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Scarlet
The roads in and out of Paris are heavily guarded, but the dead have easy passage out of the city. A ragged old woman transports the coffins of the most recent victims of the guillotine and is waved on unimpeded. Later, the same crone watches five French aristocrats step out of their coffins unscathed. Not beheaded but spirited away to safety by that most elusive of spies: the Pimpernel. Or, as she's known in polite society, Lady Scarlet Cavendish.
When not assuming her secret identity as a hero of the French Revolution, Scarlet presents herself as a fashionable, featherbrained young widow flitting about London. In truth, this façade is merely a diversion designed to conceal her clandestine work in France. Among members of the doomed French aristocracy, the Pimpernel is renowned for her bravery and cunning. But when tasked with rescuing handsome Comte Matteo Durand, she faces an unprecedented challenge: she is falling in love with the man. If ever there were a time to keep her head, it is now— because in a world brimming with intrigue, she is not the only one harboring secrets. And if Scarlet doesn't take care, Madame la Guillotine may finally catch up with the Pimpernel.
When not assuming her secret identity as a hero of the French Revolution, Scarlet presents herself as a fashionable, featherbrained young widow flitting about London. In truth, this façade is merely a diversion designed to conceal her clandestine work in France. Among members of the doomed French aristocracy, the Pimpernel is renowned for her bravery and cunning. But when tasked with rescuing handsome Comte Matteo Durand, she faces an unprecedented challenge: she is falling in love with the man. If ever there were a time to keep her head, it is now— because in a world brimming with intrigue, she is not the only one harboring secrets. And if Scarlet doesn't take care, Madame la Guillotine may finally catch up with the Pimpernel.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
44 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
Jen Geigle Johnson
47 books737 followersAn award winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy's top award for Romance, Jen Geigle Johnson has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. HIstory is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well. Six children and an inspiring husband keep her going and make certain she doesn't stay glued to a keyboard or lost in obscure fascinating details of old castles. She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She waterskis like a boss and hits the powder, falling down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love with the man who would become her everything.
Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.
https://www.jengeiglejohnson.com
Twitter--@authorjen
Instagram--@authorlyjen
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenGei...
Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.
https://www.jengeiglejohnson.com
Twitter--@authorjen
Instagram--@authorlyjen
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenGei...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
September 1, 2018
Despite the gorgeous cover, this was not good. I knew I was in trouble when it started with a nearly shot-for-shot reprise of a scene from the movie, related laboriously, and then with a footnote pointing out that it had cribbed a phrase from the original work while it was at it. And then it has the smuggled family meet the main character in her true identity, by her true name, while still in France letting them know that she is associated with their rescuer while she was at it. Part of the charm of the original story is how clever and compartmentalized Percy is. So we can see right up front that Johnson may have enjoyed the original but failed to understand how it works on a fundamental level.
And then it got worse. The next chapter starts with a social interaction with Lady Pinkney that has Lady Pinkney being unbelievably gauche saying things no Lady would say to a peer. And then Scarlet retaliates by saying some completely unforgivable things back to her in order to get rid of her (for manufactured plot reasons). Again, showing that Johnson hasn't the faintest idea of the social standards of the time and even less understanding of the original's depiction of Percy Blakeney's social adroitness. Scarlet is ham-handed and rude and thinks that she has somehow triumphed in this scene.
I couldn't go any farther. I'm sure it's fine if you just want an action story with a female lead stomping about in a role originally male. Personally, this goes to the top of my list of reasons authors should stay away from attempting to rewrite classics. They are so seldom up to the challenge, likely to miss key aspects of what makes the story great, and end up highlighting the vast disparity between their own talents and that of the author they are attempting to "honor".
A note about the Publisher: This is another by Covenant and thus wildly overpriced in eBook editions. Many thanks to my local library for making this little rant possible...
And then it got worse. The next chapter starts with a social interaction with Lady Pinkney that has Lady Pinkney being unbelievably gauche saying things no Lady would say to a peer. And then Scarlet retaliates by saying some completely unforgivable things back to her in order to get rid of her (for manufactured plot reasons). Again, showing that Johnson hasn't the faintest idea of the social standards of the time and even less understanding of the original's depiction of Percy Blakeney's social adroitness. Scarlet is ham-handed and rude and thinks that she has somehow triumphed in this scene.
