Customer Reviews

The Queen's Lady (Thorndike Romance)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a child she left Scotland for France accompanied by the four Mary Ladies in Waiting. Finally in 1561 recently widowed nineteen years old Queen Mary, no long the Queen of France, has returned to Scotland to sit on the throne. Accompanying the young Queen is her close friend Lady Gwyneth MacLeod. Gwyneth listens closely to Mary's desires and offers sage advice to go carefully with her heart as there are many who resent losing power with the monarch's return. However, as she warns her regal friend, Gwyneth ironically struggles to heed her own advice. Instead she is attracted to Lord Rowan Graham, whom she is not sure she should trust.

Mary sends Gwyneth and Rowan on a mission together in which their allure for one another openly ignites as desire tugs at both of them. However, treachery places the pair in danger with Gwyneth forced to choose between the love of her heart and the love of her friend; either choice may lead to execution.

THE QUEEN'S LADY is a strong historical fiction enhanced by a wonderful romantic subplot. The story line hones in on the political instability and overall country-wide chaos caused by Mary's return to Scotland. The difficult relationship between the lead couple augments Shannon Drake's entreatingly profound look at the fifteenth century furor caused by Mary Queen of Scots homecoming.

Harriet Klausner

I loved this haunting view of the rise of Mary Queen of Scots, as seen by one of her (ficitonal) ladies. Mary is truly one of history's most tragic victims. I cried at the ending, even knowing as we all do how her story ends.

The story of the Lady Gwenyth and Laird Rowan is one of the best romances, I've read in a long time. You will not be disappointed, as you fall in love with Rowan and the idealist Gwenyth who risks everything for those she loves in a Scotland filled with intrigue and betrayal.

This Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham) historical is set in 16th century Scotland and England during the rise of Mary Queen of Scots and her clash with her cousin, Elizabeth, reigning as Queen of England. Lady Gwenyth MacLeod is one of Mary's ladies in waiting and her Scottish background and knowledge allow her to provide unique insights to her new Queen who is returning from France after the death of her first husband. Very soon into her time with Mary in Scotland, Gwenyth encounters Lord Rowan Graham, laird of Lockraven, who is also serving Queen Mary. The attraction is mutual and strong though there is an initial clash of wills. Still once he realizes he loves her, his love for her never fails. I think that's what distinguishes this romance for me from so many of Drake's (Graham's) other historicals, particularly the Viking series. The hero never treated the heroine badly and never stopped loving her. How novel, eh? I loved the hero's consistency and his faithfulness to his love. Here is a man worth the wait. Their times were tumultuous and they faced many challenges including the inconsistency of the Queen they both served. You can imagine how difficult it would be in such times to find real love. This is a wonderful wade through the history of Scotland and England...a tale of two Queens...a tale of a great romance between two people trying to do what is right. And, it has Graham's usual good job of storytelling, great character development and a true love fought for and won. I loved it.

I devour historical romances, some good, some bad, some mediocre. This one was excellent. I found it very refreshing and intriguing. I could not put it down. Shannon Drake has written a compelling story with her heroine interacting with both Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth. As a historian, I found her portrayal of the rise and fall of Mary very well written and researched. The only thing I did not like was the fact that Rowan and Gwenyth were apart more than they were together in the book. That is why I gave it a four star rating instead of a five star. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and the characterizations of Mary and Elizabeth. The time period was rife with religious and political strife, and the author depicts this in a realistic manner without bending the facts, as some romance writers tend to do. This one will go on my desert island keeper shelf!

This book did a very good job of showing the turmoil and treachery of the politics of the time period and the challenges that faced Scotland, England and both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Both Queens wanted to stay in favor but rule fairly! Showing to, that sometimes the human side and not the Queen side could wrongly influence a Queen. Lady Gwenyth and Rowan stayed loyal to Queen Mary against betrayal and all odds. This book was written very well and flowed smoothly. You felt for everyone involved, Scotland, England, James, Mary, Elizabeth, Gwenyth and Rowan! It is a little heavier on the historic side than the romance, but what romance their is, is loyal and true. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend this to anyone who likes historical romance, you won't be disappointed!

This was my second Shannon Drake book and I really enjoyed it. The history of it was great as it revolved around the rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth. I would recommend!

I loved this book, it was both historical fiction and told the story of the rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots and was a beautiful love story of one of her ladies in waiting. It is a book I will reread in the future.

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Shannon Drake's books, eventhough some of them were not that great. Luckily 'The Queen's Lady' is Shannon Drake's best book yet. This book is well researched and well written, with characters that are believable and lovable. Even their trials and tribulations, and their actions, are never out of sync with their characters and time period. I love both Gwen and Rowan. Gwen is headstrong, loyal to the very end, and very passionate about what she believes in and loves. Rowan is every bit a Knight in Shining Armor of the time past. Their love for each other is constant and very heartwarming in such a shaky and violent era they live in. Read this book, you'll love it!

Theres some books that you grab to read, no matter how old and no matter how many times you've read them. Some of these for me are by Shannon Drake like "Knight of Fire" and "The King's Pleasure". And, this is going to be a new one in this category for me. It is so riveting and the characters are so great. It seems as if you're right there with the characters as they go through so many experiences. Thank you Shannon Drake for writing this wonderful book!

I love Shannon Drake's stories as well as those she writes another another name. So this review isabout the way she write the story not the story itself.
It was probably a great story. That era seems to instill alot of intrigue.

What I absolutlely don't like is to to start reading a book that begins with the ending... Knowing that the main character went through a summarized list of horrors, was seemingly betrayed by a lover, yadda, yadda, I am sposed to turn the page and go back to the beginning and start all over again?
I don't think so.... I skipped to the last chapter and of course all ends happily etc. Why should I suffer through the intrigue?

I don't like that kind of story writing and I don't care to read it. It is just part of my reading preference.
So for those of you that were determined to read it through, good for you.
I admire you...