What do you think?
Rate this book
The Story of Catherine Howard #2
No More Time to Dance
July 1540
After eight months as a maid of court, Catherine Howard has become Queen. Separated from past friends and surrounded by people who resent her rise to the throne, the sole close companion she has left is Jane Boleyn, the infamous Lady Rochford. And this is not the only strain upon Catherine. People from her past come calling, the threat that the King may find out she is not the pure, innocent maiden he thinks she is puts her in peril. Catherine must imitate the Queens of the past in order to survive.
And she must ignore her love for another man.
On the day of her wedding, Catherine begins a dangerous game, wearing a mask, hoping to fool the King, until the day she can be free.
No More Time to Dance is book two in The Story of Catherine Howard, by G. Lawrence
The author's thank are due to Julia Gibbs, proof reader of this work, and BetiBup Designs, the cover artist.
After eight months as a maid of court, Catherine Howard has become Queen. Separated from past friends and surrounded by people who resent her rise to the throne, the sole close companion she has left is Jane Boleyn, the infamous Lady Rochford. And this is not the only strain upon Catherine. People from her past come calling, the threat that the King may find out she is not the pure, innocent maiden he thinks she is puts her in peril. Catherine must imitate the Queens of the past in order to survive.
And she must ignore her love for another man.
On the day of her wedding, Catherine begins a dangerous game, wearing a mask, hoping to fool the King, until the day she can be free.
No More Time to Dance is book two in The Story of Catherine Howard, by G. Lawrence
The author's thank are due to Julia Gibbs, proof reader of this work, and BetiBup Designs, the cover artist.
483 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2019
301 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
G. Lawrence
50 books279 followersI am an independently published author, and proud to be so. Living in a little cottage in Wales in the UK, I love where I live as much as I love to write.
The age of the Tudors has been an obsession for me since I was a child, and many of my upcoming books will center on that time, but I also pen the odd dystopian fiction or historical fiction from other time periods. I will be releasing all my titles on amazon, for kindle and then hopefully for print later.
I studied Literature (with a capital L) at University and usually have twenty or more books I'm currently reading. Reading and writing are about mood for me, and I haven't found a genre I didn't enjoy something about so far...
You can often find me on Wattpad or Twitter when I'm not writing...
The age of the Tudors has been an obsession for me since I was a child, and many of my upcoming books will center on that time, but I also pen the odd dystopian fiction or historical fiction from other time periods. I will be releasing all my titles on amazon, for kindle and then hopefully for print later.
I studied Literature (with a capital L) at University and usually have twenty or more books I'm currently reading. Reading and writing are about mood for me, and I haven't found a genre I didn't enjoy something about so far...
You can often find me on Wattpad or Twitter when I'm not writing...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 30, 2025
4.5 stars.
My goodness, this author really knows how to bring the Tudor era to life! I am particularly fond of her series centered around Anne Boleyn; it stands as one of my all-time favorites. After experiencing that captivating narrative, I was eager to read her duology about Catherine Howard, and I must say it did not disappoint.
The first book in the duology delves deeply into Catherine's life before her fateful encounter with King Henry VIII, culminating with her dramatic wedding to him. The second book picks up immediately after, exploring the complexities of her new role as queen.
I can confidently say that among the multitude of books I have read about Henry VIII's wives—and believe me, I've read quite a few—this one genuinely instilled a sense of fear towards Henry. The author masterfully captures Catherine's emotional turmoil regarding the king, which made the hair on my arms stand up. It felt exhausting to imagine living under such pressure, constantly striving to please him while needing to decipher his unpredictable moods.
What I particularly admired was how the author portrayed Catherine in a more nuanced light. In many historical accounts, films, and novels, she is often depicted as a shallow, naive young woman, overly preoccupied with flirtation, which undermines her true character. Common belief suggests she was blissfully unaware of the perils surrounding her, but that view disregards the reality that she was the fifth wife—a position fraught with danger.
In this narrative, Catherine is depicted as a young, naive woman with an intense yearning for love and affection, yet the author highlights her intelligence and adaptability. Her keen understanding of her precarious situation drove her to prioritize pleasing the king and avoid making enemies, showcasing her acumen beyond what many might assume based on her youth.
