A Enjoyable Read. - Rated 
I was given this book by a good friend who had introduced me to Philippa Gregory. Having loved The other Boleyn Girl by Philippa, I soon found myself a fan of Historical fiction.
I was hoping that this book would be as good as TOBG, and I am happy to say I loved this book.
This novel is about Mary Carey's (Boleyn) life, it begins when she is a child sent of to live in the French court, how she is used there. She is then sent to live at the English court, and finds herself Mistress of the King while she is married to William Carey. While at court she finds true love with a William Stafford.
There are three main characters in this book, Mary, her father Thomas Boleyn and William Stafford. It is about her life, how she is used by her father and how William Stafford (Staff) is her one true love. So you don't get a good insight into Anne Boleyn's life. However, this didn't ruin the book for me, as I loved reading about Mary, and how she and Staff got together and how her life turned out. I have to say Karen Harper made Staff sound irresistible and sexy! I would love to see this book made into a movie.
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
Fame at last - the great survior of the Boleyn clan - Rated
Fame at last - Mary Boleyn mistress of two Kings and the survivor of the Boleyn clan, 2 Nov 2006
By Klaus Meyer "kjmoc" (Brussels, Belgium) - See all my reviews
Two recent novels - The "Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory and Karen Harpers "The last Boleyn" - have re-established the life of Mary Boleyn. She was a mistress of two kings, Francis I of France, and Henry VIII of England. She was instrumental of the rise of the Boleyn's and of her sister Anne, but the managed to survive the Boleyn downfall.
Karen Harper's novel is a sympathetic adaptation of Mary's life from earliest childhood until her sister's death. Mary is described first as a tool of her father's ambitions, she struggles to for fill all what was expected of her, and only later can manage to escape the clutches of the power game at the royal court of England. She comes into her own when she secretly marries her second husband who does not fit the bill of a powerful courtier who can increase the Boleyn fortune. Mary the victim turns into Mary the Strong, Mary the happy and Mary the lucky as she is the only one of the three Boleyn siblings who survives the wrath of Henry VIII.
Karen Harper's picture of Mary is a sympathetic one, more sinned against than a sinner herself. She is very likeable. Karen Harper's style of writing is neither as lively nor fluent than that of Philippa Greogry. Sometimes the book just drags on and on when the story should have moved forward. It is a bit slow. Absolutely dreadful however are the parts on Mary's life at the court of France when Mrs. Harper seems to believe she has to use some French. I do not think that she has a clue how to express things in French. Why didn't' the editors intervene here? Nevertheless Karen Harper creates an interesting and plausible impression of the life and times of Mary Boleyn.
So all in all, it is an ok book, neither a waste of time, but not a book which will stick in one's mind
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