The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Paperback: 409 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Pocket Books 2010   
Source: My sister.
First Sentence: 'My father is Sir Richard Woodville, Baron Rivers, an English nobleman, a landholder and a supporter of the true kings of England, the Lancastrian line'.
Review Quote:  `Robust, unpretentious and rather shamefully compelling' The Times
Favourite Quote: “He promised her that he would give her everything, everything she wanted, as men in love always do. And she trusted him despite herself, as women in love always do.” 
My Opinion: This is yet another intriguing tale from the Queen of historical romance.

I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory for many years although I have not read any of her books in the last few years, in fact the last one was in the very early days of my book reviewing in 2009, I did not realise it had been so long. This is yet another intriguing tale from the Queen of historical romance. When reading her novels it is very easy to forget that they are works of fiction as her extensive research brings history alive on the printed page. 'The White Queen', the story of Elizabeth Woodville is the first in a new series covering the Wars of the Roses, the feuds between the houses of York and Lancaster. Philippa Gregory has called this series the wars of the cousins, something I never heard this war referred to as, when we studied it in history lessons at school. As a fictional telling of the feud between these two great families she has done a great job, with plausible embellishments to the historical facts although I remain unconvinced about the witchcraft ones. I will certainly be picking up the sequel 'The Red Queen' to read in the very near future.

In this trilogy the author plans to captivate us with the stories of the women of the families of York and Lancaster, starting with the story of Elizabeth Woodville. A beautiful young widow whose husband was killed in battle she sets out to win the love of the King of England. Elizabeth was a Lancastrian but she successfully won the love of King Edward IV, from the house of York and became his Queen. Although she was successful there was always going to be complex rivalries between the two families, both with claimants to the throne. She therefore had to fight with stubborn devotion  for the success of their large family of sons and daughters, including the daughter that would one day unite the families and the sons shut away in the Tower of London. Elizabeth Woodville is one of those exceptional women in history that made some courageous decisions as she did her best to protect her loved ones during a time of war.

If you want to read a fictional but well researched account of the Wars of the Roses, then I recommend Philippa Gregory's take on the mystery of the Princes in the Tower whose true fate still remains unknown to this day.

                                 'The White Queen' Elizabeth Woodville Discussion - Philippa Gregory

 A very interesting interview with Philippa Gregory about the historical background.  My previous review on this blog was for The Other Queen

Author Profile

Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. She was already an established historian and writer when she developed her interest in the Tudors and wrote 'The Other Boleyn Girl' in 2009 which has since made into a TV drama and a film.

She now lives on a small farm in Yorkshire, where she keeps horses, hens and ducks. Her website is a fascinating insight into both life on the farm and her historical research. 
Her other great interest is the charity she founded nearly twenty years ago; Gardens for The Gambia. She has raised funds and paid for 140 wells in the primary schools of the dry, poverty stricken African country. Thousands of school children have learned market gardening, and drunk the fresh water in the school gardens around the wells.
A former student of Sussex University, and a PhD and Alumna of the Year 2009 of Edinburgh University, her love for history and her commitment to historical accuracy are the hallmarks of her writing. She also reviews for US and UK newspapers, and is a regular broadcaster on television, radio, and webcasts from her website.

There was an interesting article published in  The Guardian recently about how the new incoming Director General of the BBC, Lord Hall,  believes that dramas such as 'The White Queen'' and ''Wolf Hall' can enhance the UK's cultural standing.
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The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads Author Profile    Facebook - Philippa Gregory    Amazon Author Profile 
 Philippa Gregory - Author Official Website     Philippa Gregory - YouTube Channel

See John Play by Dave DiGrazie

Paperback: 309 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:  Wine Flash Press April 2012
Source: The author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
First Sentences: 'It had become her predicament, this Fort Mitchell neighbourhood. It was not what Connie had imagined for herself as she grew up like a wild flower on horseback, a few miles deeper into Kentucky.
My Opinion:  A fairly average unremarkable read but if I was a golfer I feel I may have enjoyed it much more. 

