France

REVIEW: A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond

Dear Ms. Belmond, Reading “A Rather Lovely Inheritance” was kind of like stepping back in time and enjoying something by Mary Stewart. You know, one of her 50s and 60s mystery stories when the heroine gets swept up in something she never expected that’s kind of glamorous and a teensy bit dangerous and at the(…)

REVIEW:  The Civil Prisoners by Meriol Trevor

REVIEW: The Civil Prisoners by Meriol Trevor

Dear Readers, This one is slightly different in that it’s set in the French town of Verdun which was used to house some of the English who were taken prisoner after England declared war on France in 1803. All Englishmen of military age, whether civilian or military, who were in France or French territories were(…)

REVIEW: Petals in the Storm by Mary Jo Putney

Dear Ms. Putney, This book has been mentioned as being one of the weakest of this series (the Fallen Angels) and I can see why. I found myself far more interested in Robin and Maggie’s relationship, and for that matter Helene and von Fehrenbach’s relationship, than in seeing Rafe and Maggie get back together. Heck,(…)

REVIEW: The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley

Dear Ms. Riley, I spent my formative romance reading years devouring the “Angelique” series which begins in 17th century France at the court of the Sun King and have enjoyed movies using this time frame. So, when this book was mentioned at AAR after someone posted asking for books which are rich in period detail(…)

REVIEW:  By Love’s Command by Helen Carras

REVIEW: By Love’s Command by Helen Carras

Dear Ms Carras, This one starts out as a tad more like a historical novel than a historical romance. Kind of in the Plaidy/Lofts style. But the second half turns up the romance. It’s 1558 and 17 year old Jean Hamilton is a spirited Highland lass who’s been sent to the French court to wait(…)

REVIEW: The Seventh Unicorn by Kelly Jones

Dear Ms. Kelly, As an art lover, I have to tell you that your book is a delight. A delight with some problems as a true romance book but perhaps you intended it to be more of fiction with a romance element. I like the way you parallel your idea of the creation of the(…)