The Secret Keeper

Author: Sandra Byrd

Genre: Life, King Henry VIII, King Henry VIII’s Wives

Series: Ladies in Waiting

Number in series: 2^nd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 330

Time period: 1500’s

My overall opinion: Once again, I loved Sandra Byrd’s book! I anticipated reading this book all summer, and was finally able to. It was certainly a book worth reading! It’s the story of Kateryn Parr, King Henry VIII’s sixth wife, the one who outlived him. Secret Keeper is written from the view-point of a fictional friend of Kateryn (or Kate), one who eventually becomes her lady-in-waiting. It is a riveting story, full of palace intrigue, adventure, a dash of romance, and the general trials and joys of life. It’s written for adults, and has some heavy material, so I’d recommend it for age 16 and up. However, there’s nothing explicit or bad. As you should know, the times of King Henry VIII weren’t pretty. As far as I know and could tell, it was factual to history; I now know more about Kate than I ever did before! I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading about this time period, reading historical fiction, or have even a passing fancy to the cover. Did I mention I love the cover? I do. Great book, and worth paying full price for! Definitely keeping this one.

**Sandra Byrd, the author, sent me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. I have reviewed the book honestly, given my true opinion. I received no other compensation for this review.**

Birthday: Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn

Birth: May 19, 1500 (?)***

Death: May 19, 1536

I’ve posted about her: Somewhat. Here’s a review of a book about the wives of King Henry VIII: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2011/06/wives-of-henry-viii.html

It’s her 512^th birthday!

You know her because – she was King Henry VIII’s second wife, and one of the most famous. Also the mother of Elizabeth I.

***Incidentally – historians disagree about her birthday. She died on May 19, we know that for sure, but it’s not known whether or not (for sure) it was her birthday. Some say yes, others, no. So I’m posting about her today, but it’s not actually for sure!

Cover Focus: The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd

Book blurb from http://www.sandrabyrd.com/ : “Pieces of her black gown fell to the ground, one by one, like the locks of a condemned woman shorn before execution, though he stayed himself from touching her bright red hair before sheathing his dagger again. Her woeful face betrayed that she knew this would be her utter undoing. The gown was ruined and the black clumps, which had plummeted to the ground, received the breath of life of a sudden and became a flock of beady-eyed ravens which took wing toward the Tower of London, whilst we watched in horror and dread.”

Why I like this cover: In two words? The dresses. Who wouldn’t love dresses from this time-period? And the semi-remarkable thing is that these are even modest! Always a good thing. Let’s do the girl on the left first. I’m guessing she’s Kateryn Parr’s friend, if this book is set up like To Die For was. Besides which, her dress is just barely less opulent that Kateryn’s, to my eyes. Her dress is a burgundy shade, maybe brocade? I love the stomacher in the front – isn’t that what it’s called, the fancy V? And puffed sleeves! Like Anne, I have an affinity for puffed sleeves. J Her pearl necklace and long dark hair add to the picture. Did you notice that both Kateryn and her friend have fancy rings on? Wonder if they’ll have any part in the story. And then Kateryn’s dress…oh my word, it’s so pretty! It’s kind of dark-crimson, gold, and cream. I love that overskirt, sweeping down over the underskirt. And all that trimming on the sleeves is so cool! Then the little necklace, and her barely-red hair. Ahhh, yes, I do like this cover!

FYI – I CANNOT wait to read this. It comes out on June 5, and is the second book in the “Ladies in Waiting” series.

The Wives of Henry VIII

Author: Antonia Fraser

Genre: Ummm...biography.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Non-fiction

Number of pages: 479 (smallish print. Yeah, big book)

Time period: 1500's

Main characters: King Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, Catherine Parr

My overall opinion: I found it to be a very interesting book. If you have either a little or else no interest in King Henry VIII and his wives, you will find this book very boring. I will admit, even I skimmed parts of it and it's one of the parts of history I find most riveting! But overall, I enjoyed it and learned SO much about them. I can now keep them apart. :) I recommend you try it. But be warned...it's a huge book.