Blood Between Queens

Thornleigh #5

by Barbara Kyle

Following her perilous fall from a throne she'd scarcely owned to begin with, Mary, Queen of Scots, has fled to England, hoping her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, will grant her asylum. But now Mary has her sights on the English crown, and Elizabeth enlists her most trusted subjects to protect it.
Justine Thornleigh is delighting in the thrill of Queen Elizabeth's visit to her family's estate when the festivities are cut short by Mary's arrival. To Justine's surprise, the Thornleighs appoint her to serve as a spy in Mary's court. But bearing the guise of a lady-in-waiting is not Justine's only secret. The weight of her task is doubled by fears of revealing to her fiancé that she is in truth the daughter of his family's greatest rival. Duty-bound, Justine must sacrifice love as she navigates a deadly labyrinth of betrayal that could lead to the end of Elizabeth's fledgling reign. . .

Compelling and inventive, Blood Between Queens artfully blends history's most intriguing figures with unforgettable characters, bringing to dazzling life the fascinating Tudor era.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Tudor Period, Romance, Canada, British Literature

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

Thanks for visiting!

Here’s a little about me. Before becoming an author, I enjoyed a twenty-year acting career playing Shakespearean heroines on stage, leading roles in daytime TV dramas, and characters in Disney made-for-TV movies. It felt like a natural extension of my acting to create characters for fiction, and I hope you'll enjoy my novels. Over half a million copies have been sold worldwide.

My seven-book Thornleigh Saga series is set in 16th-century England and follows a middle-class family’s rise through three generations and three tumultuous Tudor reigns. ("Riveting Tudor drama" - USA Today). I’m also the author of acclaimed thrillers.

My new novel, THE DEADLY TRADE, is a murder mystery. I hope you’ll love it!

As a writing mentor I’ve launched many writers on the path to published success. My video course YOUR PATH TO WRITING A PAGE-TURNER shows how to craft a book that excites publishers and thrills readers. It's a Udemy Bestseller! See: https://www.udemy.com/course/your-pat...

My husband and I live in Guelph, a university city in southern Ontario where we enjoy its riverside walks, vibrant arts community, and good-neighborliness.

Happy reading!

Barbara Kyle

P.S. Follow me on Instagram @BarbaraKyleAuthor

Reviews

[Elmer Follis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Blood Between Queens" is without a doubt Barbara Kyle's finest novel thus far. It concerns the most famous rivalry in European history, that of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and her renowned cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. Although it is the fifth book in the Thornleigh series, the book has been well written to stand on its own and new readers will have no difficulty in adjusting to the story line. The difficulty will occur when they finish it and start scrambling to obtain the first four novels of the series. I have long considered Barbara Kyle to be the "Rolls Royce" of historical novelists and "Blood Between Queens" has proven me to be correct.

During the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz," the first portion of the movie is presented in black and white. Although enjoyable, the movie is very drab and dull with its various shades of gray and sepia tones. However, when Dorothy opens the door of her tornado damaged house in Kansas and steps into the magical land of Oz, she is immediately immersed in a wonderful world of glorious color. There are gorgeous colors of every type imaginable, and it is bright, shiny, and sparkling. The same thing happens when a reader opens up a Barbara Kyle novel. They are probably used to the dull black and white of previous books but once they open up one of her books they are transformed into a completely different experience, a most enjoyable one of vivid literary color.

To experience that particular magical moment when the "Wizard of Oz" bursts into beautiful color, I heartily recommend you read "Blood Between Queens." You will not regret it.

Colonel Elmer Follis, USAF

[Jenny Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Guest Post: "The Hinges of History"
+ Giveaway @ Let Them Read Books

I finally got a chance to read a Barbara Kyle novel, and now I see why so many of my friends are fans. Though Blood Between Queens is the first of her novels I've read, it is the fifth installment in her popular Thornleigh series, but fortunately, not having read the previous novels was not an issue, as the story is designed to stand completely on its own. In fact, the things that happened in previous books were only touched upon, and in such a way that now I really want to go back and read those stories to see how some of the characters got to where they are in this book.

This story follows young, beautiful, fiery Justine Thornleigh as she attempts to keep her head above water, caught in the flood of secrets, plots, and intrigues afoot as Mary Queen of Scots seeks aid from her cousin Elizabeth, and as Spain attempts to exploit the situation to exert their power over England. As a ward of Baron Thornleigh, one of Elizabeth's most trusted advisors, and as a native of the north where Mary is being held and attempting to bolster support from the Catholic northern lords, she's a perfect candidate to play spy for Elizabeth's interests. It's also the perfect chance for her to prove her loyalty to the cause and to the Thornleigh family for taking her in after her father, a devout Catholic and staunch supporter of Mary, was killed after a failed attempt to overthrow Elizabeth. Though few people actually know she was born into the Grenville family, she is anxious to remove the taint her father's treason has left on her. But things begin to get twisted as Justine gets to know Mary and finds her loyalties divided--not only between Elizabeth and Mary, but between her birth family and foster family, and her betrothed. And as a fanatical plot to put Mary on the English throne threatens everything Justine holds dear, she'll have to decide once and for all what is truly important in life and where her allegiance, and her heart, truly lie.