I had never heard of this author before he approached me offering a copy of 'See John Play' in return for an honest and unbiased review. In retrospect I really should have declined this generous offer as I doubt very much that I would ever have selected this title myself if browsing in a bookshop, library or on-line. However something must have caught my attention and interest when I read the blurb of this novel as I accepted. I found it to be a fairly average unremarkable read but if I was a golfer I feel I may have enjoyed it much more as it is full of golfing terms and scenarios. Just because this was not for me does not mean you will not enjoy this original formula, just bear in mind if you are not interested in golf, that this may not appeal to you either. The novel's story is very much a character based one and I did not like any of them but felt that this was probably the author's intention. 

This is the story of a marriage in chaos and the trials the couple face because of the situations they find themselves in. The story is mainly told from the perspective of the wife, Connie rather than her husband John of the title. John Kaminski is a professional golfer, a compulsive gambler and a womaniser, a combination that not many women would be willing to put up with. Connie though is committed to her marriage and against the advice of friends and family prepared to stand by her man. As John plays around with his life getting deep into debt and consequently involved with 'the bad guys' his long suffering wife shows great strength of character as she fights to save their marriage. I have to say I did wonder why she bothered at times. 

Although not particularly to my liking I am sure 'See John Play' will appeal to many and I wish the author every success with his writing.

Author Profile

Dave DiGrazie’s journey began in a middle class ethnic neighbourhood in Buffalo, New York that had its share of characters. After cooking (and eating) his way through his high school and college years in his dad’s small restaurants, he became a decorated military officer and then, after several amusing vocational side trips, began to make things up and write them down. Dave calls Northern Virginia home and lives with three wonderful people – his wife and two children. He still makes a very mean home-made pizza when he’s not putting his imaginary friends and foes in each other’s way.

Dave’s other interests include history; non-profit organisation leadership,  a safer world for children on every continent, and his hometown’s star-crossed professional sports teams.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and his writing. 

Goodreads Author Profile    Dave DiGrazie - Twitter Profile    Dave DiGrazie - Official Website

Dave DiGrazie - Facebook Profile

Hothouse Flower by Lucinda Riley

Paperback: 579 pages
Genre: Historical Romantic Fiction
Publisher:  Penguin 2011
Source:  Tywyn Library, Wales.
First Sentence: It is said in Siam, that when a man falls in love with a woman - deeply, passionately, irrevocably - he will be capable of doing anything to keep her, please her, to make her value him above all other.
Review Quote:'This début novel is a real saga, describing the secret history of an ancient Norfolk stately home..' Richard and Judy
 My Opinion:  Certainly one of the best family sagas of the genre that I have read recently.
NB: This novel was republished in 2012 with a different title The Orchid House


It is worth noting that Hothouse Flower was republished in 2012 with the title of The Orchid House just so that any confusion with readers thinking it might be a different story, when this is not the case are cleared up straight away.  Although the central theme of a family saga set in a country house spanning from the 1930's to the present day is far from an original one, this one is different. It has such a multi layered story to tell us with so many stirring and compelling love stories, secrets and surprises to share I stayed awake far too late at night reading this as I was engrossed. Extremely well written the story flows beautifully, period and locations  are credibly described and the characters feel realistic. The situations that they face are ones that we are all able to empathise with from generation to generation. Certainly one of the best family sagas of the genre that I have read recently.

At the centre of the story is the female protagonist Julia Wharton who growing up had spent many happy hours in the heated greenhouses of the Wharton Park estate where her grandfather tended the orchids. It seems only natural therefore for her to return to the area when she needs to recover from a devastating personal tragedy.  It is whilst coming to terms with her grief that she discovers quite by chance a family secret that will cause even more heartache. The story of the family history is related to Julia by her grandmother and stretches back to the nineteen forties when Harry Crawford the heir to the estate marries his bride Olivia before the second world war separates them. The results of this enforced separation will be felt for generations to come as this poignant and atmospheric story takes us from war torn Europe to the present day alternating between Norfolk and Thailand. With plenty of passion and twists and turns along the way I highly recommend this to all fans of the genre.

