What have you read lately? Showing 1,151-1,200 of 1,702

[Elysium]

I started reading House of Treason: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Dynasty by Robert Hutchinson. It's been good so far. Before I started it I thought it was about Tudor family and then I realised it's about Howards :)

[Jacinta]

Hi all

I have just finished A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick. This is a prequel (of sorts) to The Greatest Knight The Story of William Marshall and the focus is on William's father John FitzGilbert who was King's Marshall before William.

I really loved this one - John FitzGilbert has to make some difficult decisions in difficult times. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of William as a child.

[Jenny]

Jacinta wrote: "Hi all

I have just finished A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick. This is a prequel (of sorts) to The Greatest Knight The Story of William Marshall and the fo..."

I'd like to read that. I'm looking forward to The Scarlet Lion next month!

[Misfit]

I loved EC's Marshal books - well I've loved all her books and they are permanent keepers for rereads.

I tried to pick up The Queen's Governess again but it wasn't singing to me - Kat Ashley's discovering secrets everwhere are grating on me. I've picked up a long forgotten oldie Divided Heart, The. Its the second in a trilogy set during Tudor England (well actually the first one starts right before the reign of R3) and begins about three years after Elizabeth ascends the throne. Conspiracies about in the north re: Mary Q of Scots.

[Robin]

What are the three books in the trilogy?

[Misfit]

Robin wrote: "What are the three books in the trilogy?"



I've read the first and while not the greatest book in the world it's better than some stuff coming out these days. I'm 100+ pages into what The Divided Heart. Don't let those covers fool you (love the last one), I've not come across any smutty star-crossed lovers stuff yet.

[Robin]

Thanks! I think I'll add them to my to read list.

[Kelly A.]

I just started Sovereign Ladies: The Six Reigning Queens of England. I'm really excited to get through this one :)

[Jenny]

Anyone know of any novels about Joan of Kent and the Black Prince? Her life story sounds fascinating.

[Misfit]

Jenny wrote: "Anyone know of any novels about Joan of Kent and the Black Prince? Her life story sounds fascinating."

I know Karen Harper wrote one on her called The First Princess of Wales: A Novel, although the reviews have been mixed. She makes appearances in Susan Higginbotham's Hugh and Bess and if memory serves Seton's Katherine and Brian's Within The Fetterlock. Don't quote me on those last two though.

Or, you could try Susan Howatch's Wheel of Fortune. This is the last of three books where her characters (this one set in early 20C Wales) parallel the lives of the Plantagenets. The second *book* is this is the POV of *Joan* and the first book is the POV of The Black Prince.

[Susan]

Jenny wrote: "Anyone know of any novels about Joan of Kent and the Black Prince? Her life story sounds fascinating."

She's the main character in Juliet Dymoke's
The Plantagenets: Lady of the Garter as well as in the Karen Harper book Misfit mentioned.

[Jenny]

Thanks ladies. I don't remember her in Katherine, she must have been a minor character. I was looking up something else and stumbled across Joan and read up on her and her life sounds like it could be a fantastic novel in the right writer's hands!

[Sara W]

Kelly wrote: "I just started Sovereign Ladies: The Six Reigning Queens of England. I'm really excited to get through this one :)"

This is one of many books I own that I need to get to. Please let us know what you think!

[Robin]

Jenny wrote: "Thanks ladies. I don't remember her in Katherine, she must have been a minor character. I was looking up something else and stumbled across Joan and read up on her and her life sounds like it could..."

I enjoyed Harper's The First Princess of Wales.

[Kelly A.]

Sara W wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I just started Sovereign Ladies: The Six Reigning Queens of England. I'm really excited to get through this one :)"

This is one of many books I own that I need to get..."

Will do :)

[Mandy]

I'm reading The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers - recommended by so many of our members!
It's really great so far - I'm loving it. I think the author has really captured Henry's personality with the voice she's given him.

[Nona]

currenbtly reading Doomed Queens: Royal Women Who Met Bad Ends by Kris Waldherr, very interesting in a light but detailed way with lots on good side notes. I havce learned about a few more women I would like to read more on is available.

[Melisende]

Melisende wrote: "About to start Marie and Mary by Nigel Tranter"

Finished this - first half of book is on Mare de Guise and the second part is on Mary Queen of Scots.

Not a lot of dialogue - and fairly simple in its telling. A good starter book for this period in Scottish history.

[Melisende]

Mandy wrote: "I'm reading The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers - recommended by so many of our members!
It's really great so far - I'm loving it. I think the author h..."

Big big thumbs up for this one!

[Conne]

I just finished When Christ & His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman & now I'm half way thru Time & Chance. I loved the first & the second is OK. But I'm getting to understand why everyone seems to like SKP so much!

[Jenny]

I just finished Pope Joan: A Novel, but I guess technically that's not royalty. It was alright.

[Misfit]

Jenny wrote: "I just finished Pope Joan: A Novel, but I guess technically that's not royalty. It was alright."

I think I am one of the very few who didn't love that to death. It was soooooo Perils of Paulinish at times. All those near scrapes and misses.

[Tina]

Mandy wrote: "I'm reading The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers - recommended by so many of our members!
It's really great so far - I'm loving it. I think the author h..."

Ooooo, in my TBR pile! I'm looking forward to it!

[Nona]

now reading a short novel called the Fortelling by Amanda Hoffman a YA about the Amazons Queen-to-be Rain and how she changed the way they lived. Very well written and a great moral story.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Pope Joan is also on my Mt. TBR. Also just got The Lute Player, by Norah Lofts.

[Misfit]

Susanna wrote: "Pope Joan is also on my Mt. TBR. Also just got The Lute Player, by Norah Lofts."

The Lute Player was a slooooow read for me. It might be that I don't find Richard and Berengeria on crusade all that interesting. I have faith that Sharon will make them much more so.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

The cover was really luscious, though.

[Mandy]

Richard and Berengeria on Crusade sounds so awful that I'm almost hesitant to read SKP's upcoming work.
Bleck.
Richard the Lion Hearted does nothing for me. I think he was a terrible king.

That might be because he was constantly dissing England, and I just can't handle that, lol

[Misfit]

Mandy wrote: "Richard and Berengeria on Crusade sounds so awful that I'm almost hesitant to read SKP's upcoming work.
Bleck.
Richard the Lion Hearted does nothing for me. I think he was a terrible king.

That mi..."

I agree, but he sure was a fascinating character to watch in Devil's Brood. Arrogant, pompous a-hole, but fascinating none the less.

[April Ann]

I just finished this one. I really enjoyed it although I did nod off a few times. Probably more due to fatigue than the book!

[Anna]

I'm in the middle of "In Triumph's Wake", by Julia Gelardi.

[Joy]

I am new to the group but have been reading your posts for a few weeks. This is my first post.

I finished Wolf Hall and really enjoyed it. It presented an interesting side of Cromwell. It renewed my interest in Anne Boleyn and I read The Lady In The Tower and ordered a few other Boleyn books recommended on this list. I also read In The Shadow Of Lions by Ginger Garrett and am reading the second book in her series now, In The Arms Of Immortals.

I ordered The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives and also The Concubine. I think Anne's life is fascinating. She is quite an enigma.

Glad to have found you all,
Joy

[Cel]

Just mentioning that anyone who has been interested in Sharon Kaye Penman's books, and likes the Justin de Quincy Mysteries - there is a face book site "Fans of Justin de Quincy" as the publisher does not want to publish the next book, and we want him to. Please join to help us.

[Jenny]

Hi Joy! I'm anxiously awaiting my turn at the library for Wolf Hall!

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I really enjoyed Wolf Hall.

[Misfit]

Sawyer wrote: "I'm reading The Lady Queen, by Nancy Goldstone. (How do you get those neat pictures of books on your message?) Anyway, its pretty good so far, I've just started. Queen Joanna of Naples is on tria..."

Hi Sawyer. Above the comment box you'll see add book/author. When adding book click the cover option instead of the book. Voila!

[Elysium]

I finished A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick. Didn't know much about William Marshal's father so it was interesting but the first part was little boring. Mostly because I didn't like Aline...

Now I'm reading Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George. Haven't read much yet but it's been kinda boring. I liked Memoirs of Cleopatra and Helen of Troy much better.

[Chantelle]

I loved Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles. I took it on a Disney Cruise and read the whole thing by the pool. I got lots of funny looks for that one, lol. I have Cleopatra in my amazon cart. :D

Oh, and hi, I'm new. :)

[Mandy]

Welcome, Chantelle!

George's books on Mary and on Cleo both look awesome, but frighten me with their size!
I'm currently reading her Autobiography of Henry VIII and it's HUGE.
Really good, though.
I admit, I'm a Tudor lover.

[Chantelle]

Mandy, I am too! Obsessed, lol. The Autobiography of Henry VIII is *awesome* The humor in it is great, I <3 it. :)

I really like her books - she's like a more scholastic version of Philippa Gregory, or something.

[Sara W]

Welcome Joy and Chantelle!

[Elysium]

Finished George's Mary Queen of Scots and it didn't really get any better. I think it was just boring, I skipped lot of pages.

Now I'm reading Daughters of the Grail by Elizabeth Chadwick. It's been good but not as good as the others I've read.

[Joy]

Thank you for the welcome. I am enjoying the recommendations.
Happy Reading,
Joy

[Amanda]

Right now I'm reading my first Georgette Heyer novel, Royal Escape. It concerns Charles Stewart's escape from England. It is pretty good, but the writing style is making me a bit weary. Has anyone else here read this? I'd love to hear your thought on it.

[Jenny]

Amanda wrote: "Right now I'm reading my first Georgette Heyer novel, Royal Escape. It concerns Charles Stewart's escape from England. It is pretty good, but the writing style is making me a bit weary. Has anyo..."

I have not read that Heyer, but I did read The Conqueror about William the Bastard and I enjoyed it. Can't say I noticed any problems with her style in that one or the romance I read. But she's written so many books, I guess they can't all be perfect. What about it makes you weary?

[Nona]

her style is old fashioned, reminds me of Austen. I enjoy her books. I have yet to read but they adorn my shelves, Arabella & Fredrica &The Conqueror.

[Barbara]

Hi Nona
Heyer it seems, wrote her Regency novels to make money , and to amuse. Her first love was what she called 'armour', ie the medieval period.
So when you come to read Frederica (Regency) and The Conqueror (armour) you will find them VERY different in both content and style .
I know what you mean, I think about her 'armour' style, it is a little , ponderous perhaps? ( I can't agree that she sounds anything at all like Austen, however, who is anything but)

I dare say it is making her turn in her grave, but I think she actually wrote better when doing the Regency stuff rather than the armour

Her Regency novels have long been a guilty pleasure to me, her touch is so deft and so funny. No one creates a fop or a hero or a spirited heroine like GH. She never, ever descends into purple prose, or bodice ripping. You are never in any doubt at all about the romantic outcome, but then you are not meant to be.

Myself , I think The Grand Sophy, A Civil Contract, the Nonesuch adn The Unknown Ajax are some of her best

[Jenny]

I keep seeing the Unknown Ajax listed as one of her best, which is funny because I don't think I would have picked it up before based on the title, but it's on my TBR list now!

[Nona]

Well I've read The Charity Girl and another but the title slips my mind and both are like you say..no bodice ripping, no purple prose. What I meant to say was GH is like Austen in it takes awhile to get into her books at least for me. To each their own, I still think she's a good author and her story are solid reads.

[Oodles]

Amanda wrote: "Right now I'm reading my first Georgette Heyer novel, Royal Escape. It concerns Charles Stewart's escape from England. It is pretty good, but the writing style is making me a bit weary. Has anyo..."

I've read other Georgette Heyer books and I love them...I didn't know she'd written one about Charles Stewart so I'll have to check this out.