I couldn't go any farther. I'm sure it's fine if you just want an action story with a female lead stomping about in a role originally male. Personally, this goes to the top of my list of reasons authors should stay away from attempting to rewrite classics. They are so seldom up to the challenge, likely to miss key aspects of what makes the story great, and end up highlighting the vast disparity between their own talents and that of the author they are attempting to "honor".
A note about the Publisher: This is another by Covenant and thus wildly overpriced in eBook editions. Many thanks to my local library for making this little rant possible...
June 9, 2018
All you fans of The Scarlet Pimpernel, here is a fun twist on that classic. The Pimpernel is a lady, Lady Scarlet Cavendish to be exact. I really had a great time reading this book. There were moments that I did not want to set the book down. I just had to know what was going to happen. Would they escape? Would they be captured? Ok, so I know the storyline of the original stories told by Baroness Orczy and will say that this follows that pretty closely. Different characters leading the group and a few little twists that made this one a great read.
Scarlet plays a role in high society but has become an expert at disguise and sneaking behind Robespierre's back, saving the aristocrats of France. As she heads off with her team to save Comte Matteo Durand, she doesn't realize how quickly her life will change. All of you who are familiar with the books, or movie with Jane Seymour, know that the Pimpernel has a love interest. Comte Matteo Durand is said love interest. It's a pretty fast attraction between Scarlet and Matteo but it definitely is not all sunshine and roses. There are so many ups and downs, insecurities, trust issues, and much more that we don't discover the full truth (or rather the characters don't) until closer to the end.
I really enjoyed all the tricks that the Pimpernel and her crew used to rescue and evade the citizens of France, risking their very lives for others. The characters were witty and had me laughing throughout as well as biting my nails (ok I wasn't really biting my nails).
This is my second book by this author and I look forward to seeing what she writes next. I couldn't put it down one night and stayed up reading for a couple hours until my eyes and brain said it was time to set it aside until the following day. If you get hooked easily and enjoy this type of story, carve out plenty of time for reading. Scarlet and Matteo will have you hooked and needing to know what is going to happen. Of course, I already knew the ending, but I felt the suspense and wondering throughout my read. Lol!
Content: Clean. No sexual content. Set during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror so there is talk of death and beheading. Moments of peril as well, but nothing overly graphic. I would let me older teens read this book.
I received a review copy from ebooks. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Scarlet plays a role in high society but has become an expert at disguise and sneaking behind Robespierre's back, saving the aristocrats of France. As she heads off with her team to save Comte Matteo Durand, she doesn't realize how quickly her life will change. All of you who are familiar with the books, or movie with Jane Seymour, know that the Pimpernel has a love interest. Comte Matteo Durand is said love interest. It's a pretty fast attraction between Scarlet and Matteo but it definitely is not all sunshine and roses. There are so many ups and downs, insecurities, trust issues, and much more that we don't discover the full truth (or rather the characters don't) until closer to the end.
I really enjoyed all the tricks that the Pimpernel and her crew used to rescue and evade the citizens of France, risking their very lives for others. The characters were witty and had me laughing throughout as well as biting my nails (ok I wasn't really biting my nails).
This is my second book by this author and I look forward to seeing what she writes next. I couldn't put it down one night and stayed up reading for a couple hours until my eyes and brain said it was time to set it aside until the following day. If you get hooked easily and enjoy this type of story, carve out plenty of time for reading. Scarlet and Matteo will have you hooked and needing to know what is going to happen. Of course, I already knew the ending, but I felt the suspense and wondering throughout my read. Lol!
Content: Clean. No sexual content. Set during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror so there is talk of death and beheading. Moments of peril as well, but nothing overly graphic. I would let me older teens read this book.
I received a review copy from ebooks. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
October 12, 2018
https://jengeiglejohnson.com/2018/10/...
The nitty gritty about the first scene in Scarlet:
I have wanted to talk about retellings for some time.
What makes a good retelling?
Do we want to stay in that world longer, and so as a reader we look for new characters in the same world?
Or do we love the characters so much we wish to go on more adventures with them?
Did we love the premise so much that we want another plot like the first but with all new people or in a new place?
Or do we want a clever twist on the original, with elements we recognize and feel comfortable with and other pieces that are new to us?
A retelling could be all these things. I’ve even read retellings where the dialogue was almost exactly the same as the original but the characters and setting were different. (I didn’t enjoy that one)
So, let’s get into the nitty gritty of my retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
The first scenes.