Lucinda Riley - Hothouse Flower

Author Profile

Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland on February 16th,(year undiscovered), during her childhood she  travelled extensively to the Far East. Moving to London, she became an actress, working in film, theatre and television. At twenty-four, she wrote her first novel 'Lovers and Players', based on her experiences as an actress and then went on to write seven further novels under the name Lucinda Edmonds, which were translated into fourteen languages.

After a break to have her four children, she restarted writing and 'Hothouse Flower' was published by Penguin in the UK in November 2010. It was immediately selected by the famous Richard and Judy Bookclub. It was then released in the USA as "The Orchid House", and subsequently in 25 other countries. It has sold 1.5 million copies to date, and topped the German bestseller list for a record 15 weeks.

"The Girl on the Cliff", Lucinda's second book, has already been published in 14 countries and is currently being released in the USA. Her latest book, "The Light Behind the Window", has just been released in the UK, and will be published round the world in the coming year.

Lucinda currently lives in Norfolk and France with her husband and four children. Five years ago she designed and built a house on the island of Koh Chang in Thailand, where her father had purchased land many years before. It was her  passion for history combined with  love of travel and  Thailand in particular that inspired her to write Hothouse Flower.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Amazon Author Profile    Facebook - Lucinda Riley   Twitter - Lucinda Riley     Simon and Schuster Profile

Lucinda Riley - Goodreads Profile    Lucinda Riley - Official Website     YouTube

A Serving of Scandal by Prue Leith

Paperback : 320 pages 
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction 
Publisher: Quercus 2010
Source: Charity Shop Purchase
First Sentences: 'Are you waiting at table then? You can hardly do it in chef's whites' The voice was not friendly. Kate turned from the sink to see Dennis, the Foreign Office butler, lips pursed and eyes narrowed behind his designer frames.
Review Quote: 'Sophie Kinsella for grown-ups' Daily Express
My Opinion:  Engaging and well written story.


I have always found Prue Leith an interesting personality and have followed her career as a professional chef and food writer in the press so of course it will be no surprise that when she started writing fiction, I wanted to read them. I have now read four of her five novels including this one, starting with Leaving Patrick in 1999, Sisters in 2002, and The Gardener in 2008.  Her novels are not great literature but they are enjoyable and realistic, as she draws on her own life experiences as a business woman and a cook. Her writing will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction.  Although sometimes a little predictable she provides exactly what one should expect if you pick up a book in this genre, an engaging and well written story. The theme of food, politics and celebrity gossip seen through the eyes of the two main characters and how innocent people can be drawn into a scandal held my interest.

The female protagonist Kate McKinnon is your average single mother of a five year old son, attempting to balance bringing him up alone and keep up the success of her private catering company. When Kate is hired by the Foreign Office to cook at private functions for them she comes into contact with Oliver Stapler, Secretary of State. She finds herself befriended by him and does not see the dangers that this might lead to, as she knows he is unobtainable to her, or is he? Unfortunately there are people that would like to see Kate fail, so alerting the press to an affair, true or not, is a good way of destroying her business. As well as Kate's narrative of events we are also told Oliver's side of the story, through his own voice. I must say I was surprised at how naive he was portrayed as, considering his political position in the government, one would have expected him to be more worldly.
In conclusion an interesting scenario that left me not really knowing what was going to happen to the friendship between Kate and Oliver. Maybe Prue Leith is planning a sequel?

Author Profile.

Prudence Margaret Leith was born on February 18th 1940 in South Africa. Her very successful adult life has been spent mostly in London where she still lives dividing her time between there and Oxfordshire. As an entrepreneurial business woman she has been a successful cook, restaurant and cookery school owner, food writer and since 1995 a novelist.

If you are interested in learning more about the life of Prue Leith I recommend her Official Website where there is lots of fascinating information and a gallery of photos. 
There was also an interesting article published in The Independent on January 17th 2013 My Life In Food

Photo and Biographical Information is with thanks to the following sites where you can also find out more about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads      Prue Leith - Official Website     Prue Leith - Wikipedia  Prue Leith - Amazon Book Page