The Queen's Secret: A Novel (A Queens of England Novel)

Catherine Valois was one of the founders of the Tudor Dynasty. After surviving a horrific childhood, she married King Henry the fifth for political reasons. She then met and married the love of her life Owen Tutor. Although he life ended suddenly and tragically, her offspring and future generations changed the history of the British monarchy. A wonderful book.

I feel as if a light has been focused on a heretofore rather cloudy period of history, drawing the disparate elements together and into focus in such a way that they can be seen, not only for what they are in and of themselves, but for the intricate pattern their dance makes as they play off each other on the world stage of the mid 1400’s.

The second in a series of books about the Queens of England, this tells the story of Katherine of Valois, the wife of Henry V. The story, told from Katherine's perspective, starts with her dreary existence in a remote house with her brothers, sisters and her father, the insane King of France. It follows her through her marriage to Henry V, the birth of Henry VI, the death of the King and her secret marriage to Owen Tudor, which becomes the foundation of the future Tudor dynasty. Jean Plaidy writes wonderful stories, with great detail. Her research is impeccable, and she depicts the lives of these historical figures in a way that makes them accessible to modern audiences. This story, in particular, shows the lives these nobles had to leave- children raised away from mothers, marriage without love and constant warfare.

I love how this author takes facts about European royal history and explores how the people involved must have felt about them behind the scenes. She makes her royalty so human, so relatable. And I appreciated in her books how she demonstrates the struggle royalty had with being royal - how to shoulder the responsibility, how to treat other royalty, how to be a king as a child, how mothers and and their son/kings related to each other, how painful it was to have a regent take away your child to raise, etc.

I enjoyed this book about Katherine of Valois and her eventual love of Owen Tudor. She had a very rough childhood as a Princess of France. She married Henry V, bore him a son who would later become Henry VI.. She soon became a widow after Henry V died. Little did she know that her grandson would be the founder of the Tudor dynasty. This story was well written and filled in many of the blanks about the Queen's life. I love all of the Jean Plaidy books about the English monarchy.

This book starts at about in 1404 and ends in July 1436. I like how the book handled historical background so you could understand what was going on. I recommend reading The Lady Rivers by Philippa Gregory after reading this book.

Not the best historical book I have ever read but still interesting and entertaining. From reading the book you learn about the beginnings of the Tudor dynasty. You also learn about Henry V and his reign, as well as a little about what was happening in France during this period of time, like the rise of Joan of Arc. That was a bonus to the book because I know a good deal about English history, but not so much about French. Overall, I am glad I read the book and would recommend it.

,After reading several books set in the Regency period, , this book was an excellent change . I believe it was historically accurate as I recognized many names of the characters . I believe Joanna Troutbeck appears on my genealogy sheets ! This book held my interest to the very end . Thank you Ms. Plaidy, you captured my mind and my heart...

I gave this book five stars because it was a fascinating insight into royalty/history at that time. Highly recommend it.

One of the best books that i have read.I found it so absorbing could not put the book down till the end

Read Jean Plaidy years ago and have rediscovered her. Forgotten how nice it was to read a historical fiction book without all the descriptive sexual undertones that we get nowadays. A refreshing read.

Delivery good. Thank you.