Book Details:
Book Title: Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson
Category: Adult Fiction, 256 pages
Genre: Clean Historical Romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Content Rating: PG
Book Description:
The roads in and out of Paris are heavily guarded, but the dead have easy passage out of the city. A ragged old woman transports the coffins of the most recent victims of the guillotine and is waved on unimpeded. Later, the same crone watches five French aristocrats step out of their coffins unscathed. Not beheaded but spirited away to safety by that most elusive of spies: the Pimpernel. Or, as she's known in polite society, Lady Scarlet Cavendish.
When not assuming her secret identity as a hero of the French Revolution, Scarlet presents herself as a fashionable, featherbrained young widow flitting about London. In truth, this façade is merely a diversion designed to conceal her clandestine work in France. Among members of the doomed French aristocracy, the Pimpernel is renowned for her bravery and cunning. But when tasked with rescuing handsome Comte Matteo Durand, she faces an unprecedented challenge: she is falling in love with the man. If ever there were a time to keep her head, it is now because in a world brimming with intrigue, she is not the only one harboring secrets. And if Scarlet doesn't take care, Madame la Guillotine may finally catch up with the Pimpernel.
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My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani
I have loved the story of The Scarlet Pimpernel ever since I saw the 1982 movie starring Jane Seymour. So when given the chance to read Scarlet, a spin-off of Baroness Orczy's book, I was excited and I can say I was not disappointed. Johnson follows closely the original story, but with a twist. Both the Pimpernel and the villain are strong and determined women.
The author easily brings us into the world of the French Revolution, and although this is primarily an action-adventure and romance story, the reader can't help but be affected by the horror of that time period. This book had me doing research on Google and rewatching the movie, which enhanced my reading experience.
Lady Scarlet is an unforgettable character. She is brave, witty and a master of disguises. Truly the descriptions of her costumes were drole and exciting. I was chuckling at how she managed to outwit the French authorities time after time. Her love interest Comte Matteo Durand was a dashing French aristocrat. Their lives and love get intertwined with the French Revolution and the danger escalates.
This was a highly entertaining story with a clean romance. It pulled me in immediately and kept me quickly turning the pages to find out how the final escape would occur. There were some parts I found a tad unbelievable, but the story was well-written and the plot well-executed. I enjoyed reading this retelling of a classic tale and will look forward to reading more books by this talented author.
About the Author:
An award-winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, Jen Geigle Johnson discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager.
She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She knows all about the sound a water-ski makes on glassy water and how to fall down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love.
Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure. She is a member of the RWA, the SCBWI, and LDStorymakers. She is also the chair of the Lonestar. Ink writing conference.
Connect with Jen: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Thanks to the publisher from for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
I've never seen The Scarlet Pimpernel but this sounds like a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteThe French Revolution is a favorite time period, I read a biography on Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser and it was fascinating.