England, after the Death of Henry VIII

After four years of marriage to Henry Tudor, Queen Katherine Parr looked to a much happier future and married the man she loved, Thomas Seymour. As uncle to the present boy-king, and younger brother to the Protector of the Realm, Thomas, as High Admiral, had higher ambitions. Rumors that he wanted to marry either Mary or Elizabeth Tudor were in the background when he wed Katherine Parr. Their marriage seems satisfactory, until Thomas's continued antics with Elizabeth, who was living with the Seymours.

Catherine, Duchess of Suffolk was a widow and Katherine Parr's oldest friend. Their mothers had been friends and the girls were close. Catherine was stunned when Parr told her about her secret marriage to Seymour, but was as supportive as was humanly possible, despite knowing about Thomas's ambitions. The duchess visits the Seymour's castle as often as possible, always wondering just what plans Thomas has up his sleeve.

It took me a few chapters to get comfortable with the writing style of this novel. Catherine narrates, and her breezy, modern observations took some getting used to, but soon I found myself totally immersed in the story and enjoying it quite a bit. Who says that historical novels have to stick to the vernacular of the period? I liked how the story moved along, and, while I couldn't exactly warm to Catherine, I did like her fresh take on the world. The anecdotes of everyday life in that era were interesting, from the running of a household to the rearing of aristocrats' children.

I've always thought of Katherine Parr as the perfect partner, housewife, friend, and this book instills that feeling. Thomas was her fourth husband, so she was used to being a wife, but she wasn't used to loving the man she was married to, and to lose her heart to a rogue was exceptionally sad. And could she trust anyone? Even her step-daughter, Elizabeth, broke her heart. THE SIXTH WIFE is a page-turner, a quick read, and I really enjoyed this rather unique look at the Tudor lifestyle. Beautifully written and well-researched, I highly recommend this book to readers who want a fresh approach to historical fiction.

Jani Brooks