The Red Queen (The Cousins' War #2) by Philippa Gregory

The Red Queen is the lead up to the Tutor dynasty, it follows Margaret Beaufort the Countess of Richmond, who was the mother of Henry VII. Margaret is a huge believer in god and would pray night and day if her mother would allow it, she even develops "saint knees" [hard scuffed knees from kneeling to pray a lot.] 

Margaret was convinced from since she was a child that she was chosen by God to do great things, like Joan of Arc. When she is forced to marry a man twice her age when she was 14 she bears her only child, Henry Tudor. After the difficult birth that went for three days she was unable to conceive another child. After having her son she became convinced that God had granted her the destiny to put her son on the throne. 

I immensely enjoy this novel, Gregory made quite an achievement in this novel by taking an unlikable character and able to give the audience mixed feelings or sympathy and hatred. ret is depicted as a fiend who does everything but cackle, "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!" I found this an entertaining and amusing read about a woman who's been somewhat neglected in historical fiction.