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Ladies of Tudor England #1
Eloise and the Queen: A Novel of Elizabeth I
I, Eloise Rousell, grew up with Elizabeth, the queen. My aunt, Kat Ashley, was her governess, and Elizabeth and I transitioned together from girlhood to womanhood.
My talent for needlework keeps me by Elizabeth’s side, creating exquisite gowns as she moves from discarded daughter of Anne Boleyn, to princess, to prisoner and feared rival of her sister, Mary Tudor.
I strive every day to protect her from harm. Conspiracies, nobles, and even her own family try to topple her, but I stand guard, along with my partner-in-crime, James Colby. Nothing will get past the two of us, no matter what machinations we have to work to keep Elizabeth safe.
Colby has a secret of his own, a deadly one, which becomes more and more perilous the closer Elizabeth comes to the throne.
I’m pushed toward the day I will have to choose which one of them my heart will follow …
My talent for needlework keeps me by Elizabeth’s side, creating exquisite gowns as she moves from discarded daughter of Anne Boleyn, to princess, to prisoner and feared rival of her sister, Mary Tudor.
I strive every day to protect her from harm. Conspiracies, nobles, and even her own family try to topple her, but I stand guard, along with my partner-in-crime, James Colby. Nothing will get past the two of us, no matter what machinations we have to work to keep Elizabeth safe.
Colby has a secret of his own, a deadly one, which becomes more and more perilous the closer Elizabeth comes to the throne.
I’m pushed toward the day I will have to choose which one of them my heart will follow …
372 pages, Paperback
Published November 24, 2025
About the author
Jennifer Ashley
196 books7,366 followersNY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.
Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.
Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 1, 2026
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is part of the Ladies of Tudor England series. It can be read as a standalone. The author wrote a book, under the pen name of Laurien Gardner, about Anne Boleyn titled “A Lady Raised High” that she says made her interested in this period of time. Anne Boleyn was Elizabeth’s mother. The two other books in the series about Henry VIII’s wives, the Tudor women, are written by others.
I liked the historical aspect of the book, and the author has clearly done a lot of research into a variety of topics from the time. The power struggles around the monarchy were enormous and the victims were many. The author was very clearly an Elizabeth fan and that is reflected in Eloise’s character.
The book was told from Eloise’s first person point of view. The pace was a bit slow. There were interesting references to the clothing at the time. The main character, Eloise, is a seamstress for Elizabeth. Eloise is a fictional character.
The story tells about Elizabeth I’s early life and her maturation into the woman and queen that she becomes. The book stops when Elizabeth is about 25, shortly after Robert Dudley’s first wife has died and she needs to make a decision about her relationship with him.
In the Below Stairs series, there is a main character named Kat. In this book, there is a real historical figure named Kat Ashley. The author’s name is Ashley. I wondered if there was any connection between all of the names.
I do not plan to continue reading this series. I like the Below Stairs mysteries. I read a few Captain Lacey books and was not a fan.
This book is part of the Ladies of Tudor England series. It can be read as a standalone. The author wrote a book, under the pen name of Laurien Gardner, about Anne Boleyn titled “A Lady Raised High” that she says made her interested in this period of time. Anne Boleyn was Elizabeth’s mother. The two other books in the series about Henry VIII’s wives, the Tudor women, are written by others.
I liked the historical aspect of the book, and the author has clearly done a lot of research into a variety of topics from the time. The power struggles around the monarchy were enormous and the victims were many. The author was very clearly an Elizabeth fan and that is reflected in Eloise’s character.
The book was told from Eloise’s first person point of view. The pace was a bit slow. There were interesting references to the clothing at the time. The main character, Eloise, is a seamstress for Elizabeth. Eloise is a fictional character.
The story tells about Elizabeth I’s early life and her maturation into the woman and queen that she becomes. The book stops when Elizabeth is about 25, shortly after Robert Dudley’s first wife has died and she needs to make a decision about her relationship with him.
In the Below Stairs series, there is a main character named Kat. In this book, there is a real historical figure named Kat Ashley. The author’s name is Ashley. I wondered if there was any connection between all of the names.
I do not plan to continue reading this series. I like the Below Stairs mysteries. I read a few Captain Lacey books and was not a fan.
February 11, 2026
Once again I was positively surprised by the author. A different genre from those in which she inhabited "bibliographical history" with factual rigor.
This is precisely why I highly recommend reading this book.
If, like me, you appreciate bibliographical historical fiction, I also recommend that you explore another pseudonym of the author, which I only discovered today, - Laurien Gardner - used specifically to write historical fiction with great factual accuracy.
P.S. the author writes under the name "Jennifer Ashley" and the pseudonyms: "Ashley Gardner & Laurien Gardner & Allyson James"
This is precisely why I highly recommend reading this book.
If, like me, you appreciate bibliographical historical fiction, I also recommend that you explore another pseudonym of the author, which I only discovered today, - Laurien Gardner - used specifically to write historical fiction with great factual accuracy.
P.S. the author writes under the name "Jennifer Ashley" and the pseudonyms: "Ashley Gardner & Laurien Gardner & Allyson James"
January 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this! I wasn’t sure that the blending of real history with dramatization and added fictional characters would draw me in as much as it did, but I was hooked from that start! Eloise and her journey at Elizabeth’s side from a small child to a married woman hit all the high points in Elizabeth’s life, while still giving us a full and complete story for Eloise. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more in the series!
February 1, 2026
Elizabeth Tudor didn't have the best time growing up but she did have the best of friends, including her dear Eloise, who was her seamstress, her confidante, and her spy. Eloise, along with James Colby who is loyal to Elizabeth for his own reasons, will do anything and everything to keep her safe from her enemies even when those enemies include her sister.
December 14, 2025
fantastic
I wasn’t sure about this book but once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down Well worth the read
I wasn’t sure about this book but once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down Well worth the read
January 3, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful novella. The description of all the clothing and material is sumptuous.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews