This bonus e-novella is set during the years between Ring of Secrets and Whispers from the Shadows.
In 1789, General Isaac Fairchild crosses the Channel on a very special assignment. After surviving the American Revolution, he is now gathering information on life at King Louis XVI’s court at Versailles. But he must also find a countess and her grown daughter, then escort them back to England before revolution explodes in France. He knows the task before him is dangerous, but when he meets the beautiful Julienne, a new peril beckons—of even deeper intrigue than Versailles.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com. see also Roseanna White
Lovely story. Great link between Ring of Secrets and Whispers from the Shadows. Definitely a must read!
Edit: This is my longer review...
This eBook might be short at only eight chapters and a prologue, but it carries a large dose of sweetness. I was glad to see what happened to Fairchild after the events of book one in Roseanna M. White’s Culper Ring series. Even though I wasn’t rooting for him in book one, I did grow quite attached to him. Getting a peek at what took place between Ring of Secrets and Whispers from the Shadows made me feel a little like a spy myself.
The day I was reading this book, I was on a shopping trip. One stop was a Half-Price Books store. Wouldn’t you know I’d see a section on espionage while browsing the military history section for research books for my latest novel. I giggled over the irony of reading a book about spies and happening across a whole shelf full of books about covert operations.
It only took me one day to read this book, and I enjoyed every word of it. It’s a fabulous story that enhances the series. Soon I’ll be reading book two, and I’m sure you’ll be seeing my review on it not long afterwards.
Date: 4/24/2020 Rating: 5 stars
This novella was just as entertaining the second time as the first. It’s a wonderful follow-up to Ring of Secrets. I’m ready to dive into the next Culper Ring book, that, I think, features Fairchild’s daughter. That ought to be a blast.
This was a very pleasant novella! I really enjoyed finding out what happened to Fairchild, since he was a strong character in the Culper book 1. This is very well written and is a pleasant example of what a novella can aspire to being. :) Recommended.
Wow! Fairchild's Lady has got to be one of the better novellas I've read. Usually they seem too short and the story kind of rushed, but not this one. I loved it! :)
After being introduced to Fairchild in Ring of Secrets, I was really excited to read this story and see what happens next in his life. I really liked his character and also Julienne's.
Even though Fairchild's Lady was fairly short, there was still a good story with some romance and suspense/danger. I was also kind of surprised by some things - which was great. :)
Overall, I loved Fairchild's Lady and definitely recommend it. I think you'll probably want to read Ring of Secrets first, but, even if you don't, I think you'd still be able to enjoy this one. I can't wait to read Whispers from the Shadows.
*I did not get this book for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Confirmed all the comments about this author that I've heard! Love the style of writing and the story was intriguing. The romance was a little bit too much on a couple occasions hence one star off ;)
The writing, how does she do it? It's SO GOOD. (and why did I read this book first??? For some reason, I read #0.5 instead of #1.5...I hate reading books not in order!😓)
Though this was a short novella, the story did not feel short or rushed. I enjoyed the mystery meeting between Fairchild and Julienne and how events pulled their paths together.
There was danger, intrigue, suspense, and a villain you disliked from the start.
I enjoyed catching up with Fairchild and seeing his own happy ending.
This was a riveting adventure, although the love-at-first-sight nature of the romance wasn't really my favorite. I liked both of the main characters and the way the plot finally wrapped up. What knocks the rating down for me is 1) the kind of danger the villain posed to the heroine (although I am very thankful that the awful possibilities were handled in the way they were) and 2) a scene where the hero and heroine indulge in some very passionate kissing/embracing while alone together. It wasn't overly descriptive, but just the mentions of "deepening passion", etc. made it pretty uncomfortable for me, and it was definitely not a safe position for them to put themselves in.
