The House Of Echoes is a dual time lined historical fiction based partly in 1500’s and present day..
There is a house which appears in both of these time lines and is dearly loved by both people.
In the 1500’s, we follow Anne Brandon in her family home in Whitehall London, as a young woman. Her father is a very important man, and is close friends and brother in law of Henry VIII. They enjoy entertainment, being within the inner circle of the royal family.. She has a love interest and we follow her life through the times of Henry VIII’s reign. It is very eventful and very scary for Ann at times.
In present time we meet Caroline. A granddaughter and assistant to her famous author Dexter Blake. She lives in the same house as Anne will live in, along the Welsh coast. It’s her sanctuary, with woodland on one side, ruins and a private beach on the other. She has lived many happy years there, as her grandfather stepped out of the public eye….
She is bringing to an end the Ether Heracles and The Space Sirens series of books. It will mean the end of her life as she’s known it.
An old flame comes back into her life and she has some secrets she has to tell. They are massive ones!
I found this story fascinating. As one set of events pretty much runs true, the other is pure fiction. Finding out at the end of the book how all this was put together to make this story was really interesting! There are points of reference at the end for some of us who might like to read up about Anne Brandon. What a great idea for a story!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #PurpleMermaid25.

I have now read several of the author's novels and loved them all, so I was very excited about her new book. In general, we always have two different time levels, one in the here and now and one in the past (of course), although the author seems to have specialised in the Tudor era. And we always have a strong woman with a lot of identification potential on each narrative line. This is also the case here (in other words, Ms Walsh does not change her general recipe for success :-) ), in the historical strand in the 1530s we have Anne Brandon, a historically documented personality in the orbit of Henry VIII's court, and in the present day we have Caroline Harvey. Both lead exciting lives, and the blurb gives away a lot of information; and the common link is the "House of Echoes": The old mansion in Pembrokeshire where Anne once spent happy years after she left the London court, and which is now on the land that Caroline inherited.... In principle, this house does not play a major role in the novel per se, but as I said, it is the connecting link between the narrative strands. Caroline is fascinated by history and researches the life of Anne, whom she is also fascinated by, and we as readers take turns with one of the two women and their lives.

I really like Ms Walsh's narrative style, she knows how to bring all of her characters to life for me, and I always love the historical part. Always very well researched, always very vividly described, and she always finds fascinating women that you would otherwise never have heard much about. I'll just briefly spoil a few things about Anne Brandon (well, it's historically verified, so spoiler is perhaps the wrong word): she was married into the aristocracy, the marriage was only half-baked, and she actually managed to live together in a common-law marriage with the love of her life in later years and started a new family. I find this so fascinating because I find it so unusual for earlier times, people always think that separations were not possible for wives... I think we need to rethink our views on society in the "Dark Ages" and the centuries surrounding it in many ways. The author always gives me interesting food for thought here.

Okay, apart from that: the novel has everything that great cinema needs: love, adventure, betrayal, revenge, really big emotions, and colorful backdrops. 2 great women, and unpredictable plot twists!

Many thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the review copy!

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a timeslip novel following two characters. In the present day, we follow Caroline, who is the granddaughter of Dexter Blake, a reclusive novelist. In the 1500s, we follow Anne Brandon, who becomes Lady Powis. I was interested in this book, as I enjoy timeslip novels, and recently, I've been interested in historical books set in the Tudor period.

I felt the story flowed easily. I enjoyed following Caroline and the other characters in the present timeline; they were all likeable and fun to read about. I think my favourite character was Gideon. I also connected with Anne's story, and enjoyed how the author whisked me away to Tudor times.

Caroline and Anne were both strong female protagonists, and I was excited to see how their stories were connected. This was a satisfying read, and I became emotional towards the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

The best thing for me about reading this type of historical fiction is learning about lesser known characters from the relevant period. I have read a lot of both fiction and non-fiction featuring the Tudor period, as have most people I suspect, but I have come across very little about Anne Brandon. Her father, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, is always a prominent figure in books about Henry VIII and the Tudor court but and, much less so, so this book was a fascinating new subject for me.

