Praise

Not usually my genre, but it hooked me in.
Not normally into this genre, but this story was so well written - it hooked me in.
You could see the time spent in historical research. A great read. Lots of surprises. The characters are great.

My Heart My Blood is a mix of fact and fiction, which brings to life the Tudor era in such a spectacular way that it was hard to put down.

This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author’s writing style reads seamlessly, and her thorough research and documentation of historical names and dates are impressive.

This thoroughly researched book lies on the cusp of fiction and historical reference, both in its subject matter and writing style. It contains a great deal of explanation, enlivened by dialogue in line with the period. I don’t think I’ve ever read a work of historical ‘faction’ with so many citations, glossaries, and reference notes both preceding and following the central story. This is perhaps geared more to history buffs who prefer ‘tell’ to ‘show’, but the central romance between Elizabeth and William makes for a sweet story, and the book contains lots of interesting characters and some delightful humour. A unique historical study/fiction crossover.

Being a fan of Historical Fiction, I was looking forward to reading Mandy Louise's novel My Heart My Blood: Lands of My Blood, BK 1, A Greystoke Legacy. And let me tell you i was not disappointed.

In this staggeringly well-researched novel, the author brings the opulent world of the Tudor period to glittering life and captures the exuberant confidence of the age.

The narrative is beautifully written, with wonderful prose, rich quirky characters, and meticulously researched content.

As a writer and avid reader, I appreciate the accuracy, noting the rich balance of facts and fiction. History wonderfully retold from a fresh perspective.

Highly recommended.

This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I enjoyed it. The words flow and the story is well written. The time and effort she has put into research and chronicling it all is incredible. For one like me who loves history it’s a good read.

A stunning representation of fact and fiction blending seamlessly and beautifully. First, I have to mention the research that went into all the factual information at the beginning and end of the book. It sandwiches the story, and I found it fascinating.

This is a richly detailed and engaging historical novel that brings the Tudor era to life. The story blends romance, intrigue, and real historical events with care and research. It took me into a world of court politics and some back-stabbing. The writing is expressive and written with a richness that captures the grandeur of the setting and the lives of the characters.

The central characters thrive on resilience. We live through William's personal and political life. His story is portrayed authentically, while the relationships around him bring warmth. The balance of tenderness and tension creates quite a story, and it’s fun working out which parts are factual and which live only in the author’s brilliant imagination.

As a lover of Historical Fiction, this book did not disappoint. The author did an incredible job with her research, I was so impressed.
The Tudor period has always held a great fascination for me and this beautifully written novel fed into that. The characters were well developed and the Tudor period delivered to perfection. Kudos to the author.

This is set in 1513 and 1514 in the aftermath of the Battle Of Flodden, which did happen and was a rather bloody battle for the English and the Scots. The consequences of that battle intertwines in the story as a young noble Lady Elizabeth negotiates the politics and diplomacy of the time. Through all this she meets the handsome William and they gradually strike up a bond the may affect the very future of the country. This is a compelling and intrinsically woven tale. As a bit of an amateur history buff myself I was impressed and appreciated the research that must have gone into this and that alone is worth 5 stars. The glossary at the back was a nice touch as well and I do recommend other readers to refer to it because some of the language used did confuse me and judging by some of the other reviews has confused others too and has been detrimental to the reviews it’s got. All together though this is a rather brilliant read.

I was in the mood for something differennt , something fresh , when I picked up this book. The characters are delightful, the research amazing in detail and I feel I've been back in time - I have memories. Well done.

Enjoyable history romance!
My Heart My Blood is a mix of fact and fiction, which brings to life the Tudor era in such a spectacular way that it was hard to put down.
This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author’s writing style reads seamlessly, and her thorough research and documentation of historical names and dates are impressive.

While this book is not for me, I must commend the author for the amount of research done and shared, and the courage to write in Old English, a feat in itself I'm sure. It felt like a deep dive into the history behind the true story which will delight history lovers, but unfortunately that's not me. C'est la vie.

What to expect from this book: historical closed door romance, the world building is intriguing and it’s interesting to follow the characters during their journey.

The ending is’t a cliffhanger but you’ll end up wanting more ….

