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In the Shadow of a Queen
Based on the True Story of the Free-Spirited Daughter of Queen Victoria Princess Louise's life is upended after her father's untimely death. Captive to the queen's overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother's tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother―the same position each of her sisters held until they were married. Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen's wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day's political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter. Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria, but finding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit. In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown's reputation unsullied no matter the cost.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 4, 2022
303 people are currently reading
5133 people want to read
About the author
Heather B. Moore
175 books1,584 followersHeather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.
Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.
Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.
Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.
Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.
Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
May 30, 2022
England, 1861. This story begins with Princess Louise at age twelve and it takes about one-third of the book before she reaches eighteen. Her adolescent years are slow in pace. The story picks the pace half way through when her mother tries to match her with the right candidate for a husband.
The style of writing has a lot of who is doing what, how people are behaving, or at times step-by-step descriptions with lots of dialogue. I was missing characterization of a strong character. Princess Louise is artistically talented and a strong willed person who’d rather forge her own path, rather than follow the strict protocols. And the story weaves it in, but I just didn’t feel it.
It is still an interesting story with a smooth prose. When it comes to dialogue, it’s a personal preference, less dialogue and more characterization. Thus, you may not even notice it.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The style of writing has a lot of who is doing what, how people are behaving, or at times step-by-step descriptions with lots of dialogue. I was missing characterization of a strong character. Princess Louise is artistically talented and a strong willed person who’d rather forge her own path, rather than follow the strict protocols. And the story weaves it in, but I just didn’t feel it.
It is still an interesting story with a smooth prose. When it comes to dialogue, it’s a personal preference, less dialogue and more characterization. Thus, you may not even notice it.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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February 26, 2022My interest in royal families dates back to the 1980s when I began reading about Queen Elizabeth I. Monarchies have always fascinated me. Queen Victoria became of particular interest to me when I learned more about her five daughters and the contributions they made to women’s causes throughout Europe by establishing schools and founding charities. Not only that, but her daughters also became the voice of the Crown. Queen Victoria relied on them to serve as her private secretaries while she battled with severe depression and kept her eldest son—and heir—at arm’s length.
More specifically, Princess Louise interested me because she deviated from the traditional path of royals during her era by marrying a commoner and pursuing the masculine career of a sculptor. One might consider the modern embodiment of Princess Louise to be Princess Diana, who was also committed to the downtrodden and redefined what it meant to be a royal.
My family lineage extends to British royalty, as does my husband’s, and I tried in vain to find a direct link with Princess Louise herself. There was no link since she didn’t have children, but my husband is a distant cousin to the Argyll family.
I spent a full six months researching and writing about Princess Louise. Even in the editing process, I was still discovering nuances and tidbits. Princess Louise might have been a member of the most prestigious royal family of her time, but she took a step back from glitter and glamour and found ways to positively impact the lives of others, even when the climb was straight uphill. She had a queen for a mother, and Louise’s voice was often strictly controlled and limited to what was considered acceptable for the era. Yet she managed to carve out a fulfilling life and push through barriers in order to achieve her hopes.
It was my honor to write her story.
More specifically, Princess Louise interested me because she deviated from the traditional path of royals during her era by marrying a commoner and pursuing the masculine career of a sculptor. One might consider the modern embodiment of Princess Louise to be Princess Diana, who was also committed to the downtrodden and redefined what it meant to be a royal.
My family lineage extends to British royalty, as does my husband’s, and I tried in vain to find a direct link with Princess Louise herself. There was no link since she didn’t have children, but my husband is a distant cousin to the Argyll family.
I spent a full six months researching and writing about Princess Louise. Even in the editing process, I was still discovering nuances and tidbits. Princess Louise might have been a member of the most prestigious royal family of her time, but she took a step back from glitter and glamour and found ways to positively impact the lives of others, even when the climb was straight uphill. She had a queen for a mother, and Louise’s voice was often strictly controlled and limited to what was considered acceptable for the era. Yet she managed to carve out a fulfilling life and push through barriers in order to achieve her hopes.
It was my honor to write her story.
November 18, 2022
In this book, the reader is introduced to the life of Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, during her teens and early twenties. The early death of her father, the beloved Prince Albert, and the perpetual mourning of her mother had a lasting influence on her upbringing. As she grows into womanhood and marries, this look at her life explores the mores of the time, the machinations involved in selecting a suitable match for a royal princess, and the stalwartness yet repressed mindset of the queen. Louise had a mind of her own pursuing sculpting and embracing women’s rights and charitable causes, yet her early life was tightly controlled by her mother.
This is an engrossing, pleasant read. I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction based a a real person’s life, as I am always skeptical as to how much is fact and how much is fiction. However, this work is well researched and documented. While certainly the dialog is imagined, it embellishes authenticated events and observations.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m glad I took the time to read it.
Thanks to #netgalley and @shadowmountainpub for the ARC
This is an engrossing, pleasant read. I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction based a a real person’s life, as I am always skeptical as to how much is fact and how much is fiction. However, this work is well researched and documented. While certainly the dialog is imagined, it embellishes authenticated events and observations.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m glad I took the time to read it.
Thanks to #netgalley and @shadowmountainpub for the ARC
September 26, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Shadow Mountain Publishing for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
Incredibly detailed, In the Shadow of a Queen is a beautiful story of family and romance in the monarchy.
"The gaiety, the chatter, the switching of partners, the planning of future outings - all of which Louise could never be a part of as a princess.
Loneliness was a strange thing for a young woman to feel when she had so much and was surrounded by so many."
I found Louise to be an incredibly compelling character, and although this book was about her, the desire for realism made it difficult to connect. She wants to paint and sculpt and be political, but her position prevents this to a certain extent, and we don't get a real emotional exploration into how she feels about this. Some moments like these feel too superficial, while others are intricately detailed. It balances out to a good story, but I guess I wanted more.
I appreciated the slow-burn romance, the search for a partner who fulfils all needs, and then most, and then some - until finally, the queen is ready to settle for anyone that Louise will seriously consider. It seems rather progressive that the queen allowed Louise to have her say and then actually stuck to it despite how long it took. The queen was a portrait of contradictions, letting Louise do so many surprising things and then turning down seemingly innocuous requests.
The bright shining spot here is the closeness of the family with all its politics and drama. Louise seems to be born at the right time to interact and be close with most of her siblings. Partially a daughter to some and partly a mother to others - the messy traditions and misunderstandings are incredibly realistic.
I enjoyed In the Shadow of a Queen and read it in one sitting (on a plane). Something about Louise draws you in, and you want to learn everything about her. I'm not enough of a history buff to know how much was accurate or even close. Writing about real people must be constraining; sure, you can tweak some things to fit the story, but history will tell you where they were and what they did. Regardless of how honest to history this narrative is, I definitely enjoyed it.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
Incredibly detailed, In the Shadow of a Queen is a beautiful story of family and romance in the monarchy.
"The gaiety, the chatter, the switching of partners, the planning of future outings - all of which Louise could never be a part of as a princess.
Loneliness was a strange thing for a young woman to feel when she had so much and was surrounded by so many."
I found Louise to be an incredibly compelling character, and although this book was about her, the desire for realism made it difficult to connect. She wants to paint and sculpt and be political, but her position prevents this to a certain extent, and we don't get a real emotional exploration into how she feels about this. Some moments like these feel too superficial, while others are intricately detailed. It balances out to a good story, but I guess I wanted more.
I appreciated the slow-burn romance, the search for a partner who fulfils all needs, and then most, and then some - until finally, the queen is ready to settle for anyone that Louise will seriously consider. It seems rather progressive that the queen allowed Louise to have her say and then actually stuck to it despite how long it took. The queen was a portrait of contradictions, letting Louise do so many surprising things and then turning down seemingly innocuous requests.
The bright shining spot here is the closeness of the family with all its politics and drama. Louise seems to be born at the right time to interact and be close with most of her siblings. Partially a daughter to some and partly a mother to others - the messy traditions and misunderstandings are incredibly realistic.
I enjoyed In the Shadow of a Queen and read it in one sitting (on a plane). Something about Louise draws you in, and you want to learn everything about her. I'm not enough of a history buff to know how much was accurate or even close. Writing about real people must be constraining; sure, you can tweak some things to fit the story, but history will tell you where they were and what they did. Regardless of how honest to history this narrative is, I definitely enjoyed it.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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August 26, 2022
I've always enjoyed learning about the English monarchy, especially as a young girl and dreaming about being a princess. It was just so fascinating to me. All of the rules and the lifestyle and duties. Of course I probably romanticized a lot of it but at the same time it was the history and trying to understand what life was like long before I was alive. Combine history and the story of a princess who lived many years ago and I couldn't wait to pick up this next book from author Heather B. Moore. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint at all!!! But I always know that when I pick up a book from this author, in whatever genre she is writing in, I will enjoy it!
My reading time has been really limited lately so it did take me a while to finish this one. But I found myself thinking about it a lot in between my time to read it. But I couldn't fall asleep without at least reading a page or two or a chapter or two depending on how tired I was. I found it so interesting. I loved the excerpts from letters or journal entries that the author included at the beginning of each chapter. Some were from Louise and some were to her and others were Queen Victoria's journal entries. I bet the research for this book was quite extensive and very fascinating. I'm sure the author had to really be picky in what to feature and what to leave out from her research. I'm bet this book could be volumes and volumes long.
The book starts in 1861 when Princess Louise is 12 years old and ends in the year 1871 when she is age 23. I loved the portrait that we are able to see of her home life, her siblings, her relationships with her siblings and most especially her mother. It definitely brought a new perspective and thoughts about royalty. I loved Princess Louise's personality and her determination to do something that she loved and to champion causes she felt strongly about. Even if it wasn't quite in the way that she would have hoped to do so, she found ways to make it work and still be listening to her mother and supporting her.
I enjoyed reading about her younger years and how different experiences and losses shaped her. But I especially loved reading about when the time came to find her a husband. Can I just say "swoon?" I won't say anything because if you haven't studied or know anything about her story, I'll let you enjoy it without any spoilers. Such a sweet and gentle love story. With the chance for her to grow and know who she is and what she truly wants. I loved how supportive Queen Victoria was.
I would love to share so much more but you need to read and discover and enjoy it for yourself if you choose to read it. Which I hope you do! The title of this book is very fitting but I loved seeing her have her moments out of the shadow of her mother/monarch and able to bask in the sun and discover herself all while staying true to her mother and the princess that she was born to be.
Content: Clean. There is some death and loss talked about throughout the book. Louise does get married but the marital relationship between her and her husband is very well written and nothing graphic. I would let me teenagers read this book.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
My reading time has been really limited lately so it did take me a while to finish this one. But I found myself thinking about it a lot in between my time to read it. But I couldn't fall asleep without at least reading a page or two or a chapter or two depending on how tired I was. I found it so interesting. I loved the excerpts from letters or journal entries that the author included at the beginning of each chapter. Some were from Louise and some were to her and others were Queen Victoria's journal entries. I bet the research for this book was quite extensive and very fascinating. I'm sure the author had to really be picky in what to feature and what to leave out from her research. I'm bet this book could be volumes and volumes long.
The book starts in 1861 when Princess Louise is 12 years old and ends in the year 1871 when she is age 23. I loved the portrait that we are able to see of her home life, her siblings, her relationships with her siblings and most especially her mother. It definitely brought a new perspective and thoughts about royalty. I loved Princess Louise's personality and her determination to do something that she loved and to champion causes she felt strongly about. Even if it wasn't quite in the way that she would have hoped to do so, she found ways to make it work and still be listening to her mother and supporting her.
I enjoyed reading about her younger years and how different experiences and losses shaped her. But I especially loved reading about when the time came to find her a husband. Can I just say "swoon?" I won't say anything because if you haven't studied or know anything about her story, I'll let you enjoy it without any spoilers. Such a sweet and gentle love story. With the chance for her to grow and know who she is and what she truly wants. I loved how supportive Queen Victoria was.
I would love to share so much more but you need to read and discover and enjoy it for yourself if you choose to read it. Which I hope you do! The title of this book is very fitting but I loved seeing her have her moments out of the shadow of her mother/monarch and able to bask in the sun and discover herself all while staying true to her mother and the princess that she was born to be.
Content: Clean. There is some death and loss talked about throughout the book. Louise does get married but the marital relationship between her and her husband is very well written and nothing graphic. I would let me teenagers read this book.
I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
September 8, 2022
A royal like no other!
Author Heather B. Moore’s meticulous research reveals, and brings to life for us, a fascinating woman, modern before her time, whose story has been previously hidden and overlooked.
Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was independently minded, a free spirit, a feminist, and a supporter of woman’s rights who championed many causes. She was also a talented sculptor who fought for the right to receive an education and marry for love. Moore shows us that the Duchess of Argyll carved her own path through life, even until the very end.
I appreciated Moore’s insight into the lady in black who refused to smile - Queen Victoria. Although Princess Louise was irritated by her mother’s continuous mourning and the restrictions it placed on Louise herself, it was good for me to see the reasons behind the queen’s behaviour and understand a little of the loneliness that accompanied a royal title. I was secretly cheering for Princess Louise as she perused the list of eligible bachelors, set out her own parameters, and chose intelligence and love over position and politics. I breathed a sigh of relief as she emerged from 'the shadow of a queen' in mourning and blossomed into a strong, independent woman.
Moore has sparked my interest in this formidable woman and I’m curious to know more about the wife of my country’s fourth Governor General.
If you are a royal watcher or fan, or if you simply want to know more about this forgotten princess, this spectacular book by a trusted author is one you'll want to add to your reading list.
I was gifted this advance copy by Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Author Heather B. Moore’s meticulous research reveals, and brings to life for us, a fascinating woman, modern before her time, whose story has been previously hidden and overlooked.
Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was independently minded, a free spirit, a feminist, and a supporter of woman’s rights who championed many causes. She was also a talented sculptor who fought for the right to receive an education and marry for love. Moore shows us that the Duchess of Argyll carved her own path through life, even until the very end.
I appreciated Moore’s insight into the lady in black who refused to smile - Queen Victoria. Although Princess Louise was irritated by her mother’s continuous mourning and the restrictions it placed on Louise herself, it was good for me to see the reasons behind the queen’s behaviour and understand a little of the loneliness that accompanied a royal title. I was secretly cheering for Princess Louise as she perused the list of eligible bachelors, set out her own parameters, and chose intelligence and love over position and politics. I breathed a sigh of relief as she emerged from 'the shadow of a queen' in mourning and blossomed into a strong, independent woman.
Moore has sparked my interest in this formidable woman and I’m curious to know more about the wife of my country’s fourth Governor General.
If you are a royal watcher or fan, or if you simply want to know more about this forgotten princess, this spectacular book by a trusted author is one you'll want to add to your reading list.
I was gifted this advance copy by Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 7, 2022
Wow this was such a fascinating read! It was so hard stopping myself from looking up Princess Louise’s wiki to learn all about her life ASAP! But Heather Moore captured her spirit beautifully.
