I have read several books on Nell Gwyn and I enjoyed this one the most. Susan Holloway Scott has a most enjoyable way of bringing the intimacy of the characters without overboarding them. She brings a softer side of Nell out, without losing her sassiness, and it was a page turner all the way through. Took me a long time to read because I just became a grandmother for the first time and well I have other things to occupy me now! ( )

After thoroughly enjoying Susan Holloway Scott's Royal Harlot, I was eager to jump into another of her wonderful Restoration-era novels. I, was, however, curious has to how this one would measure up. I'd already read about the Countess of Castlemaine, Sarah Churchill and the Duchess of Portsmouth in previous novels, so I was a little concerned about reading practically the same story yet again, only through the eyes of another character. Plus there's the fact that I read Diane Haeger's The Perfect Royal Mistress earlier this year, which is also about Nell Gwyn, so I already had a very clear idea of what to expect.

Despite all of this, Susan Holloway Scott thoroughly enchanted me with The King's Favorite. The King's Favorite tells the story of Nell Gwyn, a low-born woman from the dregs of London. After getting a job as an orange seller at the local playhouse, she meets Charles Hart, and, through him, works her way up to being an actress. In this new role, she captures the attention of King Charles II himself, who has always had a vice for beautiful women, despite his long-time liaison with the Countess of Castlemaine and his wife, Queen Catherine. Using only her wit, her wanton-ness and zest for life, Nell captures the heart of the King and of London, but she soon finds that the perils of court are unlike anything else that she's experienced.

Nell is painted as an incredibly lively, fun character with something of a crude mouth, but a knowledgeable sense of what really makes the world go round. From beginning to end, I was in love with Nell's character. She was well-developed and fun to read about, not to mention lively, but somewhat innocent in the world of court politics. Just like all of Charles II's other mistresses, Nell constantly risks the threat of him putting her aside while trying to keep his favor, bear him sons (even though they are illegitimate) and, most importantly, overcome the taint of her low birth.

Scott does another exquisite job of painting the bawdy court of Charles II and depicting the cutthroat, yet thrilling world of royal mistress politics. However, now that I've read about this same period four times from Scott, I feel like it's time for something else. But still, King's Favorite is another great offering from Scott. ( )

I stumbled upon this author while doing a review for another site. She definitely rivals Philippa Gregory in her historical fiction. Her detail and life she brings to her novels are fantastic. This story is about Nell Gwyn, the mistress to King Charles II. I thought the author put a lot of heart and soul into her characters. I could feel the love shared between the King and "his Nelly". This was a work of fiction but the fact was Nell was his mistress and this could of been what her life was like back then. I found out recently this author wrote historical romances under the name Miranda Jarret, might be worth checking out. ( )

I think I might have enjoyed this book more had I read the "Author's Note" first. I felt that this first part of the book was just garbage, but since I finish everything I start, I found it much more interesting as I got into the historical part of the story. ( )

Nell Gwynn was a fascinating woman, and I find myself picking up every book about her I can find. Ms. Scott did an excellent job making Nell a fascinating, human character. ( )