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The Russian Concubine #0
The Jewel of St. Petersburg
Russia, 1910. Valentina Ivanova is the darling of St. Petersburg's elite aristocracy—until her romance with a Danish engineer creates a terrible scandal and her parents push her into a loveless engagement with a Russian count.
Meanwhile, Russia itself is bound for rebellion. With the Tsar and the Duma at each other's throats, and the Bolsheviks drawing their battle lines, the elegance and opulence of Tsarist rule are in their last days. And Valentina will be forced to make a choice that will change not only her own life, but the lives of those around her forever…
Meanwhile, Russia itself is bound for rebellion. With the Tsar and the Duma at each other's throats, and the Bolsheviks drawing their battle lines, the elegance and opulence of Tsarist rule are in their last days. And Valentina will be forced to make a choice that will change not only her own life, but the lives of those around her forever…
455 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2010
112 people are currently reading
5430 people want to read
About the author
Kate Furnivall
20 books987 followersKate Furnivall was raised in Penarth, a small seaside town in Wales. Her mother, whose own childhood was spent in Russia, China and India, discovered at an early age that the world around us is so volatile, that the only things of true value are those inside your head and your heart. These values Kate explores in The Russian Concubine.
Kate went to London University where she studied English and from there she went into publishing, writing material for a series of books on the canals of Britain. Then into advertising where she met her future husband, Norman. She travelled widely, giving her an insight into how different cultures function which was to prove invaluable when writing The Russian Concubine.
It was when her mother died in 2000 that Kate decided to write a book inspired by her mother's story. The Russian Concubine contains fictional characters and events, but Kate made use of the extraordinary situation that was her mother's childhood experience - that of two White Russian refugees, a mother and daughter, stuck without money or papers in an International Settlement in China.
Kate went to London University where she studied English and from there she went into publishing, writing material for a series of books on the canals of Britain. Then into advertising where she met her future husband, Norman. She travelled widely, giving her an insight into how different cultures function which was to prove invaluable when writing The Russian Concubine.
It was when her mother died in 2000 that Kate decided to write a book inspired by her mother's story. The Russian Concubine contains fictional characters and events, but Kate made use of the extraordinary situation that was her mother's childhood experience - that of two White Russian refugees, a mother and daughter, stuck without money or papers in an International Settlement in China.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
August 9, 2014
I really wanted to like this book. I love historical fiction and was very excited to read a book set during the Russian Revolution. That being said, this book fell flat in a lot of areas. The characters were empty shells. I found myself only really caring about the secondary characters. Actually, just one: Liev. And perhaps the doctor's daughter, who makes only cameo appearances. Jens and Valentina? Not so much. I didn't dislike either of them; they were just too good, too flawless. Valentina plays the piano. Valentina sacrifices herself for her sister. She's beautiful and is from an affluent family. All of this would be fine, except that Jens seemed to love her for completely unbelievable reasons. Oh a bomb went off in a tunnel? Valentina heard it, when few others did. Jens thinks at this point: "Such sharp ears. She was alert, she listened. Most people didn't listen." We're constantly told how much they love each other, how much they need each other. But aside from their desperation, I never really saw why these two people should be together.
I felt like I was going in circles when I was reading this book. I found myself clinging to the minor characters or the occasional prettily woven phrase to keep me from giving up on it. Around page 300, I decided I was sick of this soap opera and despite the fact that there's less than a hundred pages left, I had no desire to continue reading it. I've put it on my pile of books to donate; hopefully someone else will enjoy it more than I did.
I felt like I was going in circles when I was reading this book. I found myself clinging to the minor characters or the occasional prettily woven phrase to keep me from giving up on it. Around page 300, I decided I was sick of this soap opera and despite the fact that there's less than a hundred pages left, I had no desire to continue reading it. I've put it on my pile of books to donate; hopefully someone else will enjoy it more than I did.
March 16, 2017
Dragulj Sankt Peterburga se obavezno mora čitati prije Ruske konkubine i moram priznati da mi je poznavanje onoga što je bilo poslije pokvarilo užitak čitanja ovog inače odličnog romana. Romansa glavnih likova čije uzbudljive avanture čine okosnicu romana je jako lijepa i dirljiva, a dramatična zbivanja u osvit Oktobarske revolucije su veoma vješto dočarana. Volim romane čija je radnja smještena u ovaj burni period ruske historije, a ovaj veoma podsjeća na Sašenjku, pa stoga svima onima kojima je sudbina ove prelijepe Ruskinje ostala u srcu, preporučujem da upoznaju i ovaj dragulj, lijepu i snalažljivu Valentinu.
February 2, 2017
Kaikille romantiikan nälkäisille Walesissa syntynyt Kate Furnivall on kirjoittanut kirjan Pietarin jalokivi, joka sijoittuu Pietariin vuodesta 1910 vuoteen 1917. Kirjan tarinaan on upotettu jännittävällä tavalla Venäjän tsaarin viimeiset vuodet ja tuotu esille taustoja, mitkä vaikuttivat tsaarin perheen lopulliseen tuhoon. Kansa kärsi nälkää ja sortoa, mutta aateliset elivät yltäkylläisyydessä. Köyhillä ei ollut mitään oikeuksia.
Kirjan päähenkilö on nuori Valentina Ivanova, joka nousee Pietarin aateliston lemmiksi, Pietarin jalokiveksi, vaikka ei sitä tahdo. Valentina tahtoo sairaanhoitajaksi, sillä hän haluaa hoitaa pommi-iskussa vammautunutta siskoaan. Tie sairaanhoitajaksi ei ole helppo, sillä sitä vastustavat vanhemmat ja sairaaloiden johtajat. He kuvittelevat, että aatelisperheen tyttärestä ei ole kovaan työhön. Valentina on päättäväinen ja yllättää kaikki.
Vaaroja ja pelottavia tilanteita joka käänteissä, aika on tulenarkaa ja aateliset ja poliitikot ovat tiensä päässä. Upea lukupaketti.
