City of Ladies

The Cross and the Crown, Book 2

By: Sarah Kennedy

Narrated by: Maria Johnson

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s midwinter in 1539, and Catherine Havens Overton has just given birth to her second child, a daughter. The convent in which she was raised is now part of the Overton lands, and Catherine’s husband William owns the properties that once belonged to her mother’s family. With a son, Robert, and her new daughter, Veronica, Catherine’s life as the mistress of a great household should be complete.

Henry VIII’s England has not been kind to many of the evicted members of religious houses, and Catherine has gathered about her a group of former nuns in hopes of providing them a chance to serve in the village of Havenston, her City of Ladies. Catherine’s own past haunts her. Her husband suspects that Catherine’s son is not his child, and his ambitions lie with service at court. Then the women of Overton House begin to disappear, and though one of them is found brutally murdered nearby, William forces Catherine to go to Hatfield House, where the young Elizabeth Tudor lives, to improve the family’s standing—and to ensure, for her own safety, that she is as far away from connections to her old convent as possible.

Reluctantly, Catherine obeys, only to find herself serving not only the Protestant Elizabeth but also the shamed Catholic Mary Tudor. As the murders in Yorkshire mount up and her loyalty to the Tudor sisters grows more complicated, Catherine must uncover the secret of the killer and keep her dream of a City of Ladies alive.

©2018 Sarah Kennedy (P)2024 Penmore Press

City of Ladies

After losing their convent to the kings new rules,the ladies are homeless. Catherine marries William and settles down,but his sister never settles.Catherine becomes essential to the little Princesses. I loved this book! I am hoping there is a book 3. Maria Johnson was a terrific narrator in this book.I was given this book free for an honest review.

Good Narration. Set in Henry VIII's Children's Household

Book 2 of the The Cross and the Crown Series and while it functions well as a stand alone I recommend starting with The Alterpiece, book 1. While book 1 focuses on intrigue in the Tudor courts break up of the Catholic infrastructure, book 2 is set primarily in the household where Henry's children were raised. Well narrated audiobook. Entertaining historical fiction placed in a well researched narrative structure.

Murder, intrigue and jealousy in Tudor England

Catherine Havens Overton is married to William Overton, has two children and mistress of Overton House. She has welcomed her former Sisters displaced from the convent into her home and they are helping teach the girls in the village to read and write. Not everyone is happy with this arrangement and soon the former nuns are disappearing and found murdered. Meanwhile, Catherine gets summoned to Hatfield House to attend King Henry VIII’s daughters. William returns home when more women disappear, and then he falls very ill. Once back home, Catherine tries all her herbal remedies to help William. In the broad sense, I was not surprised when by the ending. Given that it is King Henry’s reign, I knew things wouldn’t end well for everyone. The story was riveting and I listened to it all day not wanting to stop for a moment. The book is very well written and researched. I enjoy reading about this period in time and the book and series is wonderful. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to find out what happens next! The narration was absolutely perfect! I received a free audiobook code for my honest review.