GREAT READS

The Virgin Queen's Daughter

Ella March Chase.

With the excitement of the series The Tudors and the recent movie The Other Boleyn Girl, who can resist another Elizabethan story?  This book expounds the real rumor that the young Elizabeth became pregnant and was hidden away while the rest of the world believed she was ill.  So, suppose Elizabeth really had a baby, which was spirited away, adopted and grew up not knowing who she was?  Then suppose that girl came to court to become one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting? This is the story of Nell, a fair, red-haired, intelligent girl of whom the Queen takes special notice.  But does Elizabeth know Nell's true story?  Does Nell know for sure? While searching for these answers, I read about court intrigue, secret arrests, beheadings, and tortures, as well as secret love affairs going on behind the Queen's back.  And there are just enough true facts in this fictional account to keep the story interesting

Recommended by Frieda Jack