Ambassador of Books ~ Book Club Madam ~ Blogger Gal

Monday, July 27, 2009

Giveaway: The Last Queen

A big thank you to author CW Gortner for offering TWO COPIES of his fantastic book, The Last Queen, to my readers!

This was one of the best books I've read this year. You can check out my review here if you like. As soon as I finished reading it I gave it to my cousin who was in town for the weekend. She was pretty excited about it and I'm sure she's going to enjoy it (when she gets a chance to read it finally!).


*** How To Enter ***
  • Leave a comment saying why you'd like to read this book - the cover? the summary? a review you've read? something else? A simple "enter me!" won't get you in.

  • If your email address is not available through your profile or your blog, please include it in your comment.

  • The author is only shipping books to readers with a US mailing address. (I DO have an international giveaway coming up though!)

  • I'll choose the winners on Friday morning (7/31) so be sure to get your comment posted before then.


***About The Book ***

Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country's throne, has been for centuries an enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the bereft widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? In his stunning new novel, C. W. Gortner challenges the myths about Queen Juana, unraveling the mystery surrounding her to reveal a brave, determined woman we can only now begin to fully understand.

The third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, Juana is born amid her parents' ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing witness to the fall of Granada and Columbus' discoveries. At the age of sixteen, she is sent to wed Philip, the archduke of Flanders, as part of her parents' strategy to strengthen Spain, just as her youngest sister, Catherine of Aragon, is sent to England to become the first wife of Henry VIII.

Juana finds unexpected love and passion with her handsome young husband, the sole heir to the Habsburg Empire. At first she is content with her children and her life in Flanders. But when tragedy strikes and she inherits the Spanish throne, Juana finds herself plunged into a battle for power against her husband that grows to involve the major monarchs of Europe. Besieged by foes on all sides, her intelligence and pride used as weapons against her, Juana vows to secure her crown and save Spain from ruin, even if it could cost her everything.

With brilliant, lyrical prose, novelist and historian C. W. Gortner conjures Juana through her own words, taking the reader from the somber majesty of Spain to the glittering and lethal courts of Flanders, France, and Tudor England. The Last Queen brings to life all the grandeur and drama of an incomparable era, and the singular humanity of this courageous, passionate princess whose fight to claim her birthright captivated the world.

18 comments:

Gwendolyn B. said...

Oh, boy! Another chance to win this one! I want to read THE LAST QUEEN because I love historical fiction; Juana's story sounds fascinating; I don't know much about Spanish history and would love to be exposed to more; I've read lots of positive reviews; I've been impressed by Mr. Gortner in all the interviews and bios that I've read; you recommend it; and, the cover is gorgeous.
Thanks for the chance!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Carolina Gal's Literary Cafe said...

I would like to be entered because I just finished Lady Elizabeth for Jennifer( literatehousewife.com) historical fiction book club on facebook. This is our neck book choice. Since we read Lady Elizabeth, I understand this is a relation to her because of Mary Queen of Scots. I would love to be entered at bookmark60 at hotmail dot com

bermudaonion said...

Every single review I've read of this book has been excellent, so I'd love to read it. I also want to explore historical fiction a little bit more and this would give me a chance to do that. Thanks for the great giveaway. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Michele P. said...

I am fascinated with royalty and the historical aspect of it all, (which is why I like the Tudors on Showtime!) I like to read about how they lived back then, and imagine what it would be like to live like that... at times it should would be romantic, but I am grateful for all we have today!

micaela6955 at msn dot com

Deborah said...

I'd like to read this book because I've never read the story of Queen Juana, and the summary has me very interested. Thanks for the chance! asthenight at gmail dot com

cpullum said...

Like to read a story on betrayl!
Count me in!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa said...

I'd like to read this one because I like historical fiction and this is a story I'm completely unfamiliar with.

Amy said...

I'd love to win because I love historical fiction, but more than that, if it's one of your favorite books of the year, I have to read it! I don't think you've steered me wrong yet!

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'd love to read it for the cover alone, but the story itself sounds really interesting!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

I love the look of this book and I am going through a historical Fiction phase that leaves me wanting more! :) I have seen this book a couple times now and would love the opportunity to win it! :)

journey through books @ gmail dot com

Of Books and Boys said...

I'd love to read this. I enjoy historical fiction and your review really intrigued me!
Thanks so much.
shellyct (at) gmail dot com

Jaci said...

I have been looking for a good summer read, have been in a slump haven't had a good read in ages. Looking forward to reading this book
Jaci

midnightblooms said...

Woo Hoo!

I want to read THE LAST QUEEN because I love historical fiction on the Tudors and am intrigued by Juana's connection to Catherine of Aragon, and I've heard great reviews about this book (including yours).

Also, I'm lusting after the gorgeous red dress on the cover! *sigh* It would be perfect for a Renn Faire.

ella144
(ella144 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Anna said...

Serena read this one for a tour and she would read me passages here and there. Sounded like a great book to me. I also love historical fiction and haven't read any on this period yet. Thanks for the giveaway!

--Anna
diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com
Diary of an Eccentric

Alyce said...

Everyone seems to love this book, and I feel like I'm one of the only bloggers left who hasn't read it. :)

I love historical fiction about royalty too, so that's a big draw.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

nfmgirl said...

Sure, the red cover is captivating, but it is the synopsis that grabs you! She sounds like a fascinating woman, and women of that age are fascinating anyway. Society tried to squash them, but so many of them had fire and determination and refused to go down easily, and some could even draw the respect of men.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Erika Robuck said...

I would love to win this book because I'm crazy for historical fiction, the reviews have been great, and I know little about this queen. I've read all the wives of Henry VIII novels, the Napleon & Josephine novels, Marie Antoinette, etc. I'm intrigued to read about this queen. Also, I'm a sucker for strong, female leads. Love 'em.

Rose Red said...

I would love a chance to win this book. It actually has been on my TBR list for a bit now. I love this author as well. Thanks for the excellent review by the way. I appreciate a balanced review that makes me want to read it all the more.

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

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