Intrigue

The book is based around a modern equivalent of the first Queen Elizabeth, mimicking her life in many ways. Indeed, the novel opens with news of her older sister Mary’s passing on, so that Elizabeth, aged 25, is now head of the family company...

I like the idea; unfortunately, this book is a basically a series of events rather than having any plot as such. There are minor stresses here and there - plots to take over the company, or disagreements between Elizabeth and her lover - but all are resolved easily. There is a huge cast of characters, none of them particularly well-drawn; most of them are two-dimensional and it didn't matter at all if I forgot who was whom.

My biggest gripe with this novel is the writing style. Clichés abound, dialogue is stilted, thoughts are repeated, and far too many adverbs are used. We’re told what people look like or how they are feeling - skipping around viewpoints within the same page - but rarely shown anything.

This book is the third of a trilogy, but it stands alone.

Really not recommended. ( )

I decided to try a bit of British romance in honor of being involved in the Downton Abbey experience and was a bit disappointed in the repetitiveness of much of the action and commentary - often without really changing the words. Did enjoy the references to English culture which seem to have continued into this century.
( )

Elizabeth I was anything but boring, but this retelling of her story in a modern setting most definitely was. The idea is interesting, although not original, but the story itself was not well done. I was very disappointed. ( )

At the age of 25, Elizabeth finds herself the heir to a multibillion dollar family business. She is reunited with a childhood playmate, Robert Donnely, who she hires as her advisor. Soon their friendship turns to romance. Their liaison is considered scandalous because he is married. Although his marriage is on paper only, and soon to be dissolved. Elizabeth isn't concerned with Robert's status, because she has no interest in marriage, although she is deeply in love with Robert. When Amy his wife dies from a mysterious fall "Chinese secrets" bring Robert under suspicion, even though his name is soon cleared. It seems that there are a number of mysterious "deaths in Elizabeth's family history. (no doubt what left her as sole heir) A decade later, after surviving a deadly illness, and threat losing the empire to backstabbers, Elizabeth is named Woman of the year, and agrees marry Robert. ( )