I was impressed with Ms. Kyle's ability to deftly manage a large cast of characters within an intricate, fast-paced plot. It has quite a few high drama moments, and though some of the main plot points are fictional, it's very gripping and exciting. Because there are a lot of characters and shifting view points, and because the plot is so involved, there's not as much room for character and relationship development. But even for that, no one is portrayed in black and white. Most of the characters at one point or another are forced to confront truths they'd rather not face, and I found myself growing rather attached to a few of them, wondering what future books may have in store for them, and when I'll be able to find the time to read the first four books in the series!

When I first picked up this book, I had thought it would cover a bit more of the tumultuous relationship between Elizabeth and Mary. Justine's story takes place during a relatively short span of time after Mary has fled murder charges and a forced abdication in Scotland, seeking safe harbor and assistance in getting her crown back from England. Ms. Kyle does a great job of portraying both Mary and Elizabeth as clever, ambitious, multi-faceted women. Though there's much more history to come between them, and I'm hoping perhaps more of that relationship between the two royal cousins will be explored in a future novel. Ms. Kyle gives a much-appreciated historical preface and author's note to help set the stage for the reader and give insight into how she wove her fictional characters and story lines into factual history. Blood Between Queens is entertaining historical fiction--puts me in mind of the style of some other books on my favorites list from authors like Donna Russo Morin, Marina Fiorato, and Robin Maxwell--just the right combination of facts and fiction, subtlety and drama, and emotion and ambiance to make for a lively and compelling read.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the blurb for BLOOD BETWEEN QUEENS, I knew I had to read it. Elizabeth I is my favorite monarch, a legend in her own time, and I'm particularly interested in her complicated relationship with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. This book pulls readers into the conflict, giving us a first hand account of the schemes, lies and betrayal going on just after Mary fled to England and became Elizabeth's "captive" guest.

The political intrigue caused by the feuding royal cousins was only part of the story. The author blended historical facts with fascinating fiction, creating a deadly family rivalry between the Thornleighs and Grenvilles, Elizabeth supporters versus those loyal to Mary, Protestants versus Catholics. And caught in the crossfire are two innocents - Justine, a young woman harboring a terrible secret, forced to spy on Mary at the queen's insistence, and Will, Justine's true love who would be devastated to learn the truth about her.

I really enjoyed BLOOD BETWEEN QUEENS. The author had an engaging writing style that made reading this book a joy. It's the fifth release in the Thornleigh series, though it can easily be read stand alone. (This was my first Barbara Kyle novel.) Though there was a big cast of characters, each one was memorable in his or her own way. I see that some of them appeared in earlier books in the series, and I'm eager to hear their stories.

I would recommend this book to readers who love riveting historical fiction, page-turning suspense, exciting adventure and a little romance. 4½-stars!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where I got the book: won it on the author's blog.

This is the fifth book in Barbara Kyle's Thornleigh series, about a family close to the English court during the reigns of the Tudors. Justine Thornleigh, a daughter of the Thornleighs' rivals, the Grenvilles, has been brought up as a Thornleigh and is presumed to have relinquished her family's Catholic sympathies. Her loyalty to Queen Elizabeth is tested when she is sent to be a lady in waiting to, and to spy on, Mary Queen of Scots. Life is further complicated by the fact that her true love, Will, is a Thornleigh who would be horrified to know that Justine's really a Grenville, and by the murder of her best friend, which must be avenged.

I do like the way Kyle weaves real history into a tale of adventure and ambition spanning generations. It's the currently fashionable trope of seeing history through the eyes of a minor character, but given extra dimension by introducing a large cast of characters and making sure their lives aren't easy. There are times at which I find the device isn't entirely successful; we lose sight of the murder mystery at intervals, for example. But on the whole it's an entertaining, lively piece of fiction, a refreshing twist on the Tudor genre.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

3.5 out of 5

With Blood Between Queens, the fifth book in her Tudor-era series centered on the fictional Thornleigh family, Barbara Kyle again shows she is no newcomer to the historical fiction genre. Her grasp on the history, on the characters and historical figures involved and on plotting are top notch and ably showcase a well-developed and thought-out novel. Though it is far from the first in the popular and long-running Thornleigh series, Blood Between Queens works well as a standalone novel;one that readers who have not read the first four can still easily pick up and immerse themselves in. A strong novel, with an invented but intelligent main character, this latest Thornleigh adventure ties in action, pirates, secret love affairs, family feuds, treason and rebellion all neatly into a detailed plot that never really lets up.

Justine Thornleigh, née Grenville, is young, smart, secretive and conflicted young noblewoman with a secret past she fears being revealed. Caught between her adopted family and the father who abandoned her eight years before, her life winds up being a key element in a far more dangerous struggle than the deadly family feud that has entrenched her birth family and her adoptive one since before her birth and later illicit adoption. Between two strong-willed cousins, who both happen to be Queens, Justine finds herself with an expected sympathy for the plight of the thrice married and twice widowed Queen of Scots. At odds with her upbringing and family belief in the rightful rule of Queen Elizabeth, Justine's actions complicate more than just her own life, but the fate of England itself. Deftly handled, the maneuvering and manipulation of Justine from several sides keeps tension high and the outcome, even for those familiar with the history, interesting.

