For a Queen's Love: The Stories of the Royal Wives of Philip II (A Novel of the Tudors) Paperback – March 2, 2010

I have been a fan of Jean Plaidy for over 45 years! Amazingly enough, my first book of hers that I read was The Spanish Bridegroom; which is the old title for this book.Other than the fact that she dwells a little too much on the horrors of the Inquisition, which appalls me, however, it was a very real fact of that era.There are many excellent authors of historical fiction today that are good, but Jean Plaidy will always be my special favorite. Through the years I have read all her books.She passed away some years ago, and now I notice that her estate is bringing back her books, although some of them have different titles.I am going to read them all again. This time on Kindle. I know that all my fellow lovers of historical fiction will do the same, once they have read just one of her books. I give all of Jean Plaidy's books a resounding 5-stars!Christine Schulz

Interesting book about king of Spain. Husband to Bloody Mary and Princess Elizabeth of France In the midst of such closely related marriages back then there were bound to have a few crazies out of the bunch I almost felt sorry for Philip how the author portrays him as a sad softie yet burns heretics without a sliver of regret all in the name of god. Yikes

I really enjoyed this book. I had never read a Jean Plaidy novel before so I wasn't sure If would like it or not. So I took the plunge and found that I really liked her writing style. Her writing is very easy is to understand. I also enjoyed it because it's a historical novel and I love reading historical novels. I don't know much about Philip of Spain and so I enjoyed learning a little bit about him and his life. If you like an easy to read, historical novel then I recommend this. I can't wait to read another Jean Plaidy!

Very slow moving. Odd title since the matches made were not love based. Interesting look at that period of history, which apparently provides a relatively positive look at Phillip who is apparently portrayed negatively a lot of the time. Interesting contrast between how he was raised and what his father ultimately wanted him to be.

I enjoy reading books of Queens and Kings. I did not like the ending as it seemed to end abruptly.

Wow!! He took his duty rather seriously. Still very sad and disturbing what he thought was right wasn't so right.

The book is a historical novel, therefore twists are NOT to be expected, if you already know the basics. This does, however, give you insight into the background and personal information that made the man into what he was.

Plaidy brings historical figures to life. She gives them personality, motives and emotions. She speculates as to how they saw the world and their role in it. Here she gives a sympathetic rendering of Philip II of Spain.The author shows how Philip II was raised to have a sense of duty to Spain and a passion to stamp out heretics. Poor Philip wants a family life, but he can only glimpse it through mistresses. The book covers his first three (of four) wives.The political situation requires strategic marriages. Philip accepts that he cannot choose a wife but he is eager to try to love those whom politics send his way. His first marriage was too brief. His second wife, Queen Mary of England, had been so worn through the trials of her life that she was tired and undesirable when circumstances finally brought him to her. (Her hysterical pregnancy gives twenty first century readers a clue as to her mental state.) Philip's third wife cannot provide him the love he craves. She is sensitive to the victims of the inquisitions that he has ordered.Also unfortunate for Philip, his own son does not respond to the royal system in the same way. Plaidy envisions this son, Carlos, as feeble with a mind of his own and an extreme hatred for Philip.The original 1971 publication was titled "The Spanish Bridegroom". This is a good title for this book. The title of this new edition leaves me guessing, which queen's love (or which two or three queens, or if this refers to a queen-stepson relationship) the book is about. The former title is noted on the verso of title page along with the strange disclaimer that "...Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or locals is entirely coincidental."This is another good Plaidy novel. It stands out from the other books I've read of hers because it is about the romantic life of a male and it relies less on dialog than her others.

It gives a new light on King Philip's personality which is not always known

Ich habe mich immer sehr für die Beziehung zwischen Mary I und Philipp interessiert und die Gründe seiner Abneigung ihr gegenüber. Das Buch liefert plausieble Gründe und macht Philipp weniger unsympathisch.

have this under a different title the Spanish bridegroom but it is an easier read which I am doing now

Brilliant