Summary:
Lily Valence is determined to forget the horrors of the war by throwing herself into the decadent pleasures of the 1920s and pursuing her career as a music hall singer. When she meets Captain Stephen Winters, a decorated veteran, she's immediately drawn to his wealth and status. And Stephen, burdened by his guilt over surviving the Flanders battlefields where so many soldiers perished, sees the possibility of forgetting his anguish in Lily, but his family does not approve.
Lily marries Stephen, only to discover that his family's facade of respectability conceals a terrifying combination of repression, jealousy, and violence. When Stephen's terrors merge dangerously close with reality, the truth of what took place in the mud and darkness brings him and all who love him to a terrible reckoning.
My Thoughts:
While this book was well written as expected, I did not enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed Ms. Gregory's other books. Lily, Rory, Charlie, and Coventry were the only likable characters. I did not like Stephen from the start, and hoped maybe I would later on, but I only started to hate him more. On their first (?) "date", he briefly thinks about raping Lily. As the book went on, he became both verbally and physically abusive toward her after they married. While Coventry was friends with Stephen from the war, he is a lot more likable. He has a soft spot for Lily, and ends up saving her and her baby in the end from Stephen. Rory is Stephen's father who was badly injured in the war. Lily spends time taking care of him, and as he starts to get better, we see why Lily spent so much of her free time with him: he is kind. Charlie is Lily's first love who she met during her time working as a singer. He loves her as well but won't marry her because of his infidelity. He also tells Lily that if she decides to leave Stephen, she can live with him.
While the book was really interesting, I was not a huge fan of it. I probably won't pick it up again.
My Rating: 2 stars
Showing posts with label Philippa Gregory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippa Gregory. Show all posts
05 January 2020
20 October 2019
The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory REVIEW
Summary:
Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days before Mary Tudor mustered an army to depose her. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block and tragic martyrdom.
"Learn you to die" is the advice Jane leaves in a letter to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She plans to enjoy her beauty and fall in love, but Queen Mary, and then Queen Elizabeth will never let their heir marry or produce a Tudor son. When Katherine's pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister's scaffold.
"Farewell, good sister" writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful Little Person disregarded by the court, Mary keeps family secrets, especially her own. What will happen when the last Tudor defies her ruthless and unforgiving cousin Queen Elizabeth?
My Thoughts:
To be quite honest, I never had a negative opinion toward Elizabeth until I read this book. It is actually quite sad that she knew nothing but fear that she would be betrayed.
As the book starts, one can clearly see that Jane never wanted to rule; she was quite literally dragged into it. And that became Jane's downfall.
Katherine does not want to rule either, she wants only to be married to someone she loves. She marries in secret, but her pregnancy starts to show and the queen sends her away to confinement, never to see her husband and second child again (she dies within a few years).
Mary also only wants to marry the man she loves. However, when she finally does in secret, she too is sent away to confinement, never to see her husband again (he dies before she is eventually freed).
You feel a lot of sympathy toward pretty much everyone except for the queens Mary and Elizabeth.
I definitely enjoyed reading this novel and learning about the three doomed sisters.
My Rating: 5 stars
Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days before Mary Tudor mustered an army to depose her. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block and tragic martyrdom.
"Learn you to die" is the advice Jane leaves in a letter to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She plans to enjoy her beauty and fall in love, but Queen Mary, and then Queen Elizabeth will never let their heir marry or produce a Tudor son. When Katherine's pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister's scaffold.
"Farewell, good sister" writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful Little Person disregarded by the court, Mary keeps family secrets, especially her own. What will happen when the last Tudor defies her ruthless and unforgiving cousin Queen Elizabeth?
My Thoughts:
To be quite honest, I never had a negative opinion toward Elizabeth until I read this book. It is actually quite sad that she knew nothing but fear that she would be betrayed.
As the book starts, one can clearly see that Jane never wanted to rule; she was quite literally dragged into it. And that became Jane's downfall.
Katherine does not want to rule either, she wants only to be married to someone she loves. She marries in secret, but her pregnancy starts to show and the queen sends her away to confinement, never to see her husband and second child again (she dies within a few years).
Mary also only wants to marry the man she loves. However, when she finally does in secret, she too is sent away to confinement, never to see her husband again (he dies before she is eventually freed).
You feel a lot of sympathy toward pretty much everyone except for the queens Mary and Elizabeth.
I definitely enjoyed reading this novel and learning about the three doomed sisters.
My Rating: 5 stars
18 August 2019
The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory REVIEW
Summary:
Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow with a secret new lover, has no choice when Henry VIII-a man who has buried four wives-commands her to marry him. Kateryn knows the dander she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride, and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules as regent.
But is this enough to keep her safe? Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. As a leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish under her own name in English, she is an easy target for the traditional churchmen and rivals for power who accuse her of heresy-the punishment is death by fire and the king's name is on the warrant.
My Thoughts:
I thought this was a wonderful book. I haven't seen many books about Henry's last wife, so this was an easy one to pick up.
While I have heard of her, I knew nothing of her life until I picked up this novel.
She is obviously (from the summary) a reader and a writer, which interested me a lot, as many woman in the past would stop once they married. It was interesting to see her find a way back into the king's favor once she found out she was going to be arrested. I don't understand why past queens never tried that???