And it is obvious that the author has done a huge amount of research into this topic, but used it wisely, to bring a Tudor woman out of the shadows and in to her own story. As Caro says in the book, the female members of the Tudor court are always a footnote in the story of a man, and it is wonderful for them to have their own voices heard. Their lives were often perilous and unhappy, pawns in men’s pursuit of power and valued only for the status they could bring to their families and the heirs they could provide for their husbands. If they failed in these duties, they were blamed, reviled, cast aside and disrespected. To hear their stories, and discover the strength and resilience they displayed in the face of adversity, fills my heart with joy, and Anne Brandon has this in spades in this book.

The author brings the Tudor court and its intrigue and perils to vivid life in this book. It is rich with colour and life and danger and as exciting as any modern day thriller you could pick up. This author always displays great empathy and understanding for these lost women of history and you can feel her love and respect flowing off the page, the reader cannot help but share it. Anne’s story kept me up late into the night, desperate to learn of her fate and whether she managed to find a kernel of happiness.

The modern day story was slightly less compelling in this instance, mainly because I found Caro’s story a little convoluted and unbelievable, particularly at the end. I wasn’t sure it all made sense and fitted together, which was a bit distracting, I was much more drawn to the historical chapters in this instance. That being said, this did not ruin my enjoyment of the book and I would not hesitate to recommend the book to anyone who enjoys this type of dual timeline novel, because the history is compelling and this author does the genre particularly well.

All in all, a fascinating story that brings to life the world of an overlooked woman and a book that definitely rewards the effort put in to reading it. Looking forward to what comes next from this author.

Once upon a time I used to read a lot of Tudor books. A lot. There were books telling straight history like Phillipa Gregory, there were books where a member of the court was investigating various plots and murders, great books like Legacy by Susan Kay and you know, some that weren't so great. The end result was by the mid to late 2000's I was all Tudored out, had Tudor fatigue, or however you want to phrase it.

If I am to pick up a Tudor book these days, there has to be something about it. For example, I read Clare Marchant's The Secrets of Saffron Hall a few years ago because I couldn't resist the cover. I read Wolf Hall just because. So what was it that I couldn't resist when I was offered this book, The House of Echoes? Well, there were a couple of things actually. It looked like a book where a house would play a key role in the story, I do love purple and the purple dress on the cover called to me, and the main reason was that I have read a couple of Alexandra Walsh's books before and really enjoyed them.

Anne Brandon is the daughter of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk which makes her step daughter to Princess Mary, duchess, former queen of France and sister to the notorious King Henry VIII. As such, it is expected that Anne will make a brilliant match from among the noblest families in England. There is no room for marrying for love, particularly seeing as her parents are financially burdened by the huge fines they received from the king for marrying for love without his permission.

When Anne meets a young man named Randall Hanworth, they fall in love, and Anne hopes against hope that maybe she can convince her father that they should be married, but he has another suitor in mind, Edward Grey, Baron of Powis. However the union is not a happy one, mainly because Anne has trouble conceiving.

Anne is a member of the highest echelons of society, and as such she sees what is happening at the Court of Henry VIII, and this book opens in the 1520s, when he was married to Catherine of Aragon and carries right through all of his marriages. Whilst we do hear the stories, for the most part this book talks about what the effects are for Anne and others like her. The author rather cleverly makes Anne Brandon friends with Anne Boleyn, as they served in the same foreign court before returning to England, which gives us access to what some of Anne Boleyn's thoughts might have been during the tumultuous time between when Henry VIII started courting her and her death.

One thing that I haven't seen much before though, is talking about what the effect is of all of the scandals at court. For example, if it is okay for Henry VIII to put aside his wife as she has not produced a male heir and for him to openly parade his mistresses then surely it is okay for all the other noblemen in his court to do the same. So much for chivalry.

We don't often see many of the women from the Tudor world in history, unless they are the big names ones like Anne Boleyn and the other wives of Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, and occasionally others. For the most part these women are mere footnotes in history. What Alexandra Walsh has done is to find a story about a really fascinating woman and share it with us. Anne is a Brandon and so there are traits there that mean that she is someone who knows how to fight for what she wants, for survival and for revenge. There are things that we cannot know, so obviously it is fictionalised, but the genuine historical facts are there.

In the modern day, the story focusses on Caroline Harvey, grand daughter of the world famous science fiction author Dexter Blake. And by world-famous, I am talking epic levels of fandom for both the books and movies, the type of fandom where every word is studied to understand what the subtle messages might be that are hidden in the stories. Obsessive fandom. Dexter has just died, and Caroline is getting ready for the launch of his final book in The Ether Heracles. Luckily, he had finished the final book in the series before he died. Caroline was also the sole beneficiary of his will, including a house and land in Pembrokeshire.

