Customer Reviews

Lady of the Roses: A Novel of the Wars of the Roses

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

John Neville, brother of the Kingmaker, and a die-hard Yorkist meets and falls in love with Isobel, the Lancastrian ward of Queen Marguerite. It's an unlikely match, but the two are a determined pair.

Times are uncertain as the young couple begin their union for King Henry is mentally and physically ill, his powerful wife is determined to secure the throne for her son, and the Yorkists are not about to allow the French-born queen to rule unchecked. How will Isobel and John survive the inevitable conflicts that lie ahead?

While little is known about Isobel, Ms. Worth brings her to life in two
ways - first by having Isobel tell the story through her eyes, and second, by the incredibly detailed and beautifully researched scenes that fit into the historically known time period. Readers meet the lovely, intelligent girl that John falls in love with - a girl who grows into a vital, loving mother, wife, and chronicler of all she witnesses around her. John has long been considered a chivalrous, courageous soldier who loyally served both his older brother and England.

LADY OF THE ROSES is Sandra Worth's latest novel after her hugely
successful ROSE OF YORK trilogy about Richard III. Her hallmarks of
meticulous research and excellent character development continue in this
new story that pre-dates the trilogy. This book kept me up late, and I
hated for it to end. LADY OF THE ROSES, like its predecessors, is A
Perfect 10. And don't miss the ROSE OF YORK books: LOVE & WAR, CROWN OF
DESTINY, and FALL FROM GRACE.

Jani Brooks
Romance Reviews Today

"I went to bed early one night...tired and preoccupied with musings about love. then - was it a vision, a dream? - Love himself suddenly appeared before me, taking the heart from my breast and handing it to Desire..." An apt quote bespeaks the essence of a tale, in this case the story of the uniquely passionate, tender and forbearing love between Isobel Ingoldesthorpe and John Neville, the Yorkist. Their love endures through the thorny historical events of fifteen years commonly known as the War of the Roses.

Sandra Worth has once again captured the tornado-whirling shifts of loyalty as England watches two mad woman change the course of history, Marguerite d'Anjou - Henry VI's French queen - and later Elizabeth Woodville - Edward IV's beautiful wife. The former believes she is trying to bring peace to her simple, holy husband's land, the latter spouse flourishes by feeding years of imagined hurtful memories with unmitigated revenge. Their sheer, unadulterated terror will destroy England's aristocracy, including the famed kingmaker, Warwick, John Neville's brother. John himself will rise to the heights of power and lose almost all of it.

Isobel is a feisty, intelligent and compassionate character whose observations have the same effect on the reader that she experiences. When one thinks that cruelty, savagery and insanity have reached their limit, another betrayal with its accompanying horrors or unexpected deaths arises to leave Isobel and all of England reeling with shock.

When it seems that the common people are suffering the most from their leaders' cruelty and blood lust, it is Isobel who cares enough to help them survive and believe in something higher. Indeed Isobel will audaciously intervene in two hair-raising scenes to plead for mercy for two central characters. Isobel and John's intimate love is the glue holding together a world in which England's rulers precociously attempt to shape its history.

Ms. Worth's singular talent lies in the masterful way she crafts plot and deftly presents an in depth, diverse set of historical characters whom the reader comes to deeply care about. Congratulations, Sandra Worth! Lady of the Roses is an unparalleled, beautiful, dire and memorable keeper in the top ranks of historical novels! What a treat!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 23, 2008

While Worth's Rose of York Trilogy ("Love and War", "Fall from Grace", "Crown of Destiny") deals with the troubled years of Edward's reign through the fall of Richard III and the rise of Henry VII, Lady of the Roses sets the stage for the conflict, the entrenched factions and treacherous plots that attend a struggle for control of the kingdom, but with the added poignancy of a sheltered young woman's impetuous and successful marriage to a man forbidden by time and circumstance (Isobel Ingoldesthorpe and John Neville, brother of Richard Neville, "the Kingmaker"). Believing in their commitment, Isobel is unwavering, embracing her marriage while conscious of the price. Soon enough, the world intrudes, and with it the enmity of the great families of the realm. Given the nature of this interminable war, Isobel realizes that she may not always have her great prize, that such a love is purchased dearly.

