In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason. But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived? Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the … a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree to his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.
Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?
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My Thoughts on A Life Renewed:
I loved this book. It has such mystery and suspense but yet also a historical aspect to it. This is one of those books that you look at the cover and you’re already amazed at the book. The cover is gorgeous and reading about what the book was going to have in it I knew I was going to want to carve out a chunk of quiet time to get into it.
I’m one of those people that love a good historical fiction novel. This is one of those. It takes the life of Lady Jane Grey and extrapolates on it. You learn history but then you also get to take some poetic license with history. This is fun! I love history and playing the what if game.
Lady Jane Grey is an important person in the history of England and really should have more written about her. I don’t think most people really even know who she is!
I enjoyed this book and highly recommend you give it a read. You just might fall in love with Asher Hayes and need to do more research on Lady Jane Grey.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
What an interesting story! The Queen helped Lady Jane escape her execution and she was now hiding in a village. He was sent to find her and finish the job because the Queen heard rumors that she was going to return. The Prince wants to use her to regain the crown and help him take over the throne. There was a lot of mystery, suspense and secrets to keep me turning the pages to see who would do what next!
This was a very interesting take on what might have happened to Jane Gray if she had not actually been beheaded by Queen Mary I. I like how Asher and Ella were able to work some things out. I would have rather been of the merchant class during the 1500’s. It would have been very hard being a peasant and even being a person close to royalty. Too many people were killed for religious beliefs and for possibly wanting to be Kings or queens. I liked how this author treats religion and the aristocracy. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
The Tudor period comes to life in this enthralling drama as a new story about Lady Jane Grey takes shape—although this is fiction, it reads as if it could have happened. I think the author captured the setting, attitudes, and situations of that time well, with its intrigue and plots. Lady Jane may be living in a remote German village posing as a peasant woman, but will her life ever be truly safe or must she hide away the rest of her days? Asher Hayes is sent by England’s Queen Mary to make sure Jane doesn’t survive. Who knows whose real identity, and who can stop the Protestant rebellion against Catholic England? Plunge into this dramatic tale and experience the danger and the surprises unveiled in this first book of the Secrets of the Queens series. I did sometimes find it hard to keep all the men straight since there are many characters acting especially in the latter part of the saga. I sympathized with Jane, even though I didn’t always agree with her. She does offer hope for those of different faiths to live peacefully—a lesson this world sorely needs. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
One of the most interesting questions to ponder is “What if?” After all, this query forms the basis of literary fiction. Adding in an element of truth serves to enhance the fascination, and thus the historical fiction genre exists. This is one of the many reasons that I love this genre and never become bored with it. While I favor the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, I enjoy reading and learning about other time periods as well, and this book is my first foray into the 1500s, at least for reviewing purposes. An era that has never particularly attracted my attention before, I must say that this was an excellent novel to pave the way!
Olivia Rae’s “A Life Renewed” kicks off her Secrets of the Queens series with a captivating tale of an alternative version of Lady Jane Grey. Instead of being beheaded, she escapes and ends up living as a peasant girl in a small German princedom, a simple life that she loves. However, Prince von Hoffbauer has other plans for her, intending to further his own cause, and English spy Asher Hayes is on an assigned mission to bring her head to Queen Mary in order to save his own family. With intrigue and romance, sixteenth-century Tudor England comes alive in this thrilling story, along with its turbulence and bloodshed. Of all the characters, I think that my favorite is Otto Werner; he wants to do God’s will but allows himself to be sidetracked, as happens to several other characters as well. As such, all of the characters feel genuine, because they each exhibit less-than-admirable qualities at times. Rae does include some Messianic imagery in the story, as when Asher says of Lady Jane, “She was either a lamb for the slaughter or a lion sent to tear all apart.”
The hatred and calculating animosity between the Catholics and Protestants calls to mind the current political landscape in America between the Democrats and the Republicans. If the seeds of division can be sown, they reap disastrous results for everyone. Author Olivia Rae does not appear to take sides when discussing the religious affiliations of those in “A Life Renewed,” and it is Lady Jane who gives the impassioned speech that so perfectly targets the heart of the issue, both then and now: “How can we profess to believe in Him if we curse one another? How can we profess to be His children if we are maiming and killing each other? How can we profess to believe in Him if we do not love our enemies as He has taught us?” How, indeed? We should come together in Christ and strive to demonstrate His love to everyone, seeking to live together in peace whenever possible. Having been given a renewed life in Jesus, we need to extend to others the same grace and mercy that we have received, a necessity for all time periods, Tudor and contemporary alike.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Jane Grey felt very authentic. I sympathized with her desires to end bloodshed.
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*** “Can we not tolerate each other’s beliefs? The Treaty of Augsburg was supposed to do just that, and yet here we are, on the verge of war.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and she lowered her gaze to hide them. ***
The note after the story disclosing the historical elements that were fictionalized was very helpful. I love the overall message of the book!