Many have seen the movies, the old ones and the newer Jane Seymour rendition. And the first scene in the movie reminds them of the second scene in my book. (once she gets away from the guillotine which in my book, it is a totally unique story).
How did I write that first scene? Is it a play by play of the movie?
No. I read the book, loved the first line,
“A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate.” The Scarlet Pimpernel pp 1-7. Baroness Orczy
I know it sounds awful. You can almost see the bloodlust, the depravity of the people. And when I read that line, I knew, that my romance, my light, fun romance, a story of heroism and courage, would be told against the back drop of a people who had lost their humanity.
So I started there in my book. I wanted to set that up right away, saying: We are in France and it’s an awful time to be alive. OK, at the guillotine, bloodlust all around, got it.
BUT amidst terror, heroes always rise. I have seen this firsthand and I wanted to establish hope amongst the depravity. Yes, humans forgot they were supposed to be human, BUT some were good. Some were so incredibly good that their light shone through the darkness all around. And just like in my book, if you look, you will always find heroes in our day. So in Scarlet, there is a woman who cares, a boy who follows her around, a young man who helps.
Then. I wanted to establish early on, that we are retelling the Pimpernel. I wanted the reader to instantly recognize a familiar tale. So I followed similarly to the first disguise the Pimpernel uses in the book. He drives a cart. He is an old hag. He has coffins with him. (he has coffins many times and I tried to only use coffins once.) He has a boy with him who has the plague. They leave through the west gate where the infamous Bibot watches over. I wanted some costumes to be similar, some disguises to be recognizable but I also wanted to create my own rescues, costumes and disguises. But before I deviated from a much loved tale, I grounded us all in the original.
The movie follows this whole opening in the book pretty much play for play as the book addresses it. Hag, coffins, plague, heads, Bibot.
I didn’t.
I include Simon who does not have the plague and he is not a boy but a mentally challenged young man. She is a hag and she has a bag of heads. In the book and movie, the Pimpernel uses the plague of his son to distract and disgust the guard. I use the bag of heads in my book. I also use it for humor. I tried to write the scene in such a melodramatic manner that people laughed instead of cringed, but my mother was pretty upset by the gruesome nature of the scene.
In these first scenes and throughout my book, I wrote a retelling with a twist. Several of the characters are gender bent. I told the story in a similar setting. I include disguise, heroic characters, a fashion conscious heroine, a Prince who feeds on it all.
Baroness Orczy created a wonderful tale and fabulous characters, and since then, many have created their own tales inspired by her genius so that we could linger a little longer in her world, enjoy her characters, and in this case be educated by her setting. And though I don’t claim to have mastered like the master herself, I do feel I have added something of value to the ever growing world of The Pimpernel.
As seen particularly in The women: Exploring how the tale would have worked if a woman were in charge was a fascinating exercise and brought to light some of the stronger qualities that make up the feminine side of our humanity. I felt like the best parts of why women are heroic were shown through this story. I used the gender twist as an opportunity to highlight some of the many women who were involved in the French Revolution, the huge numbers that asked for a constitution, that asked for their rights to be protected in the document. They were brave, outspoken and educated.
And can we not have a bit of fun? Because I have to admit, playing around in this world, with a fascinating and brilliant, brave woman, a handsome passionate frenchman and a league of brave men was one of the most entertaining projects I have ever endeavored.
Thank you for being here on the journey. Thank you for enabling me to add my mark to the growing retellings of such a clever and beautiful story.
The nitty gritty about the first scene in Scarlet:
I have wanted to talk about retellings for some time.
What makes a good retelling?
Do we want to stay in that world longer, and so as a reader we look for new characters in the same world?
Or do we love the characters so much we wish to go on more adventures with them?
Did we love the premise so much that we want another plot like the first but with all new people or in a new place?
Or do we want a clever twist on the original, with elements we recognize and feel comfortable with and other pieces that are new to us?
A retelling could be all these things. I’ve even read retellings where the dialogue was almost exactly the same as the original but the characters and setting were different. (I didn’t enjoy that one)
So, let’s get into the nitty gritty of my retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
The first scenes.
Many have seen the movies, the old ones and the newer Jane Seymour rendition. And the first scene in the movie reminds them of the second scene in my book. (once she gets away from the guillotine which in my book, it is a totally unique story).