August 11, 2016
This book is a prequel even though it was published after the other two books in the series. If you read this one first, as happened with me, it's a five star! If you're reading it after the other two books in the series, I'm not sure it's worth it. This book was really good but I find that the heroine, Lydia's mother, is really changed for the worst in the first book of the series (second in a chronological order), so you end up hating her, or believing it's not the same person. However, I'm trying to be impartial and treat this book separately than the rest so I'm giving it five stars. I'm sure though that if that was the last one I read I would give it less because: 1. I wouldn't care for the heroine, since I hated her in the other book, though I liked her in this one, and 2. I would already know what happened in the end. So, I'm really confused about this one! I loved it the first time I read it but wished I had never done so when I was through with the series because it just made me so sad. . It's your choice if you read this one, but be prepared to be really disappointed later.
January 5, 2019
Loved it! This is a prequel and I haven't read the other books in the series yet but I found this one captivating and exciting! It's nothing at all like the blurb, I thought it was just going to be an historic romance but the story is more about the beginning of the Russian Revolution just before the civil war. It doesn't just focus on Valentina; the other main character, Arkin, isn't even mentioned in the blurb on the back and the story is told as much from his perspective as it is from hers.
Arkin's story gave so much depth into the two sides of the lives in St. Petersburg and I felt a frustrating sympathy for that evil man so often throughout this book. It's a really good look at humanity, conscience and politics told through the main characters and their intertwining relationships.
Can't wait to continue to series!
Arkin's story gave so much depth into the two sides of the lives in St. Petersburg and I felt a frustrating sympathy for that evil man so often throughout this book. It's a really good look at humanity, conscience and politics told through the main characters and their intertwining relationships.
Can't wait to continue to series!
August 31, 2010
The Good Stuff
* Exciting opening chapter, grabs your attention and makes you want to keep reading
* Descriptions of the scenery are breathtakingly written, you feel you could reach out and touch the landscape
* Epic story up there with Gone with the Wind, The Thorn Birds, etc. If this isn't made into a movie I will be totally surprised
* Couldn't put the book down and now I am dying to get my hands on a copy of The Russian Concubine
* Realistic characters dealing with horrendous choices and struggling in a changing world
* Author really lets you see both sides of the revolution with very little sympathy or judgment for either side
The Not so Good Stuff
* A little dry in spots, but not overly so
* After exciting first 2 chapters, it dies a little and takes a little while to get going again. Don't give up though, it really does grab you again
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"It was something by Chopin, one of his least favorite composers, always so plaintive, so full of despair, whining in your ear like a cat in heat."
"The truth of what a person believed and the truth of what they said were two different things. There was no hard-and fast line to draw under it because it shifted between shadows and sunlight."
"What kind of justice was that? What kind of equality, the weak devoured by the strong?"
What I Learned
* A lot about Russian history
* About both sides of revolution
* War is hell and no one ever wins -- well I already knew that -- why the hell can't anyone learn from history
Who should/shouldn't read
* Lovers of historical fiction, especially early 1900 Russian history will enjoy
* Lovers of epic emotionally rich stories will also love
* Trying to think of who wouldn't like this kind of story, probably those who need non stop action might be disappointed
4.5 Deweys
* Exciting opening chapter, grabs your attention and makes you want to keep reading
* Descriptions of the scenery are breathtakingly written, you feel you could reach out and touch the landscape
* Epic story up there with Gone with the Wind, The Thorn Birds, etc. If this isn't made into a movie I will be totally surprised
* Couldn't put the book down and now I am dying to get my hands on a copy of The Russian Concubine
* Realistic characters dealing with horrendous choices and struggling in a changing world
* Author really lets you see both sides of the revolution with very little sympathy or judgment for either side
The Not so Good Stuff
* A little dry in spots, but not overly so
* After exciting first 2 chapters, it dies a little and takes a little while to get going again. Don't give up though, it really does grab you again
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"It was something by Chopin, one of his least favorite composers, always so plaintive, so full of despair, whining in your ear like a cat in heat."
"The truth of what a person believed and the truth of what they said were two different things. There was no hard-and fast line to draw under it because it shifted between shadows and sunlight."
"What kind of justice was that? What kind of equality, the weak devoured by the strong?"
What I Learned
* A lot about Russian history
* About both sides of revolution
* War is hell and no one ever wins -- well I already knew that -- why the hell can't anyone learn from history
Who should/shouldn't read
* Lovers of historical fiction, especially early 1900 Russian history will enjoy
* Lovers of epic emotionally rich stories will also love
* Trying to think of who wouldn't like this kind of story, probably those who need non stop action might be disappointed
4.5 Deweys
January 15, 2011
Pre-revolutionary Russia. Opulent balls, elegant palace-mansions, the increasing polarity between class divisions, and lingering behind it all the growing promise of an uprising against Tsarist autocracy. The ingredients are all laid out for the perfect historical romance. Certainly, when I received this as a present for Christmas I was ready to devour it whole. And yet, I found The Jewel of St. Petersburg a bit ho-hum at the end of the day. Not that I disliked it, but it seemed so… ordinary. I have no other word to describe it. I am thoroughly disappointed.
The main characters, Valentina Ivanova and Jens Friis, are not unlikeable, but I just couldn’t connect with them at all, try as I might. The secondary and even peripheral characters were far more intriguing than either the protagonist or her Danish lover. I kept wanting to read more about Valentina’s sister, Katya, who is left crippled after Bolshevik revolutionaries detonate a bomb outside the Ivanov summer home in Tesovo. I wanted to know more about how she was dealing with her paralysis, especially after you read about how she tries to commit suicide. I found Live Popkov another very interesting character, one whom I felt the author could have spent more time developing. Others, too, like Doktor Fedorin, Varenka, and Father Morozov, would have sparked my interest much more. Instead, the bulk of the story is focused on Valentina and Jens, both of whom seemed too perfect to be true. They seemed too contrived, too perfect as individuals. This would not be so bad, normally, if I did not find their love affair so linear. It seems just all too seamless, to the point of absurdity. In the blink of an eye they are suddenly together, and I actually had to go back a few pages to see did I somehow accidentally skip a chapter. On the whole, their relationship seemed too easy, maybe even boring? There isn’t even a real valid reason for them not to be together in the book when we later learn that Valentina’s parents want her to marry for money. Jens Friis is clearly well-off, not to mention of very high standing considering he is Tsar Nicholas’s Royal Engineer in charge of the city’s waterworks and sewage systems. This is even addressed in the book itself, although rather lamely. I kept thinking towards the latter end of the novel: how much more exciting and unusual this book would have been if Valentina had fallen in love with a revolutionary like Arkin, or hell, even a stablehand like Liev Popkov?
