Review: The Stolen One - Suzanne Crowley

Synopsis: Katherine's true identity is a secret, even from her. All she has ever known are Grace and Anna and their small village. Kat wants more - more than hours spent embroidering finery for wealthy ladies and more than Christian, the gentle young farmer courting her.

But there are wolves outside, Grace warns. Waiting, with their eyes glowing in the dark . . . and Grace has given Kat safety and a home when no one else would.

Then a stranger appears in their cottage, bringing the mystery of Kat's birth with her. In one night, Kat's destiny finds her: She will leave. She will journey to London, and her skill with the needle will attract the notice of the magnificent Queen Elizabeth - and of the wolves of the court. She will discover what Grace would never tell her. Everything will unravel.

Review: Katherine isn't the most likable heroine, nor is any of the romance in this satisfying (as in you want the characters to end up together). Anna is the only one who truly is innocent in this whole mess, unwillingly pulled into Kat's pursuit of her birthright and wrongly hurt along the way.

But this isn't one of those stories that you read to become attached to the characters. You read it because it is an interesting "what if" historical-fiction. Unfortunately, I cannot tell my Readers what the "what if" is, because then I'll ruin the ending. If you are very much up-to-date on your Elizabethan history, you'll definitely appreciate Ms. Crowley's spin on one of history's smaller, yet just as intriguing, mysteries.

Content-wise, there's nothing explicit to complain about. Plenty is alluded to - in the world of Queen Elizabeth's court, illegitimate children were springing up everywhere. But the Author never presents the Readers with any actual scenes, and all references are when someone's background/reputation is being explained to Katherine.

The Stolen One will eventually be added to my shelves. Though I cared little for anyone except Anna, it's a story I would enjoy re-reading someday.

Overall Rating: JJJ