Royal Flush

Royal Flush: the Story of Minette will introduce readers to events transpiring in the French and English courts in the period before, during and after Cromwell’s revolution. Minette’s father was Charles I, removed from the English throne and beheaded. Her brother became Charles II. Her mother, Henrietta, raised in France and a Catholic was by English law forbidden from being crowned Queen when Charles assumed the throne, which complicated her life when her husband was killed. Minette was married to the brother of the French king, and it is through her offspring that the Jacobite Stuart’s made their claim to the English throne. The author has written an informative historical novel that captures the essence and the intrigue of the period, suitable for readers of all ages. This reviewer was a huge fan as a teenager of Margaret Irwin’s books on the first Princess Elizabeth: “Young Bess,” “Elizabeth, Captive Princess,” and “Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain.” I credit these books for my lifelong interest in all things Tudor, so I was very excited to see Royal Flush by a favorite author offered on NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend.

The story of Minnette is such a rich seam of historical romance; the last child born to Henrietta Marie and Charles I, smuggled out of the country as a baby, years spent in near penury in the French court, the restoration of her brother and her eventual marriage to Philippe de Orleans. Then her later role brokering a peace treaty between England and France. It is surprising there has been more written about this fascinating character. I remember reading this book about twenty years ago along with the 'Stranger Prince'. Irwin was fascinated by the English Civil War and her work was praised for it's historical accuaracy. It is a little dated then but having said that I enjoyed it as much as I did then. I found the characters well drawn, in fact they had more to them than the TV series Versailles.