The Virgin Queen's daughter by Ella March Chase

SYNOPSIS
As captivating now as it was more than four centuries ago, the reign of Elizabeth I—with its scandal, intrigue, and resilience—has sparked the imaginations of generations. In her sweeping historical debut, Ella March Chase explores a thrilling possibility: that the Tudor bloodline did not end with the Virgin Queen.

Tucked away in the country estate of her beloved father, Lord Calverley, young Nell de Lacey feeds her hungry mind with philosophy, language, and studies of science. Her mother, once a devoted lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII’s last wife, Katherine Parr, would rather her daughter stop dabbling in the grand affairs of men and instead prepare for her eventual duties as a wife. She knows all too well what menace lurks in royal courts.

But Nell’s heart yearns for something more, and a chance meeting with Princess Elizabeth, then a prisoner of the Tower of London, pushes her closer toward finding it. Now, years later, Nell’s chance arrives when she is summoned to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth. Nell is entranced by the splendor and pageantry of royal life, unaware of the danger and deception that swirls around the monarch and her courtiers.

But a lingering rumor about nine unaccounted for months in the Virgin Queen’s past reignites when the flame-haired Nell—a mirror image of Her Majesty both physically and intellectually—arrives at court. Quickly she catches the eye not only of the cunning Elizabeth, but of those who would see the queen fail. With strong evidence to connect Elizabeth to her newest maid of honor and the politics of England in turmoil, the truth could send Nell and those she loves to the Tower to join in the wretched fates of those who’ve gone before her.

Engrossing and enlightening, The Virgin Queen’s Daughter brings to life one of the greatest mysteries of one of the greatest monarchs. Ella March Chase’s vivid storytelling gives due credence to a daughter who might have been and a mother who never was.

MY VIEW
This was a very interesting and enlightening read and based on a rumour that went round before Elizabeth went to the throne. Some may think it is a little far fetched but, I think it is quite plausible that aside as historical fiction books go this was pretty good.

It is 1554 and a 5 year old Elinor de Lacey makes her first visit to London with her parents it is during this visit Elinor de Lacey encounters her first sight of Elizabeth, where she is being held in the Tower for a while during the reign of Mary Tudor.

Elinor de Lacey lives with her parents in the English countryside and after the death of her father Elinor de Lacey travels to London to serve at Elizabeth's court much to her mothers dismay (her adoptive mother).

I won't reveal too much about the storyline and I don't think this book would be for everyone it could be quite controversial, could a future Queen of England really have covered up having a child? The jury is still out for me, the romantic in me would love this story to be true but, I'm not so sure. And it is a good read and makes you wonder if it really was true, this story definitely makes it believable.