Furnivall writes very beautifully when she wants to, but I have to agree with some of the readers here when I say that there are moments when the prose becomes stale, like the author is writing a historical account rather than a novel. Even the more artistically crafted sentences sound hackneyed - some of it is lovely, in a guilty pleasures sort of way, while the rest of it would make even the most inveterate romance readers roll their eyes or squirm with distaste.
By the end of the novel I felt emotionally burnt out, the climax of the story coming much too late and not amounting to very much, either. The last page, frankly, bordered on the ridiculous, and makes me doubt very much about whether I’m going to go ahead and complete the trilogy. A shaky 2.5/5.
The main characters, Valentina Ivanova and Jens Friis, are not unlikeable, but I just couldn’t connect with them at all, try as I might. The secondary and even peripheral characters were far more intriguing than either the protagonist or her Danish lover. I kept wanting to read more about Valentina’s sister, Katya, who is left crippled after Bolshevik revolutionaries detonate a bomb outside the Ivanov summer home in Tesovo. I wanted to know more about how she was dealing with her paralysis, especially after you read about how she tries to commit suicide. I found Live Popkov another very interesting character, one whom I felt the author could have spent more time developing. Others, too, like Doktor Fedorin, Varenka, and Father Morozov, would have sparked my interest much more. Instead, the bulk of the story is focused on Valentina and Jens, both of whom seemed too perfect to be true. They seemed too contrived, too perfect as individuals. This would not be so bad, normally, if I did not find their love affair so linear. It seems just all too seamless, to the point of absurdity. In the blink of an eye they are suddenly together, and I actually had to go back a few pages to see did I somehow accidentally skip a chapter. On the whole, their relationship seemed too easy, maybe even boring? There isn’t even a real valid reason for them not to be together in the book when we later learn that Valentina’s parents want her to marry for money. Jens Friis is clearly well-off, not to mention of very high standing considering he is Tsar Nicholas’s Royal Engineer in charge of the city’s waterworks and sewage systems. This is even addressed in the book itself, although rather lamely. I kept thinking towards the latter end of the novel: how much more exciting and unusual this book would have been if Valentina had fallen in love with a revolutionary like Arkin, or hell, even a stablehand like Liev Popkov?
Furnivall writes very beautifully when she wants to, but I have to agree with some of the readers here when I say that there are moments when the prose becomes stale, like the author is writing a historical account rather than a novel. Even the more artistically crafted sentences sound hackneyed - some of it is lovely, in a guilty pleasures sort of way, while the rest of it would make even the most inveterate romance readers roll their eyes or squirm with distaste.
By the end of the novel I felt emotionally burnt out, the climax of the story coming much too late and not amounting to very much, either. The last page, frankly, bordered on the ridiculous, and makes me doubt very much about whether I’m going to go ahead and complete the trilogy. A shaky 2.5/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2011
While I really enjoyed reading the first two books this one was rather disappointing. I knew it would be a prequel to the first book which was mostly about Lydia. We were supposed to learn more about her parents and the hardships they endured while in Russia and when fleeing Russia.
Now if you've read the first book you already know what will happen. You know what I mean when I say this book is misleading. I fully expected the ending to be different and less reassuring and felt mildly disappointed that I was wrong. Now, I'm all for positive endings but being a faithful reader of the series I was disappointed when it felt like Furnivall was deliberately misleading her readers though I supposed things could change quickly when running from a militant regime.
Now, that isn't the only thing I had a problem with. Furnivall isn't always an easy read but she kept my interest in the first two books. This novel seemed drawn out and lost my interest several times. It took me longer to finish this book that the previous ones, with two pit stops to read other things.
Valentina and Katya's relationship is a beautiful thing but if felt a little secondary to the story. Despite Valentina's desire to be a nurse in this book she doesn't strike you as the type in the first book. Her character seemed far too different from the Valentina we meet in The Russian Concubine. I also find that after reading so much of this families story and knowing the outcome has left me bereft. Does Furnivall not do happy endings for anyone?
While the character of Valentina wasn't exactly what I expected, I did enjoy the budding love story between Jens Friis and her. I enjoyed their moments together and Valentina's manipulation of her overbearing and unreasonable father. I also enjoyed that Valentina wasn't content to be a society woman and wanted to do more with her life. I would have to say, though, that it was hard to reconcile both Jens and Valentina with their future counterparts.
Now if you've read the first book you already know what will happen. You know what I mean when I say this book is misleading. I fully expected the ending to be different and less reassuring and felt mildly disappointed that I was wrong. Now, I'm all for positive endings but being a faithful reader of the series I was disappointed when it felt like Furnivall was deliberately misleading her readers though I supposed things could change quickly when running from a militant regime.
Now, that isn't the only thing I had a problem with. Furnivall isn't always an easy read but she kept my interest in the first two books. This novel seemed drawn out and lost my interest several times. It took me longer to finish this book that the previous ones, with two pit stops to read other things.
Valentina and Katya's relationship is a beautiful thing but if felt a little secondary to the story. Despite Valentina's desire to be a nurse in this book she doesn't strike you as the type in the first book. Her character seemed far too different from the Valentina we meet in The Russian Concubine. I also find that after reading so much of this families story and knowing the outcome has left me bereft. Does Furnivall not do happy endings for anyone?
While the character of Valentina wasn't exactly what I expected, I did enjoy the budding love story between Jens Friis and her. I enjoyed their moments together and Valentina's manipulation of her overbearing and unreasonable father. I also enjoyed that Valentina wasn't content to be a society woman and wanted to do more with her life. I would have to say, though, that it was hard to reconcile both Jens and Valentina with their future counterparts.
December 31, 2012
I really enjoyed Furnivall's The Russian Concubine so I was quite looking forward to reading the other books in the series. I have to say I found this book was not quite as good as Russian Concubine was. In part I think it was because of how much I loved the characters from Russian Concubine which were not within this story. While it was interesting seeing the background on the life of Valencia, Lydia's mother,to try and better understand her character within the Russian Concubine.
I will say one of the reasons I did not enjoy this book as much is because I felt this book focused more on the romance part of the story, and for a large portion of it I did not feel as if very much was actually happening within the story. It was a bit slow moving. Though towards the end it did pick up more and start to become more interesting.