It is Isobel's leap of faith that Worth so beautifully captures, a 15th century Romeo and Juliet prey to the indifference of a country at war. Arriving at the court of Henry VI and his queen, Marguerite d' Anjou, Isobel is essentially a Lancastrian. But when the comely Isobel sets eyes on the handsome John Neville, a Yorkist, the die is cast. Realizing it is in the queen's power to decide whom she will wed, Isobel invokes the privilege of agreeing to any match, to which Marguerite acquiesces. After much negotiation, Marguerite allows the marriage to proceed- at an exorbitant bride-price. But once married, Isobel departs Marguerite's court, carrying the queen's ring, in exchange for which she may ask a favor in time of need.

Marguerite is challenged by an increasingly popular Earl of Warwick, John's brother, the Earl earning the people's loyalty and affection. And the battles wage on between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists, John captured, saved only by Isobel's redemption of Marguerite's favor. Of such moments is Isobel's life with John defined, his divided loyalties between king and brother, the mentally unstable Henry unable to lead, bowing to his wife's decisions. With the advent of Yorkist Edward of March, history takes another turn, the York's ascendant; John's fortunes increased after years of loyalty to the crown.

Power breeds extremes, Warwick eventually at odds with the new king, Edward IV, especially after Edward's disastrous marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. As detrimental to the kingdom as Marguerite d' Anjou, Woodville, a woman from Isobel's past in the queen's court, wreaks havoc on the kingdom, demanding titles and lands for greedy relatives. Warwick finally rebels, John facing his most critical crisis of conscience, a choice between king and brother. Throughout it all, the faithful Isobel remains her husband's best friend and staunchest supporter. Unable to stem the tide of history, John is separated from Isobel forever in a final battle. A man and a woman unable to prevail over the fate of a country caught in war, John and Isobel remain trapped in the pages of history, Worth breathing new life into their in a novel of commitment that defies convention, a marriage based on love. Luan Gaines/2007.

Sandra Worth's Lady of the Roses tells the historically factual story of Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, heiress of a Lancastrian house, and her love for and marriage to Sir John Neville, Yorkist son of her family's political enemy. Anyone familiar with the War of the Roses will recognize that this was an unusual situation; this was a love match that was allowed despite political misgivings, and it flourished throughout a tempestuous period when family loyalities were of the utmost importance. Ms. Worth has taken the facts and brought them to life and given us insight to probable motivations and actions in the process.

The story opens as Lady Isobel meets Sir John and almost instantly falls in love, as teenagers are wont to do. Though there are many obstacles to their union, Isobel and John are at last allowed to marry, and by all accounts, had a truly happy and loving marriage. Narrated by Isobel, we follow the couple through the births of their children, John's battles, the political maneuverings, and the subsequent rise and fall of the House of York. Worth does a fine job of helping us to see how helpless Isobel feels as she's left behind while her husband leaves for battle, and the theme of family loyalty is driven home relentlessly as the story moves to its inevitably sad conclusion.

Overall I enjoyed this novel very much, and I appreciate Worth's ability to breathe life into cold historical facts. I enjoyed the tale as told from Isobel's point of view; I definitely feel that it balanced the story to see her as a Lancastrian married into the heart of York. Having read many books of the period based on either Edward IV or Richard III, I was glad to get a different perspective on events. I did have a few problems with the story, however. At times Worth tends to be too "flowery", particularly when having Isobel and John express their love for one another. I also felt Isobel had a bit too much freedom for a titled young woman of the times; for example, though I liked the idea of her dressing as a nun to warn the Yorkists of a trap, I know that there was no way she could have escaped for an overnight jaunt without causing a disturbance, particularly as one of the queen's ladies. Finally, I found it highly unbelievable that Isobel would dress seductively and dance in front of a group of men, albeit to entice her husband. While Worth is a wonderful storyteller, moments like those pulled me out of the story immediately and gave the tale more of a "romance" feel than an historical one.

Ultimately, though, Worth has a gifted way of taking English history and not only bringing it to life, but giving it a sense of immediacy and relevance. This is a gem of an historical novel, and a rare look at crucial events in England's history from someone who actually lived through them. Ms. Worth continues to give us quality historical fiction that is accessible and enlightening. Recommended.

