The Lost Duchess

by Jenny Barden

An epic Elizabethan adventure with a thriller pace and a high tension love story that moves from the palaces of England to the savage wilderness of the New World.

Emme Fifield has fallen about as far as a gentlewoman can.

Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America where nobody has ever heard of the Duchess of Somerset.

Emme joins Kit Doonan's rag-tag band of idealists, desperados and misfits bound for Virginia. But such a voyage will be far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to the mysterious Doonan inconvenient to say the least.

As for Kit, the handsome mariner has spent years imprisoned by the Spanish, and living as an outlaw with a band of escaped slaves; he has his own inner demons to confront, and his own dark secrets to keep...

Ever since Sir Walter Raleigh's settlement in Virginia was abandoned in 1587 its fate has remained a mystery; 'The Lost Duchess' explores what might have happened to the ill-starred 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, 16th Century, Adult, Ebooks, British Literature

448 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2013

About the author

I've had a love of history and adventure ever since an encounter in infancy with a suit of armour at Tamworth Castle. Training as an artist, followed by a career as a city solicitor, did little to help displace my early dream of becoming a knight. A fascination with the Age of Discovery led to travels in South and Central America, and much of the inspiration for my debut came from retracing the footsteps of Francis Drake in Panama. The sequel centres on the first Elizabethan 'lost colony' of early Virginia. I am currently working on an epic adventure during the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada.

My work has appeared in short story collections and anthologies and I've written for non-fiction publications including the Historical Novels Review. I am active in many organisations, having run the 'Get Writing' conferences for several years, and undertaken the co-ordination of the Historical Novel Society’s London Conference 2012. I am a member of that organisation as well as the Historical Writers' Association, the Romantic Nevelists' Association and the Society of Authors. I'll be co-ordinating the RNA's annual conference in 2014.

I have four children and now live on a farm in Dorset with my long suffering husband and an ever increasing assortment of animals.

I love travelling, art, reading and scrambling up hills and mountains (though I'm not so keen on coming down!).

Reviews

[Jenny Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

International Giveaway @Let Them Read Books!

3.5 Stars. I absolutely love reading about early America (having grown up a hop, skip, and a jump from Jamestown, England's first permanent settlement in the New World), and Jenny Barden is an author I've been wanting to read, so I jumped at the chance to read her second novel, The Lost Duchess, which is a stand-alone follow-up to her first novel, Mistress of the Sea. The Lost Duchess tells the story of Emme Fifield, daughter of a baron, dutiful lady-in-waiting to a demanding Queen Elizabeth. Her world is turned upside down when she is compromised by a treasonous lord, but her future brightens when Sir Francis Drake returns to court with tales of the New World and a handsome mariner in tow, Kit Doonan, both of which ignite Emme's curiosity and desire for adventure. As the queen's favorite, Sir Walter Raleigh, pleads his case for a return to the new land of Virginia, named in the queen's honor, Emme finds herself swept up in the plans, a pawn for spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, who is keen to help England outwit Spain's plans for the New World. Traveling under an assumed identity with strict instructions of what to look for and what to report back to Walsingham, Emme sets out with Kit and a group of hearty souls prepared to make a new life in the New World, with no intention of ever actually going back to England.

But the journey is a perilous one, fraught with mishaps and misfortune, and though Emme's courage never wavers, her plans for a new future free of court obligations does. But with Kit's assured guidance, and a few new friends, she determines to prove her worth to the new colony, and to Kit himself, as the bond between them grows stronger and sweeter. But they are both hiding secrets, secrets that could have devastating consequences for their fledgling relationship, just as the hidden dangers and outright hostility from the original inhabitants of the New World could have devastating consequences for the success of the colony. As the struggle to subsist becomes a struggle to survive, Emme and Kit will have to decide what is worth fighting for . . . and what is worth letting go.

I'm torn in my rating of The Lost Duchess. I really wanted to love it more. At the halfway mark of the book, I was loving it, and I felt sure we were headed for four or five-star territory. But then, just as our heroine and her hero arrived in the New World, where things really should have started to get exciting, the story seemed to get bogged down in details and slow-moving narrative. I had been willing to overlook the fact that the "scandal" that caused Emme to flee had not been set up and expanded enough to make it totally plausible for such a drastic course of action because I was intrigued by Kit and the spark between he and Emme, and I wanted her to follow her courageous heart, but I found their love story to be rather superficial and even sappy at times, and I grew tired of Emme pining for the day Kit would ask her to marry him, especially when she was surrounded by so many more pressing problems.

The climactic scenes, which depict a very believable account of what could have happened to the lost colonists of Roanoke, were very well done, but ultimately, the ending did not sit well with me. It was probably pretty realistic, but since these were fictional characters in a fictional scenario, it could have been a little more upbeat and satisfying. And on a final note, which I'm not holding against the book but which did make me stop and wonder, I found the title and back cover copy to be misleading and rather confusing after having read the book and not making much of a connection.

But while I have mixed feelings on the story itself, there's no question Ms. Barden can write. Her meticulous historical research shines, as does her descriptive capability. Her depiction of life aboard a sixteenth-century ship and of a New World filled with beauty and wonder, yet full of peril and uncertainty, is masterful. I think The Lost Duchess is well worth a read just to get a sense of what it must have been like for those first tough, brave souls who ventured into the complete unknown, attempting to carve out a new life and a new England with no idea of what awaited them. As Ms. Barden continues to write and hone her craft, she could become an author to watch in the world of historical fiction.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my almost five years of reviewing and recommending to friends, family and readers, there have been a few times, and only a few, when I have been completely and totally blown away by a book that I've read. This usually happens when there is a happy confluence of subject matter, writing prowess, research skill and character development, wrapped up in a believable, action filled story. If you haven't already guessed, The Lost Duchess, by Jenny Barden, is one of those books.

This second effort by Ms. Barden begins with the story of Emme Fifield, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I, who yearns to throw off the mantle of Court and live a normal life; one where marriage and children are a possibility without the Queen's interference. When her trust and naivety is brutally savaged by the erstwhile heir to the Duke of Somerset, she sees her only opportunity to forge a new life lies in joining an expedition to the Chesapeake, in the New World. She convinces the Palace to allow her to go, with the understanding that she will return with a full report on the new Colony's progress.

