Secrets of the Tudor Court Books in Order: How to read Kate Emerson’s series?

Written by Kathy Lynn Emerson, under the pseudonym Kate Emerson, The Secrets of The Tudor Court is historical non-mystery fiction set in the 16th century about real women at the court of Henry VIII. Not to be confused with Secrets of the Tudor Court by D.L. Bogdan.

Published between 2009 and 2012, The Secret of The Tudor Court series is set in England during the Tudor era. Informed by letters and diaries, the books tell us the stories of historical figures that are little known, with descriptions of clothing, comportment, and entertainment at the royal court

How to read the Secrets of the Tudor Court Series in Order?

1. The Pleasure Palace – Jane Popyncourt was brought to the court as a child to be ward of the king and a companion to his daughters. With no money of her own, Jane could not hope for a powerful marriage, or perhaps even marriage at all. But as she grows into a lovely young woman, she still receives flattering attention from the virile young men flocking to serve the handsome new king, Henry VIII, who has recently married Catherine of Aragon. But the Tudor court is filled with dangers as well as seductions, and there are mysteries surrounding Jane’s birth that have made her deadly enemies. She must follow a perilous path in her search for answers and risk even more to have a chance at happiness.
2. Between Two Queens – Nan Bassett came to court in 1537 as a maid of honor to Queen Jane Seymour. Jane, however, promptly died in childbirth. As the court plunges into mourning, Nan sets her sights on the greatest match in the land…for the king has noticed her. In newly Protestant England, where plots to restore the old religion abound, Nan may be the only one who can reassure a suspicious king of her family’s loyalty. But the favor of a king can be dangerous and chancy, not just for Nan, but for her family as well…and passionate Nan is guarding a secret, one that could put her future — and her life — in grave jeopardy should anyone discover the truth.
3. By Royal Decree – Brought to court with other eligible young noblewomen by the decree of King Henry VIII, Elizabeth “Bess” Brooke has no desire to wed the aging king, but she and her family would have little choice if Henry’s eye were to fall on her. And other dangers exist as well, for Bess has caught the interest of dashing courtier Will Parr. Bess finds Will’s kisses as sweet as honey, but marriage between them may be impossible. Will is a divorced man, and remarriage is still prohibited. To achieve their goal, the lovers will need royal favor. Amid the swirling alliances of royalty and nobles, Bess and Will perform a dangerous dance of palace intrigue and pulse-pounding passions.

4. At the King’s Pleasure – Lady Anne Stafford, younger sister of the 3rd Duke of Buckingham, wife of one man and mistress of another and loving them both. Accused by her brother of allowing herself to be seduced by King Henry VIII, with whom she is most definitely not having an affair, Anne is packed off to a nunnery “for her own good,” and from that beginning, a tangled web of intrigue and danger ensue.
5. The King’s Damsel – Anxious to secure his own success at the court of Henry VIII, heiress Tamsin Lodge’s ambitious guardian obtains her a position as maid of honor to young Princess Mary Tudor. But in the Tudor court, not even a princess is secure. Mary’s father is besotted with the lovely Anne Boleyn, and the girl’s future has grown perilous. Plotting to be Mary’s eyes and ears, Tamsin joins Anne’s service, but the handsome silk worker who is her co-conspirator may be her undoing. While marriage to a merchant is unthinkable, she cannot resist Rafe Pinckney’s embrace. When Tamsin also attracts the lusty Henry, she must choose between loyalty and desire…
6. Royal Inheritance – Audrey Malte, illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII’s royal tailor… or is she? Audrey has distinctive Tudor-red hair. And the king shows an extraordinary interest in her well-being. In sixteenth-century England, royal blood is a dangerous thing to inherit, even on the wrong side of the blanket.

If you like our article about the Secrets of the Tudor Court reading order, don’t forget to bookmark it!