The beautiful young Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, a ward of the Lancastrian queen Marguerite of Anjou, marries the love of her life, the Yorkist John Neville, despite the overwhelming odds against her. After this, however, Lady of the Roses departs from the commonplaces of romance fiction. Worth's meticulous research into the War of the Roses brings this tumultuous period of English history alive, and her telling of Isobel's story clearly benefits from the past 30 years of academic research into the lives of medieval women. Isobel manages her husband's estates during his many absences, organizes poor relief after the disastrous battle of Wakefield, and rides to the enemy court to plead for her imprisoned husband's life. She disguises herself to visit her husband in his military camp, and rescues the beleaguered Yorkists from ambush with timely warnings. Today we know that medieval women did all these things and more. Sandra Worth's website proclaims that she writes "History Worth Reading." Lady of the Roses is certainly that.

THE LADY OF ROSES is a true love story of the medieval ancestors of both Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill. What makes the book even more fascinating this love story is based on actual facts. It centers around 15th-century England, on the brink of civil war. In the middle of this political turmoil, Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, a Lancastrian, and John Neville, a Yorkist fall in love and against all odds, marry.

King Henry is mentally and physically ill. Queen Marguerite is left to rule, but the Yorkist are unsettled under her leadership.John Neville's brother is the Earl of Warwick is rich, powerful, and mistrusts the French queen. Warwick unseats Henry with Yorkist Edward of March.

Not too long after Edward takes the crown, he marries Elizabeth Woodville in secret, against Warwick's wishes. Woodville demands land and titles for her relatives. She proves more vicious than the previous queen and war breaks out again.

Throughout, John and Isobel strive for peace. This isn't possible as the War of the Roses rages around them. Sandra Worth threads together the most bittersweet love story since Romeo and Juliet. Her love for this time period shines through with her carefully sketched characters.

The rift between the Houses of Lancaster and York has led to civil war throughout England. With that backdrop, Lady in Waiting to Queen Marguerite Isobel Ingoldesthorpe and Lord John Neville fall in love. However, her liege is Lancaster while he and his powerful House support the York claim to the throne. Still after complex negotiations that anecdotally display how divided the country leadership is and an exorbitant bride price, John and Isobel marry.

Their honeymoon is everything both wanted and more until affairs of state intercede. The Roses are preparing for war and though Isobel has some loyalty issues she believes she belongs at the side of her beloved John. As the hostilities between the Houses turn brutal with madness and butchery the norm, the couple is torn asunder, but their love remains stronger than ever keeping them together even in death especially with six surviving offspring.

Known for her terrific in depth historical saga, The Roses of York (see CROWN FROM DESTINY, FALL FROM GRACE and LOVE AND WAR), Sandra Worth stays with the era providing a strong War of Roses tale. The story line is epic in scope using the fifteen years relationship between John and Isobel as a means to provide insight into England from 1456-1471. Historical fiction fans of this era will find LADY OF THE ROSES and the York trilogy worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

History is never more alive than when explored through a fictional accounting. With extensive research and a passion for an era, an author can enlighten readers and pay homage to the past. Sandra Worth does so in her novel "Lady of the Roses." This intense work of art brings life to English history during the times of the War of the Roses with as much rich vibrancy as the castle tapestries that are woven into the tale.

A classic love story, and one that was likely the inspiration for many others that we know and cherish, Sir John Neville and Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe's tale is exquisitely bittersweet. At fifteen, Isobel was orphaned and became a ward of Queen Marguerite and King Henry VI. Her marriage would bring a decent price for the queen, but Isobel boldly requested that she be married for love instead. Such a thing was truly rare in the days of arranged marriages. Isobel was drawn by fate to meet John, and her heart would not be happy until they were wed. Favors do cost when bequeathed by royalty. During the struggle for marriage greater struggles were occupying the lands. Battles raged and many lives were lost. The red rose rivaled the white as brother fought brother, cousin slay cousin, and friends became foes. Treason was the common crime for those in dungeons and for those beheaded. How it came to be that Isobel and John were able to wed and live life through it all is a great tale.

