What do you think?
Rate this book
Moonlight and Shadow
With the end of the War of the Roses, intrigue and danger continues to stalk members of both the houses of York and Lancaster as Heloise Ballaster, maid-of-honour to Richard of Gloucester's duchess, and Sir Miles Rushden, a friend of the Duke of Buckingham, finds themselves falling in love amid a hotbed of political turmoil. Original.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
74 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Isolde Martyn
26 books54 followersIsolde has always had a great love of history, and writing historical fiction is a wonderful way to share her enthusiasm.
THE MAIDEN AND THE UNICORN, isolde's debut novel, won a Rita for 'Best First Novel' in the US and the inaugural 'Romantic Book of the Year Award' in Australia. Since then, she has written seven historicals and has just finished an Elizabethan novel .
Isolde has a History Honours degree from the University of Exeter, UK, with a specialization in Yorkist England, a lifelong interest, and she has worked as a university history tutor, research assistant and archivist. She was a senior book editor with a major international publishing house before taking up writing fiction full-time.
She feels community history is very important and she is a former chair of the Richard III Society in Sydney and a co-founder and currently Chair of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia (that's the era 1100--1500)
Her new book COUNTRY TOWN, a history picturebook for children, has been a long term project. It tells the story of an imaginary country town in Australia and how it changes decade by decade, and has been lovingly brought to life by illustrator Louise Hogan.
This is a very different venture from Isolde's historical novels but it's a project that has been chugging along in the background for quite a while. Isolde researched almost every town in Australia for EVENTS AND PLACES. She also edited the READER'S DIGEST MOTORING GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA.
THE MAIDEN AND THE UNICORN, isolde's debut novel, won a Rita for 'Best First Novel' in the US and the inaugural 'Romantic Book of the Year Award' in Australia. Since then, she has written seven historicals and has just finished an Elizabethan novel .
Isolde has a History Honours degree from the University of Exeter, UK, with a specialization in Yorkist England, a lifelong interest, and she has worked as a university history tutor, research assistant and archivist. She was a senior book editor with a major international publishing house before taking up writing fiction full-time.
She feels community history is very important and she is a former chair of the Richard III Society in Sydney and a co-founder and currently Chair of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia (that's the era 1100--1500)
Her new book COUNTRY TOWN, a history picturebook for children, has been a long term project. It tells the story of an imaginary country town in Australia and how it changes decade by decade, and has been lovingly brought to life by illustrator Louise Hogan.
This is a very different venture from Isolde's historical novels but it's a project that has been chugging along in the background for quite a while. Isolde researched almost every town in Australia for EVENTS AND PLACES. She also edited the READER'S DIGEST MOTORING GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 8, 2024
Read in 6/2020
⚠️ Warning: History rant coming!
The book started out great but later slowed. I never thought I'd say this, but it was too much history in one book. I had to take breaks reading it.
The book is seen through the H and h's POV. I loved Heloise! Miles, on the other hand, is kind of a **hole. He treats the h horribly at times. Miles was forced to marry Heloise when he was already engaged to an heiress, so he's allowed to be cranky. As the book continues, the MC relationship strengthens.
I did enjoy the story of Henry,
the Duke of Buckingham. Most people don't even remember the important part he played in The War of the Roses. Without him, Richard iii would never have become king. The book covers Buckingham's history very well. As the theory goes, Buckingham may have been one of the men who killed the two princes in the tower. Sir Thomas Moore wrote of one of these men who confessed after torture ( well, that's reliable 🙄) . Whether Buckingham killed them for Richard or Margaret Beaufort is debatable.
I also hate how modern writers make Richard honorable, nor do I like Shakespeare's exaggerated version. HeLL, even GOT George R.R. Martin's character Tyrion is based on Richard iii . He might have started out as loyal, but power corrupts absolute. Would a good man have stole the thorne from his nephews (murdered them?) , murdered loyal lord Hastings bc he would never supported Richard as king, executed Lord Rivers (queen's brother)and the queen's son? Oh well, history is interpreted by different POV, and this author twisted certain events in this book.
Conclusion, if your not a history fan, this book isn't for you. I think I would have liked it more if I didn't already know the history.
⚠️ Warning: History rant coming!
The book started out great but later slowed. I never thought I'd say this, but it was too much history in one book. I had to take breaks reading it.
The book is seen through the H and h's POV. I loved Heloise! Miles, on the other hand, is kind of a **hole. He treats the h horribly at times. Miles was forced to marry Heloise when he was already engaged to an heiress, so he's allowed to be cranky. As the book continues, the MC relationship strengthens.
I did enjoy the story of Henry,
the Duke of Buckingham. Most people don't even remember the important part he played in The War of the Roses. Without him, Richard iii would never have become king. The book covers Buckingham's history very well. As the theory goes, Buckingham may have been one of the men who killed the two princes in the tower. Sir Thomas Moore wrote of one of these men who confessed after torture ( well, that's reliable 🙄) . Whether Buckingham killed them for Richard or Margaret Beaufort is debatable.
I also hate how modern writers make Richard honorable, nor do I like Shakespeare's exaggerated version. HeLL, even GOT George R.R. Martin's character Tyrion is based on Richard iii . He might have started out as loyal, but power corrupts absolute. Would a good man have stole the thorne from his nephews (murdered them?) , murdered loyal lord Hastings bc he would never supported Richard as king, executed Lord Rivers (queen's brother)and the queen's son? Oh well, history is interpreted by different POV, and this author twisted certain events in this book.
Conclusion, if your not a history fan, this book isn't for you. I think I would have liked it more if I didn't already know the history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2010
Based on the ridiculous cover (and the title?), I thought this would be more romance than history. The truth is that the book didn't seem to make up its mind. I love a good novel with court intrigue, but there either wasn't enough to carry the book, or it was so bogged down in mind-numbing passages of history and descriptions of clothing that I might have suffered a blackout while reading parts of it for all that I remember.
Without a good intrigue, it was up the hero and heroine to move the plot along, and unfortunately, they were not always up to the task. The heroine has silver hair (which is why she's unwed at 20) and has a "gift" (curse?) that sometimes-but-not-always-and-never-for-anything-serious lets her see the future. Aside from unintentionally creeping people out by knowing insignificant things, it contributed nothing to the plot. The hero was boorish at best and emotionally abusive at worst. Their romance could just be Stockholm Syndrome.
Without a good intrigue, it was up the hero and heroine to move the plot along, and unfortunately, they were not always up to the task. The heroine has silver hair (which is why she's unwed at 20) and has a "gift" (curse?) that sometimes-but-not-always-and-never-for-anything-serious lets her see the future. Aside from unintentionally creeping people out by knowing insignificant things, it contributed nothing to the plot. The hero was boorish at best and emotionally abusive at worst. Their romance could just be Stockholm Syndrome.
February 28, 2022
The Christmas season of January, 1483, finds Heloise Ballaster at Middleham Castle serving as a maid of honor for the Duchess of Gloucester. Although young and beautiful, she is accursed, and afraid to dream. Accursed because of her silver hair, “witch’s hair,” which has the effect of scaring off any prospective bridegrooms. Afraid to dream because she had the ability to see the future and her nightmares always came true. Life in the Gloucester household had given her order and beauty after her father’s petty tyrannies, but that life is to come to an end because her father has summoned her to his castle at Bramley to act as its chatelaine.
Heloise’s grandfather became rich selling crossbows and her father, Dudley Ballaster, rose in the world by wedding a baron’s younger daughter, Heloise’s mother, and donating liberally to the royal coffers of Edward IV. He acquired Bramley but Lord Rushden, a Lancastrian, disputes his right to the castle. Rusden had come from Dorset with an armed force and seized several dwellings and exacting rent from the tenants. A confrontation between the two led to Ballaster issuing a challenge to single combat that Rushden accepted. Neither man has any intention to fight himself. Ballaster intends to have his retainer, Sir Hubert—“a galumphing, good natured, old carouser with the frame of a colossus and the brain of a caterpillar”—act as his champion. Rusden will have his son Miles fight in his stead. However, on the morning of the
combat, Sir Hubert, is dead drunk and incapable of going into combat or even standing. To save the family honor, Heloise dons her father’s armor and faces Miles, who thinks the slim armored figure is Ballaster’s young son. He suspects that he fought Ballaster’s daughter when he learns that the man has no sons, and feels he breached his knightly code must apologize to her. Their meeting takes place as Heloise is tending bee hives, and she bests Miles in their verbal contest, landing several stinging blows. (So successful is she that when Miles later notices that the Ballaster emblem is three bees, he wryly observes that “they should have been rampant with their stings out.”). Their encounter ends with a series of pratfalls, placing the pair in a compromising position observed by the servants.
When Ballaster hears of this, he has a brilliant idea to solve both his problems: an unmarriageable daughter and the land dispute with Rushden; he will kidnap Miles and force him to marry Heloise. After the ceremony takes place, Ballaster locks the couple in the bedroom to make sure the marriage is consummated. That plan is thwarted when Miles makes a successful escape.
Miles returns to Brecknock as he is a friend and advisor to Harry Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham. Both Miles and Buckingham see the Duke as the last legitimate heir of Lancaster, and both would like to see his star rise. Meanwhile, Ballaster threatens to throw Heloise out of his household, blaming her for Miles’s escape. Heloise would like to return to Middleham, but is encouraged by Margery Huddleston (Warwick’s illegitimate daughter who was featured in the author’s The Maiden and the Unicorn) to follow Miles to Brecknock and throw herself on his mercy. Margery adds that the King and Gloucester would not mind having a spy in that household. Heloise does go to Wales. Neither Miles nor Buckingham are there when Heloise arrives, and, fortuitously, she is mistaken for Lady Haute as the new governess for the duke’s eldest son, the hellion Ned. Heloise soon wins Ned over, and Miles decides to continue with the charade because he is betrothed to a ward of Rhys ap Thomas. He and Heloise are intent on preserving her virginity because they want to obtain an annulment,
When Edward IV dies, Miles and Buckingham see their chance to obtain power and destroy the Woodvilles by supporting the Duke of Gloucester. Heloise accompanies Buckingham’s retinue to Northampton, where she encounters her father, who reveals her marriage to Miles. The attraction between Miles and Heloise has been growing and they eventually consummate their marriage in London.
The tale has Miles putting the words in Buckingham’s mouth that catapult Gloucester to the throne. Miles remains loyal to Buckingham in his rebellion even as he tries to dissuade him from his reckless action. When the rebellion fails, Heloise successfully pleads with Gloucester for his life.
This novel follows the usual formula for historical romances with the hero and heroine hating each other in the beginning but finding love when forced together. It is well done especially in the beginning. The single combat (inspired by an actual historical incident according to the author) and the forced marriage are just fun. The repartee is sophisticated and witty. Some of the characters make some wry observations that are very entertaining. The author just doesn’t know when enough is enough and the plot does become over complicated. Why was it necessary for Miles to be attacked not once but twice in one night by Welsh brigands? And when he and Heloise return to the castle, Buckingham immediately makes a play for Heloise—something which isn’t strictly necessary to advance the plot. Then, we have a subplot in which Miles and Heloise rescue Bishop Stillington who was being poisoned by the Woodvilles. Finally, we have Heloise’s sister Dionysia having an affair with Buckingham. Don’t get me wrong—these plot elements are well done for the most part. Dionysia is actually an interesting character—is she merely a coquette who falls for Buckingham or a spy for Gloucester? However, I just became a little bit weary reading it. 3.5⭐️
Heloise’s grandfather became rich selling crossbows and her father, Dudley Ballaster, rose in the world by wedding a baron’s younger daughter, Heloise’s mother, and donating liberally to the royal coffers of Edward IV. He acquired Bramley but Lord Rushden, a Lancastrian, disputes his right to the castle. Rusden had come from Dorset with an armed force and seized several dwellings and exacting rent from the tenants. A confrontation between the two led to Ballaster issuing a challenge to single combat that Rushden accepted. Neither man has any intention to fight himself. Ballaster intends to have his retainer, Sir Hubert—“a galumphing, good natured, old carouser with the frame of a colossus and the brain of a caterpillar”—act as his champion. Rusden will have his son Miles fight in his stead. However, on the morning of the
combat, Sir Hubert, is dead drunk and incapable of going into combat or even standing. To save the family honor, Heloise dons her father’s armor and faces Miles, who thinks the slim armored figure is Ballaster’s young son. He suspects that he fought Ballaster’s daughter when he learns that the man has no sons, and feels he breached his knightly code must apologize to her. Their meeting takes place as Heloise is tending bee hives, and she bests Miles in their verbal contest, landing several stinging blows. (So successful is she that when Miles later notices that the Ballaster emblem is three bees, he wryly observes that “they should have been rampant with their stings out.”). Their encounter ends with a series of pratfalls, placing the pair in a compromising position observed by the servants.
