The virgin's lover

The story of Queen Elizabeth I and her court has been told countlessly in historical fiction. This third novel in a popular series following the machinations and passions of the Tudor court presents lively characters, political intrigue, and soaring emotions swirling around the early years of Elizabeth's reign. Lifelong friend Robert Dudley and Elizabeth share an ardent love affair, but the married Robert is already tainted with a traitor's brush. In addition, his wife, the devoted Amy, will never relinquish him. In tandem with her illicit liaison, Elizabeth conspires with William Cecil, her most trusted counselor, to secure the wealth of her court and country by building a secret cache of gold. The coin of the realm's new value will financially ruin Dudley. Readers already know how history unfolds but will quickly turn pages to the story's end. Elizabeth's manipulations, Dudley's allegiance, and Cecil's political plotting come together in an engaging story. The first two novels in the series were book-club favorites, and expect this one to follow suit--and expect further entries in this rousing series. --Kaite Mediatore Copyright 2004 Booklist

Bestseller Gregory captivates again with this expertly crafted historical about the beautiful young Virgin Queen, portrayed as a narcissistic, neurotic home-wrecker. As in her previous novels about Tudor England (The Queen's Fool, etc.), Gregory amasses a wealth of colorful period detail to depict the shaky first days of Elizabeth I's reign. The year is 1558, an especially dangerous time for the nation: no bishop will coronate Henry VIII's Protestant daughter, the treasury is bankrupt, the army is unpaid and demoralized. Meanwhile, the French are occupying Scotland and threatening to install "that woman"-Mary, Queen of Scots-on the throne. Ignoring the matrimonial advice of pragmatic Secretary of State William Cecil, the 25-year-old Elizabeth persists in stringing along Europe's most eligible bachelors, including King Philip of Spain and the Hapsburg archduke Ferdinand. It's no secret why: she's fallen for her "dark, saturnine" master of horse, Sir Robert Dudley, whose traitorous family history and marriage to the privately Catholic Amy make him an unsuitable consort. Gregory deftly depicts this love triangle as both larger than life and all too familiar; all three characters are sympathetic without being likable, particularly the arch-mistress Elizabeth, who pouts, throws tantrums, connives and betrays with queenly impunity. After a while the plot stagnates, as the lovers flaunt their emotions in the face of repetitious arguments from Amy, Cecil and various other scandalized members of the court. But readers addicted to Gregory's intelligent, well-researched tales of intrigue and romance will be enthralled, right down to the teasingly tragic ending. Agent, Melanie Jackson. (Nov.) Forecast: The first hardcover in her series about Tudor England, this should prove Gregory's enduring appeal with a run on the lists. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Following the success of her best seller, The Queen's Fool, Gregory brings us another emotionally charged fictional account of the lives of the Tudors. This time we are drawn into the love triangle among the newly crowned Elizabeth I; her lover, Robert Dudley; and his wife, Amy Robsart Dudley. The charismatic Dudley pursues Elizabeth and her crown, and it is all too easy for lonely Elizabeth to fall madly in love with him. Meanwhile, Amy is shuttled from one house to the next and waits for the day that Robert will allow her to have a home and family of her own. As the affair between Elizabeth and Dudley becomes more obvious and scandalous at court, Amy suffers from the gossip that her husband has abandoned her. The insight into Amy Dudley's life brings a new perspective to this already captivating story. Gregory weaves an engrossing tale of passion, love, and betrayal, where the very fate of Elizabeth's reign and the Kingdom of England hangs in the balance. Recommended as a first choice. Anna M. Nelson, Seabrook Lib., NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The story of Queen Elizabeth I and her court has been told countlessly in historical fiction. This third novel in a popular series following the machinations and passions of the Tudor court presents lively characters, political intrigue, and soaring emotions swirling around the early years of Elizabeth's reign. Lifelong friend Robert Dudley and Elizabeth share an ardent love affair, but the married Robert is already tainted with a traitor's brush. In addition, his wife, the devoted Amy, will never relinquish him. In tandem with her illicit liaison, Elizabeth conspires with William Cecil, her most trusted counselor, to secure the wealth of her court and country by building a secret cache of gold. The coin of the realm's new value will financially ruin Dudley. Readers already know how history unfolds but will quickly turn pages to the story's end. Elizabeth's manipulations, Dudley's allegiance, and Cecil's political plotting come together in an engaging story. The first two novels in the series were book-club favorites, and expect this one to follow suit--and expect further entries in this rousing series. ((Reviewed November 1, 2004)) Copyright 2004 Booklist Reviews.

Following the success of her best seller, The Queen's Fool, Gregory brings us another emotionally charged fictional account of the lives of the Tudors. This time we are drawn into the love triangle among the newly crowned Elizabeth I; her lover, Robert Dudley; and his wife, Amy Robsart Dudley. The charismatic Dudley pursues Elizabeth and her crown, and it is all too easy for lonely Elizabeth to fall madly in love with him. Meanwhile, Amy is shuttled from one house to the next and waits for the day that Robert will allow her to have a home and family of her own. As the affair between Elizabeth and Dudley becomes more obvious and scandalous at court, Amy suffers from the gossip that her husband has abandoned her. The insight into Amy Dudley's life brings a new perspective to this already captivating story. Gregory weaves an engrossing tale of passion, love, and betrayal, where the very fate of Elizabeth's reign and the Kingdom of England hangs in the balance. Recommended as a first choice. Anna M. Nelson, Seabrook Lib., NH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Bestseller Gregory captivates again with this expertly crafted historical about the beautiful young Virgin Queen, portrayed as a narcissistic, neurotic home-wrecker. As in her previous novels about Tudor England (The Queen's Fool, etc.), Gregory amasses a wealth of colorful period detail to depict the shaky first days of Elizabeth I's reign. The year is 1558, an especially dangerous time for the nation: no bishop will coronate Henry VIII's Protestant daughter, the treasury is bankrupt, the army is unpaid and demoralized. Meanwhile, the French are occupying Scotland and threatening to install "that woman"-Mary, Queen of Scots-on the throne. Ignoring the matrimonial advice of pragmatic Secretary of State William Cecil, the 25-year-old Elizabeth persists in stringing along Europe's most eligible bachelors, including King Philip of Spain and the Hapsburg archduke Ferdinand. It's no secret why: she's fallen for her "dark, saturnine" master of horse, Sir Robert Dudley, whose traitorous family history and marriage to the privately Catholic Amy make him an unsuitable consort. Gregory deftly depicts this love triangle as both larger than life and all too familiar; all three characters are sympathetic without being likable, particularly the arch-mistress Elizabeth, who pouts, throws tantrums, connives and betrays with queenly impunity. After a while the plot stagnates, as the lovers flaunt their emotions in the face of repetitious arguments from Amy, Cecil and various other scandalized members of the court. But readers addicted to Gregory's intelligent, well-researched tales of intrigue and romance will be enthralled, right down to the teasingly tragic ending. Agent, Melanie Jackson. (Nov.) Forecast: The first hardcover in her series about Tudor England, this should prove Gregory's enduring appeal with a run on the lists. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.