Review: Keeper of the King's Secrets by Michelle Diener

Title: Keeper of the King's Secrets 
Author: Michelle Diener
Series: Susanna Horenbout and John Parker #2
Publication: April 3rd 2012 by Gallery Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Paperback, 286 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overal Rating: 5/5

Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

   

A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high . . . The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . .

With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all.

~My thoughts:

Although I am so interested in history I do not read historical fiction books a lot. I just don't know many books in that genre that are actually good. The most historical fiction books I have read are Michelle Diener's books and oh how I love her writing and storytelling. It's more than amazing to read her books.

It's hard to say if I like Keeper of the King's secrets more than the first book so I won't compare them. I guess I liked them both equally. But I must say in this one Susanna steps it up quite a bit more. I adored her before but I like her even more now. She was fierce. I  have no other word for it. I also love her and Parker (who was as swoonworthy as he always is) together. They're one of my favorite book couples to read about. They're both equally protective toward each other and I just can't get enough of their interactions.

As always Michelle Diener's writing was fantastic. I love the way she writes. Gorgeous! She really captured me with her words and the excitement going on in the story. I loved the whole story and plot and as is usual with her stories I can never figure out what is going to happen next which is a good thing because nothing is more boring than expecting what is going to happen in a book, right? Luckily I don't ever have to worry about that with Michelle's books.

I need to mention how much I love the setting. I love anything about the Tudors but I like it more that they are not exactly the main characters in this series and yet we glimpse a lot of historical facts that actually happened which makes the history geek in my all happy. 

It is hard to overall describe Keeper of the King's Secrets. Words like gorgeous, brilliant, breathtaking and completely fascinating come to mind. Yes, I loved this book immensely (obviously), which at this point shouldn't be a surprise with how much I love Michelle Diener's books and yet every book I read by her comes as such a pleasant surprise that I read them in no time it seems. I can't wait to read the next book, I'm sure it's going to be just as amazing!

~Favorite Quotes:

Parker came for her, striding out of the darkness like Hades in search of his bride.

There was a pause, the threat of violence hanging clear in the air, then the grip on her arm was suddenly gone. She took a step back, rubbing the spot. There would be a bruise. Something for Parker to grumble about later, she was sure.

~About the author:

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout and John Parker series starts with IN A TREACHEROUS COURT. Set in the court of Henry VIII, it features the real historical figures of artist Susanna Horenbout and Henry’s Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and Yeoman of the King’s Robes, John Parker. It was followed by KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS, also featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, and DANGEROUS SANCTUARY, a short story with the same characters, set between the two books, is currently available as an ebook only.
Set during the Napoleonic Wars in London in 1811, THE EMPEROR’S CONSPIRACY, was released on November 27th, 2012. BANQUET OF LIES, which is connected to THE EMPEROR’S CONSPIRACY, is set to release on October 22nd, 2013.

On 1 March 2013, DAUGHTER OF THE SKY was released. It is set in Zululand at the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

Michelle also contributed a short paranormal story to the ENTANGLED Anthology entitled BREAKING OUT. All the proceeds of the sale of ENTANGLED go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa, and now lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her blogging at Magical Musings, or online at Twitter and Facebook.

Find Michelle also on:

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Purchase Keeper of the King's Secrets on:

All Romance | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Fishpond | Kobo