This book opened my eyes to a more thoughtful and intelligent interpretation of Catherine Howard than I had previously acknowledged, and for that, I am truly grateful. The chapters leading up to her tragic end were filled with palpable anxiety, even though I knew the historical outcome; the author's ability to manipulate readers’ emotions is truly impressive.
Another fascinating element was the incorporation of the ghosts of past queens, which lingered in the background and haunted Catherine throughout her journey, adding a hauntingly poignant layer to her story.
In conclusion, this has undoubtedly become one of my favorite books about Catherine Howard, and I am eagerly looking forward to exploring the series the author wrote about Jane Seymour next.
I only have one complaint: the length was slightly too much.
My goodness, this author really knows how to bring the Tudor era to life! I am particularly fond of her series centered around Anne Boleyn; it stands as one of my all-time favorites. After experiencing that captivating narrative, I was eager to read her duology about Catherine Howard, and I must say it did not disappoint.
The first book in the duology delves deeply into Catherine's life before her fateful encounter with King Henry VIII, culminating with her dramatic wedding to him. The second book picks up immediately after, exploring the complexities of her new role as queen.
I can confidently say that among the multitude of books I have read about Henry VIII's wives—and believe me, I've read quite a few—this one genuinely instilled a sense of fear towards Henry. The author masterfully captures Catherine's emotional turmoil regarding the king, which made the hair on my arms stand up. It felt exhausting to imagine living under such pressure, constantly striving to please him while needing to decipher his unpredictable moods.
What I particularly admired was how the author portrayed Catherine in a more nuanced light. In many historical accounts, films, and novels, she is often depicted as a shallow, naive young woman, overly preoccupied with flirtation, which undermines her true character. Common belief suggests she was blissfully unaware of the perils surrounding her, but that view disregards the reality that she was the fifth wife—a position fraught with danger.
In this narrative, Catherine is depicted as a young, naive woman with an intense yearning for love and affection, yet the author highlights her intelligence and adaptability. Her keen understanding of her precarious situation drove her to prioritize pleasing the king and avoid making enemies, showcasing her acumen beyond what many might assume based on her youth.
This book opened my eyes to a more thoughtful and intelligent interpretation of Catherine Howard than I had previously acknowledged, and for that, I am truly grateful. The chapters leading up to her tragic end were filled with palpable anxiety, even though I knew the historical outcome; the author's ability to manipulate readers’ emotions is truly impressive.
Another fascinating element was the incorporation of the ghosts of past queens, which lingered in the background and haunted Catherine throughout her journey, adding a hauntingly poignant layer to her story.
In conclusion, this has undoubtedly become one of my favorite books about Catherine Howard, and I am eagerly looking forward to exploring the series the author wrote about Jane Seymour next.
I only have one complaint: the length was slightly too much.
May 21, 2019
Loved it, loved it. This second book takes us from the beginning of Catherine's marriage to Henry VIII, to her death, and in this book, as in the previous one, Gemma Lawrence shows us a different Catherine from the one so often portrayed; a young woman ill-educated, but not without intelligence and understanding of people. A woman who knew what she must do to survive, until those who resented her position whispered the words that would bring about her downfall.
At the end of the book, Ms Lawrence's notes give her educated opinion about many of the fictions and assumptions told down the years, about this fifth wife of Henry. For instance, she never said that she would rather die as the wife of Thomas Culpepper than live as the wife of the King, and it is unlikely that she had the raging physical affair with Culpepper as portrayed, for instance, in Showtime's The Tudors. We actually have very little factual knowledge about her.
Lawrence's Catherine talks much about the lot of women in that period in which she lived, and about the men who abused her (Manox and Dereham): Their greatest power is our silence. An echo through time, of all women too scared to speak out about abuse, both mental and physical. This aspect, though, is not rammed down the reader's throat; it's just a cracking good read, in which I was totally engrossed all the way through. The historical detail paints perfect pictures, both of the way in which the people lived, and England itself (I loved reading about the Progress, the buildings, the countryside). The sense of suspense when Catherine doesn't know that she is far from safe is real page-turning stuff.
Excellent two book series. Highly recommended.
