Sunday, February 7, 2010

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!

9 comments:

  1. Sounds like a wonderful romance to dive in to! Thanks for a great review and a great suggestion to melt some of the snow outside!

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  2. Loving the colors in the blog here!

    As to your comment - book covers are the cause of much discussion and angst and worry and this and that and yonder and beyond! Most times, authors have no say on their cover. And I know there's all these copyright issues, so cover images have to be taken from databases, I guess or whatever....

    I wanted to use a local artist's painting for my first VK book,but there was the worry of copyright issues -a shame, because it's beautiful and compelling.

    I've seen the "half people" covers - I guess they want readers to form their own images, but, I think we do that anyway, not matter whats on the cover!

    Thanks for stopping by - *smiling*

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  3. I did not read your review (yet) because my review is coming up and I have yet to read the book. I will be back after I post mine to compare what your thought verses what I thought. :)

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  4. This does sound like a really fun read. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. This is on my wish list. Glad to see you liked it : )

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  6. I love the time period that this one takes place in!! Fun review!

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  7. It does sound fun ... and she looks like she is dressed like Cinderalla on the cover!

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  8. This sounds like one I'd enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation.

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