“Rose Among the Thorns” by Laura Johnson-Smith is one of those historical reads that leans fully into atmosphere—politics, power, and peril all wrapped up in a distinctly Tudor sense of tension.

Set in 1484, we follow Lady Katherine Turner, who unexpectedly finds herself stepping into a position of power after personal loss. What unfolds is a story shaped as much by courtly expectation as it is by quieter, more personal battles—grief, identity, and the struggle to be heard in a world that would very much prefer she wasn’t.

Katherine is an easy heroine to root for. There’s a steadiness to her that feels authentic for the time, but also a quiet defiance that keeps her from ever feeling passive. Watching her navigate the sudden shift in her circumstances—while surrounded by men who see her more as an opportunity than a person—gives the story its emotional backbone.

The romantic thread between Katherine and Lord James Stanford brings a softness to the narrative, offering moments of warmth amidst the scheming and tension. In contrast, Lord Henry Tyrell is exactly the kind of antagonist you love to dislike—charming on the surface, but with a sharp edge underneath that keeps the stakes feeling real.

The writing has a classic historical feel, with a clear sense of time and place. At times, the pacing leans more measured than fast-moving, but it suits the tone of the story, allowing the intrigue and character dynamics to unfold gradually rather than rushing to the finish.

Overall, this is a story about resilience more than anything else—about finding strength in a world that constantly underestimates you. If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong female lead, a touch of romance, and a steady undercurrent of danger, this is well worth picking up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and may be found on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the DRC of “The Rose Amongst The Thorns” by Laura Johnson-Smith.
“The Rose Amongst the Thorns” is due to be published and available on Amazon on 28 February 2026.

Lady Katherine Turner was never meant to be the Countess of Leicester, but when her brother William dies suddenly, she must take on the mantle of power. Unfortunately, with power comes responsibility, and in medieval England, women in power could not hold onto that power unless they married. That does not sit well with Katherine, who is a very independent woman. However, a choice must be made between two suitors, Lord Henry Tyrell, Earl of Dornton, and Lord James Stanford. Who will Lady Katherine Turner choose, and can she maintain her independent spirit while falling in love? Laura Johnson-Smith explores Lady Katherine’s love story in her debut novel, “The Rose Amongst the Thorns.”

I would like to thank The Book Guild and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoy reading novels that are set during the Wars of the Roses, and I like to read debut historical fiction novels. When I read the description for this novel, it sparked an interest in me to give it a try.

We begin with Katherine and her brother William, who is about to go on a mission for King Edward IV in France. William is engaged to be married to Isabelle, but things come crashing down when William is killed in France. Now, the title of the Duchess of Leicester has been passed down to Katherine. We flash forward a few years, where we see Katherine adjusting to her new role. Now, her aunt and uncle are pushing Katherine to marry, even though she has no desire to marry. That is, until she meets her two potential suitors. Lord Henry Tyrell is the first man to sweep Katherine off her feet, but she soon realizes that he has nefarious plans for her. And then there is Lord James Stanford, whom Katherine truly falls for.

As a debut, it was a fine novel, but it was hard for me to figure out when it was supposed to take place. If it wasn’t for the description, I would have felt completely lost as the story felt like it could have been placed in any time period. It didn’t have a distinct feeling of being in the middle of King Richard III’s short reign. I also felt like this plot was pretty predictable for me, and it didn’t give me a wow factor. That being said, I can sense that the author does have a passion for the past, and the novel is pretty well-written for her first novel. If you want to give a new reader a try and enjoy a good historical love triangle, you might enjoy “The Rose Amongst the Thorns” by Laura Johnson-Smith.

I love a good historical fiction story centered around a strong heroine! This was a fascinating story about obsession, love and kept me guessing every chapter. I loved our main heroine and really felt for her. This is almost more thriller than anything. Loved it.

Fantastically interesting book with some unique characters and some impressive plotting throughout. would recommend this one quite a bit. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

The Rose Amongst the Thorns is beautifully written book that will captivate you from beginning to end.

Katherine is about to be known as the Countess of Leicester and tradition says she must marry.

