The Steel Beneath The Silk - Patricia Bracewell - Book 3 of the Trilogy~ Incredibly well done~

 

"In the year 1012 England’s Norman-born Queen Emma has been ten years wed to an aging, ruthless, haunted King Æthelred. The marriage is a bitterly unhappy one, between a queen who seeks to create her own sphere of influence within the court and a suspicious king who eyes her efforts with hostility and resentment. But royal discord shifts to grudging alliance when Cnut of Denmark, with the secret collusion of his English concubine Elgiva, invades England at the head of a massive viking army."

Like many others, I have waited years to read this final book in the trilogy of Patricia Bracewell's Emma of Normandy saga. I loved this book and must admit I love Emma also, my mother's family came to Ireland with the Norman kings by the early 12th century.

It was a wonderful tale enhanced by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle excerpts which give it great credibility. I think it ends in a very good place with a relationship between Emma and Cnut amicably looking toward the future.

Very much recommended to all, even those who have not read the other two books ( but I recommend them to you) 5 Stars!

Kenneth's Queen- Anna Chant (Women of the Dark Ages, #1) ~ Enthralling and Informative~

 An absolutely enthralling book about an unknown to history woman, whose husband Cinaed and children have descendants in English Royal house today. Cinaed, known to history as Kenneth Mac Alpin was the son of Alpin and generally regarded as the founder of medieval Scotland.

Baena,as Anna Chant the author names her, was a Pictish princess who was handfasted to Cinaed who was partially a Pict and was a Gael son of a king of Dal Riata. I learned an immense amount about these tribes and their wars from this excellently written author.

Baena was at first ignored by Cinead until his father Alpin was murdered and he would need to assume his role and father legitimate heirs. Their relationship was a struggle but became a good one and she supported Cinaed in his efforts to unite Dal Riata Gaels and the Pictish tribes.

I plan to read the rest of the "Women of the Dark Ages" books and anything else the author has written. 

The Venice Sketchbook- Rhys Bowen- Delightful Read! Order Now!

#TheVeniceSketchbook #NetGalley A delightful book that I read straight through, the best WWII so far for me( a genre I enjoy).Thanks Lake Union NetGalley and @Rhysbowen.

Venice pre-WWII ( 1938) finds Juliet Browning returning with a group of students and becoming reacquainted with Leonardo Da Rossi. This meeting will bloom into a love story that another generation in 2001 will continue.

Juliet's great niece, Caroline Grant inherits from "Aunt Lettie" her ashes, some artwork and 3 keys which will unlock secrets, some of which will remain. A compelling read with a fine ending. Recommended for WWII historical mystery fans.

The Book of Lost Names- Kristin Harmel- Terrific Book Club Read! ~ 5 Stars~

 I very much enjoyed this book, it was my book club choice for this month and I'm very happy about that. I have been enjoying many of the WWII era books. I was born at the very end of the war while my father was still in the South Pacific. and we didn't discuss it much for that reason.

The story actually begins in 2005 after Eva is working in a Florida library and sees a book she had encoded with real names of children.It skips back and for between 2005 when she flies to Paris and the details of her life as a forger for the French Resistance.

Eva Traube's parents seem to have been deniers of their danger in Paris, Her father, a Polish Jew had some idea of danger, as he had made a plan with an employer to provide escape documents for Eva.When they come for him at night Eva goes to that man who won't forge papers after the fact. He does give her some art supplies to make her own documents and tells her where Jews are fleeing in a free part of France.

In that small town in Free France, which eventually falls, Eva had a love affair with another resistance worker, Remy. She mourns his death her whole life and the ending had a lovely surprise. 

The Lady's Gamble- Anne R. Bailey - Very well done- Enjoyable~ 5 Stars~

 A very enjoyable book which I read straight through, from an author whose books I follow. ( Just finished Thyra also, also terrific)

Elizabeth Seymour is a recent widow with two children, when she comes to court as a lady-in-waiting to her sister Jane Seymour who has married Henry VIII. These are very unsettled times as Anne Boleyn was executed just prior to her sister's marriage to Henry.

Elizabeth Seymour, who was Jane's younger sister tries her best to serve her sister while trying to provide for her own very young children,who are in their grandfather Lord Ughtred's care.

She comes to the attention of Thomas Cromwell and meets and likes his son Gregory. Apparently Cromwell thinks she would be a fine match for his son and she is agreeable to the match.

Her life goes on as her Sister's comes to an end. She and Gregory Cromwell had a happy marriage but not lengthy marriage and five children resulted. Very nicely done!

Thyra (Forgotten Women of History Book 3) - Anne R. Bailey~ An Excellent Read~

 A delightful and very readable story of a woman who lived long ago and what is known of her life. I very much enjoyed reading this novel of her life, much of which is known to history.

Thyra, in this tale had a long romance with Gorm before they married and she went to his country to live.. History is not clear on who she was, quite possible an English noblewoman. That she lived is pretty certain as a rune stone dedicated by her son Harald stands in Jelling Denmark in honor of his parents, as does one to Thyra erected by Gorm.

Thyra was said to have been strong, brave and defended Denmark. The stone erected to her says this:"“King Gorm made these runes in honour of his wife Thyra, the pride of Denmark”.

Very pleased to have gotten this book by an author I follow.

Blood Runs Thicker- A Medieval Mystery- Sarah Hawkswood~ A Powerful Read!~

My 8th outing with Bradcote and Catchpoll #BloodRunsThicker and what a mystery! I'm not positive I can go back and enumerate the list of suspects, which seriously ebbs and flows!

 From the publisher:"Osbern de Lench is known far and wide as a hard master. With an heir who is cast in the same hot-tempered mould, sworn enemies for neighbours, undersheriff Hugh Bradecote, the wily Serjeant Catchpoll and apprentice Walkelin have suspects aplenty." 

 Always an exciting tale is in store, for this place in time ,with an author who is very well versed in Medieval history. The author's narratives are sensitive to women's very understated but real roles in this society, as well as their sometimes powerlessness. Bradcote, as well as his two henchman, work so well together and attempt to empower those without legal status in Society. 

 Hamo, the second son was an especially interesting character with his odd quirks, but he and others such as the Healer, her assistant and a beggar or two were well tolerated by the trio. The Welsh Marches at this time were in anarchy between two Normans and hierarchy was very fluid and lawlessness abounded.