Barbara Kyle is also adept at intermixing fact with fiction, period details with key plot elements. The mixing of fictional and real, both characters and events, adds a fresh element to a story that has been told dozens of times before. Her ability to create a vibrant world, in which her characters operate, provides a well-realized and described version of the Tudor court. It, and these characters, may be well-trod territory, but Kyle keeps it interesting with new developments and some slight twists on the mythos of the Virgin Queen. Under this author's pen, the conflicts of Justine to find the right path, of Elizabeth to do right by her fellow monarch without sacrificing her sovereignty, of Mary to be treated as she wishes, are universally well-written and fresh, despite the familiar ground.

There are several side plotlines that help to propel the novel - there's the missing seafarer Adam Thornleigh, the murder of a friend of Justine's - but the main focus of the novel is on Justine, as she is caught between her past and her future, her Queen and the woman she feels an unanticipated kinship for, her birth father and the man who raised her. A fast, adventure-filled read, with Blood Between Queens, Barbara Kyle will not disappoint longtime fans of her Thornleigh series, and managed to create a new one. The first four are also fairly cheap for ebook, so this is one series I will continue, due to how much I enjoyed the latest offering.

[Lucy Bertoldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is deep, intricate and gripping to the very end. Even the title, I realized, has a much deeper meaning than the rivalry and succession to the thrown that encompassed Mary and Elizabeth…’Blood’ also refers to the tainted- traitor kind that Justine Grenville carried through her veins.

In Protestant England where Elizabeth ruled, Catholics still plotted behind the scenes to bring their true faith back. Timing had it that Mary Queen of Scotts, who was no longer wanted by her people as she was believed to have murdered her husband, escaped to find refuge in her cousin, Queen Elizabeth’s, country.

Catholic nobles then subterfuge a plan to overthrow Elizabeth and bring in Mary; believed to be the rightful heir. Not so fast though- Mary needed to be proven innocent of her crime. Her image though was tarnished by the perception the people had of her: a pregnant harlot who planned the murder of her husband and married the killer shortly after… But Mary must see Elizabeth and speak to her- she knows that Elizabeth, as another God-appointed sovereign, would understand her situation and help restore her title…

Amidst all this is the young Justine Grenville, whose father was the traitor believed to have perished in fire, while battling with the Thornleigh’s, great friends of Queen Elizabeth. Left as an orphan after the devastating fire that burned her family away, she was found and adopted by her family’s enemy, Lord Thornleigh himself. Brought up in love and kindness along with the finest aristocracy, Justine renounced her roots and felt like a Thornleigh herself. But- The fact that she was really a Grenville, was hers and the Thornleigh’s greatest secret. No one else knew of her traitor’s blood.

All could have been fine, except that Justine falls madly in love and is reciprocated by Will Croft, a lawyer in Elizabeth’s court and- Thornleigh’s nephew. What a great match you say? Not really-Will saw his father brutally killed by the Grenvilles and Will has no idea of Justine’s roots.

It gets even better when Justine is brought to Mary as a lady-in-waiting where in fact her true mission was to act as spy for Queen Elizabeth. What actually happens is that Justine is endeared by Mary, and believes that she is not this evil manipulating criminal that England is accusing her of being. Justine plans on avenging Mary. Her plan has her betraying the Thornleighs, Will and ultimately, Queen Elizabeth…treason.

There is so much more to the story that helps build the momentum. For instance, what really happened to Justine’s father- that one, is Justine’s other secret. Also, Justine is investigating the murder of her good friend Alice- oh! the shock of that discovery. But I won’t spoil it for you- this book is FANTASTIC!

Brilliantly written, BLOOD BETWEEN QUEENS is a riveting tale of history, suspense and love. As well, I discovered a different side of both queens and was delightfully surprised to find myself holding another possible perception of either. And by weaving Justine’s family feud into this real slice of history, Barbara Kyle has helped recreate a time that will be forever highlighted in my mind.

BLOOD BETWEEN QUEENS contains everything I dream of reading in a great historical novel. I absolutely ADORED this book.

To read more about this book, Barbara Kyle and to enter Giveaways, please visit:
HISTORICAL FICTION VIRTUAL BOOK TOURS

[One Book At A Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had a habit lately of agreeing to historical fiction that is part of a series. Series that I haven't read any of the previous books. In this case it was a positive experience. Not once did I feel lost because I hadn't read the previous books. And now, I would like to go back and read them.
I think Justine might be my favorite character in this book. She's just the right mixture of naive, loving, and adventurous to spark my curiosity. She blindly believes the good in people almost to a fault. Odd considering she's the daughter of a known traitor. I really expected her to be much more cautious. But, she's a young girl in love and I think that skews her judgement a little bit. Everybody around her manages to manipulate her to justify their own means.

I really enjoyed the chains of events. There's a lot of fact woven in with fiction to the point that the entire story seems plausible. Plus, the interactions between Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary greatly intrigue me. It's amazing to me that its seems Queen Mary never stopped at conspiring to overthrow and even kill her cousin. Yet, Queen Elizabeth was so hesitant to harm her in any way. Queen Mary was very good in this book at casting blame anywhere else but herself.

There are a few instance that I really wanted to say "yeah right," but the story would not have worked without those events. So, I let them go at face value. Overall I really just enjoyed the story. I would like to go back and read the previous books in this series.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Between Queens by Barbara Kyle
As the fifth book of the Thornleigh Series written by Barbara Kyle, I looked forward to reading this book. I have enjoyed the other 4 and I loved the warmth of the characters coming alive again in this book. I was not disappointed. Justine Thornleigh had been taken in by Lord and Lady Thornleigh. Her story comes alive in this book. Her story comes into contact with Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots during a very important time in English history. I believe that the author has brought to “life” the character of Justine and woven her in very well into the story.

As I read this book, I found I could not put it down. Characters from previous books gave me a comforting feeling, as you knew a bit about them. They gave the storyline depth. Honor (Lady Thornleigh) Richard (Lord Thornleigh), Adam Thornleigh, Frances Grenville, and others were most welcome in this book.

One of my favourite TV shows always keeps me on the edge of my seat, sometimes with only minutes left in the show…………I have not figured out “who did it??” Blood Between Queens was so like that. I could not figure out what the final outcome would be for this book. I loved that. I didn’t want to know what the ending would be………………till I got there.

Barbara Kyle has written a great series…of which Blood Between Queens is a part. I recommend that you check out these books. I know I look forward to the next one.

I give this book 5*

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written and researched book. I have purchased the 4 book in the series that lead up to this one. It is a multigenerational series about the Thornleigh family and the Grenvilles,their enemies in the battleground that is England under religious upheaval during the reign of Henry VIII and beyond. Blood Between Queen is about the duel of minds between Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots. Justine has been placed in Mary's household about the time of the appearance of the Casket Letters. She has been raised by the Thornleighs but was born a Grenville . She is in love with Will Croft,secretary to Lord Thornleigh. Will does not know the origin of her birth. She is afraid to tell him since a Grenville killed his father.
Justine is loyal to Elizabeth but she is sympathetic to Mary's accounts of events. Enter her father who she believes is dead.She loved him as alittle girl but he left her abruptly to flee after a plot fails.
The Grenvilles are Catholic so her father when he returns is still plotting to kill Elizabeth and make Mary Queen.Justine unwittingly becomes their pawn while believing he has gained Mary's confidence because of her fluency in French and memories of worship as a child.
I enjoyed the book very much and now that I have the 4 previous books that chronicle the story of the 2 families,I will have to read the before the next chapter comes out.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Blood Between Queens" isn't just a book about royalty - it's a story of two feuding queen cousins, yes - but it's also a romance about two young people at court and it's a mystery of revenge and suspense. Author Barbara Kyle does a magnificent job of keeping the storyline moving along quickly and keeping the suspense lively.

This is the fifth book in Kyle's "Thornleigh" series, and it does help to have read the previous stories to know some of the background of the secondary cast of characters, but this story can easily stand on it's own as well.

Fans of historical fiction, particularly about the Tudor women, will really enjoy this novel.

[Angelina Wickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up Blood Between Queens I was excited because I love Barbara Kyle and have since the Queen's Lady and I was not disappointed! As usual Mrs. Kyle brings to life the past with exploding color and vibrancy that left me unable to put the book down(and quite upset when I had to). I loved it and fell even more in love with Adam Thornleigh than I had in the previous books. Besides the Queen's Captive, Blood Between Queens is my second favorite.

Drop what you are reading and pick it up! you won't regret it!

[Romina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in: http://rominasbkreviews.blogspot.com/

Book Source: NetGalley and Kensington Books

I’ve been a lover of historical fiction for years, especially Victorian, but I’ve gotta admit that it was Philippa Gregory who started me on my Tudor binge, at least book-wise, films have always been on the agenda. Anyway, it all began with The Other Boleyn Girl (didn't it for everyone?), continued with dozens of books about the Tudors, more recently with the Plantagenets, and I have even started to expand towards Spanish and German royalty, as they are all truly related anyway.
Recently though, I came across this brand new novel, Blood Between Queens about Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots, which automatically drew my attention to the soap opera-like lives of the Tudors.

Synopsis
The books starts with a whole bunch of characters who come in and out of the scene, apparently some castle, and all are somehow politically related to Queen Elizabeth. The author quickly shifts from one point of view to another, so at first it was difficult to figure out who the protagonist was, until it finally become obvious in the third chapter or so.
Justine Thornleigh is an adopted daughter of the Thornleigh family, who had rescued her from certain indigence when her father was named traitor and then passed away in a fire. However, Justine has always felt comfortable as part of the family, to the point of even falling in love with the Thornleigh's nephew, against their better judgment.
In the meantime, the drama between Queens Elizabeth and Mary is escalating as Mary has just run to England seeking asylum, her husband was mysteriously killed and most people believe she was responsible, with the help of her lover turned new husband (third one). Thus, Elizabeth is in a position in which she doesn't know what to do to believe if her cousin is innocent or not, so she decides to send a spy, and in comes Justine. For those unfamiliar with Mary Stuart, although she was Scottish, she was raised in France to be the king's wife, which she was for a short period of time. Justine, coincidentally, is half French on her father's side, so it was believed that she would be the perfect lady in waiting to gain Mary's trust and to spy on her.
Justine is deeply loyal to Elizabeth, but when she starts to get to know Mary, she starts to sympathize with her as well, hence her dilemma.

