Book Review: The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards

Goodreads Summary:

1586 – London, England. Sixteen-year-old Mercy Hart is the daughter of one of London’s richest – and strictest – cloth merchants. Kit Turner is an actor and the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Dorset. A chance encounter finds Kit falling for the beautiful Mercy’s charms, but their love is forbidden. A merchant’s daughter and a vagabond – it simply cannot be. If Mercy chooses Kit she must renounce her family name and leave her home. Will she favour duty over true love, or will she give Kit his heart’s desire?

My Review

This third instalment of the Lacey family tales follows the story of the Lacey boy's illegitimate half brother Kit who was estranged from the family after their father died and enjoys a life on stage as a player at Richard Babbage's famous company whilst Mercy Hart is the daughter of a well respected London tradesman who belongs to the Puritans. All the unwritten laws of society declare that they cannot be together- is there love strong enough to overcome this and sacrifice part of themselves for each other?

I loved the previous two books in the Lacey Chronicle series, The Other Countess and The Queen's Lady so I was really hoping that The Rouge's Princess would live  up to my high expectations and it did!  I fall every time for the 'will they, won't they' romances in books and this was no exception.

Kit made an appearance in the Queen's Lady and at first I was unsure of whether I liked him because he came across as irritating so I was apprehensive about him being a main character. However, I couldn't have been more wrong because out of the male leads so far, I think he is the most fun to read about because he leads such a different life than his half brothers. His gift with words and use of poetic flowery language makes him a real charmer complete with gorgeous looks- swoon! I doubt I will be the only reader crushing on him. At the beginning of the book, he has his heart in the right place but also likes a good drink down the pub like the other theatre boys but the thing that really won him over as a worthy hero of the book was his resilience in his pursuit of Mercy. He treated her with the utmost kindness and respect and was even willing to change his character to fit in with her Puritan ways by toning down his bright fashionable clothes. It was so sweet because it was clear that he really loved Mercy and she wasn't just a passing fancy because he was determined to continue his courtship even at the opposition of the Hart family.

Likewise, Mercy has a different personality than the other ladies in the books so far because she's quiet, shy and extremely modest about herself because of her Puritan upbringing and will not even allow herself the pleasure of a pretty new dress. Kit bought out the more wild side in her character, which was hidden inside at the start but started to show in her half shy cheeky flirtations with Kit when they first meet by chance. I admired her for the courage she showed and she is the kind of girl I'd like to have as a friend because she has a fun sense of humour that emerged but a sensible head.

The main characters from the other books with Will, James and Tobias Lacey as well as Milly Porter and her husband Diego appearing in person and Ellie, Jane and Sarah being mentioned. I particularly loved Tobias's mischievous neature and his witty and affectionate brotherly banter with Kit. That bought a lot of comic relief to the story and was funny to read.

Again, the Tudor era was described vividly and I found myself right in the heart of the streets of London and I could visualise the bawdy roar of the crowds at the Globe Theatre and sense the political atmosphere at the taverns that Kit visits. As in the other books, historical events were involved heavily in the plot and this book focused on suspicion of plots to overthrow Mary Queen of Scots and gave a glimpse into the start of William Shakespeare's career. I particularly enjoyed learning about the Puritan beliefs because I've heard things about them in other historical books but never in detail. Their simple and harsh way of life fascinated me and fitted in perfectly with the plot and setting. The author's biography says that she dined at a Tudor banquet in order to get the sounds and smells of the era right and this really shines through in her writing.

 I loved curling up with the Rogue's Princess and it left me with a smile on my face. The character cast that Eve Edwards has created is wonderful and it feels like I know them. It's not often I feel that way about book characters and when you do find that special series, it feels like you've struck gold. I really hope that there will be more books in the series because I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them and of course, there's still the youngest Lacey brother Tobias and sister Sarah to write about. 

Verdict/ Speed read: Eve Edward's evocative depiction of Tudor England took me to Elizabethan London along with well crafted and loved characters. Mercy and Kit's romance was adorable and I was so glad to see some characters from the previous books in the series. The Lacey Chronicle books are now firm favourites of mine and The Rogue's Princess is no exception to this. I savoured every last word and hope that we will see more books in the series! Highly recommended for fans of YA historical and those who are looking to escape in a wonderfully romantic book.

