Interesting perspective.  Anne is often portrayed as the villainess, so it was nice to see the story told from another point of view.  However, no matter how the book romanticized the relationship between Anne and George, it is still incest and pretty gross!!
582405
I am a huge Tudor fan!  This book gave an Interesting perspective!  Anne is often portrayed as the villainess in this story, so it made the story fresh.  However, no matter how much the relationship between Anne and George was romanticized in this book, it was still incest and pretty gross!
434902
the story is, actually, very interesting, but, like others have said, it contains A LOT of 'graphic' scenes. i am appalled that it is actually a teen book. (parents,  you might want to think twice before letting your son/daughter read this. Harry Potter is a much better use of time :])
4538837
Christine Blevins' "The Tory Widow" opens 10 years before the revolution when Anne, a young woman, is getting married to a much older, and meaner, man. After her wedding, Jack Hampton a young printer kisses her spontaneously, causing Anne to fantasize about what her life could have been if she had been allowed to marry someone like Jack.  Ten years later and Anne is a widow when she meets Jack again when he torments her for being a Tory.  Anne soon becomes a Patriot, and along with the help of Jack and others, carries out espionage against the British during the occupation of New York.  Will Anne and Jack be able to evade the British, or will their Patriot actions be foiled?

Overall, I enjoyed reading "The Tory Widow" although I will admit that the book was uneven, and there were parts that I enjoyed more than others.  I wish Blevins had stuck with telling the story from Anne's perspective, instead of switching between Anne and Jack.  Blevins had a stronger voice and seemed like a better writer when writing from Anne's perspective.  I got a little bored during Jack's sections, since I read the book because I wanted a woman's perspective, not a mans.  I think Blevins did a lot of research, and her portrayal of the period feels accurate.  I just would have preferred if she had stuck with a single perspective.

If you are interested in the Revolutionary period, especially in New York City, I would recommend this book.  It's a fun romance romp through the revolutionary period, just be warned if you don't like shifting narrators.
135796
Being an American, I don`t already know all the details of this story, as others reviewers have indicated, so I read this book with much interest.  My take on "this" particular book, is that Camilla is not to blame for how the circumstances transpired, but rather Charles himself.  Camilla was a girlfriend long before Diana came in to the picture and Charles lack of self-confidence(maybe a lack of parental involvement in his life and yet still having the feeling of "duty" to please these same parents) put him in a spot to where he finally had to make his "bridal" decision.  He should have had the balls to say no, I don`t really love Diana, but someone else.  Charles chose to continue his relationship with Camilla and never told her NO, it`s over.....he led her on and she hung on. Charles had the "issues" and to me he is the one responsible for the breakup of his and Diana`s marriage - why do so many think it was Camilla - is that really fair?
I agree with other reviewers that the proofreading of this book was poorly done - such a pity!
3636406
I've read a lot of different takes on the story of King Arthur, but Hollick's Kingmaking made the story totally fresh to me.  Some of the complaints I've read about this book is that it's too romantic (I don't read romances, so a little romance can be refreshing) and too violent (what do you expect in war?), and that King Arthur was portrayed as a womanizer (well...he may or may not have been, and this image of him didn't really bother me).  All this was true, but I really don't think it hindered the story, in fact, it just made it more real and fantastic at the same time.
I'm now disappointed that the other books in this series are not readily available and at a cheap price.  I happened to buy the hardback edition of The Kingmaking for a dollar (go figure!), and I will now consider this book a treasure.  If you're a fan of Arthurian fantasy or just fantasy in general, this is one epic book worth reading.
2698476
This book IS NOT kind to Diana's memory.  It paints a picture of a
very emotionally disturbed young woman--- that mental issue (now) being
called a personality disorder called,"borderline".  This book does contain some
shocking "unhinged" incidents involving Diana.  The attitude towards Diana in this
particular book is a bit scathing in it's detail.  Is it the author's intention to be biased
against Diana ?  hmm.  Maybe.  I do believe what is in the book.

This book also contains a sort of "mini background" bio on Queen Elizabeth,actually
comparing the two women's upbringing in various ways and actions/behavior. The
relationship between the two women was strained and complex (I think on Diana's side).
It is a detailed,intricate read.  I do see some similar things in this book that are also
mentioned in other books about Diana.  Do i recommend this to people who still love
Diana ? NO.  There is too much that shows Diana in a negative light.  Do I recommend I
for the curious ? Yes, keep an open mind.  I will give four stars.

If i could make a personal statement,almost 20 years after her death,I find Diana's life to
be mostly sad. So much lost potential.  So many what ifs.  So many unfulfilled dreams.
She is a woman who made her mark on the world but,sadly,going around in circles,I do
wonder if she would have ever found true happiness if she had lived longer ?
2200535
While the character relationships within this family were very interesting and easily relateable to my life, I found the constant switching of view points and years in each chapter hard to follow. Once I felt like I was getting to know one charachter, another would jump in and describe them differently. There were several weird incidences in this book and odd habbits of the sisters. The end of this book lacks a true "finish" and left me feeling annoyed since I had figured out what their "gift" was early on in the book, which was NO gift at all! Just the transcripts throughout the book. It was a quick read and an intersting story but I am not sure I would reccomend it to others.
3205102
Dunham's tales of growing up in New York with liberal feminist parents are intriguing and it was nice to read such a modern autobiography . However she has led an extremely privileged life and is self involved to the extent that it is sickening. A part of me would love to see Dunham forced to volunteer in a third world country so she could gain some perspective. On the other hand I almost pity her at times as she seemed to write in a deliberately eccentric way as though she desperately craves attention.

I have heard that Dunham has been criticised for 'sexually abusing' her sister when you read it in context you release that Dunham has a very sexual sense of humour and is naturally curious. I believe that she was trying to get her sister to display affection for her and was trying to be funny when she compared herself to a 'sexual predator' which is not an okay thing to joke about.
2535270
Pleasant but not satisfying, certainly not a "horror" story. The most interesting part of the book, in fact, is the dialogue between the girls and Elanor's inner dialogue. The movie adaptation from the early 60's is superior, in my opinion.

Having said that, I didn't understand the thrust of the plot: is Elanor somehow related to the Crains, and the house wantes her back??
2729436
It was nice seeing the story from another perspective. But some of the scenes weren't well fleshed out. It was as if the author already knew what happened and assumed readers would too. This made Peta's character more flat.  It also seemed rushed.
3060899
What a shame that you get a few sordid views of a great story and then when the plot really thickens it is covered with very vivid details of an affair. Although I finished this book, I have my doubts as to reading any more of the series. What is wrong  with just stating that the couple was so enamored with each other that they indulged themselves? Why do people think they have to fill the pages with seduction to sell a book?
3832958
This is supposed to be a biography of Sigmund Freud's daughter. It reads like one. But one keeps hoping it is really fiction. Otherwise, this girl was sexually abused by her father (at least her mind was bent) and I can't imagine that in these days he wouldn't be accused of incest of the brain--even though there is no such thing on the books...I don't think. It's rather creepy to read because of that but fascinating none the less. I couldn't read it all at once. I had to take it in small bits. But it is interesting to look at another view of Sigmund Freud. He needed a bit, quite a bit, of counseling himself, it appears to me!
2234689
[WARNING:Some parts of this review can be considered to contain spoilers, although if you know the history, you should probably be fine.]

There are basically two ways historical fiction authors will allow you to view Richard III. Either he's the second coming or he's the scourge of the earth. Historically, it's fine to regard Tudor accounts of Richard with some disbelief. Personally, I'm of the opinion that Richard III was a pretty good guy, overall, if still controversial. But this, my friends, this is just too much. Some Ricardian authors clearly have schoolgirl crushes on this medieval man and this makes them write some unbearably giddy fiction. Richard-Sue, as I will be calling him from now on, ruined the first half of Sandra Worth's THE KING'S DAUGHTER. From there on Elizabeth Plantagenet takes over. It would have been better, in my opinion, if Ms. Worth took some steps to emotionally detach herself from some of her clearly beloved characters. I wasn't sure if I could finish this novel, but I didn't want to write a review without reading the whole thing, since sometimes later parts can redeem early missteps. Not so here.

Since this novel is written in first person (why must authors keep doing this to us?) Elizabeth's perfect pureness is graspingly obvious. Not only is she the perfect queen, she's also the perfect person. And she loves her uncle Richard-Sue with the purest, most kind love imaginable. For a while there, she thought Richard had killed her brothers, but when Richard produces young Dickon Plantagenet in front of her eyes, she realizes it was all a huge misunderstanding. Sure, Edward's still missing, but that doesn't matter so much. She can go on loving her crowned, sainted uncle. Whose wife is dying of tuberculosis. But that, too, is alright, since she loves her Aunt Anne just as much and would never think anything sinful of a man she supposedly yearns for. Pure as angel's feathers, she is. Anyway, snark aside, I found Queen Anne's portrayal to be ridiculous if not altogether offensive. She's dying, her young and pretty niece-in-law is in love with her husband, and her only thoughts are of his happiness, so she decides to do some last days' matchmaking. What?! If I were Elizabeth, I might say something like, "No, no... Eighty times no... eighty to one times no... Queen Anne is another Mary-Sue." (This is, incidentally, the way Elizabeth actually speaks at one point in this book) This stretches credibility. I could not force myself to accept it.  When Elizabeth confesses her love for Richard, Queen Anne says something along the lines of, "Love's nothing to be ashamed of." I wanted to throw the book.

