To Die For by Sandra Byrd Review and Giveaway

Product Details

Howard Books, August 2011

eBook, 352 pages

ISBN-10: 1439183139

ISBN-13: 9781439183137

To Die For, is the story of Meg Wyatt, pledged forever as the best friend to Anne Boleyn since their childhoods on neighboring manors in Kent. When Anne’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes her best friend Meg along for the ride. Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling at first, but as Anne’s favor rises and falls, so does Meg’s. And though she’s pledged her loyalty to Anne no matter what the test, Meg just might lose her greatest love—and her own life—because of it.

Meg's childhood flirtation with a boy on a neighboring estate turns to true love early on. When he is called to follow the Lord and be a priest she turns her back on both the man and his God. Slowly, though, both woo her back through the heady times of the English reformation. In the midst of it, Meg finds her place in history, her own calling to the Lord that she must follow, too, with consequences of her own. Each character in the book is tested to figure out what love really means, and what, in this life, is worth dying for.

Though much of Meg’s story is fictionalized, it is drawn from known facts. The Wyatt family and the Boleyn family were neighbors and friends, and perhaps even distant cousins. Meg’s brother, Thomas Wyatt, wooed Anne Boleyn and ultimately came very close to the axe blade for it. Two Wyatt sisters attended Anne at her death, and at her death, she gave one of them her jeweled prayer book—Meg.

Biography

Sandra Byrd has published a number of books in the Christian YA market but is now making her debut in adult historical fiction. She also previously published a contemporary women's series, French Twist, which includes the Christy finalist Let Them Eat Cake (2007) and its sequels, Bon AppÉtit (2008) and Piece de Resistance (2009).

My Thoughts:

It took me quite awhile to read this book..oh no not because it wasn't good or I didn't like it, but because sometimes I read a book I like to savor and this is one of those books. I have been a fan of Tudor history, especially Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I ever since I could remember starting to read historical fiction. It seems lately that we as readers have been inundated with books about this period in history, and while some would say that enough is enough, I do not feel that way. I will read all I can get my hands on and To Die For is one of those books. Even though it is basically the same story of Anne Boleyn and her fate, it is told in the voice of Meg Wyatt, one of Anne's ladys-in-waiting. We learn more about some of the minor characters in that time in English history. A very well written and researched book that has the reader engrossed in this time in history where political importance was placed on a male heir to the throne. God forbid a royal woman should not produce that male heir as she is at the whim of the political machine. Banishment or beheading was pretty much the norm. I loved this story and I eagerly await the next in The Lady-in-waiting series...

You can learn more about Sandra Byrd and her books here at:

http://www.sandrabyrd.com/index.php

I received a copy of this book from Sandra Byrd and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

And now for the giveaway!!

Sandra has graciously sent me a copy to use for a giveaway. You must live in the US. Giveaway will start 10/28/11 and end 11/30/11.

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