The Queen's Lady

Graham Clan #7

by Shannon Drake, Heather Graham

She desired him above all others...
Would he now be her executioner? — Lady Gwyneth Macleod has staked her fortune and her reputation to help Mary, Queen of Scots take her rightful place on the throne. But her struggle to guide the reckless, defiant queen has put her at perilous odds with Rowan Graham, a laird dangerously accomplished in both passion and affairs of state. And the more Gwyneth challenges his intentions, the less he can resist the desire igniting between them. Now, with her country in turmoil and treachery shadowing her every step, will Gwyneth's last daring gamble lead her to the ultimate betrayal -- or a destiny greater than she could ever imagine?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Tudor Period, 16th Century

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Heather Graham Pozzessere
aka Heather Graham, Shannon Drake

Heather Graham was born on March 15, 1953 and grew up in Dade County, Florida, and attended the University of South Florida at Tampa, majoring in theater arts and touring Europe and parts of Asia and Africa as part of her studies. After college, she acted in dinner theaters, modeled, waitressed, and tended bar. She married Hershey Dennis Possezzere, and after the birth of her third child, she was determined to devote her efforts to her writing: her dream. She sold her first book in 1982.

Today, this author's success is reflected not just by reader response and the over 20 million copies of her books in print, but in many other ways. In addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Heather has received numerous awards for her novels, including over 20 trade awards from magazines such as Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur, bestseller awards from B. Dalton, Waldenbooks, and BookRak, and several Reviewers' Choice and People's Choice awards.

Heather has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, Romantically Speaking, a TV talk show that aired nationwide on the Romance Classics cable channel, and CBS Sunday News. She has been quoted in People and USA Today, been profiled in The Nation, and featured in Good Housekeeping. Her books have been selections for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. She has been published across the world in more than 15 languages and has published over 70 titles, including anthologies and short stories.

Now, she had five children. Somehow, this prolific author manages to juggle it all - family, career, and marriage - while reaching a level of success to which few can aspire.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read: 3/30/25
Setting: Queen Mary Stewart 1561-1567

Meh. This was an okay book. There was not much chemistry (burning) between the characters. I liked the couple, but the historical aspect got in the way. The author wanted to focus on Queen Mary's rule from when she arrived in Scotland to her abdication of the throne. The book is too short to go into the history of Mary Stewart. So we got a water down version of the history at that time. The history kept interfering with the romance. The author needed to pick the type of book she wanted to write.

Also, there were no witch trails like in the book. The burning of witches didn't come until 30 years later, with King James (Mary's son). He blames witches for his almost shipwreck and decides to purge Scotland of their evil presence. I understand why the author used a witch trail plot, but it wouldn't have happened yet.

Conclusion: This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't good either. Still, it had its moments. HG has just written much better books that this one fell flat.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very enjoyable to find romances set in the Tudor period. The beginning scene had me a bit worried at first as I wasn't sure if it would be a HEA, but Heather Graham wrote it, so I shouldn't have been. I loved how historical figures showed up quite frequently and interacted with Gwen and Rowan. As I normally do with romances, I appreciated how historical issues were blended in with the plot such as the religious tension in Scotland, and the political tug-of-war between Elizabeth and Mary. Gwen and Rowan's romance made the time period refreshing and fun to read about again.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a long time reader of Shannon Drake/Heather Graham. I quit reading her when she started writing about the vampires. Not my kind of stories. Drakes typical story has the H and the h usually at odds for most of the book. There is usually a prologue that get your attention, like this one, the h in the dungeon awaiting death or actually on waiting to be executed. For some reason, this prologue just didn't make sense with the rest of the book! For the first half I could not imagine Rowan and Gweneth actually falling in love so at odds and disliking each other they were! But the prologue alluded to love, passion and a child! So...I knew things had to heat up between the two! I remember thinking there was no way, how would the author make them fall in love? Like next chapter..BAM! There is a seduction scene, rather unbelievable, and voila! They are so in love it hurts! Sex scenes were surprisingly tame! Kinda nice change from the graphic details of beddings so common in todays stories. I am also used to many historical romances lasting over just a short time, kinda refreshing to see that it was over a long period of time. Not sure I like Gweneth and her undying support of Queen Mary. Drake is known for her heavy use of historical information. This story also was bogged down with all the political goings on, the 2 queens not agreeing on anything other than they both really like Rowan. There is much more I could say about the relationships, loved the supporting characters. Lots of escapes and rescues and riding across the land to different castles. It really was more about the queens their efforts to remain in power. I could never figure out how old Gweneth was and Rowan seemed to be much older. Those kind of details were left out to deal with the historical information. If you like history being embedded in a story you might like this. If you are a fan of Shannon Drake and know her style you might like this. It was toned down a bit from previous books, not as much focus on the H and h.