I guess I'm being harsh, but this was truly what I was thinking while reading the book. It might be because I'm disappointed. I thought this was going to be a great book. Everyone seems to be raving about this author and it keeps popping up on my "Recommended Books" page. But the characterization was awful, the dialogue worse, and if Worth displayed some impressive prose from time to time, it was completely overshadowed by one of the characters wailing, "Woe! Woe! This is the fall of the House of York!" or something of the kind. If that doesn't bother you, then you're quite at your leisure to pick The King's Daughter up and start reading. I, however, was not impressed.
3678300
That review title is putting it mildly.
SPOILERS:

 Imagine being married to someone who turns out to be cold as ice and wants nothing from you but a male heir, blames you for not coming up with one, then invites another woman to live in your household and tries to get an heir that way!
Apparently, this all happened to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.  Eventually, she has to learn to live with the situation and with multiple kids, as well as having to give up one baby.  I put a lot of the blame for all this on G's mother, who pushed her into the arranged marriage and then expected her to suppress her anguish and put up with all the betrayal in order to maintain a position of wealth and status.
Then again, women at that time had few, if any, choices in such matters.
Knightly, Fiennes, and the others do a fine job of looking and sounding like 18th century English folk, with lavish production design. The music is a bit much at times, but otherwise, few flaws here.
1756380
I liked seeing this side of the queen, but she should have stuck up to the bratty princess Snow. Oh, I wanted to slap Snow in the face. The queen was far too patient with her.
I think it's a great retelling of the POV of the evil queen.
3867995
I enjoyed the book  Interesting perspective from Anne.  For just having met the Peterson's and her opinions of Jackie, her biological mother seemed shifty right out of the gate. I really didn't see the resemblance between Scott and herself as she openly claims. She receives different vibes from Jsckie, who never apologizes for giving Anne up for adoption  Jackie obviously had reasons that weren't made available to Anne as to why she and her brother were given up.
Scott was clearly Jackie's favorite.  He was the Golden Boy and grew up in a home where he was never held accountable for his actions.  He thought he could get away with murder and this time mommy couldn't fix it  I wish Laci 's family my heart felt best!!
3527756
A story with elements of Cinderella as well as Beauty & the Beast & would be better read/labelled as fantasy rather than historical romance.

Rosamund Ashfield lives with her Aunt's family after being orphaned but is treated more as a servant than family. She serves her aunt's family and plays companion to her 3 cousins when needed. When the family leave for London for the Season & her cousin's coming out, she is left behind to fend for herself alone in the house. Her uncle makes a request to the vicar to find her employment & Rosamund suddenly finds herself playing nursemaid/companion to the Duke of Swanhaven.

Emotionally withdrawn & grief stricken since losing his family in a tragic accident, Aubrey Whittingham has lost the will to live and has become emaciated & a recluse who takes no interest in his own well being or of his surroundings, staring into space & mute. His grandmother hires Rosamund to spend time with him hoping that her youth & vitality will spur a recovery.

The story starts off well enough & as Aubrey slowly starts to respond to Rosamund - if only to berate her & bicker as Rosamund uses the tactic of bickering with him & bullying him to spur him out of his apathy & take better care of himself. It starts to get ridiculous midway through the book when the story shifts to London.

The language becomes increasingly contemporary. Rosamund's aunt & uncle allowing their daughter to get engaged to their erstwhile coachman's son, Joe, was totally ridiculous. When Joe actually insulted Aubrey to his grandmother's face "Joe's eyes narrowed. "Does this have anything to do with His grace? If he's mistreated her, by Jove, I'll thrash him!" she takes it all in stride. I can't imagine a Dowager Duchess accepting behaviour like that from a commoner.

I found this to be quite an absurd story for a historical romance. Very light and the language is very casual. I had to suspend belief reading the book & just turn a blind eye to the absurdities & there were many.

Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.