Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Book Review: At the King's Pleasure by Kate Emerson

Publish Date: January 3rd 2012
Format: Paperback 351 pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):
"Married to one man. Desiring another. Beautiful Lady Anne Stafford, ladyin- waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon, is torn between her love for her husband, George, Lord Hastings . . . and the king’s boon companion, the attentive Sir William Compton. But when King Henry VIII, amorous as always, joins the men clustering around her, Anne realizes she has become perilously enmeshed in the intrigues of the court. Will she be forced to decide between the two men she desires—and the one she doesn’t?Kate Emerson charms again with a heroine who steps out of the pages of history to win our hearts in this sumptuous novel of Tudor scandal and intrigue."

My Review:


Told from the perspective of Lady Anne Stafford, At the King's Pleasure takes the reader on an entertaining journey of intrigue and seduction within the Tudor court. Betrayed by her husband and brother, Anne is forced to atone for a sin she didn't commit and is removed from the court in disgrace. Full of spirit and determination Anne makes her way back to court with the hope of reclaiming what was so cruelly taken from her, but when she finds herself in the same risky situation which lead to her downfall years earlier, will she once again have the strength to resist taking part in the scandal?

This is the third book in Kate Emerson's Secrets of the Tudor Court series and I am pleased to say the series has not lost its allure! The ever-changing plot makes for a quick read, and the lively personality of Lady Anne will have you thoroughly engaged throughout the book. One of the most delightful aspects of this novel is the effortless blending of historical detail and fictional scandal, which gives the reader a better understanding of key historical figures. In addition to these appealing aspects, it is also refreshing to have a novel set in the Tudor court without having the main focus on the immediate royal family.

Definitely recommended to all fans of the Tudor era, At the King's Pleasure is a stand alone novel that will have you captivated with every turn of the page.


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Copyright © 2011 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.
FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always, these are my own honest opinions.

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