Morland Dynasty 5: The Black Pearl

On the eve of the restoration, the Morland family, led by Ralph, finds itself in reduced circumstances, and eager to regain lost property once King Charles returns to take his throne. Annunciata, age 15, has higher aspirations than marriage to her cousin Kit; and she goes to London, to take part in court life there. This was my introduction to the Morland Dynasty, and I have to say that it didn't disappoint! Harrod-Eagles makes English history accessible while at the same time creating an engaging, entertaining plot and characters. Although there are characters in The Black Pearl that appeared in The Oak Apple, I found that it wasn't completely necessary to read them first--although I will, since the series is such a treat.

It's 1659 and the dour days of Cromwell's protectorate are drawing to a close, with the imminent return of King Charles 11. Ruth Morland soothes and comforts a desolate Prince Rupert who has witnessed the deaths of many of his friends in the final battle and who returns to the King without knowing that he has fathered Annunciata, a child who will feature in his future life. The Morland family has been left in dire straits with a great deal of their land sold off to a Cromwell follower and a vast amount of money gone to pay fines. Ralph Morland is eager to rebuild the family fortunes and agrees to 16 year old Annunciata going to the court , with her cousins, to help to put the family name forward and to possibly make a prosperous marriage. I really bonded with the characters in this episode of the Morland saga and can't wait for the next book as it ends in 1666 with London burning after the Great Plague.

The fifth book in the Morland dynasty series starts in 1659, as Charles II returns to England and reclaims his throne. Another Morland heroine comes to the fore: Annunciata, daughter of the reclusive Ruth. With the identity of her father unknown, a teenage Annunciata heads to the restored court and is quickly enveloped in it's heady atmosphere of love and politics. She is the Scarlet O'Hara of her time, falling in and out of love, marrying in haste, and bearing children with resentment. The search for her father only causes more heartbreak, but Annunciata stands tall and proud through it all. This book is packed with people and events, there is never a dull moment. Every member of the family gets a valid storyline, and the time gap from the last book is well accounted for. Once again, the characters are involved in the making of history. The court and fashion of Charles II are brilliantly described. Actual historical figures blend seemlessly with the fictional ones. Generations may come and go, but the Morland family remain true to their principles, no matter what the politics of the time. And their careers, love affairs, and friendships show that human nature never changes. For the fan of historical fiction, these books are addictive!

Being the sequel to "The Oak Apple", this novel is the fifth book in the MORLAND DYNASTY series. Nine months after the fateful battle of Marston Moor, which Kit did not survive, his cousin Ruth gives birth to a daughter, Annunciata.After the restoration of James II, Ruth sends her daughter, now a woman grown and bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Stuarts, to London where she becomes an instant sensation at Court. Populated by engaging characters and vivid in historical detail, this book is as enjoyable as the preceding books in the series.