When Ballaster hears of this, he has a brilliant idea to solve both his problems: an unmarriageable daughter and the land dispute with Rushden; he will kidnap Miles and force him to marry Heloise. After the ceremony takes place, Ballaster locks the couple in the bedroom to make sure the marriage is consummated. That plan is thwarted when Miles makes a successful escape.
Miles returns to Brecknock as he is a friend and advisor to Harry Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham. Both Miles and Buckingham see the Duke as the last legitimate heir of Lancaster, and both would like to see his star rise. Meanwhile, Ballaster threatens to throw Heloise out of his household, blaming her for Miles’s escape. Heloise would like to return to Middleham, but is encouraged by Margery Huddleston (Warwick’s illegitimate daughter who was featured in the author’s The Maiden and the Unicorn) to follow Miles to Brecknock and throw herself on his mercy. Margery adds that the King and Gloucester would not mind having a spy in that household. Heloise does go to Wales. Neither Miles nor Buckingham are there when Heloise arrives, and, fortuitously, she is mistaken for Lady Haute as the new governess for the duke’s eldest son, the hellion Ned. Heloise soon wins Ned over, and Miles decides to continue with the charade because he is betrothed to a ward of Rhys ap Thomas. He and Heloise are intent on preserving her virginity because they want to obtain an annulment,
When Edward IV dies, Miles and Buckingham see their chance to obtain power and destroy the Woodvilles by supporting the Duke of Gloucester. Heloise accompanies Buckingham’s retinue to Northampton, where she encounters her father, who reveals her marriage to Miles. The attraction between Miles and Heloise has been growing and they eventually consummate their marriage in London.
The tale has Miles putting the words in Buckingham’s mouth that catapult Gloucester to the throne. Miles remains loyal to Buckingham in his rebellion even as he tries to dissuade him from his reckless action. When the rebellion fails, Heloise successfully pleads with Gloucester for his life.
This novel follows the usual formula for historical romances with the hero and heroine hating each other in the beginning but finding love when forced together. It is well done especially in the beginning. The single combat (inspired by an actual historical incident according to the author) and the forced marriage are just fun. The repartee is sophisticated and witty. Some of the characters make some wry observations that are very entertaining. The author just doesn’t know when enough is enough and the plot does become over complicated. Why was it necessary for Miles to be attacked not once but twice in one night by Welsh brigands? And when he and Heloise return to the castle, Buckingham immediately makes a play for Heloise—something which isn’t strictly necessary to advance the plot. Then, we have a subplot in which Miles and Heloise rescue Bishop Stillington who was being poisoned by the Woodvilles. Finally, we have Heloise’s sister Dionysia having an affair with Buckingham. Don’t get me wrong—these plot elements are well done for the most part. Dionysia is actually an interesting character—is she merely a coquette who falls for Buckingham or a spy for Gloucester? However, I just became a little bit weary reading it. 3.5⭐️
September 6, 2012
This story follows one Heloise Ballaster, a silver haired young woman with a touch of precognition. She gets forced into a marriage with the very wonderful Sir Miles Rushden, and they mutually decide to work on getting the marriage annulled so that they can go their separate ways... not to mention that Sir Miles is previously betrothed. But before they can manage it, Heloise is kicked from her father's home, and decides to follow Miles to get him to accept her... or at least protect her until they get their annulment.
The historical accuracy in this book is pretty well straight on. I know that the author takes some liberties, but all the liberties that she took were based in fact.
It was really fun "Seeing" Miles deal with what he feels for Heloise, and what he thinks he should feel for her. The same goes for Heloise. Their banter is witty, and wonderful, and sparks off each other.
The one thing I didn't like was how cruel Miles could be sometimes. It honestly just seemed out of character for him, and the fact that Heloise accepted it, and him for it seemed to be just... not quite right.
Otherwise, this is a great historical romance read. Don't let the cover fool you, it's rich in history instead of fluff.
The historical accuracy in this book is pretty well straight on. I know that the author takes some liberties, but all the liberties that she took were based in fact.
