The Queen of Bushy House by Molly Gartland (review + giveaway)

"Our stories are intertwined, even with my body deep in the grave".

"This house - meant for a duchess, never for the likes of me - was once our haven, our secluded hideaway."

The Queen of Bushy House by Molly Gartland is a compelling and engaging historical novel set in the 19th C, with a supernatural Gothic narrative.

Blurb

The Queen of Bushy House

One house. Two women. Both determined to endure.

July 1818. Dorothea Jordan - celebrated actress and long-time companion of the Duke of Clarence - has returned. Not in flesh, but in spirit. For fifteen years Bushy House was her sanctuary, filled with laughter and her ten children - the FitzClarences. Now she watches as her portraits are taken down and her daughters sent away, in preparation for the duke's new bride.

Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen arrives in England with duty pressing upon her shoulders. At twenty-five she has accepted a proposal no other princess would take. She must tame the duke's debits, win over his unruly children and - above all - produce an heir to secure the British throne.

But Adelaide soon senses a presence in Bushy House.

As she struggles to find her place in a household shaped by another woman's love, the restless spirit of Mrs Jordan lingers - watchful, wounded and unwilling to be forgotten.

Inspired by the true story of Queen Adelaide and the actress Dorothea Jordan, The Queen of Bushy House explores grief and ambition, motherhood and legacy - and the enduring power of a love that refuses to fade.

Dorothea Jordan, the famous and much admired actress and long time partner of Duke of Clarence, is gone. Once she has ruled Bushy House with laughter, music and ten children at her side. 

She is gone, but her ghost refuses to leave. 

"Dust and darkness do not trouble me; there is comfort amongst the cast-offs. I curl up on a tatty chair as the men bring up all of the portraits and stack them, one against the other. they drape the sheet over them and retreat. 

I remain, a shadow in the wings".

The duke who once promised Mrs Jordan a lifetime is bringing a new bride to Bushy House.

Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen is twenty five and quite plain. Her matrimonial prospects are not inspiring. Bound by duty to a marriage few would have dared accept, she is a stranger in England. She is shocked to see her future husband, considerably older than her and not exactly a catch. He is deep in debt, his household is unruly. Adelaide feels pressured to win the trust of Duke's children. Can she restore her husband's fortunes and give the British throne a much-needed heir?

Bushy House might have been cleared of the remnants of Mrs Jordan's occupancy for Adelaide's arrival, yet the house does not feel empty of her lingering spirit. Vulnerable and anxious to please, Adelaide is aware that something or someone is haunting the spacious rooms. It is definitely a woman's presence. 

"My children and William were blind to me but this newcomer saw. In that moment, I knew we shared a bond".

Despite the nature of the otherwordly feeling, Adelaide is not alarmed. If anything, she is comforted by the ghost of Dorothea. 

The duchess struggles to adapt to her new role of the wife and stepmother. The house where she resides has been moulded by another woman's tastes and ambitions. "A crow calls, swooping past the window. I do not belong in this house - oh, to be free and fly away".

Their relationship is borderline companionship and rivalry. The previous mistress of Bushy House has lost everything and is not willing to surrender her home and children to the care of her successor. The duchess finds herself drawn into a silent battle with the ghost.

Bushy House acquires a prominent role of its own, almost becoming a living character. "Bushy House - elegant and graceful, yet not grand; a jewel set within wild parkland". Descriptions of the house itself and the grounds provide a perfect setting for the Gothic drama.

Mrs Jordan is not a typical mistress or a kept woman, it's her earnings that have financially supported her family. Without her successful career on stage, her children would have been destitute. 

And while William often appears as an incompetent baffoon and an old rogue, he is not a one-dimensional character. He is genuinely affectionate to all his children, and can be gentle and compassionate towards his young wife. 

Dorothea has been his love for many years. He has abandoned and betrayed her, like many men in his position by simply refusing to acknowledge the truth, yet he is not a total scoundrel.

As Mrs Jordan ponders herself, "There was never a question of marriage: under the Royal Marriages Act, William was required to wed an aristocrat. Although I was the undisputed queen of comedy, such a title would not have satisfied Parliament".

She is well aware that, "I was the queen of Drury Lane and a ghost at court. Applauded on stage, but never deemed worthy of their company".

Adelaide has the role which was coveted by Dorothea, she is a legitimate wife and an acknowledged companion of Duke of Clarence, if only she could give him an heir to the throne (I don't think it is a spoiler, since we do know who becomes King William's successor to the throne).

The Queen of Bushy House is an opulent historical novel with a brilliant storyline and colourful characters.

I loved Molly Gartland's first book, The Girl from the Hermitage, and was thrilled to read Molly's second novel. Though the setting couldn't be more different, both books explore the themes of the passing of time, loss and grief, vulnerability and resilience. And then there's an undisputed talent in blending personal stories with the authentic historical background. Moving and emotionally charged.

Potential triggers: stillbirth, loss of a child.

This review is part of the blog tour for The Queen of Bushy House.

Many thanks to Molly Gartland and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

www.mollygartland.com or https://www.mollygartland.com/category/all-products (goes directly to the bookshop)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Bushy-House-inspired-Adelaide-ebook/dp/B0H8SBSRJY

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Bushy-House-inspired-Adelaide-ebook/dp/B0H8SBSRJY

 

Author Bio – Originally from Michigan, Molly Gartland has lived overseas since 1994, including six years in Moscow and stints in Cairo, Cape Town and Dakar. A boomerang Brit whose ancestors arrived in America on the Mayflower, she now lives in south-west London.