Titles changed with the blowing of the wind and the troubles this caused, and heartache it inspired are worthy of a modern day soap opera. With such changes the futures of the young heirs changed as well, with marriages being arranged at birth and carried out at even the age of eight. The king's throne being the highest in ruling the land, many questioned the sanity of a queen's influence. The lifetime of this novel shows the insanity of two queens who essentially ruled the throne and subsequently caused many deaths and sorrows. The years of 1456 through 1476 are played out in "Lady of the Roses" with the intensity of battle and the decadence of pure love.

Sandra Worth has brought to life Sir John Neville, of whom no biography has yet to be found, but much is accounted to and admired for. Her research of his deeds and character are plain to be seen. Dear Isobel, our narrator, becomes a cherished companion to the reader. Seeing the times and strife through the eyes of first a young girl of fifteen and then as a young woman in love, and later as a mother and dedicated wife truly opens a window into the past. The writing is rich with precise details, lush scenery, and blunt bloodshed. Weaving in the authorship of the unparalleled tales of King Arthur and Sir Lancelot is a delightful inclusion. I look forward to further reading of this accomplished author.

Set amidst the War of the Roses in 1400s Britain, this historical novel focuses on the story of one Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, an orphan raised in a nunnery and given over to the British court (which will benefit from the price of her marriage). The country is under the leadership of Henry VI, but the country's beloved king is beset by madness and, instead, court and country are ruled by his French wife, Marguerite d'Anjou, whose motives and ambitions are less pure. Isobel and the ruling court are of the House of Lancaster (the Red Rose), while the competing House of York (the White Rose) vies for power.

The House of York and the Neville family are more strongly supported by the British people, presenting a challenge to Queen Marguerite and her grasp for power. Into this precarious political scene enters 15-year old Lady Isobel, who falls in love quite unexpectedly with a Yorkist knight, Sir John Neville. Although Isobel is desired by many, her heart has been stolen, and after much wrangling and an exorbitant price to the court, the Queen finally allows the two to marry.

Drawing from real historical characters and the true story of this marriage, author Sandra Worth has used this fascinating background to extrapolate and enhance upon what is known through historical documents to create this engrossing novel. Despite its reaches far into the British past, Worth has been able to create characters and stories that resonate today. Beset with political treachery and a defiant love story, the historical accuracy and well developed characterization lend much to the book, letting readers focus on the action and adventures of the characters, rather than bogging the plot down.

Readers will relate to the highs and lows of the relationship between John and Isobel, the forces beyond their control that act to determine their destinies, and their everyday struggles (including money problems and long periods of single parenthood) in a world divided between Lancaster and York. Readers are introduced to period detail subtly, enjoying and learning as they progress, instead of being faced with immediate immersion into a heavy handed and unfamiliar culture upon opening the book. Worth has much to offer her readers: great storylines, fascinating characters, and just the right historical touch. "Lady of the Roses" may be set in the 1400s, but its story and telling are contemporary and easily enjoyed by the readers of 2008.

Christine Zibas, Book Pleasures

A charge in Queen Marguerite's Lancastrian court, fifteen-year-old Isobel has many suitors for her hand, but she loves only Sir John Neville, a Yorkist. In the 1400s, during the Wars of the Roses, the rules of the day forbid such a pairing.

Isobel must overcome adversities of pressure from an arrogant suitor who thinks he is entitled to her, manipulation of a rival in the Queen's court, and the transformation of her kindly uncle into the Butcher of England. All this and more takes place in a background of knights and soldiers coloring acts of war as attempts to make peace.

If Isobel and John's romance is to survive they must overcome being miles away from each other, longing for the day weeks or months away when they will again speak, kiss, touch.

Lady of the Roses is written for the reader who wants a historically-correct powerful romance. Educated in Toronto, Worth's expertise is rewarded as a frequent lecturer on The Wars of the Roses.

Fierce emotion brings history to life. The dialogue is reminiscent of the time, m'lady. Good pacing between love and war keeps you turning the pages.
You may fantasize about the passionate time when lovers kissed goodbye not knowing whether the man would return from the Wars of the Roses.

I'd like to see the story optioned for a movie!

Review by Shara Smock author of book titles including Hooking the Reader: Opening Lines that Sell. [...]