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Tudor Rose #1
At the King's Command
Frustrated by his own failures at matrimony, King Henry VIII punishes an insolent nobleman by commanding him to marry the vagabond woman caught stealing his horse. Stephen de Lacey is a cold and bitter widower, long accustomed to the sovereign's capricious and malicious whims. He regards his new bride as utterly inconvenient...though undeniably fetching.
But Juliana Romanov is no ordinary thief—she is a Russian princess forced into hiding by the traitorous cabal who slaughtered her family. One day she hopes to return to Muscovy to seek vengeance.
What begins as a mockery of a marriage ultimately blossoms into deepest love.
But Juliana Romanov is no ordinary thief—she is a Russian princess forced into hiding by the traitorous cabal who slaughtered her family. One day she hopes to return to Muscovy to seek vengeance.
What begins as a mockery of a marriage ultimately blossoms into deepest love.
375 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1994
244 people are currently reading
1,503 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wiggs
194Ìýbooks7,135ÌýfollowersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See ) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at and on her lively blog at .
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at and on her lively blog at .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
October 9, 2020
Una lectura que atrapa y probablemente más adelante continúe con la serie. La novela está ambientada bajo el reinado de un Enrique VIII ya bien entrado en años, que tiene bastante protagonismo en la historia ya que, por su culpa, Stephen de Lacey, uno de sus barones, se ve obligado a mantener un secreto que le impide dar rienda a lo que empieza a sentir por Juliana, con quien tuvo que casarse en forma obligada, también por un capricho del rey.
Por su parte, Juliana es una princesa rusa que se vio forzada a huir a Inglaterra cuando toda su familia fue masacrada en una revuelta interna; lleva 5 años viviendo con los gitanos que la rescataron pero en su corazón solo tiene sed de venganza. Esto, por supuesto, hasta que comienzan a florecer los sentimientos por su recién estrenado marido.
A pesar que me gustó y disfruté del libro, considero que la autora abusó del drama de Stephen, caracterizándolo como un personaje bastante taciturno. Además, en su intento de que Juliana no descubra lo que siente por ella, la trata bastante mal. Ok, como lectores sabemos que sólo es una fachada, pero tanta palabra hiriente creo que era innecesaria, sobre todo cuando hay momentos en que baja sus defensas y se muestra increÃblemente tierno. Era como para tacharlo de bipolar y hay que ver la paciencia de Juliana.
Por supuesto, al final todo se resuelve bien, incluso con un giro que no vi venir y que deja todo doblemente atado.
Reto Rita 4.0 (octubre)
Reto #30 PopSugar 2020: Un libro, ficción o no, sobre un lÃder mundial
Por su parte, Juliana es una princesa rusa que se vio forzada a huir a Inglaterra cuando toda su familia fue masacrada en una revuelta interna; lleva 5 años viviendo con los gitanos que la rescataron pero en su corazón solo tiene sed de venganza. Esto, por supuesto, hasta que comienzan a florecer los sentimientos por su recién estrenado marido.
A pesar que me gustó y disfruté del libro, considero que la autora abusó del drama de Stephen, caracterizándolo como un personaje bastante taciturno. Además, en su intento de que Juliana no descubra lo que siente por ella, la trata bastante mal. Ok, como lectores sabemos que sólo es una fachada, pero tanta palabra hiriente creo que era innecesaria, sobre todo cuando hay momentos en que baja sus defensas y se muestra increÃblemente tierno. Era como para tacharlo de bipolar y hay que ver la paciencia de Juliana.
Por supuesto, al final todo se resuelve bien, incluso con un giro que no vi venir y que deja todo doblemente atado.
Reto Rita 4.0 (octubre)
Reto #30 PopSugar 2020: Un libro, ficción o no, sobre un lÃder mundial
November 4, 2020
Venga, que siendo generosa estarÃa entre una y dos estrellitas, pero ya sabéis que valoro siempre a la baja. Menudo coñazo de libro.