​

A lifelong lover of books, theatre, art and urban wildlife, she is also a devoted supporter of Brentford FC and can often be found wandering through Bushy Park.

 

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/mollygartlandauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/mollygartland_author/

https://mollygartland.substack.com

 

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of The Queen of Bushy House (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Gleam box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. 

This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

Please not that Chez Maximka is hosting the Gleam gadget for the purposes of the book promotion for free.

I am not responsible for the selection of the winner or the dispatch of the prize.

Win a signed copy of The Queen of Bushy House (Open to UK Only)

Degustabox August Box

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the August Box?

Tilda Tomato and Basil (£1.25) is the Product of the Month. This is a tasty combination of natural basmati rice with juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil.

Always pleased to have another product from Tilda. I buy Tilda pouches regularly for quick and easy meals, as a side dish for chicken, fish or tofu. Perfect with stuffed peppers (as any of Tilda's rice products).

Nutritional information: 153kcal and 0.53g of salt per 125g serving; gluten free; nothing artificial; vegetarian and vegan.

Available in all major retailers and on tilda.com.

UFIT Protein Granola Toasted Oats & Chocolate (£3) is a "quick, easy and tasty way to start your morning strong".

Made with soya protein to maintain muscles and bones. 

Nutritional values: 302kcal and 13g of sugar per 70g serving. It promises High Protein - 15g per serving. Serve with 125ml of semi-skimmed milk for 20g protein. A source of fibre, wholegrain, natural flavours and low in salt for healthy blood pressure. Suitable for vegetarians.

Our son is a fan of this granola, and enjoys different favours of UFIT for breakfast.

Available in Tesco, ASDA (we also buy it in Ocado).

Sharwoods Medium Ready to Wok Noodles (£1.95) comes handy, when you want to prepare a quick and easy noodle dish, either a stir fry or a ramen (could  be meat-based or vegetarian).

There's no need to pre-boil the noodles, just add them straight to your wok, and they will be ready in a couple of minutes.

Made from quality wheat flour, these noodles are soft and springy, and don't stick together.

Nutritional values: 207kcal and 5.5g of protein per portion (150g); no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

I used them in a gyoza ramen dish, with a few green vegetables and miso broth, one of the meals my family enjoys often (usually I add udon noodles).

Available in Tesco.

Bisto Herby Parsley Sauce (£2.95) is a lovely accompaniment to a steamed fish (cod or salmon), or as an ingredient in the fish pie.

Simply add 4 level tablespoons of Bisto herby parsley sauce granules to 250ml boiling water and stir until thickened. One tub gives you 19 individual servings.

Nutritional values: 42kcal and 0.47g of salt per 50ml portion; no artificial colours or preservatives.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Seabrook Garlic & Herb Crinkle Cut Crisp (£1.50) is a new addition to the popular Seabrook range.

Crafted in Yorkshire since 1945, Seabrook Crisps are famous for their iconic crinkle cut texture combined with bold flavours. There are several lovely flavours to choose from, though we prefer the classic one, with sea salt. This bag of crisps didn't last long.

Garlic & Herb offers a punchy garlic favour, well balanced with fragrant herbs. Each 25g bag contains 126kcal and 0.16g of salt.

Available in ASDA.

Carr's Roasted Garlic & Herb Water Crackers (£1.70) are delicious savoury crackers, perfect for cheese and dips.

My favourite kind of lunch is a cheeseboard with cheese, fresh grapes or figs, crackers and chilli jam. These crackers are just wonderful with soft cheese, like brie or camembert, or spreadable goat's cheese.

"Carr's have been baking pioneers since 1831, proudly bearing the crown of Carlisle as a symbol of our enduring quality". 

Carr's crackers are baked in the iconic brick ovens. Roasted garlic and herb crackers are crispy, light and full of flavour.

Nutritional values: 14kcal and 0.1g of salt per cracker.

Available in Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Jam Shed Jammy Red Wine & Cola (£2.50) is a refreshing cocktail in a tin, inspired by the Spanish classic, Calimocho. A blend of wine and cola flavouring. 

It was the first time I've tried this drink. Not bad at all, with lots of ice. Perfect for summer. It is rich, jammy and smooth with a pop of fizz.

Enjoy chilled or over ice.

Nutritional information: 74kcal per 100ml; alc.7% vol.

Available in B&M, Home Bargains, Savers and Tesco.

Starbucks Rich Black & Signature Caramel Flavour Coffee Craft (£3.99) is an iced coffee concentrated, which allows you to have your coffee exactly how you like it. 

You should receive 1 item of two, ours was the Rich Black flavour.

Crafted from the finest Latin American Arabica beans, this is an unsweetened black liquid coffee concentrate. Add milk of your choice (dairy or plant-based) or water and ice for a smooth iced drink.

In the last summer I drank gallons of iced coffee. I made mine with pistachio milk and lots of ice, and it was just right for the hot weather we endured in the last three months.

Nutritional information: 43kcal and 4.1g of sugar per 100ml prepared coffee.

Available in all major supermarkets.

And finally, Rubicon Twist Mango Mist (£1.15) - a refreshing spring water with natural flavours and real fruit extract.

Each serving contains 0g sugar and only 3 calories. Enjoy chilled or served with ice.

Also available in Peach Punch, Berry Blast and Tropical Burst.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, WHSmith and independent retailers.

What is your favourite product from the latest Degustabox?

I also wanted to bring your attention to the limited edition Degustabox Advent Calendar at £39.99 (worth £60 of products) and Cook & Bake Advent Calendar at £49.99 (worth £100). 

I haven't decided yet which one I will be ordering, as they both look good.