Today, I'm over the moon to welcome back a dear friend and wonderfully talented writer, Elizabeth St.John. We're showcasing her intriguing Lydiard Chronicles series of books. I'm due to review Written in their Stars, the third in the trilogy, but haven't had a chance yet to finish it (not the novel's fault - it's riveting stuff!). So I'll add my review in due course. Watch out for it!
In the meantime, I'm sharing my previous review of the second title in the trilogy, By Love Divided. You should definitely check out this compelling series, based on the author's family history.
The Lydiard Chronicles series is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Find other fascinating posts HERE!
The Lydiard Chronicles
The Lady of the Tower
By Love Divided
Written in their Stars
Elizabeth St.John
*Hot Summer Reads*
*Each ebook is priced at just 99c / 99p from 1st - 15th July, 2025!*
Read an extract from my 5* review for By Love Divided:
"There is no way around it. I had to
force myself to switch off my Kindle at 1am, when all I wanted was to
continue reading. The fact that this trilogy is based on real events
experienced by real ancestors of the writer makes it even more special.
You get a strong sense of this in the narrative.
This novel is as gripping as it is
engaging. It sweeps you into the early mid 17th century with its
religious zealots, societal pressures – and a king intent on reigning
supreme. Families are torn apart by their beliefs, the threat of treason
hangs in the air, and even supporters of the king question their
actions.
By Love Divided takes us
on a thrilling journey, through the eyes of Lucy and her children. It
shows how easy it is to fall from grace with royalty, even if you've
done nothing wrong. It shows a family divided by petty jealousies and
opposing religious views. And it shows brave people who fought for their
rights – and their very existence.
Elizabeth
St.John shows us Lucy's courage as if we knew her. She has her
weaknesses, which are also explored, and which make her the woman she
was. Allen's temperament, Luce's outspokenness, Babs’ playfulness are
brought across realistically. A clear 3D image of the family emerges
from the pages. Now I want to know more...
By Love Divided
is a beautiful novel, filled with personal challenges, strife,
happiness, and danger. The quotes from Luce's journals give us a glimpse
into her life in her own words, adding a lovely touch to the evocative
narrative."
Read the full review HERE!
~~~
Blurb:
Duty, passion, and power collide in The Lydiard Chronicles, a gripping trilogy inspired by true events. Follow three courageous women—survivors, strategists, and storytellers—who defy the constraints of society to shape their family’s fate and England’s future. Their voices echo through time. Their legacy changed a nation.
The Lydiard Chronicles is an award-winning, best-selling historical family saga which brings to life the remarkable true stories of the St.John family. Spanning three compelling novels—The Lady of the Tower, By Love Divided, and Written in Their Stars—the series follows the legacy of resilient and intelligent women who lived as spies, courtiers, and diarists during England’s most turbulent century, navigating the quicksand of love and war, political upheaval, and personal sacrifice.
Bound by fierce family loyalty and unforgettable love, the women of The Lydiard Chronicles defy the limits of their time with passion, courage, and unshakable independence. They endure captivity in the Tower of London, exile in the Louvre Palace, and the heart-wrenching divisions of the English Civil War—fighting not just for survival, but for their beliefs, their families, and the right to choose their own fate. Meticulously researched and vividly told, this epic saga reveals how these women created history from the shadows, leaving a legacy of resilience, defiance, and enduring influence.
Rooted in original diaries, letters, and family papers, The Lydiard Chronicles offers an intimate, biographical portrait of women who moved behind the scenes of power. Serving as trusted secret agents, military wives, and confidantes of kings, they were deeply engaged in the political and religious conflicts of their time. Through tragedy and triumph, the women of The Lydiard Chronicles shape their destinies—and the fate of a nation—in this richly researched and vividly told historical epic.
This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
About the Author:
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth's works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a family saga set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother's Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley in the treacherous court of Charles II as she risks everything to uncover the dangerous truth behind the discovery of the princes’ bones.
Connect with Elizabeth:
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