When a developer approaches to buy some of her land, at the same time questioning her ownership of it, Caroline begins researching the house's history, and finds that there is some kind of link to Anne Brandon, and so she goes down the rabbit hole of research to try and piece together the story. And when people start to threaten to reveal the many secrets that she has, she needs to do what she can to protect herself and her family.

She is surprised when her ex boyfriend, Gideon, shows up after many years, and this complicates matters, as Gideon is her true love, the one who got away, the one who she is keeping the most secrets from!

It is clear from the dramatis personnae at the beginning of the book that this story is going to cover a lot of ground. There are the characters from the modern day, plus the characters from the books and movies of the Ether Heracles and finally all the Tudor characters with their common names like Anne, Mary and Henry. For the most part, the author manages to keep all the storylines under control and yet still echoing each other. I don't think it will surprise anyone that I enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel the most, and I did guess most of the twists in the modern story although there was one that surprised me a bit.

Cleverly intertwined through the narrative of both stories is the story of Tristan and Isolde, medieval doomed star-crossed lovers, which was a lovely touch as well.

So far this author has given us books set in an archaelogical dig in Crete in the Victorian era, another that tells the story of the women who were married to the men who hatched The Gunpowder Plot and now this novel set in Tudor times. I can't wait to see where she takes us next.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, Bookish Book Reading Challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

What a fantastic read this proved to be,
Linking the present with past history.
Adding in a pertinent mystery
And characters who're intriguing as readers soon see!

A different look at Henry VIII and his wives,
A court filled with power, danger and lies.
The need for guile to foil other's intent
And achieve the future that is meant.

The death of a reclusive author brings trouble
As fans and vultures circle at the double.
His granddaughter's inheritance is threatened though
Caroline's determined to prove she's right you know.

Looking into the past reveals surprises
As Caroline soon realises.
The history of her home and its owners, too,
To Tudor history bring more than a clue.

Looking into the history, with the help of others
Court intrigue and a brave lady, Caroline discovers.
There are secrets that have remained concealed
That, as the story unfolds, are revealed.

A brilliant story, a page-turning read
One that I thoroughly enjoyed and hope you need.
For my copy of this brilliant book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a dual timeline story set in the Tudor period and the present.

It had a a sense of mystery, lies and love.

There are some details on the Marquess House, as they are looked into by Caroline when she looks to find some Tudor land registers.

It kept you turning the pages and was well written.

I recommend this book.

I have read and enjoyed all the previous books from this author, the Marquess House series being my absolute favourite, but I felt disappointed with this offering.
I love the dual time lines, but thought the Tudor one was the most interesting, well researched, incredibly detailed and wonderful to read. I couldn’t really relate to Caroline, who is the central character in the present day.
The Tudor character is Anne Brandon, her father was Charles Brandon, brother- in- law to King Henry the Eighth. I have learnt so much about this largely unknown woman, unhappily married, at the beck and call of her ambitious family, until she declared- no more!! She led an unconventional life for those times, and we learnt about the lengths that Noble families went to, in order to gain and hold power, land and titles, usually by exploiting wives and daughters. Many were pushed into the beds of the rich and powerful men at court, and the King was the most eager recipient of this probably unwanted liaison. I will have to do some more reading to satisfy my curiosity about these events.
In the present day, Caroline is threatened by exposures of long held family secrets by an ex- boyfriend. There is blackmail and a threat to destroy a family home that once gave a secure hiding place to Anne Brandon and her husband when they needed to hide from events at court. In both time lines, we are told valuable lessons about the treatment of women and the inequality of power.
I did find the modern time line to be puzzling and quite weak. Caroline is the guardian of her late Grandfathers writing output, which are Space themed books, there is a mystery about both the novels and a hidden story within these pages, but it really didn’t gel with me. I can’t say anymore for spoilers, but I found this aspect to be almost an afterthought to explain the connection between past and present.
A four star read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Boldwood Books for my ARC, freely given in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

Anne Brandon, Baroness Grey of Powis, was a woman who was included in the Court circles, witnessed much of the tragedy of times and was a friend or close acquaintance of the women King Henry made his Queens, only to later dispose of them when another enticed him.

