The Queen's Lady (The Lacey Chronicles, #2)

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The Queen's Lady (The Lacey Chronicles #2)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 556 ratings · 90 reviews

1584 – Surrey, England When Lady Jane Rievaulx begins service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled at the court’s newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey. Despite her previous courtship with his older brother, James is the man she truly loves. And for his part, he cannot deny his fascination with her. However, James is setting sail on a treacherous journey to t...more

Paperback, 324 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by Razorbill

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Aug 03, 2011 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Last year I read and thoroughly enjoyed Eve Edward's debut novel, The Other Countess (Review here) and was more than a little excited to see a sequel planned. Having finally just finished I can say that excitement wasn't in vain. Reading The Queen's Lady was like slipping into a comfy and familiar pair of slippers and once again Eve Edward's evocative writing whisked me away into the world of Queen Elizabeth I's court and Tudor England.

The Queen's Lady focuses on the story of Lady Jane Rievaulx...more Last year I read and thoroughly enjoyed Eve Edward's debut novel, The Other Countess (Review here) and was more than a little excited to see a sequel planned. Having finally just finished I can say that excitement wasn't in vain. Reading The Queen's Lady was like slipping into a comfy and familiar pair of slippers and once again Eve Edward's evocative writing whisked me away into the world of Queen Elizabeth I's court and Tudor England.

The Queen's Lady focuses on the story of Lady Jane Rievaulx (nee Perceval), a character who although only played a minor role in the previous book, I had very much enjoyed and hoped to hear more about. We join her as the recently widowed Marchioness, still young at only eighteen, devastated by the death of her elderly husband, who through kindness and friendship had saved her from her own family, and now at the mercy of her greedy and wicked stepsons who want back what they believe rightfully theirs. Taking refuge as a lady in waiting to the Queen, Jane is delighted when James Lacey returns to court and the feelings she once held for him are as strong as ever. However James is dealing with the demons of war and feels unworthy of the beautiful Lady Jane. In an effort to rid himself of the ghosts he carries and to save her from himself he embarks on a dangerous journey to the newly discovered America. Only his absence puts Jane more at risk as her family plans to marry her off once again for their own benefit.

I liked Lady Jane just as much this time round as I did the first. She's a young girl used as a porn in the courts games and seen only as an asset by both her family and the noble men around her. I felt so angry at her treatment at times and can't imagine what it would be like to have such pressures and expectations from society on you. Everything she does is judged, and Jane is the unfortunate type of girl who attracts unwanted attention, gossip and rumour. Yet under the cold exterior she has protected herself with, there is a warm, passionate, loyal and kind person underneath. She knows what she believes to be right and wrong and isn't afraid to show it, which of course at times lands her further in trouble.

I loved the romance between Jane and James Lacey, who is even more droolworthy than his brother Will. He is dark and brooding, tortured by what he has seen at war with Spain and doesn't believe himself worthy. I adored how together they brought out the best in each other and cursed the awful and mercenary families who stepped in their way. My favourite characters in the book however where Diego, James' African man servant and Milly, seamstress and longtime friend of Lady Jane. Through these two characters we truly see a passion to fight against adversity and overcome a world which has strict rules on rank, propriety and expectations, where crossing the line could cost you your life. I also enjoyed the introduction to the theatrical Christopher Turner, the Lacey brother's illegitimate sibling and have a feeling his story will be very interesting indeed (told in The Rogue Princess released in May 2011)

Once again I found Edward's sumptuous historical detailing and descriptions beautiful. The way she describes the rich and regal costumes of Elizabethan times brings them vividly to life, while the sights, smells and sounds of Tudor London are recreated vividly. I particularly enjoy her charming and easy writing style. As with The Other Countess, this book isn't action packed (although there are one or two sword fights to get your heart pounding) it's more a book to savour and immerse yourself with, perfect for a lazy afternoon when you don't have to rush. Eve Edward's series of books have become a firm favourite of mine and I eagerly look forward to the next. Recommended to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, has an interest in the period or just wants a beautiful and charming story to curl up with. (less)

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Nov 02, 2011 Leah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, sequels-to-books-i-have-read, baggs-guys

Thanks to netgalley for providing this book!

Note to people who are going to read this: Read The Other Countess first is you can, its not essential but it helps you understand alot.

The Queen's lady is, in a way, a follow up of the Other Countess. Both books in this series are quite enjoyable and the author provides a setting which really does help the reader feel like they are living in this time.