[Mikal O'Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I snatched The Queen's Lady by Shannon Drake off the shelf of a charity shop, and happily so. I enjoyed the predictable but heavy romance between Rowan and Gwenyth and easily fell for the broody Highlander despite his Jane Eyre-esque situation. It wasn't hard to like both Rowan and Gwenth straight away, but their undying devotion to Queen Mary after her foul play towards them was unbelievable and slightly annoying. There were plenty of unrealistic scenes in this story that I was willing to tolerate in order to let the romance of the characters live on, but there were plenty of times Gwenyth escaped persecution with nothing but luck and perfect timing by Rowan. The ending didn't help matters much since it was written as if Drake was in a rush to tie it up. I also cracked open this book with little knowledge on Mary Queen of Scots, and I assume ignorance is bliss when it comes to comparing this story to historical facts. However, despite the complaints I have with the storyline, I still found it an enjoyable read and was eager to know the ending.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unless you want to click HERE for my full review, here's the tl;dr version:

Nothing special to write home about. Highly doubt I'll be reading the book again. If you want to get the gist of the story, read the wiki page for Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Heather Rosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set at the beginning of Mary Queen of Scots' attempted reign over Scotland, THE QUEEN'S LADY explores the rough and tempestuous history of Scotland as experienced by The Queen's lady in waiting, Lady Gwyneth Macleod.

Lady Gwyneth Macleod followed Mary Queen of Scots from France after the death of her husband, the dauphin. As the only lady in the Queen's entourage not bearing the name, Mary, she stands out quite dramatically to the tempestuous Rowan. Scotland is under the spell of John Knox, a man determined to bring the entire British island under Protestantism. Queen Mary is determined to remain true to her Catholicism despite pressure to conform to the new vogue faith.

Laird Rowan Graham is concerned about the return of Scotland's widowed young Queen and the country's reaction to her. Laird Rowan is one of the Queen's supporters; married to a woman he once loved but is now crazy due to a failed childbirth, Rowan is a lonely man whose only focus is on the political outcome of the country.

Laird Rowan and Lady Gwyneth ignite sparks in each other’s presence. Forced into the position of her protector on many occasions, their interest in each other grows. The most endearing moments in THE QUEENS LADY are scenes in which Lady Gwyneth sits with the Laird's wife as she is close to dying. It surprised me that Laird Rowan's wife and Lady Gwyneth knew each other before her death--not a very common element in a romance novel, but Shannon Drake's masterful plotting weaves around that road bump, eventually bringing them together. And truthfully, that is just one of many struggles for the lovers.

If you are a fan of Scottish history, reveling in the evil which presented itself as well as the brave beauty, this book will greatly entertain you!

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I love historical fiction, and a historical romance could be fun, but reading this book reminded me of all the things about romance novels that are just, well, horrible.
The story is one big cliche from start to finish - you can write it yourself, based on the cover. The history is weak at best - with historical characters - like Queen Elizabeth - being completely unbelievable. I don't mind a little embellishment along the way for the sake of the story, but if you want to include history, make sure it rings a little bit true to what we know.
The characters were typical and dull. The main character is unbelievable and if I hear about her "kneeing" her horse forward one more time (she's supposedly a great rider), I may puke (note to author, if your character is going to be an accomplished rider, at least know how to make a horse go forward....). I was able to finish it, so it wasn't so bad that I couldn't turn the pages, but unless you have nothing else to read, there are plenty of other choices out there - or sit ups... or bur-pees.... or pretty much anything else to keep yourself entertained.

