ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including in Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.
But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a sermon and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.
Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.
A Constant Heart is her sixth novel. Two of her novels, Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door were Christy Award finalists. She has been called one of the clearest, most original voices in the CBA.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In a world of wealth, power, and privilege...love is the only forbidden luxury.
“Trust was a valuable commodity at court. Traded by everyone, but possessed by no one. Its rarity was surpassed only by love. Love implied commitment and how could any of us commit ourselves to any but the Queen? Love implied singularity and how could any of us benefit another if our affections were bound to one in exclusivity? Love was never looked for and rarely found. When it was, it always ended badly.”
In Queen Elizabeth’s court where men and women willingly trade virtue for power, is it possible for Marget to obtain her heart’s desire or is the promise of love only an illusion?
A riveting glimpse into Queen Elizabeth's Court...
Born with the face of an angel, Marget Barnardsen is blessed. Her father is a knight, and now she is to be married to the Earl of Lytham. Her destiny is guaranteed ... at least, it would seem so. But when her introduction to court goes awry and Queen Elizabeth despises her, Marget fears she's lost her husband forever. Desperate to win him back, she'll do whatever it takes to discover how she failed and capture again the love of a man bound to the queen.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Constant Heart, go HERE
MY REVIEW:
The late 1500’s finds us in the courts of Queen Elizabeth – a knight’s daughter betrothed to an earl with a broken heart and a decimated first marriage. These two lives begin a very deliberate dance as courtier to the Queen and the woman who must aide him in his success. Each step must be plotted out as surely as a battle plan must be laid before a great war. Indeed, the planning is so crucial, there is no room for the tenderness of love, the joy of trusted friendship or the faithfulness of a constant heart.
Siri Mitchell’s novel, A Constant Heart, fully captures the vain duplicity of Queen Elizabeth’s court. I was so intrigued by the practices of painting faces, dying hair and starching ruffs that I was spurred to do some research of my own. Truly, there is nothing more deadly than self-love and pride! I was astounded by the things that took place in the lives of a Queen’s courtier! A more depraved, enslaved group of people ever before existed!
A Constant Heart is the most riveting, heart-wrenching tale of true love I’ve read in a long time. My heart ached for both Marget and Lord Lytham. I utterly despised both the Queen and Lady de Winter, and I found myself cheering for Joan and Nicholas to keep speaking truth to their disillusioned masters! I learned a great deal about life in Queen Elizabeth’s court, and I am very thankful that I do not have to reside amid such duplicitous wealth!
You have earned a standing ovation from this reader, Siri Mitchell! Bravo!! Encore!! Please, purchase your copy today!
Ditto that review. Except for the research. Now I'm going to have to do that, too.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to come back and read the interview tomorrow.