The House of Echoes from Alexandra Walsh is set between the modern day and the Tudor Court of 1509 to 1547 as Anne Brandon grows from a young woman, married into a terrible marriage, later to live openly with the love of her life Randall Hanworth, until the death of her husband Edward Grey, Baron of Powis.

Caroline Harvey is the public face of world famous, reclusive author Dexter Blake, the creator of the Ether Hercules series. She is returning to England at the completion of the filming of the eight book in the series, saddened as her grandfather would no longer be with her, but ready to launch the ninth and final book in the series.

Returning to her home, Dexter’s Place in Pembrokeshire she is sorely missing her grandfather, but when she discovers there is to be a new bookstore opening at the Milford Marina complex she is delighted. It is part of a chain Ten to Midnight, which is owned by Gideon Morris a man she fell in love with as a young woman on the brink of adulthood.

Both women have in the course of their life been left bereft, both women have had to face and overcome hatred, both women have loved deeply and irrevocably. Woven though the dual narrative is the timeless, medieval story of Tristan and Iseult (Isolde) which tells the tale of illicit love and tragedy which still, centuries later, resonates.

Alexandra Walsh has carefully researched the historic content and uses the house Anne Brandon and Randall Hanworth called home as the modern, Dexter’s Place which ties the two stories together and in doing so, tells the story of so many of the women, influential and otherwise, whose stories call down through history, still untold.

The House of Echoes is an excellent read with an informative section at the end of the book on the story of Anne Brandon and the history of the Tudor Court of King Henry VIII, which for those not familiar with this tumultuous time in history, will be very helpful.

Hampton Court, 1530s

With her father being Henry VIII’s friend and her stepmother being the King’s sister, Anne Brandon experiences a privileged life at court. A childless marriage to Lord Powis, however, spells danger and when she hears whispers that the king has set his sights on her childhood friend, Anne Boleyn, she fears for her life.

Pembrokeshire, Present Day

For many years, Caroline Harvey helped her grandfather, the best selling author Dexter Blake, at his Pembrokeshire house. Inheriting his home after his death, she finds herself subject to claims on the land from other interested parties. To solidify her claim, she undertakes research into the history of the house and discovers that it was once owned by Anne Brandon after seeking refuge from the court of Henry VIII. Keen to discover what led Anne to flee, Caroline also finds herself addressing issues from her own past.

Alexandra Walsh’s dual timeline books have become a firm favourite and The House of Echoes is another captivating read. Set partly at the court of Henry VIII and partly in the present day, we see the two stories merge thanks to Anne Brandon, a step-niece of the king and the subject of Caroline Harvey’s research today. One of the main themes of the author’s books has always been to highlight Tudor women whose stories may not be too well-known, Anne being one of these such women. I loved how Anne, despite being part of a patriarchal society, was very much a woman in charge of her own destiny, even if it meant danger for herself. There were definite parallels between Anne and Caroline, a woman who was also forced to hide the truth about her life.

This is a great read, perfect for any fans of the Tudor era, especially if you enjoy finding out about some of the lesser-known players of the time. For anyone wanting to find out more, the historical synopsis of the characters included by the author was invaluable. If you have never read any of Alexandra Walsh’s books, I can recommend each and every one of them.

Hampton Court Palace - 1530s: Anne Brandon has always understood the power of a king’s patronage and, though the court of Henry VIII is a dangerous place for women, as the daughter of the king’s best friend, Anne feels safer than most. But Anne’s husband Lord Powis is tiring of her childlessness and when Henry VIII begins plotting to rid himself of a queen in his quest for an heir, suddenly Anne’s life is in danger. And as whispers of the name of her friend Anne Boleyn get ever louder, there is peril in every loose word, every forbidden conversation.

Pembrokshire - Present Day: Caroline Harvey has spent years helping her grandfather, the reclusive bestselling novelist Dexter Blake, hide from his legions of fans in his home on the Pembrokshire coast. After his death, the vultures begin to circle Dexter’s fortune. When Caroline’s ownership of the house she has inherited is called into question, her research into its history reveals it was once owned by Anne Brandon who had sought refuge there. Intrigued, Caroline is determined to discover why Anne fled the court of Henry VIII.

