Finally free of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, is now married to Anne Boleyn and eagerly awaiting the birth of his son. In a court still reeling from the royal divorce and growing public resentment against church reform, Henry must negotiate widespread resentment toward Anne. He places all his hopes in a son to cement his Tudor blood line, but his dreams are shattered when Anne is delivered of a daughter.
Burying his disappointment, Henry focuses on getting her with child again, but their marriage is volatile and as Henry faces personal bereavement, and discord at court, Anne’s enemies are gathering. When the queen miscarries of a son, and Henry suffers a life-threatening accident, his need for an heir becomes critical. Waiting in the wings is Jane Seymour, a lady-in-waiting who offers the king comfort and respite from Anne’s fiery passions.
But, when Anne falls foul of her former ally, Thomas Cromwell, and the king is persuaded he has been made a cuckold, Henry strikes out and the queen falls beneath the executioner’s sword, taking key players in Henry’s household with her.
Jane Seymour, stepping up to replace the fallen queen, quickly becomes pregnant. Delighted with his dull but fertile wife, Henry’s spirits rise even further when the prince is born safely. At last, Henry has all he desires but even as he celebrates, fate is preparing to deliver one more staggering blow.
Henry, the once perfect Renaissance prince, is now a damaged middle-aged man, disappointed in those around him but most of all in himself. As the king’s optimism diminishes, his intractability increases, and the wounded lion begins to roar.
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
When Judith
Arnopp began to write professionally there was no question as to which genre to
choose. A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds an honours
degree in English and Creative writing, and a Masters in Medieval Studies, both
from the University of Wales, Lampeter.
Judith writes both fiction and non-fiction, working full-time from her home overlooking Cardigan Bay in Wales where she crafts novels based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women from all roles of life, prostitutes to queens, but she has recently turned her attention to Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of
Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years. (Book one of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of
Faith: Henry VIII, the years of the Phoenix (Book Two of The Henrician
Chronicle)
The Beaufort Bride: (Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle)
The Beaufort
Woman: (Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle)
The Kings
Mother: (Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle)
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
A Song of
Sixpence: The story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable
Heart: The story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of
the Concubine: A story of Anne Boleyn
Sisters of
Arden: on the pilgrimage of Grace
The Winchester
Goose: at the court of Henry VIII
The Song of
Heledd:
The Forest
Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Her non-fiction articles feature in various historical anthologies and magazines and an illustrated non-fiction book, How to Dress like a Tudor will be published by Pen & Sword in 2023.
Social Media Links:
Website Blog Twitter Facebook Linked-in Instagram Book Bug Amazon Author Page
Thank you so much for hosting Judith Arnopp today, on the first day of her blog tour. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteCathie xo
The Coffee Pot Book Club
My pleasure.
DeleteThank you so much for having the king and I on your lovely blog x
ReplyDeleteHappy to have you.
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