Book Review: Heart of the Rebellion

I was so excited to see that Sian Bessey had a new book coming out. I LOVE her historical romances and when she came to my book club, she talked a little bit about the behind-the-scenes of writing this book and I could hardly wait to have it in my hands!

One of Sian's many talents is seamlessly weaving history into a compelling story. I had no idea about the Welsh rebellion and what was happening back then. This story brings that to life through Rhys ap Tudor's eyes as he returns to his home in North Wales after serving King Richard. All is not well on the homefront, however, and he and his brother are soon called upon to use their skills they developed as protectors to the king in the rebellion. Beautiful Lady Catrin gets caught up in the intrigue and must decide where she stands in the conflict. She's attracted to Rhys, but her father has promised her hand in marriage to an oppressive and unkind man who hates her Welsh heritage. Every decision Catrin makes has far-reaching consequences for her and the people she's come to love.

I was so caught up in this story I could hardly put it down! And don't you love the cover? Rhys ap Tudor is a swoon-worthy hero, trying to do what's best for his countrymen. But when he meets Catrin, his heart is drawn to her, no matter what danger and intrigue is swirling around them. Catrin is a force to be reckoned with as she tries to decide which path to follow in her life and how to best help the Welsh and keep a delicate balance of peace. This story is full of adventure, romance, and history. Definitely one for my keeper shelf!

You can get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

September 1400 King Richard II of England is dead. And after three years in His Majesty’s service, Rhys ap Tudor and his brother Gwilym are finally free to return to their ancestral home in North Wales. Their long-anticipated homecoming is overshadowed, however, by the harsh changes they encounter in their once peaceful land. The new king, Henry IV, rules with an iron fist, and the country is ripe for rebellion. Instantly thrust into the forefront of the conflict, the proud Tudor brothers enter the fight for their freedom. Lady Catrin Buckley is alert to the unrest swirling around her. As the daughter of an English father and a Welsh mother, she knows too well the trouble her lineage poses. Her own battle, however, is one of the heart: she is to be married to a man she neither knows nor loves. Then an unexpected encounter with the enigmatic Rhys ap Tudor changes everything. Soon, Catrin finds herself swept into a rebellion that could not only change history but also rewrite her own future.