Tour Review and Giveaway - Roses Have Thorns (Ladies in Waiting #3) by Sandra Byrd

 

Title: Roses Have Thorns

Author: Sandra Byrd

Series: 3rd (but works as a Stand Alone)

Pages: 352

Published: April 9th 2013 by Howard Book

ISBN:  9781439183168

Source: Sent for honest review and arranged tour

Description: In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiance has fallen in love with her sister and her dowry money has been gambled away, but ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power. Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth’s circle. But in a court that is surrounded by Catholic enemies who plot the queen’s downfall, Helena is forced to choose between an unyielding monarch and the husband she’s not sure she can trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences. 


I Give This ...

  

  I really do love historical fiction and have a serious soft spot when it comes to the Tudor area.   I consider myself pretty well read when it comes to Queen Elizabeth I.  So, I almost passed on this one just because I was wondering if anything new could be added to her story.  Wow!  I am so glad I changed my mind.  While the significant events never change, I think this book really gave new light to one of my favorite historical figures.

First off, Elin's journey from Sweden to England was beyond imaginable.  It seemed like such a simple thing and yet it took almost a year.  I don't blame her for wanting to leave her country and have the opportunity to travel.  Most young women never got the chance.  She must have been such a captivating person to complete this journey and catch the eye of the Queen.  I don't think its something that happened very often.

I think what prompted Elin to want to stay was the idea of romance and love, something she knew was not waiting for her at home.  I really don't think power and ranking were really a part of it, in fact it often seemed like she had no real use for her high title after her marriage and her husbands subsequent death.  Even when it was so evidently a dark spot in her future her marriage to a man well beneath her rank.  She only want love and friendship.  

I mentioned above how I consider myself knowledgeable when it comes to Queen Elizabeth.  However, I somehow missed this person in all my reading and research of Queen Elizabeth.  It seems completely plausible to me that the Queen would keep such an important person in her life well protected.  I like the idea that the Queen may have had a close friends, someone she could share her secrets with.  High ranking ladies in the Queen's household were often from other noble families of the land.  Those seeking favor from the ruling household or wanting to prove their loyalty. So how does a Lady from Sweden end up one of the Queen's most influential women?   

I loved Helena from the beginning pages.  I like how the author crafted a character that it seems like a blip in history and makes her come to life.  I loved how she seemed to be able to be just what the Queen needed.  I never thought how the Queen could be lonely and this book really brought that to focus.  It made so many of her actions make so much more sense.

If the author managed to capture my attention so much with the book, I will definitely be looking for her other books!  I look forward to what she had to offer in the way of historical fiction. 

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And now I am pleased to offer a giveaway for one copy of Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd plus an Elizabeth I necklace (pictured above).  Contest open to US residents 13 and up and end April 24th.  Please fill in the form below to enter!

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Guest Post and Giveaway from Deborah Swift author of The Gilded Lily

Books about Maidservants – The Gilded Lily

I thought I’d share with you some of the other books about feisty maidservants that I came across in my research for THE GILDED LILY, which is a novel about two serving girls who are on the run in the dark alleys of snowbound Restoration London. What makes maidservants interesting to write about is that often they have aspirations to better their lot, and in this respect my main character Ella Appleby is no exception. The only trouble is that she is intent in dragging her more naïve sister, Sadie along with her, even when Sadie has her doubts about her bolder sister Ella’s methods of advancement.

It is a challenge to write a literary novel about sisters who are illiterate. Often writers choose to somehow enable their characters to learn to read and write so that they can tell the story in their own words. I chose to leave my two main characters illiterate, but this meant that hearsay and stories formed a large part of the girls’ education and moral compass, and storytelling became a major theme in the book.

I read quite a few books about maids as part of my research and here are a few I would recommend.

The Book of The Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse (Medieval YA)
Although this is designated as a young adult book it is a read that will also satisfy historical fiction fans of the medieval period. Set in the 1400’s, it is about Johanna, the maid of Dame Margery Kempe, a Holy Woman who went on pilgrimage to Rome. The Book of Margert Kempe  is thought to be the first autobiography in the English language, and in it Margery constantly criticises her maid. It was a wonderful idea to re-write the journey from the maid’s perspective.

Johanna only 14 years old, and has to witness the devotions of Margery – mostly weeping, wailing and ordering her (Johanna) about. But Johanna’s instincts for self preservation are forced to come to the fore when she is abandoned by her mistress in the middle of nowhere.


The Observations by Jane Harris
This book is set in the Victorian era and begins in 1873 in Glasgow, Scotland. One of the best things about this novel is the growing literacy of Bessy Buckley the maid as she grows in confidence through her diary, and her unique and brazen Glasgow ‘voice’ which is both comic and eye-opening.

