Rosamund

The Friarsgate Inheritance #1

by Bertrice Small

From Bertrice Small, the beloved "queen of romance," (Publishers Weekly) comes a sweeping new novel of a young girl's unexpected journey into womanhood, into mystery and passion, and into history...

Her name is Rosamund Bolton. She is heiress to the Friarsgate fortune. More than a splendid inheritance, it will chart the fate of the orphaned beauty, widowed at a precious young age. It will take her from the treacherous custody of her devious uncle to the magnificent court of Elizabeth of York, into the confidence of Katherine of Aragon, and past the intimate chamber doors of Henry VIII. It's an adventure that will test the limits of passion and betrayal; it will change the meaning of the word enemy, and turn even the most daring fantasy into true love.

With this first novel in an original and exciting new series, the adventures of Rosamund are just beginning...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Tudor Period

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Bertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She lived on eastern Long Island for over 30 years. Her greatest passions were her family; Finnegan and Sylvester, the family cats; Nicki, the elderly cockatiel who whistles the NY Mets charge call; her garden; her work, and just life in general.

Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.

Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have I outgrown Bertrice? This novel of hers was not that different from others that I have loved in the past. Gloriously bad purple prose (a husband pretending to take his wife like a randy ram to an ewe sheep then baaing in her ear upon completion was a particular highlight), a Mary Sue heroine who is the World's Most Beautiful, Most Desirable, and Most Beloved woman, a succession of marriages and affairs, Royal courts that could pass for the hallways of an American high school, and last but not least, the repetition! A tells B about x for, oh, ten pages, followed by B relating the exact same conversation to C, followed by C then further discussing the same matter to D, I could go on.

I was sad to find this book boring because whatever else Bertrice has been for me, (insane in the membrane, loltastic, frustrating, shocking, enthralling, etc.) it had up to now never been boring :(

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read: 8/12/25
Setting: Early Henry VIII era, England
Trope: friends to marriage, forced marriage
3.0 stars

Rosamund was first married at the age of 3 to her cousin. When he died, her uncle married her at 6 to a 60 year old steward. He knew they couldn't consummate the marriage and hoped the bridegroom would die in a few years. The plan was to later marry her to his future heir so he could have control over her inheritance. He didn't count on Hugh.

Hugh views his childbride as a daughter and gives her the skills to protect herself when he is gone. He teaches her how to read, write , run her estate, and anything else that she will need to become independent. By the time Hugh is ill, 13 year old Rosamund is running every aspect of her home with a great maturity for one so young. Hugh makes one more step to protect his girl. Turns out he saved Henry Tudor's father, and he calls in a favor. He asks the king to become Rosamund's guardian. There is definitely a mic drop momment when her uncle discovers the subterfuge. Super satisfying 😌

Sir Owain arrives to escort Rosamund to the king. He helps Rosamund prepare for court. It's not easy because Rosamund has no desire to leave her home. Only the chance of losing it to her uncle convinced her to leave. Owain is a true friend and helps her navigate the danger of court. I adored Owain 🥰

Soon, Rosamund becomes best friends with Margaret Tudor and later the widowed Catherine of Argon. She also attracts the attention of a 12 year old Henry. Apparently, he already had the body of a grown man. 🤢 Henry has already been with many women, and he places a wager that he'll take Rosamund's virginity. He doesn't know Rosamund that well if he thinks her so frivolous as to give up her most prize possession. Later, Owain catches him and informs his grandmother that Rosamund needs a husband now! Some good scheming by Princess Margaret and Rosamund is betrothed to Sir Owain.

These two end up having a wonderful marriage with many children. They worked well together. Owain brings Rosamund nothing but pleasure in and out of bed.
He understands what Rosamund's home means to her and lets her run it.

There, of course, others to ruin Rosamund's peace. First is the Scottish rogue Laird Hepburn. He knew Rosamund would be his wife when she met him at a fair. She was 6 and he 16. Yeah, that's not creepy at all! 🤢. He's been waiting between husbands, but he declares she will be his wife one day because he will have no other.

The second problem will be the grown-up Henry Tudor. He has never forgotten Rosamund, and he will have her.