August 22, 2018
This is a first read by Susan Wiggs. I thought the writing was good, however it did have its moments where I wanted to DNF because of bordem and constant bickering between the two major characters with no intense attraction. This story had me dragging to complete because I wanted to really know how it ended without jumping through chapters.
The plot is about the hero who has been hurt by his deceased wife having a thing for Henry VIII of all people...ugh!. Then waltzes in the heroine, who is Romanov and has been raised by gypsies and knows she is well above the hero's station. They are forced into a marriage because of the King's somewhat dislike of the hero. Thus enters the hero's big secret that was finally revealed to be more idiotic than his fascination with inventing things...duh... which I thought was his biggest secret.
I thought it was a bit far-fetched with some of the story and wondered why the King, being the tyrant that he was, never put the hero to death for overstepping his ground on several occasion and then the King doing a 360 with showing compassion close to the ending with the hero chasing off to rescue the heroine.
I also found the hero's fascination as an inventor of toys and other household items a bit much. Tudor era...I could be wrong but didn't think indoor plumbing and automatic candle lighting happened.
The story could have used a little bit more research and a lot more romance and intimacy that was sorely missing. Will I continue with the series? A big "NO" for this reader as I was not impressed with this first story.
2/5 Stars and that is being nice
The plot is about the hero who has been hurt by his deceased wife having a thing for Henry VIII of all people...ugh!. Then waltzes in the heroine, who is Romanov and has been raised by gypsies and knows she is well above the hero's station. They are forced into a marriage because of the King's somewhat dislike of the hero. Thus enters the hero's big secret that was finally revealed to be more idiotic than his fascination with inventing things...duh... which I thought was his biggest secret.
I thought it was a bit far-fetched with some of the story and wondered why the King, being the tyrant that he was, never put the hero to death for overstepping his ground on several occasion and then the King doing a 360 with showing compassion close to the ending with the hero chasing off to rescue the heroine.
I also found the hero's fascination as an inventor of toys and other household items a bit much. Tudor era...I could be wrong but didn't think indoor plumbing and automatic candle lighting happened.
The story could have used a little bit more research and a lot more romance and intimacy that was sorely missing. Will I continue with the series? A big "NO" for this reader as I was not impressed with this first story.
2/5 Stars and that is being nice
January 11, 2023
Okudum ve bayıldım. Yani kitap bazı şeyleri uzatıp bazı şeyleri de yerinde kullansa kesin 5 likti. Hatta şu anki hali bile 4.60 puan. Kitabın sonnlara doğru her ne kadar Hayat Sevince Güzel ya da Hayat Bayram olsa esintileri olsa da bazı yüzleşmeler olmalıydı. Yüzleşme kısmında eksik kalınılmıştı. Meg olayı gibi... Kral sevgilisi miydi yoksa zorla bir şey mi yaptı kadına kadın kafayı yedi burası açıklanmadı. Ve Stephen ne nazlandı ya... Bu kadının erkek karakterlerinde bolca naz var yahu! 3.kitabında olaylar çok hızlı gelişti 1 de ise çok uzadı ve buna rağmen adam akıllı yüzleşme yoktu. Neyse benim gibi Tudors izleyen varsa bu seriyi kaçırmasın. Hatta The Last Chazr dizisini izleyip Romonav ailesi ile yakınlık kuran kim varsa kitaba gelsin bence. Kitap güzel bir histti ben sevdim en azından bazı gizemli yanları insanı kitapta tuttu. Hist canınız çekiyorsa kaçırmayın derim.
October 7, 2020
Alt tür olarak Rönesans'ın Tudor Dönemi'nden bir kitaptı. Yani medieval sonrası ama çok sonrası değil ve ben bu dönemi anlatan kitapları pek sevmediğimi keşfetmiştim. Ama Tutsak Yüreğim beni yormadı, gayet akıcıydı, saray entrikaları bir tık daha fazla olsa sevmezdim eminim ama neyse ki sarayla çok bağlantısı olan bir roman değil. Ben çok eğlenceli buldum, uzun süredir okuma listemdeydi ama nihayet okuyabildim. Seriye devam edeceğim.