[jill crotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Shannon Drake book. So I had nothing to compare it to. I am going on the fact it is a historical novel and most follow a similar format. I love the history of this era! I always like to figure out what is embellished in historical fiction. The only thing I will say I did not like is the development of Lady Gwyneth and her personality. I know she is the main character and by middle to end it did get better. But when I start to roll my eyes and cringe at the typical stubborn woman of this time, I want to put the book down. Why is it so hard to make a character believable? Starting off with the ending is so fun..You never know if there will be twists and turns to it or how it will get to the end. The book was a good balance of history and romance. I believed the romance because it was not over the top. I felt the love between Lady Gwyneth and Rowan Graham. It slowly raised suspense and kept me enthralled. I was impressed with the tension among the Scotts and the history of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. This was a fun book to read.

[Tibbara's Den · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning definitely hooked me, and at first, I really enjoyed the characters and the romantic plot. Quickly, my enjoyment faded. The writing was really inconsistent. Sometimes, the author used Scottish dialect, and you got a sense of the time period. However, often, the writing didn't give a sense of the setting or time period, and the dialogue itself felt more modern. A lot of the situations and drama felt done just for drama's sake. The Queens didn't feel genuine, and the reasoning for why they did certain things fell flat, making even the true historical facts leaving something to be desired. I initially really enjoyed Gwenyth and Rowan as characters, but as the story progressed, they quickly lost any emotional depth that they had initially. You know where the ending is going based on the beginning, but so much time is spent on other drama that it ended up feeling rushed.

[Maga_li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tout d'abord je suis totalement tombée sous le charme de la couverture elle est vraiment magnifique !

Ensuite que dire de cette histoire simplement magnifique j'ai adoré le personnage de Gwenyth cette jeune femme loyale et courageuse.

J'ai beaucoup apprécié l'intrigue même si le prologue m'a laissé septique, car on en apprend beaucoup, je suis restée curieuse de découvrir cette histoire aux fils des pages

J'ai adoré le personnage de Rowan, ce personnage rude, lui aussi loyal et fidèle, mais aussi tendre et sensible.

J'ai apprécié voyager en Écosse au XVI siècle.

Une lecture addictive, pleine d'émotions, de trahisons, de passions et de rebondissements.

La plume de l'auteure est fluide et captivante.

Si vous aimez les romances historiques ce livre est fait pour vous !

[Anna McFadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

after Mary, the Queen of the Scotts left a widow when the King of France dies she returns home with her Ladies in waiting including Lady Gwyneth Macleod. Lady Gwyn would give up her pretty much everything for her friend the Queen. Larid Rowan Graham does everything he could to help guild the young "reckless, defiant" queen and the more Gwyn challenges his intentions,
they cant deny the desire igniting between them and marries . but when trouble starts will Rowan turn his back on Gwyneth or save the women he loves

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book but a scottish highlander and his lady. There are obstacles to their love at every turn and lots of political intrigue. the author does a good job of giving the reader the historical back drop while creating a love story that seemed impossible nd me rooting for them to the end.

[Pamela Lowry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait for the end

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about this slice of history, Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Gabrielle Viszs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je suis tombée par hasard sur la couverture qui m'a attiré. Le résumé était tentant, j'ai fait la demande à mon partenaire sur netgalley et le voilà déjà lu en une soirée.

1561, une période houleuse pour l'écosse qui voit revenir sa reine, Marie, anciennement la femme du roi de France, décédé d'une grave maladie. A ses côtés, Gwenyth MacLeod qui revient au pays après une année passée loin de son Ecosse natale. Gwen va devoir, sous les ordres de sa reine, rencontrer la reine d'Angleterre Elisabeth afin de négocier des signatures. Lord Rowan Graham sera l'homme de la situation : il doit l'accompagner, ordre de la reine jusqu'à sa destination finale. Mais le voyage ne sera pas fait en un jour et encore moins sous de bons auspices.