At the end of the book, Ms Lawrence's notes give her educated opinion about many of the fictions and assumptions told down the years, about this fifth wife of Henry. For instance, she never said that she would rather die as the wife of Thomas Culpepper than live as the wife of the King, and it is unlikely that she had the raging physical affair with Culpepper as portrayed, for instance, in Showtime's The Tudors. We actually have very little factual knowledge about her.
Lawrence's Catherine talks much about the lot of women in that period in which she lived, and about the men who abused her (Manox and Dereham): Their greatest power is our silence. An echo through time, of all women too scared to speak out about abuse, both mental and physical. This aspect, though, is not rammed down the reader's throat; it's just a cracking good read, in which I was totally engrossed all the way through. The historical detail paints perfect pictures, both of the way in which the people lived, and England itself (I loved reading about the Progress, the buildings, the countryside). The sense of suspense when Catherine doesn't know that she is far from safe is real page-turning stuff.
Excellent two book series. Highly recommended.
June 1, 2019
A chick flic
Too much message . Tudor people were a lot tougher than the author imagines. Childhood was extremely brief and unimportant and of course people did not
live very long. Although the author won't agree, you can't believe a real person just because you like her, even an historical person
Too much message . Tudor people were a lot tougher than the author imagines. Childhood was extremely brief and unimportant and of course people did not
live very long. Although the author won't agree, you can't believe a real person just because you like her, even an historical person
May 25, 2020
This book went on and on trying to prove that Catherine Howard was abused as a child and lived her life in perpetual fear as wife of Henry VIII (we do get this but the long monologues in Catherine's head sound too profound and intense for this girl-queen who lasted on the throne for just a little over a year).
December 11, 2019
Here, the story of Henry VIII’s fifth queen, Katherine Howard, becomes an old school Horror film – racking tensions, an inescapable monster, and a pretty teenage girl who you know is going to die because she had sex.
There are times when Katherine talks as though she has had several years of therapy as well as completed a graduate studies on 6th wave feminism, but who better to use as a spokesperson to call out BS on ‘boys will be boys / all girls are whores who had it coming’ culture, than one of the victims of it?
Lawrence takes the known facts of the Howard’s brief reign and suggests different motives behind all the actions – making a solid case that Katherine was a lot smarted than anyone has ever given her credit for. And argues how well she did while probably being terrified the entire time.
This version also crams in just about every known fact of the time period, to try and give a full picture of what was happening to and around Katherine Howard while she was queen. I would love to see Lawrence do a factual biography of Howard using this approach of putting her in context, but as it is, it does strain credibility that Katherine Howard would be so well informed of all events taking place.
On the same note, the language is mostly modernized, but here and there Lawrence takes a direct quote straight from the primary sources and stick it straight in a character’s mouth – which makes for some clunky dialogue at times. The whole thing should have been modernized, rather than this half-in-half approach.
So, while there are some parts I’d say needed work, overall the book was a remarkable piece of historical fiction, making a strong case for how maligned and overlooked Katherine Howard has been.
February 20, 2024
No More Time to Dance is the second book in a beautiful and unique duology about Catherine Howard. I can guess what you are thinking: Unique? How is that possible? Catherine was one of Henry VIII’s wives. Many authors have written about her life and death.
True, but both Shadow of Persephone (Book 1) and No More Time to Dance (Book 2) are different and vastly superior to other accounts. Whereas many authors portray Catherine as a sexy vixen, in Lawrence’s hands we meet a girl whose only “crime” was being born female in a family eager for recognition and advancement in Henry VIII’s court. Indeed, Lawrence is the first author I’ve read who has given Catherine Howard the respect that all women deserve, regardless of the era in which they live and their station in life. In doing so, she has told a touching true-life tale of a girl who became a queen, with lessons that are sure to remain in reader’s hearts.
I chose this series because I enjoy reading a variety of authors, and it includes only two books. That was a mistake. I cannot wait to immerse myself in a lengthy series by this author. Highly recommended!
True, but both Shadow of Persephone (Book 1) and No More Time to Dance (Book 2) are different and vastly superior to other accounts. Whereas many authors portray Catherine as a sexy vixen, in Lawrence’s hands we meet a girl whose only “crime” was being born female in a family eager for recognition and advancement in Henry VIII’s court. Indeed, Lawrence is the first author I’ve read who has given Catherine Howard the respect that all women deserve, regardless of the era in which they live and their station in life. In doing so, she has told a touching true-life tale of a girl who became a queen, with lessons that are sure to remain in reader’s hearts.
