Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (January 1, 2016)
Pages: 549
Blurb
Duchess of Brittany.
The future Queen of England.
Joanna of Navarre knows her place in society. And defies it.
Forthright, unemotional and politically minded, she is more than a match for
the men in the court of Brittany. And when she inherits control of her lands
after her husband's death, it's a testament to her intellect and loyal duty.
Then comes an unexpected proposal — marriage to Henry IV,
King of England. The price? Abandoning her homeland, leaving her children, and
sacrificing her independence.
Henry's hold on the crown is unsteady and war is brewing.
Crossing the channel is a dangerous prospect. If Joanna's pride will allow it,
this could be a chance to unite two nations.
But pride comes before a fall, and there are many who
conspire to watch Joanna tumble from the English throne...
My Review
I honestly do not even know where to start with my
review of “The Queen’s Choice. Anne O’Brien once again displays her artistry
when it comes to bringing history to life. I was truly lost in medieval England
every minute I spent reading it! This novel brings to light the fascinating
life of Joanna of Navarre, who became Queen of England when she married King Henry
IV. Although I have read hundreds of historical fiction novels set in medieval England,
I knew next to nothing about her life prior to reading this novel, and only a
little more about her husband, King Henry IV. I definitely had never imagined
that there was a passionate love between them, or had any idea of the impact
she had as Queen of England. Joanna’s strength is shown over and over
throughout this novel as she sets out to prove to her husband, the King, as
well as to the people of England, that she is more than just a foreign bride.
She is a diplomat, a ruler, as well as an intelligent and strong woman. She is
determined to sit beside him as his queen, and as his equal. She left
everything she knew, and children she loved, in order to become his queen, and
to experience true love. This novel is so incredibly well written and detailed,
that I challenge any fan of historical fiction not to fall in love with this
book, and with Joanna.
“The Queen’s Choice” has absolutely cemented my belief
that Anne O’Brien is the best historical fiction author past of present. I have
read all of Philippa Gregory’s novels, most of Elizabeth Chadwick’s, many of
Sharon Kay Penman and Alison Weir’s novels, as well as hundreds of other
historical fiction novels, and Ms. O’Brien’s novels honestly surpass them all,
in my opinion. She has the ability to bring these somewhat obscure, royal women,
as well as their passionate romances to life for the reader. As you read, you
really feel as though you get to know the characters, and you’re left thinking
about them when the book comes to an end. The fact that most of the women she
writes about are not widely known or written about is what draws me to her
novels the most. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good novel about Anne Boleyn,
Eleanor of Aquitaine, or Lucrezia Borgia, but it can get repetitive reading
about the same famous and dramatic women from history by different authors. The
royal women Anne O’Brien chooses to bring to life are women like Elizabeth of
Lancaster, Katherine de Valois, Philippa of Hainault, and more. These women
were all important to the history of England, and they all have fascinating
stories of strength and intelligence, and they all had incredible tales of love.
However, they do not have the dramatic stories of incest and adultery like Anne
Boleyn and Lucrezia Borgia, or tales riding horses half naked during the Crusades
and waging war on their husband like Eleanor of Aquitaine! However, with Anne O’Brien’s
gift of writing, she creates novels that are able to illustrate just how
amazing and interesting these women from history truly were. I go into the
majority of her novels honestly not knowing how it will end, because most of
the women she writes about are only secondary characters in other novels I have
read. It’s refreshing to learn more about these women, and through her impeccable
research, to get an idea of who they were, what their trials were in life, and
how they impacted history in their own way. I cannot say enough great things
about Anne O’Brien as a writer, and I await her next novel with great
anticipation!
It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyways) that “The Queen’s
Choice” is a clear FIVE out of FIVE stars. It’s one of those books where you
wish it was possible to rate it seven or eight stars!
Praise
O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in
this enjoyable, gripping tale. --The Times
"Anne O’Brien, the much-loved historical novelist who
breathes new life into forgotten medieval women, is back to enchant and enthral
us with a torrid tale of love, sacrifice and rebellion at the volatile court of
King Henry IV…Packed with drama, danger, romance and history, The
Queen’s Choice is the perfect reading choice for the long winter
nights." --Pam Norfolk, PA
‘Joanna of Navarre is the feisty heroine in Anne O’Brien’s
fast-paced historical novel The Queen’s Choice.’ --Good Housekeeping
‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political
intrigue.’ --Woman & Home
"...packed with powerful emotions and tumultuous
unfolding of an affair that changed the course of royal history, this is a
novel in which to enjoy the past in all it rich colour and dramatic
detail..."
--Lancashire Evening Post
'There are historical novels and then there are the works of
Anne O'Brien - and this is another hit.'
--The Sun
About the Author
Anne was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire. After gaining
a B.A. Honours degree in History at Manchester University, a PGCE at Leeds
University and a Masters degree in education at Hull University, she lived in
the East Riding as a teacher of history. Always a prolific reader, she enjoyed
historical fiction and was encouraged to try her hand at writing. Success in
short story competitions spurred her on.
Leaving teaching – but not her love of history – she wrote
her first historical romance, a Regency, which was published in 2005. To date
nine historical romances and a novella, ranging from medieval, through the
Civil War and Restoration and back to Regency, have been published
internationally.
Anne now lives with her husband in an eighteenth century
timber-framed cottage in the depths of the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire, a
wild, beautiful place on the borders between England and Wales, renowned for
its black and white timbered houses, ruined castles and priories and
magnificent churches. Steeped in history, famous people and bloody deeds as
well as ghosts and folk lore, it has given her inspiration for her writing.
Since living there she has become hooked on medieval history.
Sometimes she escapes from writing. She enjoys her garden, a
large, rambling area where she grows vegetables and soft fruit as well as
keeping control over herbaceous flower borders, a wild garden, a small orchard
and a formal pond. With an interest in herbs and their uses, Anne has a herb
patch constructed on the pattern of a Tudor knot garden and enjoys cooking with
the proceeds. Gardening is a perfect time for her to mull over what she’s been
writing, as she wages war on the weeds.
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