Dès le départ nous découvrons l'Ecosse sous les yeux des nouveaux arrivants. La reine Marie et sa cour reviennent sur ses terres après avoir passées de nombreuses années loin d'eux. Seule l'une des dames de compagnie, Gwenyth n'est partie qu'une unique année, mais il s'en passe des choses en une année. Nous sommes au cœur de « l'action ». Je met bien des guillemets car il s'agit de jeux de pouvoirs essentiellement, puis vint les scènes de combats. Quelle reine sera celle qui se pliera devant l'autre ? Entre Marie et Elisabeth, le jeu ne s'arrête pas en une seconde. Toutes les deux sont fières, très belles de surcroit et prête à tout pour asseoir leur pouvoir sur le pays qu'elles gouvernent. Dame et cavalier ne sont que des pions qu'elles usent afin de les mettre où elles le désirent.

J'ai aimé lire l'histoire sur les reines, ce qu'elles vivent, comment elles sont présentées. Le pouvoir monte vite à la tête, même si au départ elles ont la tête sur les épaules. La reine Marie se sert d'abord, l'amitié avec Gwenyth est forte, plus qu'avec les quatre marie qui sont également des dames de compagnies, mais lorsqu'il s'agit du trône elle est capable de tout pour montrer que rien ne peut l'atteindre. A cette époque, les guerres de religion étaient très présentes. La reine Marie Catholique pose le pied sur des terres qui sont protestantes. Elle a beau dire que chacun a le droit de pratiquer la religion qui lui plaît, la plupart du peuple n'est pas de cette avis. Ajoutez à cela les femmes qui sont considérées comme des sorcières, la moindre accusation de sorcellerie amène la mort par bucher.

J'ai beaucoup aimé la relation entre Gwen et Rowan. Du départ ils ne se détestent pas, mais la méfiance est bien entre eux deux. La jeune femme se méfie de lui, de ses airs ironiques et de ses petits sourires moqueurs. Tous les deux veulent pourtant la même chose : la paix en Ecosse et si pour cela la reine Marie doit rester sur le trône, tous les deux feront ce qu'il faut pour qu'elle y reste. Rowan a un passé qui se dévoile au fur et à mesure des pages lues, contrairement à Gwenyth qui a eut une enfance plutôt linéaire. Catherine a un mauvais mal qui la ronge, mais un ange saura la mener dans un havre de paix. Le caractère sulfureux de la jeune femme n'aidera pas à aplanir leurs différents, mais au contraire mettra le feu aux poudres.

Il s'agit d'une romance historique avec une très bonne intrigue autour de la royauté, de la religion, de sorcières, du pouvoir, des trahisons, de l'amitié, du devoir. Des personnages qui ont un passé, du caractère, des idéaux qui ont une présence. Je me suis attachée à cette dame et ce highlander qui font passer la paix avant leur amour. En d'autres termes, j'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture.

http://chroniqueslivresques.eklablog....

[Les passions de Meline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je crois que cette lecture ne m'a pas totalement convaincu malgré le côté historique de l'histoire et la romance entre les personnages.

Gwenyth est une des favorite de la Reine qui vient de refaire son grand retour en Écosse. Pour ce retour, elle doit faire avec le soldat Lord Rowan Graham qui supervise le voyage de la Reine ainsi que tous ses amis. Mais voilà, la Reine Marie veut quelque chose qui semble compliqué à obtenir et demande l'aide de ses deux plus grands partisans qui ne sont que Gwenyth et Rowan. La quête semble ardu au vu de leur altercation.

Ce fut mon premier roman de l'autrice Shannon Drake. J'ai beaucoup de ses romans en numérique mais celui-ci n'a pas su me surprendre ou encore me plaire dans son histoire.

