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Susanna Horenbout and John Parker #2
Keeper of the King's Secrets
The second elegant and gorgeously written historical novel from new author Michelle Diener, featuring King Henry VIII’s deadliest courtier and a royally commissioned artist caught in a web of Tudor court intrigue.
A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high . . . The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . . With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2012
34 people are currently reading
1007 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Diener
61 books1,919 followersMichelle Diener is a bestselling, award-winning author of historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy. Having worked in publishing and IT, she's now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters.
Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.
Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 9, 2024
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, this one was even better. It picked up only one month after the first one with the same cast of characters, both fictional and historical. The author perfectly weaves the fictional plot with the politics of Henry VIII's court. Susanna is truly magnificent in this second book! If you're a Tudor fan, you'll love this series.
June 30, 2013
Although I am so interested in history I do not read historical fiction books a lot. I just don't know many books in that genre that are actually good. The most historical fiction books I have read are Michelle Diener's books and oh how I love her writing and storytelling. It's more than amazing to read her books.
It's hard to say if I like Keeper of the King's secrets more than the first book so I won't compare them. I guess I liked them both equally. But I must say in this one Susanna steps it up quite a bit more. I adored her before but I like her even more now. She was fierce. I have no other word for it. I also love her and Parker (who was as swoonworthy as he always is) together. They're one of my favorite book couples to read about. They're both equally protective toward each other and I just can't get enough of their interactions.
As always Michelle Diener's writing was fantastic. I love the way she writes. Gorgeous! She really captured me with her words and the excitement going on in the story. I loved the whole story and plot and as is usual with her stories I can never figure out what is going to happen next which is a good thing because nothing is more boring than expecting what is going to happen in a book, right? Luckily I don't ever have to worry about that with Michelle's books.
I need to mention how much I love the setting. I love anything about the Tudors but I like it more that they are not exactly the main characters in this series and yet we glimpse a lot of historical facts that actually happened which makes the history geek in my all happy.
It is hard to overall describe Keeper of the King's Secrets. Words like gorgeous, brilliant, breathtaking and completely fascinating come to mind. Yes, I loved this book immensely (obviously), which at this point shouldn't be a surprise with how much I love Michelle Diener's books and yet every book I read by her comes as such a pleasant surprise that I read them in no time it seems. I can't wait to read the next book, I'm sure it's going to be just as amazing!
It's hard to say if I like Keeper of the King's secrets more than the first book so I won't compare them. I guess I liked them both equally. But I must say in this one Susanna steps it up quite a bit more. I adored her before but I like her even more now. She was fierce. I have no other word for it. I also love her and Parker (who was as swoonworthy as he always is) together. They're one of my favorite book couples to read about. They're both equally protective toward each other and I just can't get enough of their interactions.
As always Michelle Diener's writing was fantastic. I love the way she writes. Gorgeous! She really captured me with her words and the excitement going on in the story. I loved the whole story and plot and as is usual with her stories I can never figure out what is going to happen next which is a good thing because nothing is more boring than expecting what is going to happen in a book, right? Luckily I don't ever have to worry about that with Michelle's books.
I need to mention how much I love the setting. I love anything about the Tudors but I like it more that they are not exactly the main characters in this series and yet we glimpse a lot of historical facts that actually happened which makes the history geek in my all happy.
It is hard to overall describe Keeper of the King's Secrets. Words like gorgeous, brilliant, breathtaking and completely fascinating come to mind. Yes, I loved this book immensely (obviously), which at this point shouldn't be a surprise with how much I love Michelle Diener's books and yet every book I read by her comes as such a pleasant surprise that I read them in no time it seems. I can't wait to read the next book, I'm sure it's going to be just as amazing!
December 16, 2012
"A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high . . .
The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . .
With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all."
I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction. I also love reading thrillers. This is why I am so very astounded and in awe that the magnificent writer Michelle Diener was able to seamlessly weave the two genres perfectly and produce a truly stunning read!
As the synopsis above states, the novel takes place during the times of Henry VIII,when he was married to Katherine of Aragon. Historical fact and fiction are so finely intertwined that the reader is truly thrust into that dangerous and exciting period of time. The level of detail reveals Ms. Diener to be quite knowlegable and the characterizations, plot and dialogue showcase the skills of a top tier writer. I especially appreciate the Epilogueat the end of book in which the author points out which aspects of the novel were historical fact...many were!