By chance, and because she needs the work, Bessy starts work as a maidservant at the house of James and Arabella Reid. James is mostly absent, and Arabella - the delicate, somewhat other-worldly mistress - issues a series of strange commands, one of which is that Bessy must keep a journal, detailing her every action and even her innermost thoughts. As Arabella’s behaviour grows increasingly bizarre, Bessy soon discovers that she is the consuming subject of her mistress’s ‘observations’. The changing relationship between the employer and employee is one of the pleasures of this novel.

The Colour of Milk by Nell Leyshon
This is a tiny pocket sized book that packs a powerful punch. Set in 1831, fifteen year old Mary is one of three farm girls, with ‘hair the colour of milk.’ The book beautifully establishes the harshness and matter-of-factness of farming life, and eventually so there is one less mouth to feed, Mary is sent to be maid for the local vicar. Mary is sharp-tongued, but ambitious, and wants to escape her drudgery by learning to read.

The horrifying story of what she must trade during this process, and how it all ends is gradually revealed through Mary’s spartan but clear-eyed journal. Like Bessy in The Observations, Mary’s access to reading and writing is through her employer. Like Bessy, Mary has a price to pay for this knowledge.


Below Stairs by Margaret Powell
Margaret Powell’s classic memoir of her time in service in the 1920’s and 30’s, is the true story of a serving girl who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped trying to better her station. Margaret started as a kitchen maid – the lowest of the low. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. Margaret Powell's true story of a life spent in service is a fascinating “downstairs” portrait of the glittering, long-gone worlds behind the closed doors of Downton Abbey. As a genuine biography, this lacks the drama of the other books I’ve mentioned but is none the less fascinating for its period detail.




THE GILDED LILY by Deborah Swift

A spellbinding historical novel of beauty and greed and surprising redemption.

England, 1660. Ella Appleby believes she is destined for better things than slaving as a housemaid and dodging the blows of her drunken father. When her employer dies suddenly, she seizes her chance--taking his valuables and fleeing the countryside with her sister for the golden prospects of London. But London may not be the promised land she expects.  Work is hard to find, until Ella takes up with a dashing and dubious gentleman with ties to the London underworld. Meanwhile, her old employer's twin brother is in hot pursuit of the sisters.

Set in a London of atmospheric coffee houses, gilded mansions, and shady pawnshops hidden from rich men's view, Deborah Swift's The Gilded Lily is a dazzling novel of historical adventure.

Watch the Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSXtKFVGGV8

http://www.amazon.com/The-Gilded-Lily-A-Novel/dp/1250001900


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Sound Series Giveaway Game

To celebrate the release of the 3rd book of the SOLID series,

Shelley Workinger has put together a giveaway game! 

EVERY ENTRANT who COMPLETES the task will win

ebooks of BOTH “Solid” (Solid #1) AND “Settling” (Solid #2).

The GRAND PRIZE WINNER will win SIGNED COPIES of ALL 3 BOOKS,

including “Sound” (Solid #3) just as it hits the shelves on Nov. 1st!

The rules are simple:

1. Visit each blog on the list

2. Leave a quick comment to show you were there

3. Copy the image fragment and paste it into a Word .doc

There are 18 stops to visit, comment on, and collect pieces from;

once you’ve hit all 18 stops and assembled* all of the pieces to complete the image,

email your entry to the author at: SolidNovel@gmail.com. 

4. Visit the author’s blog: But What Are They Eating?

and leave a comment letting her know you’ve sent in your completed entry.

ALL 4 STEPS are important because she will choose the Grand Prize Winner

from her blog comments (using Random.org) and then check her email to verify the entry.

*Don’t worry; the pieces are in order, so if you follow the list, it’ll be easy. :)

The Game runs from Oct. 25th through Oct. 31st;

last day to enter is Oct. 31st and winner will be chosen Nov. 1st.

Good luck and get gathering!

Here’s my piece:

And the rest of the stops:

1.  Books Devoured
2.  I’d So Rather Be Reading
3.  Paromantasy
4.  Book Lovers Inc.
5.  Magic of Reading
6.  Paranormal Indulgence
7.  Katie’s Book Blog
8.  One Book at a Time
9.  To Read or Not To Read
10. Wanted Readers
11. The Itzel Library
12. My Reading Room
13. Reading Teen
14. Confessions of a Bookaholic
15. Royal Reviews
16. Books with Bite
17. Skyla 11377
18. Me, My Shelf & I 

THANKS FOR PLAYING!