Smuggling pages from a forbidden book is a small act of defiance against Queen Elizabeth I, but it entangles Joan Pryce in a plot that may cost her both her heart and her life. Joan is not only Catholic--her beliefs outlawed by the queen--but also Welsh, a people long oppressed by the English. When Joan's father dies, she is cast out from her home. Nicholas, the childhood friend she was supposed to marry, is a cold stranger, disfigured by an accident no one talks about. Smuggling religious books gives Joan a chance to do something about the injustices around her, but draws her into a world where everyone has a secret. An agent of the queen is closing in on her, and she must choose between her loyalty to her faith, her country, and her heart. One misstep will land her at the gallows.
This book is a historical fiction book that was written by someone that knows their history. It is always so obvious when an author has done the hard work to get details right. I have been intrigued for a long time by this time period, the English Reformation and the reign of Queen Elizabeth the 1st. The feeling of great religious unrest is the basis for this story as Joan is Catholic, and her father died revolting against the Queen and now Joan is an orphan living with her godparents. She also meets up again with the man who she thought some day she'd marry, but she hasn't seen Nicholas for many years. He's changed in many ways and Joan isn't sure how she feels about him at first.
This story has a slow start, but as things progress, you get to learn more about Joan and the kind of person she is. The reader soon sees that Joan is truly at heart very kind and caring and wanting to help the oppressed. She is courageous and fights for her beliefs, even with her own life at stake. Though there is some romance in the story, this book's strong points revolve around the adventure and mystery as she becomes wrapped up in the intrigue of secretly fighting for her people,The Welsh, and her beloved Catholic church. I felt on edge a lot while reading this story hoping that Joan and the others would succeed in their quest for freedom. There is some violence as the Queen's men had a job to "take care" of the Papist Traitors who were revolting against the Queen.
There are some twists and turns in the story, especially having to do with the romance that fully blossoms near the end of the book. I can assure you that it will make you smile. This book will make readers of historical fiction and historical romance feel very fulfilled when finished. This clean read can be enjoyed by older teens and adults.
