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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Lovin Friday: The Constant Princess

There's a certain high that comes from waking up in the morning and realising it's a Friday. It's like the sun came up brighter. Sure it's not the same high you get when you realise it's Saturday but it sure comes close! To celebrate and stimulate those good feelings, we'll be running Lovin' Fridays.

On Lovin' Fridays, we post an excerpt from a novel with a declaration of love or a marriage proposal that gave us the warm and fuzzies, made us laugh, made us cry or made us think.

This week for 'Lovin Friday' I chose a book that contains a secret, beautiful and tender love story between a Prince and his Princess. I love this book because it tells a well known historical story and includes a huge twist that you just don't see coming. This story is fictitious and controversial but then that's why it's called historical fiction.

We argue, we talk. Sometimes we break up in laughter, sometimes we disagree. Arthur is my lover always, my husband, undeniably. And now he is becoming my friend.

(Extract from Page 168)

Beside me, Arthur is breathing quietly and steadily. I can feel my heart swell with love for him. I put my hand on the fair curls of his head and wonder if any woman has ever loved a man as I love him.

I stir and put my other hand on the warm roundness of my belly. Can it be possible that last night we made a child? Is there already, safe in my belly, a baby who will be called Mary, Princess Mary, who will be the rose of the rose of England?

Arthur holds me close, as if he cannot bear to let me go: but I can hear the groom of the chamber open the outside door to bring hot water. I draw myself away from him. It is like tearing off a layer of my own skin. I cannot bear to move away from him.

(Extract from Page 178)

Have you read Philippa Gregory? Here at Royal Reviews we are all fans of the Philippa Gregory Tudor novels. I know that in the world of historical fiction her novels are criticised for their accuracy, however, it was through The Other Boleyn Girl that we began a wonderful journey in what has become a lifelong love of historical fiction.

Queen Signature

9 comments:

Lea said...

Hi there:

I read a couple of Philippa Gregory's older novels and enjoyed them. I haven't read her work in recent years though.

She is a very accomplished author.

Best Regards
L

BurtonReview said...

I was also introduced to Historical Fiction via The Other Boleyn Girl... And I read PG's most other titles.
Now I just know to research with the non-fiction counterparts when I need the real story.
I remember really enjoying The constant Princess, as it was one of the few books that had more info on Arthur.

Daphne said...

I enjoyed The Constant Princess. Whose to say what the nature of their relationship really was, but I thought it was really sweet in the book. Everyone should have a relationship like that at least once in their life.

Caffey said...

I still can't believe I didn't read her books! I read the Victoria Holt but I don't remember back then (no internet then) that she as the same author!

Gosh, that excerpt gave me goosebumps, even teary! Wow. Thanks for that peek! It made my day!

The Book Resort said...

I have to get on her... fast!

Blodeuedd said...

Still haven't read her, bad me!
I promise I will open one of her books one day.

It was Chadwick that introduced me to the genre, and then Jude deveraux :)

Unknown said...

I have read two of Gregory's books. I loved The Other Boleyn Girl but I was not crazy about The Queen's Fool at all. I have three other books of hers on my TBR shelf and I hope I'll love them like I did The Other Boleyn Girl.

ibeeeg said...

Okay...if I keep reading Royal Reviews how I am ever going to dwindle my TBR list down... **smile**

My gosh...you ladies are reading novels/stories that I so love to read. I am going to now have to read The Constant Princess.

Let me ask...do you think I need to go in order with all of these Historical Fiction monarchy type books? In order with Philippa Gregory's books?

Alaine said...

Hi Ibeeeg, I affectionately call my TBR pile Mt TBR now! You don't need to read the Philippa Gregory Tudor novels in order, however, I did, well I read The Other Boleyn Girl first and then read the others in order. It's really up to you, I'm a bit funny like that and like to read in order. But Philippa Gregory states that they don't need to be and she didn't write them in order.