About the Book
Book: A Life Renewed
Author: Olivia Rae
Genre: Christian Historical
Release Date: April 2, 2020
In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason.
But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived?
Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree to his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.
Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
This book is one of the most unique Christian historical books I’ve ever read. It takes a look at a revisionist possibility in history and it makes you realize what could have happened if only… This nook is impeccably researched and exquisitely told all while emphasizing the true gospel of God. That is all rarity in Christian historical fiction from this time period in English history where Catholics and Protestants were sharply divided to the point of death. I don’t want to spoil this book, so all I will say is that I applaud the author for writing such an intriguing and inspiring tale.
About the Author
More from Olivia
The Challenge in Writing About a Real Historical Person
I like creating a story out of a kernel of information. The idea of my new book, A Life Renewed came when I took a trip to England and learned about the tragic life of Lady Jane Grey. Her life was so disastrous, I just wanted to give her a second chance at happiness. So that’s exactly what I did when she escaped her execution instead of dying as she did in real life.
My greatest challenge in writing this book was picking a heroine that actually lived. I had to do a lot of research in Lady Jane Grey’s life and her family. It was very interesting. Lady Jane was what we would call a progressive protestant. The conflicts between the Catholics and Protestants (The beginning of The Church of England) was very real and very deadly at that time. What many people don’t know is that Henry VIII was actually against many other Protestant religions (Calvinists, Lutherans, etc.). He feared their religious influence as much as he did the Catholic’s. His son Edward was more progressive, like Jane. If he would have lived, Jane’s outcome would have been totally different. After Jane’s death, Queen Mary went on a mission to turn England back to Catholicism. In her reign she killed over 300 Protestants. Hence later in history she was known as “Bloody Mary.”
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Giveaway
3 Comments
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Thanks for featuring my book!
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Good Morning and thank you for the book description and giveaway.
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This sounds quite intriguing. It reminds me of one I read several years ago which postulated that Mary Queen of Scots had a daughter who lived.