Book Blurb:
When the choice is life or death, there is no choice at all.
Fleeing Rippon, Catherine and her family race to board a ship bound for London and freedom. With the Queen’s soldiers closing in, is the only way to save her newborn baby and adopted son to let them go?
Rescued by a local physic and not knowing whether her baby could survive for long without her care, she is determined to follow her children to London and search them out.
The Spurrier’s Wife is the epic tale of one woman’s long journey to find her children no matter the cost, no matter how long. A journey that brings her to the centre of intrigue and plotting at the highest level, involving the richest man in a Protestant England. When a chance encounter uncovers the trail that will lead her to the ones she loves most in all the world, she prays they will still be alive, or must she say goodbye forever?
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/yFjiD4W
Author Bio:
C J Richardson lives in a small village in North Yorkshire with her husband. This is the second time around for both of them and they have six grown up children and fifteen grandchildren between them. Phew!
She started writing when she retired from her job in accountancy in 2008. In 2011, she and several other local authors started a writing group. They still meet regularly to share their work and also to critique and support each other.
She has a BA (hons) degree in creative writing and loves to write about real historical events. She is currently working on Book Two of the Elizabethan series and hopes to publish in 2023.
Book One, The Rippon Spurrier was published in late summer 2021 and was a Finalist award Winner 2021 with The Historical Fiction Company.
Editorial Review:
I realised of a sudden that the smell of my baby son was no more. My hand flew to my throat as the enormous boulder of loss caught there, choking me.
When the decision is between life and death, a mother will always choose the life of her child, even if it pains her. This is exactly what Catherine does when the soldiers close in to corner her and her family. Without a second thought, she gives her child a chance for a different future when she allows Bridget to make a run for life.
I smiled weakly and followed her to an area where a woman was laying shirts across rosemary bushes. It reminded me of washing clothes for Robert. It seemed a long time ago now. I had helped my mother wash when I lived at home, remembering the day Robert had come and claimed me as his wife.
As the reader will advance, the story will reveal the complexities of the setting. The main character’s portrayal is coupled with her memories, emotional reactions, and upheavals, create a gripping atmosphere. The language also keeps the reader in the story as the plotline delves into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and, love. The narrative leaves readers with a sense of anticipation, seamlessly setting the stage for future developments.
I was not surprised. Nothing I said or did was private.
Later that day, the Lieutenant came back again to say, ‘I am charged to inform you that Her Majesty has signed a warrant for your death to take place two days hence, on 31st January.’
Throughout the book, the author skillfully weaves historical details into the narrative, offering the readers insights and details into the political climate and how this affect the already conflicted emotions of the characters. The internal struggles of Catherine reflect not only personal anguish but also a broader questioning of the events as she grows through grief and challenges.
I was relieved I finally knew when I was to die, but suspicious that as soon as I had made clear to my children that I denied some charges, the execution date had been agreed.
The executioner cut off the head with one blow and held it up to the weeping and sorrowing crowd. I turned my head away.
As we witness the aftermath of a public execution, Catherine struggles with the emotional and political turmoil surrounding the death of the Duke. The vivid descriptions evoke the dark atmosphere around the brutality of the execution and the grief that washes the crowd. It’s not easy to be transposed into such complex setting, but C.J. Richardson does an amazing job! The narration unfolds with a sense of urgency, bringing us one step closer to the finale.
The emotional depth and historical richness of this second book give the readers a compelling glimpse into a time where complicated games intertwine in the game for power and relationships collide against the tumultuous background of political confusion. It’s worth mentioning that as a sequel, it would make for a more enjoyable if the reader had enjoyed the previous book first.
*****
“The Spurrier's Wife” by C J Richardson receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
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