Review
When I started reading this book I didn't know that it was part of a series until some events were referenced, which became a bit annoying, but in general it was a standalone book. Anyway, down to the review.
One of the weakest aspects in the book is the title itself; one is led to believe that this is solely about the queens, however they are secondary characters, which is fine, but maybe the title should have been a different one.
Like I already mentioned, all these characters popped up in the beginning and since I didn't read the other books in the series, I didn't understand who they were or their personal connections-not to mention that the point of view kept changing. Once I got it all sorted out though, it got easier to follow.
The real protagonist, Justine, was a bit hard to warm to. She was just so idiotic: lying to her fiance, believing in Mary, actually thinking to meddle into highly classified political matters, (SPOILER ALERT!) believing her criminal father and getting her father of the heart killed by him! Yikes! I understand she was supposed to be portrayed as a highly intelligent woman who wanted to do the right thing, but she just came off as extremely selfish, manipulative, and annoying.
The fiance, Will, was a complete self-righteous jerk who put his work ahead of his supposed love and never even tried to understand Justine's major mistake. Towards the end, he redeemed himself, but really, if I were Justine I wouldn't have forgiven him so easily, he should have been made to grovel some more.
As for the queens themselves, Mary was portrayed as also being totally manipulative, which is probably historically accurate, but I actually wanted to know how the author would resolve the allegations against her about killing her husband, but they never were. As for Elizabeth, she wasn't in the history line as much, although her encounters were Adam certainly made her out as two-faced. However, what I can say is that she certainly seemed to be quite naive, or at least her royal guards, to permit her into a home without fully checking it and the grounds!
There was also another subplot concerning the above mentioned Adam (another Thornleigh), but he was just so focused on lusting after Elizabeth that he kinda ignored his kids, and totally ignored his wife (there was something that happened in their past, in the other books, but no idea what), that he also came off as egotistical. In fact, none of the characters in the novel was particularly likable, maybe because the times called to be cold-blooded to survive, but I just think the author wanted to make them be well-rounded characters, but she just focused more on their dark sides.
All in all, it was OK. Way too much drama, rescues, intrigues, and blackguards, but historically it was pretty much accurate (except for the liberties the author admitted she took, which were fine). I don't think I'll read it again, but I'm glad I did.

Final verdict: 3 stars

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrigue, love. Treachery, betrayal.

This story had all the things I love about historical fiction. While I found Justine at times to be naive and stupid, she was also brave and strong, and made a fitting heroine.

I enjoyed the book enough that I intend to read the others in the series. I didn't realize it was part of a series before starting, and only knew after based on the Goodreads info. It makes a fine standalone book, but I want more of the families and characters.

[Marina Luck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best book of this series since the first one. My previous complaints of her characters continually surviving everything are now satisfied with the death of a main character. I also enjoyed the historical fiction part of this book, I've never really dived into Queen Elizabeth's life so this was a welcome change for me.

[Rhiannon Beatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best historical fiction series I have ever read, author has an uncanny ability to write a page turning book that intertwines both facts and fiction to create a romantic, dramatic and murderous interpretation on England in the 1500s.

[Debra Craw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this historical fiction! I think I enjoyed it because I love the tv show “reign” so much so I was already familiar with the back stories of queen mary of Scots and queen Elizabeth and their feud. Great story!

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why these people so gullible and disloyal

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Between Queens by Barbara Kyle is historical fiction at it’s best! Barbara Kyle expertly weaves fact with fiction in this superbly told story. To be honest I can’t believe I haven’t read any of her work before as I do have a few of her novels on my Kindle and now have all of them and will certainly be anxious to get to them. She is a fantastic storyteller and I can attest to that because I read Blood Between Queens in a day and you know it’s a good story when over 400 pages flies by without you realizing it. Of course it doesn’t hurt that she writes about the Tudor era which is my favorite. Blood Between Queens centers around the factual story of Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots and the well known rivalry between the two of them. Add to this a fictional story that involves court intrigue, adventure, romance, and a fictional heroine that you won’t soon forget and you have a recipe for success!

Justine Thornleigh was taken in by the Thornleighs when she was just a girl and her family had perished along with her father who was labelled a traitor. She has grown up loved and privileged and the Thornleighs have kept the secret of who she truly is which is a Grenville. Having Queen Elizabeth visit her family’s estate is a true honor for her family but the party is cut short when word comes that Mary, Queen of Scots has shown up in England wanting her cousin Elizabeth’s protection. Nobody is more surprised than Justine when she learns that she has been chosen to be one of Mary’s ladies-in-waiting but that her real mission will be to spy on the activities of Mary and her court and report back to Elizabeth’s court. Justine is torn between feeling honored by this request and wanting to stay home and spend time with her love Will. Of course, duty to ones sovereign wins and she sets out to meet Mary and begin her mission as a spy.

Upon meeting Mary and getting to know her Justine begins to wonder if Mary hasn’t been wronged; if maybe the stories about her are exaggerated. As she learns more about the inquiry being held to determine Mary’s innocence or guilt Justine can’t help but be angered by the clear lack of justice she sees. When Justine takes steps to prompt Mary in a direction she thinks would be best for everyone involved she jeopardizes her relationship with the only man she loves and absolutely nothing can prepare her for the surprise of someone who appears from her past and changes everything she ever thought was right. Justine has been brought up to know that her duty lies with Queen Elizabeth and she will risk her own life to protect her if need be. As Mary plots to get rid of Elizabeth things begin to spiral out of control and nobody is safe.

