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The Reign of Love and Chaos
In the Arabian palace of the sheik, serious and lovely Isabelle Fairfax is surrounded by her doting family; servants and wants for nothing. When she comes of age, she decides to travel to France to live with the Carmelite nuns who are a cloistered sect; much to the shock of her parents.
Once in France, she becomes a link to the outside world for the nuns and her days are spent in prayer, solitude and bartering for goods in the small village.
Meanwhile less than fifty miles away, a new French government is forming in Paris and Nicolas de Lieurrey is at the center of it. Trained at the prestigious Lycee Louis-le-Grand school, Nicolas is an engineer by trade but drawn to the new world swirling around him. His best friend Max entices him to run as a delegate in the new government and together they have a front row seat to the changes in France.
However many of the changes are not good and as the restrictions on the religious houses increase, Isabelle makes the journey to Paris to stem the anti-religious fervor. Nicolas is drawn to the innocent young woman even as his friend Maximilien Robespierre plunges France into a reign of terror killing tens of thousands in the name of the new republic.
Once in France, she becomes a link to the outside world for the nuns and her days are spent in prayer, solitude and bartering for goods in the small village.
Meanwhile less than fifty miles away, a new French government is forming in Paris and Nicolas de Lieurrey is at the center of it. Trained at the prestigious Lycee Louis-le-Grand school, Nicolas is an engineer by trade but drawn to the new world swirling around him. His best friend Max entices him to run as a delegate in the new government and together they have a front row seat to the changes in France.
However many of the changes are not good and as the restrictions on the religious houses increase, Isabelle makes the journey to Paris to stem the anti-religious fervor. Nicolas is drawn to the innocent young woman even as his friend Maximilien Robespierre plunges France into a reign of terror killing tens of thousands in the name of the new republic.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2015
About the author
Nicola Italia
23 books153 followersNicola spent her childhood in Los Angeles. She graduated from university with a degree in communications and held a variety of positions in journalism, education, government and non profit.
Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China and Central America.
She currently has twenty one novels available at Amazon, Google Play and Barnes and Noble.
https://linktr.ee/authornicolaitalia
Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China and Central America.
She currently has twenty one novels available at Amazon, Google Play and Barnes and Noble.
https://linktr.ee/authornicolaitalia
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 25, 2019
I had learned about the Terror-episode during the French revolution but this novel brings it to life by focussing on a young man and woman coming of age. He is a young man from a middle class background who is elected in the new parliament and she is a foreigner who wants to join a convent as a novice. We witness how the good intentions of the delegates turn into bloodshed. And while it is more or less common knowledge that the nobility died en masse under the guillotine the fact that the religious people were also persecuted was completely unknown to me. I thought the dissolving of the monasteries had been in line with what happened under Henry the Eighth in England.
It seems each century has madmen like Hitler or the Inquisition and normal people would be in grave danger. The writer has a nice style of prose and keeps you invested in the main leads. Unlike the first novel in this series it does have some bedscenes but is not meant as an erotic read. To be honest if I could advice the author I would not link this novel to her Sheikh bestseller as it is a completely different style and also the motivation of the Arabian princess for a life of seclusion sounds a bit strange as in those days the Arabian women were kept out of the public. However her other motivation is that she would like to devote her life to a religious life and convents are not existing under Islam and she has a Christian mother could be a solid motive but the link to the other novel is not that necessary.
It is a shame only 7 other readers reviewed it on Amazon until now as it is a very good novel.
It seems each century has madmen like Hitler or the Inquisition and normal people would be in grave danger. The writer has a nice style of prose and keeps you invested in the main leads. Unlike the first novel in this series it does have some bedscenes but is not meant as an erotic read. To be honest if I could advice the author I would not link this novel to her Sheikh bestseller as it is a completely different style and also the motivation of the Arabian princess for a life of seclusion sounds a bit strange as in those days the Arabian women were kept out of the public. However her other motivation is that she would like to devote her life to a religious life and convents are not existing under Islam and she has a Christian mother could be a solid motive but the link to the other novel is not that necessary.
It is a shame only 7 other readers reviewed it on Amazon until now as it is a very good novel.
June 2, 2016
This book cut close to my heart trying to do the right thing for you even though it could upset people in the process. This book has adventure, murder, blood and political story line. You felt as if you had been put in the heroines shoes. A truly gripping story.
September 29, 2024
I'm not really sure where to start - this novel is set during the French Revolution and is in dire need of a good editor. It's part of a series, and I haven't read the other books, so it's quite likely I'm missing some nuance to the interactions between the characters. That being said, I found this book disappointing on multiple levels - Isabelle wants to be a nun because she wants to live a life in quiet contemplation, but she's been raised a Muslim and there's little to no discussion of her religious conversion from Islam to Catholicism, and Nicolas is something of a womanizer, until he finds himself attracted to a nun-in-waiting (because of course). Furthermore, I found the sexual aspect of this book to be slightly disturbing, with the scene where Isabelle and Nicolas consummate their relationship to be bordering on rape. Also, I was perplexed why the author invented a violent prison riot when the French Revolution itself supplies so many violent events that could easily be utilized by adjusting the novel's time line.
