As the title suggests, this story is focused on Catherine of Braganza and her marriage to Charles II. Even though he is well know as the Merry Monarch, with his string of mistresses, these mistresses pretty much stay in the background of this novel, and the author concentrates on Catherine's love for her husband. Some of the best parts of the book cover the plague and the Great Fire of London, with the author really conveying the enormity of the situation to Londoners. And the scene at Charles' death bed is devastating. Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn are two of the historical figures of the time that pop into the story. ( )

Margaret Campbell Barnes writes historical romances, generally about British royalty, and I read every one I could find as a teenager. They have very vivid characters, and a fair amount of historical accuracy. There is little or no sex.

This one focuses on the marriage of Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese princess who married Charles II of England. The marriage was never a great love story, but Barnes portrays it as an amicable match. Unlike his many, many mistresses, with whom Catherine had to cope, she was unable to give Charles a child. That and her Catholicism made her unpopular in England, Charles stood by her. An epilog deals with Catherine's return to Portugal after being widowed, where she served as regent. ( )