👸🏻
Princess Louise didn’t ask for the life of a royal. She’d rather be sculpting (which is a man’s art) or helping the suffragettes. All things her mama aka Queen Victoria disapproves of.
👸🏻
You follow along big and little moments of Louise’s life from the death of her father, to watching her siblings marry and move away and then when her turn comes. I’ll be honest - I knew of Victoria and Albert but nothing of their offspring. Then add in the death of Queen Elizabeth II recently and I had to see how they were all connected! My goodness they liked to keep things in the family and with other royals.
👸🏻
I’ve always gravitated toward Royal plot lines mostly thanks to early Disney princess movies from like the 5 princesses at the time 😅 and Louise’s life was full and lonely. I knew Victoria loved Albert and mourned him a long time by wearing black but she had a strict household. I don’t think I would want to live in the shadow of a queen.
👸🏻
I loved Louise and her beau and the journey she took in life. Such a great example to others of how to help others and crafting. One day I’d love to see her art in person! 😍
👸🏻
This was an easy read and I appreciated the author’s notes at the end. Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley and Austenprose PR for the e-arc copy. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
👸🏻
Princess Louise didn’t ask for the life of a royal. She’d rather be sculpting (which is a man’s art) or helping the suffragettes. All things her mama aka Queen Victoria disapproves of.
👸🏻
You follow along big and little moments of Louise’s life from the death of her father, to watching her siblings marry and move away and then when her turn comes. I’ll be honest - I knew of Victoria and Albert but nothing of their offspring. Then add in the death of Queen Elizabeth II recently and I had to see how they were all connected! My goodness they liked to keep things in the family and with other royals.
👸🏻
I’ve always gravitated toward Royal plot lines mostly thanks to early Disney princess movies from like the 5 princesses at the time 😅 and Louise’s life was full and lonely. I knew Victoria loved Albert and mourned him a long time by wearing black but she had a strict household. I don’t think I would want to live in the shadow of a queen.
👸🏻
I loved Louise and her beau and the journey she took in life. Such a great example to others of how to help others and crafting. One day I’d love to see her art in person! 😍
👸🏻
This was an easy read and I appreciated the author’s notes at the end. Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley and Austenprose PR for the e-arc copy. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
September 28, 2022
You know the saying, "timing is everything?" I feel like that applies to the release of this book. Here we have a book about the British Royals and the beloved queen of England has just passed away. Of course this sparks all kinds of curiosity about royals and this book is perfect for royal fans and those just curious about Queen Victoria and her family.
I, myself, have British roots. My grandparents immigrated from England and they loved their queen. They followed the British royalty from the US and were devoted to them.
This story follows Princess Louise from childhood to adulthood. Her personality really shines through as we get to know her and the whole royal family through her. This is a long book with a long list of secondary characters. I was, of course, more emotionally invested in Princess Louise than anyone else. Actually, she was probably the only one I felt that with. I enjoyed learning about her and her passions. Her journey to love and a life outside of the confines of the royal palace was satisfying. I loved how much she wanted to make a difference in the world and most especially in the world of women.
Did I mention that this book is long? It is. It also moves at a very sedate pace without many big pushes in forward momentum. The whole world of royals is so different from mine, and therefore, so interesting. I really enjoyed learning about Princess Louise.
Content: death, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I, myself, have British roots. My grandparents immigrated from England and they loved their queen. They followed the British royalty from the US and were devoted to them.
This story follows Princess Louise from childhood to adulthood. Her personality really shines through as we get to know her and the whole royal family through her. This is a long book with a long list of secondary characters. I was, of course, more emotionally invested in Princess Louise than anyone else. Actually, she was probably the only one I felt that with. I enjoyed learning about her and her passions. Her journey to love and a life outside of the confines of the royal palace was satisfying. I loved how much she wanted to make a difference in the world and most especially in the world of women.
Did I mention that this book is long? It is. It also moves at a very sedate pace without many big pushes in forward momentum. The whole world of royals is so different from mine, and therefore, so interesting. I really enjoyed learning about Princess Louise.
Content: death, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 5, 2022
More and more, I love learning about history and Heather Moore is brilliant at bringing the past to life in a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting way. Her meticulous research captures the fascinating life of the talented Princess Louise, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria in this latest book. I fell in love with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert watching the PBS series and couldn’t wait to read this story. It did not disappoint! It has that same delightful feel and was so hard to put down. When I finished, I wanted to know even more.
The book begins with Louise at age twelve and follows her through her young adult years up to her first years of marriage. Each chapter begins with a quote from Queen Victoria’s journals or letters, or those of family members and friends. They were so fun to read and insightful into the close relationships they all had with each other.
Louise is a beautiful, caring, talented young woman who endures heartache especially with the loss of her beloved father, trials with her own health and that of her younger brother Leo, and the scrutiny of being a princess with its lack of privacy, endless rules and protocol, and catering to her mother’s demands. It’s clear Queen Victoria had a fierce love for her children that at times could be smothering, yet Louise learns to honor her mother’s wishes without losing her own spark and opinions. She has a genuine talent for sculpting and while she begs for lessons and school, her royal duties unfortunately preclude her from the serious study she desires. When it comes time for her to marry, none of the eligible royalty are acceptable, so despite protestations from her other children, the Queen breaks with tradition and allows Louise to marry a commoner.
Historical romance fans will enjoy Princess Louise and John Campbell’s love story. At first, John’s parents aren’t enamored with him marrying a princess. As a Scottish Marquess and future Duke of Argyll, John has his own responsibilities. His and Louise’s first meeting doesn’t quite go as planned with Louise feeling immense pressure and not ready for marriage. Their second meeting happens a year later at an informal luncheon and the two quickly develop a friendship and attraction. John has a poet’s heart that wooed me right along with Louise. With seven sisters, he’s also a champion of a woman’s right to be educated and vote. Though Louise can’t openly support women’s suffrage, she’s delighted with her husband’s views and is in full agreement. Their courtship is beautifully portrayed and it’s clear they had a loving relationship.
I loved learning more about Princess Louise and her family. I had to look up her sculptures after reading this and was amazed at her talent. The author takes great pains to honor Louise’s life in a compelling, heartwarming, well-researched way. It’s a must read for historical fiction fans, especially those interested in Queen Victoria and British royalty. I can’t wait to see what this author’s next historical fiction book will be about. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
The book begins with Louise at age twelve and follows her through her young adult years up to her first years of marriage. Each chapter begins with a quote from Queen Victoria’s journals or letters, or those of family members and friends. They were so fun to read and insightful into the close relationships they all had with each other.
Louise is a beautiful, caring, talented young woman who endures heartache especially with the loss of her beloved father, trials with her own health and that of her younger brother Leo, and the scrutiny of being a princess with its lack of privacy, endless rules and protocol, and catering to her mother’s demands. It’s clear Queen Victoria had a fierce love for her children that at times could be smothering, yet Louise learns to honor her mother’s wishes without losing her own spark and opinions. She has a genuine talent for sculpting and while she begs for lessons and school, her royal duties unfortunately preclude her from the serious study she desires. When it comes time for her to marry, none of the eligible royalty are acceptable, so despite protestations from her other children, the Queen breaks with tradition and allows Louise to marry a commoner.
Historical romance fans will enjoy Princess Louise and John Campbell’s love story. At first, John’s parents aren’t enamored with him marrying a princess. As a Scottish Marquess and future Duke of Argyll, John has his own responsibilities. His and Louise’s first meeting doesn’t quite go as planned with Louise feeling immense pressure and not ready for marriage. Their second meeting happens a year later at an informal luncheon and the two quickly develop a friendship and attraction. John has a poet’s heart that wooed me right along with Louise. With seven sisters, he’s also a champion of a woman’s right to be educated and vote. Though Louise can’t openly support women’s suffrage, she’s delighted with her husband’s views and is in full agreement. Their courtship is beautifully portrayed and it’s clear they had a loving relationship.
I loved learning more about Princess Louise and her family. I had to look up her sculptures after reading this and was amazed at her talent. The author takes great pains to honor Louise’s life in a compelling, heartwarming, well-researched way. It’s a must read for historical fiction fans, especially those interested in Queen Victoria and British royalty. I can’t wait to see what this author’s next historical fiction book will be about. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
November 11, 2022
This book was such a splendid surprise! If you thought you were interested in the life of Queen Victoria, you need to meet her daughter Louise!
This book is absolutely fascinating and incredibly well researched. It follow 10 years of Louise’s life starting with the decline of her father Alberts health.
Heather B Moore has taken her time to lay out the history and the politics of the time so that it is easily understood. I loved learning more about Louise’s family dynamics and what was expected of royalty in the Victorian era.
Louise is a champion for women and has talents and artistic desires beyond what was normal or expected for a princess at this time and I found this part of the book incredibly interesting, especially her attendance at school for her sculpting.
I thought the relationship between her and her mother, Queen Victoria was very fascinating as both often had opposing ideas of how one is to behave. She also has many sweet moments between her siblings and Heather made all the relationships come alive and feel authentic to these historical figures.
I think my favorite part of the story was when Louise meets her husband. Honestly It was so wonderful and sweet I could have read a whole separate book about their relationship.
It’s slow paced but not in a negative way. It captures Louise’s life in a wonderfully organic way that makes history 100% more accessible to those who want to dive into it!
This book is absolutely fascinating and incredibly well researched. It follow 10 years of Louise’s life starting with the decline of her father Alberts health.
Heather B Moore has taken her time to lay out the history and the politics of the time so that it is easily understood. I loved learning more about Louise’s family dynamics and what was expected of royalty in the Victorian era.
Louise is a champion for women and has talents and artistic desires beyond what was normal or expected for a princess at this time and I found this part of the book incredibly interesting, especially her attendance at school for her sculpting.
I thought the relationship between her and her mother, Queen Victoria was very fascinating as both often had opposing ideas of how one is to behave. She also has many sweet moments between her siblings and Heather made all the relationships come alive and feel authentic to these historical figures.
I think my favorite part of the story was when Louise meets her husband. Honestly It was so wonderful and sweet I could have read a whole separate book about their relationship.
It’s slow paced but not in a negative way. It captures Louise’s life in a wonderfully organic way that makes history 100% more accessible to those who want to dive into it!
December 6, 2022
Ok. 2.5 stars rounded up for the research which made for a fairly accurate fiction biography tale for Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
If you have read groups of non-fiction for all these people and for their immediate ancestors, there is little surprise and also quite a huge portion of redundancies. Which are not made any more flowing or easier to continuity by the stilted language for that particular class and exact period.
She was an exception and did fight against the flow. So did Beatrice but you don't get that here as much as was true.
It was a much more restricted world for most women, and these nobles were no exception. And men too had work or hobby roles that were not deemed the proper ones of should. Most especially if you happen to be "the heir".
I would not recommend this book for those historic scholars or history readers amongst us. This is much more in the chick lit. noble story genre category than I had anticipated.
If you have read groups of non-fiction for all these people and for their immediate ancestors, there is little surprise and also quite a huge portion of redundancies. Which are not made any more flowing or easier to continuity by the stilted language for that particular class and exact period.
She was an exception and did fight against the flow. So did Beatrice but you don't get that here as much as was true.
It was a much more restricted world for most women, and these nobles were no exception. And men too had work or hobby roles that were not deemed the proper ones of should. Most especially if you happen to be "the heir".
I would not recommend this book for those historic scholars or history readers amongst us. This is much more in the chick lit. noble story genre category than I had anticipated.
October 6, 2022
I quickly felt a connection with Louise reading this book. The author does a fantastic job of making her relatable even though she lived over a century ago. I appreciated the methods of important historical events expertly weaved through the lives of these characters and the inspiring Louise. I loved the journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. I was able to get a true sense of the real events and amazing people the author was writing about. It was fascinating and memorable. Louise’s siblings were wonderfully written and I can’t leave out dear Sybil and John. The research involved with this book is impressive. And I truly loved the Afterword.
August 26, 2022
The Shadow of a Queen starts when Princess Louise is twelve-years-old when we first meet her. It is a year before the tragic death of her beloved father, Prince Albert. It is a painful time for each of her siblings but especially her mother, Queen Victoria.
It was interesting to see that all of the siblings just interact with each, especially Leo and Louise. Even though they are part of the Royal Family, it was clear that they were also just a family who loved each other despite some of the adversity that was presented to them.
I enjoyed the beginning, it was full of a young idealistic Louise who obviously loves her family, but as she was looking for a potential husband with Queen Victoria’s approval, I found my interest waning a bit here, but it picked up when she realizes that she was very interested in Lord Lorne, and he in her. I liked his strong character, support, and belief in Louise.
I appreciated the character of Queen Victoria because really the only place I had a perspective to draw on were her dour pictures dressed in mourning black. She is a mother but also a monarch of an Empire, and I would expect that it is a hard line to make a good balance between those two determining factors.
Overall, I enjoyed this foray into the life of Princess Louise. Recommended.
My gratitude to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain. All opinions expressed are honest.
October 3, 2022
This book was absolutely fascinating! It is a remarkable time to read it given the recent death of the Queen and if you are interested in the Royals at all, you need to check this one out!
I love how this author is able to take a historical event - or in this case, a person's life - and turns her detailed and extensive research into story form- this is the most interesting history lesson you will ever have! Once I got into the story, I was completely hooked.
This tells the life story of Princess Louise (daughter of Queen Victoria) and her family in the mid-1800s. It begins with Louise at age 12 and continues until after her marriage.
The book focuses on the royal family dynamics, most especially how Queen Victoria's extended grieving period after her husband's death profoundly affected her children. It also showcased how Louise struggled against her mother's dictates for Louise to not get involved with certain social issues. or follow her passion for sculpting.
The latter part of the book also shows Louise's search for a husband who would love and respect her and let me tell you, the romance was just sigh-worthy!
The entire book is compelling and is literally history come alive. If you enjoy stories of royals, do not pass this book up. So well-done!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
I love how this author is able to take a historical event - or in this case, a person's life - and turns her detailed and extensive research into story form- this is the most interesting history lesson you will ever have! Once I got into the story, I was completely hooked.
This tells the life story of Princess Louise (daughter of Queen Victoria) and her family in the mid-1800s. It begins with Louise at age 12 and continues until after her marriage.
The book focuses on the royal family dynamics, most especially how Queen Victoria's extended grieving period after her husband's death profoundly affected her children. It also showcased how Louise struggled against her mother's dictates for Louise to not get involved with certain social issues. or follow her passion for sculpting.
The latter part of the book also shows Louise's search for a husband who would love and respect her and let me tell you, the romance was just sigh-worthy!
The entire book is compelling and is literally history come alive. If you enjoy stories of royals, do not pass this book up. So well-done!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
June 13, 2022
I always enjoy Heather Moore’s historical novels. This one did not disappoint! She is impeccable with her research and always does an excellent job of bringing people from the past to life. I did not know much about Princess Louisa’s life so I really enjoyed delving deeper into this novel.
