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Madam Tudor
One man commanded her body
From the moment Henry VIII saw the lovely young Corianne, he wanted her -- despite the desperate, sensual wiles of his hot-blooded queen, Anne Boleyn, and the satanically skillful seductions of his coldly calculating mistress, Jane Seymour.
Another man ruled her heart!
The handsome, gallant, reckless Lord Adam Sarcombe was unafraid to voice his adoration of Corianne. It was she who was the fearful one, for she knew what would happen to him if the King discovered their love.
There was only one way of saving Adam from the destruction he courted...and that way led Corianne through the flames of a hellish royal passion that threatened to consume her and all her hopes...
From the moment Henry VIII saw the lovely young Corianne, he wanted her -- despite the desperate, sensual wiles of his hot-blooded queen, Anne Boleyn, and the satanically skillful seductions of his coldly calculating mistress, Jane Seymour.
Another man ruled her heart!
The handsome, gallant, reckless Lord Adam Sarcombe was unafraid to voice his adoration of Corianne. It was she who was the fearful one, for she knew what would happen to him if the King discovered their love.
There was only one way of saving Adam from the destruction he courted...and that way led Corianne through the flames of a hellish royal passion that threatened to consume her and all her hopes...
295 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 4, 1979
29 people want to read
About the author
Constance Gluyas
20 books7 followersConstance Gluyas was born in London in the lean years following World War I and left school at the age of fourteen to go to work. During World War II, she served in the Women's Royal Air Force and supervised the main switch-board with a direct line to Europe during the Normandy invasion.
After moving to California, where she lives with her husband, Donald, and daughter, Diane, Mrs. Gluyas began her career as a writer.
After moving to California, where she lives with her husband, Donald, and daughter, Diane, Mrs. Gluyas began her career as a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 27, 2022
This was a good book, but it was more the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn than it was about Corianne ("Madam Tudor") and Adam. They often took a back seat to the royal couple, but that doesn't matter so much when you read this novel, and the history takes over. There are several historical characters, like Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Seymour, and all play their part in the tragedy that's to come.
In typical HR fashion, the MC start out as adversaries, as Corianne is convinced Adam helped bring about her father's imprisonment in the Tower and accuses him of being the king's "toady". She fights her attraction to him and embarks on a dangerous game, as she seeks to win the king's favor, hoping she can persuade him to free her father, even if it means using her body as a bargaining chip.
There's also a subplot involving Corianne's younger brother, whom Adam helps protect, putting his own live in danger.
When you read this, you can feel all the pain and misery Anne went through, how unfairly she was treated, and how brave she was, especially when she stood up to her husband, which most people were afraid to do. (Adam and Corianne were exceptions to that rule but paid a price for that.) Ms. Gluyas lets you see into the minds and hearts of these historical figures and has good insight into their characters. You can almost believe she was actually there and got to know them well. (Perhaps in a previous life?)
The scene where Anne goes to her execution bravely (hiding her true feelings well) will leave you with tears in your eyes, unless you have a heart of stone. Not to mention all she went through before that, like being accused of having sex with her own brother! All because she didn't have a son, through no fault of her own.
Ms. Gluyas also gives quite a portrait of Henry, just how selfish, egotistical and self-deluding he was, as he convinces himself that all the decisions he makes are right, because he's a good man and God is on his side. He justifies his behavior not only regarding Anne, but also with his previous wife, Catherine, who he convinces himself lied to him about her unconsummated marriage to his brother, Arthur. He vacillates from still caring for Anne, to hating her, declaring she's a witch who used her powers to ensnare him. He also can't make up his mind who he wants for his next wife, Corianne or Jane Seymour.
The only complaint I have is in the author's portrayal of Jane Seymour, which I think was a bit harsh. She makes her out to be a schemer, whose sweetness and innocence was only a facade. I think Ms. Gluyas's fondness for Anne prejudiced her opinion. Also, there's a brief scene with Catherine Howard, as a sexually precocious 12-year-old, that I think was exaggerated.
Other than that, i find no fault with this book. I heartily recommend it.
In typical HR fashion, the MC start out as adversaries, as Corianne is convinced Adam helped bring about her father's imprisonment in the Tower and accuses him of being the king's "toady". She fights her attraction to him and embarks on a dangerous game, as she seeks to win the king's favor, hoping she can persuade him to free her father, even if it means using her body as a bargaining chip.
There's also a subplot involving Corianne's younger brother, whom Adam helps protect, putting his own live in danger.
When you read this, you can feel all the pain and misery Anne went through, how unfairly she was treated, and how brave she was, especially when she stood up to her husband, which most people were afraid to do. (Adam and Corianne were exceptions to that rule but paid a price for that.) Ms. Gluyas lets you see into the minds and hearts of these historical figures and has good insight into their characters. You can almost believe she was actually there and got to know them well. (Perhaps in a previous life?)
The scene where Anne goes to her execution bravely (hiding her true feelings well) will leave you with tears in your eyes, unless you have a heart of stone. Not to mention all she went through before that, like being accused of having sex with her own brother! All because she didn't have a son, through no fault of her own.
Ms. Gluyas also gives quite a portrait of Henry, just how selfish, egotistical and self-deluding he was, as he convinces himself that all the decisions he makes are right, because he's a good man and God is on his side. He justifies his behavior not only regarding Anne, but also with his previous wife, Catherine, who he convinces himself lied to him about her unconsummated marriage to his brother, Arthur. He vacillates from still caring for Anne, to hating her, declaring she's a witch who used her powers to ensnare him. He also can't make up his mind who he wants for his next wife, Corianne or Jane Seymour.
The only complaint I have is in the author's portrayal of Jane Seymour, which I think was a bit harsh. She makes her out to be a schemer, whose sweetness and innocence was only a facade. I think Ms. Gluyas's fondness for Anne prejudiced her opinion. Also, there's a brief scene with Catherine Howard, as a sexually precocious 12-year-old, that I think was exaggerated.
Other than that, i find no fault with this book. I heartily recommend it.
May 18, 2013
I'm a sucker for a tales set in the Tudor era (apart from that historically questionable HBO series -- a black-haired Henry VIII? Srsly?) and this is a fun one. It's not quite as melodramatic as the blurb suggests ("the fires of a hellish royal passion," haw haw) and is pretty formulaic, but it has all the necessary elements of a court romance, lots of luscious costume descriptions, and is an easy and undemanding read (i.e., diverting and yet total fluff).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews