The Queen's Lady

Gr 8 Up—Lady Jane Rievaulx, recently widowed, finds herself in service to the queen at Richmond Palace in 1584. She is excited to see the man who has won her heart, James Lacey. However, he has plans to journey to America and is plagued by self-doubt. The 18-year-old is caught between the stepsons of her late husband, who think she owes them money, and her own family, who have plans for her to remarry, not for love but out of duty. Jane is hesitant to agree to this arrangement until she is given an ultimatum that would devastate a lifelong friend. James can save her but there is no way of knowing if he will return in time. The descriptions of the time period, clothing, court protocol, and class distinctions provide more than just a backdrop for this historical novel. The characters' dialogue and romantic involvement are largely innocent. While this title continues the tale from The Other Countess (Delacorte, 2011), the author provides enough backstory for it to stand on its own.—Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD