As historical novels go, especially those concerning British royals, Jean Plaidy certainly covered a lot of ground. Over her lengthy writing career (she also wrote as Victoria Holt, Phillipa Carr, and Elaine Hibbert), most significant royal historical figures were included in her writing. Her books are mainly known for their extremely thorough research, and the…
The Queen’s Fool shows the plotting, spying, and intrigue that lay at the heart of the court of Queen Mary of England, as seen through the eyes of a woman who was an outsider. If you like that sort of thing – as I do – you really should pick it up. It’s the kind…
It is the 1540s. Suleiman the Magnificent is the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The tsar of Russia is a man who will someday be known as Ivan the Terrible. England is ruled by the boy-king Edward VI. Mary Queen of Scots is four, and she will be used as a pawn in the high-stakes…
While I’m not a complete stickler for historical accuracy, I prefer that real historical figures, when present in a novel, are presented in an historically accurate fashion. For example, I wouldn’t expect Queen Elizabeth I to get married if her character were included in a story. After the death of King Henry VII in 1509,…
When I first saw the title Nell, I pictured the wild-child title character from the Jodie Foster movie, and I was sure I would never get that mental picture out of my head. About fifty pages into the book, I had lost that mental picture entirely. I was so engrossed in the storyline that I…
Lately, I’ve begun to think that there’s nothing new under the romance sun; it seems that every time I pick up a romance, I find myself thinking, “Been there, done that, ho-hum.” Then I come across a book like Nell, and my faith is restored, replenished, renewed. I cannot say enough good things about this…
I’d like to mention the work of Dorothy Dunnett. This author, though a historical novelist and not a romance author, has had a profound effect on my romance writing, and I’d say that her novel Checkmate is one of the best romances ever written. However, it’s the last in a series of six thick books…
Lady Gallant by Suzanne Robinson very much changed the way I look at romance novels. Tautly crafted, well researched and psychologically riveting, this book knocked my socks off. Be forewarned, however; this is no hearts and flowers love story. It is tense, gritty, but ultimately a very satisfying read. Part of the reason I love…