Customer Reviews

The Queen's Man (Time Passages)

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

 

 

The find in the London manor house excites Sharon Reynolds, Curator of the Historical Costume and Fabric Collection of a Chicago museum. In one of the Elizabethan dresses, she finds a hidden parchment that claims proof existed that Henry had a legitimate son who should have been on the throne instead of Elizabeth. Before she can understand what she has, Sharon falls through a door and finds an aristocratic woman wearing sixteenth century garbs yelling at her.

Somehow, Sharon has become a seamstress for Queen Elizabeth I. Sharon becomes confused and almost is trampled by a horse. Elizabeth's half brother Richard Granville saves her life. As Richard and Sharon begin to fall in love, she must adjust to the regal intrigue of 1570, including a Spanish-Catholic alliance that plans to place Richard on the throne in spite of his loyalty to the current monarch.

THE QUEEN'S MAN is a fast-paced time travel romance starring two charming charcaters. Although fans must accept on faith the movement through time and Sharon's relatively easy adjustment, readers will fully enjoy the tale. The story line brings to life the court of Queen Elizabeth 1 through the eyes of the time traveler. Fans of the sub-genre will gain pleasure from this warm tale filled with historical tidbits, a wonderful cast, and an interesting era lively painted by Terri Brisbin.

Harriet Klausner

Just finished this book in about a day. Terri knows how to write fast paced novels that you just can't put down. Her latest novel is also a time-travel romance, with the heroine, Sharon Reynolds, a textile expert, stepping through a portal into Elizabethan times. BUT, before she does step through, she finds proof that King Henry had a legitimate son, one born of Anne Boylen and King Henry. This rightful heir is the one that should be on the throne and not Queen Elizabeth. Sharon is determined to set things right and find this son to give him the proof he needs. What she doesn't count on is falling in love with one Richard Granville, not realizing he is the one. Sparks certainly fly with these two. Now, the big question is will Sharon change the course of history and present Richard with the proof he has looked for, or will she follow her heart? A most satisfying romantic what-if, the ending doesn't disappoint.

Thank you for reading my review :)

**Pandora

THE QUEEN'S MAN by Terri Brisbin Review by Barb Deane, Barb's All Romance Book Store

Terri Brisbin's September, 2000 release, The Queen's Man, is her third book released under Jove's Time Passages series. I will admit right up front that I was predisposed to like this book: I love Terri's first two books, A Love Through Time and A Matter of Time; The Queen's Man is set in Elizabethan England, another favorite of mine; and the hero is the son of Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn, and I have read and enjoyed many, many books on the wives of Henry VIII. Even given all of this, I was still surprised to see how much I loved The Queen's Man.

Sharon Reynolds is in England on a vacation from Chicago, studying at the London Textile Institute. She has encountered problems in her recent promotion to the head curator at the Chicago Museum's Historical Costume and Fabric collection due to the jealous machinations of a man who did not get appointed to the position.

Sharon finds a packet of papers hidden inside an Elizabeth gown that was found. She can't resist opening the papers, but is stunned when she figures out that they are the signed confession and supporting documents that establish that Henry VIII fathered a son while married to Ann Boleyn, but the midwife stole the child, presumed dead, and had him raised by another family. Although the rightful King of England, this son was never discovered nor acknowledged.

When Sharon stumbles upon a hidden room, she, the dress, and the documents are thrown back in time. She is mistaken for another Sharon Reynolds who is supposed to join the Queen's household, and is immediately put to work as a seamstress. When she finally figures out and accepts where she is, she realizes it must have happened in order for her to find Henry VIII's true son and give him the evidence he needs to take his rightful place as King, although she also fears the effect this will have on history.

Richard Granville is in charge of the Queen's stables. He also happens to be Good Queen Bess's bastard half-brother. When he first sees Sharon Reynolds, he is wary of her. However, her honesty, innocence, and attractiveness generate a more than average interest for him. She is somewhat more outspoken that the women he is used to, but much more intriguing as well.

The historical backdrop for this story is well done. There is enough of the flavor of Elizabethan England to make it totally believable, but it is not bogged down in detail. Both Richard and Sharon are honest, intelligent, and likable characters with great sexual chemistry. I totally bought into their romance, the struggles each of them has with the situation and their unusual circumstances, and the choices they must make in order to resolve their dilemmas. My only criticism would be that I wanted to know more about their life together after the story was over, so I'm hoping there's going to be a sequel. Another wonderful, entertaining, and pleasing story by Terri Brisbin. Don't miss it!

