What little girl didn't want to be a princess at one time or another? Even now a lot of us are fascinated by England's royal family, and as I get older I'm finding myself more interested in history. Thankfully, there are authors such as Heather B. Moore, whose meticulous research brings historical figures such as Queen Victoria and her daughter Princess Louise to life in the pages of books and I can learn about them while being whisked away in a beautiful story.

Princess Louise is the 6th child and 4th daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She's said to have been the most beautiful of all their daughters and, in my opinion, probably the most headstrong. She loved art and was a very talented painter and sculptress. The book only spans 10/11 years--from when Princess Louise is 12 to 23 years of age.

This book really held my interest as I learned so much about the life of Queen Victoria and Princess Louise. I loved the quotes from Queen Victoria's journals at the beginning of each chapter. While reading I could see how much the Queen loved all of her children, to the point that they didn't know much about what life was like outside of their royal circle. I would've found that suffocating. She also loved her husband so deeply that the family wore mourning clothes for several years!

It would've been so interesting to have known Princess Louise, as she was quite headstrong and knew what she wanted. She wanted to attend a school for artists and for a short time was allowed to do so. I looked up her sculptures and they're truly amazing! She was also an advocate for women's rights and education.

If you're a lover of historical fiction, this is a must read. The author did a truly amazing amount of research into this family and the story is beautiful. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Beautiful cover. Highly recommend!

Throughly enjoyed this book it was very informative and gave a look into Princess Louise’s personal life and thoughts.

In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore offers a unique insiders look at the life of princess Louise. Based on actual letters/correspondences from the royal family, the reader is given an intimate look to Louise’s youth and family life. Her charisma, high energy, and affinity for the arts, especially sculpting, are detailed from various perspectives. While reading, it became easy for me to see why Louise was so beloved. I learned a lot about the royal family and protocols, especially as her courting experiences were shared. I also learned a lot about her siblings and how their marriages complicated the family lines, especially during times of war and battles. I was captivated and learned a lot through the entire reading. I would recommend this to all lovers of history and the royal family. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

I really enjoyed this take on Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise! I felt like history was coming alive. This book made me want to learn more about the lives of past royals!

I enjoyed this book so much! I've read a little on Queen Victoria. This book follows her daughter Princess Louise. It was fantastically written! Lots I didn't know about Victoria and her family,told through her daughters view.
Highly recommend!!

I think historical fiction as a genre is such a great way to introduce a reader to a time period / moment in history and that's what this book was for me. I was totally unfamiliar with Queen Victoria's reign, much less Princess Louise, and it was interesting to learn more about her - especially with the context of that historical era that I already had.

Overall very fascinating, but did drag on in some parts.

My Thoughts:

Recently I read another book about the same people. Louise was shown as an outspoken, artistic, intelligent young woman. The book emphasized her defiance and disrespect of her mother, Queen Victoria. The book emphasized her artistic work and the supposed affair she had before and during her marriage. I gave that book 3 stars for good. To me, the book came across as sensationalistic.

In the Shadow of a Queen emphasizes the royal family’s love and devotion to one another. Even though the queen and Louise did not always agree, and Louise wanted to pursue interests outside her mother’s rule and will, Louise respected and honored her mother. I love these qualities. Honor and respect are moral qualities, but also show the true character of the person. Louise is shown as gentle, kind, thoughtful, sensitive, devoted, wise, purposeful, and loving. I have given this book 5 stars for excellent. This book comes across as intimate and real; and it is a story and a daughter to be admired.

Additional reason why I love, In the Shadow of a Queen:

Much of the story is dialogue among the family members including the husband of Louise and herself. I love their devotion, tenderness, and love for one another. Often, the scenes are intimate, and share conversations that I leaned into as if I too were a part of their conversations. This helps to sweep me up and away. The feeling and atmosphere in a story that pulls me in.
The story starts at the beginning of Louise’s life. It moves forward progressing through her age. I watched her grownup. I watched her transform to a lovely young woman.
The pace of the story is slower at times. This is not an adventurous edge of your seat type book. It is the life of Queen Victoria’s family. They have day’s when they are busy with events, and they have many slow days when they are at home with one another. I feel this helps shape them as people I can identify with and not just celebrity type individuals.
Before Albert’s death, I saw his dedication and time spent with the children. He was involved with every area of their lives.
I love the happy times the children shared with their mother.
I love the descriptions of people. Their clothing, mannerisms, posture; and facial expressions to the point of intimacy and a revealing of unsaid affection.
One of the best romantic scenes in literature that I’ve read is the courtship of Louise and John Campbell, the 9th Duke of Argyll. It is less about physical activities, and more about patience, true love and devotion.
I want to clarify something. There are scenes when Victoria and her children are at odds. When one defies the other. When a scandal has caught fire. But for me, I saw the love and devotion as more pronounced in the story. The negative situations only show a reality that effects all people no matter their station or status in life.