The plot fully engages the reader. Cardinal Wolsey, thirsting for power, schemes to have The Mirror of Naples (one the world's great diamonds...taken from the French by King Henry) returned to the King of France in return for his support in making Wolsey's ultimate goal come true..becoming the next Pope! I truly loved the fact that peppered thoughout the novel were well known historical figures including Wolsey, the Duke of Norfolk, the Boleyns and most memorably, Will Somers, the King's offical "fool" who makes several memorable appearances!
The lead characters are vital to the success of any novel,and again, Michelle Diener hits a bullseye here! Susanna Horenbout, the King's painter is a fully realized character, full of emotion and strength. John Parker, her bethrothed (fiance) is the anchor of this book. He is is a mix between James Bond, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Rambo! It may seem an impossible task to produce so complex a character and succeed, yet due to the brilliant writing skills of Ms. Diener, Parker comes across as his own character, tough, yet caring (he has a gang of "urchins") working for him, who he has saved from the streets, which lends a nice Dickensesque touch to the proceedings.
KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS is the second book in the John Parker series..I have not yet read the first book but plan too, as I truly loved the entire structure of the book, writing, characters and plot. This is a series NOT TO BE MISSED by lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy a good thriller to boot! Michelle Diener is a writer to make note of, as she is clearly one of the finest writers of historical fiction today. I cannot recommend this magnificent book higher! A TRUE WINNER!!
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB (6,500 MEMBERS)
The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . .
With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all."
I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction. I also love reading thrillers. This is why I am so very astounded and in awe that the magnificent writer Michelle Diener was able to seamlessly weave the two genres perfectly and produce a truly stunning read!
As the synopsis above states, the novel takes place during the times of Henry VIII,when he was married to Katherine of Aragon. Historical fact and fiction are so finely intertwined that the reader is truly thrust into that dangerous and exciting period of time. The level of detail reveals Ms. Diener to be quite knowlegable and the characterizations, plot and dialogue showcase the skills of a top tier writer. I especially appreciate the Epilogueat the end of book in which the author points out which aspects of the novel were historical fact...many were!
The plot fully engages the reader. Cardinal Wolsey, thirsting for power, schemes to have The Mirror of Naples (one the world's great diamonds...taken from the French by King Henry) returned to the King of France in return for his support in making Wolsey's ultimate goal come true..becoming the next Pope! I truly loved the fact that peppered thoughout the novel were well known historical figures including Wolsey, the Duke of Norfolk, the Boleyns and most memorably, Will Somers, the King's offical "fool" who makes several memorable appearances!
The lead characters are vital to the success of any novel,and again, Michelle Diener hits a bullseye here! Susanna Horenbout, the King's painter is a fully realized character, full of emotion and strength. John Parker, her bethrothed (fiance) is the anchor of this book. He is is a mix between James Bond, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Rambo! It may seem an impossible task to produce so complex a character and succeed, yet due to the brilliant writing skills of Ms. Diener, Parker comes across as his own character, tough, yet caring (he has a gang of "urchins") working for him, who he has saved from the streets, which lends a nice Dickensesque touch to the proceedings.
KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS is the second book in the John Parker series..I have not yet read the first book but plan too, as I truly loved the entire structure of the book, writing, characters and plot. This is a series NOT TO BE MISSED by lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy a good thriller to boot! Michelle Diener is a writer to make note of, as she is clearly one of the finest writers of historical fiction today. I cannot recommend this magnificent book higher! A TRUE WINNER!!
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB (6,500 MEMBERS)
December 8, 2011
After thoroughly enjoying In a Treacherous Court, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel, Keeper of the King's Secrets. Picking up not longer after Treacherous Court left off, Keeper continues the adventures of the spirited artist Susanna Horenbout and her betrothed John Parker. This time, Susanna embarks on an intriguing mystery to discover who stole the Mirror of Naples. A priceless jewel in the king's treasury, the Mirror of Naples was rumored to have been given to Henry VIII by his sister Margaret to beg his forgiveness for her hasty -and unapproved -marriage to Charles Brandon. But now, it's gone missing, and someone is after Susanna's life.
