Philippa
The women of Friarsgate again feature in this third offering from Bertrice Small’s bestselling series, The Friarsgate Inheritance. Philippa, eldest child of Rosamund Bolton and heir to Friarsgate Manor, finds herself rebuffed by the man she had hoped to marry. Devastated, she throws herself into life at the court of King Henry VIII and is swept into courtly antics. She soon finds herself in the arms of Crispin St. Clair, the Earl of Witton, and discovers the thrill of newfound love. Courtly intrigue soon finds them racing to untangle a deadly plot to assassinate the King.
This book is lovely. The characters are well-fleshed out and the setting captivating. Sprinkled with several memorably humorous moments, the story flows nicely, although the murder plot seems to take up precious little of it, especially so late in the plot. Overall, it’s a good read, but having reviewed the first two in the series, this one doesn’t grab the reader and take her on a roller-coaster ride through Merry Olde England as did the previous offerings. For lovers of romance, it’s recommended; for those looking for something meaty with a bit of romance thrown in, look elsewhere.
