Hugh and Bess

July 1, 2009
Capitalizing on the success of The Traitors Wife (2009), Higginbotham chronicles the adventures of a succeeding generation of the ill-fated Despenser family. Forced into marrying a man more than twice her age, young Bess de Montacute is appalled to learn that he is also the son and the grandson of traitors. For his part, Hugh le Despenser, determined to redeem his family name and remain in the good graces of Edward III, dutifully accepts his arranged marriage to the daughter of the Earl of Salisbury, one of Edwards close friends. The natural question is, can love blossom under such circumstances? The answer is a resounding yes, as Bess and Hugh grow to passionately love one another despite the uncertainties of war and the ravages of the plague. The author delivers another satisfying historical romance set amidst the political intrigue and social turmoil that characterized fourteenth-century England.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)