Written in a straight forward hand, Keeper offers a compelling, page-turning mystery packed with unexpected twists and turns, solid prose, always-fascinating court intrigue, and a unique story that feels like a classic mystery wrapped in a Tudor setting. Thrown in a dash of sweet, but honest romance and sprinkle an intelligent, independent female protagonist on top and you can't go wrong. I particularly liked how Keeper worked so hard to stand on its own from Treacherous Court, as well as from every other Tudor period novel out there. This series focuses on lesser known figures from history who experienced the intrigues of the Tudor court, but somewhat at a distance, as well as a little-explored tale steeped in myth and legend.
Fans of the first book will welcome the sequel as a natural progression for the story and characters, while fans of Tudor-period novels and mysteries will also have plenty to be excited out. I would caution readers who are looking for period romance -while there is an obvious love between Susanna and John, don't expect any passionate romance scenes or lusty encounters. Author Michelle Diener prefers to keep her focus on the action, mystery and spirited nature of her heroine than on romance -this is really my kind of thing, but may not be appealing to other readers of Tudor-era novels.
Written in a straight forward hand, Keeper offers a compelling, page-turning mystery packed with unexpected twists and turns, solid prose, always-fascinating court intrigue, and a unique story that feels like a classic mystery wrapped in a Tudor setting. Thrown in a dash of sweet, but honest romance and sprinkle an intelligent, independent female protagonist on top and you can't go wrong. I particularly liked how Keeper worked so hard to stand on its own from Treacherous Court, as well as from every other Tudor period novel out there. This series focuses on lesser known figures from history who experienced the intrigues of the Tudor court, but somewhat at a distance, as well as a little-explored tale steeped in myth and legend.
Fans of the first book will welcome the sequel as a natural progression for the story and characters, while fans of Tudor-period novels and mysteries will also have plenty to be excited out. I would caution readers who are looking for period romance -while there is an obvious love between Susanna and John, don't expect any passionate romance scenes or lusty encounters. Author Michelle Diener prefers to keep her focus on the action, mystery and spirited nature of her heroine than on romance -this is really my kind of thing, but may not be appealing to other readers of Tudor-era novels.
April 11, 2012
I won this book through Goodreads!
May 22, 2023
Book 2 in this series was better for me than book 1, In a Treacherous Court, simply because I knew the characters better. And it was great seeing the damsel rescue the “prince” for a change, especially because Susanna was able to do so only because of the skills she had learned from Parker. Well done.
I also enjoyed the whodunit mystery more than In a Treacherous Court, probably because the sequencing was a little more streamlined. There were still too many throw-away characters in this book, but I managed to not get confused as I did in Book 1, so that’s a win. However, I’m still amazed how every major player in the story all have their own spies or henchmen that follow each other around yet never notice each other. Maybe Tudor-era London really did have that many shadowed corners for lurking and so forth?
Final thought, the “shoot the rapids” sequences were awesome. (Yes, that’s an intentional interest peaker.)
Wait, final, final thought: if this series is your first introduction to Michelle Diener, you owe it to yourself to check out her more recent stuff, especially if you enjoy sci-fi or fantasy romance.
I also enjoyed the whodunit mystery more than In a Treacherous Court, probably because the sequencing was a little more streamlined. There were still too many throw-away characters in this book, but I managed to not get confused as I did in Book 1, so that’s a win. However, I’m still amazed how every major player in the story all have their own spies or henchmen that follow each other around yet never notice each other. Maybe Tudor-era London really did have that many shadowed corners for lurking and so forth?
Final thought, the “shoot the rapids” sequences were awesome. (Yes, that’s an intentional interest peaker.)
Wait, final, final thought: if this series is your first introduction to Michelle Diener, you owe it to yourself to check out her more recent stuff, especially if you enjoy sci-fi or fantasy romance.
March 6, 2017
Quite enjoyable. Even better than the first.
October 10, 2019
A super amazing story! Filled with everything I loved; secrets, mystery, devious & destructive plots, and more. But what I loved the most, was how fantastic the HEA couple, John Parker and Susanna Horenbout were. They were so perfect together. He was the Keeper of the Palace of Westminster, and the King's Yeoman of the Crossbow. She was the personal artist to the King.