Christopher Doonan is an experienced mariner with a colorful and painful past. Taken by the Spanish and held in Mexico as a young man, he is sold into slavery. Rescued by Cimaroons, he becomes the leader of a pack of outlaws in Panama. When word comes to him of an English ship, he is reunited with his brother, a member of the crew, and makes his way back to England, a changed man. Drawn to the sea, he returns to the New World with Sir Francis Drake, where he acquires a page named Rob, who becomes his constant companion. "Kit" is once again set to return to the New World, as boatswain on a ship scheduled to leave England, but this time he will choose to remain as a permanent settler, for reasons he cannot yet divulge.

Kit and Emme meet at one of the Queen's audiences to fete the accomplishments of Sir Francis, and to discuss the recent and future expedition. Kit is entranced by Emme, but while Emme certainly notices him, she is intent on the seed of the plan that has already taken root in her mind.

Those familiar with American history and the nascent English settlement of the Colonies in the late 1500's know the story of the Lost Colony at Roanoke, whose original destination was actually the Chesapeake Bay area. There is no record of what happened to the 116 men, women and children who established that colony in 1587. However, Ms. Barden has an incredible knack for weaving fiction with fact. The story of the settlement is told through her characters, and the ending is one plausible explanation for what happened. She's done her research and it most definitely shows.

Descriptive passages are everywhere. Ms. Barden makes it very easy to imagine Emme's life at Court, the ocean voyage, the sights and sounds of the New World and the settlement itself.

The love story between Kit and Emme serves a dual purpose. The connection between them is sweet and beautifully written, and serves as a way to possibly define this novel as a historical romance. However, most historical romances highlight the characters' relationship, with the setting and time period secondary and as a means to an end. In fact, the setting of these novels are virtually interchangeable as long as the protagonists are together on the last page. Ms. Barden, conversely, uses her characters to highlight the setting and makes that the focal point of the story. What happens to them and where it happens is as important as who they are to each other. This is what makes this novel so very good.

The last few chapters are suspenseful, dramatic, and satisfying in their resolution. It's at this point that the pages practically turned by themselves. Revelations come fast and furious; love and life are affirmed between father and son, friends, and lovers. I did not want it to end.

The Lost Duchess, by Jenny Barden is highly recommended, and one of the best books I've read this year.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny Barden’s second book, a stand-alone sequel to her Mistress of the Sea, moves smoothly from Old World court etiquette to New World exploits. There are comparatively few novels that imagine the Elizabethan Golden Age from the perspective of its explorers, and even fewer about the lost Roanoke colonists, so The Lost Duchess gets a warm welcome for those reasons alone.

Its heroine is an appealingly spirited young woman with a strong heart for adventure, and other highlights include the many beautiful descriptions of Virginia, a land of glorious, unspoiled wilderness and life-threatening perils.

For lady-in-waiting Emme Fifield, a baron’s daughter, joining the expedition to form the first permanent English colony in America solves many problems. She’ll avoid the damaging repercussions of a scandal not of her making while escaping her rigid life in London and satisfying her yearning for freedom.

Emme promises to come home on the Lion’s return voyage and provide intelligence on the expedition to Queen Elizabeth and Francis Walsingham. To keep her plans secret, she’s advised to take a new name and travel as the maidservant of Eleanor Dare, daughter of colony governor John White. However, she has every intention of remaining in Virginia. Meanwhile, complicating her life is her growing attraction to master boatswain Kit Doonan, who has a complicated past of his own – and personal reasons for wanting to sail to Roanoke.

Readers get to experience every aspect of Emme and Kit’s journey alongside them: the dangerous lurches of the ship during storms at sea, the pride of the “planters” in their newly constructed City of Raleigh, and the pair’s tender romance, a selfless love that serves to make them both stronger. The colonists’ relations with the Indians are presented with complexity, from the Secotans’ hostility to English incursion – which, it has to be said, isn’t unjustified – to the heroic efforts of Manteo, the settlers’ Croatan ally, to preserve the peace. Emme comes to play a greater role in the colony’s planning than one would expect of an unmarried female servant, but many of its leaders either know or suspect that she’s more than she seems.

Mysteries surrounding the colony’s past, present, and future create an underlying sense of unease that heightens as the answers come to light. What tragedies befell the previous Roanoke settlement, and why? What reasons lie behind pilot Simon Ferdinando’s navigational choices? And since readers will know the new colony is doomed, how will Emme and Kit’s story end?

The language has an authentic period flavor without feeling fusty, and The Lost Duchess movingly expresses the sense of exhilaration and amazement felt by Emme at the natural beauty of Roanoke Island: “How to marvel at wonders without name? She could only relish through her senses like a child before mastering language: enjoying the sight of a bird like a flame in the trees, a vivid flash of vermilion; see gourds like luscious melons, and flowers taller than she was with heads of radiant suns…”

Moreover, it also captures the distress she and Kit feel at the wrenching decisions they and the others are forced to make, and at the realization that there’s an unavoidable price to be paid for their daring venture. It’s a well-rounded portrait in that respect, and Emme and Kit, both of whom are fictional characters, fit comfortably into known events. They both make for good companions on this exciting journey to the New World.

First reviewed at Reading the Past.

[Thea Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you only gave the book a cursory look you could be forgiven for thinking this one another in a long line of books set with the Tudor Court of Queen Elizabeth I but you'd only be partially right in this assumption and might be in for a surprise while reading it. Yes, it does begin in the Elizabethan court but there is much more to it than that and it's a unique tale for me, nothing that I've read before and that's something I am very thankful for.

The central character is Emme Fifield, one of the Queen's ladies in waiting and after a rather unpleasant encounter with Lord Hertford her life is turned upside down. After a chance encounter with the mysterious mariner, Kit Doonan, Emme finds herself wanting to change her life completely and to do that she needs to remove herself from the rules and restrictions placed on her by the Queen. So in an effort to do so she finds herself on a ship heading for the New World and the infamous Roanoke. Anyone who knows the history of the New World and the English colonists will know the story of the Roanoke settlement and how the colonists vanished but how do you feel about exploring one possibility to explain it?

Well you should read this then as THAT is what this book is really about, throw in a handful of romance between beautiful Emme and dashing Kit and you have a truly wonderful historical novel.... I hate to name anything I read as a romance book as I don't do romance but love historical based novels (yes, they boil down to the same thing but my brain doesn't think so, so shhhhhhh don't tell!).