Gwenyth est écossaise depuis toujours. Elle est partie vivre en France pendant un an et elle est devenu la favorite de la Reine Marie. Elle revient en Écosse accompagné de la Reine Marie qui a perdu son mari quelques mois plus tôt. Son retour sur ses Terres ne se fait pas sans conséquence, elle doit aider la Reine à se faire aimer de son pays. Chose quelque peu difficile sachant que la Reine d'Angleterre refuse de nommé Marie comme héritière de la couronne Anglaise.
Pour se protéger du peuple ou de toutes autres personnes indésirable, Lord Rowan Graham est le chevalier qu'il faut avoir à ses côtés. De sa stature et de ses Terres, il sait que ce que la Reine désire risque de ne pas se faire au vu de la croix que porte la Reine Elizabeth. Il a également une femme qui est malade suite à un accident de route où elle a perdu leur enfant et premier héritier.
Durant ma lecture, j'ai découvert des personnages bien sûr d'eux et surtout avec des caractères bien à eux. Le prologue m'a donnée envie de découvrir le pourquoi du comment pour ce qui arrive à Gwenyth. Mais, la suite n'a pas su me faire succomber totalement à l'histoire qui est un peu trop centré sur la Reine Marie et la Reine Elizabeth qui se chamaille pour des titres et qui met en plus dans l'embarras le peuple d'Écosse.
Mais, d'un autre côté, j'ai découvert l'histoire de Gwenyth et de Rowan qui ont su m'émouvoir dans leur guerre-guerre et aussi dans leur histoire personnelle. Rowan a un passif qui fait de lui un homme très sûr de lui mais aussi avec la tête sur les épaules. Sachant que Gwenyth a été élevé comme un Lady, elle sait que sa façon de dire les choses peuvent heurter mais elle reste elle-même malgré son vis-à-vis.
Durant toutes les péripéties, j'ai aimé voir le rapprochement de Gwenyth et de Rowan malgré la tension entre les deux Reines qui semblent vouloir la même chose mais qui est difficile à donner. Les tournants vont amener les personnages à faire des choix et prendre des décisions qui m'ont toutefois fait tomber de haut.
Le final est juste parfait pour ce couple qui a su me toucher mais j'aurai préféré autre chose que toutes les péripéties qui leurs arrivent.

Le seigneur de Lochraven fut une lecture plutôt intéressante mais qui n'a pas su me convaincre sur la totalité du récit surtout autour des Reines. Mais, le couple Gwenyth et Rowan vaut le coup de les découvrir dans cet Écosse de 1500.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally gave "The Queen's Lady" three stars, but after a day of consideration I've decided to change it to two stars. You see, this author seems to have "Jekyll and Hyde syndrome". What I mean by that is this:

The first half of this book was really good, and the second half was ... well ... really bad. In fact, the style of writing in the second half of the book was so different from the first half that it seemed like it was written by a different author. The plot suddenly spun in so many directions, and some of the things that happened were just plain ridiculous and implausible. Also, Ms. Drake was apparently determined to fit as much of Mary Stewart's early reign into the story as she could. That made it feel overstuffed, especially since Mary was supposed to be a supporting character (plus, she didn't stick that closely to historical facts).

I had a feeling that the author lost control over the story at some point, and it looked to me as if she wasn't sure what kind of book she wanted to write --- a historical romance, or a historical novel about Mary Stewart and her court.

The main character, Gwenyth --- well, I really liked her at first but that changed during the second half of the book. I mean, there comes a moment towards the end of the book where she is basically being kept prisoner by Mary, and she spends all her time wanting nothing more than to go back to her husband and son. And then when Rowan actually comes to rescue her she declines to go with him, saying that she wants to stay with Mary instead. At that point I just wanted to take this book and hit Gwenyth over the head with it.

I won't be reading any other books by this author, that's for sure.

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Swept Away to 16th century Scotland!

This Scottish historical by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham) is set in 16th century Scotland and England during the rise of Mary Queen of Scots and her clash with her cousin, Elizabeth, reigning as Queen of England.