One of the things which I did rather enjoy about this book is the way in which it portrayed the rebellion within Russia and the uprising of the people. I liked the way in which you were able to see things from both points of view and see the flaws and wrong doings on both sides. On the one hand you can see how the people suffered, and the corruption and understand what moved them to such violent and extreme action and on the other hand you can see the innocent people who were harmed because of their actions, and the way in which the innocent were punished for the faults of the guilty.
The characters were complicated and often both sympathetic and dislikable at the same time. They had many different sides of them which motivated their actions, and they struggled with complex feelings that created inner conflicts within them.
I will say one of the reasons I did not enjoy this book as much is because I felt this book focused more on the romance part of the story, and for a large portion of it I did not feel as if very much was actually happening within the story. It was a bit slow moving. Though towards the end it did pick up more and start to become more interesting.
One of the things which I did rather enjoy about this book is the way in which it portrayed the rebellion within Russia and the uprising of the people. I liked the way in which you were able to see things from both points of view and see the flaws and wrong doings on both sides. On the one hand you can see how the people suffered, and the corruption and understand what moved them to such violent and extreme action and on the other hand you can see the innocent people who were harmed because of their actions, and the way in which the innocent were punished for the faults of the guilty.
The characters were complicated and often both sympathetic and dislikable at the same time. They had many different sides of them which motivated their actions, and they struggled with complex feelings that created inner conflicts within them.
August 2, 2010
Author Kate Furnivall has written an utterly engrossing story of Valentina Ivanova, a daughter to the finance minister to Tsar Nicholas II, set in St. Petersburg during a time of great civil unrest in Russia’s history. The working class and poor are getting more desperate every day as they fight starvation and disease or get injured, maimed or killed at the un-safe factories they are forced to work in while the upper class grow more rich and spend more extravagantly. The Revolutionaries are killing off government officials left and right and Valentina’s father is among the targets.
Valentina, though born in the upper class, is more interested in taking care of people than of dresses and parties and dreams of one day becoming a nurse. She is a bright, strong-willed girl whom I liked immediately and the rest of the characters were just as engaging - the endearing engineer, Jens; Arkin, the Revolutionary with a heart, Valentina’s sad mother Elizaveta and her unfortunate sister Katya. With exceptional descriptions of 20th century St. Petersburg, from the opulent homes of the Russian nobility to the squalid homes of the working class and the underground tunnels beneath the city, Furnivall draws the reader in and the fast-paced action keeps you flipping the pages quickly to see what happens next.
Having thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Kate Furnivall, I am now on a mission to own them all! If you like your historical fiction exciting, enthralling and unputdownable, then this is the book for you!
Valentina’s story doesn’t end here, check out The Russian Concubine, which is the sequel to The Jewel of St. Petersburg and tells the story of Valentina’s daughter.
Valentina, though born in the upper class, is more interested in taking care of people than of dresses and parties and dreams of one day becoming a nurse. She is a bright, strong-willed girl whom I liked immediately and the rest of the characters were just as engaging - the endearing engineer, Jens; Arkin, the Revolutionary with a heart, Valentina’s sad mother Elizaveta and her unfortunate sister Katya. With exceptional descriptions of 20th century St. Petersburg, from the opulent homes of the Russian nobility to the squalid homes of the working class and the underground tunnels beneath the city, Furnivall draws the reader in and the fast-paced action keeps you flipping the pages quickly to see what happens next.
Having thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Kate Furnivall, I am now on a mission to own them all! If you like your historical fiction exciting, enthralling and unputdownable, then this is the book for you!
Valentina’s story doesn’t end here, check out The Russian Concubine, which is the sequel to The Jewel of St. Petersburg and tells the story of Valentina’s daughter.
October 2, 2010
I know I say this a lot, but I really liked this book. My favorite part of the book was the setting. I love that it was set in Russia during the revolution. There was so much turmoil and unrest during this time that it definitely added a raw grittiness to the story. There were a lot of characters in this book, but not so many that you lose track. The story focuses on Valentina. She is from the aristocratic society whose path is already predetermined. Valentina decides to buck the system and make her own destiny. I really liked the strength of her character. She was willing to do what ever it took to save everyone she loved. Speaking of love, let's talk about the romantic aspect of this book. Valentina is expected to marry well, but she falls in love with a engineer, Jens Friis. Her heart belongs to him from the first moment she sees him, but she longs to please her parents also. This is an interesting relationship full of many complications. I enjoyed this aspect as well. The story line was very compelling and it kept me interested to the last sentence.
October 18, 2010
In the years leading up to the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks agitate for change causing unrest throughout all of Russia. Valentina Ivanovna, a young Russian noblewoman, experiences their violence when a bomb blows up her father’s study permanently injuring her younger sister Katya. Consumed by an unwarranted guilt for this event, Valentina determines to devote the rest of her life to her sister’s wellbeing.
Valentina, like many other aristocratic ladies, has been brought up to marry well and bring honor to her family. Her small white hands are trained to play the piano, not for heavy labor. When she announces to her parents that she would like to become a nurse, they are shocked and forbid such a step. Instead, they attempt to force her into a marriage with an eligible Colonel of the Hussar regiment. What her family doesn’t know is that she has fallen in love with Jens Friis, a Danish engineer designing new sewer systems to improve the quality of life in St. Petersburg. Valentina and Jens begin a clandestine love affair in a world that is rapidly falling apart.
Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks’ violence and acts of terrorism are increasing daily. Unbeknownst to them, Valentina’s family has been employing a chaffeur who is not just a Bolshevik sympathizer but also the mastermind behind several bombings in St. Petersburg. The dangers increase dramatically until Valentina finds herself in the middle of a revolution that will overthrow her family, the tsar, and all of her hopes and dreams.
This book started out excellently. The prose was well-written and the characters were engaging. As Valentina and Jens’ love affair progressed, however, I found myself caring a little bit less about them. Explicit sex scenes lent a tawdriness to the tale, and the Bolshevik villains, such as the chaffeur, became less believable as the story wore on.
All in all, this book was an interesting picture of aristocratic life in Russia on the cusp of revolution. Although I felt that this story had some failings, I was impressed enough with Furnivall’s writing and research to want to read more of her novels.
