Review: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

February 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca (first published 2010)
details
Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages
setting
Herefordshire, 1824 (United Kingdom)
isbn
1402237014 (isbn13: 9781402237010)

From the publisher: "Lessons in French is a sweet tale of a reconnected childhood love, separated for years because of society and family expectations. Everyone loves a sweeping love story—complete with a shy wallflower learning what’s she capable of because of the devilishly dashing and fiendishly French Duc de Monceaux, still pining away for her after all those years apart…"

My Thoughts: At 18 years of age, Lady Callista Taillfaire was in love with Trevelyn D'Augustin and he with her. Unfortunately, her father did not approve and when he found them together in a state of semi undress, he whipped Trev and hustled his daughter into the house. Trev immediately took off for France and now after nine years he is back.

In the years Trev was away Callista managed to get engaged three times only to have her suitors renege for one flimsy excuse after another. This certainly didn't help our heroine's self esteem. She just assumed she was plain and that even her considerable fortune was not enough to entice a man to marry her. She has been contented raising her cattle, in particular her prize bull Hubert. Fate being what it is, all that is about to change.

When she runs into Trev at a dance she feels as if he had never left; her heart starts to race and her senses reel. Despite these feelings she tells him she has no intention of marrying. No more humiliation for our Lady Callista! The two are thrown together numerous times as Callista stops by to help Trev care for his ailing mother. Secretly, Trev's mother plots to get the two together even though Callista has got herself engaged again to the first man who jilted her.

With a lot of ups and downs and quite a few hilarious shenanigans, the two of them finally realize they were meant for each other; but it takes some near misses with the law and some hijinks at the local livestock show to move things along.

A lot of the scenarios may have been predictable but they were so charmingly written with such witty dialogue, this reader didn't mind at all. Along with the lighthearted frivolity there is a lot of chemistry between Trev and Callista. They are two characters who are so easy to like and root for. I really liked a lot of the supporting cast also, especially Trev's mother with her fractured English and her sense of humor. All in all, a delightfully fun read. 4****

Laura's beautiful website that can be found here.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks, Inc. Thank you, Danielle!