September 29, 2022
I have read a few different biographies of Queen Victoria and happily read a book with the focus on one of her younger daughters. The story focuses on HRH Princess Louise. It starts when she is 13 shortly before the death of her father Prince Albert and ends at 23 after her marriage. Historical fictions and biographies are a great way to learn history especially if they are as well researched as this seems.
I think it helped that I was already familiar with a lot of the family members when the story begins. Just figuring out who Louise’s siblings are and who they are married to is a lot of information. Louise’s life changes instantly when her father dies. Her mother, the Queen goes into deep mourning. She in turn relies upon her younger children to be her comfort and act as her personal secretaries. So gone are the opportunities for balls, dances and other entertainments that as a royal she may have enjoyed.
Besides assisting her mother and caring for her sickly brother Louise loves art and learns to sculpt. She eventually is allowed to study it the Royal Academy of Arts. She is also a champion for women’s rights and education (I love her meeting Dr. Elizabeth Garret, the first female practicing doctor in England). Of course she officially can’t become involved in politics or have a differing view than her conservative mother.
The last third of the book focuses on making a match for Louise. Victoria through her children has ties to most of the royalty in Europe. But now she can’t bare to have Louise leave the country. She could have a marriage arranged to a prince elsewhere and potentially become a queen. Instead she becomes the first English royal to marry a commoner in over two hundred years. And when I say commoner he is still a Marquis and future Duke. The Queen does allow for there to be meetings between potential matches.
I love that I’ve been to Inveraray Castle in Scotland that eventually becomes her home. That was another connection that made me want to read the story of Princess Louise.
Lastly I appreciate the research and chapter notes at the end of the book. Moore explains her research and why she has a different view of the couples marriage than a wikipedia search provides.
I really enjoyed reading this book but I have familiarity and interest in English history and royalty. For a less motivated reader I can see this being a little slow without a lot of things happening. Fictionally biographies are limited in that they are based on real people with known facts. For example you can’t add scenes of courtship or attending a ball if that was never allowed to happen. I did enjoy the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from personal letters and journals. I’m giving this 4.5 stars, but can understand others rating it less. There is a lack of character development for side people and a lot of telling and not showing (often catching you up on Louise’s family and people around her).
This is a clean book and can easily recommended for any age. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars)
I think it helped that I was already familiar with a lot of the family members when the story begins. Just figuring out who Louise’s siblings are and who they are married to is a lot of information. Louise’s life changes instantly when her father dies. Her mother, the Queen goes into deep mourning. She in turn relies upon her younger children to be her comfort and act as her personal secretaries. So gone are the opportunities for balls, dances and other entertainments that as a royal she may have enjoyed.
Besides assisting her mother and caring for her sickly brother Louise loves art and learns to sculpt. She eventually is allowed to study it the Royal Academy of Arts. She is also a champion for women’s rights and education (I love her meeting Dr. Elizabeth Garret, the first female practicing doctor in England). Of course she officially can’t become involved in politics or have a differing view than her conservative mother.
The last third of the book focuses on making a match for Louise. Victoria through her children has ties to most of the royalty in Europe. But now she can’t bare to have Louise leave the country. She could have a marriage arranged to a prince elsewhere and potentially become a queen. Instead she becomes the first English royal to marry a commoner in over two hundred years. And when I say commoner he is still a Marquis and future Duke. The Queen does allow for there to be meetings between potential matches.
I love that I’ve been to Inveraray Castle in Scotland that eventually becomes her home. That was another connection that made me want to read the story of Princess Louise.
Lastly I appreciate the research and chapter notes at the end of the book. Moore explains her research and why she has a different view of the couples marriage than a wikipedia search provides.
I really enjoyed reading this book but I have familiarity and interest in English history and royalty. For a less motivated reader I can see this being a little slow without a lot of things happening. Fictionally biographies are limited in that they are based on real people with known facts. For example you can’t add scenes of courtship or attending a ball if that was never allowed to happen. I did enjoy the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from personal letters and journals. I’m giving this 4.5 stars, but can understand others rating it less. There is a lack of character development for side people and a lot of telling and not showing (often catching you up on Louise’s family and people around her).
This is a clean book and can easily recommended for any age. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars)
May 8, 2022
3.5*
Firstly I just want to say that the cover is gorgeous and when I rate something 3.5 that means I enjoyed it, I'm just unnecessarily harsh, for literally no reason. Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about In the Shadow Of A Queen by Heather B. Moore. In the Shadow of A Queen is about Queen Victoria's fourth daughter Princess Louise, it follows her story from when she was a child (I forgot if it was 11 or maybe 13) till when she is a 23 year old married women.
Honeslty is knew nothing about Queen Victoria's kids so was going into this blind, and can I just say Princess Louise was lowkey giving girl boss energy, like she was sculptor because you know she wanted to, she went to an art school even though that was 'below' royals, she married a peasant (gasp) and she founded this science and art school for impoverished girls. Honestly idk how I've never heard of her, but good for her.
Anyway back to the book, I thought the book was slow but I actually really liked the part where she was hunting for a husband. It was so funny to me because it was this big deal and like 30% of the book (maybe more), the guys were such characters (by that I mean they were given one personality trait, like being into racehorses and that was it lol). And even though at my core I am a hater, I think Louise and the guy she picked were kinda cute, until they got to together then it was too sappy for me. The writing didn't do for me but I had no problems with it either. it did the job of telling the story.
To conclude, I enjoyed learning a bit more about English history and Princess Louise, so maybe check this out if you've been craving a historical fiction, it was a fun time.
Firstly I just want to say that the cover is gorgeous and when I rate something 3.5 that means I enjoyed it, I'm just unnecessarily harsh, for literally no reason. Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about In the Shadow Of A Queen by Heather B. Moore. In the Shadow of A Queen is about Queen Victoria's fourth daughter Princess Louise, it follows her story from when she was a child (I forgot if it was 11 or maybe 13) till when she is a 23 year old married women.
Honeslty is knew nothing about Queen Victoria's kids so was going into this blind, and can I just say Princess Louise was lowkey giving girl boss energy, like she was sculptor because you know she wanted to, she went to an art school even though that was 'below' royals, she married a peasant (gasp) and she founded this science and art school for impoverished girls. Honestly idk how I've never heard of her, but good for her.
Anyway back to the book, I thought the book was slow but I actually really liked the part where she was hunting for a husband. It was so funny to me because it was this big deal and like 30% of the book (maybe more), the guys were such characters (by that I mean they were given one personality trait, like being into racehorses and that was it lol). And even though at my core I am a hater, I think Louise and the guy she picked were kinda cute, until they got to together then it was too sappy for me. The writing didn't do for me but I had no problems with it either. it did the job of telling the story.
To conclude, I enjoyed learning a bit more about English history and Princess Louise, so maybe check this out if you've been craving a historical fiction, it was a fun time.
April 11, 2023
I’m so grateful I was given an advanced copy from NetGalley. This book covers 10 years of princess Louise’s life. The daughter of queen Victoria. It begins right before her father, prince Albert passes away and ends… well, you’ll have to read it to find out.
-First off, that cover gets a chef’s kiss from me. It couldn’t be more perfect for the story.
-The description of the people, political events and society in the Victorian Era was expertly done. I LOVE historical fiction, and this was like that warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. I felt right at home learning about this extraordinary woman.
