A Constant Heart - Siri Mitchell

I've read a couple of this author's books in the past and it's been pretty hit or miss for me. I liked one and couldn't finish the other.  I decided to take a chance with this one when it popped up for free.  I certainly didn't have anything to lose by giving the author another chance.

Marget is being married to the Earl of Lytham.  She is determined to be the best wife that she can be, no matter what obstacles her husband puts in her way.  And there are a lot. He is a courtier in the service of Queen Elizabeth I and constantly at her beck and call. Marget doesn't make the best impression on first meeting the queen and has an uphill battle from there.

Lytham was married once before and can't believe he's married to another beauty. She must be determined to betray him just like his first wife, so he does his best to guard his heart.  He ends up falling in love with her, but they have to keep it secret.  The queen doesn't like to share her courtiers.

Meanwhile, Marget is doing everything she can to better herself in the eyes of the queen and try to advance her husband's career.  She dyes her hair and paints her face.  The more she paints her face, the worse she feels.  Not wanting to disappoint her husband, she continues to paint regardless of the effects it has on her health.

This book was just depressing for me.  Marget tries so hard while Lytham treats her like dirt.  The pains that she puts herself through, especially with the paints, causes her to lose children and her health.  She listens to The Lady de Winter, trusting that the woman has her best interests at heart, but one begins to wonder how much of a friend the woman really is.  The history in the book was well done, but I felt so bad for Marget that it was depressing.  I also thought the ending needed a little more to it.  At that point, I was questioning whether they lived happily ever after.  I suppose the author leaving that part out lets me believe what I want about the fate of Marget and Lytham.  The other complaint I have is that both Marget and Lytham's characters are written from the first person.  I had to really pay attention when the author changed viewpoints.  I had to look for the cues to figure out who was speaking.

I believe that in the future I'll avoid reading books by this author.  While the history was very interesting, I read for enjoyment and I'm not sure that in the end, I could say I enjoyed it.  I didn't have any issues getting through it, I was anxious to find out if things would ever get better.  The author writes a good tale, but I don't think they're for me.