It was interesting to see the Tudor period through the lens of power couples, some of which are well known and some that are not as well known but all of whom did have an influence on history. That is not to say that all the couples were loves matches, many would have been arranged for the best political and monetary values of the families. And some ended disastrously, namely King Henry and Katherine of Aragon.

I was most surprised about the depiction of Queen Mary and Phillip of Spain. So often the stereotype is Phillip couldn't wait to get away from Mary and she was hopelessly in love with him. But this showed they actually worked together to strengthen Britain, through joint proclamation and particularly through the suggestions Phillip had about Britain's navy which turned out to be a huge deal later when Phillip tried to invade with the Spanish Armada.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is a very informative book all about the powerful couples of the Tudor period in England.

This book details the lives and infamy of some of the most famous power couples from the Tudor era. Some are very well known, such as Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, and some are not as well known, such as Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk and Richard Bertie. The book delves into the details of why they were power couples, while also providing information about the individuals themselves, their passions, and what they had in common. It was lovely to read about them as people, rather than just as famous Tudors.

This will be perfect for individuals who love history, particularly those with a passion for Tudor and English history, as well as those who appreciate high-quality reference books.

‘For a power couple to survive, it was necessary to deploy resilience, tenacity and tact’.

Power couples from Henry VII and Elizabeth of York to Mary I and Philip of Spain.

An interesting read and a must for any history and Tudor lover.

There is little new to the Tudor world in this work.It is however well written and researched and I enjoyed reading it.It reminded me of taking a magnifying glass to each power couples and spying out their contributions to Tudor society as a whole.Some couples I very much agreed with their places on the list others I was a bit more undecided on.More seasoned Tudor fans may want to skip this one but new readers may find it beneficial.

Interesting and Informative, this was a nice history weekend read. The information was presented in an engaging and well thought out way.

I must confess that I am pretty newbie to anything and everything Tudor. While I have dipped my toes here and there in medieval history, I only know the bare minimum when it comes to Medieval English history specifically.

This book found me at exactly the right time as I started reading more about the Tudor era and, in my opinion, it was the best introduction I could ask for when it comes to some of the major figures and how they connect with one another.

The nine couples explored by the book are by no means the only influential couples from the era. Some weren't even long-term successful (I know, it's not a shocker when Henry VIII is on the list), while others may not have necessarily been romantically connected. But they all certainly left a mark, be it politically, religiously or culturally.

One of the things I especially appreciated is the author explored the couples from a holistic standpoint without shying away from their pitfalls. At the same time, the spotlight wasn't just on the more popular figure. The influences, accomplishments and the legacy of both figures are presented to the reader. Not only that, but the book does a great job debunking some of the common myths about some of the figures or the couple together.

Overall, as a newbie, I enjoyed this book and learned a ton! Whether you're curious about the couples, or you're being introduced to them like me, this is a valuable read.

This was such an insightful read! I have been obsessed with the Tudor Era most of my life but this book really gave me some insights that I didn't know and made me want to look into this era even more! I am definitely purchasing this book the day it's published!

This book is an absolute must read to all history buffs out there, especially those fascinated by the Tudor-era shenanigans. Absolutely recommend!

This was a clever idea and a well-researched and fascinating book about Tudor power couples. I found Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon especially interesting because she is often portrayed as a dowdy religious fanatic. She loved fashion however, at least when she was young, and she and Henry shared a love of learning and theatrical pursuits. Famously, her administration defeated the Scottish while Henry was away fighting in France. Other well-known power couples include Robert Dudley and Elizabeth 1 and Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

There are also lesser known ones, such as Katherine Willoughby and Richard Bertie, who went into exile during Mary Tudor’s reign, formed a Protestant group, and had a big influence on the Reformation. Elizabeth Hardwick and her husband guarded Mary, Queen of Scots, for several years, which didn’t do much for their marriage.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The political is personal, and Romero makes that very clear in this book, documenting the lives of couples, from the beginning to the end of the Tudor dynasty, and shows how their personal actions, both separately and together, had a profound impact on the age.

Some are well know, such as Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, and how well they used power together and separately to bring about the end of the Wars of the Roses and start the new age. While others have gotten less of the spotlight, such as Katherine Willoughby and her second husband Richard Bertie, but she shows how much of an impact they had on the Protestant Reformation.

Romero tries to take a fresh look at all evidence, such as when she argues that Philip of Spain had more of impact on England than once thought, showing how he worked to make the English Navy stronger, genuinely wanting to be active in his wife's reign, like a proto-Prince Albert.

Many of the couples had their hand in high level political machinations, such as Edward Seymour and Anne Stanhope working together to secure power over the boy king, or Bess of Hardwick and George Talbot hosting / imprisoning Mary Queen of Scotland.

And, of course, we have Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, the ultimate power couple, despite a lack of marriage. Romero points out that, besides the whole will-they-won't-they, they were incredibly busy together and apart creating the Elizabethan Golden Age.

An intimate look at the Tudor period in detail that also covers a lot of ground of the age as a whole.

I really enjoyed ‘Power couples of the Tudor Era.’ While many of those mentioned in the book were known to me it was so interesting to read about them in the context of their relationships and how they worked together to have influence in the Tudor era. I was also introduced to several new names and it was so refreshing to learn about the wider court and courtiers of these times and not just the monarchs.
Jo Romero’s book is informative and interesting and I would recommend it to lovers of Tudor history.

This is a fascinating look at the Tudor Era. The author has obviously done a lot of research on the subject, if the huge footnotes section has anything to go by. I was most interested in the legend and villain Himself, Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon. Henry's audacity knew no bounds than to ask his wife of 20 YEARS plus one child for an annulment. Lessor known couples are also featured.
Thank you to Pen & Sword for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Power couples is the Tudor era? Yes please. What a great focus for a book and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Today’s news is all the ‘power couples’ of modern day, but the power couples of Tudor times paved the way for more than just drama and gossip, they could shape history!

The research the author put into this book was plain to see and made reading this book super enjoyable and easily immersible.

I absolutely love reading about this period of history and reading from a new angle and perspective is one I always welcome. And from the fresh vantage point of power relationships, from kings and queens, to advisors and more, I definitely felt I came away all the richer in learning about this. A fantastic read!