Lady Gwenyth MacLeod is one of Mary's ladies in waiting. Gwenyth’s Scottish background and knowledge allow her to provide unique insights to her new Queen, who is returning from France after the death of her husband, King Francis.

Very soon into her time with Mary in Scotland, Gwenyth encounters Lord Rowan Graham, laird of Lockraven, who is also serving Queen Mary. The attraction is mutual and strong though there is an initial clash of wills. Still, once he realizes he loves her, his love for her never fails. I think that's what distinguishes this romance for me from so many of Drake's (Graham's) other historicals. The hero never treated the heroine badly and never stopped loving her. How novel, eh?

I loved the hero's consistency and his faithfulness to his woman. Here is a man worth the wait. Their times were tumultuous and they faced many challenges including the inconsistency of the Queen they both served. You can imagine how difficult it would be in such times to find real love. This is a wonderful trip through the history of Scotland and England, too. I so appreciate Heather’s research. It’s a tale of two Queens and a story of a great romance between two people trying to do what is right. Along with the history is Heather’s usual good job of storytelling, great character development and a true love fought for and won. I loved it.

[Krystel Anceau · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review in english will follow the french one

J'ai eu un peu de difficulté à entrer dans l'histoire, ne sachant pas si je devais m'attendre à des évènements historiques doublés d'une romance ou l'inverse. Mais j'adore l'Ecosse et surtout les Highlanders hommes et femmes avec leur rudesse, leur fierté, mais également leur grande humanité alors j'ai poursuivi. Finalement j'ai beaucoup aimé la narration de la rivalité entre les 2 reines, et la capacités des 2 héros à développer leur histoire personnelle intense. Cette romance tient autant de place que la partie historique et rend plus digeste ces complots, traitrises, guerres de pouvoir etc. Je ne dirais pas que c'est une oeuvre majeure pour cette période, mais ça se laisse lire, j'ai passé un agréable moment. Il faut juste aimer l'Histoire de l'Angleterre et de l'Ecosse agrémentée d'une touche de romance.

I had a little trouble getting into the story, not knowing if I should expect historical events coupled with romance or vice versa. But I love Scotland and especially the Highlanders men and women with their roughness, their pride, but also their great humanity so I continued. Finally I really liked the narration of the rivalry between the 2 queens, and the ability of the 2 heroes to develop their intense personal story. This romance takes up as much space as the historical part and makes more digestible these plots, traitors, power wars etc. I wouldn't say it's a major work for this period, but it can easily be read, I had a good time. You just have to love the history of England and Scotland with a touch of romance.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is a very, very good book. “The Queen’s Lady” is Ms. Drake’s latest in her “Graham” series, book 7. The last few have been okay. This one however, is excellent! I started this book a couple of months ago and put it aside to read it later because the prologue was a foretelling of actual events that come at the very end of the book. Ms. Drake has used this literary element before, which, in the past, has not helped develop a good story. So, thinking I knew how the rest of the book was going to go, I put it aside for a while. Boy, was I wrong about this book! I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, and I was so wrong! If you don’t like foretelling, I strongly suggest skipping the prologue, it will not hurt the story at all to do so, and I wished that I had. This is an excellent book, and in my opinion, needed no foretelling in the prologue. The prologue was the worst part of the book, after the prologue this is an amazing book. This book is about Lady Gwenyth, a lady in waiting to Mary Queen of Scots, and Laird Rowan Graham, a strong Highlander who is committed to the Queen’s safety and cause. I don’t want to spoil it with any other details. I highly recommend this book to historical romance fans and Shannon Drake/Heather Graham fans.

[Jenni Ebba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Shannon Drake's vampire series. Her writing style is classy and still believable, not too whimsical as is the problem with much historical romance today.
This is a wonderful historical romance by Drake that brings both equal parts joy and tears. Gwenyth Macleod is a heroine that makes you want to cheer and bite your lip in agitation. She falls quickly for Rowan and it couldn't have happened any sweeter.
After the death of his ailing wife, Rowan admits his love to a headstrong Gwenyth who is fiercely loyal to Queen Mary of Scotland, though her rule is full of turmoil and its own heartbreak. The story follows the two through years of romance and separation as Queen Mary of Scotland and Queen Elizabeth of England battle politically; at times incarcerating the star-crossed lovers.
They both overcome obstacles, though even at one point believing they are to wed different people, to have a romance that lasts the ages. The ending is just as sweet as the beginning and this novel of her historical romances.

