‘Tudor Christmas Tidings’ is a set of three novellas by three different authors, Blythe Gifford, Jenni Fletcher and Amanda McCabe. The stories are all set at differing times during the Tudor period and I will separate my review into the three stories.

Christmas at Court by Blythe Gifford

Two families have betrothed their son and daughter to each other. Sir John Talbot and Lady Alice are total strangers but have been made the pawns in the machinations of a secret plot against King Richard. These families want nothing more than to see King Henry regain the Crown and this betrothal is a means to keep each family loyal to Henry, nothing more.

The story takes place over three years, John and Alice only meeting every Christmas, and realising their attraction to one another. Their wedding is planned to take place when Henry actually regains the Crown and not before. The only problem being is it just lust they feel and not love? Will they marry or try to break the betrothal?

I really enjoyed spending time in the court, one of my favourite historical periods. I am enamoured with the Woodville’s, and the court around them. I suppose if someone just wanted to read a romance they may find this a little too bogged down with the court and the power struggle between the Kings. I loved it!

Secrets Of The Queens Lady by Jenni Fletcher

Pippa, a widow in her thirties, is a Lady-In-Waiting to Anne of Cleves, at Richmond her own court Henry VIII, allowed her to have after she was replaced. Pippa is quite happy serving her mistress until Kit, a man eight years her junior who is a diplomat recently returns from abroad and visits court. She knows there is an attraction for them but is content to stay a widow, due to a bad marriage. Even though she knows Kit from their younger days and aided him with her kindness, Kit has never forgotten this. He is very much of a mind that his future and Pippa’s should be intertwined, but will he manage to sway her decision?

I found this story much more revolving around Pippa and Kit with their burgeoning romance. I was hoping Pippa would be able to be swayed to Kit’s way of thinking because she deserves to experience love properly. Pippa has suffered throughout her life and is a woman who you cannot help but love.

His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe

Catherine Greaves, a daughter of a former Lady-In-Waiting to Catherine Of Aragon, is summoned, with her mother to Queen Mary’s court. Her father is locked in the Tower Of London due to a plot to remove Queen Mary from the throne, Catherine’s future doesn’t look so good. It looks that bad, it certainly does not include being allowed to marry Don Diego De Vasquez, a wealthy and important Spanish Lord. The only problem being is that they have an attraction to each other that excludes everything else. Catherine can only dream of her future in foreign lands with her Don Diego by her side.

This particular story was oozing with intrigue and the romance of Catherine and Don Diego made for a lovely sweet story, they just had to be together!

In conclusion, I felt it a nice mix of stories about the Tudor times and I found it was a good valance of romance, political machinations, subterfuge and intrigue throughout. I enjoyed the characters and felt they were very well developed through the stories. A lovely little collection for anyone who loves historical fiction mixed with romance and everything else.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the copy of the book for my review on this blog blitz today.