Heir Apparent

By Sheri Vangen-Ratcliffe

When stonemasons find the decomposed remains of a pregnant, unidentified mistress of King Henry VIII inside a crumbling window seat at Hampton Court Palace, curator and historian Kaitlyn Rose gets the shock of her life.

Sparked by the exciting discovery, a chain of events unfolds that sends Kaitlyn's life veering wildly off course. First, she discovers that Colin Wycliffe, her best friend of seven years and the man she loves, isn't who he's claimed to be. Then, when Colin's misogynistic half-brother, Brighton Jones, turns up after a fifteen-year absence, things become even more bizarre. Brighton, an arrogant but brilliant physicist for British Intelligence, dazzles the pair with his latest top-secret project on time teleportation and sets their course spinning into the sixteenth century. After teleporting to the dangerous court of King Henry VIII, Colin and Kaitlyn make a daring attempt to save the twenty-first century monarchy from absolute extinction.

Intrigue and sexual blackmail unfold when the scheming King Henry VIII-desperate for a male heir-sets his sights on the beautiful Kaitlyn. Will Kaitlyn provide an heir for King Henry VIII or will her love for Colin keep her faithful?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595345417
• ISBN13: 9780595345410
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

(4.5 stars) A review with content!

The other reviews for this book are all very positive-they say it's a great book, best they ever read or something like that, but they have next to no information on the book. I had to go the author's website to find out enough info to decide about purchasing the book. So here is a review with some real info, for those who want to know a little more before they purchase. This first third of this book is set in 2070. Kaitlyn Rose is the Curator of Hampton Court Palace where she works with her boss and best friend. Colin Wycliffe, who is Curator of all Royal buildings open to the public. They've been flirting around forever and at the beginning of the book finally start to have romantic encounters. At the very beginning of the book Kaitlyn has to go into the Queens champers to let in Stone masons who are going to fix the only original window seat left over from the time of Henry VIII, since the rest of the castle was altered by other kings. She's terrified of the chambers because of something that happened before, but goes in anyway. Inside the window seat a mummy is found, and tests prove that it's about 500 years old and was 2 months pregnant when murdered by a blow to the head. A torn up letter found with her in the window seat leads everyone to believe the child is Henry VIII's. While in the Queens chambers with the archeologists a ghost attacks Kaitlyn. She believes it to be the ghost of Anne Boleyn. Anyway, then Colin's half brother, Brighton, shows up, and she learns the truth about their family. It turns out that Brighton, along with being a terrible womanizer, has invented time travel, and though the secret service type agency he invented it for won't let his use it, the elderly queen (102 years old) will, to go back in time and fetch the young woman who will end up in the window seat, so her child can be the heir to the throne, since there is none. So everyone goes back in time. Kaitlyn brings her own PJ's, coke, tampons, ect. (If you're going to time travel, you don't bring stuff from the present with you!) Henry VIII gets the hots for Kaitlyn, and dislikes Colin. Brighton has an affair with just about everyone, and other stuff happens, like Anne hating Kaitlyn because Henry likes her. Anne also acts like a shrew, which is stupid of her considering she recently failed to deliver the promised male heir to the throne. All and all this is a good book. It's very entertaining. There are some problems. Though I really did like this book I had a lot of fun picking out some problems and making a list of them. This does not mean I disliked this book in any way; this is just me having some fun and being a little nitpicky. * Anne's behavior makes no sense-she was a brilliant woman in real life who overthrew the most powerful church in the world and kept Henry at bay sexually for years and then attained the most powerful role a woman could have, but in this she is just begging to have her head cut off. * The future the author invented isn't

I couldn't put it down!

This is a book you will not be able to put down. From the beginning, you get involved in the characters lives and their stories. The history is captivating and the way the Author inserts the characters into the historical characters lives is extrememely entertaining. I would defintely recommend this book, especially if you are a history buff.

An awesome book

Imaginative, creative and well-written. This interesting, captivating book is a must read for anyone that enjoys history along with an imaginative glimpse into the future. It is packed with amazing characters who come to life and the chemistry between them is gripping. The writer has a knack of historically educating you while entertaining you with suspense, action and drama. The story also contains love and romance along the way. I couldn't put the book down and felt as though I was right there along with the characters, experiencing their adventures and emotions. This is a brilliantly written book - an amazing, detailed story that you will not be disappointed with. Looking forward to sequels to come!

Excellent! Fast-Paced! A Must Read!

Heir Apparent is one of the best books I've read. It has it all; mystery, murder, romance, blackmail, and a wonderfully written Henry VIII! The intricate plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, which keep the pages turning. The author's ability to create a sense of place is fantastic, while the characters are well-rounded and colorful - especially, Brighton Jones, one of the best antagonists I've read in a long while. He's like J.R. from the 80's show, Dallas -- you love to hate him. Overall, this is one book you shouldn't miss out on! I hope there's a sequel in the works.

Biggest surprise book I have ever read!!!!!!

This is the best book I have ever read! The suspense and drama throughout the book keeps you going, it's hard to put the book down at night. The author gives us a glimpse of the past in such an entertaining way, that you actually believe you are living in those times. Hope to see a sequel to this. This book is a keeper, worth the money! Thanks Sheri, Squirl