They were also superior warriors who could fight, physically and intellectually! They could navigate the intriguing Tudor Court smoothly and fiercely. I was reading with my heart in my throat, feeling like they both were fighting, side by side and separately, for their lives the entire book! I might not have taken deep breaths until the final words! So it seemed!
And the romance! Yes! It was woven all through the story, too! I didn't know how the author managed to do that. But my romantic heart was definitely totally satisfied. I'll be rereading the next book In Defense of the Queen right after I posted this review.
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
They were also superior warriors who could fight, physically and intellectually! They could navigate the intriguing Tudor Court smoothly and fiercely. I was reading with my heart in my throat, feeling like they both were fighting, side by side and separately, for their lives the entire book! I might not have taken deep breaths until the final words! So it seemed!
And the romance! Yes! It was woven all through the story, too! I didn't know how the author managed to do that. But my romantic heart was definitely totally satisfied. I'll be rereading the next book In Defense of the Queen right after I posted this review.
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
💕 She looked up into his stark, beautiful face. They had never discussed what would happen with her work when she married him.
"You know my greatest wish is for your happiness" He kissed her forehead. "And if you want to paint, then that is what you will do."
She finally smiled, and framed his face with her hands, thinking of all the paintings she would do of him—an infinite number, showing every brilliant facet of him.
"Yes. That is exactly what I will do."💕
October 30, 2012
This was the second book in a series with In a Treacherous Court as the first book. I liked this one even better. I think this is partly because I knew the characters this time and could keep up with everyone’s relationship. But, I also just loved the story in this one. Michelle does a fantastic job of storytelling, too. She gives you enough information to know a little more than the characters at times, but not enough to ruin the mystery for you. Just like her last book there are several villains in this story and sometimes it is hard to figure out who to trust and who is changing their mind about their original plans. It definitely pulls you in and keeps you reading.
I probably notice the romance more than anything in the books I read and I just love that John and Susanna together. They love one another so much. John does not hold Susanna back at all because she is a woman. He treats her with an amazing amount of respect and truly understands her. He loves her enough to do anything to protect her but also wants her to be happy and do what she loves. Susanna loves John enough to risk her life for him. She too lets him be who he is with no questions asked. They are always there to support one another. I hope at the end of the story they both got a couple of days worth of sleep as they both deserved it after the adventure they found themselves on in this book!
I found this book very hard to put down. There was one adventure after another and I just had to find out what was going to happen next! I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes historical romance with suspense, mystery and intrigue!
I probably notice the romance more than anything in the books I read and I just love that John and Susanna together. They love one another so much. John does not hold Susanna back at all because she is a woman. He treats her with an amazing amount of respect and truly understands her. He loves her enough to do anything to protect her but also wants her to be happy and do what she loves. Susanna loves John enough to risk her life for him. She too lets him be who he is with no questions asked. They are always there to support one another. I hope at the end of the story they both got a couple of days worth of sleep as they both deserved it after the adventure they found themselves on in this book!
I found this book very hard to put down. There was one adventure after another and I just had to find out what was going to happen next! I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes historical romance with suspense, mystery and intrigue!
November 5, 2012
I just finished reading KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS, by Michelle Diener. This was the second book about Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, a courtier to Henry VIII. Susanna is an artist in the king’s service. She and Parker are betrothed. As in the first book, IN A TREACHEROUS COURT, the two manage to face down danger while foiling the plans of those who would go to any length to achieve their goals.
One of my favorite scenes in the book occurs early, when Susanna is called upon to illuminate a missive being sent to the Emperor from Henry. Cardinal Wolsey waits impatiently while she works. I loved the detail about how she creates a design, chooses the colors, and does the actual painting. The description was so rich I could visualize it, from the cameos of King Henry and Katherine, to the cat and the fanciful border. And the colors: lapis and gold, and other rich jewel-toned hues. Susanna becomes completely absorbed in her work, so much so that she doesn’t immediately realize Wolsey has been leering at her most of the time she’s been working.
