Blythe GiffordRezensionen

The Chicago Tribune has called Blythe Gifford's work "the perfect balance between history and romance," and I couldn't agree more!

"Anne of Stamford has long been the keeper of her mistress's secrets, but when Lady Joan marries the king's son, court life becomes ever more perilous. Sir Nicholas Lovayne has arrived to uncover the truth about Lady Joan's past, and Anne must do something—anything—to throw him off…."

The back and forth between Anne and Nicholas kept this book exciting. They were definitely attracted to each other, but Anne was keeping a huge secret for Lady Joan and couldn't risk Nicholas finding out, and Nicholas had a very big problem when it came to trusting women given his father's marriage when he was a child to a woman Nicholas felt was manipulative and a liar.

"But who knew why women did anything except for their own gain. In his experience, women's interest in him had been directly proportional to what he could offer them."

But Anne isn't your average flighty woman. She has been dealing with a physical disability all of her life, and in that day and age, you were more likely to be turned out to beg on the street than live a normal life, so she considers herself very lucky indeed to be taken care of by Lady Joan. But what happens when she finds herself attracted to a man who makes her think and feel things that will get her nowhere in the long run? Or so she tells herself.

This was a very quick read because the characters were interesting and the historical backdrop was fascinating to read about.

I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to continuing with the Royal Weddings series.

Highly recommend - 5/5 stars.

Make Merry at Court
...with three Tudor Christmas stories!

Christmas at Court by Blythe Gifford

Sir John Talbot and Lady Alice's secret betrothal must wait until Henry Tudor claims the throne.
Set during the Christmas seasons of 1483-1485, while King Richard III struggles to keep his throne against Henry Tudor's threat. Alice and John enter a betrothal set up by their fathers. Those gentlemen profess their loyalty to Richard while working quietly to help Henry take the throne. During that first Christmas, John and Alice get to know each other a little. There is attraction and a tentative friendship, and each is wary of trusting the other. The next time they see each other is Christmas 1484. The tensions at Court are palpable as rumors of Henry's plans run rife. A year apart has allowed doubts to creep in about each other's commitment, but time spent together eases some of those doubts. By Christmas of 1485, Henry is now king, but John and Alice cannot marry until the king keeps his promise to marry Princess Elizabeth. To complicate matters, John's father has come up with a new plan that may put an end to their betrothal.

I liked both John and Alice. Alice is sweet but not naïve, especially after living at Court. While she accepts her father's dictates about who to marry, she is intelligent enough to deduce the politics behind it. I liked how Alice confronted John and insisted on knowing the whole story. She is also smart enough to keep her wits about her in the paranoid atmosphere and stay out of trouble. John is suspicious of Alice at first, especially when he realizes her intelligence, and worries that she might play both sides. I liked seeing the relationship develop, with a little more depth each Christmas. The third year is especially trying as they try to move their future forward. I loved seeing John stand up to his father and take matters into his own hands. Once they are away from the Court's intrigues, I think John and Alice will be happy together.

I enjoyed seeing the Tudor Christmas traditions and learning a few things I didn't know about betrothals of the period. I also enjoyed the historical bits about Henry's rise to the throne. Most of it I knew, but the treatment was different than other things I've read.

Secrets of the Queen's Lady by Jenni Fletcher

The lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves is unexpectedly reunited with a handsome—younger—diplomat at the palace's festivities!
1540 - Henry VIII and Katherine Howard are King and Queen in this story, while Anne of Cleves is now the king's "favored sister." The widowed Lady Pippa is one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, a position she took after her husband's death. Pippa's marriage was a miserable one, and she swore she would not marry again. Just before Christmas, a young diplomat arrived to invite Anne to join the King and Queen for Christmas. Pippa was surprised to see Lord Christopher, who she'd known ten years earlier when he was a lad of seventeen.

The development of the relationship between Kit and Pippa was a rocky one. Kit remembered Pippa very well - he's compared other women to her for years. His brother wants Kit to marry a young woman he picked out, but Kit isn't interested. He only has eyes for Pippa. Meanwhile, Pippa resists Kit as hard as she can. She is seven years older than he is, was reviled by her husband because she didn't give him a child, and doesn't want to risk another marriage. She does everything she can to push Kit away. I ached for Kit because he loves Pippa, but he can't get through to her. I loved that her age and childlessness didn't bother him at all. There were some emotional scenes as he tried to convince her of his love. Pippa frequently frustrated me with her refusal to give him a chance. Her husband's cruelty deeply affected her self-confidence. I wanted to shake her each time she lied to him about her feelings. I loved how she received some eye-opening advice from Anne and some unexpected help when she decided. The ending was terrific. I would have liked an epilogue to see where they ended up.

