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Summary: Ms. Henley's historical biography is her best work yet
Review: Though still a young teenager, poverty-stricken Bess Hardwick attains a position in the household of Lady Margaret Zouche. Ultimately, she gets to go the King Henry's court and meets Princess Elizabeth. However, due to family pressure and English inheritance laws, she is forced to wed the ailing Robert Barlow before she is sixteen. Because of his health, they never consummate the marriage. A year later, he dies. When Rogue Cavendish's wife dies, he marries Bess. They have a passionate love affair. However, when Henry dies and Queen Mary attains the throne, unbearable pressure is placed on Rogue. He soon dies from a heart attack. Bess next accepts a proposal from the kind but elderly William St. Loe. Four and a half years later, he dies. Throughout all this time, Bess has been attracted to George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, but knows that there chance for a lifetime together is remote. With her newest novel, Virginia Henley proves that readers know a good thing as evident by her numerous best selling novels and awards. A WOMAN OF PASSION is more than just an Elizabethan romance. Instead it is biographical fiction that brings an era and a brave person to life. This well-written fictionalized account of the real life and events of Bess Hardwick, an influential figure during the Elizabethan era may be Ms. Henley's best work to date, which is saying a lot because her resume of erotic historical romances include some of the all time best works. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Inaccurate, distorted account of historical fiction
Review: A Woman of Passion had potential, but the author killed it. The main thing about this book that made me dislike it so much is that fact that it is so glaringly historically inacurate. In the book, Elizabeth Hardwick is a compassionate, sincere, clever beautiful woman, when in reality she was a cunning, scheming, hateful mean witch. Also, Frances Suffolk is portrayed as a likeable, comic lady of nobility, when every account in history states that she was wicked, abusive, and at times downright evil. There are other glaring inaccuracies as well. The book is badly written, badly researched, and badly portrayed. Bess Hardwick's story is romanticized and [bent] in this novel. You can tell that it was written for the sex scenes, because those are the only parts that are really descriptive. The only good point about this book is that it is mildly entertaining, and it passes the time. Don't bother with this one if you know history, and prefer actual literarture to inaccurate, badly written, unrealistic romance.
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Summary: A Deep, Lush story of a REAL Woman that is Incredible!
Review: Bess Hardwick is determined to make all her life's dreams come true. This book gives such a deep and rich detailing of Bess's life and loves. It goes well beyond the typical "meet, love, disagree, and reunite" themes that so many romance novels have. It follows her through her childhood to her four marriages and gives each one depth. You'll love the steam that she shares with Sir Cavendish, and feel true sympathy for her and Robert Barlow, her first husband who she marries to save her family. Poor Robert sure gets an A effort at least. You'll love this book and how entailed it is. You will feel so in touch with Bess that you;ll be sad when the book ends. It is truly one of the best historical romances Ive read.
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Summary: Exciting and sensual
Review: I have been a fan of Virginia Henley's for a long time. I have read every one of her books to date, and I noticed a long time ago that she is a great storyteller. Her books are vibrant and colorful and her characters always come to life. She understands politics and comedy and sex (and that they are usually intertwined) so well, that I always came away from her books having learned something. I was so happy when A Woman of Desire came out that I would finally get to read something new of Ms. Henley's, and I was not disappointed. Bess is a wonderfully independent, passionate (hence the title) woman. She is smart and funny and knows her own mind. And nothing any of the four men she loves (or is in love with, as the case may be) can change her from her course. I loved the intrigue and the tension, and, of course, the wonderfully passionate love scenes (which the book would be incomplete without). Another thing I love is that her stories are so historically accurate. It's wonderful to see the past come alive. I finished this book in three days (would have been less, but I had to go to work!), and when I got to the end, I wished it had gone on for another 100 pages or so. Now I want to go back and read all of Ms. Henley's other books over again! I think I'll start tonight!
Rating: 
Summary: MIS-REPRESENTED
Review: If you like explicit love scenes then this book is for you. The story is pretty much dominated by Elizabeth and her ambitions to "climb the ladder of sucess" and her sex starved nature. I would have loved to have learned more about The Earl of Shrewsbury and would have liked the story to have been more about Bess & Shrew's relationship. This book is great in it's detail to history but lacks in what makes a great historical romance.
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Summary: One Word: AWFUL
Review: This book is by far the worst of Henley's. Don't get me wrong, I love a good common-girl-rises-up-and-takes-the-nobility-by-the-... story, but this one fails. It only illustrates how mercenary (and apparently, rather promiscuous) Bess was. And Henley conveniently omits the later years of Bess' life, when she became the ... of England. It's common knowlegde that when she could not keep George Talbot from straying, she ruined innocent people's lives. Granted, Mary Queen of Scots was no nun, but Bess took advantage of her vunerability and ruined her further. This woman does not deserve to be remembered in the romantic way Henley portrayers her. She gives all women who have and do aspire to be more than they are a bad name.
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Summary: Fabulous!
Review: This book was fantastic! It was so well intertwined with actual history and it was fabulous! I absolutely loved it! A must read! I cannot wait to read more of Ms. Henley's books!
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Summary: Inaccurate, distorted account of historical fiction
Review: This was my first Henley book. I was very dissapointed. There were times that I thought Bess was a great heroine. The rest of the time I thought she was a selfish witch. Everything she did was for her own gain. I liked the beginning of the book, but then I think that it dragged on and on. I have one other Henley book that I will try to read and I sure hope that it is better than this one!
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Summary: The BEST Henley yet!!
Review: This was my second Virginia Henley book and I loved it. The story covers many years of Elizabeth Hardwick during which she experiences all things during the Tudor rule of England. Many historical facts are included in the reading. Elizabeth vows to overcome her poverty as a child, and to one day own her own household. From that vow on Elizabeth experiences the lavish, colorful, and privilege of the Tudor court. She experiences love and loss. This book made me laugh and cry, several times. A must read for any history fan or Virginia Henley fan.
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Summary: the "heroine" was sadly faulty...
Review: to be frank, i found elizabeth a woman in heat (for lack of anything more polite to say). and greedy, too. she's like this because of what happened with her home but it isnt really a laudable trait, as u may well know. she enjoys leading men on. she flirts outrageously it verges on the offensive. george is simply a blind fool. handsome as the devil, sure. but i really dont see how he can fall in love with a woman who only accepted him to her body because he gave her gifts. what i can commend was that henley gave a rich story of what happened in queen elizabeth's court. some things were cleared up for me regarding the tudor family and the intrigues that went with it. it isnt a remarkable story. sure, the sex was great. but the romance? where was the romance, anyway?
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