-The extensive research that went into this book and its splendid execution has raised my respect for Heather Moore as an author. It is a longer book than I think Moore usually writes so when you pick this up, get comfortable. (384 pages)
- For the first 60% of the book, I was on a swing of intrigue. The tempo was high and then it was low and back again. But I didn’t mind it. I only mention that because if you go into this book expecting a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns like you’d find in a regular novel, you’ll probably be bored at times. Remember that there’s not a lot of liberties you can take with a princess of England’s life story. She did have an extraordinary life. Especially considering the time period and her parentage.
THOUGHTS:
-I loved her artistic pursuits and while I understand why the focus eventually shifted, I wish there would have been more time spent in that time of her life.
-It drove me crazy how long it took to meet her future husband. (More than halfway through the book) This is not a critique against Mrs. Moore. It’s simply how history played out and I admit that the wait made it that much sweeter. The graceful way Mrs. Moore wrote their love story will stay with me for some time.
-I wish that the characters who had accents would have had their cadence in the dialogue. For example, there are a few Scottish characters/people, and I would have appreciated a simple “nae,” “Lass,” or “wee bit” thrown in. While it was mentioned that they spoke with a Scottish accent, I wanted to have it in their conversations.
-I loved that at the end of the book, each chapter had brief historical notes. It was fascinating and it made me appreciate the respect and attention to detail Moore gave to Louise’s story even more.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This comes out October 4th, 2022.
-First off, that cover gets a chef’s kiss from me. It couldn’t be more perfect for the story.
-The description of the people, political events and society in the Victorian Era was expertly done. I LOVE historical fiction, and this was like that warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. I felt right at home learning about this extraordinary woman.
-The extensive research that went into this book and its splendid execution has raised my respect for Heather Moore as an author. It is a longer book than I think Moore usually writes so when you pick this up, get comfortable. (384 pages)
- For the first 60% of the book, I was on a swing of intrigue. The tempo was high and then it was low and back again. But I didn’t mind it. I only mention that because if you go into this book expecting a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns like you’d find in a regular novel, you’ll probably be bored at times. Remember that there’s not a lot of liberties you can take with a princess of England’s life story. She did have an extraordinary life. Especially considering the time period and her parentage.
THOUGHTS:
-I loved her artistic pursuits and while I understand why the focus eventually shifted, I wish there would have been more time spent in that time of her life.
-It drove me crazy how long it took to meet her future husband. (More than halfway through the book) This is not a critique against Mrs. Moore. It’s simply how history played out and I admit that the wait made it that much sweeter. The graceful way Mrs. Moore wrote their love story will stay with me for some time.
-I wish that the characters who had accents would have had their cadence in the dialogue. For example, there are a few Scottish characters/people, and I would have appreciated a simple “nae,” “Lass,” or “wee bit” thrown in. While it was mentioned that they spoke with a Scottish accent, I wanted to have it in their conversations.
-I loved that at the end of the book, each chapter had brief historical notes. It was fascinating and it made me appreciate the respect and attention to detail Moore gave to Louise’s story even more.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This comes out October 4th, 2022.
November 15, 2022
I don't read many books about royalty, fiction or non, so I didn't know what to expect when I read this book except that Heather B. Moore always draws me into the historical setting and the lives of the historical figures her books are based on. Sure enough, I felt immersed in the life that Louise lives over the span of her childhood and young adult years. We're shown the family dynamics through vignettes of daily life and excerpts from actual letters which begin each chapter. People that strongly influenced Louise as well as moments of great impact were touched on, and I felt like it prepared me for the majority of the book which focused on her young adult years of pursuing her interests as much as the queen would allow, as well as the hunt for her future husband. Political relationships were woven in but not aggressively, so I felt that they added to the greater picture rather than taking over. As an artist myself I loved the details of Louise's drawing and sculpture, and I hope to one day see some of her work in person. Of course I adore romance so the husband hunt was fascinating. Because Louise's older siblings married for connection, the queen was more lenient as the years went on as to who Louise could consider. The author explored the logistics of such a process, Louise's vulnerability, and eventually the gentle romance that developed, which was absolutely lovely. The overall theme of Louise's relationship with her mother was intriguing, with details and nuances that could only come from meticulous research, which I know this author excels at. This is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and would make an excellent book club pick.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
April 14, 2022
In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore is an excellent historical fiction that highlights Princess Louise, one of Queen Victoria’s daughters. I loved it!
I have read several books by Ms. Moore, and have enjoyed all thus far. I am also a huge fan of anything Queen Victoria, so I loved this book that focuses on one of her daughters, Louise.
I loved the way the author blended historical details and known facts/events with a fictional narrative. It felt as if it all just fit perfectly and we were able to peer into Windsor through a window.
It was engaging, entertaining, and I really enjoyed reading it.
I also enjoyed the notes of historical detail and inspiration by the author at the beginning.
Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/4/22.
I have read several books by Ms. Moore, and have enjoyed all thus far. I am also a huge fan of anything Queen Victoria, so I loved this book that focuses on one of her daughters, Louise.
I loved the way the author blended historical details and known facts/events with a fictional narrative. It felt as if it all just fit perfectly and we were able to peer into Windsor through a window.
It was engaging, entertaining, and I really enjoyed reading it.
I also enjoyed the notes of historical detail and inspiration by the author at the beginning.
Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/4/22.
October 12, 2022
I'm the type of person who sees "nonfiction" on a book and I shrink back. Historical fiction? Hand it on over! Moore always does a phenomenal job of creating the most beautiful stories based on fact, and this one was no exception. The timing was also a happy little accident, with Queen Elizabeth passing away shortly before its release.
I've always been fascinated with royalty, yet I didn't know a lot about Queen Victoria, the kind of ruler she was, the kind of person she was, or her family situation. Although this book is about one of her daughters, Princess Louise, there was a great deal of information about Queen Victoria and her children. I loved the insights; I loved how each chapter was headed with a quote from a letter written to, from, or about Princess Louise. This story was woven together beautifully.
This is one story that has lingered in my mind long after it was finished.
Content: mild romance; death
*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I've always been fascinated with royalty, yet I didn't know a lot about Queen Victoria, the kind of ruler she was, the kind of person she was, or her family situation. Although this book is about one of her daughters, Princess Louise, there was a great deal of information about Queen Victoria and her children. I loved the insights; I loved how each chapter was headed with a quote from a letter written to, from, or about Princess Louise. This story was woven together beautifully.
This is one story that has lingered in my mind long after it was finished.
Content: mild romance; death
*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given.*
October 9, 2022
1861-1871 England
Fascinating!
Princess Louise was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. The novel spans from the death of Prince Albert (Louise's father) to Louise's marriage to a "commoner". I put the term commoner in quotes as I'm not sure I would consider a Marquess a commoner. In any event, her marriage outside of royalty was the first in 350 years!
So many interesting details about Queen Victoria and all of her children. While the primary focus is Princess Louise, there is much to be learned about the entire family and life as a royal during the time period. One nugget was the use of maternal corsets...really?
The romance was lovely and there was much about Princess Louise to admire.
Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction based upon actual people and events.
My gratitude to publisher Shadow Mountain for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Fascinating!
Princess Louise was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. The novel spans from the death of Prince Albert (Louise's father) to Louise's marriage to a "commoner". I put the term commoner in quotes as I'm not sure I would consider a Marquess a commoner. In any event, her marriage outside of royalty was the first in 350 years!
So many interesting details about Queen Victoria and all of her children. While the primary focus is Princess Louise, there is much to be learned about the entire family and life as a royal during the time period. One nugget was the use of maternal corsets...really?
The romance was lovely and there was much about Princess Louise to admire.
Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction based upon actual people and events.