It was really fun "Seeing" Miles deal with what he feels for Heloise, and what he thinks he should feel for her. The same goes for Heloise. Their banter is witty, and wonderful, and sparks off each other.
The one thing I didn't like was how cruel Miles could be sometimes. It honestly just seemed out of character for him, and the fact that Heloise accepted it, and him for it seemed to be just... not quite right.
Otherwise, this is a great historical romance read. Don't let the cover fool you, it's rich in history instead of fluff.
June 28, 2019
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, action, forced marriage, H and h are at odds...so much that it is hard to imagine they will ever get together! Miles Rushden was not very likeable in the first half, wanted a annulment for the forced marriage to Heloise, who is silver haired and has the "sight" or is gifted with premonitions. Miles calls her his "Changeling" Not only an annulment, he leaves her on the wedding night! Of course, Heloise chases after him and thus the rest of the story can continue. I am happy that the cover accurately depicted Heloise with silver hair. More could have been done with her extra sight/powers
This book is heavy in historical truths and powers that were trying to be the best at the time. Lots of history! I didn't realize till the end how many of the characters were actually real people! I love history, probably why it kept my focus. Great writing and detail and supporting characters.
What I didn't like was, when Miles and Heloise are finally going to consummate their relationship...poof! I thought I missed a page or the author missed a page? I don't care for three pages of erotic wedding night or first seduction details, but really? The next page was a mention the deed had been done off they went to the next adventure. There was more bed play description later. I almost couldn't finish the book. There was more romantic, passion verbal and physical later which helped them feeel like a couple.
The author tied up loose ends ends and Miles and Heloise ended expressing their undying love for each other. There was a lot political historical story lines weaved thru with much death and feared death. That is the way it was! Author wrapped it up nicely with heros and bad guys defeated etc.
If you love history and you like the sex to be less detailed, you will probably like this!
This book is heavy in historical truths and powers that were trying to be the best at the time. Lots of history! I didn't realize till the end how many of the characters were actually real people! I love history, probably why it kept my focus. Great writing and detail and supporting characters.
What I didn't like was, when Miles and Heloise are finally going to consummate their relationship...poof! I thought I missed a page or the author missed a page? I don't care for three pages of erotic wedding night or first seduction details, but really? The next page was a mention the deed had been done off they went to the next adventure. There was more bed play description later. I almost couldn't finish the book. There was more romantic, passion verbal and physical later which helped them feeel like a couple.
The author tied up loose ends ends and Miles and Heloise ended expressing their undying love for each other. There was a lot political historical story lines weaved thru with much death and feared death. That is the way it was! Author wrapped it up nicely with heros and bad guys defeated etc.
If you love history and you like the sex to be less detailed, you will probably like this!
March 8, 2022
At a little over 1/3 of the way through I'm done with this book. I really like Heloise and the writing in the book is pretty good if overly wordy. However I hate Miles, he is really mean to Heloise, always insulting her or threatening to kill her for ruining his life even though she was a victim in their situation too. I just can't stomach any more. I did skim ahead a bit to see if things got better but I didn't feel it was enough to keep reading. Also the sex scenes are closed door which is not my cup of tea.
September 6, 2017
An extremely well written and researched historical romance.
November 16, 2022
I read this as a teenager and remember loving it so much I contemplated stealing it from the library, but I didn't. I will have to find a copy and finally own it lol
December 19, 2008
this was one of the worst ones i read. the plot had great potential given the time era. the main characters, however, made absolutely no sense. there was no consistency in their character, and i felt like i was reading a historical romance about two people with severe bipolar disorder. i can't believe i finished it.
Read
January 10, 2011DEW read and enjoyed - I was expecting so much historical information - they should teach history thru historic novels in school - I seriously don't remember alot of this stuff - really interesting and fun to read!
August 23, 2021
Given away because: this book might not be as lackluster as I remember, but in the decade-plus since I purchased it, I've become much better at identifying published romance and online fanfic that I enjoy more. Doesn't need to sit on my shelf as a reminder any longer.
July 12, 2007
Also sold under the name "Moonlight and Shadow"
May 4, 2011
historical romance...a little too detailed (slow) in parts and quite amusing and racy in others.
December 10, 2012
When I read this book it was called "the silver bride" . I really enjoyed this book. I really couldn't put this book down. A real escape from reality!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews