Book of the Month: Beware the Lizard Lurking by Vivienne Brereton #HistoricalFiction #TudorFiction #RecommendedReading

Beware the Lizard Lurking

 The House of the Red Duke, Book #2

by Vivienne Brereton

The legendary Howards are back! Larger than life and brasher than ever. Riding high at Henry VIII’s magnificent Tudor court.

A secret Twelfth Night wedding is about to take place far from the King’s sumptuous Christmas celebrations at Greenwich. Heads will surely roll if he discovers the deception.

But when uninvited wedding guests turn up in Cornwall, there’s a new twist to the tale.

The hot-headed young King is hellbent on a so-called holy war with France, against the advice of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Putting Henry at odds with his normally affable Scottish brother-in-law, James IV of Scotland.

On the other hand, the King’s almoner, Thomas Wolsey, (who has become a thorn in the Earl’s side) is very much in favour of the war as he contentedly watches his star rising at court.

Across the Narrow Sea, Louis XII of France is trying to renew the ‘Auld Alliance’ with Scotland.

Tristan and Nicolas remain at loggerheads over pretty Ysabeau, the flirtatious young wife of their ageing neighbour.

“To Nicolas’s annoyance, Tristan rushed over to help Ysabeau down from her grey palfrey and was rewarded by a smile that was as bright as a summer’s day.”

Valentine is still making mischief as she sees fit, particularly for Tristan.

Cecily is perfectly content in her beloved Zennor Castle in Cornwall.

But what does Dame Fortune have in store for them in 1513?

Praise for Beware the Lizard Lurking:

"The drama and intrigue of the Tudor courts come to thrilling life in this meticulously researched story. ."

~ NW Reading Maven, Amazon Reviewer, 5*

"Opening this book, you find yourself transported to the early 16th century. You can feel the chill from the foggy London air. You can feel the warmth from the crackling fire."

~ N. N. Light, Book Reviewer, 5*

"Brereton is great at character development. It is rare that a writer is able to master this part of writing. The characters of Tristan d' Ardres and young Cecily Trevadoe demonstrate her ability to accomplish this art."

~ Medieval Guy, Amazon Reviewer, 5*

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Vivienne Brereton

Born in historic Winchester, England, Vivienne has been passionate about the Tudors for as long as she can remember. This led to a degree in Medieval History and a growing desire to write a historical novel. Words have always played an important part in her life, whether writing, editing, teaching English, or just picking up a good book.

 In preparation for her Tudor series, she did an enormous amount of research: reading, visiting historic buildings, art galleries, with the odd joust or two thrown in! She even mastered several Tudor recipes which are included in her novel. Seeing 'A Phoenix Rising', Book One of 'The House of the Red Duke' in print for the first time was a moment of great joy for her. She hopes that anyone reading it will enjoy the end result as much as she enjoyed writing it.

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