Rinette Leslie is a young woman in forced servitude to the queen regent of Scotland, Mary of Guise. Rinette detests the queen, who is now dying. Under the cover of Rinette's skill at seeing people and their motives through the secret language of flowers, the dying queen charges Rinette with a heavy burden: keep the silver casket of secret letters, intelligence and Nostradamus prophecies safe for the new queen, Mary of Scots. So begins a tale of intrigue, deception and deep political maneuvering that will cost Rinette dearly.

Rinette returns home after the queen's death to her waiting love, the bright and shining Alexander Gordon, and they soon wed despite the objections of those who would control her for their own gain. Rinette refuses to be a pawn in anyone's game, and vows to reveal the casket to the new queen on her own terms. Her husband, however, has other plans that wind up with his grisly assassination. The lady Rinette swears revenge and uses the casket's contents and hidden location as a bargaining tool to assure her own safety and that of her properties. What follows is high court drama at its best and much behind-the-scenes dealings that make every moment more dangerous than the last.

The Flower Reader is simply stunning! I was enchanted by the story of a mid-level noblewoman doing her level best to discharge the awful burden laid upon her shoulders to the best of her ability, all the while doing whatever she could to protect those who matter most to her. This book has it all - pageantry, muddled motives and revelations that will make you utterly glad you're not actually in the story. There are enemies lurking behind every face here in this story, and knowing who to trust is more than half the battle. Elizabeth Loupas seamlessly blends fact and fiction to craft a tale that far surpassed my expectations. The Flower Reader is magnificent, and Rinette Leslie will stay with me far beyond the ending of this book. She was expertly written, and some of the situations in which she finds herself will have even the most jaded reader on the edge of his or her seat. If you're looking for love, loss, brilliant settings and murderous maneuverings hidden by courtly smiles, look no farther. The Flower Reader earns Five Angels and a Recommended Read.

Reviewed by: Michelle B.