SYNOPSIS
1469. England is in turmoil. For almost ten years, the attractive and charismatic Edward IV has ruled with the Earl of Warwick’s support, but now rebellion threatens the fragile peace.
Strong-willed and single-minded, heiress Isobel Fenton is determined that nothing will separate her from her beloved manor of Beaumancote even if she does have to marry to stay there. But as unseen witness to a summary execution, she is propelled into the world of personal feud and national politics, and her life will never be the same.
Left in the protection of the formidable Earl, Isobel soon discovers that she is much more than the daughter of his loyal retainer, but holds the key to the power base in a troubled region.
And she is about to marry Thomas Lacey – heir of the Earl’s enemy for whose peremptory execution he had been responsible.
The Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence foment rebellion. With the Midlands in uproar, King Edward wants peace in the shires and the last thing he needs is potential trouble in the form of an unwed heiress.
Isolated and alone, Isobel turns to the Earl’s younger brother, Robert Langton – newly sworn to Richard, Duke of Gloucester – and as unrest boils into war, she is drawn into the very heart of the conflict.
Facing extremes of courage and moral ambiguity, Isobel has to predict the motivations of those who decide her own and England’s fate. Caught between two men and a lie, and with nothing left to lose, which way will she turn?
MY THOUGHTS
Having just come from reading a fast paced novel, this one was a slow pace initially and took me a little while to get into it, I also kept having to look back at the characters to see who was related to who. But that is more down to my lack of education into the royals when at school. I would have much rather studied these than the things we did study.
Lady Isabel Fenton witnesses the brutal reality of the War of The roses when she witnesses the bringing of two Lancastrian rebels to the family home. They had been hunted down by the Earl. Her father Sir Geoffrey Fenton identifies one of the men as Ralph Lacey the man who killed the Earl’s father. The Earl orders the beheading of both, but Sir Geoffrey steps in and saves the younger, Lacey’s nephew, Thomas, after he swears fealty to King Edward IV.
Wheel of fortune is set in the late 1400’s. When Isobel’s father passes she wishes to stay at her home, but until she is wed to Thomas Lacey at Michaelmas that is not safe to do. Her father had asked the Earl to have Isabel in his protection until Michaelmas and she is married. However, it seems the Earl doesn’t think Thomas Lacey is right for Isobel, so stops the marriage. But what does this mean for Isobel, she is initially looking after the Earls two youngest daughters Margaret and Cecily. She occasionally bumps into the Earls younger brother Robert, there appears to be some attraction but when Robert is not there the Earl himself sends for Isobel. But what does he have in store for her. The plight of Isobel is heartbreaking at times, she can do nothing about her situation at a time when women had no rights.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and following Isobel, and everything that goes on. As you are reading the author mentions the smell’s and taste of things. It brings the story to life. Clearly well researched although Isobel is a fictitious character, you are pulled along with her. All of the characters are well crafted and full of different emotions, real flesh and blood.
The last half of the book I was completely invested in the story, the characters, and what was going to happen, with the end leaving a gripping conclusion I cannot wait for book 2.
This is a definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me, the characters, the plot, everything flowed so beautifully.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CF Dunn is an award-winning novelist of history, mystery and suspense. Studying medieval history at university, CF Dunn has always been acutely aware of the impact of the past. Vibrant characters and meticulous research seamlessly weave threads of history to bring an authenticity to her richly-hued, suspenseful stories of intense love, loyalty and treachery.
Now living in the South West of England, she is ambivalent about the correct order in which scones should be applied to cream. Her love of history is equalled only by her delight in the natural world and the unruly sea by which she lives with her husband, daughters, parents and pets in suitably rambling historic surroundings.
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