Rating: 5 stars

Thank you to Razorbill for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

Warning: There are some spoilers here for the first book in the series, The Other Countess.

Goodreads description

1584 – Surrey, England When Lady Jane Rievaulx begins service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled at the court’s newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey. Despite her previous courtship with his older brother, James is the man she truly loves. And for his part, he cannot deny his fascination with her. However, James is setting sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Lady Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, there is only one man to save her. Will Master James return to his lady ­- before it’s too late?

My thoughts

Last year I read the first in the Lacey series, The Other Countess and absolutely loved it so it became on my favourites of the year so I was really excited that there was going to be a sequel. The Queen's Lady definitely had a lot to live up to! I am glad to say that Eve Edwards descriptive writing transported me back into the Elizabethan world that entranced me in the Other Countess.

This Lacey romance, switches from the story of the alchemist's daughter Ellie to her friend, Lady Jane Perceval who gave up a bright and safe future to ensure her friend's happiness in a huge test of loyalty. I originally found her hard to like in the first book but I liked the way her character developed and became more interested in her by the end so I'm happy that her story gets a book of its own. Eighteen months on from where we left Jane in The Other Countess, we meet Jane again as a recently widowed Marchioness, who is grieving for her kind elderly husband. He offered her refuge from her manipulating family as well as a caring and fatherly friendship though their marriage was in name only. She is at the mercy of her cruel father and her deceitful step-sons who will stop at nothing to get back what they believe is rightfully theirs but thanks to her late husband's thoughtful arrangements, she is able to serve the Queen as a lady in waiting at court. When Master James Lacey arrives at court, Jane is overjoyed and her old strong feelings for him come flooding back because despite her courtship with his elder brother, James is the man her heart truly lies with. The problem is, James hates her at first because he doesn't know the real reason why she broke her betrothal . Despite him learning the truth and having a fascination with her, James embarks on a voyage to the Americas to try and rid himself of the terrible memories of war that haunt him, feeling that he does not deserve beautiful Jane. However, whilst away Jane is forced into a dreadful situation as her family try to use her as a pawn to advance their fortunes.

I liked Jane much more in this book because she seemed to have matured a great deal and copes with the strains and stresses she is put under as well as the social expectations everyone around seems to have very well. It is very hard to begin to image what it would be like to have such heavy burdens resting on such young shoulders. To the court, she seems like a stiff and cold person but underneath the mask she puts on to hide her emotions there, she is bubbly, warm and loving as well as a loyal friend when she is with her lifelong playmate and friend, Milly. I really liked the scenes at Milly's needle women's workshop, which Jane helped to set up because the real Jane is revealed and the fun side of her is bought out into the open.

The romance between Jane and James was strong  (even though I personally love the love interest Will in The Other Countess more!) and I was rooting for them all the way because they bought out the best in each of their personalities, helped each other through rough patches and seemed to be meant for each other. I thought the fact that they both had flaws made their relationship even stronger. It was so frustrating for James to feel he was unworthy of her and sail to the other side of the world, leaving his lady in her time of need though. I liked the side love story of her friend Milly too, which was ridden with problems because of rife feelings of prejudice and racism in London.

The main character of the next book in the series called Kit, who is the illegitimate brother of Will and James Lacey is also introduced and whilst I didn't really warm to him, his character was intriguing. I'm especially looking forward to see how his relationship develops with his half brothers and if he can get over thinking they will treat him the same way as his/their father.

Once again, Eve Edwards creates a wonderfully detailed and authentic Elizabethan setting enriched by all the sights, sounds and smells of the time. In her 'about section' she says that she attended jousts and ate Elizabethan banquets as part of her research for the book and this really shows as the way she describes things so vividly really brings them to life. What really strikes me is how she makes the characters so accessible and rateable to modern readers and shows that human nature and emotion hasn't changed over time.