His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe

Catherine seeks help from a mysterious Spaniard to free her father in time for Christmas!
1554 - Queen Mary and King Philip. It is early in Queen Mary's reign, shortly after her marriage to Philip. This is a happy time for her: a rebellion against her rule has been stopped, she expects her first child (she believes), and it is Christmas. It's not all sweetness and light - the English resent the presence of her husband's Spanish countrymen, and intrigue still runs rampant.

Catherine and her mother, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen's mother, travel to London at the Queen's request. Catherine's father resides in prison, accused of participating in the rebellion. Catherine and Elena hope that the Queen will help them. Don Diego is another recent arrival at Court. He is on a secret mission to gather intelligence about threats to the Queen.

I liked the development of the romance between Catherine and Diego. Drawn together from the moment they met, both are initially cautious. Catherine believes that the wealthy and handsome Diego is beyond her reach, especially with her father's imprisonment. Diego knows the truth about her father's situation and tries to stay away for her protection. The holiday revelries throw them together fairly often, and they find much in common, including a growing attraction. I loved Diego's kindness, and there are several sweet scenes of them together.

Intrigue swirls around the court, and Catherine finds herself the focus of several warnings. A former neighbor makes a nuisance of himself, and I felt Catherine's unease whenever she was around him. Her mother reminds her of their precarious position, telling Catherine to be on guard. But when Catherine gets caught up in another attempt on the Queen, will Diego be able to save her? I loved the ending, with Catherine's strength of will and Diego's determination. Their big moment shows excellent potential for their future.

I was eager to read this holiday collection from Harlequin, as its set in the little-used Renaissance period. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite all I hoped it would be.

Christmas at Court by Blythe Gifford - ⭐⭐
Set between 1483-1485, our pair, Lady Alice and Sir John, find their marriage alliance in parallel with the upstart Henry Tudor and his promise to wed Elizabeth of York and overthrow Richard III. This story was about 90% intrigue and 10% romance, and I confess I was confused about how Alice's and John's relationship was so reliant on Henry's and Elizabeth's. Perhaps if this had been a full-length novel, the political crises could've been spaced out more evenly, and the romance given room to grow. As it is, Alice and John spent pretty much all of their time together doubting each other and their familial alliances, so I'm not really sure what they saw in each other, beyond the initial attraction and lust. I don't really believe they could've had a HEA, considering they barely knew each other and didn't really seem to trust each other. A disappointment, to be sure.

Secrets of the Queen's Lady by Jenni Fletcher - ⭐⭐
Set in 1540. I found this story totally unbelievable, unfortunately. Pippa, our heroine, was never able to get out of her own way, and her reasons for resisting Kit's woo were thin, at best. We romance readers are tired of heroes being treated badly by one woman in their life and swearing off marriage - and unfortunately, that's basically Pippa's stance here. Plus she makes a HUGE deal out of being 7 years older than Kit and how she thinks she'll just drag him down. Kit's no real prize, either; his answer to all of his woes is basically to run away. He doesn't care about being disowned by his family (!). He felt too modern for this time period altogether, wanting to forge his own path and marry a woman to be his partner. And he gives Pippa way too much latitude to hurt him, especially after she calls him a boy to his face. The cherry on top of this impossibly implausible cake? Anne of Cleves as matchmaker. Yeah, no, sorry, not buying that at all 😒

His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
By far the best of the bunch, IMO. Set in 1554, at the Christmas Court of Queen Mary, this story is the perfect blend of court intrigue and holiday romance. We meet our pair, Catherine Greaves and Don Diego de Vasquez, as they arrive in London for very different reasons: Catherine and her mother are there to plead for her father's life - he's been locked in the Tower as a traitor as part of the Wyatt rebellion - while Diego has been summoned to gather intelligence about other plots against the Queen. The two meet and, more or less in spite of themselves, begin to fall in love in the midst of the holiday revelry. Diego's contact on the inside is none other than Catherine's father, a secret that's kept from everyone save about 3 people, which, being an honorable man, he thinks puts Catherine out of his reach. Diego is worldly and sophisticated, which Catherine thinks puts him beyond *her* reach. She's determined to make merry while she can, though, and Diego is only too happy to oblige.

There are quite a few steamy kisses - which seem out of place but could be put down to the passionate nature of the Spanish, I suppose 😄 - but otherwise, this is a well-rounded, believable romance. There's even a bit of action at the end, before the obligatory confessions of love. Well done to Ms. McCabe!

Tudor trials!

