How much has history glossed over in its vastness and vagueness?  How many things that are seemingly insignificant by worldly standards, mean the world to one individual?  Yet those things don’t make it into the tomes of history.  They are passed on as family secrets, until they become just that: Secrets.  Secrets that have lost their meaning and memory with time and circumstance.  Those little things are really what make history beautiful: The ‘what ifs…?’.     “Lady in Waiting” is a unique setting that combines both contemporary and historical fiction.  I loved how the two stories twist and combine together into something powerful,  memorable, and inspiring.   In this story, we follow 2 women (actually, three) through the heartbreak and despair of their waiting—and the true joy they find in finally making their own choices.  Even the title is in on the symbolism that saturates this beautifully crafted novel.

I admit that the beginning of the novel was merely ‘good’.  When I came to the historical section, I felt as if I were swimming through the names, dates, and places of history.  However, forge on!  I fell in love with Lady Jane Grey.  I ached for Jane Lindsay.  I was mesmerized by their journeys and fulfilled by their realizations.  It haunted me when I had to put it down.  Powerful and poignant, “Lady in Waiting” will stay on my shelf to be read again!

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Waterbrook Press

Content Analysis:

There wasn’t any straightforward or graphic violence.  Only the mention of the ‘ax’ (guillotine), and some severe punishments from a mother to her child. 

There was almost no profanity (maybe 2 words).  I loved that even though half of this novel was contemporarily set, there wasn’t any crudeness, either!  (There is even the use of the word ‘crud’, which made me laugh as it’s been a while since I’ve heard that one!) 

There were 4 or 5 sexual references, but they were presented well.  They were not long and drawn out and, thankfully, lacked excessive information.  For this novel, there were only two reasons even to mention it: One in the fear of the unknown in regards to arranged marriage; Two in reference to a ‘failing’ marriage where I felt the point was to show how sex alone could not make or save a marriage.  It was very nicely done and I did not feel uncomfortable at all. 

Mature Subject Matter:

There are quite a few mature themes, such as extreme grief over death of loved ones, marriage failures (and the subsequent work to keep it together or make sense of it), fear of arranged marriages, affairs, political posturing, and overcoming personal weaknesses.  Very well handled overall.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

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