Emme is a strong character but also a very soft one, she knows what she wants and needs to do to make her life the one she wants but often struggles with her own emotions and for good reason considering what has happened to her (no spoilers here!). You watch her grow into a very strong and independent women and fall deeply for the handsome Kit. Kits is a very interesting man indeed, he has the usual troubled past but it is an interesting one that I really would have liked to hear a bit more detail about but you get enough to make his back story a good one, he opens himself up to Emme but keeps getting the door slammed in his face, eventually he breaks through and the romance between them is a touching tale and one they both deserve! Other characters in the book are based on the real colonists including the first English person born in the new world, Virginia Dare (who Emme helps to bring into the world!)

This is the first novel I've read by Jenny Barden but I do find myself curious to read more as she is a wonderful talent. Saying that I might not have found her by myself so thanks to Dizzy C's Book Blog's blog review of the book back last year that bought this book and author to my attention as without you I wouldn't have requested this book from Netgalley and might have never read it! And that would have been very sad as it's a wonderful read, full of intrigue, hardship, fear, love, wonder and adventure, a truly exceptional mix of so many emotions that make for an exceptional book and one that I would recommend for anyone who likes their 'period drama' book as much as I do.

In conclusion, it may not be quite the book you expect at first glance but by the time you reach the end you really won't care as you'll have read something really classy that had put you right through the emotional wringer, wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title like The Lost Duchess and an opening chapter set at the court of Elizabeth I, describing an encounter between one of the Queen’s ladies and Lord Hertford, you may think this sounds like just another Elizabethan court romance – but you would be mistaken. With the arrival of Sir Francis Drake bringing stories of his adventures in the New World comes the first hint of what this book is actually about. And when Emme Fifield, the lady who had that confrontation with Hertford, decides to join Governor John White’s expedition to establish a new colony at Chesapeake, it becomes clear that The Lost Duchess is going to be something fresh and different.

Emme is desperate to leave England and sail to the New World so that she can avoid the disgrace she knows she will face when her involvement with Lord Hertford is made public. In order to convince the Queen to let her go, she promises to return with reports on the colonies for Elizabeth and her spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, but Emme’s real intention is to stay in Chesapeake and build a new life there…especially when she begins to fall in love with one of her fellow travellers, the mariner Kit Doonan. But while Emme is trying to keep the truth about her past hidden from Kit, we learn that Kit also has some secrets of his own.

Emme and Kit are great characters and I enjoyed getting to know both of them, but the aspect of this book that I found the most interesting was the fate of the lost colony of Roanoke – the English settlement established by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1580s before being abandoned with no trace of the colonists. The explanation for the colony’s disappearance is still a mystery today, but Jenny Barden suggests one possible theory which I thought was very convincing. And if you’re wondering why all of this is significant to the story told in The Lost Duchess, although the ship on which Kit and Emme set out from England is originally heading for Chesapeake, Roanoke is where they end up.

The voyage itself provides lots of exciting action as Emme and the other colonists face dangerous seas and the loss of their supplies, while finding themselves at the mercy of their Portuguese navigator, Simon Ferdinando, who may or may not be trying to betray them. Life becomes no easier when they land at Roanoke – poisonous fruit being one hazard and conflicts with the native people another. Having befriended Chief Manteo of the Croatoans, the settlers are hopeful that they can negotiate with the Native Americans but it seems that things have happened in the past which will make it difficult for them to live peacefully alongside each other.

Roanoke and its mysteries is a fascinating, unusual setting and I’m sure you’ll agree that it makes a change from the majority of Tudor/Elizabethan novels which tend to focus on royalty and life at court. Jenny Barden’s previous novel, Mistress of the Sea, sounds wonderful too and is linked with this one through the character of Kit Doonan’s brother, Will. I’m looking forward to reading it.

[Sharon Cook]

Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, Emme Fifield’s only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America.
Emme joins Kit Doonan’s rag-tag band of idealists, desperados and misfits bound for Virginia, but such a voyage will be far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to the mysterious Doonan inconvenient to say the least.
As for Kit, the handsome mariner has spent years imprisoned by the Spanish, and living as an outlaw with a band of escaped slaves; he has his own inner demons to confront, and his own dark secrets to keep…

Ever since Sir Walter Raleigh’s settlement at Roanoke was abandoned in 1587 its fate has remained a mystery; The Lost Duchess explores what might have happened to the ill-starred ‘Lost Colony’


The group felt like they knew the characters well and could each picture them clearly in our minds highlighting how well drawn each of the characters were. The book gave a real flavour for what we can imagine that time, the Elizabethan period, could be like. I had to tell Jenny how I had to put the book down at one point where she tells how a journey by ship over rough sees is made and I could feel myself rising and pitching with the ship and could get a real idea of how that must feel. It came to light in our discussion that Jenny had been on the reconstruction of the Golden Hind in London as well as sailing so could give a real description of her own experience with a little writers magic.

Sticking with the characters the group found them believable and cared about the journey of each of them throughout the book, and we had a good discussion of one of the baddies,Ferdinando, and Jenny explained why he could be so bad but the possible reason behind it. I won't type that here and leave it to your imagination dear reader :)

What becomes clear is that this is a thoroughly well researched book that blends fact, fiction and writers magic to create a tale of wondrous excitement, adventure and emotion. Jennys dedication to getting as much historical information accurate and blending of her experiences leaves you with an enjoyable story that as a reader paints a glorious picture enabling you step back in time. You feel part of the action and carried on the journey of the main characters in the book.

Speaking of action the book begins with a particularly shocking scene which personally I found helped me to move away from the airy fairy fluff of the Queens court and straight into the action of the nitty gritty of that period.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable book we would happily recommend to readers of historical fiction but also those with a sense of adventure!

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emme Fifield is lady- in -waiting to Queen Elizabeth and as such holds a privileged position at the English court, but this protection does not extend to the capricious nature of a courtier who is hell bent on claiming Emme has his own. When personal scandal threatens to overwhelm Emme, she persuades Sir Frances Walsingham to intervene with the Queen, and gain her approval to allow Emme to sail for the New World, ostensibly to report back to the Queen on activity in one of the new world colonies, but in reality to escape public disgrace.

What then follows is a well written and beautifully researched novel, which takes the reader from the dangerous beauty of the high seas, in the company of a shabby assortment of passengers and crew, to the wild and untamed splendour of the New World, where the indigenous people are not as welcoming as was first believed. Throughout the story, and in fact what gives the book its heart and soul, is the developing relationship between Kit Doonan, a charismatic, and it must be said, handsome mariner, and Emme, whom fate seems to throw together in the most challenging of circumstances.

