Library of Clean Reads: French Revolution

Showing posts with label French Revolution. Show all posts

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Beyond the Lavender Fields by Arlem Hawks (Review)

Fans of historical fiction will be pleased with Arlem Hawk's newest release. Isn't the cover gorgeous?

Book Details:

Title: Beyond the Lavender Fields by Arlem Hawks

Category: Adult Fiction, 368 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Release date: February 1, 2022

Content rating: PG-13 (violence related to the French Revolution)

Book Description:

1792, France

Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.

A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’s efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.

As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together or if they must live in a world that forces people to choose sides.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

After reading Georgana's Secret, I was excited to read Arlem Hawks' latest release Beyond the Lavender Fields. The story revolves around the French Revolution, making the setting almost a character in itself. Both the main characters are on opposite sides of the conflict, Marie-Caroline, as part of the aristocracy who want to preserve their lives of privilege, and Gilles Etienne of the working class who wants equality for all.

The story starts with a great scene, setting the tone for the relationship between Gilles and Marie-Caroline. Then the pacing seemed to slow down and it took a while to get going once again. The author skillfully brings up the political tensions of the day and how it affects both sides. I really liked Gilles' character. He was hard-working, loved his family, respected his mother, and was chivalrous. Marie-Caroline, on the other hand, was not as likable to me. She seemed very aloof and flaunted her views without realizing how dangerous that was. I never quite knew what she was really thinking unless it was through some of the letters she wrote to her cousin.

However, once the book picks up, there is plenty of action. Marie-Caroline faces the reality of her situation that makes her see things with different eyes. Gilles realizes that the means to an end are not always justifiable even if it leads to freedom. The French Revolution was a terrifying time in history and we see how patriotism and desperation could make zealots and oppressed people act like madmen. This was certainly an interesting book especially since the main characters were on different sides of the revolution.

Fans of historical fiction will be pleased with this new release. Well-written, fraught with internal and political conflicts, Beyond the Lavender Fields showcases star-crossed lovers who discover that doing what is right is more important than who is right.

Buy the Book

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About the Author:

Arlem Hawks began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the Western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. With her travels came an interest in history, especially the history of her English heritage. When she isn't writing, Arlem is baking her characters' favorite foods, sewing Regency dresses, learning how to play the tin whistle, and water coloring. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two children. Having previously published four historical romance novellas, Georgana’s Secret is her debut novel.

Connect with the Author:

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INSTAGRAM

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Saturday, May 22, 2021

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray (Book Review)

Wow, this is the first book I read by Stephanie Dray, and it won't be the last!

Book Details:

Title: The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

Category: Adult Fiction, 576 pages

GenreL Historical Fiction
Publisher: Berkley Books

Release date: March 30, 2021

Content Rating:

Book Description:

An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy in three of humanity's darkest hours.

Most castles are protected by powerful men. This one by women...

A founding mother...

1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband's political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must choose to renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...

1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Astor Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing--not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France and delivering war relief over dangerous seas, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...

1940. French schoolteacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and beautifully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we find from standing together in honor of those who came before us.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Wow, this is the first book I read by Stephanie Dray, and it won't be the last! I was captivated right from the start. It's an epic novel about three women who lived during different times, a triple timeline alternating throughout the book. I was amazed by how seamlessly the author moved from one era to the other. And the fact that two of the women were based on actual historical figures made the story all the more interesting. It was evident the book was well-researched and very well-written.

All three timelines were equally interesting to me and were connected by the Chateau Lafayette, a fortified manor house (it's a museum today) that is situated in France and is the birthplace of General Lafayette. I did not know much about Lafayette nor the role his wife played in politics. What an amazing woman she was! History tends to downplay women's roles, but the author brings them out through careful research and skillful writing. She succeeds in building unforgettable characters, strong women that took risks, that made a difference, that were devoted and avant-gardists.

This novel was like reading three books in one. There was never a dull moment. It's a long book with almost 600 pages and typed in small font. It's not a book you want to rush through. It's one that has a lot going on and that makes you invest in its characters and their stories. No fluff here.

If you are a serious historical fiction reader who loves epic well-written stories, look no further. Stephany Dray satisfies the thirst for sweeping era-based historical fiction novels that are sure to become classics.

Disclosure: Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Buy the Book:

Amazon.ca ~ Chapters-Indigo ~

Add to Goodreads

About the author:

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of historical women's fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages. She lives near the nation's capital with her husband, cats, and history books.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson (Review)

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.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

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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.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent

The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent
(rated: V minor scenes during French Revolution)
Kensington Publishing Corp.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-3857-3
Published January 2010
Trade Paperback, 342 pages

Author Christine Trent easily and deftly transported me back to Paris and London in the late 1700s when France was on the brink of the Revolution. I love stories—especially if they are well told—whose main character goes from rags to riches despite almost impossible odds.

Claudette Laurent is left penniless and alone after tragically losing her home and parents, but she prevails using her wit, talent and kindness. She experiences hardship, adventure, danger, romance and royal intrigue that keep the pages turning quickly. The fact that Claudette was a dollmaker added realism, depth, and artistic quality to the story. I learned about the art of dollmaking as Claudette’s own life transformed.

Fictional characters blended easily with historical figures that the author brought to life, mainly Queen Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI, the Princess de Lamballe and Marie Grosholtz. The opulence of the royal court contrasted with the rough streets of Paris creating the setting for the French Revolution that followed where Claudette’s loyalty to the queen almost costs her life. The plot is rich and captivating with well-developed characters that move it along quickly. I was delighted to find it a clean read, although for those of you sensitive to violence the book does describe some of the gruesome and bloody massacres that took place during the French Revolution. But this is minor in the totality of the story.

Two men dominate Claudette’s heart and they are very different. Jean-Philippe is passionate and this will lead him to make choices that cost him dearly. And then there is William. If there is one thing I found lacking was the romance between Claudette and William. It began well but the long courtship allowed for the romance to fizzle down to almost nothing. I was hoping for more passion between them, which did not even come through when they were reunited. However, the premise of the story and the cast of characters make up for any lack in this aspect. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and I look forward to reading more books by this talented author.

Disclosure: I won this book from Marcia's Mailbox Monday Read it Forward Program at The Printed Page. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.