April 4, 2021
I remember reading this book a while ago, but what I do remember is that it was a very good read. The story was very unique .
Shelved as 'kindle-stash'
September 4, 2021I'm casually adding all of the medieval books I'm planning on reading soon to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. I read some of this author's contemporaries but I think this will be my first historical by her! It looks court intriguey and fun.
November 21, 2017
I read this for the Year Long Historical Romance Book Club challenge.
Really, for a Tudor, not torture. I would read the second book in the trilogy for Tudor month next year.
Really, for a Tudor, not torture. I would read the second book in the trilogy for Tudor month next year.
April 4, 2021
I have a weakness for Tudor period in romance novels: the turbulent times, incredible pageantry, the old fashioned language and the beliefs that people used to have those days. This book delivered on these things for me and more. It featured a few things that I have not read about before such as Gypsy people. The best part was how author wrote them in positive light while also showing the bad and the good about their lifestyle. I really liked that it touched on ancient beliefs about how to treat asthma and the difficulties those afflicted with it suffered. I am glad to say that even though there were a couple of minor hiccups, I liked Juliana and Stephen together as well as multitude of side characters that made this a very rich story to sink my teeth into. This was a steadily paced, moderately steamy historical romance with slight suspense and a lot of heart.
August 21, 2024
Ho atteso quattordici anni per leggere questa trilogia che avevo preso anni fa e mi sono finalmente decisa a iniziarla. La profezia di una zingara a una ragazzina di Novgorod parla di tre donne e tre destini intrecciati. E dalla Moscovia il lettore si ritrova alla corte di Enrico VIII, poco prima del matrimonio con Anna di Cleves (1538).
Qui Juliana, russa di nascita e zingara di adozione, aiuterà il suo nuovo marito forzato, un barone inglese, a sfuggire agli intrighi nobiliari e a ritrovare gli affetti familiari.
Vivace e avventuroso, forse poco romantico.
Buona ambientazione storica.
Qui Juliana, russa di nascita e zingara di adozione, aiuterà il suo nuovo marito forzato, un barone inglese, a sfuggire agli intrighi nobiliari e a ritrovare gli affetti familiari.
Vivace e avventuroso, forse poco romantico.
Buona ambientazione storica.
May 26, 2016
This is not usually an author I would look at, in fact this is the first book I've read by Wiggs.... and it was captivating! It pulled me in right a way and had me staying up late to see what happens next! The character of Juliana Romanov was intriguing and I loved her backstory. You earn a sense of sympathy for the injustice that was done to her and her family in Russia. The writing is rich and the imagery comes alive--- very good start to the trilogy!!
February 21, 2019
Parte de un guión bastante original en tanto a la retorcida imaginación de Enrique VIII para joder a su pueblo, lo cual le da casi toda la vidilla al desarrollo del libro. Para mi no es una novela romántica al uso, pues hay bastante aventura, acción y no tanto pasteleo. Prestome leer esta novela, aunque a Stephen le partirÃa la crisma más de una vez por cabezón.
May 18, 2017
(I reviewed the trilogy as a whole on my blog back when I first started and forgot to add it to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, so forgive me if these reviews seem a bit fragmented.)
Russia, 1533: A gypsy reveals a prophecy of three women, three lives entwined. "I see blood and fire, loss and reunion, and a love so great that neither time nor death can destroy it." The stories that follow revolve around three generations of the de Lacey family, taking place during the reigns of Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth.
I don't hold historical romances to the same high standards of scholarship that I expect from historical fiction, but I do expect basic facts to be accurate. So when I read on the second page of chapter one in the first book, this description of Henry VIII's older brother: "The legendary Arthur had died young, in a blaze of glory," I almost put the book down. While I have no doubt Arthur would have been a much better king than his brother, everybody knows Arthur died a sixteen-year-old in his sickbed, not a "legend" in a "blaze of glory." However, that turned out to be the only glaring error I noticed, aside from finding it hard to believe that Henry VIII would do anything out of the kindness of his heart to help a gypsy and one of his least favorite noblemen, (and Mary and Elizabeth also dole out a few uncharacteristic acts of random kindness), but I'll go along with that for the sake of a good story.