Conclusion:
Rosamund and her 2 husbands were wonderful characters! I really enjoyed her marriage to Owain. Unfortunately, the plot was a kind of boring. I think I prefer her OTT books to her more moderate ones. Still, it wasn't bad. Then I got to the end. This is a continuing story! 😡 I was almost tempted to try it until I read the synopsis. She goes to the court of Scotland and has another big romance before ending up with the one from this story. I don't care enough to wait through two books to reach the H. Pass!

Historical/sidenote rant:
Mrs. Small never goes a book without some historical inaccuracies.
So here goes:
1. Jasper Tudor was not Henry's father but his uncle. That was the man whom Margaret supposedly loved. She barely knew her husband before he died, so she didn't love him.
2. Catherine was not some sallow, obedient, naive girl that Small's portrayed. Catherine was reportedly beautiful in her youth, with RED hair. It was all those pregnancies and miscarriages that destroyed her looks. While She didn't lead a charge into battle like in the Spanish Princess 🙄, she was an excellent, wise Regent.
3. AGAIN with Richard III !!. I get this author has a hard on for him, but it's starting to get ridiculous. She has Henry VII stating that he doesn't believe Richard really killed the princes in the tower. Really? 😂😂😂

[Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hesitate to call this historical fiction, because the setting was so darned generic. It was simply pre-industrial, pre-civil liberties country living that could have taken place any when between roughly the 10th and 19th centuries.

When we get to the actually historical period – the reign of Henry VII, “facts” (some more accurate than others) are dropped in with the subtly of anvils, suggesting the main character has been living in some sort of Brigadoon-like bubble.
There’s some melodrama worthy of a silent movie that’s all easily resolved very quickly because the antagonists are mustache twirling villains who are easily thwarted by the clever protagonists who might as well wear shiny white hats to show off their Goodness and Virtue.

Nothing feels real here – the setting and the characters feel like painted cardboard in a middle school theater production of Ye Olden Dayes.

The story goes completely off the rails into First Time Fantasy Land wherein the blushing virginal bride is shown all the pleasures of Making Love by her adoring and experienced husband and she quickly goes from not knowing what a penis looks like to Sex Goddess on the turn of a dime.

And then it gets really weird.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable to read although I wouldn't say terribly inspired. The author's use of the term "love lance" and other euphemisms for genitalia was rather comical. I also felt like the friendship of Margaret and Katherine was rather unbelievable. I don't like reading a book and being aware of the author, I definitely was not able to lose myself in this story. But it was a fun read at least.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - Stelline

"Cosa ne sarebbe stato di lei adesso? Lentamente uscì dalla sala. Purtroppo sapeva benissimo cosa sarebbe successo: Henry Bolton avrebbe organizzato un terzo matrimonio per sua nipote e, per la seconda volta, l’avrebbe fatta sposare ad un suo figlio. Quel moccioso prepotente che si era portato dietro sarebbe stato il nuovo signore di Friasgate e Rosamund sarebbe rimasta una pedina impotente nella mani avide di suo zio. Maybel però si ricordò che Edmund aveva parlato di certe precauzioni che Hugh aveva preso per proteggere Rosamund, quando fosse rimasta di nuovo vedova. Con un altro sospiro, Maybel si disse che, per quanto conosceva Henry Bolton, e purtroppo lo conosceva bene, sicuramente era abbastanza determinato e senza scrupoli da essere disposto, anzi deciso, ad ignorare le ultime volontà di Hugh, anche se quest’ultimo aveva redatto un testamento. E loro non avrebbero potuto fare nulla per impedirlo."

Rosamund Bolton alla tenera età di tre anni si ritrova ad avere ereditato un feudo ricchissimo; Henry Bolton, suo zio paterno, ne acquisisce la tutela e comincia subito il suo tentativo di appropriarsi delle sue proprietà facendola immediatamente maritare con suo figlio, un bambino di cinque anni, pensando così di essersi assicurato il feudo. Ma due anni dopo, un’altra epidemia colpisce la zona, i due bambini si ammalano, e solo Rosamund rimane in vita. Per Henry è un grande smacco, non possiede un erede di riserva, ma decide di mettere tutte le sue forze nel procrearne uno da far sposare alla nipote. Nel frattempo, per mettere al sicuro la sua eredità, decide di maritarla ad Hugh, un uomo di sessant’anni che crede gli sia fedele. Ma Hugh è un uomo d’onore, e negli anni in cui è sposato con Rosamund diviene per lei un padre e un insegnante, aiutato dagli altri due zii della giovane, fratelli illegittimi del padre che le sono davvero affezionati, le insegnano ad essere forte, indipendente, scaltra al punto da riuscire ad ingannare lo zio che, nel frattempo, è riuscito nel suo intento e ora aspetta solo che Rosamund rimanga ancora una volta vedova. Ma Hugh ha un piano e un segreto: deve riscuotere un favore dal re, e così la sua giovane vedova si ritroverà ad essere invitata alla corte dei Tudor, dove diventerà l’amica di due regine e dove conoscerà il primo degli uomini che amerà nella sua vita.

Questo è un romanzo bellissimo, ma alcune avvertenze sono d’obbligo. Bertrice Small non è solita scrivere la classica storia d’amore in cui una fanciulla, dopo essere stata magari sposata ad un mostro, incontra l’eroe con cui vivere felice e contenta. No, le sue eroine sono donne passionali, ferocemente attaccate alle loro terre e alla loro gente, per cui sono disposte a fare qualsiasi sacrificio; non hanno quasi mai un solo uomo e un solo matrimonio, ma durante la loro vita avventurosa incontrano l’amore in diversi modi. Per Rosamund il secondo marito è un padre amorevole, incantato dall’intelligenza di quella bambina bellissima che lui alleva e rende indipendente, a corte poi incontrerà l’uomo che sarà suo marito per parecchio tempo, i due vivranno un amore splendido, ma durante quel periodo Rosamund farà la conoscenza anche di un uomo che la ama da quando aveva sei anni, che ha aspettato il suo momento e che non smetterà mai di amarla, anche se prima di averla dovranno ancora succedere molte cose. Compreso il fatto che Rosamund, per qualche tempo, sarà l’amante di Enrico VIII quando lui ancora tentava di avere un erede maschio da Caterina D’Aragona. Perciò un consiglio, non affezionatevi troppo ai personaggi maschili, perché per la Small sono le donne che contano, sono loro le vere indiscusse protagoniste di ogni suo libro, i mariti sono a volte di passaggio, e una volta vedove ci sarà subito un nuovo amore all’orizzonte, più passionale, più forte e più travolgente. Una autrice che ama le seconde, le terze, le quarte possibilità che il destino ti pone di fronte se tu sai afferrarle, perché la vita continua e dopo un grande amore ce ne può essere uno ancora migliore.

L’unica nota dolente per quanto mi riguarda è data dal fatto che nella presentazione di questo libro si parli degli altri capitoli della serie, ma non vi sia accenno al fatto di riproporli; è vero che nelle collane Mondadori è stato pubblicato solo questo, ma è anche certo che la seconda parte della vita di Rosamund si trova nel libro “Until You” che Euroclub ha pubblicato col titolo “Senza smettere di amare” che volendo potrebbe essere a questo punto proposto negli Oro Introvabili. La fine di questo libro infatti chiude una parte della vita di Rosamund, quella vissuta in Inghilterra, e lascia solo intravedere l’inizio di quella che la ragazza vivrà in Scozia, dove un meraviglioso e affascinante conte l’aspetta.

È davvero un bel romanzo, ma il suo finale aperto può non piacere a tutti, così come la scrittura di quest’autrice che io invece ho amato moltissimo, sia per le sue infuocate scene di passione, sia per i suoi personaggi unici e inimitabili, sia per il suo modo magistrale di narrare la corte dei Tudor che spesso compare nei suoi libri e che sempre è in grado di affascinare. Per quanto mi riguarda un libro da leggere assolutamente sperando che venga però pubblicato anche il suo seguito.
.
Lucia63 - per RFS

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, it's hard to describe what a Bertrice Small book would do to me. I would put it as so incredibly unbearable to read but at the same time, it's addicting as fuck. I swear, it's like I'm living vicariously through these characters. It is unbelievable how interesting her heroine's life is and how many relationships she went through in her lifetime. Plus, the amount of historical figures inserted in her books, made me so happy.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her stories are always so engaging and very rich in content. Never bored. However, I can't abide cheating, even if it's a king doing it. I know it was like that back then, doesn't make it right, but I am so looking forward to see what happens with Logan!