I chose this series because I enjoy reading a variety of authors, and it includes only two books. That was a mistake. I cannot wait to immerse myself in a lengthy series by this author. Highly recommended!
July 22, 2020
Started out good but then had to tack on a bunch of progressive liberal tripe against Christianity. Good portrait of Henry and Katherine otherwise.
August 31, 2019
This is Book 2 of the story of Queen Catherine Howard. Just like the first book it was wonderful. A completely different view of this Queen who is most often portrayed as dimwitted. I really felt connected to Catherine the entire time I was reading these two books and applaud the author for really getting into the mindset of Catherine.
The author's notes are a great read as well. I will definitely read more books by this author.
The author's notes are a great read as well. I will definitely read more books by this author.
Read
August 31, 2019Love it. Saddened by it. Fantastic read.
February 8, 2020
28 July 1540 Oatlands Palace, Catherine's wedding day and this book picks up from where the first instalment ends and continues through to her demise.
I found myself not wanting to put this down. Just one more chapter, I'd tell myself before bed and three chapters later I'm still reading.
Lawrence has a beautiful way of letting us see the past as it may have been and gives us a glimpse in to what a royal progress must have been like.
Loved the description of York, as somewhere I'd like to explore I was particularly intrigued by this part. Lawrence has brought the past to the reader.
I also liked how Catherine matured in this book and learnt the ways of the court and how to please the king whilst dreaming of her future. It really is a tragic story especially for someone so young. It's sad that she is abandoned by the man who threw her at the king, the king himself and the man who claimed to love her. I mentioned after the first book that it's a refreshing portrayal of Catherine and I still agree with that. I think she's been shown unfairly in other books but I'm always happy to read more!
One last thing that I've really liked about this series is the authors note at the end. I do not think an author should have to justify their work but I always enjoy it when they provide reasoning for their view on things which is exactly what Lawrence has done here. She explains why she has portrayed Catherine in this way as opposed to the flighty manner we have seen before and I really enjoyed reading these notes.
I found myself not wanting to put this down. Just one more chapter, I'd tell myself before bed and three chapters later I'm still reading.
Lawrence has a beautiful way of letting us see the past as it may have been and gives us a glimpse in to what a royal progress must have been like.
Loved the description of York, as somewhere I'd like to explore I was particularly intrigued by this part. Lawrence has brought the past to the reader.
I also liked how Catherine matured in this book and learnt the ways of the court and how to please the king whilst dreaming of her future. It really is a tragic story especially for someone so young. It's sad that she is abandoned by the man who threw her at the king, the king himself and the man who claimed to love her. I mentioned after the first book that it's a refreshing portrayal of Catherine and I still agree with that. I think she's been shown unfairly in other books but I'm always happy to read more!
One last thing that I've really liked about this series is the authors note at the end. I do not think an author should have to justify their work but I always enjoy it when they provide reasoning for their view on things which is exactly what Lawrence has done here. She explains why she has portrayed Catherine in this way as opposed to the flighty manner we have seen before and I really enjoyed reading these notes.
June 27, 2019
Horrible book, written more for a child than for adults to read.
September 29, 2024
Refreshingly Honest
The sadness of Catherine Howard appears to finally be explained. I didn't know a great deal of her story, this 5th wife of the monster known as Henry 8, but after reading this sad tale I can only feel remorse that she lived such a brief and sullied life.
Little more than a teenager at the time of her death, she's just not known for any particular accomplishment or context, but for being such a young child and exposed to such an evil and predatory king it seems the eventual end of her brief life was almost predetermined and incredibly sorrowful.
We hold such bias and prejudice against women even in our current society that I can easily understand how frightening and threatening her existence must have been. Honestly it does not seem as though she had one person in her life that she could trust beyond the eventual betrayal that brought her to her youthful and unjust death.
I highly recommend this and the other books in this series. If you have an interest in Tudor times and events they are overwhelmingly found to be essential to understand the twisted and vicious, and utterly disgusting person who actually was one of the worst monarchs England ever had. That the end of Tudor dynasty would become one of the greatest is mind boggling and beyond my frail understanding of the historical process.
