Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace

I began reading Kate Emerson's series debut, Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace, on a dreary winter weekend morning. I finished it late that same day, having spent most of the intervening hours happily in the courts of England and France, fascinated not only by Jane Popyncourt's story (she was a real person, which is always a bonus in historical fiction,) but by the wealth of wonderful historical details which author Kate Emerson manages to slide into her story without in any way slowing down the pace of this romance plus mystery plus adventure tale. Hurrah for Emerson -- I can't wait for the next in her series!

Emerson's first book in what I believe is going to be a series set during the Tudor period is based upon Jane Popyncourt, a member of the Tudor Court and of whom very little is known, giving the author more leeway to craft her tale. When the French King dies mysteriously Jane's mother flees to England with her daughter and seeks shelter with her twin brother at Henry VII's court. Jane is taken to Eltham to be raised with the royal children and after the mysterious death of her mother she is made a ward of Henry VII and raised in the royal household with Henry and his two sisters Margaret and Mary. As an adult Jane serves the Princess Mary, although her life takes a bit of a turn when a highly born French prisoner of war takes an interest in her - an interest that Henry VIII encourages hoping for a state secret or two. As Jane begins to hope for happiness with the one man who loves her, her search for the answers to her mother's death and the reason for the mad flight from France spins Jane into a perilous situation with life-threatening consequences. I greatly appreciated the time and effort the author put into her research - she especially did a great job with the details of life in the Tudor Court, the clothes, the food, the tournaments, Henry and his mistresses, etc. and the author was able to do that without making me feel like I was being clubbed over the head with the minute details. I liked the fact that the author gives you the family trees of the English and French Nobility of the period, along with a who's who in the back of the book. Jane was an enjoyable, albeit a bit too spunky and independent heroine, but in the end the big mystery fell just a tad bit flat for me. Why anyone would consider the big mystery such a threat that they would want bump people off just stretched the believability factor. A very easy breezy read - light and entertaining but one that's not likely to stick with you long after its finished. 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to four.

Kate Emerson veers off her normal routine by tackling the dramas of the Tudor Court with this new novel. Jane Popyncourt's life is fictionalized in this fun novel although she truly was a ward of King Henry VII. We are introduced to Jane Popyncourt as a young girl fleeing her home France to seek refuge in England with the King. Jane is young enough to not question how it is that she has this privilege, although as a reader that is in the back of our minds, we are just made aware there is a family connection. Meanwhile, orphaned Jane is being raised with the Royal Family, befriending Lady Mary and tutoring her and her sister Margaret in French. Years later as Jane is reunited with a childhood friend from France, she realizes there is some mystery to her background. She begins her quest among unhelpful court ladies to learn more about her mother. Jane is portrayed as knowing how to act as a lady at the appropriate times, but she is ready to sow some wild oats when she meets a dashing Duc de Longueville Louis D'Orleans, a prisoner of War. Thus she gains a reputation, coupled with the fact that she is a foreigner, she does not have a bright future ahead of her. Jane must find her way, and learn the truth to her heritage amidst a dangerous time of war. Kate's novel is full of historical tidbits as far as how the courtiers dresssed, their jewels, the pageants and parties; just enough information to not sound like non-fiction but more to give us a sense of being right there in Jane's presence. This is a novel full of romance, mystery and intrigue. The writing was well-done and the book was an easy read and I am looking forward to the next installment in the Tudor Court series. I give this one 5 stars!

In 1498, six months after the death of papa when his ship sunk at sea, eight years old Jane Poyancourt and her widowed mother Jeanne flee France following the passing away of King Charles. King Henry VII makes the grieving Jane his ward and employs the child who is the age of his daughters as their French tutor by simply speaking to them. Soon after reaching England, Jane's Uncle Sir Rowland Velville informs his young niece that her mamam died from a sudden fever. A few years later, Jane is beautiful and remains at the court though a new handsome Henry sits on the throne now. Several members of the court want to court the displaced Frenchwoman, but she shows no interest in any of them. That changes when prisoner of war Duc de Longueville Louis D'Orleans is sent to the Tower awaiting ransom payment. She is attracted to him and is considering becoming his mistress. Meanwhile her childhood friend Guy Dunois comes to the English court and wants to become Jane's lover. Jane also investigates her mother's sudden untimely death, which leads to her spying for her royal guardian. This interesting early sixteenth century tale lives up to its title as the audience sees another side to the Tudor courts of Henry VII and more so his son Henry VIII. The story line provides the reader with a sense of time and place especially the intrigue that engulfs the reign of Henry VIII, but does so through the amorous adventures of Jane. Fans of the era will relish Kate Emerson's fine historical biographical fiction of an actual member of the Tudor court supported by real people. Harriet Klausner

Jane Popyncourt's life is surrounded with mystery. At the age of eight, Jane's mother whisks her out of France following the death of King Charles. Jane is placed in the court of England's King Henry VII where she is one of the children of honor and serves as a companion to Lady Mary and Lady Margaret. The courts of Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII are filled with danger at every turn, however, as alliances are made only to be broken. What secrets about her own past will Jane discover? Kate Emerson immerses the reader in a time long past, providing lush descriptions alongside historical facts and innuendos. The helpful charts at the front as well as the author's note at the end provide readers unsure of what is fact or fiction with an accurate accounting as to where imagination meets reality. Readers will appreciate Kate Emerson's attention to detail while learning about a lesser known historical figure. The Tudor period is a newly discovered love of mine and I enjoyed reading about the exploits of Jane Popyncourt. Kate Emerson paints a very vivid image of Jane's precarious position. Her ties to France and her lack of any obvious standing made her subject to the whims of the aristocracy. However, Kate Emerson shows Jane as a survivor, even a victor, despite the uncertainty of her own status. Who couldn't help cheering for her as she outwits those far more powerful than her? SECRETS OF THE TUDOR COURT: THE PLEASURE PALACE is an adventure to be savored. This is not a book to be rushed through but rather one to settle in with on a nice comfy chair and prepare to be swept away. SECRETS OF THE TUDOR COURT: THE PLEASURE PALACE is highly recommended! COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES