Title: Love and Betrayal
Author: Sonja S. Key
Publisher: Westbow Press
ISBN: 978-1-5127-7962-2
Pages: 288
Genre: History Romance
Reviewed by: Jennifer Weiss
Hollywood Book Review
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
Violette and Thomas’ son has reached the coronation age, and is eligible for nobility. The couple travel to France for Camden’s coronation; they couldn’t be prouder. Prior to the coronation, Violette had found a strange letter stuffed among winter items. The letter had no envelope, just a folded piece of paper with her name on it. Little did she know that the letter contained past information that could threaten the love and marriage she and Thomas built together. All the while Mary, Queen of Scots, arrives in England seeking refuge and hoping Queen Elizabeth will be able to restore her to the Scottish throne. But, Queen Elizabeth imprisons her and somehow Mary becomes entangled with a disastrous plot. One to murder Queen Elizabeth, but it is Mary’s life and Violette’s marriage that hang on by a thread.
Love and Betrayal is the third book in Sonja S. Key’s Huguenot Romance series. Key has a wonderfully delightful way of bringing a fast-pace and thrilling novel to her readers. She takes historical elements and turns them into a tale that will keep readers guessing at what will happen next. In the preface readers get the feel that this may be a part of the author’s ancestral history as well which gives the story an added quality of realism. The way Key writes things, readers feel as if this could be the way things happened during this period of history. If anything it will make her audience look into the actual history and relationship between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.
While the novel is considered romance, there is little to no sex or violence in this novel which seems to be the norm in this genre. It is a story with good, clean romance and shows what a true romantic relationship should be with ups and downs rather than consistently spending time in the bedroom. Key does include some Christian elements into the story, but they add to the minute details. She does this in a way that doesn’t make the story seem too “preachy” to the readers. It shows what the characters believe and adds explanation to how and why they react to different situations.
Key’s novel is a delight to read. If you enjoy historical fiction, general fiction, or even Christian fiction then this would be a book you want to add to your bookshelf. Love and Betrayal is a finely crafted historical fiction that readers can’t help but get involved in. It is easily devoured in one sitting as you will become oblivious to things happening around you. This book will blow its audience away. It begs to be read and shared with others.