I recommend reading this novel as it has a great character and is quite imaginative. It's not reall...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalfiction2013, readin2013, yafiction2013, yahistorical2013

I enjoyed reading The Queen's Lady. Readers first meet the heroine, Jane, as a character in the first novel, The Other Countess. This novel is set several years later. Jane, now a widow, is facing new troubles. Her stepsons are unhappy that Jane received anything from their father. They are after the ring, the money, the land. Her father is also anxious to get control of his daughter once again, he wants to arrange a marriage--of his choosing, of course--for her. But Jane, well, Jane is fond of...more

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Mar 13, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 4 of 5 stars

It has been months since Lady Jane Perceval (nee Rievaulx) last saw James Lacey, and much has changed in that time. Lady Jane refused to marry James’s brother, Will (now the Earl of Dorset), knowing that his heart belonged to young Ellie Hutton. The couple have since welcomed an heir to Lacey House.

James and his faithful blackamoor servant, Diego, have campaigned for Elizabeth’s army overseas and the young Master has returned home world-weary and haunted by all he has seen.

And Lady Jane has bee...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Lynnea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: england, fiction, in-the-past, historical, romance, arc

Lady Jane Revaulx's husband dies and she begins service as a Queen's Lady with Queen Elizabeth. She is thrilled to hear that James Lacey is attending court. She was in love with him despite being courted by his older brother before eventually marrying her previous husband.

James is attending court in preparation for a surveying journey to the America's. He meets Jane at a buffet with the Queen and at first is horrified to see her. She dropped his brother when courting and married a man with a hi...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Rachel Harris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-love-interest-hotties, favorites, made-me-laugh, wish-i-wrote-it

Oh my word, did I love this book. Everything about this story was beautiful: the writing, the characters, the language, the setting. THE QUEEN’S LADY hits all the sweet spots, managing to be Historical, yet uniquely contemporary in approach and relatability; Intimate in point of view, yet third person with a variety of narrators; Suspenseful, yet full of romance; Earnest and full of heart, yet laugh out loud and grin like an idiot funny. Eve Edwards had me from page one and didn’t let go until T...more Oh my word, did I love this book. Everything about this story was beautiful: the writing, the characters, the language, the setting. THE QUEEN’S LADY hits all the sweet spots, managing to be Historical, yet uniquely contemporary in approach and relatability; Intimate in point of view, yet third person with a variety of narrators; Suspenseful, yet full of romance; Earnest and full of heart, yet laugh out loud and grin like an idiot funny. Eve Edwards had me from page one and didn’t let go until The End.

The novel centers on Lady Jane and Master James, but it’s filled with a ton of delightful characters. As a result, you never really get to a good stopping point. Just when one story line is perhaps reaching a bit of a reprieve, another starts popping. Ms. Edwards weaves these together in such a way that you won’t be able to put this book down. Lady Jane and Milly rivaled for my favorite heroine. Milly made me laugh, and Jane broke my heart (in the good way). I declare it a draw, which never happens. As for the men, James and Diego battled it out for hottie of my heart, but in the end, James stole it. He was sweetly broken, completely dashing, and wonderfully irreverent. He was strong and vulnerable, a very hard mix to get right. Yeah, let’s just say this boy did it for me.

If you are a newcomer to The Lacey Chronicles, I think it’s important to know that while I’ve given Ms. Edward’s first book, The Other Countess, longing looks from its place of honor on my nightstand for months, this was my first foray. Unfortunately, life happened, writing and review deadlines crept in, and so it remained on top of my pile, the gorgeous cover staring at me impatiently beside my bed. I finally got a little breathing time as review time for THE QUEEN’S LADY came nearer, but I chose to wait, curious to see how easy it would be to follow the storyline, knowing I could always pick up the first book if I got lost. Well, I have picked up The Other Countess—but only because I’m so in love with the story world Ms. Edwards created. If you have not had a chance to read The Other Countess, do not let it keep you from reading this gem…but, save yourself time and buy both now, because believe me, you’ll want them.

I recommend THE QUEEN’S LADY for anyone who loves adventure, romance, and intrigue. If you love historicals, even better. I have fallen head over heels in love, and cannot wait for THE ROGUE’S PRINCESS!

To read my random miniview with the author, head over to YA Bound:http://yabound.blogspot.com/201...(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

I love reading about the Tudor monarchs, so I was thrilled to find this YA series about love in Elizabethan England. Although I haven’t yet read the first book in the planned trilogy, the author did a good job filling the reader in on important background events from The Other Countess. I enjoyed reading this excellent book, and I really appreciate that the author didn’t talk down to her readers. The writing was very mature and contained a refreshing dose of humor and innuendo.

Newly-widowed Jane...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Kris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-reviewed, historical, ya-books

After falling in love with Kit in The Rogue's Princess, book three in The Lacey Chronicles, I knew that I had to read the earlier books in the series. The Rogue's Princess didn't fully explore Kit's relationship with his family, and upon learning that he is first reconciliated with his family in The Queen's Lady, I was anticipating this book the most. And I love it even more than The Rogue's Princess. (Or perhaps my love for the people in this world are grow more with each book I read.)

