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3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed, May 23, 2011
After reading Colin Campbell's and Alex Macpherson's stories I so looked forward to Ambrose's tale. I was disappointed in about half of the book, however, and would give it 2.5 stars if possible. The first 10% and the last 40% were enjoyable but the rest of the book was bogged down in irrelevant politics, little main character interaction, and frankly, boring writing.
I did not enjoy the use of real-life characters as I thought I would. Thomas Boleyn started the book as a good villain but was then gone and did not appear again until his turn around which I found unrealistic (both historically and in the course of the story). On the flip side Anne was hardly mentioned in the beginning but her interaction with Elizabeth at the end were enjoyable and realistic. Mary I found unsympathetic and well, whiny. I had a hard time understanding Elizabeth's devotion to someone so weak yet manipulative. In addition, at the point where I was beginning to like the book the author threw in a scene where Elizabeth attacks Ambrose with a sword which I also found unrealistic as well as unnecessary. It actually seemed a bit silly and I kept waiting for the characters to burst out laughing at the whole thing!
My favorite scene was the interaction between Jaime and Malcolm (with her cousins) and it made me want to read more of those characters. For that I will give the author another chance!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good period story, November 26, 2009
After reading two Phillipa Gregory books (which are mostly about the historical period around Henry VIII) I wanted to read others and ran across this story about a third Boleyn girl (fictitious character, supposed to be the older sister of Mary and Anne Boleyn). She was feisty, artistic, a true renaissance woman. She spends years running from her estranged father (portrayed as a power hungry man who basically sells his daughters), and King Henry VIII, and a murderer who knows she witnessed him killing someone. A good story I had a hard time putting down. The author(s) took a lot of artistic license on the actual historical characters, but as long as you realize it's pure fiction and mostly historically inaccurate, it's fine.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Strong heroine, January 22, 2008
McGoldrick uses Elizabeth as a strong inventive intelligent resourceful woman that you can admire and root for. McGoldrick creates a plot so strong that you can't imagine your way out, so you must read the next page to see how she delivers her heroine. I have almost every book McGoldrick has written and she reminds me of an even better Catherine Coulter because her plots are more complex but have moments of light humor, suspense and true love that are great features of historical romance. She does not disappoint you for that happy ending. Ambrose understands the courage and sacrifice of this good woman who captivates him. You don't want to put this book down. The beginning hardship the heroine finds herself in is appalling and scary, and the villian is not as evil as Elizabeth's own father. Such strong characters make for good reading. five stars McGoldrick. The historical note on the end is so cute and memorable. McGoldrick has a style of her own that's a winner.
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