[Genevieve St-Yves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangely grounded in reality for a Bertrice Small novel yet solidly written, this novel feels incomplete. After reading the blurb for the sequel, I feel like the two books together were probably meant to be one complete novel and were divided in half at the last moment as Bertrice Small is no stranger to writing telephone directory-sized epics. The action doesn't even stop at a logical break point like the Skye O'Malley and All the Sweet Tomorrows duology did. For that reason, I can't rate it higher than three stars in good faith.

If you've read any of her books, you know what to expect from this one. Rosamund Bolton is a young orphaned girl and the heiress to Friarsgate, a wealthy estate with great herds of sheep in the north of England. Her cruel uncle is determined to marry her off to one of his sons so his side of the family can steal her inheritance away from her. With that in mind, he marries for off disturbingly young twice - first to his young son who promptly dies and then to an old man who could pass as her grandpa. Hugh, her elderly husband, is kindly, fatherly and secretly a well-connected but landless knight who the king of England owes a favor. He calls it in on his deathbed by asking Henry VII to take Rosamund from her uncle's custody and make her a ward of the court.

Thus Rosamund sets on her journey. In Small-ian fashion, she quickly becomes a star at court, attracting the attention (for good and ill) of famous historical people of the age. She discovers love and heartache after finally being given a third loving husband by Henry VII and, after being tragically parted, has a red-hot affair with a man she doesn't find marriage-material. The story seems to be working up to Rosamund ending up with a Scottish lord whose lands are on the other side of the border between England and Scotland, but Rosamund stubbornly rejects his troth at the end before flitting off to the court of King James.

I did like this and would read the sequel. For good or bad, this is one of Small's less wacky novels as it lacks the more bawdy and outlandish elements of some of her works. I happen to like her buck wild nonsense, the stupider the better, but also realize that it can be very off-putting to some readers. If not for the fact that feels like only the first half of the planned story arc, I'd say that this might be a good book for people who've never read a Small novel to start with.

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Same formula as Small's Jasmine series (Darling Jasmine and Jasmine). Spunky rich heroine often married at a young age who is then widowed tragically. Sent to another country for her own safety who then is married off again to save her from being corrupted by another man. Heroine falls in love with second and bears children. New husband then dies and the now twice-widowed heroine ends up becoming a royal mistress. Something happens and heroine ends up running to ancestral home or away somewhere to escape her soon-to-be third husband who has lusted after her from sometime. Utterly predictable and formulaic. It wasn't an awful read but it wasn't a great read either. If you like your romances formulaic and have read a number of Small novels, this story shouldn't come as a surprise to you.

[Kimberly Herrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this book for a couple years and never got the chance to read it and finally did. I love it and thought the people seemed real to me.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of four books in a historical romance series by Bertrice Small. Rosamund's story begins in 1495 and ends in 1511. When Rosamund is orphaned at a young age, she becomes the heiress and Lady of Friarsgate manor, located on the remote Scottish border between Scotland and England. She also becomes the charge of her wicked Uncle Henry who wants to claim Friarsgate's prosperity for himself. Rosamund marries her third husband, who has been in the service of the Tudors for many years and they have a happy marriage. She has three daughters and following Owein's accidental death, she is summoned to the young King Henry VIII's court where Rosamund becomes the confidant and correspondent for King Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon from Spain. Rosamund allows the King to seduce her and they have a brief and discrete affair but when she returns home all is not well with her land. She must learn who to trust and who is her enemy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really read a lot of historical novels during the medieval time period, this was the first actually. A friend recommended I read this book and I'm so glad that I did! The facts in the novel about the time period were pretty accurate. I enjoyed learning a lot about the way people lived during that era. The story itself was a ok. The novel was divided in two three parts. I loved the first two parts and the last part was just weird. I didn't enjoy it that much. I read this book more for the learning experience rather than the story itself. Overall I really enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to read rest of the books in the series!

