In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore, Book Review

Book Summary:

Based on the true story of the free-spirited daughter of Queen Victoria.

Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother—the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.

Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.

Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria, but finding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.

In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost. 

My Review:

Wow, wow, wow! This book is amazing. I had no idea I could become so completely engrossed in a historical novel. Moore does a phenomenal job of bringing the reader right into the setting, you can envision everything as if you were there with the royal family and visiting the royal estates. Moore explains the customs, the protocols, and everything else that goes along with royalty so well. I had no idea the ins and outs of being a member of a royal family. I absolutely loved Louise (fourth daughter of Queen Victoria), what a wonderful and talented person she was. She was so genuine and down to earth. She had hopes and dreams she wanted to achieve and I found myself wanting them to come to fruition on her behalf. The amount of research that went into this book shows through. I learned so much about the time period and Queen Victoria and her children. Extraordinarily captivating, In the Shadow of a Queen is hands down the best historical novel I have read this year. I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Reading!

You can pick up your own copy via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & Deseret Book.

About the Author:  

HEATHER B. MOORE is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications. She has lived on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as in Hawaii, and attended school abroad at the Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about history and is passionate about historical research. 

 

Learn more about Heather and her books at www.hbmoore.com