The story zings along at a cracking pace, there is danger, excitement, romance and deep emotion and by the clever weaving together of fact with fiction, the danger of this untamed period in history comes gloriously alive. By the end of the novel, and with the wild backdrop of the New World firmly ensconced in my imagination, I felt like I had spent time in the company of a wonderful array of adventurers. When the last page was turned, I breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief, not because the story was finished, far from it, but because the book’s ending was really well done.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to lovers of well written and decisive historical fiction.


An interview with Jenny Barden can be found here:

http://jaffareadstoo.blogspot.co.uk/2...

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know there is a ton of historical fiction out there that takes place in Elizabethan England….typically in the court.

The market is simply flooded…so how do you create a new and different take on a saturated topic?

Well you take your Elizabethan heroine out of the court!

This was a new and exciting twist for me in the ‘Tudor lit’ genre. I loved getting out of the traditional court setting and exploring the vast unknown in the new world.

I especially loved the Roanoke island theories in this novel. It’s such a great mystery in history and I loved that the author brought this strange event into the story line.

It’s always fun to speculate and explore theories for some of histories greatest what ifs. So I loved this novel for that! The authors attention to the historic details was second to none! This was not just a novel with a new twist on history or just a great setting, it also had great central characters.

Emme is a mixture of strength and vulnerability that is endearing in this adventure novel. She is brave and bold but she isn’t so strong that it becomes a tragic flaw in here character. The reader gets to see he develop into a strong leading heroine while maintaining approach ability. Readers will easily identify with her and enjoy her throughout the novel.

Love, adventure, and history culminate and make this novel a truly refreshing read bringing new life and story into a genre that’s dominated with courtly tales in Elizabethan England….this a something new you will want to add to your TBR list!

See my full review here

[BestChickLit.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon finishing The Lost Duchess, I felt I had surfaced from an epic adventure. The book starts out with a fairly shocking scene that ensures the reader is invested in finding out what becomes of poor Emme, Queen Elizabeth I’s lady-in-waiting. Volunteering herself for a dangerous expedition as a way of escaping her shame, Emme sets sail for Chesapeake in the hope of forging a colony in the New World and thus begins an action-packed tale.

I’m not particularly ‘up’ on my history and was slightly worried about the story being set in the Elizabethan period, but I needn’t have been concerned as Jenny Barden expertly guides you through the story with her beautiful and concise descriptions and explanations. I was there with the colony; I felt their fears as they struggled to make a success of their venture, and rooted for them as the natives begun to turn against them with increasing violence. The romance that blossoms from the pages was, for me, the heart of the book. I enjoyed the to and fro between Emme and Kit as they each dealt with their own baggage from the past, along with their newly found troubles in this new wild world they inhabit.

The Lost Duchess is a truly fascinating read, even more so thanks to the incredibly informative author’s note at the close. If you looking for an adventurous read that will enthrall and immerse you into the story, then this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman, on behalf of BestChickLit.com

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book via Goodreads and am so pleased as this is an author whose work I haven’t come across before. I am a great fan of historical fiction and especially the Tudor period. Set during the Court of Elizabeth 1, this is historical fiction with a difference. Incredibly well researched, the novel embraces Walter Raleigh’s discovery of The New World. The settings are so well portrayed that the reader feels they are embarking on a voyage too. I was particularly drawn in by the detail and historical accuracy and found myself staying up later and later each evening to finish it- always a good sign!

I would personally have enjoyed more about life at the Elizabethan Court as this was so well evoked both at the beginning and end of the novel but this book takes on a totally new aspect of Elizabethan times as you follow the lives of the settlers in Virginia. It is astounding that a lady-in-waiting to the Queen would have been allowed to undertake such a dangerous journey yet this is based on a true story. This is a first-rate novel and certainly different to any other Tudor history I have read. I will be looking out for more from this talented writer.

[Mirella · Rating 5 out of 5]

From it's shocking and gripping opening chapter of this novel by author Jenny Barden, the reader is hooked. I could not help but feel empathy for the heroine's plight and her need to start a new life away from the scandal that threatens to destroy her life through no fault of her own. So she finds a way to escape to the New World via a ship of settlers. It is to the infamous Roanoke that they are to venture to, where the mystery of what happened to its inhabitants has yet to be understood. What follows is a wonderfully complex story of intrigue, mystery, hardship, and betrayal.
There is not one, but two horrible villains, and a wonderfully smart, savvy hero named Kit Doonan, that one cannot help but like. I was impressed with the author's historical research that really brought to life the struggles early settlers faced in America. The heroine, Emme, is also portrayed with credibility and empathy. This book is definitely an adventure story with strong elements of danger and a definite love story weaved therein. With its roots in Colonial America as wells as Elizabethan England, there is much to enjoy if one loves history. A nicely written novel with a compelling story!

[Tjb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fabulous read. The Lost Duchess redefines the Tudor historical novel. Not only is the court of Queen Elizabeth I beautifully evoked, with a powerful love story at the heart of the book, but The Lost Duchess will plunge you into an incredible sea voyage to the New World, more real and vividly imagined than any film depiction.

The book is brilliantly paced, with edge of the seat action keeping the story pressing ever onwards, and with a tangible sense of threat and danger. But most important is the story of Emme and Kit, their determination, their spirit and their extraordinary journey.

The writing is exquisite, with Barden's multisensory world beautifully painted in words, while her scholarship embues the novel with a truly authentic sense of place and period. This is a read you will find hard to put down and one that will linger in your memory long after you have closed the cover.

[Hazel Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Duchess is a cracking read! Jenny Barden's eye for historical detail is fantastic. From the Tudor court of Queen Elizabeth to the swell of the ocean and the life of settlers in Virginia in the New World, the author skilfully creates a sense of place and high drama. I almost felt nauseous as I swayed around on the gunwale with the heroine, Emme! There is much to love about this book which is both an epic adventure and a tender love story. A pacy, authentic account of a remarkable period in history, populated by some extraordinary individuals.

[LaDawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was so hopeful as I've struggled to find historical fiction for this time period and location. Liked the link to the court. This started out well but the pacing becomes bogged down. The crossing was excruciatingly long. The love affair was unbelievable. I completely lost interest in the last 50 pages.

[Vali Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrative did not take me where I wanted to go. However, the story was extremely well written, well researched and the use of imagery is splendid. Recommended for fans of early American historical fiction.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

'You like to hear of the world, don't you? To learn who's doing what and why. For a young maiden you have a lively curiosity.'

