The Tudor period has long gripped our imaginations. Because we have consumed so many costume dramas on TV and film, read so many histories, factual or romanticised, we think we know how this society operated. We know they did' romance but how did they do sex? In this affectionate, informative and fascinating look at sex and sexuality in Tudor times, author Carol McGrath peeks beneath the bedsheets of late fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century England to offer a genuine understanding of the romantic and sexual habits of our Tudor ancestors. Find out the truth about swiving', bawds', shaking the sheets' and the deed of darkness'. Discover the infamous indiscretions and scandals, feast day rituals, the Southwark Stews, and even city streets whose names indicated their use for sexual pleasure. Explore Tudor fashion: the codpiece, slashed hose and doublets, women's layered dressing with partlets, overgowns and stomachers laced tightly in place. What was the Church view on morality, witchcraft and the female body? On which days could married couples indulge in sex and why? How were same sex relationships perceived? How common was adultery? How did they deal with contraception and how did Tudors attempt to cure venereal disease? And how did people bend and ignore all these rules?

When Princess Matilda is eighteen years old, tragedy strikes the royal family, and she becomes the only child of the king of England - the de facto heir to the throne. As her dying father persuades the barons to pledge allegiance to her, Matilda returns to England - but the lords and clergy do not like an independent woman. And Matilda is nothing if not headstrong . . . When the old king dies, the country is plunged into instant chaos. So begins a fierce battle between cousins that will go down in history as a time called 'The Anarchy'. And Matilda must race across England, evading capture until she can demand the crown . . .

'The Betrothed Sister is like one of its own rich embroideries, cut from the cloth of history and stitched with strange and passionate lives' EMMA DARWIN The final instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy! 'This is a brilliantly crafted novel by an author who allows readers to build considerable empathy with the characters' 5* Reader review '... full of fascinating period detail. The story is gripping and the characters are well drawn and interesting... cannot recommend them highly enough' 5* Reader review 'Another excellent historical novel from this author' 5* Reader review 'This is a brilliant story about the strength of women who we have seldom heard of' 5* Reader review 'Fascinating and very enjoyable and interesting' 5* Reader review _____________________________ September 1068. Thea, also known as Gytha, the elder daughter of King Harold II, travels with her brothers and grandmother into exile carrying revenge in her heart. She is soon betrothed to a prince of Kiev. Will her betrothal and marriage bring her happiness, as she confronts enemies from inside and outside Russian territories? Will she prove herself the courageous princess she surely is, win her princely husband's respect and establish her independence in a society protective towards its women? Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England! AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE - THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL MCGRATH AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

'A wise and lyrical evocation of the lives of women in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest... A captivating read' SARAH BOWER The second instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy! 'Although this is the second in a trilogy it stands well in its own right... you'll want to read the others in the series, they are so well-written and researched' 5* Reader review 'Once again brilliant exciting riveting colourful history in an informative way mixed with factual areas' 5* Reader review 'It is a very well-spun story, written in a style which made the book hard to put down' 5* Reader review 'What a great read!' 5* Reader review 'Thoroughly enjoyable and keeps you interested' 5* Reader review _____________________________ A marriage made in Heaven, or Hell? 1075 and Dowager Queen Edith has died. Her niece Gunnhild longs to leave Wilton Abbey but is her suitor Breton knight Count Alain of Richmond interested in her inheritance as the daughter of King Harold and Edith Swan-Neck, or does he love her for herself? Is her own love for Count Alain an enduring love or has she made a terrible mistake? The Swan Daughter is woven around a true 11th century tale of elopement, love and courage. Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England! AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE - THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL McGRATH AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

"One of my favourite Tudor set books . . . A wonderfully vivid read." Nicola Cornick Young widow Elizabeth Williams is determined to make a success of the business she inherited from her merchant father. But an independent woman draws the wrong kind of attention, and Elizabeth soon realises she has enemies - enemies who know the dark truth about her dead husband. Happiness arrives when Elizabeth meets rapidly rising lawyer, Thomas Cromwell. Their marriage begins in mutual love and respect - but it isn't easy being the wife of an ambitious courtier in Henry VIII's London. The city is both merciless and filled with temptation, and Elizabeth soon realises she must take care in the life she has chosen . . . or risk losing everything. Acclaim for Mistress Cromwell: 'A delicious frisson of danger slithers through every page of the book. Enthralling.' Karen Maitland 'A delicate and detailed portrayal, absolutely beautifully done. Captivating.' Suzannah Dunn 'Rich, vivid and immersive, an enthralling story of the turbulent Tudor era.' Nicola Cornick

* The STUNNING third novel in the She-Wolves Trilogy, THE STONE ROSE, is available for preorder now! * They called her the She-Wolf From Provence. She'd shape the destiny of England ... Fans of Alison Weir, Anne O'Brien and Philippa Gregory, will devour this compelling new novel, starring one of English history's most fierce and courageous forgotten heroines! 'Powerful, gripping and beautifully told' - Kate Furnivall, author of The Liberation 'A feast for the senses and highly recommended' - Deborah Swift, author of Pleasing Mr Pepys 'Well-researched . . . Fascinating' - Joanna Courtney READERS LOVE THE SILKEN ROSE! ***** 'Stunning start to a new series of She-Wolf Queens' ***** 'Spectacular . . . I will recommend this first part of her new trilogy to everyone' ***** 'Fabulous . . . A lovely, highly researched tale' ***** 'Exceptionally well-written . . . From the first page I was totally caught up in the story' 1236. Ailenor of Provence, cultured and intelligent, is only thirteen when she meets her new husband, Henry III of England. A foreign and friendless princess in a strange land she is determined to please him. And she knows that when the times comes she must provide an heir, to secure the throne against those who would snatch it away. Rosalind, a commoner skilled in the arts of needlework and embroidery, catches the young queen's attention and a friendship blossoms. But she is unprepared for the dangerous ramifications of winning the queen's favour ... As closeness, and soon love, develops between Ailenor and Henry, so too does her influence on her husband and her power at court. As France and Wales provide constant threat, and England's barons increasingly resent her influence, Ailenor must learn to be ruthless. Who should she encourage her husband to favour? Who can she trust? Caught in a web of treachery and deceit, her choices will define the fate of England. To protect her close friends, and her beloved children, Ailenor, the She-Wolf from Provence, would do, and endure, anything ... THE STONE ROSE: THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL MCGRATH COMING APRIL 2022: AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

'A real tour de force of gripping writing, rich historical detail and complex, fascinating characters. Superb!' NICOLA CORNICK on The Stone Rose _________________ EARLY READERS ARE GRIPPED BY THE STONE ROSE! * 'Springs to vivid life for the reader . . . A compulsive read' ANNE O'BRIEN * 'An enticing and intriguing tale of a woman who is driven to desperate and ruthless lengths to protect those she loves' ALEXANDRA WALSH * 'Carol McGrath really got into Isabella's head . . . Enlightening' SHARON BENNETT CONNOLLY * 'Bold and compelling' JENNY BARDEN * 'A novel that's a definite page-turner' LIZ HARRIS _________________ London, 1350. Agnes, daughter of a stonemason, is struggling to keep her father's trade in a city decimated by plague. And then she receives a mysterious message from the disgraced Queen Isabella: mother of King Edward III, and widow of Edward II. Isabella has a task that only Agnes can fulfil. She wants her truth to be told. Much has been whispered of the conflicts in Isabella and Edward's marriage. Her greed and warmongering. His unspoken love for male favourites. But as Agnes listens to Isabella, she learns that she can be of help to the queen - but can either woman choose independence, follow her own desires, and survive? The sweeping third instalment of Carol McGrath's acclaimed She-Wolves Trilogy: the gripping series exploring the tumultous lives and loves of three queens of England - and of three women who lived in their shadow. Based on the extraordinary true story of the female stonemason who carved a queen's tomb!

'Moving, and vastly informative, a real page turner of a historical novel' FAY WELDON The first instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy! 'This novel is a marvellous mixture of historical fact and imagination... I would heartily recommend this delightful novel. I couldn't put it down' 5* Reader review 'This is a beautifully crafted book which has been meticulously researched' 5* Reader review 'Fiction and history are woven together almost seamlessly' 5* Reader review 'I found it an engaging book and I wanted to keep reading' 5* Reader review 'A real page turner thanks to great characterisation' 5* Reader review _____________________________ An adventure story of love, loss, survival and reconciliation . . . The Handfasted Wife is the story of the Norman Conquest from the perspective of Edith (Elditha) Swanneck, Harold's common-law wife. She is set aside for a political marriage when Harold becomes king in 1066. Determined to protect her children's destinies and control her economic future, she is taken to William's camp when her estate is sacked on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. She later identifies Harold's body on the battlefield and her youngest son becomes a Norman hostage. Elditha avoids an arranged marriage with a Breton knight by which her son might or might not be given into his care. She makes her own choice and sets out through strife-torn England to seek help from her sons in Dublin. However, events again overtake her. Harold's mother, Gytha, holds up in her city of Exeter with other aristocratic women, including Elditha's eldest daughter. The girl is at risk, drawing Elditha back to Exeter and resistance. Initially supported by Exeter's burghers the women withstand William's siege. However, after three horrific weeks they negotiate exile and the removal of their treasure. Elditha takes sanctuary in a convent where eventually she is reunited with her hostage son. Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England! AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE: THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL McGRATH AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

'You lay hands on a princess of the realm? It is treason.' 'But this princess disobeys her King. Treason indeed.' A beloved wife. A hated queen. A journey to her destiny . . . If you love JOANNA COURTNEY, ELIZABETH CHADWICK and PHILIPPA GREGORY, you'll devour the highly-anticipated second novel in Carol McGrath's SHE-WOLVES Trilogy! * 'Fascinating . . . Brings to life one of the most determinedand remarkable queens of the medieval world' K. J. MAITLAND, author of The Drowned City * 'Completely engrossed me from the start . . . A wonderful read' NICOLA CORNICK, author of The Forgotten Sister 1266. Eleanor of Castile, adored wife of the Crown Prince of England, is still only a princess when she is held hostage in the brutal Baron's Rebellion, and her baby daughter dies. Scarred by privation, a bitter Eleanor swears revenge on those who would harm her family - and vows never to let herself be vulnerable again. As she rises to become Queen, Eleanor keeps Olwen - a trusted herbalist, who tried to save her daughter - by her side. But it is dangerous to be friendless in a royal household, and as the court sets out on crusade, Olwen and Eleanor discover that the true battle for Europe may not be a matter of swords and lances, but one fanned by whispers and spies . . . *'Vibrant, enticing and with fascinating detail. . . . It held me gripped from beginning to end' ALEXANDRA WALSH, author of The Marquess House Trilogy * 'Excels at sweeping the reader away on an engrossing journey . . . Great storytelling and superb research' JANE JOHNSON, author of Court of Lions * 'Shines a true light on the gripping tale of Eleanor of Castile, the love of Edward I's life' SARA COCKERILL, author of Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France and England, Mother of Empires * 'Pulls from the pages of history Eleanor of Castile: queen, business woman and true partner to one of England's mostforcefulkings' CRYSSA BAZOS, author of Severed Knot AND DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE: THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL McGRATH. COMING APRIL 2022: AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!