With her third time travel novel, Terri Brisbin once again captures the hearts of her fans. Ms. Brisbin is fast becoming a force with which to reckon in the time travel genre.

Thirty year old Sharon Reynolds, head curator for the historical costume and fabric collection of the Chicago Museum, is in an old manor house in London, England, examining a collection of clothing purported to be from the Elizabethan period. While doing so, she discovers a piece of parchment dated 1560 A.D. concealed in one of the gowns, the written contents of which, had it been discovered back then, would have had the power to change history as we know it. In her excitement to share this find with her colleagues, Sharon stumbles into a small, hidden room and finds herself transported to sixteenth century Elizabethan England.

There, she is providentially mistaken for one of Queen Elizabeth's seamstresses. She meets up with the Queen's stable master, the handsome and charming Richard Granville, illegitimate son of Henry VIII and half brother to Queen Elizabeth I. Attracted to him, she finds herself falling in love with him before she realizes that the parchment she holds has the power to change his fate, as well as that of Elizabeth and England, forever.

This is a wonderfully inventive time travel tale, replete with political intrigues, plot twists, and characters who charm the reader. The author masterfully weaves a tapestry of events that will keep the reader turning the pages of this book.

This book was just plain amazing...Sharon Reynolds and Richard Graniville had a powerful chemistry. I absolutely loved the setting, the 16th century Elizibethian time. I feared for Richard, when the queen found out about his plot with the catholics to evict her from the throne and locked him in the tower of london. I really enjoyed the part when Sharon finally told Richard that she was from the future. The ending of the the book was a complete surprise to me! I figured you know just "happy ever after" but it was more than happy ever after. If I go on, this page will not be able to fit any other reviews. Know this: this book is a definate plus! it was captivating, suspenseful, romantic I couldn't put it down for a second! get your self a copy. It is worth it!!!

When I saw the title of this book and then read the back cover I was so excited! But then I began to read the book. This author did no research, how do I know? She claimed a Peasant blouse and broomstick skirt would have been okay to wear as undies in 1500's England.

It is obvious that the author has gone to Renaissance Faires, by her discriptions, and I guess to her it might seem like a great place to do research. However? It is not, Checking out extant clothing of the time, researching museums would have made this book a better read, I know I am being a Snark for stating the authenticity sucks.... but it does in fact suck royally!


#1. The cover is horrible, it does not show man of the time period in question, but a modern guy in a badly done outfit....

#2. Herione who is supposed to be a "textile expert" and an embroiderer. Yet she does not know the Renaissance Faire get up is not what would be seen at QE 1's court.

#3. She was making a dress in satin in PURPLE! What kind of Satin? We are never told, but she is a TEXTILE EXPERT!!

#4. Elizabeth's gowns are documented, She never owned a 'purple' gown, She did have"Mulberry" gowns which was a kind of burgundy.
No purple EVER. It would have taken no more than 20 minutes of research to find out that fact.


I would have liked to have known more about the people involved in this fantasy, Mary Bolyen did have 2 male children of Henry VIII, surprising that they never surfaced to try for the throne. History is astounding in the real vs fantasy we can take it too.

But this author did not take it very far and it was limited by her own lack of knowledge of her subject.

I am glad this book was only a Buck for me, and I wish I had not purchased it but borrowed it from the library.

If you are not a die-hard stickler for history this book is entertaining. Ms. Brisbin starts with a prologue that draws the reader into the middle ages and a mystery regarding King Henry's children. One minute Sharon Reynolds is living in the present and the next she is thrown into a time where women are treated as inferior and biddable to men.

After realizing what has happened Sharon spends her time plotting to return to the future. Along the way both she, and the reader, learn what is taken for granted in our time. Not everything goes as planned and the romance is rocky at some moments but I still enjoyed the book. Not a kids' story, there are some detailed sexual encounters that are aimed at adults.

Don't take it seriously, curl up in a comfortable chair and have a nice afternoon read. If you enjoy a time-travel romance while having open eyes regarding the historical aspect you should like this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the ending was especially wonderful...romantic and yet a total surprise. Too often a person can figure out exactly what is going to happen in the end of a romance. Not with Terri Brisbin's books -- Don't miss this wonderful love story!

It really is a great story - for that I would have given it 5 stars. I found the "romantic" parts a bit too graphic though. I certainly wouldn't want a teenager or my Mom reading this.