Only a few pages into this novel, the above lines are used to describe Emme Fifield, and we know immediately that she desires more from her life, beyond the realms of her role as lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she wonders about the world that Sir Francis Drake and those who travel with him see; 'To think of such places!' she imagines, as she speaks with Lord Hertford in the opening chapter, discussing the imminent arrival of Sir Francis. Her moments spent with Lord Hertford will however take a turn for the worst and in fact increase her need to leave life at court, escaping a scandal that could ruin her.

She joins the expedition to the New World to Sir Walter Raleigh's Virginia, to found a permanent English settlement at Roanoke, travelling under another name and assuming a role beneath her previous status, with the promise to return and report back what she learns about the place to Queen Elizabeth and Sir Francis Walsingham, her chief intelligencer. However, Emme in fact intends to stay in the new colony and never return to England again, hoping the scandalous incident with Lord Hertford can thereby remain buried in the past.

She meets Kit Doonan, a mariner with Sir Francis Drake, whilst still in England, and her attraction to Kit is immediate and strong, and it is reciprocated by him. As Emme learns of the frightening experiences he has endured, being held hostage, taken prisoner, and set to work as a slave before being freed and finding his way home, her admiration for him grows:

'What must the mariner have been through: imprisoned, enslaved, outcast and then rescued as if brought back from the dead? What had he been through since? She watched him wipe the water from his mouth with the back of his hand, and pictured him in a prison cell, and then in a wilderness, and next on a rolling deck in the thick of a storm. He would have been graceful wherever he was, she decided; he did not need to drink from crystal to look like a gentleman.'

The attraction and will-they won't-they kind of tension between the pair of them simmers wonderfully before it becomes a great love, and Kit is a dashing, courageous and handsome hero to Emme's 'quick witted and stout-hearted' adventurous lady. I found both the main characters engaging. Kit is not without his own secrets, his own reasons why he so strongly wants to be part of the expedition to Virginia and to help form Governor John White's City of Raleigh, and he struggles inwardly about if and when to reveal them, and to what cost.

I loved reading this well-plotted story from start to finish, and I particularly loved the time once the settlers had arrived in what was to be their new home, and the encounters and tribulations they faced there. Jenny Barden writes wonderfully in her reimagining of what might have happened to them, and to Sir Walter Raleigh's settlement at Roanoke. The historical detail is strong and is evidence of her interest and passion for this period and these events; the author's research into this episode in history makes for an absorbing, convincing vivid depiction of the characters, the details of life at sea, the tribes, the locations. I liked the inclusion of extracts from authentic records by real figures named in the story such as John White, Ralph Lane and others at the start of the chapters.

She has combined a great cast of characters with plenty of action and tension to create an intelligent and informative read that I really enjoyed and also found absolutely fascinating. It's not an area I knew very much about at all, and it's inspired me to find out more about it. How wonderful to know for example that John White's granddaughter, Virginia Dare, whose birth I read about in the novel, really was the first English child born in North America, and to ponder the true mystery as to what happened to the colonists; it's intriguing. I loved reading the author's note at the end of the novel, and I was glad of the inclusion of the map at the beginning too, I referred to this several times as I read and enjoyed being able to do this.

The Lost Duchess begins as a novel set in the Elizabethan court, but it quickly becomes so much more; it's a marvellous historical novel of love, adventure and exploration, with excitement, danger and suspense; there is so much to enjoy in this novel, a compelling blend of fiction and fact. Emme declares: 'I want to be part of the brave adventure.' Reading The Lost Duchess was an escape, I set sail and immersed myself in a grand and momentous adventure, one I'd heartily recommend!

[Gill's likes reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny Bardon sets a fictional tale around well researched and detailed facts of the lost Colony of Roanoke.

It is 1587, and bound for Virginia in the New World Emme Fifield, Duchess of Somerset is escaping from a scandal that threatens to ruin her. Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I, she joins Kit Doonan and a ‘rag-tag band of idealists, desperados, and misfits’ along with men, women, and children to set up a colony (planters) in Virginia under Governor John White. The trip is far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to Kit inconvenient to say the least.

Living as an outlaw with a band of escaped slaves, Kit is a handsome mariner who was imprisoned for years by the Spanish and has his own demons and dark secrets to keep..

What I like about this book

I have read and enjoyed lots of historical novels by various authors, and this book goes right to the top of my list. I found this is a most enjoyable history lesson with fast paced action and a thrilling account of what could have happened to the lost Colony of Roanoke. Using excerpts from actual accounts written at the time, Bardon embellishes what is known with exciting imagination.

I love how the book teaches political histories and events tied up into an account I found myself wishing to know more about. Our history with other nations is so important to know and should never be a chore but a pleasure to learn and Jenny Bardon has a unique way of making it important to understand.

Upon being taken to Roanoke Island instead of closer to Cheasapeke by their Spanish Pilot, Master Fernando the planters landed and set out to find the earlier abandoned fort. They had no knowledge of what to expect save a very brief account of the demise of the first settlers to the island and a set of maps.

‘The 22- We came to anchor at an Isle, called Santa Cruz, where all the planters were set on land…At our first landing on this Island, some of our women, and men, by eating a small fruit, like green apples, were fearfully troubled with a sudden burning in their mouths…

  - The entry describing the first landfall after crossing the Atlantic, from John White’s Narrative of his 1587 Voyage to Virginia to which Richard Hakluyt the younger added a marginal note: ‘Circumspection to be used in strange places.’

I like the way each chapter begins with an actual account of events during that time. It reminds us of the effects of the arrogance shown by rulers and the church in history. However, there is no arrogance in the writing and description, which appears to stay close to the custom of the Elizabethan period. This can be seen in Chapter 12, Dead Men Returned, which I particularly enjoyed because it conveys so much in so few words. The chapter begins with the quote:

‘ …We had taken Menatonon prisoner, and brought his son that he best love to Roanoke..it make Ensenor’s opinion to be received again with greater respect. For he had often before told them…that we were the servants of God, and that …they amongst them that sought our destruction should find their own, and not be able to work ours, and we being dead men were able to do them more hurt … and many of them hold opinion, that we be dead men returned…’

  -From Ralph Lane’s Narrative of the Settlement of Roanoke Island 1585 -6

Travelling by boat through the Weapemeocs territory Emme’s thoughts about the sounds she hears of the ‘savages’ is stunning to read:

‘How could voices travel so far? Perhaps all she was hearing was some trick of memory, a singularity filling the quietness with noise from inside her head: singing and chanting, prayer and laughter; voices from the past, some recent, some long gone; sounds of all kinds that formed part of her history…’

It continues conveying so much about the peoples of the land and their customs.

