Raphael

by Anne Herries

Catherine de’Medici of France and Queen Elizabeth of England – two women with the power to shape the destiny of their countries. Caught between their secret envoys were the Englishmen Lord Raphael Carleton and Louise de Granvelle. But what was an Englishman doing at the Medici court in Paris? Was he part of the intrigues that led to the fatal massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve? Fate had thrust the dashing stranger into Louise’s path when he rescued her form ferocious mob. Raphael had saved her life – but did this mean she belonged to him?

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

LINDA SOLE also writes under the names of Anne Herries, Emma Quincey, Lynn Granville and one as Juliana Linden.

Linda was born in Swindon. Her family moved to Ely in Cambridgeshire when she was nine, and Linda attended the local school but left at fifteen to work as a hairdresser in her father's business. She was married at eighteen and ran her own hairdressing business for some years before moving to Cambridge, although Linda has now moved to somewhere a bit quieter in Cambridgeshire. She started writing in 1976, combining this with helping her husband to run his antique shop.

Writing as Anne Herries, Linda won the 2004 RNA Romance Award and the Betty Neels Trophy. She lives in Cambridgeshire. After many happy years of taking their holidays in Spain she and her husband, now have a second home in Norfolk. Being only a short drive, they can visit for a few days at a time, which suits their busy lifestyle these days. They are only just across the road from the sea, and can see it from their windows. At home and at the sea they enjoy watching the wildlife and have many visitors to their gardens, particularly squirrels. Anne loves watching their antics and spoils both them and her birds shamelessly. She also loves to see the flocks of geese and other birds flying in over the sea during the autumn, to winter in the milder climes of this country. Anne loves to write about the beauty of nature and sometimes puts a little into her books, though they are mostly about love and romance. She writes for her own enjoyment and to give pleasure to her readers.

Reviews

[SBC · Rating 1 out of 5]

The historical setting had the potential to be quite interesting, regarding the St Bartholomew's Eve massacre of Huguenots in France, but I found the story boring and the characters unconvincing (not to mention the male hero was sexist and rapey, which was probably true to the era, but not something I want to read).

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 16th century during the period of the reigns of Catherine de medici and Elizabeth I.