I remember reading this entire series when I was in high school. I clearly remember Book #1 as being pretty interesting, especially as it took place during the time of Henry VIII.
This second in the series, well, all I can say is, "What the ....?"
The time is now the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Cat, the daughter of Damask (the heroine from the first book) is bored and hanging out at her step-sister's digs. She wanders down to the boat dock and happens up Jake Pennlyon, who is conceited and arrogant from the get-go (and only gets worse).
La ti dah, she resists him even though she's secretly, what, turned on? By him. He eventually blackmails her into becoming betrothed to him. But, wait! She tricks him and pretends to be ill and he sails away before they can be wed.
From here, it just gets so ridiculous. In fact, it's so stupid, I can't believe I didn't remember how stupid it was and skip it (maybe my younger self thought it tantalizing?)
Anyway.
How a "heroine" of any book can fall in love with not one, but two; men who rape her is beyond me. And, the one she of course ultimately loves, is the one who also routinely cheats on her and brings bastard sons to live in her house.
So, yeah. I kept reading it only because of the brief snippets of Tudor and Stuart history which was sadly too much in the background.
The next book will center on Cat's daughter and I certainly hope she has more sense than her mother.