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*** To beat a man to such a state…it was unchristian. ***
One thing I would change is removing a small scene that seemed out of character.
This is a very sweet romance. Jane and Asher’s consideration for each other is especially touching.
There are many more great quotes you need to discover for yourself! Olivia Rae does an exceptional job giving us readers subtle hints about the motives of her characters. You need to read the book. It is worth reading!
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are completely my own.
A story of what might have been…
Be strong and courageous; for the Lord your God goes before you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. — Deuteronomy 31:6
What a fascinating way to look at history. Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days Queen, was executed because she refused to recant her Protestant beliefs. The author has done a great deal of research into what life was like in the 1500’s. Protestants were being sniffed out and murdered just because Queen Mary (Bloody Mary as she later became known) wanted them dead. During those years many wars were fought over religion.
But what could have changed if LJG had not been beheaded?
This is a wonderful story of what might have been. I was very impressed with the faith shown by LJG as she continually faced the possibility of being found out and then murdered. A well-written book with plenty of action and royal drama.
This copy was received through HopeKnight Press and Celebratelit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
This has been a great look at what might of happened if history could be changed. I didn’t know much about Lady Jane Grey. I found her story to be quite intriguing. The author does a great job of exploring what turn of events could happen if Lady Jane had survived. I was enthralled with Jane as she escapes death. Her travels were dangerous but God watched over her. Her journey lands her in a land where she must hide her true identity. My heart would be beating out of my chest as I encountered people in the village.
I was never very trusting of the Prince who came to her rescue and found her a place to hide in plain sight. What is really good about this story is the history embedded in truth by an author who expertly brings twists to the book. I loved the mystery surrounding Asher as he is found critically hurt. He has come to find Lady Jane. Will he be able to carry out his mission? I came to really like Asher because he has a heart for truth and trusts God to guide him to do the right thing. There is some violence in the story but it is handled with little graphic details.
What I really liked about the story is how the author combines truth with fiction and delivers a powerful story about faith, trust and freedom. Jane is admirable in wanting to lay her life down so others would be saved. Jesus did that for us and everyday we should be thanking Him for His sacrifice. The ending is perfect and gives readers a glimpse into the next story. I will be anxiously awaiting to continue the journey in this very promising series.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I was excited when author Olivia Rae allowed me to review her latest release. I love historical fiction and am normally a stickler for facts. But the story of Lady Jane Grey has always bothered me. I think mostly because she was so young and it just seems unfair that her life ended the way it did . I must admit that on several occasions when I read of her, I run possible what-if scenarios to save her life. Which is exactly what Olivia did!
As she states in her Author Note:
“After the prologue, all truth to the story was cast to the wind and what followed in, A Life Renewed is only a possible “what if” Lady Jane Grey had lived.
What unfolds after the walk to the block in this novel is an amazing, action-filled, fast-paced tale that keeps your heart pumping. And yes there is romance and humor in it, making it a novel that is difficult to put down. Bravo Olivia for capturing my heart and giving Lady Jane a much better ending! I rate this a 5 star!
An interesting look at what could have happened
So often, faith becomes a matter of contention to the point of people behaving in a manner that is contrary to what that very faith teaches. So many wars are fought over religion.
To me, the saddest of these are the wars waged between Christians over tenets of belief. The teachings of Jesus are so clear as He tells us to love and to forgive. Instead of fighting for their belief, the apostles and many of the early believers were martyred. Instead of railing against a wicked emperor, the author of Hebrews commanded us to obey our rulers!
In the Middle Ages, Europe was in turmoil over religion. The Catholics and Protestants fought for control over their countries so they could worship freely. Those in power legislated the national religion and often, the penalty for worshipping contrary to that was death.
It is out of this conflicted world A Life Renewed is born. When Lady Jane Grey was exiled instead of executed (purely as a figment of the author’s imagination, of course!), she was caught up in yet another conflict over religion. Yet this young girl’s heart was against the fighting. She would rather give her life for others.
Jane’s gentle spirit showed in all she did. Instead of demanding service and respect as a member of the royal family, she humbly served the prince by doing mending. She lived as a peasant and happily milked the cows and gathered eggs. When a man was brought to their hut, severely wounded and not likely to live, without questioning who he might be or what his purpose for being there was, she tended him and cared for him until he recovered. In some ways, she was a little too perfect – I would have liked to have seen some flaws in her.
Asher was an interesting character. He was passionate about his Catholic beliefs and had served Queen Mary for years, delivering Protestants to their deaths. When he thought that life was behind him, he was blackmailed into performing one last service for the queen to save the lives of his family.
This alternate history was quite interesting. I enjoyed seeing the possibilities of what could have happened. While I was disturbed that the sermons preached by the Lutheran pastor were more railing against the Catholics, I don’t think it was far-fetched.
