Review: Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter

Posted March 24, 2014 by Whitney in Review / 1 Comment

I received this book for free from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Queen Elizabeth’s DaughterQueen Elizabeth's Daughter
by Anne Clinard Barnhill
Published by St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date March 18, 2014
Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour
Genres: Historical Fiction
Goodreads

From the author of At the Mercy of the Queen comes the gripping tale of Mary Shelton, Elizabeth I’s young cousin and ward, set against the glittering backdrop of the Elizabethan court.

Mistress Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite ward, enjoying every privilege the position affords. The queen loves Mary like a daughter, and, like any good mother, she wants her to make a powerful match. The most likely prospect: Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. But while Oxford seems to be everything the queen admires: clever, polished and wealthy, Mary knows him to be lecherous, cruel, and full of treachery. No matter how hard the queen tries to push her into his arms, Mary refuses.

Instead, Mary falls in love with a man who is completely unsuitable. Sir John Skydemore is a minor knight with little money, a widower with five children. Worst of all, he’s a Catholic at a time when Catholic plots against Elizabeth are rampant. The queen forbids Mary to wed the man she loves. When the young woman, who is the queen’s own flesh and blood, defies her, the couple finds their very lives in danger as Elizabeth’s wrath knows no bounds.


While I was reading Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter I felt like a foreign Bachelorette was being played in front of me, only with the Queen handing out the roses.  It was clear that the bulk of this story would be about Mary’s love life and after being denied young love Queen Elizabeth feels it is her duty to find a match of power and wealth for her ward.

A ball is held at the beginning of the novel with all perspective suitors being introduced into the story and like the Bachelor each is slimier than the last.  I could only wait until Mary shooed them away, rolling my eyes at their pettiness and pictured “hot tub scenes” from a certain show on ABC.

Mary did not belong in one of those hot tub scenes she was sweet and as innocent as one could be under the roof above her head.  I was instantly charmed by her and could see how she had so many suitors waiting in the wings to claim her hand.

Elizabeth exhibited terrible two syndromes, (I want what I want and get what I want) granted she is the Queen but has anyone ever heard of the magic words?  Perhaps my teaching in manners has gotten the better of me but her snide attitude and gleaming greed in her eye hit a nerve with my blood pressure rising each time she entered the page.

I thought having Mary’s love being Catholic in a Protestant world was very interesting and kept up a certain sense of intrigue which no date in the Bachelor could inspire.  I immediately took a liking to Sir John Skydemore, he seemed down to earth and cared for all no matter what their station in life.  Theirs was a love that one could route for groaning with each misstep and aww at the blooming romance.

Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter was well-paced and held my attention for much too long a time, taking everything in my power to slow down, but while reading a good book that is never the case and was over much too soon.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Clinard Barnhill

Anne Clinard Barnhill has been writing or dreaming of writing for most of her life. For the past twenty years, she has published articles, book and theater reviews, poetry, and short stories. Her first book, AT HOME IN THE LAND OF OZ, recalls what it was like growing up with an autistic sister. Her work has won various awards and grants. Barnhill holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Besides writing, Barnhill also enjoys teaching, conducting writing workshops, and facilitating seminars to enhance creativity. She loves spending time with her three grown sons and their families. For fun, she and her husband of thirty years, Frank, take long walks and play bridge. In rare moments, they dance.
For more information, please visit Anne Clinard Barnhill’s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Find Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter at:

Amazon|Barnes and Noble

 

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, March 10
Review at Words and Peace
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, March 11
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, March 12
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Thursday, March 13
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Friday, March 14
Review at The Lit Bitch
Monday, March 17
Review at The True Book Addict
Tuesday, March 18
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, March 19
Review at One Book at a Time
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, March 20
Review at Book-alicious Mama
Friday, March 21
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Monday, March 24
Review at She is Too Fond of Books
Tuesday, March 25
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Wednesday, March 26
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Thursday, March 27
Review at Book of Secrets
Friday, March 28
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Monday, March 31
Review at HF Book Muse – News
Review & Giveaway at WTF Are You Reading?
Tuesday, April 1
Interview at HF Book Muse – News
Wednesday, April 2
Review at Found Between the Covers
Thursday, April 3
Review at Books in the Burbs
Friday, April 4
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Monday, April 7
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Tuesday, April 8
Review at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, April 9
Interview at A Bookish Affair
Thursday, April 10
Review at The Most Happy Reader
Friday, April 11
Review at Silver’s Reviews

 

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One response to “Review: Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter

  1. It looks like your preferred reading genre is very different from mine. I hope by following you I can broaden my reading horizons!

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