Recent Reads {The Miracle at St Bruno's}

The Miracle at St. Bruno's by Philippa Carr - This is the first novel in a series that I discovered several years ago, rather by accident.  Author Philippa Carr has also written a number of biographical novels under the name Jean Plaidy, and historical romance novels under the name Victoria Holt.  In my opinion, this series (Daughters of England) is a middle ground between the two genres -  a historical setting epic in Gothic novel style, but not necessarily romance.  The series opens during the reign of King Henry VIII in Britain, before the rise of Anne Boleyn.  The main character, Damask, is the only child of a well-to-do London businessman who is also a devoted father.  Their estate neighbors an Abbey, and in time Damask and her cousin develop a friendship with the young boy that lives at the Abbey and is named for the patron saint.  Bruno's background and parentage is unknown, and his coming to Abbey was regarded as a miracle.  The saga follows Damask and her contemporaries as they grow up during this very unsettled time in Britain - the wives and intrigues of Henry VIII and his court, and the persecutions of Catholics.  Damask eventually marries Bruno, but in true Gothic novel style, they certainly do not live happily ever after.  Mysteries and intrigues abound and Damask finds herself in the middle of one unlikely scenario after another.

The story continues in the sequel novels, each of which centers on a female descendant of Damask's, and is an interesting - if rather fantastic - view of the history of Great Britain, not from the royal court or from truly 'ordinary' folk.   As colorfully imagined as the characters and storylines are in the series, it still offers a glimpse of the life and times of Britain's history and how people may have been affected by world events and shifts in political power and royal attitudes.