Valentina, like many other aristocratic ladies, has been brought up to marry well and bring honor to her family. Her small white hands are trained to play the piano, not for heavy labor. When she announces to her parents that she would like to become a nurse, they are shocked and forbid such a step. Instead, they attempt to force her into a marriage with an eligible Colonel of the Hussar regiment. What her family doesn’t know is that she has fallen in love with Jens Friis, a Danish engineer designing new sewer systems to improve the quality of life in St. Petersburg. Valentina and Jens begin a clandestine love affair in a world that is rapidly falling apart.
Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks’ violence and acts of terrorism are increasing daily. Unbeknownst to them, Valentina’s family has been employing a chaffeur who is not just a Bolshevik sympathizer but also the mastermind behind several bombings in St. Petersburg. The dangers increase dramatically until Valentina finds herself in the middle of a revolution that will overthrow her family, the tsar, and all of her hopes and dreams.
This book started out excellently. The prose was well-written and the characters were engaging. As Valentina and Jens’ love affair progressed, however, I found myself caring a little bit less about them. Explicit sex scenes lent a tawdriness to the tale, and the Bolshevik villains, such as the chaffeur, became less believable as the story wore on.
All in all, this book was an interesting picture of aristocratic life in Russia on the cusp of revolution. Although I felt that this story had some failings, I was impressed enough with Furnivall’s writing and research to want to read more of her novels.
March 8, 2019
A good read for those who are interested in the progression of the Russian revolution and an intense passionate love story to spice things up a little.
The author is great at creating imagery of Russia’s plight leading up to and following the end of the Romanov dynasty. I have always been fascinated by Russia’s history and I found this book illustrated very well the perspectives of both the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
I’m not knowledgable enough in the matter but I have always held Russia to be a mysterious and grand country both before and after tsar Nicholas was forced to abdicate for different reasons.
Russia was always so beautiful and has such a strong identity, the history both preceding and following the mark of the revolution is so rich and I feel the storytelling in this book did justice in bringing that significant period to life. But sometimes it did get a bit too much just with how intense the build up was.
I felt like I was in the midst of it all the way through, there was a real sense of foreboding throughout which is a credit to the author. Loved the strong protagonists and the (sometimes unrealistic) tragedies that took place which were of course a ripple effect from the uprising of the revolution. Some scandal too here and there which were probably some of my favourite parts.
Enough of a balance between history and fiction to keep me going and it was really enjoyable to experience the tsar and Rasputin as real characters in the book.
It was actually really intense and I’m kind of glad the book is over, think I’ll pick a more light hearted book next!
The author is great at creating imagery of Russia’s plight leading up to and following the end of the Romanov dynasty. I have always been fascinated by Russia’s history and I found this book illustrated very well the perspectives of both the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
I’m not knowledgable enough in the matter but I have always held Russia to be a mysterious and grand country both before and after tsar Nicholas was forced to abdicate for different reasons.
Russia was always so beautiful and has such a strong identity, the history both preceding and following the mark of the revolution is so rich and I feel the storytelling in this book did justice in bringing that significant period to life. But sometimes it did get a bit too much just with how intense the build up was.
I felt like I was in the midst of it all the way through, there was a real sense of foreboding throughout which is a credit to the author. Loved the strong protagonists and the (sometimes unrealistic) tragedies that took place which were of course a ripple effect from the uprising of the revolution. Some scandal too here and there which were probably some of my favourite parts.
Enough of a balance between history and fiction to keep me going and it was really enjoyable to experience the tsar and Rasputin as real characters in the book.
It was actually really intense and I’m kind of glad the book is over, think I’ll pick a more light hearted book next!
December 29, 2010
run–of–the–mill: not outstanding in quality or rarity.
This book hits the mark of mediocracy. It has it's enduring moments, yes, but on the whole it's not amazing.
Set in Russia, the year is 1910. The Russian people are rallying. They want a better life, they want Czar Nicholas and all the Romanovs gone. Valentina has lived a life of supposed luxary. From the outside looking in, she appears to be just another aristocrat living the high life. Little does the outside world know, she is looking after her paralyzed sister, she is thinking for her own self, she is becoming a nurse, she is in love. She meets her Jens by chance, playing the paino for the Czar. He unnerves her. They pretty much fall for each other from the start, only Valentina's father has plans for her. Plans to marry a captain to get him out of his enormous debt. In a time of war, can Valentina chose love?
This book had a wonderful story in it. It had much more depth than I had originally thought it would. There is something about the way the author writes that I'm just not crazy about. It's almost like she writes too factualy, instead of telling the story.....
3.5 stars
This book hits the mark of mediocracy. It has it's enduring moments, yes, but on the whole it's not amazing.
Set in Russia, the year is 1910. The Russian people are rallying. They want a better life, they want Czar Nicholas and all the Romanovs gone. Valentina has lived a life of supposed luxary. From the outside looking in, she appears to be just another aristocrat living the high life. Little does the outside world know, she is looking after her paralyzed sister, she is thinking for her own self, she is becoming a nurse, she is in love. She meets her Jens by chance, playing the paino for the Czar. He unnerves her. They pretty much fall for each other from the start, only Valentina's father has plans for her. Plans to marry a captain to get him out of his enormous debt. In a time of war, can Valentina chose love?
This book had a wonderful story in it. It had much more depth than I had originally thought it would. There is something about the way the author writes that I'm just not crazy about. It's almost like she writes too factualy, instead of telling the story.....
3.5 stars
March 29, 2011
it's ok nothing great or remarkable or as engaging as the russian concubine. There were a lot of disappointments with the story and Valetina's character i also feel like there were some HUGE plot holes......(spoiler alert) she gets pregnant but her parents still want her to marry another man she hasn't slept with.... it had me scratching my head the entire time I mean that's kinda a no argument at this point and like the other guy would even marry her..... I think that's the thing there was this pathetic subplot that went on far longer than it should have and became pointless and idiotic...... I advice skip it you already know who Valentina ends up with and the BS before it is pointless and doesn't make a very engaging story
May 9, 2011
Total historical fiction fluff about Pre-Revolutionary Russia that can be read in a day or two even though it seems to drag on interminably. I also find it really irksome that the author sprinkles random Russian words throughout the novel followed immediately by their English equivalents. Pick one or the other.
Imagine how dreary Clockwork Orange would have been if Burgess had written lines like, "There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, friends, that is Pete, Georgie and Dim. And we sat in the Korova, Cow, Milkbar, trying to make up our razudoks, minds, what to do with the evening."
It made me miss St. Petersburg though.
Imagine how dreary Clockwork Orange would have been if Burgess had written lines like, "There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, friends, that is Pete, Georgie and Dim. And we sat in the Korova, Cow, Milkbar, trying to make up our razudoks, minds, what to do with the evening."
It made me miss St. Petersburg though.
September 30, 2013
I didn't realize that this was part of a series when I picked this one up. It's the third book but prequel to the first. I liked this well enough but I'm not likely to read the others. I've spent enough time with Valentina & Jens. Their characterizations were fine but honestly, I liked the description of the surroundings & secondary characters much more. I just wasn't swept away by this one & when I put it down because life intervened, I didn't pine to get right back. I did finish & could recommend it as a weekend read (it's nice & light).
March 8, 2017
Two lovers on different levels: Jens Friis on the democratic level of making Russia a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Beligum and Norway. Ankins on the Communist level. Valentina Invinova faced many challenges such as avoiding an arranged marriage to a Imperial Russian colonel who would save her father from being forced to accept debt and pay banks, Jewish moneylenders and the like, taking a job as a nurse to show her traditional father she can take care of her own.
My opinion is that the Russian Revolution was the reason why Valentina understood the challenge of dealing with a rapidly changing Russia during the Great War.
Grade: A +
My opinion is that the Russian Revolution was the reason why Valentina understood the challenge of dealing with a rapidly changing Russia during the Great War.
Grade: A +
February 22, 2020
Je découvre ce roman de Kate Furnivall et je me suis plongée dans cette histoire prenante au cœur même de l Histoire Russe et de cette période si troublée . Notre héroïne saura se battre pour ses convictions et ceux qu'elle aime du début à la fin.
J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec ce roman de Kate Furnivall dont je découvre la plume. Son romance me change de mes lectures habituelles car même s'il y a une romance, on entre dans l'histoire du pays par le biais des personnages. L'intensité des émotions sera au rendez vous et nous allons espérer une fin heureuse pour nos héros.
Chronique complète à lire sur : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec ce roman de Kate Furnivall dont je découvre la plume. Son romance me change de mes lectures habituelles car même s'il y a une romance, on entre dans l'histoire du pays par le biais des personnages. L'intensité des émotions sera au rendez vous et nous allons espérer une fin heureuse pour nos héros.
Chronique complète à lire sur : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
April 21, 2023
I actually read The Russian Concubine before this but they can be read as stand alone books anyway. I enjoyed this one better of the two. It's hard to believe that the young, fiesty Valentina is the same Valentina of the Russian Concubine. She is so different in this book, a far more likeable character. I loved her love story with Jens and the friendships she made.
It kept a constant steady pace throughout and brought to life the Russian Revolution and the hardships people faced not to mention the fierce attitudes on both sides.
It kept a constant steady pace throughout and brought to life the Russian Revolution and the hardships people faced not to mention the fierce attitudes on both sides.
April 9, 2018
3 stars.
The Jewel of St. Petersburg was okay. It was not incredible, nor was it awful. There were plot elements that I felt were unnecessary and nonsensical which took away from what it could have been. Also, this was a very character driven book, but with characters that I did not connect with enough for it to be enjoyable as the centre of the novel.
In one word, this book was 'meh'.
The Jewel of St. Petersburg was okay. It was not incredible, nor was it awful. There were plot elements that I felt were unnecessary and nonsensical which took away from what it could have been. Also, this was a very character driven book, but with characters that I did not connect with enough for it to be enjoyable as the centre of the novel.
In one word, this book was 'meh'.
May 1, 2018
op het randje van te romantisch en stationsroman, maar toch uitgelezen. Met de nodige overgeslagen passages als het wat te melig werd ... ;)
December 8, 2020
Wow so good!
Historical Fiction with drama, love, politics, great characters and a really great narrative that transports the reader back in time into the Russian Revolution.
I love Jens so much 💗😭
Historical Fiction with drama, love, politics, great characters and a really great narrative that transports the reader back in time into the Russian Revolution.
I love Jens so much 💗😭
July 12, 2024
A powerful woman, her against the ‘true voice of Russia’. A skilled pianist with a love for Chopin and Mozart. I like the mention of past Russia with the many Tsar Nicholas comparisons. Complicated relationship with her dad, pushing an agreement of marriage when she already fell in love with the Danish guy, saying he has no money. ‘Death is just the beginning of a just and honourable new world for whose who choose to build it here’
April 5, 2017
An absorbing yarn set in St Petersburg in the years years leading up to the Revolution.
August 29, 2018
Excellent reading! I found that I love novels that include a bit of history for some time now and this one is a true gem. :) Interesting, fuelled with historical happenings, love, romance, crime... I couldn’t hold my head up!
July 1, 2020
Interesting setting: early 1900s Russia right before the revolution. Eerily, one page I read had the characters donning face masks (cholera outbreak) and dodging streets due to rioting and looting😬. May the Bolsheviks not take over our own country 🇺🇸
September 17, 2011
Historical fiction at its finest (and I am not over exaggerating). Not since Pam Jenoff’s, The Kommandant’s Girl, have I literally felt pulled back through time because of the fantastic storytelling of a truly brilliant author. Not only that, but as a true fan of Tsar Nicholas II, Alexandra, Rasputin, and that whole time period, this could not have dropped into the lap of a better reviewer.
We begin our story with young Valentina Ivanova. Now Valentina is a much beloved character already; she debuted in Ms. Furnivall’s first novel, The Russian Concubine as the beloved mother of Lydia Ivanova. But here, we get to go back to the very beginning of Valentina’s life; the time and place where she became the strong, classy, elegant heroine she turned out to be.
She’s seventeen when we begin this story, living on her father’s estate located in Tesovo, Russia in 1910. Her father is a General – a much beloved and trusted minister to Tsar Nicholas II, so she – as well as her family – are looked at by the Russian commoners and hard workers as the enemy in their midst. The Bolshevik’s are readying for their Revolution and they can’t wait to throw these wealthy, illustrious families off their thrones.
Valentina had woken this morning, gotten on her horse, and raced into the woods bordering the estate. Unfortunately, what she sees in the darkness of the mighty trees are men in black hoods, hunters who are there to make sure her father is one of the first to lose his life. They attack Valentina and try with all their might to capture her but she escapes and literally bumps into Liev – the son of her father’s stable master. Off they rush back to the estate, hoping that they can stop the killers and save her family. But just as the house comes into view, a wing is blown to smithereens – the wing that is home to her father’s study. Valentina rushes to the house and finds that it was her young sister Katya who is harmed; the poor girl had woken up and was searching the big window to try and locate her missing sister. The guilt is so immense that Valentina swears upon everyone’s soul that she will protect poor Katya for the rest of her life and make sure that she has a chance to walk again.
Time passes and the reader is brought to Valentina’s school, where she sits and plays piano during a recital for the Tsar, himself. During the performance, however, a man that she’s only seen once before in her life – a man who she fell in love with – appears in the performance hall. His name is Jens Friis, and he is a man who wants nothing more than to help the workers in St. Petersburg get more money and better living conditions, even though he is counted among their enemies. What he also wants more than anything is the beautiful Valentina’s heart, who survives on the fire of vengeance and anger churning in her soul.
Jens and Valentina make the most unlikely couple – she being part of the wealthy aristocracy and he being a Danish engineer who doesn’t seem to know who to help. Unfortunately, although Valentina’s heart belongs to the Dane with fiery red hair and green eyes, her society parents push her into a loveless marriage with a ruthless Russian Count in order to make sure she “mixes” with her own kind of society. Meanwhile, with everything else that is going on in her own life, Valentina can feel the anger flowing through the streets while the Tsar and the Duma walk down the road to war.
With everything from the beautiful scenery and landmarks of St. Petersburg, to the well-written heroine who faced down everything from pain and loss to brutality and political upheaval, there wasn’t a dull moment on any page of this book. Delving into the Russian world during that time period is always an extremely interesting experience – watching the downfall of the Tsar and the uprising of the people from Valentina’s perspective was a whole new take on the strange and frightening world back then. Not only that, but the love story will hit you to your very core.
The Jewel of St. Petersburg could not be more appropriately named, because it is most certainly a jewel to me. From the locations to the characters, this walk through history is like a movie that you will never want to end. This time period held so many adventures for Valentina, that it was an absolute joy for a reader who’d already fallen in love with her in The Russian Concubine to see how it all began.
We begin our story with young Valentina Ivanova. Now Valentina is a much beloved character already; she debuted in Ms. Furnivall’s first novel, The Russian Concubine as the beloved mother of Lydia Ivanova. But here, we get to go back to the very beginning of Valentina’s life; the time and place where she became the strong, classy, elegant heroine she turned out to be.
She’s seventeen when we begin this story, living on her father’s estate located in Tesovo, Russia in 1910. Her father is a General – a much beloved and trusted minister to Tsar Nicholas II, so she – as well as her family – are looked at by the Russian commoners and hard workers as the enemy in their midst. The Bolshevik’s are readying for their Revolution and they can’t wait to throw these wealthy, illustrious families off their thrones.
Valentina had woken this morning, gotten on her horse, and raced into the woods bordering the estate. Unfortunately, what she sees in the darkness of the mighty trees are men in black hoods, hunters who are there to make sure her father is one of the first to lose his life. They attack Valentina and try with all their might to capture her but she escapes and literally bumps into Liev – the son of her father’s stable master. Off they rush back to the estate, hoping that they can stop the killers and save her family. But just as the house comes into view, a wing is blown to smithereens – the wing that is home to her father’s study. Valentina rushes to the house and finds that it was her young sister Katya who is harmed; the poor girl had woken up and was searching the big window to try and locate her missing sister. The guilt is so immense that Valentina swears upon everyone’s soul that she will protect poor Katya for the rest of her life and make sure that she has a chance to walk again.
Time passes and the reader is brought to Valentina’s school, where she sits and plays piano during a recital for the Tsar, himself. During the performance, however, a man that she’s only seen once before in her life – a man who she fell in love with – appears in the performance hall. His name is Jens Friis, and he is a man who wants nothing more than to help the workers in St. Petersburg get more money and better living conditions, even though he is counted among their enemies. What he also wants more than anything is the beautiful Valentina’s heart, who survives on the fire of vengeance and anger churning in her soul.
Jens and Valentina make the most unlikely couple – she being part of the wealthy aristocracy and he being a Danish engineer who doesn’t seem to know who to help. Unfortunately, although Valentina’s heart belongs to the Dane with fiery red hair and green eyes, her society parents push her into a loveless marriage with a ruthless Russian Count in order to make sure she “mixes” with her own kind of society. Meanwhile, with everything else that is going on in her own life, Valentina can feel the anger flowing through the streets while the Tsar and the Duma walk down the road to war.
With everything from the beautiful scenery and landmarks of St. Petersburg, to the well-written heroine who faced down everything from pain and loss to brutality and political upheaval, there wasn’t a dull moment on any page of this book. Delving into the Russian world during that time period is always an extremely interesting experience – watching the downfall of the Tsar and the uprising of the people from Valentina’s perspective was a whole new take on the strange and frightening world back then. Not only that, but the love story will hit you to your very core.
The Jewel of St. Petersburg could not be more appropriately named, because it is most certainly a jewel to me. From the locations to the characters, this walk through history is like a movie that you will never want to end. This time period held so many adventures for Valentina, that it was an absolute joy for a reader who’d already fallen in love with her in The Russian Concubine to see how it all began.
April 3, 2019
ALERTE COUP DE COEUR ! ❤
Ce roman porte bien son nom : un vrai petit bijou !
Nous suivons Valentina, une jeune femme courageuse, forte et vive d'esprit. Les choix qu'elle doit faire sont compliqués et pourtant, elle n'hésite pas une seconde au nom de sa famille et de ceux qu'elle aime.
Nous passons par toutes les émotions : tristesse, joie, tendresse, colère, dégoût, peur.
Un roman qui mêle habilement fiction, faits historiques et romance.
Tous les aspects de ce roman sont parfaitement maîtrisés, que ce soit au niveau des personnages, de l'intrigue ou de l'environnement historique.
Second roman Charleston lu, second coup de coeur ! 😍
Je vous le recommande vivement si vous aimez les fictions historiques !
