Falling Pomegranate Seeds: All Manner of Things.

i really enjoyed reading this book, I really enjoy the Tudor era and that was one of the reasons I requested this book. I'm glad I did as it was an enjoyable read.

#FallingPomegranateSeedsAllMannerofThings #NetGalley My third read from this author and perhaps I will read the prequel also. The Light in the Labyrinth was my favorite, this one was more complicated and a bit sadder. I do so enjoy Tudor books and I am sure I needed to know more of Catalina's origins and her history before the Tudors.

I found Marina Salinas' own story more interesting, perhaps because I was not as aware of the details.

"Friendship, betrayal, hatred, forgiveness – All Manner of Things tells a story of how love wins out in the end" from the publisher.

I was aware of Maria de Salinas before reading this but had little knowledge of her own story.

Dunn has written such a beautiful story of the love and friendship between Katherine of Aragon and her lady in waiting Maria de Salinas, from the viewpoint of Maria as she recalls her life in a letter to her daughter as she nears death. Through Maria the reader experiences Katherine's story as well as Maria's. Both lived exceptional lives and their bond of friendship is beautiful to read about.

Maria left Spain with Katherine and remained with her most of her life. This book really brings Katherine's story to life, from leaving her family, marrying Arthur, many heartbreaking miscarriages and her marriage to Henry. Maria is by her side through it all whilst also facing her own disappointments and heartbreaks and battling her dislike for Henry.

It's a tale of two sides, there are some extremely happy moments and some really sad, I almost had tears in my eyes towards the end.

If you have a love of the Tudor court then this is definitely one you should read, the gowns, jewels and court are all described so vividly.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the narrative switched between the letter to the time of the memory, it was a great way of transporting the reader back in time.

I think this book will actually stay with me for a while but I was pleased to note this is actually the second in the series so will be reading the first shortly!

Dunn takes us through most of Catalina of Aragon's life in England through the eyes of her devoted lady-in-waiting, María de Salinas. Maria makes for a great observer - she shows the reader events in England with a realistic amount of access to both the court and the wider world; she hears reports from Europe, and she is right there in the room when a lot of major players walk through.

We see Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth of York and Henry VII and, of course, Henry VIII. Maria has doubts form the very beginning about Prince Henry, and Dunn suggests that Henry was foul right from the start, rather than any long progression of corruption.

The time between Catalina's two marriages is handled well, considering some writers will just say "and 7 years passed", to hurry up to "the good stuff" but Dunn does a good job showing the politics and in-fighting Catalina's little court went through inside the larger Tudor court. Dunn perhaps goes a little overboard on details and events here, but it is about showing how time dragged at this point.

Interestingly, Maria is an honest enough observer to see that Catalina is hurting herself by being too stubborn in her decisions, and too blind to how the men around her hurt her.

Dunn shows how much people's hands are tied by those in power, and does a good job showing us the early Tudor court and all the people running around it.

Wendy J Dunn never fails to please. Catalina and Maria have been friends since childhood and when Catalina had to leave her homeland to marry the Tudor heir, Maria although desperately missing her family, followed her friend to support and be with her in this alien land. This is an example of true friendship.

Ms Dunn's research and insight into Tudor life is incredible. She is a genius.

Thankyou for this Arc.

Best wishes.

All Manner of Things by Wendy J. Dunn is the second book in the Falling Pomegranate Seeds series, although it works perfectly well as a standalone. In fact, if you didn’t know it was part of a series, nothing in the pages would tell you. You do not feel as if you are missing part of the story, or need to read the first book in the series, The Duty of Daughters, to grasp what is going on. Which makes it eminently readable for everyone.

And what a fabulous book it is!

All Manner of Things follows the story of Infanta Catalina (Katherine of Aragon) from her journey to the English court to marry Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, to the Field of the Cloth of Gold of 1520, when Henry VIII met Francis I in a spectacular display of pageantry and might. The event also marked the introduction of Anne Boleyn to English affairs; Anne was still in the service of Queen Claude of France but returned to England soon afterwards.

The story tells of the pitifully short marriage of Catalina and Arthur, the lonely years following Arthur’s death, when Catalina was a hostage, in all but name, of the English king, Henry VII, and the early years of her marriage to King Henry VIII. Historically, it documents how the relationship between Henry and Catalina changed over time, how a promising marriage and love was soured by Henry’s frequent infidelities, Catalina’s miscarriages and the many lost infants that turned a loving relationship sour.

All Manner of Things by Wendy J. Dunn is told through the eyes of Maria de Salinas, Catalina’s closest friend and companion, though no fan of Henry VIII, which puts an interesting slant on the story and shows Henry in two lights: how he is adored by his wife, and how his wife’s friend sees him. It is an interesting dichotomy that works wonderfully in the novel and demonstrates the author’s deep understanding of the Tudor court and the personalities involved.

The overriding theme of this book is friendship and love; the sisterly love and friendship between Catalina (Katherine of Aragon) and her childhood friend and almost-constant companion, Maria de Salinas.

Having researched Maria’s story myself, Maria’s life at court, marriage and constant support for her friend and queen, it is obvious that Wendy J. Dunn has done her homework. In All Manner of Things, Wendy J. Dunn captures wonderfully not only the friendship between Catalina (Katherine of Aragon’s name in her native Castilian) and Maria, but also the complications that arise from life at the Tudor court, and a friendship with a queen.

Wendy J. Dunn expertly recreates the Tudor court, the glamour of the royal family and the drama associated with all aspects of their lives – and of the lives of those who serve them. The reader is drawn into the relationships, the intrigues and the underlying falsehoods that accompany any court, expertly contrasting the ‘show’ with the friendships and relationships behind the scenes, of the queen with her ladies. The glamour of court life itself reveals the contradictions, and the changing relationships as the characters grow and are affected by the challenges they face and the secrets they have to keep.

Wendy J. Dunn wonderfully combines the history and fiction to create a gripping drama, where you will find it hard to know where fact ends and fiction begins. The storytelling is first class!

Wendy J. Dunn, this book is the second of a two book series as Falling Pomergranate Seeds,Duty of Daughters is the first book,it's about Queen Isabel and King Ferinand of Spain and their daughter Catalina,the relationship between mother and daughter and preparing her for the role of Queen of England when she is to marry into the Tudor family. This book here is about her life in England and her faithful lady in waiting and friend,their relationship as Maria de Salinas recounts her life in England as she pays dying writing to her daughter explaining to her the decisions she made to stay. Follow a relationship of love, betrayal, hatred and then forgiveness of these two women's lives. See what it's like from a different perspective of what royal life was like with the Tudors and the secrets that were kept and life with her friend and Queen while she was married to Henry the VIII. Found this story different because I never read and known the life of others through the eyes of Maria who was just a lady in waiting. Grab tissues,you will need them as you live and learn the license and friendship of these two women. You can see that very much search went into this historical fictional story.Very emotional story and I dare say that Wendy Dunn out did herself in this series and it's a very much read but if you don't read the first book,that's ok cause it catches you up for when these two were young and living in Spain before their trip and travels to England.Received from Net Gallery and if your into these kind of history and books you really don't want to miss this story!

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was just as good as any of Wendy's other books. The continuation of the story was truly breathtaking and following the life of Maria de Salinas even a fictionalized version was worth it.

It was a very touching book about the strong and loyal friendship between Maria de Salinas the kinswoman and childhood companion of Catalina of Castile the future Queen of England and Henry VIII"s first and true wife. The book is well researched and covers their friendship beginning in Spain, their journey to England for the now named Katherine to marry Arthur, the Prince of Wales and his premature death. Her loneliness and exile for several years as King Henry VII and her father King Ferdinand of Aragon fought over the handing over of the rest of her dowry in order to marry his second son Harry and all of the ups and downs of that difficult and unhappy union. But through it all these two women stayed loyal and true to each other and comforted one another through everything - the happy events and the sad ones. Thanks to Net Galley and Posey Quill Publishing for allowing me the pleasure of enjoying this delightful novel.