Three tales of Christmas during Tudor times. Rich with traditions, foods and inevitably, intrigue. From the courtly dances, to gathering Christmas boughs, to court games--often lighthearted on the surface but with dangerous depths.
From the beginning of the Tudor's reign, from Richard and Henry to Mary.
Three stories that find love amidst dangerous times where plots and treason are rampant.
Christmas at Court by Wendy Blythe Gifford
The twelve days of Christmas form the background of this novel reeking treachery and danger. Christmas Eve 1483—Westminster Palace, set under Richard III's rule prior to Henry Tudor's battle for the throne. Lady Alice of Oakshire is told by the former Queen, now Dame Elizabeth and herself in sanctuary, that she is to be betrothed on Christmas Day to John Talbot, son and heir of the Earl of Stanson. Alice finds she must keep her own counsel and be vigilante. Who can she trust at this time? On another note,I found the laws around the concept of betrothal fascinating.
Secrets of the Queen’s Lady by Jenni Fletcher
1541--Hampton Court in the new year
Lady Anne of Cleves, no longer Queen, now legalized as Henry Tudor's sister, returns at his invitation to court for New Year celebrations along with her ladies. Amongst them the widowed Lady Philippa (Pippa) Bray. Philippa, having decided to remain a widow has no time for Sir Christopher Lowell whom she knew years ago as Kit, against everything her heart is telling her.
His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe
Interestingly set in the Catholic Queen Mary Tudor's court of 1554 when King Philip of Spain is present awaiting the birth of their child. Most stories tell of this time as one fermented of rebellion and sly Spaniards being very much the enemy. This was a different take, with a young woman, Catherine Greaves, whose mother is Spanish, a former lady in waiting to Mary, joins her mother at to plea for her father, Sir Walter Greaves, who it appears was caught up in the Wyatt Rebellion and was subsequently imprisoned in the Tower. Whilst here Catherine makes the acquaintance of one of Philip's Spanish courtiers, the very dashing aristocrat, Don Diego de Vasquez. This will be a Yuletide unlike any Catherine has known.

A Harlequin - Romance ARC via NetGalley

Set in medieval England, Marc de Marcel is a French hostage of lowly birth, sent to replace a noble, but his ransom is not forthcoming.

Cecily has lost both her parents, and is duty bound as the Countess of Losford to wed according to the king's pleasure. Until she happens on one of the hated French responsible for the deaths of her countrymen. Sheltered, there is much she doesn't know about the world, and the hostage chevalier becomes her tutor.

I loved Ms. Gifford's attention to historical details and was as impressed by her story notes as with the story itself. A heart rending tale of duty and honor.

Set in the British Medieval Court where John of Gaunt and his wife Contanza are trying to work out a way to reclaim her throne and for him to get a throne and power. One of his commanders is Sir Gil Wolford; he delivers a token from Lady Valerie of Florham's husband who died only to discover that this isn't hers. He's attracted to her but he's determined to keep his focus on the campaign and he thinks that his past is going to mar his future.

Valerie want's nothing more than to garden and to forget her abusive husband but the king has other plans. Gil and Valerie are to wed, whether they like it or not. He doesn't understand her and while he keeps telling her that she needs to be more herself for a long time he doesn't give her the space.

It's interesting but sometimes I was so angry with Gil and his inability to actually see what was going on with Valerie.½

I really enjoyed this book. Alexander was a little quick to believe in Margret's innocence. But I loved the way his doubts were portrayed and how he questioned what they were doing in the witch hunts.

Explosive secrets and hesitant love!

1361. A tale of princes, love and discarded husbands. Secrets skulk in high places, surrounding annulled marriages and ecclesiastical decisions. The story of Joan of Kent, and her irregular marriages is witnessed through the eyes of her constant companion Anne, the lame daughter of Joan's former lady-in-waiting.
Anne of Stamford is the focus through which the fascinating woman who would become Prince Edward's wife is revealed. There is a deep mystery surrounding Joan of Kent, all tied up with ecclesiastical courts and this wilful woman intent on shaping her own destiny. Anne comes to know the force of that intent. Gifford's Afterward is interesting in locating the historical questions that surround Joan, The Fair Maid of Kent and Edward, The Black Prince.
In reality, Joan and Edward's marriage is the larger than life background, the raison d'être for the interaction between Anne and Sir Nicholas Lovayne
Anne holds the secrets of Joan's former marriages, their disturbing timelines. For that knowledge alone Anne will eventually be a source of danger to the legitimacy of any children Joan and Edward might have. Fortunately Anne is not only intensely loyal, she's grateful to have a place where she is protected from the life that others with her affliction experience.
(The observations about the crippled and afflicted, their fate in these times, the attention to the difficulties of riding for Anne, even her experiences amongst the pilgrims, focus our attention on Anne's struggles and fears and the import of the secrets she holds for her very survival. When Anne contemplates the lame begging in the streets and compares her lot to theirs, the realization of the veneer of protection between them and what her life could hold is frighteningly thin.)
The tension between Anne and Nicholas is palpable. Anne of course is continually having to hide her mistresses secrets from the discerning eye of Nicholas.
Who is Nicholas? He's the Prince's man, a mercenary who's fought his way to this position. A man who wants no ties but cannot help but sense the strength of this lame maid. He sees her, who she is, when no-one else does. He is attracted to her. He is also the man charged with seeking the annulment of Joan's former marriage from the Pope and the approval of her marriage to Prince Edward from the English ecclesiastical court, the Curia. A man charged with uncovering secrets.
A dangerous dance ensues between these two. A dance of secrets withheld and secrets sought, of painful revelations and ultimately of love.