The story, as in the first book, is told jointly from both Susanna and Parker’s points-of-view. It's full of intrigue, with a plot to bring down Wolsey, and Wolsey’s own devious scheme to become Pope. A mysterious jewel called the Mirror of Naples is key to much of the action. Danger seems to lurk at every turn. Susanna and Parker’s love for each other anchors the story, and remains steady and true throughout.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
Michelle has a new book releasing November 27, set in the Regency. It's called THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY.
One of my favorite scenes in the book occurs early, when Susanna is called upon to illuminate a missive being sent to the Emperor from Henry. Cardinal Wolsey waits impatiently while she works. I loved the detail about how she creates a design, chooses the colors, and does the actual painting. The description was so rich I could visualize it, from the cameos of King Henry and Katherine, to the cat and the fanciful border. And the colors: lapis and gold, and other rich jewel-toned hues. Susanna becomes completely absorbed in her work, so much so that she doesn’t immediately realize Wolsey has been leering at her most of the time she’s been working.
The story, as in the first book, is told jointly from both Susanna and Parker’s points-of-view. It's full of intrigue, with a plot to bring down Wolsey, and Wolsey’s own devious scheme to become Pope. A mysterious jewel called the Mirror of Naples is key to much of the action. Danger seems to lurk at every turn. Susanna and Parker’s love for each other anchors the story, and remains steady and true throughout.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
Michelle has a new book releasing November 27, set in the Regency. It's called THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY.
April 17, 2012
This is a book I'll read more than once. It has so much: suspense, history, mystery, a love story. And two of the greatest leads I've read in a book for a long time. There are more than one villain. Two were real men of power in the king's court. One villain I think is fictional, though he seemed very real, very scary and very interesting. I won't leave any spoilers about the ending, so I'll just say it left me breathless!
Though this is the second in a series, anyone reading it first shouldn't have any confusion. But they will immediately want to pick up In a Treacherous Court in order to find out how Parker and Susanna met and got together. I'm already eager to read Diener's next book. I hope it comes out soon.
Though this is the second in a series, anyone reading it first shouldn't have any confusion. But they will immediately want to pick up In a Treacherous Court in order to find out how Parker and Susanna met and got together. I'm already eager to read Diener's next book. I hope it comes out soon.
April 21, 2012
I was lucky enough to win this book on Goodreads.com. I really enjoyed this book! I haven't read historical fiction that made one of the main characters a woman with brains and power. Susanna and Parker, the heroes of the story, were written as "real" people with dreams and ambitions that we of the 21st century can understand. The historical facts were followed while allowing room for fiction to flourish. The only problem with the book is that the spies of the three warring factions of the book are confusing and hard to follow. My only regret is that I didn't read "In a Treacherous Court" first. However, I will be putting it on my summer reading list.
November 16, 2012
Although I usually enjoy reading series of books, I think that this is one I will not continue with. I wanted a little more romance with my history when I read this. Again, characters and relationships seemed flat and one-dimensional, and Diener tells the reader what the characters are feeling and thinking instead of showing.
February 1, 2012
For a complete review, visit Affaire de Coeur magazine, hard copy or online, April 2012 issue.
April 7, 2012
Official review coming soon!
May 9, 2012
ARC from SOS ALOHA: http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/
May 31, 2012
compulsively readable - this book will throw you into Tudor England and you'll never want to emerge!
June 2, 2024
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is the second book in the Susanna Horenbout trilogy. I had previously read a different series by the author and really liked it. I like this series as well and read this one back to back with the first in the series.
The story is set in the time of Henry VIII in England. John Parker and Susanna Horenbout really existed and did get married. Some of the story elements are true and some are fictionalized. The research into the time period was clearly done well. It was interesting to get a glimpse into this time period including different plots surrounding the king.
This book picks up shortly after the last book has left off. Susanna has established herself in the court but is still new. One day, as she is going to the market for painting supplies, she meets one of her father’s friends. This sets off a chain reaction of non stop events and surprises. The story moves at a fast pace.
Susanna was smart, determined, and strong. Parker is protective, loyal, and true. I liked the care they had for each other. The story alternated between Susanna and Parker’s point of view.