[Misma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le seigneur de Lochraven, quelle beau livre, c’était tellement bien déjà c’est historique (ce que j’aime plus que tout)

ensuite y’a une la romance entre Gwenyth et Rowanedt trop belle. Dès le départ j’ai accroché au livre et je savais que ça allait être une bonne lecture. Un petit ennemies to lovers qui se transforme en une histoire d’amour interdite. On a eu le droit à avoir la présence de perso historique tel que les reines Marie Stuart et Elizabeth Tudor ce qui m’a bcp rappeler Reign une de mes séries favorites <3 la scène du bain aussi dans le livre entre Rowan et Gwenyth ma fait pensé à celle dans la série entre Narcisse et Lola💗

Et l’intrigue historique du livre était incroyable y’a plein de petites scène qui m’ont beaucoup plus. L’intrigue historique était nettement plus mit en avant que la romance mais ça ne m’a pas du tout dérangé au contraire le livre est très beau tel qu’il est. Bref j’ai trop aimé !!!!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my first from Shannon Drake. I did not realize this was a series and the books are good on their own.

Gwenyth is a smart lady that is loyal to her Queen and would do and say anything to protect the Queen of Scots. Rowan is chosen to accompany Gwenyth to England to meet Queen Elizabeth and that is where the romance begins. I liked the loyatly Gwenyth had for her Queen Mary but I did think that at times it was too much. Overall the book was an enjoyable read and I am now interested in reading the series.

The romance is hot but does not sizzle and I like that in this book it did not take away from the premise.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn't quite hit the spot completely, it was interesting but it was more a historical novel than a romance novel and in some ways failed to be good in either. Set in Elizabethan England, this tells the story of Gwenyth who has just returned to Scotland with Mary Queen of Scots and finds herself trying to adapt to a different country where her religion could get her killed.

It's not a bad read but it just somehow doesn't quite hit the spot.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because I especially like history, I gave this two stars. I haven't read much about Mary Queen of Scots, so I liked learning a little bit about her reign/era. But really doesn't pass the mustard on the romance scales. The heroine is very loyal to the queen, but maybe too fanatical about it. That kind of put me off, caused me to lose a little respect for the heroine. Not a lot of sparks ignited for me in the romantic relations between the hero and heroine. It left much to be desired.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a weakness in my heart for Shannon Drake, always have always will. She is one of the first romance writers I have ever read and she hooked me into historical romance. The details are detailed so if you don't like to feel like your swept back in time, with dresses, and historical documentation don't pick this up. But I love the Graham men!!! I wasn't in the mood to read it but I did and I will be passing it along for someone else to read but it was good and I enjoyed it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about Mary Queen of Scots.Lady Gwennyth MacLeod had bound herself to help Mary claim the throne of Scotland. she finds herdself at odds with Rowan Graham, a dangerously attractive laird. will Gwynneth;s loyalty to Mary become a dangerous liability, or will she realize that her affections may be misplaced.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had such a hard time trying to get through this novel. I felt like it was crammed with TOO much thinking, TOO much detail.

I don't know if it was just my bad luck or because I picked up books that seemed to be better in the same lot. But whatever it is, I barely got through this novel.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sooooo incredibly boring. The beginning started really well with Gwenyth's imprisonment and then went down hill from there. At the end I was just grateful the story was at an end. It was really well written though and historically interesting, it just wasn't for me.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was mostly historical data with political strategy and not a lot of romance. I started skimming early reading only dialog but I did finish. I didn't care for the layout of the story, the prologue. Lady Gwenyth served Mary Queen of Scots when she met Laird Rowan.