Reader reviewed by Laurie C

What might it have been like for a 15-year-old girl to be chosen by King Henry VIII to be his fifth wife? In The Kings Rose, young Catherine Howard tells the story of her sudden rise to the throne. Full of court intrigue, gossip, and
suspicions, this will be enjoyed by fans of the Showtime
series The Tudors, and readers of Melissa Marrs Wicked Lovely series about the Dark Court of the faery world, as well as historical fiction readers.

A beautiful girl, Catherine Howard caught the eye of the king. Or, more
accurately, she was successfully thrust before the kings eyes through
the efforts of the Howards, seeking power for the clan. Not quite as
innocent in truth as she was made out to be (the aged king calls her his
rose without a thorn), Catherine nervously pushes out of her mind the
awful fate of Henrys fourth wife Catherines cousin Anne Boleyn as she
struggles to keep youthful dalliances from being revealed to King Henry
before she presents him with an all-important heir to the throne.

Based on historical records, The Kings Rose may make you wonder whether Catherine Howard was really as carefree and empty-headed as history makes her out to be.

Reader reviewed by KJ

Fifteen year old Catherine Howard is thrilled when she learns King Henry the Eighth is planning on asking her to marry him. As queen, young Catherine has riches, gowns, and excitement beyond her wildest dreams. The King has only one use for Catherine though- getting her to produce a heir to throne. As months pass, and Catherine has still not done what the King wants, she realizes her position, and maybe even her life, may be stake, Catherine knows she must act fast.

An exciting historical fiction novel, I learned a lot about both Catherine Howard and life at Henry the Eighth's court. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It was filled with intrigue and excitement, this book is one I would read again.

Reader reviewed by Kristen

Catherine Howard is to be King Henry's newest bride. Only 15 years old,
she has caught the eye of the King just after he has sentenced and
executed his last wife - Anne Boleyn.

But
Catherine has a dark past and is not the virgin wife that Henry is
expecting. She plays her part, but, as we know from history, she is
doomed to fail him.

I love the insight this book gives into how
Catherine may really have been. She was barely a young woman when she
wed King Henry and she already had a history of a past lover and a
potential engagement to her cousin. But one does not turn down the
King. Her family assures her that if she burns the past, it will not
come to light.

Unfortunately, they are wrong. She sins before
and during her marriage to Henry and, while reading this, you start to
understand just how much of a child she really is - how much she
doesn't really know what she is doing.

I love the romance in
this. The character that Libby portrayed in this novel is a girl just
coming into her age and not expecting at all the turn of events that
lead her into becoming Queen of England. I really ate this book up, the
romantic and political intrigue of the royal family and court life
thrilled me to no end.

If you love historical fiction, romance and royal families, you'll love this novel.