In the Shadow of a Queen is one of my favorite reads of 2022!

Format: Advanced reader copy/e-book.
Source: I received a complimentary e-book copy from Shadow Mountain Publishing and Austenprose. I am not required to write a positive review.
Audience: Readers of Queen Victoria’s royal family. Readers of the Victorian era.
Rating: Excellent.

In the Shadow of a Queen is a good choice for any historical-fiction reader. Moore offers an interesting take on the life of a woman who had so much drive and passion and talent, but was born into a world where, even in the best of circumstances, she wouldn't have necessarily had much opportunity to follow those passions or use those talents, especially once married and raising children. Being one of the youngest daughters of a mother in a severe state of mourning only stifled her further, but she never let that stifle her deeper self.

The story is well-crafted and Moore allows it to take its time to simmer. Some might find it a bit slow, especially in the beginning, but it was just the right pace for my liking, giving the reader time to understand and feel for Louise.

I had always read that Queen Victoria was extremely overbearing with her son, but I never realized how critical she was with her daughter. After Albert died, Victoria refuses to let Princess Louise leave her side, making her seem almost like a prisoner. She desperately wants to follow her artistic dreams, even though her strong willed mother is against it. A wonderful story about the trials of the relationship between a mother and daughter, with one being the most powerful woman of her time.

Heather B. Moore sets her book, In the Shadow of a Queen, in the time of Queen Victoria. The novel is based on the life of Victoria’s fourth daughter and sixth child, Princess Louise, using original sources research. The princess has a reputation of being the most beautiful and most talented child of Victoria and Albert. Her father’s death plunges her mother into observing perpetual mourning and establishing protocols for her children. An almost nonexistent social life for them becomes included in these restrictions. The daughters, in turn by ages, serve as secretaries to their mother until their marriages. Finally, it becomes Louise’s turn.

The drama as Louise tries to find time from these secretarial duties to paint and sculpt, activities frowned on by her mother as inappropriate for a woman, is only exceeded with the drama of finding her a suitable marriage. Marriage concerns range between the royalty status of the prospective grooms or the lack thereof and Louise’s own personal choices. Battles ensue between the two strong-willed women over these issues and over Louise’s engagement into women’s rights in a way not often seen in that time. Louise finds herself caught up in her own personal conflict between doing those things important to herself and in caring for her mother’s feelings. The queen’s concession of her forming a friendship with Sybil Grey brings a confidant that will not report everything she says and does back to Victoria.

I recommend reading the notes in the back matter of each chapter as it is finished on the actual history. Some of the most improbable parts of the novel are the truth. Other interesting back matter items give additional information about Princess Louise and her husband John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne. This is a book for those enamored by British royalty or those who love historical fiction.

A wonderful historical fiction book. Based on the story of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise. This reads more like a history book instead of a fictional novel. It was interesting but just not a book for me.

This book was such a splendid surprise! If you thought you were interested in the life of Queen Victoria, you need to meet her daughter Louise!

This book is absolutely fascinating and incredibly well researched. It follow 10 years of Louise’s life starting with the decline of her father Alberts health.

Heather B Moore has taken her time to lay out the history and the politics of the time so that it is easily understood. I loved learning more about Louise’s family dynamics and what was expected of royalty in the Victorian era.

Louise is a champion for women and has talents and artistic desires beyond what was normal or expected for a princess at this time and I found this part of the book incredibly interesting, especially her attendance at school for her sculpting.

I thought the relationship between her and her mother, Queen Victoria was very fascinating as both often had opposing ideas of how one is to behave. She also has many sweet moments between her siblings and Heather made all the relationships come alive and feel authentic to these historical figures.

I think my favorite part of the story was when Louise meets her husband. Honestly It was so wonderful and sweet I could have read a whole separate book about their relationship.

It’s slow paced but not in a negative way. It captures Louise’s life in a wonderfully organic way that makes history 100% more accessible to those who want to dive into it!

This story is one for any historical reader! I enjoyed reading this book for the attention to detail with the history and the ability to make it so interesting. This story shares the story of Queen Victoria and Princess Louise. It mostly follows Princess Louise and her life as an amazing sculptress and artist. As well as her secret ideologies about how women should be allowed to do more than what they have been allowed to do. The insights into Queen Elizabeth and Princess Louise's relationship is both interesting and heart breaking at times. My favorite part was Princess Louise's insistence on finding a love match. This book gives a perspective that many historical reads have yet to shine a light on. If you find royalty fascinating this book could be a great one to read next!

Read if you like:
Royalty
Family Relationships
Love
Sticking true to yourself
Inspiring reads

Thank you Shadow Publishing Company for this ARC. I was gifted this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

“John wrapped a tendril of her escaped hair around his finger. ‘You could never be plain or simple, my love.’”

Princess Louise is anything but plain and simple. She wishes for more than a life within Royal procedure. She wants to be a champion for women causes, a sculptress and to marry for love.

Based on the true story of Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, “In the Shadow of a Queen” was everything I needed it to be. Heather B. Moore did an excellent job at giving us a look at Princess Louise’s life, her relationships with her mother and family and her quest to be true to herself. The more I read, the more I found myself cheering for Princess Louise and wanting to know more.

Loss, heartache, joy and love abound throughout the book, as we follow a young 12 year old princess through the next ten years and into her marriage. I found myself feeling those same feelings and that is always a sign of a good book.

“In the Shadow of a Queen” is definitely worth a read if you love history, learning about the royal family and a good, swoon worthy love story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC copy. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ahhhh…so enjoyed this read, especially the last third of the book when Princess Louise finally falls in love. Her story was fascinating to me. She managed to find her own happiness in spite of being a Princess under her mother’s strict control. Such an apropos title for this read. Between her mother and her older sisters she was well scrutinized. Loved that she pursued art, especially sculpting, and proved to her mother that her talent was boundless. Also was impressed that she followed her feelings about what was right and wrong, particularly with politics. She was ahead of her time in seeking a fulfilling life. My hear melted when her romance with Lord Lorne began. I was amazed that her mother, Queen Victoria, was supportive of Princess Louise’s marrying a commoner in spite of the fact she knew his family so well. True love in spite of all the barriers. Loved that he was well matched with her, especially living their lives and making choices for themselves. I appreciated the author’s notes at the conclusion of the book.
Much application to Heather B. Moore, Shadow Mountain, and NetGalley for affording me the pleasurable experience of reading an arc of this just released gem. I had a hard time putting this read down.

Have you ever picked up a book and thought ‘Hm, this will probably be okay” and then it ends up surprising the heck out of you and being a really great read?

As you may have guessed, that’s exactly what happened to me with In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore. I went into this read thinking I’d like it well enough, and then the dang thing just quietly came in and made me love it.

Before I get into my review, thank you to Laurel at Austenprose PR for setting up this book tour, and giving me the opportunity to read a book I wouldn’t have picked up on my own. And of course, thanks to the author and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the copy of the book.

Now, on to the review.

First of all, royal life has never really been that exciting for me to read about. Maybe I just hadn’t found the right book before, or maybe I just didn’t read enough of it to give it a chance. Whatever the reason, I went into this book thinking it would be an okay read. It did start a bit slow, but it does start when Louise is a child, and coming-of-age stories are my jam.

Like I said before, I was just quietly taken over by this story as the book went on. I wasn’t expecting it at all, but suddenly I found myself so invested in Louise and her search for a husband once she’s “out” in society. There honestly isn’t a whole lot that really happens in this book, as far as plot. Sure, there are some things that happen, but overall it’s pretty quiet and very character driven.

And you know what? I loved it. I was smiling like a total dork while I read many parts of this, and chuckling at some of the little snarky quips that just made it special.

Louise is a fun protagonist as she knocks against her mother’s values and morals in an age where women were starting to do more, say more, and be more in society. She basically can’t do anything, though, unless it’s sanctioned by her mother, which would be so infuriating. Yet, Louise holds it together and manages to find some happiness and intrigue amongst her small circle.

If you like character-driven, coming-of-age historical fiction with a little romance tossed in for good measure, you might fall for this book in the same way I did. I’m giving it 4.5 stars!

*I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review*
Princess Louise is a fascinating character and one of the most fun daughters of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for sure. This really encompassed her role especially after her father died.

Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria, finds herself engulfed in her mother's mourning of her beloved Albert and forbidden to leave the queen's control. Queen Victoria searches for a suitable husband for Louise, but Louise insists on having her own interests. A telling story of Queen Victoria and her strong will to maintain the crown of England, and the strong-willed daughter determined to make her own way.

I’ve always enjoyed learning about Queen Victoria and her reign. This was a wonderful insight on what life is was like for her children especially after the passing of Prince Albert.
Louise was a fascinating individual. It was fun getting to know her through this story.
I really loved reading all the quotes from the actual letters written by Louise and Victoria. Heather has a beautiful way of making history come to life. This was a wonderful story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.