A Goodreads user asked Sharon Kay Penman:

Dear Sharon Ive just finished reading Royal Mistress by Ann Easter Smith I dont know if youve red it or not You have an appearance by Jane Shore in Sunne in Splendour Isnt Jane Shore a fascinating character? Do you think Richard's treatment of her showed a puritanical nature or was it all punishment for her relationship with Lord Stanley and consorting with Elizabeth Woodville?

Sharon Kay Penman Hi, Gary. I am so sorry for not being able to get back to you sooner. I have not read Royal Mistress yet but I am familiar with it as Anne is a friend; in fact, we'll be on the same panel at the Historical Novel Society convention in Denver at the end of the month. As you could probably tell from reading Sunne, I liked Jane a lot. She had to be a special woman to hold Edward's attention for so long in light of his roving eye. And Will Hastings and Thomas Grey and Richard's solicitor were all smitten with her, too. I think the penance imposed on her was mainly punishment for her participation in the plot that cost Will Hastings his life; I liked Will, too. But I don't think Richard approved of her or of his brother's debauched lifestyle. He was much more straitlaced than Edward, of course. But Richard showed Jane surprising mercy by allowing his solicitor to marry her under the circumstances. The Londoners seemed to have liked her; she was said to be very generous. So her penance was not as unpleasant as it might have been because the crowds were basically sympathetic.

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