BOOK BLURB:
When Margaret Dudley joined the ranks of Queen Elizabeth I's gentlewomen, she never expected the whirlwind of changes that occurred in her life.

Expecting to retreat to the background, to serve her sovereign with integrity and devotion, she never dreamed she'd find herself embroiled in a world of jealousy, lust, and betrayal.

Or that she would experience a love that surpasses all.

BOOK REVIEW:
This short story slips into one of the cracks of history, and carves out a private space for itself, in the privacy of Elizabeth I's bedchamber.

Historical language in dialogue is always a knife-edge issue for any historical author, where modernity would wring false, but reproducing fully historical language would be almost impenetrable to a modern reader ~ imagine a romance written entirely in Shakespearean language. While there were a couple of lines where the 'foresooths' grated a little, Houston navigates this minefield well, and the period didn't overwhelm the characters.

While the story is unashamedly and delightfully erotic, I was initially a little worried that it would delve further into the potential for power play between Margaret and the queen than I'd be comfortable with, but Houston avoids the obvious, and instead develops a very balanced, playful, and heartfelt relationship between the two women.

(Originally reviewed for Rainbow Reviews - http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=7594) ( )