If you enjoy historical fiction with plenty of conflict, A Life Renewed would be a great addition to your collection.
Read my review of A Life Renewed by Olivia Rae at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
This was another fantastic story by Olivia Rae! But this one was even more awesome than the other medieval romances I’ve read, because it’s based on a true character! Lady Jane Grey was the Queen of England for nine days! From the 10th to the 19th of July of 1553. I mean, she was like, 16 yrs old! That’s why she was called the “Nine Days Queen”. A fervient protestant, she was executed for High Treason to the catholic faith. Se was expelled from the throne by her half sister Mary, later called “Bloody Mary” because of all the people that she ordered to be executed because of treason to the catholic faith by following the protestant reform.
So this is the most interesting story about what could have happened if Jane hadn’t been beheaded months after being deponed from her early ruling and imprisoned in the London Tower. This is a wonderful, intriguing, adventurous and very romantic story of this “what if” in history.
Lady Jane is abducted and someone else dies on her place. She’s taken and protected by a powerful German Prince who hides her as a plain commoner in his principality in Germany. Jane, now named Ella, is content to live a simple life, until his power-greedy benefactor decides to take her to London and place her on the English throne again, and this way, increasing his dominion in Europe. As Jane opposes, he threatens to kill her loving childhood nurse…
Meanwhile, Asher Hayes is done with persecuting Protestants for Queen “Bloody” Mary. He wants to leave a quiet life, and atone for all the blood that has been spilled with his aid. But he never expects for Queen Mary to call him again on a last mission: she has found out Lady Jane wasn’t executed and wants him to find her and kill her. He blackmails him by imprisioning his parents and sister under false accusations.
But what if Lady Jane is not the threat to the throne the Queen thinks? And what if his heart gets involved in the way? Can he proceed with the Queen’s orders? If he doesn’t, can he let his family pay for his unsubordination?
This was a wonderful story, throughly researched, which made it more realistic, and more interesting. The characters are partly fictional, but the context, the scenery, the customs are very accurately and believably described. I could really imagine this story almost being true…
I loved the characters! Ella, Lady Jane, is a wonderful woman, simple and with a kind heart. Even knowing who she is, and the unfairness of her situation, she has no interest in reclaiming the throne. She’s not double, greedy, or superficial, as many ladies of the Royal Court could be at that time. And Asher is a broken man, terribly handsome as I imagine him, and, in spite of all he’s done, he’s repentant and willing to atone for what he did, even if he was ordered to comply. He’s also kind, protective, and he discovers that the justice the Queen seeks is not what God wants. With Jane, they will discover that God really is the only one in control, and that He’s the only one who they can truly trust to bring true justice and good from evil and wrong doings. But at what cost?
Their romance was sweet and clean, just the way I like it. And an impossible love at that. The book had me cheering for both of them to get their chance at true love and at freedom and a peaceful life as they both seek. But that seems very difficult throughout the book, so the story will keep you at the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next. Their lives in constant peril, and difficult decisions to make along the way.
This is a story I truly enjoyed, with an inspiring message, that kept me constantly captivated, and that I definitely recommend! Perfect for this time of shelter in place!
I am in awe of all the intrigue, spy shenanigans, and royal court drama in Olivia Rae’s latest novel. I couldn’t put this story down. Where was I in History class? Lady Jane Grey Dudley was Queen of England for nine days before Queen Mary imprisoned her in the Tower of London. But what if Lady Jane–threat to the crown–wasn’t beheaded, but escaped to Germany and lived under the guise of a German peasant named Ella? Rae writes in plot twists and double-crossing characters that will have you cheering for Lady Jane to find true love and embrace her freedom from power hungry connivers. Handsome spy Asher Hayes has a mission to return Lady Jane to the Tower, but will his love for a royal in hiding win the day? Rae knocks it out of the park with this read.
Ms. Rae writes a lovely and truly compelling historical romance, I adored this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series!
As someone who loves history and reading about it, I thought I would enjoy reading a “what if” book that took an actual person from history and gave another possible outcome. In this case, the book examines Queen Mary, also known as “Bloody Mary”, and Lady Jane Grey and provides a situation where Lady Jane lives rather than dies.
The bloodshed between the Protestants and Catholics during this time creates incredible tensions. I think one of my favorite characters in this book was Hildegarde, the woman assigned by the Prince in Germany to keep tabs on Lady Jane, who is masquerading as her aunt.
Otto is another character that caught my attention. He seems to want to do what is right, but also has feelings for Hildegarde. Asher Hayes, sent by Queen Mary, to kill Lady Jane, finds himself falling in love with “Ella”, who is actually Lady Jane.
The Biblical values and beliefs shown by Jane in this bok bring her faith to life. The farther I read in the book, the more I became caught up in the story. Truly, faith in God can lead people to face terrible fates.
I definitely recommend this book/. So check it out for yourself.
I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.