The Golden Widows by Isolde Martyn

This was a win from Sheree of The Eclectic Reader. It took a circuitous turn via Australia to me but it does eventually get to me. Books published recently are not available in Sri Lanka and that is why I enter giveaways for Australia as well as they go to my daughter (if I win) and then come here. Otherwise these publications will never ever reach me! So thank you Sheree for the win.


The story dealing with two women from opposing camps was a good one. The very famed Elysabeth  and the actual story of how she engineered a meeting with the King is a story of legend.  Kate on the other hand is on the winning side - a Neville and a young widow to boot, a pawn in the game of politically advantageous marriages and under severe pressure to marry.


Both women need the protection of good men but during such a period of strife in Britain can such men be found. Elysabeth is penniless, fighting for the inheritance for her two sons, dependant totally on family who themselves are poverty stricken and in laws who have thrown her out. She has however the backing of a family who are clever, know when to strike and who know how to take advantage of a situation.  In the circumstances her chance meeting with King, throwing her petitions and herself onto his mercy a very chance situation is made into one which is hugely advantageous not just for herself but for her own clan.


Kate though attracted to Hastings is cautious due to his reputation. A handsome, rich man very much the power behind the throne Kate is looking for a husband who is going to be faithful to her and also one who can be entrusted with the guardianship of her daughter's holdings which are huge.. At the present time finding such a man is going to be difficult. Years spent in war, away from home many men find short lived happiness elsewhere. Kate's chance encounter with Lovidia and her discovery subsequently that the husband she thought was faithful to her had had a child with this woman has blasted all thoughts of trust away and now she is finding it difficult to trust again.


How these two women on opposing sides of the fence find love and companionship in troubling times is the story beautifully told of The Golden Widows. Both women are strong, protective of their children and at the same time very young women who are actively hoping to find good men as their partners. Success in marriage keeping love, trust, faithfulness seems difficult if not a hopeless objective at the time. The story proves otherwise.


Loved this story of historical fiction.