A rich alchemy of fact and fiction, the Tudor Ladies in Waiting series chronicles the glittering court lives of three queens and their closest friends and companions. Discover sweeping historical romance brimming with heartwarming and heartbreaking circumstances and heroines who choose lives worth risking all for.

 

To Die For
A Novel of Anne Boleyn

Could that which is worth dying for be precisely what makes life worth living?

After Anne Boleyn catches the eye of King Henry VIII, her dearest friend, Meg Wyatt, accompanies her to the thrilling court of Tudor England. But as Anne and Henry’s affections grow, Meg faces heartbreak; the man she loves commits himself to God rather than her. Meg makes her own vow: to ensure Anne’s well-being as they navigate the intricate web of power and politics.

As the court crawls with climbers, both women find themselves caught in a world filled with ambition, betrayal, and danger, with only each other to rely on. Anne falls out of favor and is sentenced to die, and Meg expects a bleak future. Then, a glimmer of hope sparks from an unexpected source, reigniting a long-held ember in her heart. Fanning that into flame, though, comes at a cost. 

A masterful tale of steadfast friendship and unquenchable love set in the thrilling court of Henry VIII, To Die For plunges readers into the life of Anne Boleyn through the eyes of her best friend, Meg Wyatt.

~Potentially Sensitive Content~

The Tudor era was a challenging century filled with treachery and political turmoil. From it, however, came the bright light of the Reformation. Each protagonist in the series grapples with difficult issues and unwelcome, sometimes harmful circumstances, as all people do. However, I show how these women persevered and often thrived despite difficulties, earning, as many heroines will, their happily ever after.

While writing, I tried to be both sensitive to the reader and faithful to history, including not downplaying the suffering and redemption of real and fictional people. Nothing in any of the books is gratuitous, but I understand that there are topics each reader may not want to discover during their read. Here, for your consideration, are some potentially sensitive topics that will be found in the book:

Adverse childhood events; unloving, abusive parent; miscarriage; Anne’s beheading and death.

  • To Die For

    2012 CHRISTY AWARD FINALIST

  • To Die For

    2011 LIBRARY JOURNAL
    BEST BOOKS PICK

  • The Secret Keeper

    2012 LIBRARY JOURNAL
    BEST BOOKS PICK

The Secret Keeper
A Novel of Katherine Parr

What she sees in secret, she may not tell.

Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to his home in Wiltshire and chances upon Juliana St. John, daughter of his late friend, 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 soon finds a welcoming household and a deep, most unexpected love. Court is a dangerous place, though, as enemies of Henry’s devout sixth queen raise deadly stakes for all reformers, including the queen herself, Kateryn Parr. Juliana has the gift of prophetic dreams and “sees” terrible events visited upon the highborn. If her prophetic gift is discovered, she will face trial for heresy or, worse, witchcraft.

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. 

Threading historical fact through gripping fiction, Byrd creates a rich tapestry of one woman’s battle to protect those she loves from harm.

~Potentially Sensitive Content~

The Tudor era was a challenging century filled with treachery and political turmoil. From it, however, came the bright light of the Reformation. Each protagonist in the series grapples with difficult issues and unwelcome, sometimes harmful circumstances, as all people do. However, I show how these women persevered and often thrived despite difficulties, earning, as many heroines will, their happily ever after.

While writing, I tried to be both sensitive to the reader and faithful to history, including not downplaying the suffering and redemption of real and fictional people. Nothing in any of the books is gratuitous, but I understand that there are topics each reader may not want to discover during their read. Here, for your consideration, are some potentially sensitive topics that will be found in the book:

A man in a position of high power attempting to groom a teenager; closed-door sexual assault of an adult; era-specific martyrdom violence.

 
 

Roses Have Thorns
A Novel of Elizabeth I

Serving a queen may cost you your marriage—or your life.

From the author of To Die For comes a stirring novel that sheds new light on Elizabeth I and her court, a book that evokes the Tudor period’s complexity, grandeur, and brutality.

In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiancé has fallen in love with her sister, and her dowry has been gambled away. Ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power and plunge her to the riskiest, most heartrending lows.

Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth’s circle and Elizabeth’s dear friend and confidant. But in a court surrounded by enemies plotting the queen’s downfall, Helena is forced to choose between her unyielding monarch and the husband she’s not sure she can trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.

Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a multi-layered exploration of treason, both to the realm and the heart.

~Potentially Sensitive Content~

The Tudor era was a challenging century filled with treachery and political turmoil. From it, however, came the bright light of the Reformation. Each protagonist in the series grapples with difficult issues and unwelcome, sometimes harmful circumstances, as all people do. However, I show how these women persevered and often thrived despite difficulties, earning, as many heroines will, their happily ever after.

While writing, I tried to be both sensitive to the reader and faithful to history, including not downplaying the suffering and redemption of real and fictional people. Nothing in any of the books is gratuitous, but I understand that there are topics each reader may not want to discover during their read. Here, for your consideration, is a potentially sensitive topic that will be found in the book:

Death of a child

  • The Reviews are In...

    '...this stunning novel ...reexamines Boleyn's life from her beginnings to her rise and eventual fall in the Tudor court. Byrd's novel adds a depth to the character of Anne Boleyn that is often missing in other novels, and she brings the history to life in exquisite detail. Readers might indeed find themselves sympathizing with the young queen. Highly recommended for fans of Philippa Gregory. '

    LIBRARY JOURNAL, Starred Review

  • 'Atmospheric, dramatic and full of twists, this second title in Byrd's 'Ladies in Waiting' series (after To Die For) is a sure bet for fans of... Tudor fiction.'

    LIBRARY JOURNAL, starred review for THE SECRET KEEPER

  • 'Byrd crafts a well-researched historical novel that engrosses readers in Juliana's world and the juicy details of the Tudor court ... Anglophiles and history buffs alike will surely enjoy this bird's-eye view into royal politics, love, and scandal.'

    PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, for THE SECRET KEEPER

  • 'Scandalous gossip! Court intrigue! Forbidden romance! 'ROSES HAVE THORNS' is addictive reading--a guilty pleasure that will transport your heart to the edge of despair and, with a sigh, to the renewal of hope.''

    USA TODAY

  • 'Rich in historical detail, full of intrigue, and starring a memorable heroine—Juliana St. John—who grows in both character and faith, Sandra Byrd's THE SECRET KEEPER kept me completely engrossed in the tumultuous court of Henry VIII. I felt a part of the times, thanks to the author's skillful storytelling, vivid descriptions, and inspiring characters. Readers are in for a special treat with this remarkable novel.'

    FRANCINE RIVERS, NY Times Bestselling Author

  • 'Sandra Byrd's first venture into historical fiction is nothing short of brilliant. All the Tudor details are perfectly placed, like gemstones in a royal crown, yet there is far more to this compelling novel... Simply put, TO DIE FOR is the best historical novel I've read in many a season, a masterpiece of history and heart.'

    LIZ CURTIS HIGGS, NY Times Bestselling Author

Five Star Goodreads Reviews for Ladies in Waiting

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