There is no way to encompass the scope of this novel in a review. It is most definitely one you need to experience for yourself. Justine was a great fictional character as is the fictional storyline of the Thornleighs and Grenvilles. I didn’t realize until after I had read this book that it is fifth in the series but I can attest to it standing on its own quite well although now I really want to read the others to get more background. Without a doubt though my favorite parts of this story are the ones that address the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary and I was pleased to learn a few tidbits that I hadn’t gotten previously from other books especially on Mary who I haven’t read as much about. It is novels like Blood Between Queens that make history a lot of fun and very much accessible to anyone. I’m sure by now it’s obvious I really enjoyed Blood Between Queens and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to those who like historical fiction and to those who are curious if you would enjoy it this is the type of book to read. It’s easy to follow, has a great story and you get to learn something in the process! Needless to say I have another new author to follow!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first got the tour invite for this book I was so excited. I've been meaning to read the Thornleigh series by Barbara Kyle for a few years now and I had told myself that I would read the whole series in preparation for this tour unfortunately other books got in the way so I've only read Blood Between Queens and now I have to peddle backwards and read the preceding books to this one.

All that being said, I really, really loved Blood Between Queens and for me I thought it read perfectly well as a standalone but it piqued my curiosity to the point that I now have the rest of the series on hold at my local library.

Barbara Kyle wrote a fantastic novel set in the Tudor era which is still something of a mystery to me. I've read some books set in this time period but never have I read a book quite like this one and that was part of what endeared the book to me because I love coming across something new and different to curl up on the couch with and be immersed in the pages and escape reality for a few hours and that is exactly what I did with this one.

As a first time reader of Barbara Kyle I went in a little hesitantly, which I always do when encountering a new author but as soon as I started reading the book I really was swept away to the Tudor era and into the story of love, betrayal, conspiracy and intrigue. The way she was able to bring together so many elements and weave them into a rich historical back drop with a wonderful cast of characters.

I loved how well developed all the characters are in this novel. The way the author was able to use real historical figures and mix in the fiction Thornleigh family of which Justine is a member of as well as the other side characters in the book as well. They were all dealing with personal issues and I loved how many of them were battling their personal demons as well as some demons that are disguised as friends.

The plot line was very well written and extremely fast paced. I was sort of expecting the novel to have a lull around the mid-point but she just kept the flow up and I liked that it was able to keep my attention for so long. The drama, romance and the betrayal were the best parts of the book for me and Justine was a great character to have as a lead in this book.

Overall, Blood Between Queens has definitely got me hooked on Barbara Kyle's writing style and I'm so excited to read the other books in this series sometime before the year is through. I hope that she continues writing this series because I think the way she brings the historical elements to life is wonderful.

I would highly recommend Blood Between Queens to fans of historical fiction with lots of action, drama, betrayal and romance with fast paced writing and intriguing and mysterious characters.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

[Elizabeth Moreau Nicolai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review here: http://bornlibrarian.blogspot.com/201...

Bottom Line: An enjoyable but not extraordinary Tudor-era novel focusing primarily on family dynamics and romantic intrigues. It would be a good summer read, choice for fans of the previous books, or for that person who has read EVERYTHING on the Tudors. Should be picked up by libraries who have the others in the series or for a browsing paperback collection.

I downloaded a ebook review copy of this without realizing it was part of a series.While I was frustrated at the hints of backstory that were never fully explained, it did work as a standalone book.

Blood Between Queens is the story of Justine, a young ward of an Elizabethan courtier and how she becomes entangled in the messy relations between Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin/rival/heir Queen Mary of Scots.

Justine has been raised by a rival family from her own (think Hatfields and McCoys but in Elizabethan England) after her father's treason ruined her family. She alone knows he is not dead, but rather fled the country. But even she is surprised when he returns to the country and tries to enlist her help to overthrow Elizabeth and put Mary on the throne.

Beyond the political intrigues, Justine is torn between sympathy to her father and childhood Catholicism and love of the family that raised her, a nephew of whom she is betrothed to. Tough choices especially when she is sent to captive Mary's side as a companion and undercover agent for Elizabeth.

The Tudor time is a familiar ground for novelists and this is a good addition to that collection. (Confession I've read much of that era and I'm not sure how I missed this series before.) It is full of historical details and the setting was richly portrayed. In fact at least once I read a detailed description of Elizabethan life (streets, houses, sounds, people, etc) with a feeling of deja vu for having read a similar scene a chapter or so before.

It is engaging as a standalone and it will be a welcome next chapter to those who are enjoying the family's previous epistles. However it might not be the first book I recommend to someone looking for a Tudor-era novel.

My primary complaint is that it was fairly predictable. Never once was I particularly surprised by a character's motivation or actions or any plot development. That said, I did enjoy the book and it had just enough of a plot to keep turning the pages primarily enjoying the characters and the settings.

[Mel (Daily Prophecy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Review coming soon.

Also on: http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.nl/2....

Most Tudors books are a success for me, but this one lacked of something. I missed the spark and I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. This could be my own fault, because I didn’t know this was the 5th part in a series when I requested it on Netgalley. I decided to read it anyway and it’s definitely a stand-alone, but it might be the reason for my disconnection. This resulted in the fact that I wasn’t sucked into the story. I was aware of the fact that I was reading a story, instead of being part of it.

It was also far too long for my taste. It would have been much better with 100 pages less. There are a couple of characters and the story is split between their lives. The most important character is Justine, who is the daughter of a dead traitor. She grew up with the Thornleigh family as one of them. When she and Will fall in love, she is afraid to tell him the truth: Will hates her true family with a fierce passion. Justine is used as a spy when Mary (Queen of Scotland) flees to England to find help. Justine, naive as she is, starts to trust her. She doesn’t know that Mary conspires with Justine’s father to overthrow Elizabeth.