The accounts of savagery are cruel and vivid, but told with objectivity that gives the reader a chance to explore the reasoning behind the hostility to a peaceful alliance that was needed.

At the end the epilogue furnishes the answers to the known historical accounts of the events in a way that is every bit as interesting as the book itself.

There is nothing I dislike about this book.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review

[Erin Al-Mehairi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been intrigued and slightly obsessed since my teen years with the fate of the 'Lost Colony of Roanoke,' which in the late 1500s became the first English colony in America. Studying more of this era from the Colonial American stand point in high school and for my BA degree in History here in the U.S., I mostly looked at it from an American soil standpoint. I haven't delved as much yet into the background information from the Elizabethan England side of the adventure of colonization.

When I saw the British author and historian Jenny Barden had a book publishing this month that surrounded a lady-in-waiting, Emme, from Queen Elizabeth's I court who joined the team heading to Roanoake, I jumped at the chance to hear their side, so to speak, of Sir Walter Raleigh's quest to the New World.

Jenny opens her sophomore novel, The Lost Duchess, with emotion and heart-wrenching prose that instantly connected me to her protagonist, Emme. Queen Elizabeth I was rather known for her explosive temper, a little like her father, and her impulsive and selfish needs. When something horrible happens to Emme, she is shamed and has to squelch her feelings so as not to anger her queen, for which she serves in close company.

Though Elizabeth I was known for pretty much treating her friends, her ladies-in-waiting, like servants who were to be at her every beck and call, even to the point of not having sex or getting married, Elizabeth was also given to mercy and the emotional needs of her friends as well. As she lets Emme take the voyage to the New World, Emme is given a chance to run from any shame she might have otherwise endured and start her life anew.

The novel is so well-researched and the characters fully dimensional. I felt connected to each of them and felt they were authentic and accurate, even those who were truly from the history books. As Jenny introduces one of her secondary characters from her first novel, Kit, a romance ensues between Emme and he. I felt as if I was reading the tale of two soul mates who fall in love on an epic adventure, not knowing what lied ahead of them in the future.

Jenny's book was full of mystery and intrigue, which made a great historical novel that I didn't want to put down. I liked how she incorporated into the story some of the most up-to-date findings about the Roanoke colony. She offers readers a plausible outcome to a long sought after mystery. Of course, some things are still unanswered, but well...they are unanswered in the history books so while she gives us a possible version, she also lets the novel open to breathe and for readers to come to their own conclusions as well.

I would highly recommend The Lost Duchess to any historical fiction lovers of the Tudor Era but who want a new twist or unique players and storyline or to a readers who like Colonial America history, adventure, and epic novels of histories lost mysteries. It was fully well-written in plot development, character structure, and full of vibrant details that made you feel propelled into the story.

Taking Elizabethan England and the wild, lush land of Virginia and converging them together really gave insight into two totally different worlds and the curiosity of men to explore and conquer. I felt the ocean mist on my face, the heart beat of abandon, the remote environment of the Caribbean, and the hardships of pioneering new land.

This is definitely a book I'll put on my shelves under Colonial America, as more books need written about this time period (ah, which of course is why I am writing one from the 1600s)! It's from a unique perspective, but one that can serve as an example of solidly written historical fiction of this time period. It's full of historical research and details so that it is a wonderful resource and will be a joy to re-read whenever I feel my craving for the mystery of Roanoke start to surface once more.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny Barden's latest release, The Lost Duchess, is not your typical work of Elizabethan-era historical fiction. While the novel opens at Queen Elizabeth I's court and includes a familiar cast of aristocrats (Edward Seymour, Earl of Surrey), adventurers (Sir Walter Raleigh) and political advisors (Francis Walsingham), it is the Roanoke Colony and the people who sought to establish it that are at the heart of this novel.

Young Emme Fifield is a lady in waiting to the Queen, one with the world seemingly at her feet. But when a brief encounter with an unscrupulous man jeopardizes her position at court, Emme is forced to reconsider her future. Faced with few options, Emme pins her hopes on an upcoming expedition to the Americas financed by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by John White that seeks to establish a colony on the Island of Roanoke. Unfazed by the dangers associated with an ocean crossing and the hardships involved with settling in the New World, Emme convinces the Queen to let her go. Accompanying the expedition is Kit Doonan, a sailor who was once held captive in the Spanish Main and escaped to lead a band of Cimaroons. While Kit and Emme have instant chemistry, the secrets they harbour threaten their chances for happiness; a situation made more pronounced by the harsh realities of living in a colony that is surrounded by enemies intent upon its destruction. The Lost Duchess explores not only the fate of Emme and Kit, but also that of the Roanoke colony itself.

Having enjoyed Jenny Barden's debut novel, Mistress of the Sea, I was eager to read The Lost Duchess. I wasn't disappointed. Jenny Barden has once again crafted a beautifully written and well-researched historical novel, one that features a memorable cast of characters, and an entertaining and informative narrative. My favourite aspect of this novel is its New World setting. I've read many works of historical fiction set in the Elizabethan era, but The Lost Duchess is the first that features the Roanoke colony at its core. While little is known about the fate of the colony and its inhabitants, Barden's interpretation is a plausible one. While the political and strategic considerations that impacted on the future of the colony receive only minimal attention in the book, Barden includes just enough detail to ensure that the reader understands the key issues. This detail has also left me wanting to read more about England's first attempts at colonization and the strategic considerations behind them.

While Kit Doonan's character is first introduced in Mistress of the Sea, enough of Kit's back story has been included in The Lost Duchess to ensure that the novel stands well on its own, and that reading the books in publication order is not necessary.

Recommended to readers who enjoy historical fiction set during the Age of Discovery, as well as to readers interested in a fictional account of the lost colony of Roanoke.

This review first appeared on my blog, Confessions of an Avid Reader

[Carole Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like earlier stated, I was given this book by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion.

First of all....I LOVE the cover. It's so pretty. :) The summary sounded good, but when I seen the cover it really was the cherry on the top. Also, I couldn't help but want to read Jenny Barden's "theory" on what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Another great mystery of history that no one will ever, ever know the truth on. Honestly...this theory is close to what I think happened. I won't discuss details, but it's a good one.

Poor Emme....luckily Queen Elizabeth allowed her to go on this adventure. She truly needed it, because she really had some bad luck happen to her. Honestly, I think Queen Elizabeth knew sort of what happened to her, because she hints at it near the end that she knows. Love Queen Elizabeth she hates idiot men and she makes them pay with their pride and will humiliate them to knock them down a peg or two.