And these are good stories. Ms. Wiggs has a talent for taking the basic elements of a formula romance and turning them into original, compelling stories with well-drawn characters. At the King's Command is my favorite of the three. It has stronger elements of mystery and danger, and it's more sensual, more emotional. Juliana is earthy and sexy and Stephen is tormented and inventive and I liked the Russian and Gypsy influences.
Russia, 1533: A gypsy reveals a prophecy of three women, three lives entwined. "I see blood and fire, loss and reunion, and a love so great that neither time nor death can destroy it." The stories that follow revolve around three generations of the de Lacey family, taking place during the reigns of Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth.
I don't hold historical romances to the same high standards of scholarship that I expect from historical fiction, but I do expect basic facts to be accurate. So when I read on the second page of chapter one in the first book, this description of Henry VIII's older brother: "The legendary Arthur had died young, in a blaze of glory," I almost put the book down. While I have no doubt Arthur would have been a much better king than his brother, everybody knows Arthur died a sixteen-year-old in his sickbed, not a "legend" in a "blaze of glory." However, that turned out to be the only glaring error I noticed, aside from finding it hard to believe that Henry VIII would do anything out of the kindness of his heart to help a gypsy and one of his least favorite noblemen, (and Mary and Elizabeth also dole out a few uncharacteristic acts of random kindness), but I'll go along with that for the sake of a good story.
And these are good stories. Ms. Wiggs has a talent for taking the basic elements of a formula romance and turning them into original, compelling stories with well-drawn characters. At the King's Command is my favorite of the three. It has stronger elements of mystery and danger, and it's more sensual, more emotional. Juliana is earthy and sexy and Stephen is tormented and inventive and I liked the Russian and Gypsy influences.
February 7, 2017
Quattro stelline stiracchiate.
Un bellissimo libro, una trama scorrevole e per nulla noiosa.
Juliana mi è piaciuta tantissimo, un personaggio davvero divertente ma anche molto dolce. Stephen all'inizio l'ho trovato molto freddo ma con il procedere della lettura se ne capiscono i motivi; e si cambia decisamente opinione su di lui.
In questo libro mi è piaciuta anche la presenza dei rom e dei vari amici di Stephen che ho trovato molto divertenti.
In conclusione un buon libro per far passare la giornata senza appesantire il lettore.
Un bellissimo libro, una trama scorrevole e per nulla noiosa.
Juliana mi è piaciuta tantissimo, un personaggio davvero divertente ma anche molto dolce. Stephen all'inizio l'ho trovato molto freddo ma con il procedere della lettura se ne capiscono i motivi; e si cambia decisamente opinione su di lui.
In questo libro mi è piaciuta anche la presenza dei rom e dei vari amici di Stephen che ho trovato molto divertenti.
In conclusione un buon libro per far passare la giornata senza appesantire il lettore.
April 16, 2017
What more could you possibly want in a historical romance.
October 15, 2021
3,5’tan 4.
August 27, 2024
3.5* Leuk verhaal, romantisch maar soms ook spannend. Speelt zich af in de Tudor tijd. Leuke personages, lekker pittig. Een 3 vind ik te weinig daarom een 3.5*.
September 8, 2012
The Tudor Rose Trilogy all essentially contain the same plot (although they do have different characters with their own peculiar habits and personalities). The plot revolves around a hero who has formerly been betrayed/hurt by a woman and who is still very much reeling from the effects of such hurt when he encounters another woman, the heroine. He is attracted to the heroine (sexually and conversationally their chemistry works) but has secrets/plans that he doesn't reveal to the heroine and resorts to deception in some cases to hide these secrets until the heroine somehow finds out. The heroine does everything up to selling her soul to get the hero to trust her and at the very end of the story the hero confesses he loves her (although he tries very hard not to). However, the trust issue is never clearly resolved for the reader so we have no idea what the future holds. The lack of trust in the face of the goodness characterized by the heroine is too much for me...this is what I call stubbornness born of pride. I would have left these men halfway through uncovering their lies and deception.
