Awesome book...I couldn't put it down. ( )

1 Doomed Queen
3 Unpleasant Husbands
(2 Intentionally Vile; 1 of the Twu Wuv Robin Dudley-Style Persuasion)
1 Jewel-Encrusted, Beribboned Codpiece (our Hero, ladies and gentlemen...)
1 Wife Won as a Gambling Debt (Unwanted Variety)
1 Outlaw of Dubious Loyalty
1 Confusing Murder
1 Barely Foiled Gunpowder Treason and Plot
Countless Hotheaded Rebellious Scots
Several Battles

2 English Imprisonments
1 Secret Meeting with Elizabeth I
1 Trip to Rome with No Basis in Fact
1 Useless Defender of Catholicism
Too Many Self-Serving Comparisons of Mary's Pretty Fecundity with Elizabeth's Barrenness
1 Secret Love-Child (WTF is up with QUEENS with secret love-children; how exactly was THAT supposed to work?) ( )

I enjoyed this much more than the Diary of Marie Antionette. As my grandmother was born and raised in Scotland and lived there until she was a young mother, I often heard her "stories" of Mary, Queen of Scots and I have read many books on her. Mostly all the books were historical. From a historical fiction this was easy reading but for those that know the relationship between Mary and Queen Elizabeth there is a part that will easily disappoint (I will not reveal as not to spoil). So there are things that, to me, go off course, but again it is historical fiction and that is what I like about it - it is meant to be fun. ( )

The first half was good, the second half just strayed too far from reality, with Mary having a daughter Marie-Elizabeth by Bothwell born during her captivity before she escaped Scotland.
Has a highly suspect meeting in a healing bath between Mary and Queen Elizabeth at which time Elizabeth confides that can not have children and does not like children.
Mary is regularly visited by Bothwell during her English captivity as Bothwell disguises himself as a traveling merchant.
The final straw for me has Mary rescued from England and taken to Rome for a secret meeting with the Pope.
Ridiculous and I generally enjoy Erickson's books. ( )

I'm calling this book a historical romance because it strays so far from the historical record as to be almost a fantasy.  Author Carolly Erickson, in her author's note at the end, describes her book as "historical entertainment" or "whimsy," and gives no other details about what is true and what is fiction. The trouble is, many readers who know nothing about Mary Queen of Scots will be very misled by this book, especially with the word "memoirs" in the title, which to me implies that although fiction, it is more based on fact than this book is.  Erickson has Mary traveling to Rome (!) and hiding with her grandmother and secret daughter (!) in France, and her last husband, Bothwell, witnessing her execution.  Rebekah Germain is fine as a narrator, but this book is NOT recommended.

© Amanda Pape - 2017

[The e-audiobook was borrowed from and returned to a public library.] ( )