3 stars
Content--mentions of a married man being betrothed to another woman and wanting her to consummate the relationship before his wife is dead/they are married; mentions of affairs and illicit rendezvous (as a fact of life at the court and part of people's reputations); abuse and threats; some passionate kissing and embracing; violence, including gunplay;
Fairchild's Lady by Roseanna M. White is an enjoyable read. I read it in one seating. I would like to read more about Fairchilds adventures. He is also a General in the British Army. This story takes off just as the French Revolution is set to begin.He is in Versailles pretending to be a French lord. There is a masquerade ball. He slips in and meets the most fascinating lady with fetching blue eyes. There is natural chemistry brewing between them. They separate with each feeling they're missing something. On a secret mission for Lord Poole to find his French wife and daughter and talk them into returning to England with him. Meanwhile, the duc is courting the young woman, Julienne. She can't talk or associate with any males because of his jealousy. She despises the duc. His sick wife hasn't even died. He is secretly poisoning his wife. Will Isaac Fairchild meet his mysterious woman. Can he complete his mission. And what about the sinister duc?
Roseanna White's signature style shines in this exquisite novella set during the cusp of the French Revolution. Her ability to create a covert identity for a main character is stellar; I loved reading about Isaac. I'm so glad he got his own story after he made such an intriguing character in the first book in this series, Ring of Secrets!
And Julienne was just as intriguing. A Frenchwoman with a secret, a past, and hope for a future different than the one set for her! Such a strong part to play alongside Isaac, yet she rises to the occasion with perfection.
What I Didn't Like As Much
This novella is, obviously, shorter than a true novel, but the adventure and cast of characters remain much the same. I did not feel as if the author was cramming too much into too short a space (a common ailment in the novellas I've read), but I did get confused once or twice about who some of the people were. However (unlike some novellas I've read), all confusion was cleared within a few pages as I remembered or gathered who everyone was; that was really nice.
Why I Recommend This Book
An intriguing adventure among the extravagant elegance of Versailles with a villain whose secrets constantly had me blinking in shock and a love story which was very sweet, readers of historical fiction are sure to love this novella set after Ring of Secrets and before Whispers from the Shadows. And it's free!
I came to really admire Isaac Fairchild at the end of Ring of Secrets, and felt quite bad for him as well in not winning Winter’s heart when he loved her like he did. So I was delighted to find that Roseanna M. White’s novella that comes in between Ring of Secrets (Culper Ring #1) and Whispers from the Shadows (Culper Ring #2), was about Fairchild and his love life, :)
Fairchild’s Lady made for a short, sweetly romance, and exciting read set in France amidst masked balls, stolen moments in gardens, and treacherous unwanted suitors. Isaac and Julienne’s love story is to die for… so I wouldn’t recommend you miss it, especially after leaving Isaac Fairchild such a dejected young man at the end of Ring of Secrets. Loved this sweet story!
I don't usually read novellas, simply because they don't often get to the depth of emotion I like to witness in a character--but I think Roseanna M. White might have just changed my mind about my willingness to try more of them. Especially when they're FREE!
Although I have not read the first book in her series--the book which preludes to this novella--that was fine, because it stood firmly all on it's own without my knowing anything about the series.
I adored the hero and heroine, so much that I seriously wish it could have been three times longer, and a full length book. Roseanna has a way of writing emotion that I love--it reminded me of reading my own writing, which is a very wonderful thing to encounter. This is the kind of book I would write myself and therefore, I cannot say enough about it. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
3.5 -- This novella should not be read before reading book 1 in the series. If you read this first, you'll have no previous connection to any of the characters that would make you care about them. I enjoyed this . It was far too short. After making Fairchild such a prominent and honorable character and so disappointed in love in book 1, the author should have given readers a full-length novel for him.
Even though I can't use it for the Cover Bingo, I'm glad I read this book. It was an interesting story, I enjoyed the characters, especially Isaac Fairchild. I could picture this handsome, strong, brave, and yet was a man of great faith.
This is a branch off from Ring of Secrets, you will need to have finished that book before reading this. While this is just an okay book for me, it certainly satisfies my craving for more from the Culper Ring and it is a nice bridge to link to book 2 of the series.
PS. The first book is so good that you must read it!
I am so glad Fairchild got such a happy story. I really felt for him in Ring of Secrets. He is such a good man and deserved a good lady. Julienne is wonderful and I love that he got to play her rescuer. It was perfect for a Brigadier General.
If you have read Roseanna M. White's "Ring of Secrets," you won't want to miss this follow-up novella that tells us the rest of Isaac Fairchild's story. When last we saw him he had lost his suit to win the hand of Winter Reeves, but now it is 1789 and Isaac is back in his native Europe. Agreeing to a special task, Isaac travels to France to search for a friend's wife and daughter.
Julienne has captivated the French court at Versailles, and has been receiving particular attention from Remi, a crafty courtier who has been promising soon to make Julienne his wife. Julienne knows Remi is dangerous and has no desire to marry him, but she has no idea how to escape his grasp. When she meets someone at a masquerade it seems as if there might still be reason to hope for faith and goodness in the world. But who is he? Will she ever see him again?
Isaac must find a way to reveal not only his own identity to Julienne, but also the fact that hers is not what she has been led to believe. It will be a precipitous path to get out of Versailles and Remi's clutches, but first she must believe him.
This is a nice companion book to White's Culper Ring series, though not a story I would recommend on its own. I can't wait to read the next book in the set!
Fairchild’s Lady #1.5 The Culper Ring by Roseanna M. White
1789 France; set in the years between Ring of Secrets #1 The Culper Ring and Whispers From the Shadows #2 The Culper Ring. We learn more regarding General Isaac Fairchild since the ending of Ring of Secrets. A masquerade ball sounds fun and gives a bit of mystery while dancing with someone hidden behind a mask; as Isaac and Julianne experience at their first meeting. Will they meet again or will their identity forever remain a mystery? An interesting story with some tense moments in different situations bringing danger and unwanted advances, romance, forgiveness and faith.
I cannot say enough good things about Roseanna White's writing! This is soooo good! The characters are just right. The hero and heroine are very "good" and the villain is very evil! The dialogue is very believable. She paints a very beautiful picture with her words! In my head, I can hear Roseanna reading this. She has had a few live sessions on Facebook, where she reads a snippet. They are most enjoyable! I so look forward to the next book and the bonus novellas! This time period is intriguing to me--- think Scarlet Pimpernel! Or a Tale of Two Cities! Both have been longtime favorites of mine. Add Roseanna's books to that list!
Fairchild's Lady is a novella continuing Isaac Fairchild's story from Ring of Secrets. I liked reading his story and finding out what happened to him after book 1. For me, the book and story were good, but just so short which is to be expected from a novella. The romance was just way too rushed to be believable to me, but Mrs. White did have the characters meet a few months before the story takes place which helped, but not enough. I feel like if this story had been longer it could have been more developed and therefore better.
I really liked the character of Isaac Fairchild in 'Ring of Secrets', and I loved to see him get his own chance to shine as the hero in this story. I also really liked Julienne, and how both of them were imperfect, but tried their best to rely on their faith in God. There were definitely some sweet moments in this story, as well as moments of extreme tension. (This book was set in the week leading up to the storming of the Bastille.) All in all, a quick, GOOD read! 4.5 stars
A gripping read with interesting plot line. Roseanna writes scenes that you can feel, smell, and hear. She makes you feel like you're right there in the same room with the characters.
It is a novella, so the romance felt rushed. The romance was also too passionate for my personal taste. Other than that, it was a great book, and a great introduction to Roseanna's writing.
I'm not a big fan of novellas, or shorter stories in general, but this one was great! A sweet, short romance, though it did feel quite instalovey, but that seems to often be the case in novellas. Definitely a good one to read after Ring of Secrets and before Whispers from the Shadows! And not in any other order, for sure!
This clean historical romance takes place in France in the late 1700's. Rosanna White captures the feel of the period while making the characters come alive. An enjoyable read!
Fairchild's Lady by Roseanna M. White Timeframe: 1789 Location: Versailles, France Main Characters: Isaac Fairchild: Disguised as comte d'Ushant to find Julienne Julienne Gates: Daughter of the Earl of Poole in England Remi: Evil duc de Remi, waiting for his wife to die so he can marry Julienne
As usual, I read this series out of order. I read #1 years ago and don't remember it… #3 today, and this novella (set between #1 and #2) also today. Later I will start #2. Lol.
Interesting story with a few good vs evil twists, but still a novella, which cannot offer a lot of detail that a whole book could. We get to learn what happened to a somewhat prominent character at the end of book one.
Falling in love at first sight is not a plot I appreciate at all, but because of the brevity of novellas, authors don't have a lot of time to develop it. Meh. Good writing, though as usual.