Poor Kit....he got screwed too. He didn't have an easy life and his first wife died horribly. :( Luckily, his son lived and he met Emme. The love they find is not an easy one to obtain though, which makes sense. They are from different social standings and they have a lot of past issues they need to work out. Also, it doesn't help that they are in the middle of an adventure to a new land, so they don't have a lot of time to work on their relationship. Food, shelter, and the constant threat of death takes priority over love. I'm glad that the author made their love story a realistic one. It's not all rainbows and butterflies all the time.

The only thing I didn't really like was the ending. It was too open-ended. :/ Perhaps I'm just being picky. I just prefer having a nice lid-tight ending. One could really blame me growing up on the 'Dear America' books that had an epilogue that gave lid-tighter endings to all the main characters. IDK. However, as a writer, I LOVE leaving open-ended endings to my stories. I'm evil like that. Hehehehe. The ending in THIS story though, does end well, but it is a little cliff-hanger-y. Perhaps she did this on purpose, so if she wants to continue the story of Emme and Kit, she can. *shrugs* We shall see (I would definitely be all over a sequel for this novel).

In the end, this was really, really good. I enjoyed every moment of the book! Even the bad events kept me hooked. The ending left me hoping their is a sequel, because I was left with some open-endedness. Besides for that, I liked it a lot! I would recommend this to those that like Historical Fiction or looking for a good adventure book. Out of five stars, I shall stamp this with 5 stars. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): Emme, Kit, Rob (cute kid), Queen Elizabeth, and Lacy
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Captain Fernando (ass, I hated his face.)

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a gripping and tough opening - a rape scene in a Royal palace, a senior Earl taking his droit de seigneur on Emme, the leading character. Her disgrace then motivates her to go with the 'planters' to Virginia,and so she is on her way from being one of the Queen's Ladies in Waiting to one of the settlers on Roanoke Island. The fate of Roanoke will be known to many readers, and gives the story of Emme and Kit Doonan, the leading man, an added edge of suspense. Of course there is romance there, as she tries, rather yearning and humble, to attract Kit's attention and even love. But there is also a lot of intrigue and action as real people are brought into the story - Emme meets Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, is enlisted by Francis Walsingham as a kind of spy, helps John White mix the paint for his beautiful pictures of American scenes, assists at the birth of Virginia Dare, the baby born in the colony, and accompanies Kit and the friendly 'Indian' Manteo to a hair-raising negotiation with the unfriendly chief, Wanchese. Finally there is a battle scene that rivals some of Bernard Cornwall's work. A theory as to the colonists's fate is propounded, reasonably convincingly. In the nick of time, our lovers turn out *not* to be doomed after all. It was all exciting, well-described and original.
The research is very thorough and the inclusion of real people is admirable. I noticed just one or faults - Kit would have to have a rifle, which didn't exist in those days, to able, 'from about two hundred paces away, to topple one of those Indians' (p. 278). An aimed shot at such a range would have been impossible with the smoothbore caliver he was using (which incidentally varies between a flintlock (p. 172) and matchlock (p. 274). Also, I was wondering why calivers are used exclusively, whereas in fact we know from reading some of the contemporary accounts of Roanoke that the longer-barrelled arquebus was a common weapon, the range of its shot cited as a measure of distance.
The pace is generally fast and gripping, and sweeps us along. Perhaps Emme's worries about her disgrace are a little too oft-repeated; that's my only reservation on book's style. This is a rattling good yarn with great descriptions of the settings, and love, tension and action in close well-structured proximity. Very enjoyable.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, a TW to potential readers that this book starts off with a graphic rape scene in the very first chapter. And this being the 16th century, the victim, Emme, is left knowing that if she tells anyone, they'll blame her instead of the perpetrator, who will get away with it because he's a powerful, wealthy bloke.

Uncomfortable reading and sadly it seems the world hasn't made much progress since then.

Emme decides that, rather than staying in a royal court that will allow her abuser to get away with his crime, she will take the chance to travel to America as part of a group of settlers. Officially, she's tasked with keeping an eye on the colony and reporting back to the Queen, but Emme decides to stay after falling in love with Kit Doonan. He will be familiar if you've read Barden's previous book - but in this instance, he actually feels somewhat shoehorned in, as if the author has remembered that he was around in that era and could make an appearance.

This book is meant to be Emme's story, but Doonan appears and immediately seems to take over the story to a certain degree. He's certainly described in all the romantic-hero-cliches as he leads the colonists in their efforts to stay on friendly terms with the local Native American peoples - some of whom have been treated horribly by previous English settlers.

Barden has clearly researched the history of the era and puts forward her own, quite plausible theory for the fate of the Roanoke settlers and their colony. There are a few other cliches - like the white colonist who falls in love with a Native American woman - but this book is clearly geared towards the romantic end of the historical fiction spectrum where such cliches are almost expected.

It's a decent read if you can get past the uncomfortable start.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Lost Duchess” by Jenny Barden is an excellent work of historical fiction. I enjoyed reading it from beginning until end! Emme’s character is great. She is the type of character that you are rooting for from the beginning of the novel. She goes through so much hardship, but is such a strong person that she is able to pull through whatever is put in her way. She is definitely braver than most women of that time, I doubt many women would push to go across the world to start a new colony! It’s crazy to think of a woman at that time traveling across the ocean without a husband. I also enjoyed the instant attraction between Kit and Emme. They are a perfect fit, and the chemistry between them is awesome. Kit comes across as a hard adventurer, who doesn’t have time for love, but Emme changes all of that. Kit hasn’t allowed anyone into her heart since his last “wife” died, but Emme is able to get him to open up to love again. The author did a great job with descriptions and imagery. You could really visualize the surroundings in the new settlement, and also the different indian tribes and villages. She also did an awesome job at keeping me on the edge of my seat during the battle between the Indians and the colony! I could hardly breathe as the planning for the battle and the actual battle were going on. I had no idea what was going to happen, and was actually nervous for the outcome of the battle!
I would definitely recommend this novel to any fan of historical fiction. Not only do you get the English viewpoint in this novel, but you also get the viewpoint of some of the different indian tribes. I was interested throughout, and can’t imagine that any one will be disappointed with this novel.