All in all, this was a very good red, and at times impossible to put down.
If you have any interest in historical fiction, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow with a secret new lover, has no choice when Henry VIII-a man who has buried four wives-commands her to marry him. Kateryn knows the dander she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride, and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules as regent.
But is this enough to keep her safe? Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. As a leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish under her own name in English, she is an easy target for the traditional churchmen and rivals for power who accuse her of heresy-the punishment is death by fire and the king's name is on the warrant.
My Thoughts:
I thought this was a wonderful book. I haven't seen many books about Henry's last wife, so this was an easy one to pick up.
While I have heard of her, I knew nothing of her life until I picked up this novel.
She is obviously (from the summary) a reader and a writer, which interested me a lot, as many woman in the past would stop once they married. It was interesting to see her find a way back into the king's favor once she found out she was going to be arrested. I don't understand why past queens never tried that???
All in all, this was a very good red, and at times impossible to put down.
If you have any interest in historical fiction, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
29 September 2018
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory REVIEW
Summary:
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.
My Thoughts:
I know I've been reading several books by this author lately (I hope you're ok with that), but they're so good! Including this one.
You kind of immediately fall in love with Mary. She's hard to hate, not knowing her family's plotting. It's also extremely sad to see the king put her aside for her sister. Especially since she already has a son by the king? So it really doesn't make any since (also neither does he a lot of the time).
However it's nice to see her get over her heartbreak and fall in love and marry a man of her choice.
I would definitely recommend this to any fan of historical fiction or those fascinated with Henry VIII.
My Rating: 4 stars
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.
My Thoughts:
I know I've been reading several books by this author lately (I hope you're ok with that), but they're so good! Including this one.
You kind of immediately fall in love with Mary. She's hard to hate, not knowing her family's plotting. It's also extremely sad to see the king put her aside for her sister. Especially since she already has a son by the king? So it really doesn't make any since (also neither does he a lot of the time).
However it's nice to see her get over her heartbreak and fall in love and marry a man of her choice.
I would definitely recommend this to any fan of historical fiction or those fascinated with Henry VIII.
My Rating: 4 stars
10 August 2018
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory REVIEW
Summary:
Known to history as the Queen who was pushed off her throne by Anne Boleyn, here is a Katherine the world has forgotten: the enchanting princess that all England loved. First married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, Katherine's passion turns their arranged marriage into a love match; but when Arthur dies, the merciless English court and her ambitious parents-the crusading King and Queen of Spain-have to find a new role for the widow. Ultimately, it is Katherine herself who takes control of her own life by telling the most audacious lie in English history, leading her to the very pinnacle of power in England.
My Thoughts:
I REALLY loved this book. Not at first though. The beginning was pretty. odd. Then it got so much better.
It was great seeing Catalina and Arthur fall in love. They got really close. It was heartbreaking when he died. I will never understand why she wanted to be Queen so bad that she lies about being a virgin.
However, Harry seemed great at first. He was so bright and cheerful, and loved Katherine. But then Anne turned him from Katherine and, well, you know what happens then. Harry beheads most of his wives in the future too.
I definitely enjoyed this book.
My Rating: 4 stars
Known to history as the Queen who was pushed off her throne by Anne Boleyn, here is a Katherine the world has forgotten: the enchanting princess that all England loved. First married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, Katherine's passion turns their arranged marriage into a love match; but when Arthur dies, the merciless English court and her ambitious parents-the crusading King and Queen of Spain-have to find a new role for the widow. Ultimately, it is Katherine herself who takes control of her own life by telling the most audacious lie in English history, leading her to the very pinnacle of power in England.
My Thoughts:
I REALLY loved this book. Not at first though. The beginning was pretty. odd. Then it got so much better.
It was great seeing Catalina and Arthur fall in love. They got really close. It was heartbreaking when he died. I will never understand why she wanted to be Queen so bad that she lies about being a virgin.
However, Harry seemed great at first. He was so bright and cheerful, and loved Katherine. But then Anne turned him from Katherine and, well, you know what happens then. Harry beheads most of his wives in the future too.
I definitely enjoyed this book.
My Rating: 4 stars
06 August 2018
The White Princess by Philippa Gregory REVIEW
Summary:
When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house-Elizabeth of York-to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.
But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III-and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.
Henry's greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.
My Thoughts;
I first noticed this book at a discount store. It looked interesting, but I didn't buy it. I eventually found it at my library, and it was so good. I am somewhat picky when it comes to historical fiction.
Elizabeth is pretty strong to go through this-marrying the man who killed the one she loved. Not only that, but he and his mother treat her like poop.
About halfway through, Henry becomes more likeable. But by the end he is back to being an awful person.
I really love the author's way of writing and will definitely check out more of her books.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house-Elizabeth of York-to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.
But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III-and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.
Henry's greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.
My Thoughts;
I first noticed this book at a discount store. It looked interesting, but I didn't buy it. I eventually found it at my library, and it was so good. I am somewhat picky when it comes to historical fiction.
Elizabeth is pretty strong to go through this-marrying the man who killed the one she loved. Not only that, but he and his mother treat her like poop.
About halfway through, Henry becomes more likeable. But by the end he is back to being an awful person.
I really love the author's way of writing and will definitely check out more of her books.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
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