This is my first reading of Susan Meissner’s work and it definitely won’t be my last. While I don’t normally enjoy books written in first person, this book was able to transport me deep into the lives of two very special women, living lives five centuries apart.

Having been left by her husband of twenty-two years, Jane Lindsey focuses on running her aunt’s antique shop. Her love of old things sustains her through the twist her life’s path has taken. She stumbles upon an old 16th century ring engraved with her name, and immediately feels a kinship with the one who had worn it before. She looks into the ring’s past, bringing speculation that stirs her soul.

We are given a glimpse into the life of Lady Jane Grey through the eyes of her dress maker, Lucy Day. Faced with a life amid political and religious turmoil, Lady Jane struggles with the wants of her heart and duty to her parents. Eventually, she faces the heavy mantel of duty to the crown.

I was drawn into the lives of these women and loved the theme of choices. Each felt they had no choices in life, and yet, as they struggled through the trials of their lives, they both learned about themselves and the choices they had made in the past, as well as the choices facing them.

This was truly a beautifully crafted book, full of lovely prose, and interwoven with interesting history. It’s a must read for any historical fiction lover.

Back Cover:

Content in her comfortable marriage of twenty-two years, Jane Lindsay had never expected to watch her husband, Brad, pack his belongings and walk out the door of their Manhattan home. But when it happens, she feels powerless to stop him, and the course of events that follow Brad’s departure.

Jane finds an old ring in a box of relics from a British jumble sale and discovers a Latin inscription in the band along with just one recognizable word: Jane. Feeling an instant connection to the mysterious ring bearing her namesake, Jane begins a journey to learn more about the ring–and perhaps about herself.

In the sixteenth-century, Lucy Day becomes the dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey, an innocent young woman whose fate seems to be controlled by a dangerous political and religious climate, one threatening to deny her true love and pursuit of her own interests.

As the stories of both Janes dovetail through the journey of one ring, it becomes clear that each woman has far more influence over her life than she once imagined. It all comes down to the choices each makes despite the realities they face.

For a sneak peak look at the first chapter of Lady in Waiting, go HERE.

*** I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.


***For a chance to win a copy of this book, please leave a comment along with your email address. U.S. citizens only. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.


Thanks for stopping by. Drawing for Lady in Waiting will be  held on January 21st.