The Boleyn King

I don't read a lot of alternative history, but I found the premise of Laura Andersen's The Boleyn King (#298) intriguing.  What if Anne Boleyn had successfully given birth to the desired male heir?

Much of the religious and political turmoil churned up in the wake of Henry VIII's quest for the desired heir is still in evidence in this re-imagining of English history, but the roles of many of the key players has changed.  The hook to hang much of the action on is the character of Minuette Wyatt, daughter of Queen Anne's beloved lady-in-waiting.  Her tie to Henry IX, known to all his family and friends as William, is her premature birth on the same day as William seventeen years previously.  She has mostly been raised at court in the company of William and his sister Elizabeth as their trusted companion. Now Queen Anne has formally assigned her to the household of Princess Elizabeth as a lady-in-waiting.  But a fall down some stairs resulting in the death of another lady-in-waiting at the palace eventually uncovers a plot to remove William from the succession.  Some are determined to never tolerate a Boleyn King ruling England.  The question is, can Minuette and the king's close friend Dominic Courtnay find out who is behind the attempt before it is too late?  So many suspects, so little time...

Ms. Andersen has thrown in romantic complications to keep the plot bubbling along and create some tension amongst the quartet of friends and royals.  Some things apparently will never change in a Tudor Court!  Ms. Andersen must have something else up her sleeve for our heroine Minuette as the king's uncle and former Lord Protector of England , Lord Rochford, says to a young Robert Dudley at the end of the book: "I think the young lady bears watching."  I'm all for that!