Book Review: The SECRET KEEPER by SANDRA BYRD

Title: The SECRET KEEPER
Author: SANDRA BYRD
Category: Historical Fiction
Pub. Date: 06/05/2012
Publisher: Howard Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 331
ISBN#: 1139183147
Series: Ladies in Waiting #2

Synopsis:  
The author of To Die For returns to the court of Henry VIII, as a young woman is caught between love and honor.
What she sees in secret, she may not tell.
Mistress Juliana St. John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight’s family. Though all expect her to marry the son of her late father’s business partner, time and chance interrupt, sending her to the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII.
Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to Wiltshire to conclude his affairs with Juliana’s father’s estate and chances upon her reading as lector in the local church. He sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and wants most to please, Kateryn Parr. Juliana’s mother agrees to have her placed with Parr for a season and Juliana goes, though reluctantly.
For she keeps a secret.
As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henry’s devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queen’s desire to influence her husband’s—and the realm’s—direction and beliefs. Later, without Henry’s strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. Ultimately, her course is driven by a final kept secret, one that undoes everything she thought she knew.    

My Review:  
Another great read. For some time now I was not such a history buff. But after reading a few historical nonfiction as well as historical fiction I am slowly changing my mind. Well at least for some. 

This book is full of secrets, twists, mystery, Lords and Ladies, as well as romance. I loved the story line and the characters. It was slow in some places but picked up in others. But for the most part kept things going in a way that made me want to finish the book. 

Characters were all quite different but blended in with the story that made you want to know more about the time and places with in the book. 

I love the cover, plot, and for the most the book. The ending did leave me questioning things and wanting to know more. I will check out more books from Author Sandra Byrd in deed. 

So for those reasons I am going to give this book and author a Breath of Life rating of:

Four Star Rating:  

Disclosure: I did received the above book in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Opinions are my own and yours may differ.

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About the Author:  

Best-selling author Sandra Byrd has published nearly three dozen fiction and nonfiction books including her new Tudor-set series, Ladies in Waiting. Book 1, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn launched in 2011. Book 2, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr will debut in June, 2012.
Her other titles include the French Twist series, which includes the Christy finalist Let Them Eat Cake (2007) and its sequels, Bon Appétit (2008) an Piece de Resistance (2009) as well as the London Confidential series for tweens.
For nearly a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the writing students she mentors and coaches.
Before turning to full-time writing, Sandra was an acquisitions editor. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband, two children, and little dog. 

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