A NetGalley ARC

I mainly read this because it has connection to Edward III (heroines mother ALice Perrers) and I knew it was big on romance side. I thought it was a nice surprise because I did enjoy it.

But still it was okay but couldn't see much chemistry between the characters. I thought the author tried to keep them apart too hard for no apparent reason.

My favorite of the trilogy. Rob is the leader of his clan and must do what is best for them. When he comes across Stella Storwick, a member of his clan's mortal enemies, he seizes the moment and seizes her. His clan has already taken her father hostage and he finds that neither one is being searched for by their relations. Now he has to decide what to do with her.

I really liked both Rob and Stella. Both of them have found themselves isolated by the expectations others have of them. Rob has been trained by his father to take over the clan, but never felt as though his father thought he was ready. When his father died unexpectedly Rob felt unprepared for the responsibility. Added to these problems were the demands from the Scottish king that Rob provide men for his war and the results of Rob's refusal (see Return of the Border Warrior and Captive of the Border Lord). Now he finds that he is attracted to the daughter of his enemy and can't do anything about it. I really enjoyed seeing the way that being with Stella filled something in his soul that he hadn't realized was missing. I also loved seeing the way that she confused him and often made him rethink his attitude about something. The last chapters showed him finally come into his own.

I really liked Stella. All her life she had been treated like someone too good to be exposed to other people, leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. When she found herself a captive of the Brunsons she didn't know what to expect. What she got was being treated like an ordinary person and she loved it. I loved seeing her experience things like cooking and washing. I also loved the way she took care of Wat, showing one of the facets of her personality that had never been given a chance before. I also really liked the way that she wanted to find her place in the world. One of the things that I enjoyed most about her was the way she came up with the perfect solution for their problems half a book before Rob and the others did.

Good book with plenty of intrigue. Thomas has been sent by the king to bring Bessie's brother John to court as hostage for the clan's behavior. John had made the king angry (see Return of the Border Warrior) but refuses to betray his own honor. To save her brother, Bessie volunteers to go in his place. They in turn make Thomas responsible for her safety. Once there Bessie has to learn to navigate a way of life far outside anything she has experienced before.

I liked Bessie. In the first book she was mostly in the background so I didn't get much of a feel for her. In this one the family stubbornness is very evident in her. She is determined to be the one to go. Once she is there she realizes that nothing is as it appears on the surface and finds herself depending on Thomas to show her the way. And though she had sworn to find proof of his treachery against her family what she found instead was a growing passion. I liked her combination of naivete and confidence. She didn't understand the things that went on at court but she was well aware of who she was and she wasn't going to be any less than what she expected of herself. I also liked the way that she decided to fight for Thomas and herself while trying to stay true to her roots.

Thomas was a little harder to know. Because of his position as Warden he had to be able to deal with Scots and English. He had grown up learning the art of compromise and how to read shifting loyalties and emotions. There are some things he has done in the service of the king that haven't turned out the way they were intended and that creates even more problems. As he tries to do his job and still protect the Brunsons he finds out that the only way he can protect Bessie is to marry her. He had sworn never to marry again after the disaster of his first marriage, but felt he had no choice. He was also trying to fight his attraction and growing feelings for her and losing that battle. When things come to a head Thomas has to make a choice between his king and his bride.