I give “The Lost Duchess” a solid FIVE out of FIVE stars.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Lost Duchess" made me wonder why there is not more historical fiction set in the Americas. I wonder this every time I read a good book that is set in the Americas. "The Lost Duchess" is a story about Emme, a lady in waiting of sorts to Queen Elizabeth I, who goes to live in the New World. Emme isn't sure what to expect when she gets to Virginia but she's sure that it has to be better than the potential scandal threatening her back in England. This book tackles what may have happened to the mysterious Roanoke colony, one of history's great mysteries. This is a great historical fiction pick with a unique setting!

I really liked reading about Roanoke. We get to see this new place through Emme, who is just arriving, which I thought was a really good touch. We get to explore alongside with her. I liked how Barden was able to show what it would have been like for these first settlers to live in such a foreign place. I also really liked reading about how the settlers interacted with the Native Americans and each other. It was really cool to see how they came together.

I think that it can be a little bit sticky for an author to try to "solve" a true life mystery. You have to walk a fine line between what explains the mystery and what could have really happened. I was really impressed with how Barden was able to do that with Roanoke. She ties everything in such a satisfying way that what she says happens (and I don't want to give anything away) seems plausible and ties the story together very nicely!

[Book Preview Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Description:

“Emme Fifield has fallen about as far as a gentlewoman can.

Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America where nobody has ever heard of the Duchess of Somerset.

Emme joins Kit Doonan's rag-tag band of idealists, desperados and misfits bound for Virginia. But such a voyage will be far from easy and Emme finds her attraction to the mysterious Doonan inconvenient to say the least..."



Satisfying both Tudor fans and early Americana alike, you will be riveted from this fast paced adventure and intriguing tale of what could have happened to the ill-fated ‘Lost Colony’ of Roanoke, the first English Colony in America. Thoroughly researched, Barden has a great talent for bringing this time period to life once again with compelling storytelling and a well written, detail driven storyline. Even more interesting is her take on the Elizabethan perspective of the New World and the obsession to claim the vast new lands.

Over 400 years later, national media is still obsessed with speculation as to what ever happened to the lost colony that seemed to vanish completely without a trace and without clues. Barden suggests a fictional possibility to this question blending historical knowledge with imagination in an epic and well-traveled 16th century adventure.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit to a total fascination with the lost colony at Roanoke. It's a tale from the beginnings of this country that has caused many people to wonder and theorize. Ms. Barden brings her imagination into the game with her very well written novel, The Lost Duchess. To fully enjoy this tale you really must just go along with the flow - don't try and make it fit to history with a scholar's list of rules. Just enjoy the possibility that this might have been.

In the story we meet a young ward of Queen Elizabeth who is seduced by a rogue at court. She can't get past the shame he has caused her and when an opportunity is presented to go on the voyage to start the City of Raleigh in the New World she agrees to change her name and act a spy of sorts for the Queen on the trip. She swears she will return to court but she has other plans.

The leaders of the expedition include a Portuguese captain and the mayor of the City along with a mariner who has a checkered past but causes our Lady in Waiting to consider a future again.

I found myself fully involved in the story as the characters drew me into their world. Ms. Barden has the magical way with words that had me reading for hours and forgetting where I was in time. I thank her for the escape and enjoyment. There were some happenings that were somewhat unbelievable and that's where I call on you to just sit back, read and immerse yourself in the story. It will be well worth your time.

[Eileen Iciek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am embarrassed to admit how much I have learned of very early American history from Jenny Barden's two novels, this one and . The Lost Duchess follows up on the story of a secondary character from her first novel, Kit Doonan, and the woman he comes to love, Emme Fifield. The two of them, an experienced mariner and survivor of Spanish prisons and slavery in Central America, and a Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth, have more complicated and interesting histories than the main characters in the first book. Kit and Emme sail with a group of settlers to the new city of Raleigh in Roanoke, Virginia. This settlement disappeared without a trace and the author has, in her book, suggested a plausible explanation for what happened to them.

The author's thorough research into these early adventurers sailing into a new world gave me insights into the fear and bravery needed to cross an ocean into the unknown. Too often in the modern world we forget what it took to bring us where we are today. This well written story of Kit and Emme in the Roanoke settlement was an enjoyable way to be reminded of those strong souls.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the lost Duchess really enjoyable and quite different from other tudor fiction due to the New World angle. The writing was excellent and the characters fleshed out well and in such a way that I really did care about what they were going through.

The main female character was opinionated and strong and it was a nice change to see a woman who was obviously every bit the shrewd and political courtier that seems to be a role only fit for male characters in many other historical fiction novels of this time.

I felt the opening scene, which sets the whole reason for her flight from England, confused me slightly as at that point I didn't realise why a lady in waiting would go off with a man off such a reputation to discuss political matters and therefore put herself at risk. However, as we get to know the character better further on in the story we understand why.

Overall I would highly recommend this book to those with an interest in Tudor historical fiction. I am looking forward to further titles from this author and would like to see more of Emme from this boom as well as Kit & Rob.

[Geoffrey Gudgion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had previously read and enjoyed Jenny Barden’s ‘Mistress of the Sea’ so I opened ‘The Lost Duchess’ with keen anticipation, and was not disappointed. The themes are similar in having a young, single, Elizabethan woman set sail for the New World, and in being both an adventure and a love story. Some characters appear in both books, but they can be read as stand-alones.

Barden has researched her subject extremely well, and has the ability to bring both people and places to life. The characters and intrigue of the Elizabethan court are well drawn, and even the secondary characters such as the inept but artistic leader of the expedition are well rounded and credible. The heroine is intelligent, resourceful, and takes charge of her own destiny, managing to engage in the action to a degree that stretches credibility a little (she is, after all, an Elizabethan gentlewoman) but this makes for a rattling good yarn.

It’s a great read for lovers of period adventures with feisty heroines. Recommended.

[Christina Hollis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love real life puzzles, and what happened to the lost Colony of Roanoke is one of the most enigmatic. Starting with actual accounts written at the time, Jenny Barden creates a believable story to explain the abandonment of the first European settlement in Virginia.
Emme Fifield’s honour is wrecked, and travelling with mariner Kit Doonan to the “new world” is her escape from the stifling restrictions of life in the court of Elizabeth I. Emme’s resilience and determination is tested time and again by the hardships of life on board ship, and the pioneer life. Jenny Barden’s descriptive writing is wonderfully evocative, and her characters are well-drawn. I loved the descriptions of actual artwork created to record the flora and fauna of Roanoke, and this blend of the real and the imaginary creates an exciting and ultimately satisfying read.