The Secret Keeper A Novel of Kateryn Parr by Sandra Byrd

Back Cover:
Mistress Juliana St.John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight's family. Though all expect her to marry the son of her late father's business partner, time and chance interrupt, sending her to the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII.
 Sire Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to Wiltshire to conclude his affairs with Juliana's father's estate and chances upon her reading as lector in the local church. He sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and wants most to please, Kateryn Parr. Juliana's mother agrees to have her placed with Parr for a season and Juliana goes, though reluctantly.
For she keeps a secret.
Juliana has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one vibrant vision she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of a highly born young woman, while it was still on her body, to perilous consequence.
As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henry's devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of the firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her Ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queen's desire to influence her husband's -and the realm's- direction and beliefs. Later, without Henry's strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. Ultimately, her course is driven by a final kept secret, one that undoes everything she thought she knew.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS?
At first, I thought I would not like this book. I figured it would be boring, and I wouldn't "find" the time to read it...I was sooo wrong. Once I got started I couldn't put it down!!! It has sooo many twists and turns. Plus great secrets :) lol. Juliana has a beau, but as far as she knows, he doesn't think of her that way. So she heads to court to help Kateryn Parr. Once there King Henry has decided that he has to have Kateryn for his bride. This sends the story a whole new direction. One horrible night, Juliana's life is turned upside down, and all her hopes for the future seem unattainable, but are they? In the end Juliana must keep the biggest secret of her life, and that of another's...
 This is a great book, you feel apart of the history, and the story. Sandra takes a whole new twist on a part of British History that is to this day, uncertain. I suggest you pick up a copy of The Secret Keeper, get in your reading nook with your Iced Coffee or Tea :)




To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book Howard Books. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by the publisher to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.