Lucianna agreed to her first arranged marriage to a much older bookseller, and after his death finds herself a wealthy widow. She is savoring her new found freedom when she meets Englishman Robert Minton, Earl of Lisle. The spark of attraction Lucianna and Robert have for each other is undeniable and will send Lucianna to London. There, she will pursue her new love all the way to the court of the newly crowned Tudor king.

LUCIANNA, the third book in Bertrice Small's The Silk Merchant's Daughters series, is a suspenseful historical romance filled with wit and charm. Lucianna is an independent woman in a man's world and she accepts this, while molding a life for herself. Robert, the well to do hero, is a great match for Lucianna and the dialogue between the two is clever and well versed.

The intrigue of Henry VII's court makes for wonderful plot twists and shocking secrets. Margaret Beaufort is a captivating character who adds strength to the storyline. The climax is exciting and surprising and the ending wraps LUCIANNA up nicely.

Small has done a wonderful job combining sensuality and historical details in LUCIANNA creating a lively story of an independent and knowledgeable business woman in an unstable England.