Read this with an open mind and heart. It's just not the story of a confused girl. It's the underpinnings of one of the best periods of English history.
The sadness of Catherine Howard appears to finally be explained. I didn't know a great deal of her story, this 5th wife of the monster known as Henry 8, but after reading this sad tale I can only feel remorse that she lived such a brief and sullied life.
Little more than a teenager at the time of her death, she's just not known for any particular accomplishment or context, but for being such a young child and exposed to such an evil and predatory king it seems the eventual end of her brief life was almost predetermined and incredibly sorrowful.
We hold such bias and prejudice against women even in our current society that I can easily understand how frightening and threatening her existence must have been. Honestly it does not seem as though she had one person in her life that she could trust beyond the eventual betrayal that brought her to her youthful and unjust death.
I highly recommend this and the other books in this series. If you have an interest in Tudor times and events they are overwhelmingly found to be essential to understand the twisted and vicious, and utterly disgusting person who actually was one of the worst monarchs England ever had. That the end of Tudor dynasty would become one of the greatest is mind boggling and beyond my frail understanding of the historical process.
Read this with an open mind and heart. It's just not the story of a confused girl. It's the underpinnings of one of the best periods of English history.
November 14, 2019
Spirited defence of an innocent child
This is a lovely portrayal of a young girl married to a sick, ageing monster and trying to survive the terrifying paranoia of Henry VIII's court in the latter years of his reign. The arrogant, narcisstic, weak, bloated, insecure man that Catherine married had long outlived the athletic glory of his youth and suffered agonising pain from his constantly suppurating (and stinking) leg ulcer. He was volatile and dangerous, yet this young girl, for a brief period, managed to soothe him and calm him where others had failed. I agree with Gemma Lawrence that she has been consistently underrated and dismissed as a flibertigibbet when she had an underlying keen perception of people. Possibly the book paints her as more articulate than she actually was (judging by her letter to Culpepper), but I think this was necessary to tell the story and do her justice. In the words of Shakespeare, she was more sinned against than sinning and this is a sympathetic and compassionate account of a young girl who had been the victim of three arrogant and avaricious men.
This is a lovely portrayal of a young girl married to a sick, ageing monster and trying to survive the terrifying paranoia of Henry VIII's court in the latter years of his reign. The arrogant, narcisstic, weak, bloated, insecure man that Catherine married had long outlived the athletic glory of his youth and suffered agonising pain from his constantly suppurating (and stinking) leg ulcer. He was volatile and dangerous, yet this young girl, for a brief period, managed to soothe him and calm him where others had failed. I agree with Gemma Lawrence that she has been consistently underrated and dismissed as a flibertigibbet when she had an underlying keen perception of people. Possibly the book paints her as more articulate than she actually was (judging by her letter to Culpepper), but I think this was necessary to tell the story and do her justice. In the words of Shakespeare, she was more sinned against than sinning and this is a sympathetic and compassionate account of a young girl who had been the victim of three arrogant and avaricious men.
July 17, 2022
Jean38no
I have read both books Re: Catherine Howard. They were both enjoyable . The author draws the reader into the Tudor era. She invites you to the table of the rich. The different choice dishes set before the king and court. The rich fabrics of the clothes. I who love historical fiction enjoyed descriptions of the castles, the decorations . The different pageants performances along the way during the progresses made mostly to benefit the King. As the reader feel you are there. You hear the music, laughter, noises of the court. She actually brought Henry VIII to life for me in a way that I felt as if I really got to know him. Out of the hundreds of books I’ve read on the Tudor period. This was one of the best for character depiction. I really like how the author brought all her characters to life.
I have read both books Re: Catherine Howard. They were both enjoyable . The author draws the reader into the Tudor era. She invites you to the table of the rich. The different choice dishes set before the king and court. The rich fabrics of the clothes. I who love historical fiction enjoyed descriptions of the castles, the decorations . The different pageants performances along the way during the progresses made mostly to benefit the King. As the reader feel you are there. You hear the music, laughter, noises of the court. She actually brought Henry VIII to life for me in a way that I felt as if I really got to know him. Out of the hundreds of books I’ve read on the Tudor period. This was one of the best for character depiction. I really like how the author brought all her characters to life.