February 25, 2017
Well written and intelligent romance happy to have found Susan Wiggs. How on earth do some authers escape notice while searching for books I have no clue! But thanks to all the great people here at Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ I constantly find great reads I may have othewise missed out on.
The heroine maybe a little TOO PERFECT as there is nothing she can't do I mean from trick riding barefoot on a pony with Gypsies to running a house full of servents perfectly AND solving all the problems to make more money come from the land! So that is the only negative I have on this story however... As some are TSSTL she was a genius in every way imaginable! LoL
The heroine maybe a little TOO PERFECT as there is nothing she can't do I mean from trick riding barefoot on a pony with Gypsies to running a house full of servents perfectly AND solving all the problems to make more money come from the land! So that is the only negative I have on this story however... As some are TSSTL she was a genius in every way imaginable! LoL
November 15, 2010
I truly wanted to like this book but after reading 140 dull pages, I couldn't force myself to go one page farther. I previously read The Red Queen and The White Queen by Philippa Gregory and this book is so far beneath the quality of those books, I just couldn't get into this one. I also wonder why publishers think that once an author becomes popular (I DO like Susan Wiggs later books), they can re-issue the first writing attempts of an author and readers will think they are good based solely on the author's recent accomplishments.
July 22, 2023
Reread
June 25, 2018
Tutsak Yüreğim
Susan Wiggs
Uzun bir aradan sonra yeni bir kitap bitirdim. Neden kitap okumuyordum çünkü eskileri yad ediyordum
Neyse kitabı çok beğendim
Neden mi çünkü böyle farklı aşklara ihtiyacım var
Stephan in o sırrını Bulana kadar deli oldum ama sonunda ona acıdım
Ama konu olarak farklı ve özel buldum eğlenceli ve hüzünlü yanları da vardı tabi
Özelikle kızımızın ilk zamanları
Ailesini kaybettiği anlar ve Stephan ile yaşadığı o çelişkili zamanlar
Ailesini kaydedip bir çingene hayatı yaşayan kızımız evlendirilmek istenildiği için bir at çalıp kaçmaya çalışır gelin görün ki bu at hiç beklemediği adamındır.
Gelin görün ki kralın yaptıkları onu çoğu yerde boğmak istedim çok can sıkıcıydı ama ikisinin bir araya gelmesine sebep olduğu için sadece varlığı çekilir haldeydi.
Hikâyenin gidişatı ve Stephan in Juliannaya karşı hislerini okumak güzeldi özelikle sonu
Şimdi ikinci kitabı heyecanla okumak istiyorum
Susan Wiggs
Uzun bir aradan sonra yeni bir kitap bitirdim. Neden kitap okumuyordum çünkü eskileri yad ediyordum
Neyse kitabı çok beğendim
Neden mi çünkü böyle farklı aşklara ihtiyacım var
Stephan in o sırrını Bulana kadar deli oldum ama sonunda ona acıdım
Ama konu olarak farklı ve özel buldum eğlenceli ve hüzünlü yanları da vardı tabi
Özelikle kızımızın ilk zamanları
Ailesini kaybettiği anlar ve Stephan ile yaşadığı o çelişkili zamanlar
Ailesini kaydedip bir çingene hayatı yaşayan kızımız evlendirilmek istenildiği için bir at çalıp kaçmaya çalışır gelin görün ki bu at hiç beklemediği adamındır.
Gelin görün ki kralın yaptıkları onu çoğu yerde boğmak istedim çok can sıkıcıydı ama ikisinin bir araya gelmesine sebep olduğu için sadece varlığı çekilir haldeydi.
Hikâyenin gidişatı ve Stephan in Juliannaya karşı hislerini okumak güzeldi özelikle sonu
Şimdi ikinci kitabı heyecanla okumak istiyorum
May 29, 2024
Interesting story. Enjoyed the characters.
February 22, 2020
A quick read in true Tudor style, full of love and revenge. First book I have read by Susan Wiggs, I like her story telling style but she has a few plot lines that don’t seem to match up as the story progresses.
