The Thistle and The Rose by Jean Plaidy

The Book: Princess Margaret Tudor is the greatest prize when her father, Henry VII, negotiates the Treaty of Perpetual Peace with neighboring Scotland. The betrothal is meant to end decades of bloody border wars, but it becomes a love match: To Margaret's surprised, she finds joy in her marriage to the dashing James IV of Scotland, a man sixteen years her senior. But the marriage, and the peace it brings to both nations, does not last. When King James is struck down by the armies of Henry VIII, Margaret - Princess of England, but Queen of Scotland - finds herself torn between loyalty to the land and family of her birth and to that of her baby son, now King of the Scots. She decides to remain in Scotland and carve out her own destiny, surviving a scandalous second marriage and battling with both her son and her brother to the very end. Like all the Tudors, Margaret's life would be one of turmoil and controversy, but through her descendants, England and Scotland would unite as one nation, under one rule, and find peace.

My review: Despite the fact that I have done a lot of research on the Tudors, I still didn't know much about Margaret Tudor. This well-written book not only tells us about the tumultuous life of the English Princess, but also of the emotions that were felt so deeply by the Scottish Queen. Following her journey from a naive, spoilt Princess to a weathered, experienced Dowager Queen, Plaidy makes us sympathise with her and admire her spirit. Despite the many betrayals that she experiences, Margaret remains idealistic and is deeply hurt when her loved ones betray her. We really feel her frustration when she realizes that she has no influence with James IV, her love for her four lovers, her pain when a rift rises between her and her son and her contentment when she no longer has to fight for her place or for her son's place. Well done to Plaidy for choosing a topic that is not as well known but is nevertheless vital in the place of British history.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days With Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey

The Movie: As the "How to..." columnist for trendy Composure Magazine, Andie Anderson (Hudson) agrees to write a first-hand account about what it takes to drive a man out of your life...in exactly 10 days. At the same time, eligible ad agency bachelor Benjamin Barry (McCanaughey) accepts a high-stakes bet that he can lure any woman into falling head-over-heels in love with him...also in 10 days. The resulting romantic head-on collision ignites a series of deliriously comic deceptions that prove when it comes to true love...your heart cannot tell a lie.

My review: Kate Hudson and Matthew McCanaughey give amazing performances in this romantic comedy. They are at their best each with hilarious lines and the chemistry between them is evident. I love their interaction and the many tones in this film make it colourful. This is definitely a movie to watch on a rainy day!

Catchline: One of them is Lying. So is the Other.

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir

The Book: Lady Jane Grey was born into times of extreme danger. Child of a scheming father and a ruthless mother, for whom she was merely a pawn in a dynastic power game with the highest stakes, she lived a life in thrall to political machinations and lethal religious fervour.

Jane's astonishing and essentially tragic story was played out during one of the most momentous periods of English history. As a great-niece of Henry VIII, and the cousin of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, she grew up to realise that she could never throw off the chains of her destiny. Her honesty, intelligence and strength of character carry the reader through all the vicious twists of Tudor power politics, to her nine-day reaign and its unbearably poignant conclusion.

My review: I love the different P.O.Vs shown by Weir in this book. This increases the sense of Lady Jane being so helpless. This makes her execution all the more tragic as there was nothing Lady Jane could have done to save herself. Her short life was blighted by the tyranny of her parents and even by her royal blood. It is due to her royal blood that she is unable to retire from court life and read her books and study and it is due to her royal blood that she must die. I especially enjoy the change of heart Lady Frances has at the end. Although there is no historical evidence to it, I like to imagine that at least one of her parents felt remorse in the end. I cannot wait to read more books by Alison Weir.

Other reviews: 'Alison Weir is one of our greatest popular historians. In her first work of fiction, she sets out to trace the brief life of one of hitory's most tragic heroines...Weir manages her heroine's voice brilliantly, respecting the past's distance while conjuring a dignified and fiercely modern spirit' DAILY MAIL

'[Weir] gives us a meaty flavour of the times, one of the bloodiest and most dangerous periods in history, full of betrayals and beheadings...An impressive debut.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

'This is a novel that will grips readers and give great pleasure.' ALLAN MASSIE - SCOTSMAN

In The Shadow of Lady Jane by Edward Charles

The Book: It is 1551 and a single act of heroism plunges ambitious young Richard Stocker into a tide of religious and social upheaval which will change not only his own life byt the course of British history.

In gratitude for saving his daughters from a flooded river, the powerful Lord Henry Grey agrees to employ Richard in his household. Passionate young Lady Katherine has already fallen for the dashing man who saved her life, while Richard himself develops a profound friendship with her troubled but brilliant sister, Lady Jane Grey. Theirs is a bond which will only be severedd three years later, when Lady Jane is put to the axe at the age of just sixteen.

My review: Lady Jane Grey has always struck me as one of the most tragic queens in history. One must have a heart of stone not to be moved by her tale and this book makes it all the more powerful by being written in the third person. It is impossible not to sympathise with all who suffer in this book and Charles has done a wonderful job of capturing the story. Despite the fact the book is a novel, there are few historical inaccuracies and one can learn a lot about the young girl who was merely a political pawn, but paid for it with her life. I definitely agree with the four stars given it by Amazon.com

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer

The Book: It is in regrettable circumstances that beautiful Judith Taverner and her brother Peregrine first encounter Julian St. John Audley. The man, they both agree, is an insufferably arrogant dandy. But unfortunately for them, he is also the Fifth Earl of Worth, a friend of the Regent, and, quite by chance, their legal guardian...

My review: I loved this book! Georgette Heyer ranks highly on my list of authors and I think that the fact that this is her only book to blend in romance and mystery equally only makes me like it more. It is funny and, like her other books, capture the period perfectly. It is obvious that she is an expert on this period in history and her portrayal of each of the different characters is highly amusing and entertaining. I also love the fact that she has added in Beau Brummell as a proper character instead of just a name because it gives a chance to find out what he is really like as a person.

Other Reviews: 'My favourite historical novelist - stylish, romantic, sharp, and witty. Her sense of period is superb, her heorines are enterprising, and her heroes dashing. I owe her many happy hours.' MARAGARET DRABBLE

Introduction

So basically in this blog, I'll be writing about books, movies and TV shows that I've recently read and other such things. I'll give a synopsis of it and then of course tell you what I think of it. Hope you enjoy!