Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd is the last novel in the Ladies in Waiting series and once again Sandra will thrill historical fiction fans with this perfect blend of fact and fiction in her novel about Elizabeth I. I would have read this latest book either way but I was especially excited to read it because Elizabeth I is one of my favorite Queens in history. In Roses Have Thorns she really brings alive who the woman was behind the title of Queen Elizabeth I and how, despite her reputation of being strong like a man, she also had a softer side and craved the friendships of other women like we all do.
Elin von Snakenborg leaves her homeland of Sweden in 1565 when she is seventeen years old to come over to England. At home in Sweden she is engaged and she finds out that her dowry money has been gambled away by her father and her sister and fiancee seem to be making eyes at each other all the time and yet still she wonders if she’s doing the right thing by leaving. What will life hold for her in England? When their ship finally makes it to England after a very treacherous journey Helena (the English version of her name) catches the eye of Lord Northampton so much so that after some difficulties they are married. This raises Helena’s rank to the Marchioness of Northampton and secures her relationship with the Queen even more.
Helena goes on to lose one husband and gain another along with quite a few children but I think the real story is the relationship she had with the Queen. By all accounts Helena seemed to be a very caring woman who was genuine and she showed that to the Queen who in turn began to trust her with more and more things to do with her royal person. In this novel Helena is portrayed as being very open to saying things to the Queen and touching her arm or things like that where normally other of her ladies wouldn’t even think of doing that. She also made her oils and lotions and Elizabeth was known to love things that smelled nice so this was in Helena’s favor as well. As the years passed Helena was raised in position with the Queen until she was finally at a rank that gave her the power over who could even see the Queen. This all seems to fit in perfectly with the story as when Elizabeth I passes on it is Helena who is her Chief Mourner.
I can’t see that Elizabeth didn’t have a close relationship with these women who spent all of their time with her. It would seem unlikely and I really loved how Sandra fleshed out the story to show this personal side of Elizabeth – that she did have people who genuinely cared about her and that she too cared about. I hope so anyway because I’ve always felt that Elizabeth seemed to live a lonely life. She constantly had all these people around her and yet really she was alone. She loved Robert Dudley and yet that love could never be and she never was able to have the family that she yearned for. I have always loved Elizabeth I for her strength of character and showing that strong women existed even in a time when it wasn’t thought that women had much power in anything and really I hadn’t thought much of her personal relationships before so that made this story even more intriguing for me.
This novel holds true to actual history and I can always tell when I’m really intrigued by a character because I have to look them up and see who they were and what they did. It didn’t take me long before I looked up Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton and I was pleased to see that just how much this story held true to the actual facts (this is relayed in the author’s note as well). I find that it makes a book even more interesting to me to know that these people really existed, that they did these things and lived this life. I found Helena a fascinating woman who was brave enough to leave her homeland at a young age and then forge herself a life – a successful one – in England. Then to be one one of the women closest to the Queen; what higher honor could there be? These women like Helena gave up their lives to serve their Queen. They saw very little of their husbands or children and, in fact, spent almost all of their time with the Queen. While it was an honor, it must also have been a sacrifice especially for those with families. It’s been interesting to see the life of the court and Queen through the eyes of those closest to her – her ladies.
I have loved and very much enjoyed all the novels in this series: To Die For (my review), The Secret Keeper (my review), and now Roses Have Thorns. These books have shown me a different outlook on three Tudor Queens and they have all been so good. Sandra is an amazing writer whose novels are rich in historical detail and so well written that they never fail to capture my interest and enfold me in the lives she portraying. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Roses Have Thorns for historical fiction fans as well as any others who would like to start reading up on our history. These wonderful novels of Sandra’s are a great way to do it!
Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd is touring with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours so be sure to pop by the other tour stops to see what others are saying about the book. You can find Sandra on her website as well as Facebook , Twitter, and Pinterest. You can pick up your own copy of Roses Have Thorns at Amazon or Amazon Canada.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS (Open Internationally)
I have one paperback copy of Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
- For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do let me know and I’ll pass the extra entry on to you as well.
- Tweet, like on Facebook, or Blog this giveaway for 3 entries.
This giveaway is open Internationally and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, April 27/13. Good luck to all!
Source: Review copy provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and the Publisher via Edelweiss. No compensation was recived and all opinions are my own.
I really wan to have this book. Sandra Byrd. 🙂 omg.
I would love to enter to try to win this book. It would be neat to read about a Queen.
Entry #1. comment
Entry #2, I am a follower of this blog
Entry #3. I have liked on Facebook.
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
I would love to win this book, it sound like a fantastic read!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I follow your blog and I liked and shared on facebook.
a great historical and thanks for your wonderful review and giveaway. I am an e-mail subscriber.
Not so happy about Snakenborg, that is a mostly nonsense name/word
Thank you so much, Dar, for taking the time to read my book, and for your lovely review and giveaway. I truly appreciate you and all your followers.
blodueudd, Snakenborg was Elin’s real last name. You might find her biography, written by Saab engineer Gunnar Sjogren, interesting!
Happy almost-weekend!
I am so excited about this book. Looking forward to reading it
Campbellamyd at Gmail dot com
I’m a follower.
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com
https://mobile.twitter.com/AmyBooksy/status/322382377517203456
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com
Having finished Hillary Mantel’s two books on Henry the vIll, and waiting for the 3rd, it would be interesting to get the female perspective after his reign.
I am also a follower via email.
I would love to read this book. It sounds like a different take on the Tudors and would be interesting to me. I follow by email and have liked the giveaway on Facebook.
Dar, I have always thought of Elizabeth as sort of cold and calculating, but this tale makes me wonder and think. I know she was strong, but everyone loved her, so she must have been nice to some people, and it seems like Helena was one of those people. I would love to read this one and would love a chance to be entered in your giveaway. It sounds terribly exciting!!
zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
I adore historical fiction.
Hello: I will like to win this giveaway, very interesting on the reading of this book!!!!!❤❤❤❤
Would love to read this book.follower lomazowr@gmail.com also Twitter follower@rhondareads.Will tweet.
I love historical fiction and this sounds so good. It seems so sad that Helena had to give up her children to take care of the Queen.
I follow via email
I tweetedRoses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd & Giveaway (Int’l)
Loved To Die For. Would love to win this one, thanks. I’m a follower.
nanze55(at)hotmail(dot)com
Looks really,really good.
Follow by email
GFC
Thanks for this amazing giveaway! This book sounds great and I would love to win it!
klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net
Follow by e-mail!
klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/SuzReads2/status/322427694077845504
klaxon63350 (at) mypacks (dot) net
Yay! What a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win.
I follow via GFC
lafra86@gmail.com
thanks for the chance to read this novel 😉
i’m a follower, too 😉
I need to get to this series, sounds pretty darn awesome to me!!!
Great review! The book sounds so good!
sylvesternator(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow as Pollyanna Takenaka and tweeted: https://twitter.com/Pollyanna_/status/322513637187125248
Thank you for the giveaway! (:
This sounds like a different take on Tudor fiction. I would love to read this novel. Thanks for the giveaway.
I follow through Google Reader.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I’d like to be counted in for this one. Thanks for making it open to all. Much appreciated.
I follow you on GFC
mystica123athotmaildotcom
A great give away, thank you.
I am a follower.
Elizabeth I is a favorite of mine too. I look forward to reading ROSES HAVE THORNS.
GFC: Mary Preston
Email Subscriber:
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I love historical books especially about royalty. I’m kind of a Tudor history fanatic. I’ve been to the Tower of London and knew most of the stories before the tour guides even told them.
I follow via email: Mestith at gmail dot com
I liked this post on FB: Meghan Stith
+3 entries!
I’m a fan of Sandra Byrd and I Can’t wait to read this one too. Like you, I google characters while reading historical fiction.
Please enter my name for a chance to have Roses Have Thorns by new-to-me author Sandra Byrd. Thanks.
I really should read more historical fiction! It is one of those genres that I enjoy when I read but I definitely don’t read enough of…unless you count historical romances which aren’t quite the same thing. LOL! Great review as always…you always make me wish I did read more historical fiction 🙂
another great one!
thanks for the giveaway.
I follow you via Taptu, and here is my tweet:
https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/324678122492526592
Emma @ Words And Peace
ehc16e at yahoo dot com
Would love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
I also follow on feedly.
5678dancer(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to read this! It sounds really good! Thank you for the giveaway!
I follow on GFC – Carol M
https://twitter.com/CarolAnnM/status/325697755144155138
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I’d love to be entered for the giveaway!
I follow via GFC – Liz R
I liked on Facebook
I tweeted – https://twitter.com/BookWorm8900/status/326426137511206912
ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
Please enter me!!
Bethany
For the extra entries I follow you via GFC under the username Bethany. Thanks!
Bethany
For extra entries I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/ward_bethany/status/327453175739187201
Bethany
I’m a follower–thanks for the giveaway!
Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
Haven’t read the books before, but I would if I won this one. Always liked historical settings.