Verdict: Whilst I did love this book and wasn't too disappointed, I have to be honest and say that I didn't enjoy it *quite* as much as The Other Countess, but it was very close. Perhaps the reason for this is the characters aren't quite so 'sweet' and it has a darker side. This series is now one of my favourites and I'm really looking forward to the next installment, The Rouge's Princess, which is published in a few months. I'd recommend it to those who loved The Other Countess, historical fiction and romance fans or just those who are looking for wonderful story.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Read for the 2011 YA historical fiction challenge.

In My Mailbox 20/2/11

In My Mailbox is a fabulous meme held by the lovely Kristy at The Story Siren, where bloggers share the new books they have this week whether through the post, hand bought or from the library.

Here's what I got this week (both books bought):

The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

1584 – Surrey, England When Lady Jane Rievaulx begins service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled at the court’s newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey. Despite her previous courtship with his older brother, James is the man she truly loves. And for his part, he cannot deny his fascination with her. However, James is setting sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Lady Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, there is only one man to save her. Will Master James return to his lady ­- before it’s too late?

I've been anxiously waiting for the release of this one (February 3rd)  since I read  the first book in the Lacey series, The Other Countess last year and absolutely loved it and it made my top 5 books of 2010. Actually, it's one of my favourites ever. I had so much of things I love in a book: the Tudor Court, lavish balls, handsome earl, sweet romance, gorgeous period dresses..... So I was very excited to get it from Waterstones bookstore with my voucher! I'm currently reading it at the moment.

Sigrun's Secret by Marie Louise Jensen

"Their garments are black as night. They carry torches in their hands, darkness and anger in their hearts. They are coming.'
When a dark family secret is exposed, Sigrun's peaceful life is shattered. Forced to pay for her parents' misdeeds, she finds herself exiled from all she knows - and from the boy she loves - for three long years. Yet more secrets lie ahead; not least the power Sigrun finds awakening in herself, seemingly passed to her from a mysterious amulet. Can she use her new-found gift to save herself and those around her from the dangers they face? And will true love wait until her return?

Sigrun's Secret is the sequel to Daughter Of Fire and Ice which I also read and really enjoyed last year. This time, it's the story of the protagonist's daughter Sigrun and I can't wait to start reading it. It was released in January of this year by Oxford Press. I'm probably going to take it with me when I go on holiday for a couple of days next week.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Book Review: The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

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Summary (from Goodreads.com)

It's 1582 and eighteen-year-old Will Lacey's family is in trouble. After years of wasteful spending, his late father has run Lacey Hall to near ruin. Tasked with marrying his family back into fortune, the new Earl of Dorset is all set for a season at court to woo not just the Queen but potential brides with his jousting skills. But when Ellie – a strong-willed girl with nothing to her name but a worthless Spanish title – catches Will's eye, he faces a bigger battle than he could ever have anticipated.

When I read the blurb of this book at the library, the debut novel of Eve Edwards, I knew that it was the kind of book that I would love. To be immersed in the Tudor world filled with intrigue in the courts of Queen Elizabeth I mixed together with love at all odds…. What could be better?

It turned out that I was right in the end and I couldn’t tear myself away from it. Everything about it was so lovely and well thought out with characters that I warmed to and believable and witty dialogue.

Characters

It was the characters in the book that made this book so gorgeous and stand far above the countless predictable 'will they, will they not' historical romances. Even though the book is told in the third person, different chapters follow the lives of the main characters in the book and we are given an insight into the point of view of these characters through this.

My favourite character was the heroine Ellie or Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jaime, who owns a worthless Spanish title inherited from her late mother. She is a sensitive and sweet girl with a fun filled nature but with a feisty and strong willed spirit that comes out in her at times along with a tendency to be very defensive of herself when she is offended. Unusually for girls like her at that time she is very learned and well educated in the languages of Greek and Latin to much amusement and suspicion at court, where unmarried young ladies are sought after for their dowries. Her father is an alchemist who is obsessed with his work and often doesn't care to think of how his quest to find gold affects his daughter and the kind of life she is condemned to because of it. I sympathised with Ellie on this and sensed her frustration in her fruitless attempts to open his eyes to how the world views him and his work. Since she is a pretty young lady made destitute by her father's lifestyle, Ellie is also very vulnerable of being pursued by young men offering her their protection. Yet through all her ill fate and spoilt reputation she manages to stay true to herself and.

Will, the eighteen year old Earl of Dorset who is burdened with the responsibility of restoring his family's lost fortune, frittered away by his late father . Knowing that the future of his mother and younger siblings is in his hands, he must win the favour of the Queen and endeavour to impress young ladies suitable for matrimony. At the beginning of the book aged just fourteen, Will was a character that it was difficult to like because of his cruel manner and hostility towards Ellie and her father. Believing him and his alchemy practices to be the cause of his family's financial ruin, he throws them out of the household penniless. Yet, given the circumstances of his father's recent death, his actions can be forgiven a little. It was nice to see Will grow as a character throughout the book and see his true personality that was hidden under the fears and worries of his duties and responsibilities. Through the later stages of the book, he was the kind of young gentlemen that every girl would dream of; caring and chivalrous with a playful and witty sense of humour. I'm sure that lots of readers have fallen head over heels in love with him!

Besides Will and Ellie there are other sideline characters such as Lady Jane Perceval, who isslightly vain rich heiress but through her friendship with Ellie, a loyalty grows between them and I liked seeing in the development in her character. I'm looking forward to finding out more about Jane's story in the sequel to The Other Countess, The Queen's Lady. There is also James and Tobias (Will's younger brothers) who bring a touch of lighthearted fun in their comical brotherly teasing. I loved how each of the characters (including the minor ones) each had a story of their own which followed through the book to create a strong plot and memorable cast of characters,

More about the plot

When Ellie is staying at court with her father (who is working under the patronage of Lord Mountjoy) four years after her last encounter with Will, they meet again. A little afraid of Will to start off with, she soon realises that he doesn't recognise her for the girl he hates and resents and warily tries to enjoy his attention before he finds out the truth about who she really is.

Despite their past and feuds between their families, their relationship blossoms into affection and friendship that desires to grow. However, the rules of society forbids them to ever be together and Will has his duty to his family to think of. Ellie has nothing to offer him but his potential bride Lady Jane has the money that can save Lacey Hall and for his family to live in comfort again. Can they learn that love brings greater fortune than gold?

I felt that the book was well paced and the love between Will and Ellie grew at a natural pace and it wasn't a 'love at first sight' romance, which made their relationship seem more realistic. The bond and vibe that they shared was so lovely and they really brought out the best in each other, they're my favourite couple now!
 
Setting and descriptions
 

Not just a romance, Edwards brings life under the reign of Elizabeth to life with beautiful and enthralling descriptions that highlight so many delicious details for the reader to devour. They are the sort of things that you wouldn't know from reading a non- fiction historical information book from all the fine details of Elizabethan fashion to jousting tournaments. At court we meet real life people such as the infamous Sir Walter Ralegh (there was a different slant on his character that I found interesting and probably more realistic than the dashing descriptions of him in other books) and the Queen herself. Besides hearing about the rich and famous, Edwards gave an insight into the lives of the commoners in the village near Lacey Hall and how they find their 'perfect match,' creating a contrast between the two lifestyles.  Real issues such as religion and politics also have a mention in the story which really adds an extra dimension to the world that goes beyond the main characters.

Verdict: The Other Countess was a delightful and sweet historical romance with captivating and vivid descriptions that I found myself lost in for hours... I adored it! The characters are easy to relate to for a modern audience and they now have a special place in my heart.  Be prepared to be swept off your feet by this irresistible tale and into the Elizabethan era and savour every moment of it!

The sequel to The Other Countess, The Queen's Lady is being released in February 2011 and I can't wait to read it. I have a feeling the Lacey Romance series is going to become one of my favourites.

Make sure you visit Eve Edward's website for the fabulous book trailer, historical information and other great content. She is also running a competition to win a copy of The Other Countess which closes at the end of September so don't miss your chance. See the website for more details about how to enter.