The ladie...more After falling in love with Kit in The Rogue's Princess, book three in The Lacey Chronicles, I knew that I had to read the earlier books in the series. The Rogue's Princess didn't fully explore Kit's relationship with his family, and upon learning that he is first reconciliated with his family in The Queen's Lady, I was anticipating this book the most. And I love it even more than The Rogue's Princess. (Or perhaps my love for the people in this world are grow more with each book I read.)

The ladies in The Lacey Chronicles are all strong-spirited individuals, educated and not afraid to make fun of their men. Mercy brought out Kit's more serious side. Here, Jane shows herself to be James's match with her wit and passion, putting a smile on his face while making him fall more in love with every word she says. She is brutally honest and down to earth with her remarks, and she says it all in such a manner that you have to laugh all the while knowing that she means what she says. She has a way with words. James is more of a brooding character than Kit (their first meeting doesn't go well). After having fought in the war against Spain, he suffers from nightmares and responsibility for things he didn't have any power over. Jane and James have history together, and it impacts the way they interact with each other now. Neither of them feels especially worthy of the other, especially James, who believes he doesn't deserve happiness. I enjoyed seeing the two of them rebuild their relationships and rediscover old feelings.

A bonus in this novel is that we also get to see Diego and Milly's courtship as well. Like with their lord and lady (James and Jane), they have old history together, though Milly had always viewed Diego as a good friend while he had one-sided feelings for her. Milly is a bundle of delight with her no-nonsense attitude and willingness to put herself forward to help Jane in a time of need. Diego is more stoic, but that stoicism is hard to take seriously when he's talking about his culture in an English setting, such as talking about a bride price of cattle heads when Milly's father is a soldier who wouldn't know what to do with cattle.

If I were to name one flaw in the series, it's that we don't get to spend nearly enough time with the characters. I love the characters and wish that we had more page time with everyone. The time transitioning is smoother in here than in The Rogue's Princess; however, I don't know just how much time passes, especially when James goes to the Americas. It seems like a rather quick trip as compared to how long I expect it to take for a round trip between England and the Americas in the sixteenth century, plus the time it takes to survey land. Also, some of the language seems rather modern for the time period. I appreciate how it doesn't go into archaic language, as it would have bogged down the reading, but I wouldn't expect people to use some of the phrases they do in here. These are small details in the overall plot of the novel, however, and I loved the story overall.

The character are real and priceless, and I enjoyed getting to know Kit's family better in The Queen's Lady. Somehow, it seems as though I've been reading this series backwards, so rather than saying I look forward to reading the next book, I'll be saying that I look forward to reading book one at last! It'll be fun seeing how Jane and James met each other and getting to know Will and Ellie better!

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've been looking forward to reading the Lacey Chronicles books from Eve Edwards for a long time. But as someone who doesn't like to buy books from overseas, I forced myself to wait patiently until the books were release in the U.S. After I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, The Other Countess, which I won just a few weeks ago from a Twitter contest, I was thrilled that the sequel, The Queen's Lady was already available on NetGalley for review.

The Queen's Lady follows the story of...more I've been looking forward to reading the Lacey Chronicles books from Eve Edwards for a long time. But as someone who doesn't like to buy books from overseas, I forced myself to wait patiently until the books were release in the U.S. After I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, The Other Countess, which I won just a few weeks ago from a Twitter contest, I was thrilled that the sequel, The Queen's Lady was already available on NetGalley for review.

The Queen's Lady follows the story of Lady Jane, one of Ellie's closest friends in The Other Countess. Much has happened to Jane since we last saw her. After ending her engagement to Will, Jane ended up in an unhappy marriage and was eventually sent home in disgrace. She was saved by another marriage, this time to a much older man who was looking for a companion to spend the rest of his days with. Soon after he dies, Jane comes to court as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I, a changed woman. That's where she reconnects to James Lacey, Will's brother. The pair soon fall in love, but tragedy and trials threaten to pull them apart.

I was really surprised at Jane here. She seemed like a completely different person from the flirty, somewhat scandalous young woman in The Other Countess -I almost didn't recognize her. While Edwards does give a quick back story behind this change that occurred between the two novels, the change was just so drastic that it didn't fit for me. It also led to such a significant change in Jane that the personality quirks that made me interesting to me in the previous book were completely gone here. I would also have liked to have seen some of that story on the page since it had such a profound affect on Jane.

The signature sweet romance I enjoyed in Other Countess is still here in Queen's Lady, but with more intrigue and conflict thrown in, as well as a stronger use of the period's context in ways that made the story seem more realistic. I would say that I didn't enjoy Queen's Lady as much as Other Countess, but it was still a satisfying sequel, and I liked seeing Jane have her own happy ending.(less)

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Feb 19, 2011 Tasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, young-adult

The Queen's Lady follows on from the authors previous book, The Other Countess, but while that one followed William Lacey and his now wife, Ellie, this is the story of his younger brother James and Ellie's good friend, Jane. Set a year or so after the previous installment, Will and and Ellie are still around as secondary characters, as are others that played a part in the first book. The emphasis is predominantly on James and Jane though, with a side story involving James' manservant Diego and J...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Savannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 01, 2011 Fira Rosli rated it 2 of 5 stars

First of all, I want to clarified that this book is only meant for 1 star but because of her admirable and charming man characters such as James and Will Lacey, Diego and, Christopher Turner. These guys deserve another star. Hence, I rated 2 stars.

The problem I had with this book is that Lady Jane, the main character, does not appeal to me at all. I don't like her. She's quite boring and she's a weakling. But I do understand that woman during that period seriously are always empowered by the ma...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Indie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, personal-rating-5-stars, romance, favourite-author, would-like-to-eventually-reread, english-setting, p-t, would-like-to-own

I trully loved the magic in this book.

I knew what to expect but I didn't? The end was clear but the journey not, and that was exhilarating!

And we get to listen to the Queen!

I didn't expect 'The Queen's Lady' to be as good as the first in the 'The Lacey Chronicles' series, 'The Other Countess'. But it really was!!

A good touching book to hold in your heart.

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Jun 15, 2012 RivkaBelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, for-review, historical-fiction, netgalley

Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
eARC provided by publisher for review

The Queen's Lady begins not long after The Other Countess ends, picking up the story of Lady Jane - and, of course, James Lacey. If you have not read The Other Countess, you won't be entirely lost, as references are made to the significant events from that novel - but since the focus is now on Jane and James (as opposed to Will and Ellie), it's another storyline entirely. Lady Jane's transformati...more Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
eARC provided by publisher for review

The Queen's Lady begins not long after The Other Countess ends, picking up the story of Lady Jane - and, of course, James Lacey. If you have not read The Other Countess, you won't be entirely lost, as references are made to the significant events from that novel - but since the focus is now on Jane and James (as opposed to Will and Ellie), it's another storyline entirely. Lady Jane's transformation from cold, social-climbing noblewoman into a beautiful young lady with a heart is complete, although she is not without her troubles.

As a member of Queen Elizabeth's Privy Chamber, her position (and person) should be safe - just as her late husband the Marquess desired. And with the reappearance of James Lacey at Court (although, regretfully, in the house of Sir Walter Raleigh), Jane's life should be all happiness. But things are never as they seem, and soon Jane learns of a disastrous plan her father and brother have concocted -- forcing Jane to sacrifice her own happiness and independence to save those of her dear childhood friend Milly (who is, conveniently, in love with James' valet Diego). James could set things right, but he has demons of his own to conquer, and is on his way - with Diego - to the Americas, scouting a colony site on the Outer Banks. Any chance of a happier alternative for Jane will come down to timing. And fate.

What I love about Edwards' writing is her ability to weave together multiple story lines. While this is the story of Lady Jane and James Lacey, it's also the story of Milly Porter, Diego, and the colorful Christopher Turner. And, of course, we get to peek into the married life of Will and Ellie (swoon), and the rest of the Lacey clan. These people all have color, life, dreams and demons, plans and flaws. Place all of this wonderful, character-driven story into the rich historical context of Elizabeth's Court - and Raleigh's explorations - and you've got the makings of an amazing historical journey. I read this in a day, devouring the story, and sighing mightily when I reached the end. Most definitely looking forward to The Rogue's Princess in January, when I can pick up the tale again, this time - apparently - following the fortunes of Turner.(less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: thoose who enjoy historic romance

Edwards' occasional use of farce and wit enlighten the mood of this story. Bringing to life many fascinating characters and different personalities, she brings a new view on how one judges others through appearances.

I did enjoy the story, the protagonist Jane and the idea of her getting her own 'knave in shining Armour', but this book took me a much longer time than expected to read. I did not particularly enjoy the idea of the 'hero' being weak - to the point at which he cries and cannot face r...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, uk-author

The Queen's lady is the second instalment in a series set in Tudor England. I for one thought this instalment was as strong as the first instalment.

The story is set 18 months after the end of The Other Countess and focuses on the Story of Lady Jane who we met in the first book as a secondary character. Her life has changed dramatically since the first book. She has recently become a widower and has lost regular contact with the Lacey family. She has taken up a position in the Queen's staff and h...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Deirdre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fromlibrary, romance, historicalromance, historical

Lady Jane Rievaulx is a widow at the ripe old age of 18. Her marriage ws one of convenience but she liked her husband and he her, although his family disliked her inheriting anything, they regarded her as a money-chaser. Her family has plans for her and they're nothing if ambitious, she's valuable for her marriageabilty and connections and they've found someone who will give them more power.

