Isabella: Braveheart of France by Colin Falconer (BOOK TOUR)

She was taught to obey. Now she has learned to rebel.

Isabella is just twelve years old when she marries Edward II of England. For the young princess it is love at first sight - but Edward has a terrible secret that threatens to tear their marriage - and England apart.

Who is Piers Gaveston - and why is his presence in the king’s court about to plunge England into civil war?

The young queen believes in the love songs of the troubadours and her own exalted destiny - but she finds reality very different. As she grows to a woman in the deadly maelstrom of Edward’s court, she must decide between her husband, her children, even her life - and one breath-taking gamble that will change the course of history.

Does she submit to a lifetime of solitude and a spiritual death - or seize her destiny and take the throne of England for herself?

This is the story of Isabella, the only woman ever to invade England - and win.

Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Cool Gus Publishing
Paperback; 218p
 

I love reading a book that begins with a young girl that I can watch grow into a strong women, where I can witness her change from childhood to adulthood.  That is what Colin Falconer has delivered with Isabella: Braveheart of France.  Introduced to Isabella when she is just 12 years old and marries King Edward II, she knows her role in life, her father, the king of France, made sure she understood her place.  She wants to be a good wife, a good queen and most of all she wants to be loved and cherished.

There were times in this book that I had to stop and remind myself that Isabella was raised in the French court, she was mature beyond her years and she proved that in the English court. It's too bad that Edward II had issues, some serious issues.  Where Isabella is self confident and strong, Edward II is the opposite.

I enjoyed the fact that I knew nothing about Isabella before starting this book.  For me the book started off a little slow and I had a hard time getting into it, but at the half way point I was engrossed and finished it the next day. This book is only 218 pages long, however I think that it could have benefited from some more details and maybe more interaction with their children, I was interested in their lives also since very little is mentioned about them.

But all in all, I am glad that I read it and enjoyed it.  This is my first novel by Colon Falconer and I will check out more of his writings.  This book will appeal to those that like historical fiction with emphasis on the royal family.

About the Author
Born in London, Colin first trialed as a professional football player in England, and was eventually brought to Australia. He went to Sydney and worked in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines. He has published over twenty novels and his work has so far been translated into 23 languages.

He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz.

His most recent novels are Silk Road, set in the 13th century, and Stigmata, set against the backdrop of the Albigensian Crusade in Southern France in 1209. He currently lives in Barcelona.

For more information please visit Colin Falconer's blog. You can also find him on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Be sure to check out the other stop on this tour.

Monday, January 6
Review at Seaside Book Corner
Tuesday, January 7
Review & Giveaway at Luxury Reading
Wednesday, January 8
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Thursday, January 9
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Friday, January 10
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Monday, January 13
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, January 14
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, January 15
Review at Ageless Pages Review
Thursday, January 16
Review at Dee’s Reads
Friday, January 17
Review at Just One More Chapter
Monday, January 20
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, January 21
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Wednesday, January 22
Review at The Bookworm
Thursday, January 23
Review & Giveaway at Words & Peace
Friday, January 24
Review at The Most Happy Reader
Monday, January 27
Review at Carpe Librum
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Tuesday, January 28
Review at Reading the Ages
Wednesday, January 29
Review at Book Drunkard
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Friday, January 31
Review at Turning the Pages
Monday, February 3
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Tuesday, February 4
Review at Historical Fiction Notebook
Wednesday, February 5
Review at Book of Secrets
Thursday, February 6
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Friday, February 7
Review at Found Between the Covers