Ce roman porte bien son nom : un vrai petit bijou !
Nous suivons Valentina, une jeune femme courageuse, forte et vive d'esprit. Les choix qu'elle doit faire sont compliqués et pourtant, elle n'hésite pas une seconde au nom de sa famille et de ceux qu'elle aime.
Nous passons par toutes les émotions : tristesse, joie, tendresse, colère, dégoût, peur.
Un roman qui mêle habilement fiction, faits historiques et romance.
Tous les aspects de ce roman sont parfaitement maîtrisés, que ce soit au niveau des personnages, de l'intrigue ou de l'environnement historique.
Second roman Charleston lu, second coup de coeur ! 😍
Je vous le recommande vivement si vous aimez les fictions historiques !
September 5, 2010
The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall (Rated: P: mild, S)
Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-0-425-23423-5
Published: August 7, 2010
Trade Paperback, 410 pages
I can rarely resist a book that either contains the name St. Petersburg in the title or promises a good tale with that city as its backdrop. I wasn’t disappointed as Kate Furnivall wove a tale of intrigue, treachery, loyalty, rebellion and love in pre-revolution Russia.
It is 1910 and Tsar Nicholas Romanov sits on the throne and as the narrative states, “he was the wrong man at the wrong time.” Weak, indecisive, oblivious to the plight of his people, his primary interest in life is his wife, the Tsarina, his 4 daughters and the heir to the throne, Alexei. While ordinary Russians are starving, he, his family, and most of the aristocrats live in opulent surroundings, including the heroine of the story, Valentina Ivanova. She charms the high society of St. Petersburg with both her beauty and her talent for piano. However, to her credit, Valentina wants desperately to be useful, not just spending her days drinking tea, shopping for new dresses and going to balls. Above all, she wants to take care of her younger sister, Katya, who was injured when a bomb exploded at their home. The bomb attack was orchestrated by the Bolsheviks who were against all aristocrats. To enable her to care for her sister, Valentina becomes a nurse, much to the dismay of her overbearing father and delicate, elegant mother. Moreover, Valentina is expected to make a “good” marriage to a wealthy fellow Russian, a soldier in the Tsar’s army. Enter middle-class, Danish engineer, Jens Friis. Sparks begin to fly, not only between him and Valentina, but also between Stepan Chernov, the man her parents want her to marry. All of this happens as Russian peasants experience food shortages, rising prices, bitter resentment against the Tsar and growing revolutionary fervor.
The author uses excellent descriptions throughout the book. For instance, early on in the story, just after the bomb attack at Valentina’s home, the author writes, “the smoke was pouring out, swallowing the house in greedy gulps.” Referring to the wealthy, “Russians love to display their wealth as ostentatiously as peacocks unfurl their gaudy tails.” Referring to a fireplace, the author says “the fire muttered like an old man in the corner.” Furnivall uses such rich descriptive words that not only do we marvel at her ability, but these descriptions make the reader feel part of the scenes.
There is good character development of the main protagonists. We see Valentina grow in sympathy and understanding of the poor, prompting her to work on their behalf; we like the personality of Jens as he fights for Valentina’s love and shows his concern for the Russian people; we dislike Stepan’s uncaring attitude toward human life as he kills innocent Russians in the name of the Tsar. The reader is held in suspense to the end of the novel – will they all survive as rebellion and revolution swirl around them?
There are some expletives as well as 2 sexual scenes, but these are neither explicit nor unsavory.
This book kept me enthralled from the first sentence to the last. I recommend it for people who enjoy historical fiction set in the time of the ill-fated Romanovs.
Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-0-425-23423-5
Published: August 7, 2010
Trade Paperback, 410 pages
I can rarely resist a book that either contains the name St. Petersburg in the title or promises a good tale with that city as its backdrop. I wasn’t disappointed as Kate Furnivall wove a tale of intrigue, treachery, loyalty, rebellion and love in pre-revolution Russia.
It is 1910 and Tsar Nicholas Romanov sits on the throne and as the narrative states, “he was the wrong man at the wrong time.” Weak, indecisive, oblivious to the plight of his people, his primary interest in life is his wife, the Tsarina, his 4 daughters and the heir to the throne, Alexei. While ordinary Russians are starving, he, his family, and most of the aristocrats live in opulent surroundings, including the heroine of the story, Valentina Ivanova. She charms the high society of St. Petersburg with both her beauty and her talent for piano. However, to her credit, Valentina wants desperately to be useful, not just spending her days drinking tea, shopping for new dresses and going to balls. Above all, she wants to take care of her younger sister, Katya, who was injured when a bomb exploded at their home. The bomb attack was orchestrated by the Bolsheviks who were against all aristocrats. To enable her to care for her sister, Valentina becomes a nurse, much to the dismay of her overbearing father and delicate, elegant mother. Moreover, Valentina is expected to make a “good” marriage to a wealthy fellow Russian, a soldier in the Tsar’s army. Enter middle-class, Danish engineer, Jens Friis. Sparks begin to fly, not only between him and Valentina, but also between Stepan Chernov, the man her parents want her to marry. All of this happens as Russian peasants experience food shortages, rising prices, bitter resentment against the Tsar and growing revolutionary fervor.
The author uses excellent descriptions throughout the book. For instance, early on in the story, just after the bomb attack at Valentina’s home, the author writes, “the smoke was pouring out, swallowing the house in greedy gulps.” Referring to the wealthy, “Russians love to display their wealth as ostentatiously as peacocks unfurl their gaudy tails.” Referring to a fireplace, the author says “the fire muttered like an old man in the corner.” Furnivall uses such rich descriptive words that not only do we marvel at her ability, but these descriptions make the reader feel part of the scenes.
There is good character development of the main protagonists. We see Valentina grow in sympathy and understanding of the poor, prompting her to work on their behalf; we like the personality of Jens as he fights for Valentina’s love and shows his concern for the Russian people; we dislike Stepan’s uncaring attitude toward human life as he kills innocent Russians in the name of the Tsar. The reader is held in suspense to the end of the novel – will they all survive as rebellion and revolution swirl around them?
There are some expletives as well as 2 sexual scenes, but these are neither explicit nor unsavory.
This book kept me enthralled from the first sentence to the last. I recommend it for people who enjoy historical fiction set in the time of the ill-fated Romanovs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews