Your family is of good noble stock, you have completed much of your lady-in-waiting in the prestigious French court and you are in England to be married to your family's choice. You are fourteen. Luckily for you he is a good man, kind, gentle and handsome but being in Henry's court you are always in danger. The danger has become reality and you have caught Henry's eye. What will be your family's response?

This is the position that Mary Boleyn finds herself in- yes I did say "Mary" because this book is written in the voice of Anne Boleyn's (Henry VIII's second queen) sister.

The main characters are strong willed women dominated by the men in their culture, and yet they often get the upper hand through careful plotting and relentless ambition. I wonder if you are more of an "Mary" or an "Anne?" You also get a feel for the historical picture of Tudor times without it being "essay like."

If you have had the misfortune of watching the film about this book PLEASE FORGET IT because it does not do justice to this fabulous book- written in meticulous and flowing detail about life in the Tudor court of England.

There were times I physically couldn’t put it down especially when it gets to Anne Boleyn's demise at the end, but there, I won't spoil it for you enjoy reading this book full of plots, suspicions, happiness, anguish, greed and tears for yourselves.