[S.M. McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not intend to read through this book again, I wanted to skim a few pages to research 3rd person narratives and if I wanted to write in this style, but then BOOM, I was sucked in and finished this book in two days. Bertrice Small is a historical romance master.

Rosamund is a head strong female lead that was born before her time, she's done her duty to her family, but she has a fiery spirit and has been given a set of circumstances to her advantage to be a free spirited woman in a time where women were hardly considered independent.

Reader warning, there are sexual situations in every Bertrice Small book I have ever read and they are well done, but very detailed.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow Rosamund's journey from 6 to early 20's. The story begins the retelling of her being married at age 3, then widowed and again at age 6 to be widowed at 13. The book brings into focus the treatment, and value of woman of the 1500's. They are used as bargaining chips and for family gains. Rosamund is an intelligent, strong female who learns early how to run and rule the home that is her inheritance. She is sent to the royal court twice in this story and we learn much about the dynamics and working of the royal courts. An interesting, in depth read.

[Britt N · Rating 5 out of 5]

My edition only had 373 pages.

I first read Rosamund back in highschool and it was the first romance novel I had ever read. I had fond memories of it, and this summer I ordered myself a copy of it from Amazon. After reading it for a second time, I have found that I enjoyed it just as much at 32 as I did at 13.

The plot is intriguing, I loved following the life of Rosamund, the sex scenes were intense, and the language used for them delightful. It was a humourous book to read at times, and I enjoyed the re-read. I look forward to the next novel in the series.

[Rachel Graft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great 3 Book Series. Very long book 432 pages & I could not put it down. Set in 1490-1511 & it gives a different perspective on arranged marriages. Rosamund was until in the beginning of being a married child to an adult of that time. Great Book. Read the series in order & each book flows from the storyline of the finished book. Bertrice Small is a great author - read anything this women writes & enjoy.

[Devonaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Rosamund as a character, and a couple others became my favourites too. Though their fates devastated me and along with a few other problems I had which made me nervous for most of the book, means I can't rate it higher than a 3.

The characters and the romance in this is by FAR, one of the best though.

[Karen Grothe]

Historical romance novel set in the early 1500s, when girls are married off at a *very* young age. Rosamund is the heir for a large tract of land called Friarsgate. Her Uncle Henry tries to get the land from her by marrying her off to first his son then to an old man. She eventually ends up a ward of King Henry VII. Betrothed to a knight. Very sexy novel.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in the Friarsgate Inheritance series. This was a great story with interesting characters. This was my first time reading a book by author Bertrice Small, and I enjoyed her writing style. I couldn't put this book down and already bought the next book in the series.

[Judith Sherrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosamund

I have long lived the novels written by Ms. Small.
These are books that can be read again and again. Rosamund was a child bride twice. Outlining both her husbands. Finally she was matched with a knight from King Henry VII court. That too, ended with her widowhood.

[Tara Neale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next to Skye O'Malley, Rosamund is one of my favorite Bertrice Small characters. Like Skye, she has a feminine strength that is captivating. She weathers so many storms without being weakened by them. She captures your heart and holds on tightly.

[Ashley Wendt · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was an interesting yet weirdly addicting adventure. I don’t think I’ve read “spicy” scenes with these descriptors before and it made me giggle and eye roll like a middle school girl every time!

[Nancy Lathrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic fun book to read. Rosalind is heiress to manor called Friarsgate inherited from her parents but on
E of her uncles wants this land. Lots of adventures for Rosalind and some background on the times in the 1500s with kings and queens

[Ada Geringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosamund

I love your books so much that I have read this book for the second time. I have almost everything you have written. I thank you again. Now on to next one. Ada G.

[Erika Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! This book made me fall in love with Bertrice Small!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm embarrassed that I liked this book as much as I did! And it ended in a cliff hanger, so now I have to read the next one. Arrrghhh.

[SAustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens with Logan and rosamund??

[Jill Boettcher]

Bodice ripper. Enjoyable no brainer read. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

[Krystal Maddox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a good read

Slow read and was not pleased with character development. Nor main character age or how plot developed in the story. Not her best book

[Ginger Spurlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully written, great story!