My Book Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 July 2025
Once again Rosemary Griggs takes us to Devon in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I as the Spanish Armada prepares to attack.
At last a well-informed author looks at what women were doing to protect their homes, their children, their livelihoods and their men. It wasn't just Drake and Raleigh and a handful of Elizabethan heroes who kept England safe from the invasion.
The characterisation is compelling, albeit a lot of it by necessity fictional. I certainly had empathy for Roberda and her family. Love and loss; grief and hardship …

1587, England is at risk of invasion by the Spanish Armada, following the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Catholic rival to the throne and cousin to Queen Elizabeth.
A Navy is being prepared, men are being trained to use weapons, uniforms are needed, ships constantly patrol the shores of the south coast and a network of beacons is erected to give an early warning of attacks. The Navy is under the leadership of Sir Walter Raleigh, a favourite of the Queen and a local man.
At Dartington Hall, war preparations are under way on a more modest scale. The women …

Mistress of Dartington Hall is the third novel in Rosemary Griggs's Daughters of Devon series, and once again, she brings the women of Tudor England out of the shadows and into the light. Set in 1587, with the threat of the Spanish Armada looming, the novel centres on Roberda, a French Huguenot noblewoman navigating life as the lady of Dartington Hall in South Devon.

Roberda is more than a wife or mother—she's a determined estate manager, navigating the legal and logistical challenges of keeping Dartington operational in her husband's absence. But when her estranged husband, Gawen, suddenly returns from Ireland, …

If you’re seeking an enthralling historical tale with a rich tapestry of drama and resilience, “The Dartington Bride” by Rosemary Griggs fits the bill perfectly.
Set against the backdrop of 16th-century England and France, this novel delves into the life of Roberda, a headstrong French bride thrust into the heart of English nobility.

Griggs paints a vivid picture of Roberda’s journey from her tumultuous upbringing amidst the chaos of the French Wars of Religion to her hopeful arrival in England for marriage. As she faces the challenges of integrating into a skeptical household and winning over a disinterested husband, Roberda’s compassion …

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a new author to me
I found the write up description intriguing

I really enjoyed this
Loved the writing style and very easy to read

Highly recommend

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