Two women divided by centuries but joined by secrets and courage. And when a twist in their histories threatens them both with the same fate – losing the man they love – their revenge will be the same too. Because there’s no one mightier than a woman underestimated or more powerful than the need to save those they love.

I loved this dual-timeline book. Walsh does a fantastic job bringing the threads of the two stories together. One of my favorite things about historical novels is that we get to live in the past for a while, and in doing so, we learn a lot about where we've been, but also where we've come from. Excellent read! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Set in the present day and early 1500’s.

In the present-day Caroline Harvey has a lot of secrets and has spent years helping her grandfather write a series of fantasy books. Caroline is interested in the history of a woman who once lived on a property near her house.

In the 1500’s in the time of Henry V111, Ann Brandon has a difficult life, expected to marry Lord Powis but secretly in love with Randall Hanworth.

I loved the way the story of these two women came together, both trying to protect their interest in a property.

This was about an author writing fantasy fiction and life in the times of Henry V111. I liked the way it switches between the present day and Ann Brandon’s life from 1510 to 1558.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood for a chance to read this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for thus eCopy to review

The House of Echoes by Alexandra Walsh is a mesmerising novel that masterfully intertwines two timelines, creating a rich tapestry of history and suspense. The story follows Anne Brandon, a real historical figure from the court of Henry VIII, and Caroline Harvey, a modern-day woman grappling with her place in life as the granddaughter of a famous author.

In the Tudor period, Anne Brandon navigates the treacherous waters of court life, where a king's favour can be both a blessing and a curse. Her husband's growing impatience with her childlessness and the dangerous political climate make her life increasingly perilous. As whispers of Anne Boleyn's fate grow louder, Anne finds herself in a desperate situation, seeking refuge in a house far away from court in Wales.

In the present day, Caroline Harvey is dealing with the aftermath of her grandfather's death and the challenges of inheriting his estate. As she delves into the mysterious history of the house, she uncovers Anne Brandon's story and realises that their lives are more connected than she could have imagined. Both women face similar struggles and must navigate secrets, betrayal, and the desire for revenge.

Walsh's writing is evocative and atmospheric, bringing the Tudor period to life with stunning detail. The dual timelines are seamlessly woven together, creating a sense of continuity and connection between the past and the present. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each facing their own challenges and making choices that resonate with readers.

The plot is filled with twists and turns, which kept me engaged and eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle. The themes of identity, legacy, and the power of women are explored with depth and sensitivity, making this a thought-provoking read.

Overall, The House of Echoes is a captivating and beautifully written novel that deserves a place on every book lover's shelf. It's a testament to Alexandra Walsh's talent for storytelling and her ability to create a world that feels both timeless and relevant.

A love that can get through any obstacle even when the couple is married to other people is considered very rare. However, star-crossed lovers at court were practically unheard of, especially multiple couples from the same family. Anne Brandon knows how rare these matches are as her father Charles Brandon married the sister of King Henry VIII. Now she must figure out her feelings about romance while navigating court life. In the modern day, Caroline Harvey has relationship problems while she navigates the loss of her famous writer, grandfather Dexter Blake. How are these two women from different centuries connected and can they fight for who they love or are they destined to be alone? Alexandra Walsh tells both women's stories in her novel, “The House of Echoes.”

I want to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. The concept of this novel and the cover were what pulled me into the story. I know about the children of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor, but when it comes to Charles’ other children, I don’t know much. I wanted to learn a bit about Anne Brandon and have a good time with the story of Caroline Harvey.

We begin with the story of Caroline Harvey as she returns home to England from America after a bad break-up with her former fiance Travis Hibbert. She is the personal assistant to her grandfather, the recluse writer Dexter Blake, the author of the Ether Heracles book series. Dexter Blake is dying and it is up to her and her family to announce it to the rest of the world while releasing the last book in the series and making movies about the books. While the world mourns Dexter’s death, Caroline is given the gift of Dexter’s home and she begins researching the history of the house, which will lead her to an old fling Gideon and his book store Ten-to-Midnight. It is through Caroline’s research that she discovers the story of Anne Brandon and the truth about her life.

Meanwhile, in Tudor England, Anne Brandon is getting used to being the step-daughter of Mary Tudor, the sister of King Henry VIII. She is not used to court life, but she has friends who will become famous like Anne Boleyn and Margaret More Roper. As a young girl, Anne falls head over heels in love with Randall Hanworth and she believes that she is destined to marry him. However, fate and her father have someone else in mind; Edward Grey 3rd Baron of Powis, which made Anne Baroness of Powis. That doesn’t mean it was a happy marriage as the couple never had any children. Anne lived throughout the reign of Henry VIII, saw two of his wives beheaded including her friend Anne Boleyn, and had a great falling out with her father Charles Brandon before he died, which meant that she was left out of his will. Anne was willing to fight for the lands that she believed rightfully belonged to her and the love of her life Randall.

This was a fun novel with so many twists and turns, including one at the end that I did not see coming. I especially love the little details that Walsh included especially coming up with blurbs for each of the Dexter Blake books as well as the inner workings of the Brandon household. As someone who reads a lot about the Tudors, it was refreshing to read about Tudors that were new to me. If you want a fresh take on the Tudor with a modern twist, I greatly recommend you read, “The House of Echoes” by Alexandra Walsh.

The House Of Echoes by Alexandra Walsh, the book is about Caroline, who is the representative for her grandfather Dexter Blake, he is just released his last and final book of The Ether Heracles series. worldwide fans cannot wait, but when they announce his death soon after, fans are devastated and some even start rumors online about how he died. At the same time, Caroline is researching how her house is tied. to Henry the sixth court, more specifically Anne Brandon. Caroline also has reconnected with two of her best friends in college. Ben and Gideon, Ben is her ex but Gideon was the love of her life. Seeing them only opens up wounds and shows Caroline She’s not finished hiding her secrets just yet. In the other POV we follow Anne Brandon, who loves Randall Hanover, but is forced to marry someone else. Despite that she tries to make the best of it, her fruitless marriage is something her husband cannot take, and he soon starts sleeping with one of her ladies and waiting. this trouble is happening right at the same time Henry the sixth is declaring himself head of the church and divorcing queen Catherine for not giving him an air. his impending marriages or too similar to Annes, childless marriage, and she fears. This doesn’t bode well for her future safety. I really really enjoyed this book as I do all of Alexander Walsh‘s books, but I do want to say I didn’t like the whole thing with Gideon and Caroline after she tells him everything. I’m not going to say why because I would give serious plot points away, but I thought it just all seemed high schoolish especially after everything she had been through. despite that, I bet it’s hard to write books where the past and present intertwine and think Alexandra Walsh does it better than most this book included. I love her books and can’t wait for the next one. #NetGalley, #AlexandraWalsh, #TheHouseOfEchoes,#BoldWoodBooks,.

If you like dual timelines and historical novels with a bit of mystery, then this is the book for you. Set between the Tudor period and today, the author weaves a story of love and lies, intrigue and duplicity and all with strong historical facts which have a little poetic licence. Also if you have read this author's previous sagas of the Marquess House, there are some references to it in regards to Caroline seeking out Tudor land registers. I was blown away with that series as I am with this book too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC to review

I very much enjoyed this dual time line story. Great for fans of Philippa Gregory. The story and characters were both engaging and I would recommend.

This book was more than I expected. It was actually a dual timeline novel with two women at the centre of each strand of story who happen to face similar challenges in wildly different circumstance. They are connected through historical research that confirmed that they lived in the same place at one time in their lives. The book emphasised the strength and resilience of women when people’s expectations of them are so much less. It highlights that in Tudor times there was a level of discrimination against women that so often limited their choice to the lesser of two evils. I found the book informative about court life in Henry VIII’s reign and uncovered a forgotten hero - Anne Brandon. And then, in the end, it was a love story! All in all a fabulous read.

I love historical fiction and the Tudor period is one of my favourite periods in British History and this book gave me everything that I love in historical fiction. I couldn't put it down and read it a day

I’ve always enjoyed Alexandra Walsh’s books and this one is no exception. Anne Brandon, daughter of the Duke of Suffolk and step-daughter of Princess Mary – sister of Henry VIII, is beginning her life at court. In the present day Caroline Harvey is the granddaughter and public face of the famous author, Dexter Blake. Both women have, or will have, secrets that could destroy their lives if they were discovered
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The story moves easily between the two timelines producing surprises, secrets and similarities between the two women and their lives. In particular I found the story of Anne Brandon and her life absolutely fascinating as she navigated life at court and managed to eventually live the life she wanted . Definitely recommended.