October 15, 2021
You can't hurry love
Love has its own way of pairing up the most unlikely people. Hate turns to undying love before you know it and it's an ever lasting one.
Love has its own way of pairing up the most unlikely people. Hate turns to undying love before you know it and it's an ever lasting one.
October 6, 2013
The idea that first drew me to this book was the idea of a Russian lady in the Tudor court. They're two worlds that I've never seen done in any book before, romance or otherwise, so I was curious to explore that. And while I think I might have enjoyed a bit more of a look at the Russian world during this time period, I enjoyed the touches with Juliana's dog, the Gypsies, and Juliana's memories of her family and old world.
And boy did I love Juliana! She was soft and feminine where she needed to be. And yet, she's a woman who's not afraid to do what needs doing, without male approval or thought to herself. She took action where she saw a need and even when those actions probably weren't the wisest, she didn't sit and wait for the men in her life to decide what she should do. My kind of woman in any book, but especially in a romance.
I enjoyed the romance in the book. It was sweet, passionate, and complex. It wasn't a straightforward romance plot that we usually see where the girl is kidnapped by her future beloved or he's rescuing her from some tragic circumstances. Our two lovers are thrown together by unusual happenings that eventually blossoms into a wonderful love story over time and with understandable obstacles overcome. It's a love story that develops realistically and isn't just wham bam yeah we're in love!. While there were some serious issues with trust between our people that I felt was almost too drawn out for dramatic effect, the overall story made me sigh in romantic happiness. And at the end of the day, that's the best indicator of a well written romance.
And boy did I love Juliana! She was soft and feminine where she needed to be. And yet, she's a woman who's not afraid to do what needs doing, without male approval or thought to herself. She took action where she saw a need and even when those actions probably weren't the wisest, she didn't sit and wait for the men in her life to decide what she should do. My kind of woman in any book, but especially in a romance.
I enjoyed the romance in the book. It was sweet, passionate, and complex. It wasn't a straightforward romance plot that we usually see where the girl is kidnapped by her future beloved or he's rescuing her from some tragic circumstances. Our two lovers are thrown together by unusual happenings that eventually blossoms into a wonderful love story over time and with understandable obstacles overcome. It's a love story that develops realistically and isn't just wham bam yeah we're in love!. While there were some serious issues with trust between our people that I felt was almost too drawn out for dramatic effect, the overall story made me sigh in romantic happiness. And at the end of the day, that's the best indicator of a well written romance.
March 6, 2016
I read this book due to a dare and as we know, one cannot turn away from a dare.
I wish I could have.
This book is a piece of loosely historical (VERY loosely historical), supposedly romantic, fluff. For someone who likes history and hopes to like the characters in one's book, it is agonizing.
Plot: "Juliana" Romanov* (seriously, that name; I cannot get over it) is a Russian noblewoman whose family died in a massacre on their country estate. She flees to England for reasons that are entirely unclear, all while being in the company of a band of "gypsies." (At least the author occasionally refers to them as Roma.) While there, she bumps into none other than Henry VIII, the king of England (as you do), and he commands a noble with marriage-market problems to marry her (because why not). Naturally, the noble, Stephen, rapidly falls in love with her, all while agonizing over his own past (a dead wife and kids, etc).
The book follows a clear formula: Exotic gypsy tropes (Juliana is seductive and compelling while performing in a troupe), a king bent on droit du seigneur (don't ask), magical maternal qualities in all women, insta-love, and at the risk of spoilers, a blatantly obvious villain and the happy ever after you'd expect. None of these are too shocking in a slightly historical very-much-romance book, but the book doesn't offer anything good alongside these cliches. It isn't interesting, entertaining, and it certainly isn't really historical. (The historian in me hurts from this book.)
All in all, I was very glad when I finished the book, and I will try to avoid dares every again.
I wish I could have.
This book is a piece of loosely historical (VERY loosely historical), supposedly romantic, fluff. For someone who likes history and hopes to like the characters in one's book, it is agonizing.