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

BookLife Prize critic's review:
Title: My Heart My Blood
Author: Mandy Louise
Genre: Fiction/General Fiction (including literary and historical)
Audience: Adult
Word Count: 93000

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: My Heart My Blood is a resonant historical fiction following 16th century William Dacre, a nobleman whose family, for centuries, was tasked with protecting England's Anglo Scottish border. But William's romance with Lady Elizabeth Talbot is what takes center stage here, unfolding against a backdrop of long-ago events that Louise manages to breathe fresh life into. The plot teems with moving parts and period-specific elements, progressing in a linear fashion but also taking time to meander through the softer moments of William's life: his affection for, and care of, animals; his sparkling wit; his utter loyalty to his love.

Prose: Louise employs a tone that fits the time and setting of the story, while still including a personable edge to give it refreshing emotional depth.

Originality: My Heart My Blood stays true to its time period, but what Louise excels at is balancing the detail of past events with the daily impact they had on William, Elizabeth, and the supporting cast.

Character/Execution: The characters—their speech patterns, customs, beliefs, and actions—are rendered in a way that fits the story's era. William is ever the courtly gallant, but his treatment of Elizabeth feels authentic and sincere, and their connection is the novel's emotional core. The pair must consider their passion and love against history's broader circumstances, necessitating instances of sacrifice and separation that Louise portrays through immersive character-to-character interplay.
6.25 average.

I love historical novels, and this one captured my interest for its extensive glossary of old world terms, its detailed genealogy and its historical accuracy regarding William Dacre who really was arrested for treason in 1534 on a charge that he was making deals with Scottish rebels.

The story begins in 1513 after the battle of Flodden, and King James IV of Scotland's death there. While on a errand for the Dowager Queen Margaret Tudor, the FMC, Elizabeth Talbot, meets the MMC, William Dacre, who asks her to deliver a message to the Queen. At first, so handsome is he that she thinks him an angel. Thus begins their tale of courtly love, carried out amidst the dangerous realities of Anglo-Scottish court intrigue, which are the foundation of the historical story.

The story itself is entertaining, written in a Renaissance / Tudor England style, with authentic dialect, customs and lore (such as messages baked into pie crusts). If you like historical fantasy rooted in fact, coupled with old world political machinations, this book is for you.

Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
It’s the 1500s, and King James of Scotland has fallen at Flodden. Queen Margaret Tudor, sister to the English king, goes in hiding with her young son, the new king of Scotland.
We follow Lord William Dacrae and Lady Elizabeth Talbot and all others at the court as their relationship develops.
What I liked about the book:
The book was well written after the initial chapters.
What I didn’t like about the book:
The start of the book reads more like a history textbook than a novel. Too many footnotes and similar to keep it a flowing story. It was hard work initially but then became a great story.
My favourite bits in the book:
The cheekiness of Lord William and the wit of the queen.
My least favourite bits in the book:
The footnotes and expansion on titles in the first chapters.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
I understand the second book in the series is due out soon.
What books could this be compared to and why?
I don’t think I have read a historical romance quite like this one. One that reads as a history text book in the first chapters.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes

If you like historical fiction with an element of actual history, this book may be the book for you.

My Blood My Breath
Wow this author knows her stuff.

This story is set in 1514, right after the Battle of Flodden in Scotland. Many of the characters are historical figures, and the research and development are phenomenal.

As a rule, I’m not keen on dialogue written in patois, pidgin English, or regional dialect. But in this book it’s integral to the historical significance. It actually adds another layer and dimension to the story, and it would be so much less without it. I find it’s rare to see this done well, and in this case, it is. It’s written in a combination of local Cumberland dialect (my home county) and historic Olde English, and it’s fascinating, with a lot of unfamiliar words from the time that were fun to read.

We have front and back matter, and I found some of the facts at the back of the book particularly interesting. Although this is not a fantasy story, the author lists every type of dragon, including Nessie and Morag, our Scottish Lake monsters. She also goes into the different types of nails used in ironmongery. It was so interesting.

My favourite character is Lilly, who is a little sweetheart. And Michael is another favourite, especially when you read the author’s reasoning behind him at the end. The book finishes with some beautiful illustrations, including a set of the central characters so that we can put faces to names.

A great story.