My gratitude to publisher Shadow Mountain for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
June 13, 2022
First of all! I got this book on Net Galley and i will buy it! I loved it. I took my time reading it and really languishing in the crown! I love it all! But I fell in love with Princess Louise and John Campbell! I am so happy for their life and feel like they are so happy their story is here! Thank you to Ms Moore for really taking the time to help you truly SEE them! I had no idea about Queen Victoria! What a woman! So much! Read it and you will see!
October 4, 2022
4.5 Stars
In the Shadow of a Queen is a fascinating fictionalized historical fiction with sides of complicated family drama and a hard-fought-for romance.
Thank you #NetGalley @ShadowMountn @AustenProse #AustenProsePR for a complimentary e ARC of #InTheShadowOfAQueen upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Louise is Queen Victoria’s daughter and after the death of her father (Prince Albert), Louise (and the family) suffers from her mother’s intense and prolonged period of mourning. Eventually, Louise becomes her mother’s personal secretary following in the tradition of each of her sisters before her. The Queen is a controlling person in an era where parents already exert high control over their children’s lives. You can imagine how controlling the Queen is considering her position and naturally controlling nature. Of course, she would have a free-spirited and determined daughter who exerts her own will in her artistic abilities, political opinions, education, and romance.
How do you think it would feel to grow up in the Royal Family or in the shadow of a famous family member?
Louise is a modern girl for her time. As an artist, she decides to pursue sculpting (which is considered unsuitable for a woman). In addition, Louise supports the suffragette movement and believes that women should be able to be doctors. It’s becoming more and more difficult for the Queen to find Louise a suitable match, one who will understand her free-spirited daughter. Louise is strong-willed and determined and manages to follow her heart.
At the heart of this story is a mother and daughter battle of wills. Louise is determined to embrace modern thinking about art and women’s rights and to follow her dreams. The Queen is concerned about the Crown’s reputation and finding the right match. Louise isn’t all defiance. She does her part in holding the family together after her father’s death and fulfills the role of her mother’s personal secretary. For all of Louise’s determination to live her own life, she considers her mother’s opinions and honors her to the best of her ability. The Queen is not indifferent to the romantic desires of her daughter and works with her to find a good match. (Although showing up at the honeymoon wasn’t a smooth move!). John, the potential groom, understands Louise and supports her interests and causes.
Louise is a likable and dynamic character who manages to live quite well in a complex family and fulfill her responsibilities while pursuing her own interests at the same time. She is cunning in the way she goes about getting her way (especially in sculpting) and respectful and compliant while she forms her own opinions about women, medicine, education, and art. I felt sorry for Louise and her sad childhood situation that involves being raised by nannies and having a mother in deep mourning.
Because reading about a real person always sends me down a Google rabbit hole, I was disheartened to read the rumors that her marriage might have been one of convenience after the initial romance faded. This is not addressed by the author. Fun Fact: Louise sculpted the statue of Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace. Have you seen it in person?
Readers who are intrigued with the Royal Family will enjoy this well-researched and well-written fictionalized biography. Fans of strong, determined, and independent women will appreciate the mother/daughter content, and artists might enjoy the sculpture aspects. There’s a lot to love in this heartfelt story and it would make a good book club selection.
For more reviews visit my blog at www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
In the Shadow of a Queen is a fascinating fictionalized historical fiction with sides of complicated family drama and a hard-fought-for romance.
Thank you #NetGalley @ShadowMountn @AustenProse #AustenProsePR for a complimentary e ARC of #InTheShadowOfAQueen upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Louise is Queen Victoria’s daughter and after the death of her father (Prince Albert), Louise (and the family) suffers from her mother’s intense and prolonged period of mourning. Eventually, Louise becomes her mother’s personal secretary following in the tradition of each of her sisters before her. The Queen is a controlling person in an era where parents already exert high control over their children’s lives. You can imagine how controlling the Queen is considering her position and naturally controlling nature. Of course, she would have a free-spirited and determined daughter who exerts her own will in her artistic abilities, political opinions, education, and romance.
How do you think it would feel to grow up in the Royal Family or in the shadow of a famous family member?
Louise is a modern girl for her time. As an artist, she decides to pursue sculpting (which is considered unsuitable for a woman). In addition, Louise supports the suffragette movement and believes that women should be able to be doctors. It’s becoming more and more difficult for the Queen to find Louise a suitable match, one who will understand her free-spirited daughter. Louise is strong-willed and determined and manages to follow her heart.
At the heart of this story is a mother and daughter battle of wills. Louise is determined to embrace modern thinking about art and women’s rights and to follow her dreams. The Queen is concerned about the Crown’s reputation and finding the right match. Louise isn’t all defiance. She does her part in holding the family together after her father’s death and fulfills the role of her mother’s personal secretary. For all of Louise’s determination to live her own life, she considers her mother’s opinions and honors her to the best of her ability. The Queen is not indifferent to the romantic desires of her daughter and works with her to find a good match. (Although showing up at the honeymoon wasn’t a smooth move!). John, the potential groom, understands Louise and supports her interests and causes.
Louise is a likable and dynamic character who manages to live quite well in a complex family and fulfill her responsibilities while pursuing her own interests at the same time. She is cunning in the way she goes about getting her way (especially in sculpting) and respectful and compliant while she forms her own opinions about women, medicine, education, and art. I felt sorry for Louise and her sad childhood situation that involves being raised by nannies and having a mother in deep mourning.
Because reading about a real person always sends me down a Google rabbit hole, I was disheartened to read the rumors that her marriage might have been one of convenience after the initial romance faded. This is not addressed by the author. Fun Fact: Louise sculpted the statue of Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace. Have you seen it in person?
Readers who are intrigued with the Royal Family will enjoy this well-researched and well-written fictionalized biography. Fans of strong, determined, and independent women will appreciate the mother/daughter content, and artists might enjoy the sculpture aspects. There’s a lot to love in this heartfelt story and it would make a good book club selection.
For more reviews visit my blog at www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
December 26, 2022
In the Shadow of a Queen is a historical fiction about one of Queen Victoria’s children -Princess Louise. While I like history, for some odd reason I’ve never been really interested in the Victorian era in itself, though I am fond of the literature written in that period. All of this to say that this book gave me a first insight into the times and life of Victoria and her children, and it was really illustrative and interesting. Louise was her fourth child and apparently, of a free spirit and mind. She never openly contradicted her mother, but she at least questioned her decisions and actions. The story begins when Louise is around 10 years old and shortly after loses her father, Prince Albert. It was a huge loss, worsened by the fact that the Queen ordered everyone to remain in mourning for over seven years, cutting her children from any social events and herself withdrawing from public life. Through the novel, we learn from Louise’s life, from her interest in art and sculpture to her passion for social causes, including women’s right to vote, education and health. For me, it was quite refreshing to learn from a royal with her own mind for her time. While she did not contradict the Queen, she found ways to pursue her causes, by studying at the National Public Art School and corresponding with women fighting for their rights. I also appreciated how the author, without expanding too much on it, showed a Queen Victoria who was kind of a tyrant, something that has sparked my interest in learning about her.
Now, the aspect I did not fully enjoy about this book is that I felt that by the middle, all seemed to focus around the search of a husband for Louise. Chapter after chapter we had the same sort of plotline -she meeting potential suitors, rejecting the one who would actually become her husband, going back to royal options, etc. I think this could have been made shorter or at least add some potential love interest that had made her hesitate or add some spice to the story. And after that, I also felt all other interests from Louise fell to the background -we never learned what happened to her classes at school, if she made friends with other classmates, and how she got involved in social causes. I felt everything was put below her love life and the search of a husband, thus losing a great opportunity in learning more from her life and her achievements. Also, I could not help to do a little research on the Princess and her life had a lot of interesting parts -from rumored lovers to a separation from her husband to her support of him when he passed away. In short, the end left me wanting for more.
Now, the aspect I did not fully enjoy about this book is that I felt that by the middle, all seemed to focus around the search of a husband for Louise. Chapter after chapter we had the same sort of plotline -she meeting potential suitors, rejecting the one who would actually become her husband, going back to royal options, etc. I think this could have been made shorter or at least add some potential love interest that had made her hesitate or add some spice to the story. And after that, I also felt all other interests from Louise fell to the background -we never learned what happened to her classes at school, if she made friends with other classmates, and how she got involved in social causes. I felt everything was put below her love life and the search of a husband, thus losing a great opportunity in learning more from her life and her achievements. Also, I could not help to do a little research on the Princess and her life had a lot of interesting parts -from rumored lovers to a separation from her husband to her support of him when he passed away. In short, the end left me wanting for more.
October 4, 2022
Heather Moore does an outstanding job in this work of historical fiction in bringing to life Queen Victoria and her daughter, Princess Louise.
Louise was a fascinating character—often clashing wills with her strong and dominating mother. She was concerned about, and committed to helping the poor and uneducated, and believed strongly in the rights of women. She walked her own unique path by marrying a commoner, and exploring the art of sculpting—a predominantly masculine field at that time. Her voice and actions were limited and controlled by Victoria, who was not only her mother, but her queen and sovereign leader. Regardless, she was “determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother.” She definitely did so.
In the Shadow of a Queen is meticulously researched, extremely well written, and very engaging—I couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and loved learning more about this royal family, their lives, and this era of time.
Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy. All opinions are completely my own.
Louise was a fascinating character—often clashing wills with her strong and dominating mother. She was concerned about, and committed to helping the poor and uneducated, and believed strongly in the rights of women. She walked her own unique path by marrying a commoner, and exploring the art of sculpting—a predominantly masculine field at that time. Her voice and actions were limited and controlled by Victoria, who was not only her mother, but her queen and sovereign leader. Regardless, she was “determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother.” She definitely did so.
In the Shadow of a Queen is meticulously researched, extremely well written, and very engaging—I couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and loved learning more about this royal family, their lives, and this era of time.
Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy. All opinions are completely my own.
January 21, 2023
Well researched portrait of the life of Princess Louise. I enjoyed learning more about Louise and her life, as well as hers siblings and their respective lives. I’ve long been fascinated with Queen Victoria, but have yet to learn much about her children.
While I did enjoy In The Shadow of a Queen, it was a slow read for me personally. It was simply curiosity about Louise that pulled me back; I was never so tugged into the book for it to be hard to pause when needed. It just isn’t necessarily that kind of book.
The research that went into this book is impressive! It’s apparent Moore put a lot of time into researching and creating a rich tapestry of historical figures and events. This was easily what I most enjoyed!
5 stars for research; 3.5 stars for the readability. I enjoyed it but was never fully pulled in.
While I did enjoy In The Shadow of a Queen, it was a slow read for me personally. It was simply curiosity about Louise that pulled me back; I was never so tugged into the book for it to be hard to pause when needed. It just isn’t necessarily that kind of book.
The research that went into this book is impressive! It’s apparent Moore put a lot of time into researching and creating a rich tapestry of historical figures and events. This was easily what I most enjoyed!
5 stars for research; 3.5 stars for the readability. I enjoyed it but was never fully pulled in.
September 8, 2022
Move over Queen Victoria... I want more of Princess Louise!
When I saw the cover and read the synopsis and who the author was for this title I KNEW I HAD to read it. Heather B Moore has a way of making history come alive in her books. I especially love her books based on true stories because I know how much research she does and I know I'm getting a quality representation on the subject matter.
I've read and enjoyed books about the royals before, but this was an immersive experience. You will feel like a fly on the wall as you experience all of the ups and downs throughout Louise's life and what being royal really might feel like. I loved reading the historical facts thrown in through royal letters and actual events that took place about these well known royals and even though they were not perfect, Heather did a great job of painting them in a positive light that helped you understand why some of the royal family acted the way that they did while still keeping true to the story and facts.
The love story was dreamy. I don't want to give too much away because you really need to experience it. I loved Louise's character. I loved her personality, determination and could really feel that come away from the page.
I highly recommend this book. Especially if you have ever been a fan of royals (at any point in history or now) you'll want to add this to the top of your TBR list!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
When I saw the cover and read the synopsis and who the author was for this title I KNEW I HAD to read it. Heather B Moore has a way of making history come alive in her books. I especially love her books based on true stories because I know how much research she does and I know I'm getting a quality representation on the subject matter.
I've read and enjoyed books about the royals before, but this was an immersive experience. You will feel like a fly on the wall as you experience all of the ups and downs throughout Louise's life and what being royal really might feel like. I loved reading the historical facts thrown in through royal letters and actual events that took place about these well known royals and even though they were not perfect, Heather did a great job of painting them in a positive light that helped you understand why some of the royal family acted the way that they did while still keeping true to the story and facts.
The love story was dreamy. I don't want to give too much away because you really need to experience it. I loved Louise's character. I loved her personality, determination and could really feel that come away from the page.
I highly recommend this book. Especially if you have ever been a fan of royals (at any point in history or now) you'll want to add this to the top of your TBR list!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
October 3, 2022
#BookRevew: IN THE SHADOW OF A QUEEN by Heather B. Moore
Do you like books based on true stories? I do and this has been one of my anticipated reads for the month.
The author did a great job with her research as well as letting us readers into the lives of Queen Victoria. I have read about Queen Victoria but this book gave me an insider's view of the feelings and family life of the formidable queen. There were so many fascinating details and protocols with the royal family. Romance in the monarchy and marriage in general during the Victorian era was another interesting read.
Despite being royals, how the author presented them like a regular family of eleven. I didn’t even know she had nine children! There was chaos and drama. Their differences were apparent but they love each other. I liked how they tried to be responsible even at a young age.
The author brought to life Princess Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria, from age twelve. She didn’t understand the incessant mourning. They had to wear black and were not allowed to laugh. She was full of zest and artistic talents. I liked how she would write letters to her siblings when they travel. I was also delighted with her closeness to Bertie, King Edward VII. Princess Louise was a talented sculptor. She loved her family so much but sought to have further education and marry for love.
This was a delightful and educational read. Royal fans will surely enjoy this one.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 04 Oct 2022
Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Do you like books based on true stories? I do and this has been one of my anticipated reads for the month.
The author did a great job with her research as well as letting us readers into the lives of Queen Victoria. I have read about Queen Victoria but this book gave me an insider's view of the feelings and family life of the formidable queen. There were so many fascinating details and protocols with the royal family. Romance in the monarchy and marriage in general during the Victorian era was another interesting read.
Despite being royals, how the author presented them like a regular family of eleven. I didn’t even know she had nine children! There was chaos and drama. Their differences were apparent but they love each other. I liked how they tried to be responsible even at a young age.
The author brought to life Princess Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria, from age twelve. She didn’t understand the incessant mourning. They had to wear black and were not allowed to laugh. She was full of zest and artistic talents. I liked how she would write letters to her siblings when they travel. I was also delighted with her closeness to Bertie, King Edward VII. Princess Louise was a talented sculptor. She loved her family so much but sought to have further education and marry for love.
This was a delightful and educational read. Royal fans will surely enjoy this one.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 04 Oct 2022
Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
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