K.M. Butler’s new book, The Welsh Dragon, is a compelling tale of loyalty, betrayal, and danger, rich in historical detail. The dramatic novel opens as fourteen-year-old Henry Tudor and his uncle Jasper Tudor flee England, first to Wales, and then to France after the Lancastrian defeat in 1471. Blown off-course by storms, the small party …
Released in mid-September, Jules Larimore’s novel The Muse of Freedom is her first published novel, although she has been writing nonfiction for over 15 years. Because of her background with its links to the Huguenots and the Bondurant family, Larimore began to explore her story over 20 years ago and this novel is only the …
The Muse of Freedom—a novel of 17th Century France Read More »
I just finished prolific historical novelist, Mercedes Rochelle’s excellent English historical novel, The Usurper King, using the excuse of preparing a guest post for her blog while preparing for my launch. The Usurper King I plunged into the middle of Mercedes Rochelle’s Plantagenet Legacy series. The Usurper King is the third book in it. This …
This week I wrote a blog about Louise de Savoie’s remarkable Journal. The Journal is a short document that has left me with many questions. Susan Abertnethy published it on her excellent Freelance History Blog. I have substantially changed my views about Louise’s Journal since I last posted about it. I will be writing more …
A Review of The Importance of Sons Historical romance meets period history… love and hate, power and corruption, fear and jealousy. This feels like Tudor England but is a leap into Renaissance France through the lens of powerful women hobbled by patriarchy, a prequel to Morgan’s The Importance of Pawns. The ambitious and manipulative Louise …
In Klein’s latest novel, The Lady is a Spy and so is the Gentleman. The novel is a light-hearted adventure, set in the 17th century French court. It is based loosely on some historical personalities and situations. The adventures are fictional, although treachery was rampant at the time. In France in the early 1600s, Cardinal …
In Lotharingia, Lara Byrne brings the story of Charlemagne’s star-crossed heirs vividly to life. We see the world mainly through the eyes of Countess Matilde of Tuscany, a feisty young heiress. Despite her descent from Charlemagne, and her warrior training, she must obey the rules of her world. Although unwilling to fit into the traditional …
Young Louise de Savoie was important as part of Savoy Connection when she arrived in France in 1483. Still she was neither the first nor the last, simply the most famous. Why? Because through her talents, family, chance and timing she rose to the most powerful role a woman could achieve in France—Regent for the …
From the 12th to the 19th centuries, the people of France and England really believed their king’s touch could heal them of scrofula. Why did they believe it? Were they ignorant superstitious simpletons who knew no better? I do not think so. Before you toss up your hands and write me off as a crank, …
A Sequel with a Difference A. J. Bishop’s Darcy’s Education of Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a tour de force in its genre. The author gives us an entertaining, thought-provoking, and beautifully written novel in this popular Regency with-a-twist genre. Her ability to capture the characters we love and develop them in unforeseen, yet believable, directions …
Darcy’s Education of Miss Elizabeth Bennet— A Review Read More »
What do Countess Louise, Astrology, and January 1 have in common? Readers of the Journal de Louise de Savoye, duchesse d’Angoulesme, d’Anjou et de Valois will know the answer. For the rest of you, let me explain. Three crucial events In the 20 years between 1496 to 1515, three crucial events in Countess Louise’s life …
Marguerite de Rohan, Countess d’Angoulême was the grandmother of King François I of France on his father’s side. I care about her because, in my new novel The Importance of Sons, (Release date, April 2022) she plays an important role since she’s the mother-in-law of Louise de Savoie, François’s mother. She was Breton, daughter of …