I wasn't only disconnected from the characters, some of they annoyed me incredibly. Justine *face palm* She believes everyone without thinking. I wish she had more brains instead of blind faith in the goodness of people. Then there is Will, who loves her but doesn't want to marry her because of her name: he has a blind hate for her family. I see why, but this girl is nothing like her father and she grew up in a different family. She is a Thornleigh, no matter where she came from. It's just strange that people are so easy with their love.

This story is stretched over 400 pages and the writing-style was just okay. The plot was good, but the story wasn't interesting enough to capture my attention. I kept waiting for the climax and that is never a good sign. Overall, just a ‘meh’ story. There isn't much I can say about it.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth of the "Thornleigh" novels from Ms. Kyle and my second. I read The Queen's Gamble when it came out and enjoyed it. This series of books takes historical figures, adds in the fictional Thornleigh family - and others - and seamlessly weaves a story that very well could have happened. A big bonus - you do not have to have read any of the preceding books to understand what is going on! They build upon each other but are not dependent upon each other for full enjoyment of the story.

This installment has three interlocking plots; Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scotts make up the main storyline. As the novel opens Mary has just escaped over the border and is looking for help from her cousin. One of the Thornleighs, young Justine is placed in Mary's household as a spy. But Justine is of traitorous stock; her father was killed years ago fighting against Elizabeth but the Thornleighs took her in and reared her as their own. She has fallen in love with a man whose own father was killed by one of her relatives and he doesn't know her true identity and proving her loyalty can show him where her heart is. The third storyline involves Adam Thornleigh, as he battles back from a horrible shipboard defeat by the Spanish. He loves Elizabeth as his queen and as a woman.

Ms. Kyle manages to make her fictional characters move in and out of history as if they belonged. I was pulled into the story from the very first page. I must admit that I liked the subplot with Justine more than with Adam - I found her to be a more likable character. Adam just rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. He did redeem himself a bit towards the end but I'm not giving any plot points away. The different families and stories are kept separate but I never felt as if the book were disjointed. The Thornleigh family is big and different members get a focus in each book in the series and then play minor roles in the other books. I suppose that is why they can stand alone so well. The plot was very well developed and kept me turning the pages until the end. It left me wanting more....which is exactly what you want from a book series like this!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was somewhat late boarding the Thornleigh wagon, but as they say better late then never. Reading this series has made Barbara Kyle a favorite of mine.

Though the Thornleigh's are fictional characters the events taking place are drawn from history. Queen Elizabeth is on the throne and is dealing with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots.

The is the 5th book in the series, it does work as a stand along, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning with The Queens Lady. The first 4 books I listened to the audio version, which was read by the author herself. For Blood Between Queens I decided to read the book, it was funny because I still could hear the authors voice in my head.

It didn't take me long to read this one, I was drawn into the story right away. I liked Justine (who is the adopted daughter of Richard and Honor Thornleigh) right from the start. Because of her past there was the makings of a great story which this was. Sent to befriend Mary on orders from Queen Elizabeth Justine encounters ghosts from her past that causes her to struggle with who she really is. There is depth to her character as she makes decisions that affected those around her. The events which took place in previous books are explained here making sure the reader got the whole picture of the history between the Grenvilles and the Thornleighs as well as the repercussions which take place here.

Filled with mystery, romance, loyalty, forgiveness and suspense this latest installment I think might just be my favorite. This story flowed smoothly right to the highly emotional ending. Each book in this series is roughly 400 pages long, so there is time to get to know the characters and the history of Tudor England. If you haven't started this series don't be shy, especially if you are a fan of this time period, you won't be disappointed.

[Colleen Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed this book for www.luxuryreading.com.

Blood Between Queens is my first journey into the Thornleigh saga and let me tell you, there is a lot to love! Barbara Kyle does an exceptional job of bringing a reader new to the series up to speed on what has happened in the previous books. While this makes it easy to read Blood Between Queens as a stand-alone novel, there is so much emotion and drama that has obviously occurred in the previous books that I wish I had read the series from the beginning and I plan on going back and doing so. There is a lot of information packed into this story and while the conflict between Queens Elizabeth and Mary are the historical center the Thornleigh/Grenville family feud is definitely the main story line. Secrets, deception and hatred abound but I enjoyed how a ray of hope was let in to pierce this vicious feud while keeping some conflict to continue into future books in the series (fingers crossed). And good luck being able to put the book down once the real action starts towards the end of the book. All I can say is wow!

Dealing with a number of conflicts – Thornleigh vs. Grenville, Queen Elizabeth vs. Queen Mary, Catholic vs. Protestant, England vs. Spain and more – Blood Between Queens is a rich, absorbing historical adventure that does a superb job of melding true history with fictional characters that are even better than the real ones they interact with. This is a must read for anyone who has read the previous books in the series and an enjoying journey for any lover of English historical fiction or exciting family dramas.

[drey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justine Thornleigh is young and pretty, and has only a few things she’s currently focused on. The first is the Queen’s visit, which I imagine would be awe-inspiring, especially when it’s Queen Elizabeth. The second? Why, a boy, of course… And so we begin Barbara Kyle’s Blood Between Queens.