However she loves Master James Lacey, who is dealing with an aftermath of a war on his psyche and heading...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read2012, ya, romance, yahf-challenge, historical

The Queen's Lady is an enjoyable historical romance though I did find it to be a little implausible in its resolution. Jane is not as strong a character as Ellie from The Other Countess but I still liked her even if she was more of a victim. I liked James even more as a flawed character dealing with guilt and possible PTSD like symptoms. He does put Jane on a pedestal and he seems to abandon her in her hour of need but he is a hurting individual.

The secondary characters are memorable. Millie is...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Kelli (I'd So Rather Be Reading) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction, but have not had the chance to read very much YA historical fiction. So when I read the description of The Queen's Lady on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. And, for the most part I did enjoy the book.

I liked Jane and really felt badly for her. I liked her devotion to her late husband and the fact that she would always strive to remain proper and appropriate to her position and social status. She always did the right thing, and I liked that.

I liked Edwards' developme...more

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Mar 31, 2012 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally featured on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Kiona

Before Jane Rievaulx’s elderly husband passes away, he secures a place for Jane as one of the Queen’s ladies as a way to protect her from his spiteful sons and her selfish family. The last person Jane expects to see at court is James Lacey, the brother of her ex-fiance and the man she still finds herself madly attracted to. Though James feels as if Jane has betrayed his family, he can’t help the feelings she reignites in him. Still, even i...more Originally featured on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Kiona

Before Jane Rievaulx’s elderly husband passes away, he secures a place for Jane as one of the Queen’s ladies as a way to protect her from his spiteful sons and her selfish family. The last person Jane expects to see at court is James Lacey, the brother of her ex-fiance and the man she still finds herself madly attracted to. Though James feels as if Jane has betrayed his family, he can’t help the feelings she reignites in him. Still, even if he wants to, he cannot be with Jane, for he doesn’t believe himself deserving of love. But when Jane finds herself in a precarious predicament, James might be the only person capable of saving her.

The Queen’s Lady is filled to the brim with court intrigue, passionate romance, dastardly evil plots, and dashing heroes. Jane faces every imaginable obstacle a woman in sixteenth-century England can face. Though she is a strong, independent woman, even heroines sometimes require saviors. But though she feels James Lacey cares for her, she’s not sure he’s up to the task. Luckily for Jane, she has friends who will stop at nothing to help her maintain her freedom. The characters in this novel are richly developed and many of the scenes switch viewpoints, allowing us to gain a more well-rounded view of not just Jane and James, but also Milly, Diego, Christopher Turner, and other minor characters. While shifting perspectives between numerous characters can sometimes feel unnecessary or frustrating, this literary device works perfectly for The Queen’s Lady. We switch frequently enough as to receive important information and further develop important secondary characters, but not so much that we lose focus of who the main characters are. And understanding both the minds of Jane and James is immensely helpful and rewarding. Eve Edwards masterfully portrays each character distinctly, emphasizing traits that make them unique and engaging. Plus, Edwards strikes a beautiful balance between the shorter, humorous scenes that diffuse the tension of the longer, more dramatic scenes.

James’s and Jane’s impending romance is completely swoon-worthy. You’ll root for them from the very first chapter onward. Jane’s cunning wit and sharp tongue allow her to put into words the sly comebacks we generally tend to come up with days after we need them (and subsequently beat ourselves up over). Plus, the setting of 1584 England means every barb and every romantic admission is said so eloquently that you’re sure to fall in love with the language just as much as the characters. Even better: though this is a historic fiction piece, Edwards dishes up a major plate of girl-power, along with a dash of damsel-in-distress for zest. The female characters here are strong, intelligent, and capable of some serious sass — and I love every minute of it!

In addition, if one romance isn’t enough for you, Edwards also provides the endearing love story of one of Jane’s best friends, Milly, and James’s manservant, Diego. With Milly and Diego, Edwards tackles the topic of biracial relationships in historic England, a topic I haven’t seen addressed much but appreciate in The Queen’s Lady for the questions it raises. This book certainly provides a lot to think about and really opens my eyes to specific customs and traditions I hadn’t previously been privy to. For anyone who enjoys historic fiction or tales of all-consuming romance, The Queen’s Lady is a must-read.(less)

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Jan 12, 2012 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, own-it, favorites

This is the 2nd book in the Lacey Chronicles series and revolves around James Lacey and Jane Perceval from the first book.
In this one Jane is newly widowed after marrying an elderly man in the hopes she could escape her father's schemes. She ends up going to court to be one of the Queen's ladies. And of course her father tries to coerce her into marrying a wealthy man again. She doesn't want to marry again, partly because she absolutely does not want to marry anyone her gold digging father choo...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a YA historical romance that reads like an adult historical romance without the sex. The main characters are eighteen years old but come across as being in their twenties or so. I actually was quite surprised when I read their ages half way through the book. Other than the age and references of sexual relations in the past, I would have thought this was adult. This isn't a slight, but be aware there wasn't a different feel for me. The characters behaved as adults and not eighteen years o...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Leanne Bell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blue-green-grey, historical-fiction, kindle-read, princesses-princes-kings-queens, prettiful-covers, young-adult, set-in-the-uk, read-2012, read-jan-2012

This is the second in The Lacey Chronicles and just as amazing as the first. Though I still maintain that living in this century probably would have resulted in me locked in the tower for offending some noble, you can't deny the escapism and realism that this series provides.
The fact is that Eve Edwards writes with skill and in such a way I was able to pick this up and immediately lose myself in the story of a character whose story actually started in the previous book.

Lady Jane drew me in on s...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Ashana rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Queen's Lady, while relatively fair in style, is much too slow. It only really picked up more towards the end of the the book than even the middle; I would have stopped altogether were it not for the promise of a match between Jane and James Lacey. The ending was rather disappointing; it was cheesy and improbable. The author used too many modern phrases that were not heard of in that time, and the only character who seemed even the slightest bit real was James Lacey. Overall, it's entertaini...more

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Apr 16, 2012 PopcornReads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eve-edwards, historical-romance, family, fiction, historical-fiicton, history, relationships, romance, politics, war, young-adult, ya

Requesting a digital copy of The Queen’s Lady by Eve Edwards from the publisher was a departure for me. It didn’t appear to be the kind of novel I normally read but I had been reading so many dark and twisty novels recently that I decided I needed to mix it up a bit.

The Queen’s Lady is Book #2 in The Lacey Chronicles; however, I found it worked quite well as a stand-alone novel. I was also pleasantly surprised because it was not only a lot of fun to read but it had a very nice plot. Read the re...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Since it has been ages since I've read The Other Countess, I had some minor problems remembering some of the characters, but fortunately Eve Edwards is adept at summarizing previous events. This book was quite wordy (with some impressive vocabulary words) so I had to take several breaks as I read it (since it was so chock-full of complex words, atypical of young adult fiction), but it was still enjoyable. I love Edwards' lovely writing style very much.

Jane was always one of my favorite charact...more

Since it has been ages since I've read The Other Countess, I had some minor problems remembering some of the characters, but fortunately Eve Edwards is adept at summarizing previous events. This book was quite wordy (with some impressive vocabulary words) so I had to take several breaks as I read it (since it was so chock-full of complex words, atypical of young adult fiction), but it was still enjoyable. I love Edwards' lovely writing style very much.

Jane was always one of my favorite characters because of her fiery and interesting personality and I was thrilled to discover the second installment was to be about her troubled romance with James Lacey. Throughout this novel, Jane became increasingly less biting and feisty, but I liked her more this way because she seemed more human and humble. Though weak and naive at times, she still made a lovely heroine in the male-dominated society of Elizabethan England.

James, I am sorry to admit, irked me for a good portion of the novel. He had this awful inferiority complex and it made me so mad. He rejected Jane so many times because of it. It made me want to shut the book several times. But in the last portion of the novel, he was unbelievably cute with his slight (not creepy like most male leads in teen fiction) possessiveness over Jane.

I throughly enjoyed Diego and Milly's adorable blooming romance and the new illegitimate Lacey, Kit Turner. I am excited to read the next novel in this chronicle to discover more about the fascinating (and unbelievably attractive) Mr. Christopher Turner. (Though I was quite disappointed to discover that the next installment in The Lacey Chronicles was not about Tobias. Oh, how I love the youngest male Lacey so!)

So, in conclusion, The Queen's Lady is one of the best historical romances (though Edwards seem to focus more on the historical aspect than the romance aspect for the most passionate interaction two protagonists faced was a mild, if not boring kiss) I've ever read. I loved the cast of characters in The Queen's Lady and I hope they will make a rather lengthy appearance in The Rogue's Princess. (less)

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Apr 20, 2012 Clee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nachdem dem ich von dem ersten Teil der Lacey-Bücher leider überhaupt nicht angetan war, kann ich nun umso erfreuter verkünden, dass sich die Autorin in „Die Herzentflammte“ eindeutig gesteigert hat.
Die Oberflächlichkeit, die ich an „Der Sehnsuchtsvollen“ bemängelt habe, herrscht hier nur noch bei den Nebelfiguren, die bei der starken Konzentration auf die Hauptpersonen eher weniger Aufmerksamkeit erhalten haben. Besonders bei der Figur des Schauspielers Christopher Turner empfand ich das Manko,...more Nachdem dem ich von dem ersten Teil der Lacey-Bücher leider überhaupt nicht angetan war, kann ich nun umso erfreuter verkünden, dass sich die Autorin in „Die Herzentflammte“ eindeutig gesteigert hat.
Die Oberflächlichkeit, die ich an „Der Sehnsuchtsvollen“ bemängelt habe, herrscht hier nur noch bei den Nebelfiguren, die bei der starken Konzentration auf die Hauptpersonen eher weniger Aufmerksamkeit erhalten haben. Besonders bei der Figur des Schauspielers Christopher Turner empfand ich das Manko, aber da James Lacey und Jane Rievaulx viel mehr als Will und Ellie zuvor zubieten haben, kann ich da getrost drüber weg sehen. Janes Charakter zeichnet sich durch den großen Wunsch nach Frei- und Unabhängigkeit aus. Sie will endlich den Fäden ihres Vaters und ihres Bruders entkommen, die sie stets wie eine Marionette für ihre Zwecke tanzen lassen. James hingegen ist ein Gefangener seiner Erinnerungen: durch die schrecklichen Erfahrungen, die er im Krieg während eines Massakers gemacht hat, leidet er jetzt an den Geistern der Toten, die ihn nicht loslassen.
Beide Protagonisten wurden viel authentischer und interessanter gezeichnet als das Hauptpaar aus dem ersten Band. Zwar stellt sich mir noch immer die Frage, woher diese unerschütterliche Liebe kommt, aber in diesem Buch gab es wenigstens nachvollziehbare Ansätze. Jane ist die einzige, die James in seinem Leiden wirklich zu verstehen scheint und James ist der einzige Mann, der Jane um ihretwillen mag, sie nicht ausnutzt sondern respektiert und wertschätzt. Das ist eine solide Grundlage, die mir ihre Zuneigung auf jeden Fall erklärbar macht.
Die zweite Liebesgeschichte, die wir hierin finden, ist die von Janes rangniedrigerer Freundin Millie und dem afrikanischen Diener der Laceys, Diego. Diese war wirklich zu goldig und die beiden konnten mir bei ihrem Aufeinandertreffen immer ein Schmunzeln entlockt, denn durch die kulturellen Unterschiede sind ein paar Verständnisprobleme aufgetreten.
Wer könnte nicht dabei lachen, wenn einem englischen Soldaten eine Horde an Rindern für die Hand der Tochter angeboten werden soll und die Herzensdame noch nicht einmal vorher gefragt wird, ob sie ihn heiraten möchte? Es ist aber in der Tat auch viel zu umständlich, erst die Frau deines Interesses zu fragen, wenn es doch durch alleinige Verhandlung mit dem Vater viel leichter geht, nicht wahr?

Die historischen Fakten sind hier wieder eher spärlich gesät. Zwar bieten sie gerade jungen Lesern einen ersten Ausblick auf das historische Genre, doch wenn sich der Leser bereits mit der Geschichte England im 16. Jahrhundert auseinandergesetzt hat, wird er enttäuscht werden. Die Unterhaltung eines jüngeren Publikums steht hier an erster Stelle. Das ist für mich nicht wünschenswert, aber durchaus in Ordnung und ich kann es dem Roman auch nicht als Minuspunkt ankreuzen, da ich nach Band 1 darauf eingestellt war.
Die vielen Intrigen und Machtspielchen, Affären und sogar Attentate, die am Hofe von Königin Elisabeth I. vorkommen, haben die Spannung aufrecht erhalten. Die Willkür der Königin hat einen durchweg nervös gemacht, weil der Leser nicht wusste, was sie anordnen würde und so hatte ich durchweg meinen Spaß beim Lesen.

Alles in allem hat mir „Die Herzentflammte“ gefallen und wenn jemand mit dem Gedanken spielt, sich eines von Edwards Büchern zu kaufen, würde ich ihm dieses hier raten. Es ist viel spannender und verhältnismäßig auch tiefsinniger als „Die Sehnsuchtsvolle“ und kann ohne Vorwissen gelesen werden. Ich würde es aber eher jüngeren Lesern ans Herz legen, die mit dem historischen Genre noch nicht so vertraut sind.
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Feb 14, 2013 Mrsinserra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks

This is a nice romance novel. It is the second in a series, but I have not read the first book and understood the story just fine. Each one of the books follows a different character, so this one can be read as a standalone novel if you didn’t read the first one. The beginning makes you think you missed something important, and you kind of did, but you catch on right away and then the story flows nicely.

This is a quick read and I don’t remember any swearing or sex scenes. The story is a bit pred...more This is a nice romance novel. It is the second in a series, but I have not read the first book and understood the story just fine. Each one of the books follows a different character, so this one can be read as a standalone novel if you didn’t read the first one. The beginning makes you think you missed something important, and you kind of did, but you catch on right away and then the story flows nicely.

This is a quick read and I don’t remember any swearing or sex scenes. The story is a bit predictable, in the romance novel kind of way; a beautiful damsel in distress who needs to be saved by her knight in shining armor (though he is not actually a knight). The beau doesn’t care if she doesn’t have her fortune, and she doesn’t care that he doesn’t have much inheritance, really none at all. The plot keeps you on your toes and you want to yell to James, “no, don’t go; Jane needs you!!” more than once during the course of the story. There is the side story of Jane’s friend, Milly and her relationship with Diego, a black servant, which was quite scandalous in that day; and also the introduction of Milly’s friend Christopher (Kit) Turner who likes her and tries to cause a bit of trouble for some of the characters in the story.

There is absolutely no way that you can like Jane’s father, her brother, or her stepsons. At times it seems as though there is no one on her side, except Milly. I don’t want to give away any more of the story, but it is good and I am eager to read the first one in the series and the third one as well.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good love story, but also to anyone who may not feel comfortable with the sex scenes that are typically found in romance novels. I think this would be appropriate for a high school student, though I am not sure that as a teacher I would recommend a romance novel to students as classroom reading.

I received this book as an ARC. I do not get paid to review books; I do so in order to assist you in recognizing books that you might enjoy.

Please read more of my reviews on my blog: sarahereads(dot)wordpress(dot)com

Addition 2/14/13:

I decided to read this series for the top and this book is even better after having read the first one!! Great story!!

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Jan 12, 2013 TerriC. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We first met the heroine, Jane, in the previous book. Now she’s eighteen and widowed. Her much older stepsons are very jealous of the money and property that she’s inherited from their father. They’re out to make her life a living hell. To make matters worse, her own father is a mean man who’s trying to dictate her life and has made awful threats to her.

Her first encounter with James didn’t got so well. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder. He’s scarred emotionally fromthe horrors of war, the...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Not gonna lie, the opening of The Queen's Lady threw me for a loop. Last I knew where the characters were left in The Other Countess, Lady Jane was going to go find James and tell him why she broke off her engagement to his brother (aka because she thought his younger brother was the sexy). In the opening section of this book, though, I am shocked and appalled to discover that Lady Jane has gone and married a wealthy old geezer (like she initially planned, although she does actually like him and...more Not gonna lie, the opening of The Queen's Lady threw me for a loop. Last I knew where the characters were left in The Other Countess, Lady Jane was going to go find James and tell him why she broke off her engagement to his brother (aka because she thought his younger brother was the sexy). In the opening section of this book, though, I am shocked and appalled to discover that Lady Jane has gone and married a wealthy old geezer (like she initially planned, although she does actually like him and he's saving her from shame, so that's good I guess) and James, accompanied by Diego, is at war. What?!?

From an intellectual standpoint, I guess I know that they can't confess their love at the beginning of a romance novel. I mean, where do you go from there? Babies, that's where. So this is all for the best, but it was still quite alarming. So watch out for that. It's always so startling when series pick up months or years down the road and everything waaaaay different than you expected.

The only real issue I have reading historical fiction is how freaky it is to think about how young these women are. Jane is 18 in this book, but was going to be married off in the first, when she was, unsurprisingly, younger. And she'd been eligible for marriage for a few years. Yikes. I am so glad that feminism happened. I mean, in olden days, I would either have a gaggle of children by now or be a spinste (note: I'm 24). The cover captures this awkwardness perfectly. The girl is quite pretty, but she looks a bit like a child trying on an adult's dress. This is what I remind myself of when I over-romanticize the past.

Although I did enjoy reading The Queen's Lady, I definitely preferred the first book in the series, The Other Countess. The difference lies mainly in the heroine. Ellie just had so much spirit and was very much not the typical lady in the Elizabethan era. Jane is much more well-behaved and rule-following. Of course, she does sometimes, but not nearly enough. She nearly gets herself trapped in a terrible future by not standing up for herself, which is just stupid. I guess I should have seen it coming, since she came close to doing so in the last book too.

Although I was slightly disappointed, you better believe I'll be reading the next book, The Rogue's Princess, when it comes out in January 2013. These are light, fun reads for anyone who wants a little more costume drama in their life!(less)

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About Eve Edwards

Eve Edwards has a doctorate from Oxford University and thinks researching a large part of the fun for writing historical fiction. She has visited Tudor houses, attended jousts and eaten Elizabethan banquets to get the sights, sounds and tastes right for this book. And, yes, she can testify that it is possible to eat neatly without the modern invention of the fork. She lives in Oxford and is marrie...more

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The Other Countess (The Lacey Chronicles, #1)

The Rogue's Princess (The Lacey Chronicles, #3)

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