Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Blog Tour: Roses Have Thorns


Author: Sandra Byrd

Genre: Life, history…which sounds boring, but isn’t.

Series: Ladies in Waiting

Number in series: 3rd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 317

Time period: 1564-1603

Publisher and price: Howard Books (a division of Simon and Schuster), $14.99

My overall opinion: Oh, it was good! It was so much fun (and so interesting) to get to know Queen Elizabeth I a little better. I really did feel like I knew her pretty well by the end. And I love the cover too – more in person than online. The purple and gold are very stunning, and the entire trilogy looks so lovely all together on my shelf! Elin/Helena, the main heroine, is a lady in waiting to Elizabeth I and turned out to be a fascinating woman to “journey” with through this book, as she was telling the story herself (does that make sense?). I’m definitely sorry to see this series end – they are the best Tudor era fiction I’ve found. However, I do recommend them mostly for about age 16+ as they do occasionally deal with some more mature content – nothing explicit though.

The characters were all quite understandable and believable; perhaps the Queen most of all. At the beginning and end of the book are several informative family trees, plus an author’s note to wrap everything up. Sandra obviously put an amazing amount of research into this! One thing that I came across was that towards the beginning (page 52), one of Elin’s jobs was to warm the Queen’s bed every night for her. Yes, that means Elin got in, lay there until it was warm, then got out right before the Queen went to bed. If I were Queen? I’d get a bed-warmer. SO HANDY for cold nights. Anyway, that’s one thing that I’ve always rather wanted but never knew people did.  

All in all, a great book where you’ll learn history in a fascinating, memorable, and fun way!



Now, ready for the good part? I have not one but two giveaways! The first one is for Roses Have Thorns itself -- your very own copy. And the second? A lovely necklace from Belle on a Budget! Note that since the necklace is handmade, it may not look exactly like the one in the picture. Please note that BOTH of these giveaways are US only. Feel free to enter them both, and best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I find that the second giveaway isn't showing up like it should...if there's a link saying "a Rafflecopter giveaway" just click on it and you can go enter the same as you would if it was working just right! :)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

27 comments:

Faith F. said...

I haven't really read much about this era at all! Historical Fiction... I love the Thoenes and I love the series Janette Oke did with Davis Bunn, The Acts of Faith Series. Those are two of my favorite historical series!!

Jana said...

I love books in this time period. It's super interesting to learn more about the court and how royalty would live!

Hayden said...

I did read the first book in this series, and did enjoy it, even if it was sad :( I found it really educational, but not boring.

Morgan G. said...

The book sounds really interesting. And the necklace is beautiful!

Analiese said...

The cover and necklace are lovely! It sounds like a good series to persue after I get a little older. And the bed warming thing is certianly...interesting. And probably authentic. :D

Jasmine A. said...

I have not read any of Sandra's books yet but I would really love to!
One of the best historical fiction books I have read recently was The Chamomile by Susan F. Craft, another is Forsaken Dreams by MaryLu Tyndall.
Blessings!
Jasmine A.
montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

Jasmine A. said...

Love these giveaways!
In answer to your question, I don't wearing earrings so I don't really have a favorite color, but if I did it would be green.

Jasmine A. said...

OK, I know, a THIRD post! But I couldn't find the box in the rafflecopter to tell you about my favorite Belle on a Budget item so I am posting the link here

http://www.etsy.com/listing/116931654/black-and-gray-picasso-marble-beaded?ref=shop_home_active

Charity U said...

Jasmine, sorry, I think I may have forgotten to put it in! But here in the comments works fine. :) Good luck! And I have "Forsaken Dreams" on my Kindle app right now -- just have to find time. :) Thanks for entering!

Amy C said...

I haven't read the first two. But I bought them with a gift card I got for my birthday.
I recommend:
Be Still My Soul
A Noble Groom
Wedded to War
Love's Reckoning

Hannah Perry said...

I love anything by Gilbert Morris and Janette Oke.

Hannah Perry said...

I love blue and silver earrings.

KayM said...

I haven't read the first two books in the series, but I am planning to get them. I love the history of the Tudors. One historical series that I enjoyed was the Gresham Chronicles by Lawana Blackwell. The first book is The Widow of Larkspur.

Roses said...

I love blue and purple earrings. I haven't read the first two books in this series. I recommend The Northern Lights Trilogy by Lisa T. Bergren and The Refiner's Fire Series by Lynn Austin. Thanks for having the giveaway.

harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

Rissi said...

Didn't adore this one BUT then I will admit I am not a huge fan of this time period. Nonetheless, I am excited to be a part of this tour and giveaway! :)

Pam K. said...

I read To Die For, which I think is the first book in the series, for book club. It's not a time period I usually read, but the book was very well written and researched so I liked it (as did others in my book club). I haven't been able to read any of the others in the series yet. It would be fun to win a copy of Roses Have Thorns.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Pam K. said...

I love wearing purple earrings!
The necklace you are giving away is lovely. Thanks for having these giveaways.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Pam K. said...

Here I am again, to tell you my favorite item from Belle on A Budget is the Long Dark Blue and Silver Swirl Dangle Earrings--simply gorgeous! I'm impressed at the reasonable prices.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Jana said...

I think like silver, boring I know but they go with everything!

Jasmine A. said...

Favorite Belle on a Budget item for today is the Brown and Blue Beaded Stretch Bracelet with Silver Butterfly Charm

Jasmine A. said...

Hi Charity!
You can go back to your rafflecopter(s) and edit them, adding the boxes to fill out, rafflecopter will automatically update the info for you on your page. I had to do it on my current rafflecopter giveaway and it worked nicely.
Jasmine A.

cheap jerseys said...

fancy seeing that the blue colour and sliver are so match!!

cheap jersey said...

I love wearing purple earrings!
The necklace you are giving away is lovely.

Bethany said...

I have read both To Die For and The Secret Keeper and loved them!
Bethany
www.theliterarymaidens.blogspot.com

Wendy Newcomb said...

No I haven't read the first two books yet, but I would recommend any historical fiction, lol, my kind of book.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

Jasmine A. said...

Today's favorite Belle On A Budget item - Antiqued Bronze Filigree Earrings.

Bluerose said...

I loved this whole series! I agree that all 3 books look beautiful on my shelf, too! :)