The Queen’s visit is as fabulous as Justine expects, even when it’s interrupted by the news that Elizabeth’s cousin Mary has crossed into England to escape her Scottish enemies. Next thing she knows, Justine’s sent to Queen Mary as a lady-in-waiting, to keep an eye on this Catholic Queen who may foment rebellion in Elizabeth’s realm.

There’s romance and a secret betrothal. Murder and assorted skullduggery. Family feuds and hidden identities. Monarchs impatient with their wants and needs and plots and plans. Jealousy and envy and hatred. Phew. I’m not sure how Barbara Kyle keeps it all straight!

I really enjoyed reading Blood Between Queens, and its portrayal of the tension between Mary and Elizabeth. And while I know this is Justine’s story and not Mary’s nor Elizabeth’s, I wanted more of the Queens – their thoughts, emotions, and actions – than I found between the pages. Not that I’m complaining, as Blood Between Queens will satisfy any historical fiction fan with its detail and breadth!

drey’s rating: Excellent!

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had it all, love, mystery, betrayal, and hidden revelations…..I thoroughly enjoyed it! I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series when I decided to review it, but it was so well written that it almost didn’t matter.

Of course there were a few moments that I felt like I was missing something. I was frustrated that often characters eluded to a back story that I felt like I was missing out on that element. …but over all I didn’t think it distracted TOO much from the story. That said I would have liked to have read the other books first.

The biggest issue I had with the book was that it was predictable to some degree. There was a layer of mystery but for me it was a little too transparent which left me feeling like the novel was more of a fun, ‘fluffy’ novel rather than a “meaty”, complex novel.

I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing; I just expected a little more depth I guess. I felt like I knew what the characters were going to do when placed in certain situations but it still made for an enjoyable read.

All of these things made me enjoy the novel, I do recommend reading the series in sequence but if you are picking this up as a standalone you won’t be disappointed. It’s a fast paced novel and a pleasant read!

See my full review here

[Michelle Stockard Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first foray into the Thornleigh series by Barbara Kyle and I have to say, I was not disappointed. In fact, it was a wonderful historical novel. Easily read as a stand alone novel. Truth be told, I didn't even know it was part of a series until I read someone else's review.

I have long been fascinated with the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (one of my most favorite historical figures) and her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. 'What would it have been like to order the execution of a blood relative?' is a question I have long asked myself as I have read about Elizabeth over the years. In Blood Between Queens, the situation between the two queens is the back drop to a story about a feud between families loyal to each faction respectfully, the Thornleighs and the Grenvilles. I liked the depiction of the famous rivalry between queens played out between these noble families.

What struck me is that Kyle knows her history. It is evident that the research was impeccable in the depiction of the historical figures and occurrences, as well in the sights and sounds of that age. I now must go back and read her other books. I can't believe I have not discovered her until now.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justine Grenville, the ward of Richard Thornleigh, is tasked with a very important mission on behalf of Elizabeth I. She must befriend Elizabeth’s cousin Mary, Queen of Scots and report back any suspicious behavior. To do this will win her great favor with her betrothed, Will Thornleigh. She must prove that she is a loyal Protestant and deny her Catholic upbringing. After someone from her past makes an appearance, her faith is put to the test.

Though the characters are engaging, the plot line was a bit predictable. It did however have everything that I love about a good Tudor novel, schemes and betrayal. Each page brought the reader further into the intrigue but also at times got a bit complicated with the abundance of characters that come in and out and obviously have a back story but this being the fifth novel the reader is unaware exactly what it is.

Even with the few downsides to Blood Between Queens, I would still recommend this to all Tudor era readers. The blend of historical facts and Barbara Kyle’s imagination flows seamlessly and at times you can picture yourself standing in the halls alongside Elizabeth I.

[Karena · Rating 3 out of 5]

In her fifth installment of the Thornleigh series, Blood Between Queens, Barbara Kyle is once again in Queen Elizabeth's court. This time her focus is on Justine Thornleigh, ward of Richard and Honor from the first book in the series, The Queen's Lady.

Mary, Queen of Scots has fled her kingdom hoping for asylum under her cousin Elizabeth. What she receives, however, is house arrest, with Justine as her lady's maid. Unbeknownst to Mary, Justine has been put in the position as spy to Elizabeth. In addition, unbeknownst to Justine, Mary is in cahoots with Justine's father, who is believed to be dead and is a traitor to the English crown, a relationship also hidden from Justine's fiancé, Will. Justine is constantly in limbo between her loyalty to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, her fiancé and foster family, and her father.


Read the rest of my review here: http://cwatc-bookclub.blogspot.com/20...

[Andrea Wall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I do really like Kyle's books and I think she is one of the best in historical fiction writers purely because you can tell she does her research and does a great job of mixing her fact and fiction to just the right consistency.
However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous ones because basically all the historical fiction I've read takes place during Elizabeth's reign and also involves Mary. While I find their story interesting, for me it has become over done. I would really like it is Kyle did a book in some era that hasn't been written to death (aka let's leave the Tudors and explore something else)
I also wasn't a huge fan of Justine and her naivety and her and Will's relationship didn't hold up at all to the relationships in Kyle's last books. While I always got super into Richard/Honor and Carlos/Isabelle, I was hardly even interested in Will/Justine.
Still a good vacation read and an excellent historical fiction novel.