The secondary characters are interesting. I liked Simon, Parker’s comrade as well as the boys that Parker uses to help him with his work. There is a funny scene when Mistress Greene, Parker and Susanna’s cook/housekeeper, tries to wake Parker up. I like her caring for all of them: Parker, Susanna, and the boys.
This book can be read as a standalone as the events from book 1 are concluded. One of the enemies from that book continues to be an enemy in this one. Events from the book are referenced briefly. I really like this author and plan to continue reading her books.
May 11, 2021
I loved the way that this book was written. It felt authentic and was so flowing and vivid. I flew through the pages despite there being a number of characters, power plays and events to remember and work through because it was so effortless and enjoyable to read.
The plot was lively and full of action and the romance between Parker and Susanna was well captured.
I think for me to have absolutely loved this book it just needed to be a bit more exaggerated. I like steamier/more passionate romances. I liked the action but perhaps it could have been grittier etc.
I have read the first two books now and I am tempted to buy the third.
The plot was lively and full of action and the romance between Parker and Susanna was well captured.
I think for me to have absolutely loved this book it just needed to be a bit more exaggerated. I like steamier/more passionate romances. I liked the action but perhaps it could have been grittier etc.
I have read the first two books now and I am tempted to buy the third.
June 3, 2017
Susanna Horenbout is a court painter to the English king. When she meets her father's friend, a diamond cutter from the Low Country, is appalled when he tries to kill her for recognizing him. Soon there after he turns up dead and John Parker and Susanna discover that the King's diamond is missing.
Why I started this book: Quick series, and I'm avoiding two other books that I should be reading.
Why I finished it: Plenty of action and mystery...
Why I started this book: Quick series, and I'm avoiding two other books that I should be reading.
Why I finished it: Plenty of action and mystery...
April 22, 2019
I would give this 3.75 stars. Interesting, well written story but not truly compelling for me. I think I may have missed an earlier book that brought the characters together, this had a sense of coming in in the middle of a relationship. Had also hoped for more romance in the book. I did like the heroine's strength of character.
July 18, 2017
Michelle Diener's prose is spare but hits all the important details. This book was fast paced and fun. Didn't want to put it down.
June 22, 2023
3.5? Rounded to 4. I didn't like this quite as much as the first one, but it was still good. I just really like the time-period.
October 27, 2025
3.5 stars
September 20, 2023
The revamping of this trilogy caught my attention and I had to read it. Why? Because I'm a fan of Michelle Diener and will read everything and anything she writes. In the second book in this trilogy, things heat up as possible treason is committed. Susanna is dragged into another political intrigue that she wants nothing to do with, but her betrothed, John must solve.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
* I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
* I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
April 6, 2012
My thoughts:
This book is a mix of things, first we have historical fiction, and it feels to be on the lighter side, then we got a bit of romance. But most of the book is suspense/mystery. And it certainly works well, set in Tudor England as it is and filled with court intrigues. The book is part 2 of a series and sure it could work on its own, but still it would be better to read book 1 and see how they met. But yes I guess it could be read on its own too, they way its made up should make that possible.
In this book Susanna and Parker is resting after their ordeal in book 1. They are in love and hope to marry. Susanna still paints and Parker is snooping around keeping the king safe as always. I like how Susanna does not back down, she stands her ground, she is still very much a woman of her time, but just as some dared to do more so does she. And Parked does his best to keep his lady from harm as she made a few enemies (and so did he). So him I like.
The Duke of Norfolk is still a baddie but more in the background because this book belongs to Woolsey. A good fitting bad guy who is plotting for his own agenda. Just like they all are. And behind things we see more plots, The French, Norfolk, those irritating Boleyns. They will sure become a problem in later books as in this one Henry is still married to Katherine. And Susanna has already had her run-ins with them.
The suspense is high as an assassin is running around, as people try to hide what they are doing and there is danger and action plenty. The plot is well done and keeps the suspense high, along with the mystery.
I do think I liked this one even more than book 1, I can't say what made it so, it just was. I liked how things never slowed down, how light the book still was and how I practically read it in one sitting.
Conclusion:
This one is for fans of historical fiction and for those who want mystery and suspense. The best of two worlds all in one. It's light and good. So easy to read and a book you can finish in one day. The plot will have you coming back for more.
Cover:
Gorgeous!
