I wanted to like these books. I wanted to like them enough to keep them in the library and recommend them to other Tudor history buffs. Even after reading all three, I kept looking for a reason to like them. But that just never happened.

Kate Emerson advertises herself as an “expert in all things Tudor,” which right off the bat makes me suspicious. Tudor history is large and messy; covering many decades and hundreds of players. From the seamtresses who designed the gowns and costumes for the royals to the scullery maid in any given kitchen, Tudor history is crowded with people wanting to tell their story. Being an expert in all things Tudor can’t be done.

These books were written poorly, even woodenly at times and are overwrought with romantic conjecture and conniving. They are set in the Tudor court, and they follow minor characters of the Tudor court, but they are not about the Tudors. These are romance novels dressed up in Tudor regalia. These are not the stories of fully-rounded people whose stock in trade must be courtly intrigue and politics in order to survive. I found these books to be flat, boring at times and kept hoping for more … something.

If you want to read really good historical fiction about the Tudor era, especially Elizabeth I, stick to Phiippa Gregory ( )

After reading the first book in Kate Emerson's Secrets of the Tudor Court series, I wasn't too excited about continuing the series, primarily because there are better Tudor novels out there and I didn't see the need to spend time reading the rest of Emerson's series. However, when I saw this book come through on Amazon Vine, I thought I'd give it another try -plus the cover was absolutely gorgeous.

Between Two Queens talks about the life of Anna "Nan" Bassett after she comes to court with her sister Catherine to be a maid of honor to Queen Jane Seymour. Nan is pulled into some court intrigue and eventually, a romance with Edward Corbett. After Queen Jane dies and Henry VIII marries the unattractive Anna of Cleves, Nan catches the king's attention and she senses the opportunity to become queen herself. Spanning from the end of Queen Jane's (wife #3) reign to the beginning of Queen Catherine Parr's (wife #6), Between Two Queens gives an interesting and lush portrait of the later queens in Henry VIII's life.

Emerson's writing skills seemed to have improved since The Pleasure Palace and, this time around, the pacing was considerably better and the characters more interesting. While I know these subjects have been done before countless times, approaching the subject matter through the eyes of a lesser-known noblewoman gave it a nice spin.

I did find that the book's "packaging" was a little deceiving. After looking at the cover art, the summary on back and the quotes chosen for the cover imply that this is going to be some kind of bodice-ripping romance novel along the lines of the popular Phillipa Gregory novel The Other Boleyn Girl or the Showtime series The Tudors. While there is some romance, there is hardly any bodice-ripping and, frankly, the descriptions of Nan's intimidate times with the old, fat and ulcer-plagued Henry VIII were incredibly difficult to read (okay, almost to the point that I couldn't read it due to the nausea growing in my stomach). While I have to admit that the cover art itself is gorgeous, it didn't quite correspond to the contents.

Much better than The Pleasure Palace, Between Two Queens is a great addition to a Tudor fan's library and definitely got me officially addicted to Emerson's Secrets of the Tudor Court series. I don't know if there will be sequels or when they will come out, but I'll be watching. ( )

Kate Emerson's Between Two Queens cover looks like a standard issue Tudor romance, but readers may be surprise to find a novel of surprising historical heft. Emerson has done the unthinkable as she tells a story of King Henry VIIIs infamous court that even die hard European Royalty Fiction fans will be unfamilar with. Basing the the novel on actual Historical letters, Emerson builds the story of Nan Basset, a young courtier hoping to become a Lady in Waiting to Jane Seymour and from the position secure a good husband. Nan almost immeadiately catches the eye of King Henry and through her story we get glimpses King Henry's court throughout the reign of Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard which never fails to fascinate. Emerson also portarys the realities that Nan must have had to face-- family fortunes rising and falling at the whim of the King, and the encouragement to advance her family through seduction and husbandry. Credit goes to Emerson for trying to give Nan's actions grim consequences and not forcing a fairy tale ending. Fans of the genre should be pleased. A historical afterward, family trees, and a Q and A with the author add historical credibility to the edition. Having said that, there is some typical Tudor romace elements in the mix: contrived romances, the occasionaly awkward (and pointless?) shifts in point of view, flat characters without motivation or dymanic personalities. ( )

In Kate Emerson’s second book in her “Secrets of the Tudor court” series; she has taken letters about one of Jane Seymour’s’ Maids Of Honor and tries to bring us a story of many layers. It is a novel filled with court intrigue, treachery, treason and scandal and political and religious machinations. She has chosen a time towards the end of Henry the VIII life when his health, looks and charm were on the wane. She has also chosen to make Anne (Nan) Basset a strong woman who has always made her choices reflect on what she can gain both for herself and her family.
Unfortunately for me this book just reminded me that history never fails to repeat itself, whether with our politicians or with the nouveau riche - sadly, I could never seem to get the picture of Donald Trump out of my mind whenever I was reading about the King!

Between Two Queens opens with Nan being chosen as one of the Maids of Honor to a very pregnant Queen Jane. When Jane Seymour dies after childbirth Nan captures the Kings eye and he hers. At the same time another younger, poorer man has become smitten with Nan. Nan chooses to have a dalliance with Ned, getting pregnant in the process and instead of marrying him, decides to give up her child and to encourage the Kings roving eye and dreams of becoming Queen.

The characters of Anne and her “friend” Ned where never convincing to me; they were shallow and manipulative and while that may have been what really went on during this reign, I felt that they could have been painted just a little bit more human and made to be a bit more interesting.

Much of the story had deep gaps and some parts even seemed to have been added after the fact with the author sometimes not even completing a plot thread. The so called mystery and intrigue really wasn’t mysterious or intriguing. It was more boring than anything. I admit that I really do not know anything about this time period nor do I have more than a passing fancy with the Tudors…so if you are reading this book cold like I did, I think you may be very disappointed. DO NOT judge this book by its cover. It has been given the cover of what one would assume is a historical romance, it is not. ( )

http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/2010/03/secrets-of-tudor-court-between-two.htm... ( )