May 29, 2020
Insightful
What an amazing point of view about this wife of that bastard Henry VIII. As the author points out not a lot of attention is paid to Catherine Howard and what is said is derogatory. The author paints a picture of the young woman’s life that is likely fairly true. For a teenager to have to put up with and pretend to be delighted in the attentions of an obese and foul smelling old man.... it disgusts me to my core. While I’d not thought much of Catherine Howard before I did sympathize with her that she had to deal with a nasty, corpulent, old man. The theories of her abuse in this book are an amazing insight and I’m so glad I took the time to read both in the series. Unfortunately we can’t change history but we can learn from the abuse of the past.
What an amazing point of view about this wife of that bastard Henry VIII. As the author points out not a lot of attention is paid to Catherine Howard and what is said is derogatory. The author paints a picture of the young woman’s life that is likely fairly true. For a teenager to have to put up with and pretend to be delighted in the attentions of an obese and foul smelling old man.... it disgusts me to my core. While I’d not thought much of Catherine Howard before I did sympathize with her that she had to deal with a nasty, corpulent, old man. The theories of her abuse in this book are an amazing insight and I’m so glad I took the time to read both in the series. Unfortunately we can’t change history but we can learn from the abuse of the past.
December 2, 2021
I enjoyed this book and the one before it a lot. The author fleshes out Catherine's character incredibly well in the second book and really manages to give her agency and drive even in a situation where the outcome is inevitable and where Catherine is essentially trapped as a pawn in dangerous times. G. Lawrence in some ways redeems Catherine Howard from a lot of the flack she gets from history and makes her into a strong protagonist who can hold her own against a tyrant king in a realistic way.
I felt there were parts of the novel where the pace/plot dragged a little, perhaps because as the story progressed the inevitable end loomed large, weakening the tension a little, which is the only reason this isn't a five star review. Otherwise, this was a really enjoyable read.
I felt there were parts of the novel where the pace/plot dragged a little, perhaps because as the story progressed the inevitable end loomed large, weakening the tension a little, which is the only reason this isn't a five star review. Otherwise, this was a really enjoyable read.
July 19, 2019
A very different and very believable portrayal of Catherine Howard.
Well researched and very thoughtful and insightful presentation of Catherine Howard. I'm totally persuaded and can understand fully the portrait of a very young girl who wanted affection and was abused by men that realised her weakness. Was happily surprised to read this candid look into Catherine's troubled but heroic character, where psychology and the manner we live our lives based on our experiences is used by the author to explain and complete a profile of an important woman, obviously chosen by a king, that has been set aside by historians. Enjoyed it very much.
Well researched and very thoughtful and insightful presentation of Catherine Howard. I'm totally persuaded and can understand fully the portrait of a very young girl who wanted affection and was abused by men that realised her weakness. Was happily surprised to read this candid look into Catherine's troubled but heroic character, where psychology and the manner we live our lives based on our experiences is used by the author to explain and complete a profile of an important woman, obviously chosen by a king, that has been set aside by historians. Enjoyed it very much.
July 23, 2019
Great combination of history with a little fiction/supposition to help poor young Catherine a bit. But I suspect the fiction part of her story is mostly accurate! Catherine Howard was a little girl used as a pawn by powerful men. She was playing a life or death game and had no clue.
Lawrence does a wonderful job connecting the dots between the facts.While we'll never know what Catherine Howard whispered to her friends and ladies, we do know that she was a lost little girl who simply wanted to feel secure and loved. Unfortunately, she was toy thrown at a grieving king.When he tired of her, he disposed of her and moved on.
Lawrence does a wonderful job connecting the dots between the facts.While we'll never know what Catherine Howard whispered to her friends and ladies, we do know that she was a lost little girl who simply wanted to feel secure and loved. Unfortunately, she was toy thrown at a grieving king.When he tired of her, he disposed of her and moved on.
November 21, 2020
A very sympathetic representation of a woman who's history is mostly unknown. Kathryn Howard is portrayed a survivor of child abuse, given the scant information about her childhood, is extremely viable. I think Kathryn Howard was brilliant in recognizing Henry VII as the monster he was, and did her level best to survive.
The author is a master of poetic writing, and presents a very plausible storyline about Kathryn Howard. I truely enjoy Lawrence's storytelling, she is a master of her craft. She has the gift of bringing history to life.
