess of France, is very good at getting into trouble. Her stepmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has asked her to retrieve some papers hidden in a secret spot on the altar at Canterbury Cathedral. Even though Alaiis has not spoken nor seen Eleanor in over 20 years, she makes the trip from Paris to Canterbury to do her bidding. There she reacquaints herself with an old schoolmate, now William of Caen, and the head of the Knights Templar in England. A kidnapping, imprisonment, murder, and r
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Jun 06, 2009
Kathryn
rated it: 
A suspense novel set in medieval England and France in the 13th Century. It is narrated by french pricess Alais, who is bored with life at her brother's court when her step-mother Queen Eleanor asks her to take on a mission in return for information Alais desperately wants. It is an enjoyable read and brings the exciting era to life.
I again enjoyed the epigraph:
"The truth of the imagination leads us to compassion. These two imagination and compassion, are the only po More...
I again enjoyed the epigraph:
"The truth of the imagination leads us to compassion. These two imagination and compassion, are the only po More...
Jan 15, 2011
Ana T.
rated it:
I am always very fond of stories that bring some light to those minor, forgotten characters of history. I am fully aware that if they are minor characters a lot of the writer tells me is pure fiction but I like to imagine that it could have been so.
When I found a book about Princess Alais of France, of which I only knew she was Richard, the Lionheart's betrothed and that they never married because she became his father's mistress, I couldn't help but be interested. As many of t More...
When I found a book about Princess Alais of France, of which I only knew she was Richard, the Lionheart's betrothed and that they never married because she became his father's mistress, I couldn't help but be interested. As many of t More...
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Jul 14, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it:
I first picked this book up because I'm fascinated by any story that has anything remotely to do with the story surrounding Eleanor of Aquitaine and her family. However, when I first started this book, I wasn't so sure I was going to like it. It seemed calculated and obvious. The further I got into it, however, the more I began to enjoy it, and I found I was having a difficult time putting it down.
It's much in the same genre of books as The Other Boleyn Girl, where the protagonis More...
It's much in the same genre of books as The Other Boleyn Girl, where the protagonis More...
Jul 22, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
This story is about Princss Alais Capet. Alais is asked by Queen Eleanor (her step-mom) to retrieve some secret letters of hers hidden at Canterbury Cathedral. In return she promises to share some personal information with Alais. She agrees and when she finally arrives at Canterbury to searth for the letters she is abducted and taken prisoner by King John (her brother).
I debated between a 2 and 3 for this book. It took me about halfway through to really get into it. The begining was More...
I debated between a 2 and 3 for this book. It took me about halfway through to really get into it. The begining was More...
Jan 13, 2009
Carli
rated it:
The great thing about Canterbury Papers is that it's an historical fiction book in which I can actually like the main characters instead of needing to throw up after I read their story. Less real history and landscape than other historical fictions I've read, but, as I said I liked the characters and the story was interesting. An easy and solid read. Alais does drop the f-word, but only once and at a time when I probably would have myself.
Aug 27, 2011
Kate
rated it:
After the somewhat slow start, this became a very engaging story of intrigue. About half-way through the story I began to see where it was headed, but rather than be disappointed that my suspicions were correct, I was pleased to learn I had read the clues correctly and was very satisfied with the conclusion. I would recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction as it pertains to the royal European families and the Knights of Templar.
Aug 20, 2011
Mirah
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book...it was a light, quick read. I had never heard of Princess Alais so I found the plot very engaging. I liked reading something about a little known figure in history as opposed to the more popular Henry, Eleanor, or Richard. Even though some turns in the plot were not a surprise for me, I still enjoyed it overall. The way Healey painted Alais made her interesting and I was curious how everything would play out for her in the end. While there may have been some disc
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Jul 17, 2010
Celia
rated it:
I think there's a certain value in not starting a narrative when the main character is young, and then hauling us through their entire life. However, equally I think it makes us less interested in a character when everything interesting about them has happened in their past.
Alais, a princess of France, is sent by her would-have-been mother in law, Eleanor of England to retrieve certain indiscreet letters of hers from behind a particular stone behind a church altar. Hello, ridiculou More...
Alais, a princess of France, is sent by her would-have-been mother in law, Eleanor of England to retrieve certain indiscreet letters of hers from behind a particular stone behind a church altar. Hello, ridiculou More...
Apr 07, 2009
Julia
rated it:
This is a suspenseful novel set in medieval England and France. The story focuses on the retrieval of some letters written by the Queen of England that would reveal the evidence of a bastard child born to the King by a young girl 20 years prior, and this child could be a threat to the King by making a claim to the throne. There were so many Dukes, Princesses, Priors, Abbeys, Knights of Templar, etc that I found it difficult to comprehend the roles and importance of each of these characters. T
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Jun 14, 2011
Lindsay
rated it:
A few love scenes I skipped, but overall a very enjoyable read. I love the setting (year 1200) and I felt like I was in a different world. I thought it was fascinating to have the broad strokes of history in the backdrop, with the author filling in the details with a wonderfully crafted tale of fiction. I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery and twists and turns of the plot.
Nov 16, 2009
This book is one of my recent favorites... Historical fiction based on a little known princess in the old English monarcy. Alaiis is sent on a mission to find some letters for Queen Eleanor in exchange for some information regarding a son she had with Eleanor's husband, King Henry, when he had Eleanor held captive in a castle keep. As Alaiis makes the trek from her brother's court to Canterbury, the intrigues escalate. Without divulging too much of the plot, I will say that this story is defi
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Nov 12, 2008
Caryn
rated it: 
I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
In my opinion, it is very poorly written. The characters are broadly drawn, lacking depth and personality, especially the main character/narrator, Princess Alais of France, who is anachronistic and unsympathetic. The story reads like a bad romance novel filled with "important secrets" that are finally revealed so casually that the reader wonders why so many artificial contrivances were made to keep them hidden More...
In my opinion, it is very poorly written. The characters are broadly drawn, lacking depth and personality, especially the main character/narrator, Princess Alais of France, who is anachronistic and unsympathetic. The story reads like a bad romance novel filled with "important secrets" that are finally revealed so casually that the reader wonders why so many artificial contrivances were made to keep them hidden More...
Jan 07, 2010
I love reading historical fiction with a female lead character. In particular I have been interested in the historical person called Alais Capet, who is also featured in Pamela Kaufman's books. The Canterbury Papers is a well researched, even paced suspense, that is rich with detail and entertaining characters.
Aug 19, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
This book was about a little known character in the era of King Henry and Queen Eleanor and their sons (about the time of Robin Hood). Alais is given roles and character for what she might have been - and was a really fun read. Light, fast, good historical fiction!
Mar 01, 2010
Victoria
rated it:
An average, light historical fiction read, with a moderately engaging plot and an ending that is unfortunately telegraphed fairly quickly. Set immediately after the upheaval of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her sons' intrigues for the English throne. Very similar in style to Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl, with a minor historical character taking center stage. There are much better reads in this genre, and I'm particularly thinking of Sharon Kay Penman's Devil's Brood about Eleanor hersel
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Aug 31, 2010
Melanie
rated it: 
A wonderful account of scandalous letters and the lengths went to obtain them. Set in my favorite time period, 12th century England, we learn new things about King Henry and Eleanor of Acquitane. Loved this book.
Jul 17, 2009
Donna
rated it:
Very good histoical novel, bodice ripping kept to a minimum. Features some of my favorite 12th century characters, Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, John Lackland. The main character is quite a fictionalized version of Princess Alais of France, but that's what makes it so fun.
Apr 24, 2009
Julie
rated it:
I really wanted to like this book; it had great potential (the actual plot was interesting) , but the writing was just....bad. Maybe it's because I'm not really familiar with historical fiction and I have to read more, but I just found myself becoming more annoyed with this author's writing style as I continued to read. It was pretty obvious what was going to happen in some parts, and I never even followed the actual history.
Feb 06, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
I am really liking this book. Very easy read and I find so much more enjoyable than the Gregory Boleyn series. Historical fiction and a mystery. Right up my alley! Almost finished, is really hard to put down. I did really like this book and will defiantley try the author again.
Jan 24, 2009
Lenore
rated it:
Fun, light but unedifying read; 20th century language and sensibilities at times incongruous with 13th century setting. A bit more like a Harlequin romance than what I normally read.
May 24, 2009
Paige
rated it:
Eleanor of Aquitaine, a cache of letters hidden in Canterbury Cathedral, a French princess, an evil villain, dark secrets - a page-turner historical suspense novel that is lots of fun!
Aug 08, 2010
Gaile
rated it:
This book read more like a mystery than a romance but the heroine is certainly feisty!
A former mistress of Henry II Of England, she is searching for the son she thought had died.
A former mistress of Henry II Of England, she is searching for the son she thought had died.
Aug 11, 2011
Erika
rated it:
I started reading this book that I borrowed from my mother in law, and realized that I have already read it! It must not have made much of an impression on me.
Mar 08, 2011
Jeanie
rated it:
Ma Hebert read this on our vacation and enjoyed it. Me too. Fictionalize history about a real woman about whom is little is known, medieval British history fun.
Sep 23, 2010
Dawn
rated it:
This book was very similar to the Phillipa Greggory novels which I really enjoy. If you like those type of historical fiction books, you will enjoy this one.