Lady Katherine faces challenges that our out of any women's expected life style. There is political pressure. Women fight to have their say and picking a suitor does not go as smoothly as expected.

Realistically what choice does Lady Katherine have.

Fate has put her in this position and with the support of the women around her she becomes stronger everyday.

I cheered for Lady Katherine, I admired her strength and how she dealt with the fate handed her and how she shows others that all is not lost after a tragedy and things do happen in life for a reason.

I felt I was right there at the jousting scene, one of my stand out parts of the book .

I really hope that Lady Katherine will return sometime in the near future and we meet again.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the privilege of reading and reviewing this captivating tale of The Rose Amongst the Thorns.

I picked this book up because I love historical fiction, and Leicester is my hometown, so I was intrigued!

I really loved the concept of Katherine stepping in to being the Countess of Leicester when she would be one of the only women to hold such power. That aspect of her having to navigate her position, and how that affected her relationships with those around her, and new people she encounters, was really interesting to read. The dynamic between Katherine and her could-have-been sister-in-law Isabelle was a particular strength, and seeing how Katherine's household and network supported her was a great balance to the external conflict she was dealing with. Katherine was a realistic character, she thinks she knows what she's doing but she's young and there's so much that she needs to learn!

The first half of the book was my favourite, the pacing was great, which allowed for more organic growth in the plot and characterisation. I got slightly annoyed because at times the writing was so engaging that I would find myself being so pulled along and enveloped in the story, but then I would get pulled out of it by some clunky dialogue or internal monologue. But that just goes to show how engaged I was. That being said, I definitely enjoyed myself and I would recommend this book if you are a fan of 14th and 15th century historical fiction. I would also enjoy being back in this world in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the advanced copy!

Rated 3.25 on Storygraph

Great historical fiction that’s beautifully written 🖤

Fun details and great characters of strength like Katherine

Nice unique and such a good book

3.25/5⭐️

Ugh. I really wanted to love this. The idea of medieval fiction not involving a fantasy element really intrigued me, especially with its connections to real historical figures and conflict. Lady Katherine is left as the heir and Countess of her hands following the tragic deaths of her family. As a woman in a male dominated world Lady Katherine is faced with political resistance and increasing pressure to marry.

First, the concept of this story was so interesting. Lady Katherine existed in a time where women had to fight to be heard in every day moments, even against other women. However, I often caught myself thinking that Lady Katherine was petulant rather than independent or strong. Although she was meant to be portrayed as intelligent and capable, she often missed things that were right in front of her face.

The pacing of this book also gave me a hard time. Sometimes one day was multiple chapters, others we were jumping weeks or months. I think this book would have been much better served to be a duet or trilogy rather than a standalone to better dive into some of the characters, conflicts and backstories.

Overall, I did enjoy this story, but the issues were a bit more than I could overlook.

This might be what I love most about reading ARCs, discovering new authors and finding an unexpected gem among so many books. This debut novel truly surprised me. The writing was beautiful and easy to follow, giving just enough each time to keep me hooked and craving the next chapter.

Her writing pulls you completely into the emotions of the story. Like how I found myself adoring one of the MMCs and feeling those butterflies right alongside Katherine, only for that admiration to later twist into discomfort and disgust once his true intentions are uncovered.

There’s also a thrilling jousting tournament with two men competing for her heart, an archery competition, and moments where Lady Katherine steps in to show off her own archery skills. I also loved how, even in 1484, Katherine represents women of the present; boldly claiming a man’s seat, insisting her voice be heard, and demanding to be seen as equal in a world that tried to deny her that space.

With two love interests, tournaments, and the constant question of who Katherine should truly trust her heart with, the story is filled with romance and mystery. Secrets linger beneath the surface, waiting to be revealed, keeping the tension alive throughout.

However, I did take off one star because the ending didn’t fully satisfy me. The abduction and the final confrontation with our antagonist here felt like they could have been developed better.

Still, despite that, this was an enjoyable and engaging read, and I’m glad I discovered both the story and the author through this ARC.

Thank you to the author, The Book Guild and NetGalley for this eARC.