April 23, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free print copy from Michelle Diener in exchange for an honest review.]
After the awesome novel that was In a Treacherous Court, I decided that I desperately needed to read the rest of Susanna Horenbout and John Parker’s story. After all, there’s still plenty of intrigue coming up in the court of Henry VIII at this point in time.
Michelle Diener didn’t disappoint with this sequel. Compared to her debut novel (which was good) this one is even better simply because of the quality of the writing. She slows down a little to describe things like how Susanna illuminates manuscripts but not too much so that the plot is any slower than the first book. The extra descriptions are relevant and on the whole just make the story better, not slower.
The characters are, as always, fantastic. I enjoyed seeing Susanna and John working together to find the Mirror of Naples because you can really feel their love for each other. They work well together as a team and even though they don’t always agree on things their love shines through and they’re able to reconcile. Compared to a lot of YA I’ve been reading lately, this adult historical fiction novel was a breath of fresh air because of the stable, loving relationship Susanna and John have.
One thing I was surprised at was how fleshed out King Henry VIII was in this book. We get to see a lot more of him this time around and you kind of see both the good and bad sides of his character. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m sure I’m not the only Jean fan in this book because he truly is a fascinating character.
As with the previous novel in the series Keeper of the King’s Secrets kept me guessing right up until the very end. It was well researched and well plotted; you really couldn’t ask for more in historical fiction. There’s also a very interesting little cliffhanger at the end that will make you very, very eager to get your hands on the next book In Defense of the Queen.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
After the awesome novel that was In a Treacherous Court, I decided that I desperately needed to read the rest of Susanna Horenbout and John Parker’s story. After all, there’s still plenty of intrigue coming up in the court of Henry VIII at this point in time.
Michelle Diener didn’t disappoint with this sequel. Compared to her debut novel (which was good) this one is even better simply because of the quality of the writing. She slows down a little to describe things like how Susanna illuminates manuscripts but not too much so that the plot is any slower than the first book. The extra descriptions are relevant and on the whole just make the story better, not slower.
The characters are, as always, fantastic. I enjoyed seeing Susanna and John working together to find the Mirror of Naples because you can really feel their love for each other. They work well together as a team and even though they don’t always agree on things their love shines through and they’re able to reconcile. Compared to a lot of YA I’ve been reading lately, this adult historical fiction novel was a breath of fresh air because of the stable, loving relationship Susanna and John have.
One thing I was surprised at was how fleshed out King Henry VIII was in this book. We get to see a lot more of him this time around and you kind of see both the good and bad sides of his character. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m sure I’m not the only Jean fan in this book because he truly is a fascinating character.
As with the previous novel in the series Keeper of the King’s Secrets kept me guessing right up until the very end. It was well researched and well plotted; you really couldn’t ask for more in historical fiction. There’s also a very interesting little cliffhanger at the end that will make you very, very eager to get your hands on the next book In Defense of the Queen.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
October 21, 2012
After my first meeting with Diener's work, I couldn't wait to dive into this book. I wasn't disappointed. From the first page I was hooked to Susanna's story and there is more than enough action to keep it fast-paced and interesting 'till the end.
Summary.
Susanna is attacked by Jens, an old friend of her family. This activates a chain of events she never suspected. Jens was working for Wolsey and now the Mirror of Napels - one of the King's favorite piece of jewelery - is gone. The keeper of the jewelery suspects it's Wolsey's work, but there are more people on the hunt.
An assassin is on the move and he wants to silence everybody; Jens is his first victim and he's after Susanna now. It's up to Parker and Susanna to get the Mirror back, but it won't be easy. When Susanna must make a dangerous choice to safe Parker, it seems like they are too deep in the conspiracy to return. Can they keep the love of their King and are they clever enough to survive?
Opinion.
Fans of the first book, like me, will love this continuing story about Susanna and Parker. I like Susanna's spirit. She won't shy away from some action and she will do anything to keep Parker safe. It's nice to see a heroin who can act smart and she has a nice temper. Parker is protective over Susanna, but it's great that he also needs her. He is intelligent and strong. The King has chosen a great man in him. He is trustworthy.