I have mixed feelings about this book. By the end I really liked it, but I felt like the first half dragged a bit, making it hard for me to get really involved. John had been sent away from him home at age twelve to be a companion to the boy king. Now he has been sent by the king to bring Brunson men to fight in the king's war against a traitor. He arrives to find his father dead and his brother as the new laird. No one is interested in having anything to do with his mission and he still feels like an outsider among his own people. He is rather naive I think about how effective the king's word would be in keeping the peace. He also discovers that the key to his success may be in convincing Cate that it is in the clan's best interest to cooperate with the king. He doesn't remember what Border people are like and thinks that a few kisses and cuddles will turn Cate from her purpose and is surprised when it doesn't. He also senses that there is more to her than appears on the surface. Cate's father was killed and she was assaulted two years previously. Since then she has lived for revenge and kept everyone at a distance. She doesn't understand why she is so drawn to John when she fears all men. She wants to trust her feelings and the things he tells her but trust is a hard thing for her now. I did like the growth that both characters showed. John changed from someone who wanted to hurry up and complete his mission and return to court to someone who had reconnected with his roots and was more interested in the welfare of his people. He also showed incredible kindness and patience with Cate and showing her how good it could be between them. He also was able to confront his feelings of rejection from being sent away. Cate was able to confront her fears with John's help and learn that she could move on from the past and have a brighter future. I liked the way that it was shown as a process and not a sudden healing. I did like the way that people's motivations were portrayed in a realistic way. The politics of the time were also shown well without beating the reader over the head with it. I'm looking forward to the next one.

RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR by Blythe Gifford is an exciting Medieval historical romance. A Scottish tale set in 1528.Book 1 of "The Brunson Clan" trilogy. A family saga of the Brunson Clan: two Viking warriors,John and Black Rob Brunson and their sister,Bessie who rule the Scottish border. Fast paced and filled with danger, border wars,Scotland,passion,tragedy,love,secrets and healing. Cate Gilnock, has been raped two years prior to the story, and her father murdered,she seeks to have her revenge. John Brunson is the King's man now and must return to a home he hasn't seen in years to direct the Brunson's to fight for their King or face treason. John was sent away to the King's court,he was the youngest of the Brunson Clan,and only a child. He must fight an inner struggle,just as Cate has too. Together,they face their struggles and although, John may end up hanging for treason he is determined to protect Cate at all costs. A sad but enjoyable read. Realistic struggles,realistic characters,and an intriguing plot you want go wrong with this title. A must read for anyone who enjoys Scottish warriors,Scottish wars,historical romance,a dog who refuses to leave his mistress,and strong love. I can hardly wait to read the next installment of "The Brunson Clan". Black Rob and Bessie are strong characters. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley. For more details please visit the author's website,Harlequin,and My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews½

The second son of a clan chief, John Brunson, at a young age, is sent to live with the royal court. He's always resented the fact that his father seemed to have no interest in him, to only pay attention to his older brother who would one day become clan chief. He hasn't seen his family or home in 10 years. Now his king has sent him back home to gather his family's men to join the king's war against a traitor. His reception home is a cold one. He finds out his father has recently died at the hands of a rival clan. His brother is now clan chief and has no interest in helping the king. The Brunson clan is focused on revenge.

Cate Gilnock is also bent on revenge, and she shares the Brunson's enemy. After the murder of her own father and the brutal taking of her innocence she turned to the Brunson clan for sanctuary. John's father promised her revenge. She hides herself in a tough exterior, never letting anybody get really close. She is learning to fight so she will never be vulnerable in any type of situation. She ends up being John's answer in getting his brother to send their men to help the king. If John can persuade her to give up her drive for revenge, then his brother would be free to help the king.

It's almost comical John's thought process at the beginning. He thinks it will be really easy to persuade Cate. He's used to women throwing themselves at him at court. He thinks first to seduce her into following his will. Cate's not going for it. She trusts very few men and in the beginning John does nothing to persuade her he is worthy of her trust. That trust slowly builds, though, once he promises to help her with her revenge and they spend more time together.

John had to grow on me too. I thought he was a little too cocky at first. I wasn't sure if I was going to ever like him. But I think it was his way of dealing with his insecurities with his family. Part of him wants nothing to do with them, to return to his king. And another part of him wants to prove to his family that he is still a Brunson and belongs with his family.

Once John gets past his insecurities, I started to really like him. Cate did too. The more Cate starts to trust John, the more he is able to break through her shell. She's really vulnerable, but determined. Cate vows never to be put in a position again where she feels helpless, where she won't fight. I liked that drive in her. Really John and Cate end up helping each other get past their problems and insecurities. Trust and respect become major factors in their relationship. But it wasn't all seriousness. John ended up having a cute flirty side too.

I do have to say something about the cover. I adore it. I love the way both models are looking out towards us. I love the colors and the almost suggestive way she is holding his sword. But Cate's hair is short throughout the book and she mostly dresses in men's clothing. The cover Cate does not really match book Cate. That bothered me a little.

ARC provided through NetGalley.

Who doesn't love a period piece love story!