The author is a master of poetic writing, and presents a very plausible storyline about Kathryn Howard. I truely enjoy Lawrence's storytelling, she is a master of her craft. She has the gift of bringing history to life.
May 26, 2020
Both books are a worthy read
The story of Catherine was fascinating. The author definitely did her research. The story was very detailed; you felt submersed in the era. I understand for the need for the history at the beginning of the first book, but would’ve preferred it a little more concise getting to Catherine’s story faster. You won’t regret reading these books. They’re definitely a worth your time.
The story of Catherine was fascinating. The author definitely did her research. The story was very detailed; you felt submersed in the era. I understand for the need for the history at the beginning of the first book, but would’ve preferred it a little more concise getting to Catherine’s story faster. You won’t regret reading these books. They’re definitely a worth your time.
July 30, 2019
It's a well written but ultimately frustrating novel. I think the subject matter is ultimately so tragic it is hard to find a way to make it glitter in the same way as her 'Above All Others' series. The heroine is, by her own admission not as clever or interesting, or even interested in much of anything beyond survival. Lawrence makes the best of that material, but it's still hard work.
July 17, 2020
The misunderstood queen
The author did a great job in representing this brave young woman. My sister was the one who knew all the Tudors backwards forward and she always said that she and Anne of Cleaves were the two most misunderstood queens. Catherine did what she had to to survive the King, court and family. She was not a feaatherhead but actually a woman with sense.
The author did a great job in representing this brave young woman. My sister was the one who knew all the Tudors backwards forward and she always said that she and Anne of Cleaves were the two most misunderstood queens. Catherine did what she had to to survive the King, court and family. She was not a feaatherhead but actually a woman with sense.
February 5, 2022
Tension continues...
G. Lawrence keeps my attention through the book, even though I know the end. She puts forward a sensitive proposal for her characters as in other books. I'm intrigued by the way she seems able to get into their heads.
She's been a favorite author this winter.
G. Lawrence keeps my attention through the book, even though I know the end. She puts forward a sensitive proposal for her characters as in other books. I'm intrigued by the way she seems able to get into their heads.
She's been a favorite author this winter.
May 23, 2019
A very different view
The two books in this series show a different perspective on Catherine. It was a very good read (as usual) and is very thought provoking. Gamma is a fabulous writer.
The two books in this series show a different perspective on Catherine. It was a very good read (as usual) and is very thought provoking. Gamma is a fabulous writer.
June 4, 2019
real page turner
I chose this rating because I was inspired! The author presented a great what-if?I will at least try a different genre. This why I would recommend this author to anyone with diverse interests.
I chose this rating because I was inspired! The author presented a great what-if?I will at least try a different genre. This why I would recommend this author to anyone with diverse interests.
November 26, 2019
A different slant on Catherine
I love the book , i found that it changed my opinion of the possibility of who she really was and was completely enthralled and a little disturbed by the life that was portrayed here. I'm a new fan now and cant wait to read more of the Author.
I love the book , i found that it changed my opinion of the possibility of who she really was and was completely enthralled and a little disturbed by the life that was portrayed here. I'm a new fan now and cant wait to read more of the Author.
December 27, 2020
Catherine the abused.
Enjoyable if drawn out story shedding new to me,light on the subject of downtrodden women in general and C.H in particular.well written interesting book ideal for covid time fodder.
Enjoyable if drawn out story shedding new to me,light on the subject of downtrodden women in general and C.H in particular.well written interesting book ideal for covid time fodder.
June 1, 2021
Great Tudor story
Continuing book one on Catherine Howard, this book brings to life the fifth wife of Henry VIII The story is believable and detailed. For Tudor fans, I think you will enjoy and recommend.
Continuing book one on Catherine Howard, this book brings to life the fifth wife of Henry VIII The story is believable and detailed. For Tudor fans, I think you will enjoy and recommend.
June 11, 2019
Profound
I thought this was a compassionate book about a misunderstood figure in English history. The narrative is even handed. Ms Lawrence brought Catherine Howard to life.
I thought this was a compassionate book about a misunderstood figure in English history. The narrative is even handed. Ms Lawrence brought Catherine Howard to life.
June 18, 2019
I usually really like her books, but this one just didn't do it for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews