5* Review of Grace, Lady of Cassio

 

5 stars for Grace, Lady of Cassio by @writerinagarret #historicalmystery #romance #bookreview by Mrs.N. Light



Title: Grace, Lady of Cassio

Author: Rosemary Morris

 

Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Mystery


Book Blurb:


England 1331. What was it like to live at a time when love was not a reason to marry, and husbands had the right to thrash their wives with a rod no wider than their thumbs? Spirited, compassionate, seventeen-year-old Grace is about to find out if her marriage will be made in heaven or hell? Her mother, Countess of Cassio, arranges for her to wed Jocelyn, Lord Lovat, Baron Montford. Grace knows marriage only founded on romantic notions is unacceptable. She agrees to tie the knot with Jocelyn to increase her family’s prestige and political alliances. Nevertheless, she is terrified of sharing a bed with the stranger she will be wed to on the day after they meet for the first time.

Until she arrives at her bridegroom’s manor, Grace has only experienced unconditional love. She is shocked by Jocelyn’s spiteful, widowed sister, and is puzzled by her own inexplicable power to see auras and know when someone she loves is in danger. Grace is even more troubled when she overhears her former nurse’s deathbed confession about the countess. Unable to decide if Nurse’s allegation is false, Grace is tormented. Fulk, her beloved twin, does not believe it is true. He ensures the other witness, a priest, will not repeat it.

A handsome husband, prestige and wealth are not enough to compensate Grace for the severe trials, including brutal murders, she must come to terms with to find happiness.

My Review:

Unsure of her lot in life, Lady Grace will have to overcome her own fears, a deadly family secret, murder, and more to secure her own happiness. Young Grace knows she won't marry for love but will instead marry Jocelyn, Lord Lovat, as arranged by the two families. In an era where a man can beat his wife, Grace wonders what kind of marriage it will be. She swallows her fears and marries him. As Lady Grace, she's overwhelmed by the harsh treatment she receives from her new sister-in-law as well as her sudden ability to sense when a loved one is in trouble. She dares not tell anyone or she'll be labeled a witch. When she overhears a deathbed confession that reveals a dark family secret, she confides in her twin. What happens next will put many lives in peril. Can Grace resolve to find her own happiness, even shrouded in darkness or will she wallow in sadness?

Grace, Lady of Cassio is a historically accurate romantic mystery from start to finish. Rosemary Morris pens a wonderfully detailed story many historians and historical readers will enjoy. A woman's life in the 14th century had limited options with love being a luxury most women never experienced. There are hardships described in Grace, Lady of Cassio which are brutal (rape, murder, etc.) to read. I do give Rosemary Morris credit for accurately portraying 14th-century life. The characters are well-written with plenty of trials to overcome. My heart went out to Grace time and again. The plot is rich in detail and paced evenly. Grace, Lady of Cassio is a gripping story and will have readers thinking about it long after reading. Stark, honest portrayal, Grace, Lady of Cassio is a poignant historical mystery.

 

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Lady-Cassio-Lovages-Book-ebook/dp/B09CMXPP5B


Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Grace-Lady-Cassio-Lovages-Book-ebook/dp/B09CMXPP5B

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Lady-Cassio-Lovages-Book-ebook/dp/B09CMXPP5B

And other online bookstores.

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