Eloise James recommended it on Facebook. I'm glad I bought it. It was a good read. The historical aspect and love scenes were captivating. I recommend it.

Couldn't stop reading. Great story line and wonderful characters. Full of great imagery, entertaining dialogue, a touch of humor, and a whole lot of sexy.

Courtly Pleasures is a fun, romantic, breathless ride. Taking place during the reign of Elizabeth I, the story of Frances, a young wife and mother struggling to reinvent herself at court is a fresh look at second chance love. When her neglectful husband is forced to get to know her all over again amid palace intrigue and the sumptuous festivities of court life, he realizes that despite his career untangling secrets, he has no understanding of who his young wife truly is. Or what they could truly be together.

Frances blossoms at court and her newfound confidence and command of her life sparks something in her husband she never suspected existed. With a mysterious matter threatening even the highest members of the crown the twists and turns in this romantic tale kept me reading well into the night. Mrs. Spock’s ability to weave an intriguing story with exquisite description and deep character study is truly admirable. This is the first in what promises to be an addictive series.

Frances has gone through hell with the death of two of her children while her husband comes home only rarely to exercise his conjugal rights and head back out to the royal court (or maybe elsewhere). When she decides she can’t take it anymore, she reinvents herself at the court of Queen Elizabeth as a lady in waiting. Her husband has his reasons for not coming home, but he begins to question those reasons as he gets to know the lady Frances is st court, away from the responsibilities of home and hearth.

Both the heroine and the hero are engaging characters with humor and personality that makes the book an enjoyable romance. Both characters grow and heal together as they get to know each other for the first time after 10 years of marriage. Also, the relationships between Frances and her two long-time companions add fun and flavor to the book, and makes me hope for some future spin-offs.