February 28, 2024
The Reign of Love and Chaos (The Sheik and the Slave Saga Book 3)
The love story of Isabella Fairfax and Nicolas de Lieurrey. Isabella is the middle daughter of Katharine and Mohammed, she has come to France to learn if she want to be a nun. Nicholas as part of the new France's government. The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror has begun. Will Isabella and Nicholas escape the guillotine? Great story. *****Warning this book is full sex, rape, and violence.*****"
The love story of Isabella Fairfax and Nicolas de Lieurrey. Isabella is the middle daughter of Katharine and Mohammed, she has come to France to learn if she want to be a nun. Nicholas as part of the new France's government. The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror has begun. Will Isabella and Nicholas escape the guillotine? Great story. *****Warning this book is full sex, rape, and violence.*****"
September 3, 2020
Overwhelming 5+*
An adventurous tale filled with intrigue. During the time of the French Revolution, Isabelle and Nicholas fall in love. Follow along as they struggle to stay alive during one of the most terrifying times in French history. This very well written intense story will not disappoint. Quite an impressive series. One I highly recommend reading.
An adventurous tale filled with intrigue. During the time of the French Revolution, Isabelle and Nicholas fall in love. Follow along as they struggle to stay alive during one of the most terrifying times in French history. This very well written intense story will not disappoint. Quite an impressive series. One I highly recommend reading.
July 1, 2024
The best of the Sheik trilogy.If you love historical fiction with a strong emphasis on detail intertwined with real characters plus romance, you will love this novel centered on the French reign of terror during the time of Louis XII. Compared to her previous novels in this series, the erotica is toned down .
January 20, 2019
Love
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie
August 18, 2016
Enthralling!
This is an instructional and captivating story, well written by Nicola Italia. My mind is still reeling from the realistic descriptions of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.
This story is told from a completely different aspect of life during a most bloody period in France's political history. The story gives us a view from the religious side as it unfolds. It commences at the Compiegne Convent inhabited by Carmelite nuns in 1788. A young Arabian woman seeks to join their order at a time of great political turmoil in the country.
The author gives us another side to the rapidly unfolding destruction of the monarchy through the eyes of the young novice and a young revolutionary who has been elected to represent the people of Paris. This young man happens to be a very close friend of Max Robespierre, both energetic and honest in their desire to forge a new republic for their country.
As the political climate rapidly descends into bloody chaos, the attraction between the young novice and revolutionary grows.
Their plight is vividly told as France increasingly becomes more dangerous and blood runs freely through the streets as panic ensues. The citizenry has gone mad!
I am impressed with the detail taken to describe events of the day and the feelings of the characters as religious persecution ensues.
This is my first view from the standpoint of the revolution's policies on deconstructing the church. It is a frightening, though very educational, story. Details of Robespierre's climb to the top and fall of the Capet Monarchy are well documented, as are conditions of arrests of citizens as paranoia runs rampid.
This is a must read for historical book readers even from a fiction standpoint. Much of the story is based on actual events of the day. I highly recommend this book. A high-five to this author!
This is an instructional and captivating story, well written by Nicola Italia. My mind is still reeling from the realistic descriptions of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.
This story is told from a completely different aspect of life during a most bloody period in France's political history. The story gives us a view from the religious side as it unfolds. It commences at the Compiegne Convent inhabited by Carmelite nuns in 1788. A young Arabian woman seeks to join their order at a time of great political turmoil in the country.
The author gives us another side to the rapidly unfolding destruction of the monarchy through the eyes of the young novice and a young revolutionary who has been elected to represent the people of Paris. This young man happens to be a very close friend of Max Robespierre, both energetic and honest in their desire to forge a new republic for their country.
As the political climate rapidly descends into bloody chaos, the attraction between the young novice and revolutionary grows.
Their plight is vividly told as France increasingly becomes more dangerous and blood runs freely through the streets as panic ensues. The citizenry has gone mad!
I am impressed with the detail taken to describe events of the day and the feelings of the characters as religious persecution ensues.
This is my first view from the standpoint of the revolution's policies on deconstructing the church. It is a frightening, though very educational, story. Details of Robespierre's climb to the top and fall of the Capet Monarchy are well documented, as are conditions of arrests of citizens as paranoia runs rampid.
This is a must read for historical book readers even from a fiction standpoint. Much of the story is based on actual events of the day. I highly recommend this book. A high-five to this author!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews