The Queen's Lady

This was my second Shannon Drake book and I really enjoyed it. The history of it was great as it revolved around the rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth. I would recommend!

I loved this book, it was both historical fiction and told the story of the rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots and was a beautiful love story of one of her ladies in waiting. It is a book I will reread in the future.

As a child she left Scotland for France accompanied by the four Mary Ladies in Waiting. Finally in 1561 recently widowed nineteen years old Queen Mary, no long the Queen of France, has returned to Scotland to sit on the throne. Accompanying the young Queen is her close friend Lady Gwyneth MacLeod. Gwyneth listens closely to Mary's desires and offers sage advice to go carefully with her heart as there are many who resent losing power with the monarch's return. However, as she warns her regal friend, Gwyneth ironically struggles to heed her own advice. Instead she is attracted to Lord Rowan Graham, whom she is not sure she should trust. Mary sends Gwyneth and Rowan on a mission together in which their allure for one another openly ignites as desire tugs at both of them. However, treachery places the pair in danger with Gwyneth forced to choose between the love of her heart and the love of her friend; either choice may lead to execution. THE QUEEN'S LADY is a strong historical fiction enhanced by a wonderful romantic subplot. The story line hones in on the political instability and overall country-wide chaos caused by Mary's return to Scotland. The difficult relationship between the lead couple augments Shannon Drake's entreatingly profound look at the fifteenth century furor caused by Mary Queen of Scots homecoming. Harriet Klausner

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Shannon Drake's books, eventhough some of them were not that great. Luckily 'The Queen's Lady' is Shannon Drake's best book yet. This book is well researched and well written, with characters that are believable and lovable. Even their trials and tribulations, and their actions, are never out of sync with their characters and time period. I love both Gwen and Rowan. Gwen is headstrong, loyal to the very end, and very passionate about what she believes in and loves. Rowan is every bit a Knight in Shining Armor of the time past. Their love for each other is constant and very heartwarming in such a shaky and violent era they live in. Read this book, you'll love it!

I loved this haunting view of the rise of Mary Queen of Scots, as seen by one of her (ficitonal) ladies. Mary is truly one of history's most tragic victims. I cried at the ending, even knowing as we all do how her story ends. The story of the Lady Gwenyth and Laird Rowan is one of the best romances, I've read in a long time. You will not be disappointed, as you fall in love with Rowan and the idealist Gwenyth who risks everything for those she loves in a Scotland filled with intrigue and betrayal.