The side characters in this book are well-done. Wolsey plays a big role and he was exactly as I imagined him. Always trying to keep the King's love in order to gain more power; to achieve his ambition to become a Pope some day.
This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly suggest you read them in order. It's easy to follow, but you would miss the development of their relationship. There are also certain people they hate and that's because of some events in the first book.
Summary.
Susanna is attacked by Jens, an old friend of her family. This activates a chain of events she never suspected. Jens was working for Wolsey and now the Mirror of Napels - one of the King's favorite piece of jewelery - is gone. The keeper of the jewelery suspects it's Wolsey's work, but there are more people on the hunt.
An assassin is on the move and he wants to silence everybody; Jens is his first victim and he's after Susanna now. It's up to Parker and Susanna to get the Mirror back, but it won't be easy. When Susanna must make a dangerous choice to safe Parker, it seems like they are too deep in the conspiracy to return. Can they keep the love of their King and are they clever enough to survive?
Opinion.
Fans of the first book, like me, will love this continuing story about Susanna and Parker. I like Susanna's spirit. She won't shy away from some action and she will do anything to keep Parker safe. It's nice to see a heroin who can act smart and she has a nice temper. Parker is protective over Susanna, but it's great that he also needs her. He is intelligent and strong. The King has chosen a great man in him. He is trustworthy.
The side characters in this book are well-done. Wolsey plays a big role and he was exactly as I imagined him. Always trying to keep the King's love in order to gain more power; to achieve his ambition to become a Pope some day.
This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly suggest you read them in order. It's easy to follow, but you would miss the development of their relationship. There are also certain people they hate and that's because of some events in the first book.
September 9, 2021
Honestly I expected more from the book and I have to admit, I’ve never read the first sequel. I knew about it but I didn’t pick it up.
I liked how it was an easy, fast paced book and I was able to read every single page in two hours. The cover looked really nice and attractive and that there were a lot of characters inside. The storyline –the plot/idea- was really good as well. The author was very focused on the relationship of the main characters and there were quite a number of action scenes. I loved how even though the main characters were working beside royals, they were very adventurous and weren’t afraid to do what they needed. The choices of words she used for each character, she portrayed them each as really smart individuals with different personalities. She was able to understand the characters well to know how each character would respond and react to the situation.
There were a lot of things that I didn’t like about the book. Maybe it’s because I’ve not read the first book I didn’t understand what was going on. I thought Parker was the ‘jewelry killer’ and I kept flipping back to the first page thinking ‘what was going on’, ‘who is who’ and it took me awhile to understand ‘oh Parker is her fiancé’. As the book was fast paced, there weren’t much details of the character or the storyline. How did they get the idea? How did they know where to go look? Who is he? There were a lot of characters that just popped out of nowhere and disappearing and the author assumed that we know who he/she is. I think that even if the character was written in the first book, she should have further explained who they are and their relation to the main characters and made a short introduction of the first book.
**I won this book through goodreads. Though I’m really grateful that I was chosen, I’m sorry I didn’t really enjoy it.
I liked how it was an easy, fast paced book and I was able to read every single page in two hours. The cover looked really nice and attractive and that there were a lot of characters inside. The storyline –the plot/idea- was really good as well. The author was very focused on the relationship of the main characters and there were quite a number of action scenes. I loved how even though the main characters were working beside royals, they were very adventurous and weren’t afraid to do what they needed. The choices of words she used for each character, she portrayed them each as really smart individuals with different personalities. She was able to understand the characters well to know how each character would respond and react to the situation.
There were a lot of things that I didn’t like about the book. Maybe it’s because I’ve not read the first book I didn’t understand what was going on. I thought Parker was the ‘jewelry killer’ and I kept flipping back to the first page thinking ‘what was going on’, ‘who is who’ and it took me awhile to understand ‘oh Parker is her fiancé’. As the book was fast paced, there weren’t much details of the character or the storyline. How did they get the idea? How did they know where to go look? Who is he? There were a lot of characters that just popped out of nowhere and disappearing and the author assumed that we know who he/she is. I think that even if the character was written in the first book, she should have further explained who they are and their relation to the main characters and made a short introduction of the first book.
**I won this book through goodreads. Though I’m really grateful that I was chosen, I’m sorry I didn’t really enjoy it.
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