[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars ‘Elizabeth’s first suitor arrived when she was still an infant, when she was considered as a possible bride for the son of the French king.’ After reading The Tudors By Numbers and loving it, I knew I needed to get my hands on Carol’s next book. I admire Elizabeth for her courage to remain ‘the virgin queen’ despite the constant pressure from the moment she was born to her later years in life to marry and provide an heir. ‘She well understood the values and the dangers of marrying and the cakes and dangers of remaining single.’ Carole has done a great job and I defiantly just want to read ALL of her work in the future!
NetGalley, Georgi Lvs Books

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars This is a layman accessible and interesting monograph on the life and works of Margaret More Roper. As a women of the period, she is nearly always considered a footnote in her father's biographies, but here the author has written a balanced and well reasoned consideration of her in historical context in her own right as a primary subject and not just an aside. The book is written with chapters in more or less chronological order: early life, the More household, education & adolescence, marriage & writing, motherhood, Humanism & reputation, reputation, loyalty, mortality (the imprisonment & death of her father), and their/her legacy. The book is meticulously annotated throughout and the chapter notes and bibliography will provide readers with many (many!) hours of further reading. Five stars. It's both a well written and researched study of the More family and allies (and enemies), but also a well rounded study of Humanism, intellectualism, and the possibilities.. Read more
NetGalley, Annie Buchanan

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars This was a really well done nonfiction novel, I really enjoy the Tudor time-period. It had that research that I was looking for and was written perfectly. Helene Harrison has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.
NetGalley, Kathryn McLeer

Review as featured in
Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, April 2024

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars I was very glad to read this book, I love all aspects of Tudor history, and the mysterious death of Queen Katherine Parr, has always sat uneasily on me. Why would such a strong intelligent woman, famed for her wisdom, kindness to her Royal step children, her interest in the new religion, her ability to be a regent in her husbands absence , marry such a self promoting man as Thomas Seymour? The King was her fourth husband, and reports seem to suggest they had a cordial and friendly relationship, and a love of debate. Queen Katherine was responsible for getting Princess Mary and her half sister Elizabeth restored to the line of succession, why would she throw all this affection and goodwill away? Even more bewildering, where did her baby daughter,Lady Mary Seymour disappear to? There are times when a Time Machine would be a marvellous solution to all these questions. The idea discussed in this book is that Katherine married Thomas Seymour to protect the reputation.. Read more
NetGalley, Daphne Sharpe