"The King’s will be done."  This mantra resonates throughout The King’s Rose as it determines the destiny of any girl lucky enough, or cursed enough, to be chosen as one of King Henry VIII’s brides. In this novel, author Alisa M. Libby deftly weaves historical fact with a suspenseful imagining of the life of Catherine Howard, a 15 year-old girl "created" to be the next Queen of England.

There is an endless fascination with the story of King Henry and his wives, as evidenced by the cable hit The Tudors and 2008’s The Other Boleyn Girl (based on a popular novel). There is a reason why this era still intrigues, and The King’s Rose adds yet another complex dimension to the chronicle.

The author does an excellent job of relating the more personal—and potentially lurid—details of Catherine’s and King Henry’s marriage in a tasteful way, which will be appreciated by the parents of younger readers. This description is critical to the story, for the King's desperation for a male heir was why Catherine was chosen in the first place. The author portrays Catherine in a sympathetic yet realistic light, for even though she is surrounded by intrigue on all sides, she has her own dark secrets to keep.

The King’s Rose is fast-paced, and the suspense is sustained throughout; for readers familiar with Tudor history, it puts a fresh spin on the story. Another nice touch is how the book concludes with a tribute by the author to Catherine Howard some 465 years later. The novel is a breezy and exciting read, sure to please the Catherine Howards in us all.