Plot: "Juliana" Romanov* (seriously, that name; I cannot get over it) is a Russian noblewoman whose family died in a massacre on their country estate. She flees to England for reasons that are entirely unclear, all while being in the company of a band of "gypsies." (At least the author occasionally refers to them as Roma.) While there, she bumps into none other than Henry VIII, the king of England (as you do), and he commands a noble with marriage-market problems to marry her (because why not). Naturally, the noble, Stephen, rapidly falls in love with her, all while agonizing over his own past (a dead wife and kids, etc).
The book follows a clear formula: Exotic gypsy tropes (Juliana is seductive and compelling while performing in a troupe), a king bent on droit du seigneur (don't ask), magical maternal qualities in all women, insta-love, and at the risk of spoilers, a blatantly obvious villain and the happy ever after you'd expect. None of these are too shocking in a slightly historical very-much-romance book, but the book doesn't offer anything good alongside these cliches. It isn't interesting, entertaining, and it certainly isn't really historical. (The historian in me hurts from this book.)
All in all, I was very glad when I finished the book, and I will try to avoid dares every again.
June 2, 2018
I have had this book for a few years and have reread it numerous times it never gets old. The story set in Tudor times with Of course Henry the v111 on the throne, mix in Gypsies and Russian Royalty, along with a handsome English Lord named Stephen de Lacey and Juliana the beautiful gypsy who is trying to steal his horse. well what a cast of wonderful characters to make this love story a page turner. Stephen is ordered to wed Julian by Henry Tudor who thinks it's quite funny to have this Lord marry a dirty faced gypsy, but the jokes on him as we soon find out that all that dirt covers a very beautiful face, and the gypsy is none other than A Russian Princess who fled her homeland when all her family where murdered. It was a fun read as we see Stephen let go off all his hate and fears and grow to love the beautiful Juliana who never backs down and meets him head on no matter how he try's to turn her away. This is the first book in a series and it is a wonderful journey, the gypsy Zara who foretold a future of three women and this first book covers Juliana the first to have the her fortune come true. I know you will love this book and i highly recommend it. Susan Wiggs has written a keeper.
September 7, 2018
While this is the first of a series, it can stand on it's own. Except for Zara's prophecy, there are really no hanging threads when it's done.
I did not want to put this book down before I got to the end. For much of the book, I was dying to learn Stephen's secrets and then after that, events came one on top of another. I had strong suspicions about the secret which came as a result of clues sprinkled about in the story.
Juliana is something of a wonder woman as I have noticed other leading females written by SW to be. One of her best traits is her joy, even optimism. Perhaps she is too perfect, but even so, the reader is drawn to her.
I was angry at Stephen for much of the book because of his emotional cruelty to Juliana. I found it hard to forgive him even knowing he had hurts of his own.
I thought that much of the conflict between J and S, and in S's mind, was a bit contrived serving to tease the reader who practically begs for resolution.
Villains abound. We expect it from Henry VIII and his ministers.
Mature themes: there are deadly fights and murder. There is fairly mildly explicit sex between legally married people. Some of Henry Viii's character and story are discussed and that in itself is a mature theme even while it is history.
I did not want to put this book down before I got to the end. For much of the book, I was dying to learn Stephen's secrets and then after that, events came one on top of another. I had strong suspicions about the secret which came as a result of clues sprinkled about in the story.
Juliana is something of a wonder woman as I have noticed other leading females written by SW to be. One of her best traits is her joy, even optimism. Perhaps she is too perfect, but even so, the reader is drawn to her.
I was angry at Stephen for much of the book because of his emotional cruelty to Juliana. I found it hard to forgive him even knowing he had hurts of his own.
I thought that much of the conflict between J and S, and in S's mind, was a bit contrived serving to tease the reader who practically begs for resolution.
Villains abound. We expect it from Henry VIII and his ministers.
Mature themes: there are deadly fights and murder. There is fairly mildly explicit sex between legally married people. Some of Henry Viii's character and story are discussed and that in itself is a mature theme even while it is history.
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