How did I write that first scene? Is it a play by play of the movie?
No. I read the book, loved the first line,
“A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate.” The Scarlet Pimpernel pp 1-7. Baroness Orczy
I know it sounds awful. You can almost see the bloodlust, the depravity of the people. And when I read that line, I knew, that my romance, my light, fun romance, a story of heroism and courage, would be told against the back drop of a people who had lost their humanity.
So I started there in my book. I wanted to set that up right away, saying: We are in France and it’s an awful time to be alive. OK, at the guillotine, bloodlust all around, got it.
BUT amidst terror, heroes always rise. I have seen this firsthand and I wanted to establish hope amongst the depravity. Yes, humans forgot they were supposed to be human, BUT some were good. Some were so incredibly good that their light shone through the darkness all around. And just like in my book, if you look, you will always find heroes in our day. So in Scarlet, there is a woman who cares, a boy who follows her around, a young man who helps.
Then. I wanted to establish early on, that we are retelling the Pimpernel. I wanted the reader to instantly recognize a familiar tale. So I followed similarly to the first disguise the Pimpernel uses in the book. He drives a cart. He is an old hag. He has coffins with him. (he has coffins many times and I tried to only use coffins once.) He has a boy with him who has the plague. They leave through the west gate where the infamous Bibot watches over. I wanted some costumes to be similar, some disguises to be recognizable but I also wanted to create my own rescues, costumes and disguises. But before I deviated from a much loved tale, I grounded us all in the original.
The movie follows this whole opening in the book pretty much play for play as the book addresses it. Hag, coffins, plague, heads, Bibot.
I didn’t.
I include Simon who does not have the plague and he is not a boy but a mentally challenged young man. She is a hag and she has a bag of heads. In the book and movie, the Pimpernel uses the plague of his son to distract and disgust the guard. I use the bag of heads in my book. I also use it for humor. I tried to write the scene in such a melodramatic manner that people laughed instead of cringed, but my mother was pretty upset by the gruesome nature of the scene.
In these first scenes and throughout my book, I wrote a retelling with a twist. Several of the characters are gender bent. I told the story in a similar setting. I include disguise, heroic characters, a fashion conscious heroine, a Prince who feeds on it all.
Baroness Orczy created a wonderful tale and fabulous characters, and since then, many have created their own tales inspired by her genius so that we could linger a little longer in her world, enjoy her characters, and in this case be educated by her setting. And though I don’t claim to have mastered like the master herself, I do feel I have added something of value to the ever growing world of The Pimpernel.
As seen particularly in The women: Exploring how the tale would have worked if a woman were in charge was a fascinating exercise and brought to light some of the stronger qualities that make up the feminine side of our humanity. I felt like the best parts of why women are heroic were shown through this story. I used the gender twist as an opportunity to highlight some of the many women who were involved in the French Revolution, the huge numbers that asked for a constitution, that asked for their rights to be protected in the document. They were brave, outspoken and educated.
And can we not have a bit of fun? Because I have to admit, playing around in this world, with a fascinating and brilliant, brave woman, a handsome passionate frenchman and a league of brave men was one of the most entertaining projects I have ever endeavored.
Thank you for being here on the journey. Thank you for enabling me to add my mark to the growing retellings of such a clever and beautiful story.
December 21, 2021
This review solidly describes where this book goes wrong.
Despite occasional gems, Scarlet Pimpernel retellings tend to fall flat. And unfortunately, this one is no exception. It fails both as a retelling and as a stand-alone story.
The characters are incredibly annoying. This is a gender-bender Scarlet Pimpernel retelling where the Scarlet Pimpernel's name is...Scarlet. There is no subtlety with her character. She frequently flaunts her identity in France. And she turns into a weeping, helpless puddle of a woman far too often for my taste. It could have been an interesting dynamic to bring to her character and showed well-rounded depth. Instead, it made me question every time someone extolled her genius.
But at least she is an improvement on the male lead: our gender bender Marguerite. Matteo is "impulsive." He has zero self-restraint, ruins every rescue he inserts himself (including his own), and never thinks.
Their insta-love left me cringing.
The writing is belabored. There is no subtlety for any of these characters. If you miss out on any character's explicitly stated motivation the first time, don't worry. You'll catch it the next 20 times it gets mentioned.
The book barely makes an attempt at historical accuracy despite parading a list of "who is who and what's historical" at the end. On the one hand, I didn't mind. This is more fantasy adventure than a historical account. The author can take creative liberties. Where it gets annoying is where the book persists in including footnotes at random times explaining quotations...as if somehow that validates the bizarre, improper behavior of her characters.
I suppose I can say in this book's favor it left an impression. I don't remember the last time I cringed so hard at a Scarlet Pimpernel retelling. If you want a better gender bender retelling, I highly recommend Across a Star-Swept Sea.
Pre-Review
I want. I want. I want. I want. I want.
Despite occasional gems, Scarlet Pimpernel retellings tend to fall flat. And unfortunately, this one is no exception. It fails both as a retelling and as a stand-alone story.
The characters are incredibly annoying. This is a gender-bender Scarlet Pimpernel retelling where the Scarlet Pimpernel's name is...Scarlet. There is no subtlety with her character. She frequently flaunts her identity in France. And she turns into a weeping, helpless puddle of a woman far too often for my taste. It could have been an interesting dynamic to bring to her character and showed well-rounded depth. Instead, it made me question every time someone extolled her genius.
But at least she is an improvement on the male lead: our gender bender Marguerite. Matteo is "impulsive." He has zero self-restraint, ruins every rescue he inserts himself (including his own), and never thinks.
Their insta-love left me cringing.
The writing is belabored. There is no subtlety for any of these characters. If you miss out on any character's explicitly stated motivation the first time, don't worry. You'll catch it the next 20 times it gets mentioned.
The book barely makes an attempt at historical accuracy despite parading a list of "who is who and what's historical" at the end. On the one hand, I didn't mind. This is more fantasy adventure than a historical account. The author can take creative liberties. Where it gets annoying is where the book persists in including footnotes at random times explaining quotations...as if somehow that validates the bizarre, improper behavior of her characters.
I suppose I can say in this book's favor it left an impression. I don't remember the last time I cringed so hard at a Scarlet Pimpernel retelling. If you want a better gender bender retelling, I highly recommend Across a Star-Swept Sea.
Pre-Review
I want. I want. I want. I want. I want.
May 10, 2018
***4.5 stars***
I love history. It fascinates me. I wish that I had been a better student and taken the time to learn more when I was in school. Most of the history I read comes from historical fiction. I do google names and places and try to learn more as I read the book. This one had me visiting Google often. I wanted to know more about the non-fiction characters and their role in history.
This book is a retelling of the "Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Orczy. I can't say that I read the original, but Google.... I was able to pick up immediately what sets this book apart from the original. The Pimpernel is a woman in this story, the original was a man. I am grateful for this twist, I love a strong female heroine. Lady Scarlet Cavendish is a paradox. To the ton, she appears a frivolous and selfish woman. But to the French nobility, she saves them. She is level headed when faced with danger and is selfless in so many ways.
I would love to know more about this time period. Maybe someday.... I may get the chance to learn more, I hope so. Until then, I'll just keep reading Jen Geigle Johnson books and let her research some fascinating time and people and ignite my imagination once again.
This book contains kissing and violence.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I love history. It fascinates me. I wish that I had been a better student and taken the time to learn more when I was in school. Most of the history I read comes from historical fiction. I do google names and places and try to learn more as I read the book. This one had me visiting Google often. I wanted to know more about the non-fiction characters and their role in history.
This book is a retelling of the "Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Orczy. I can't say that I read the original, but Google.... I was able to pick up immediately what sets this book apart from the original. The Pimpernel is a woman in this story, the original was a man. I am grateful for this twist, I love a strong female heroine. Lady Scarlet Cavendish is a paradox. To the ton, she appears a frivolous and selfish woman. But to the French nobility, she saves them. She is level headed when faced with danger and is selfless in so many ways.
I would love to know more about this time period. Maybe someday.... I may get the chance to learn more, I hope so. Until then, I'll just keep reading Jen Geigle Johnson books and let her research some fascinating time and people and ignite my imagination once again.
This book contains kissing and violence.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 16, 2018
Don't judge me, but I've never read the Scarlet Pimpernel or seen the movie, although I did see Daffy Duck in the Scarlet Pumpernickel. 😅 I wasn't very good at history in high school (I couldn't remember all the dates and the order of the kings of France and England), and world history taken senior year was over 40 years ago, so even if I had been good at history then I probably wouldn't remember much of it now.
This is a retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but this time around the Pimpernel is a woman!! Not just any woman, but a wealthy, beautiful, fairly young widow, who has many talents and a quick wit by the name of Lady Scarlet Cavendish. To society Lady Cavendish is a widow who's quite shallow and only cares about the latest fashions and French pastries, but secretly Scarlet risks her life coming up with ingenious plans to rescue French citizens who are headed for the guillotine.
When the story starts they're rescuing Comte Matteo Durand who is brought to England and will be a guest of Lady Cavendish. He's only there a short time before Scarlet finds herself falling for the handsome and eloquent Frenchman, and Matteo feels the same way about Scarlet. He doesn't know he's fallen for the Scarlet Pimpernel, but she's not the only one keeping secrets. With secrets between them the road ahead is going to be pretty rocky.
One of my favorite lines is when Scarlet and Matteo are dancing in the moonlight. In his arms, she knew they could fly, move mountains, travel the world, and conquer whatever dragons crossed them.
I loved Scarlet's bravery and wit. It seemed there was nothing she couldn't or wouldn't do to help save the citizens of France. One example of Scarlet's wit is when she's imprisoned her only danger had been a slow death by monotony.
Matteo's beautiful words could've made almost any woman swoon at his feet. I loved reading of the clever illusions, ploys and distractions Scarlet and her league used in the rescues. Towards the end I didn't want to stop reading and my emotions were on a rollercoaster--yay she's free, oh no she's caught, they're both caught--I didn't know how they would escape La Guillotine. Even if you know the story I think this book will still keep your attention.
Thank you to ebooks for my copy to read in review, which did not influence my opinion in any way.
This is a retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but this time around the Pimpernel is a woman!! Not just any woman, but a wealthy, beautiful, fairly young widow, who has many talents and a quick wit by the name of Lady Scarlet Cavendish. To society Lady Cavendish is a widow who's quite shallow and only cares about the latest fashions and French pastries, but secretly Scarlet risks her life coming up with ingenious plans to rescue French citizens who are headed for the guillotine.
When the story starts they're rescuing Comte Matteo Durand who is brought to England and will be a guest of Lady Cavendish. He's only there a short time before Scarlet finds herself falling for the handsome and eloquent Frenchman, and Matteo feels the same way about Scarlet. He doesn't know he's fallen for the Scarlet Pimpernel, but she's not the only one keeping secrets. With secrets between them the road ahead is going to be pretty rocky.
One of my favorite lines is when Scarlet and Matteo are dancing in the moonlight. In his arms, she knew they could fly, move mountains, travel the world, and conquer whatever dragons crossed them.
I loved Scarlet's bravery and wit. It seemed there was nothing she couldn't or wouldn't do to help save the citizens of France. One example of Scarlet's wit is when she's imprisoned her only danger had been a slow death by monotony.
Matteo's beautiful words could've made almost any woman swoon at his feet. I loved reading of the clever illusions, ploys and distractions Scarlet and her league used in the rescues. Towards the end I didn't want to stop reading and my emotions were on a rollercoaster--yay she's free, oh no she's caught, they're both caught--I didn't know how they would escape La Guillotine. Even if you know the story I think this book will still keep your attention.
Thank you to ebooks for my copy to read in review, which did not influence my opinion in any way.
May 8, 2018
It takes talent to take a beloved classic and twist it enough to make it a new and exciting story, while staying true to the tale. Johnson is able to do so and had me captivated, terrified, and entertained throughout.
By swapping genders, the story seemed more dangerous at times. And doesn't it always seem that when the heart becomes involved, the danger rises? That's what seemed to happen with this book. I loved the characters and the plot, and I loved the way Johnson was able to take such a rough part of history and portray possibly realistic emotions, while maintaining a clean story.
This really is a captivating book and will be enjoyable to those who love history.
Content: mild violence; mild+ romance
*I received a copy, which did not influence my opinions*
By swapping genders, the story seemed more dangerous at times. And doesn't it always seem that when the heart becomes involved, the danger rises? That's what seemed to happen with this book. I loved the characters and the plot, and I loved the way Johnson was able to take such a rough part of history and portray possibly realistic emotions, while maintaining a clean story.
This really is a captivating book and will be enjoyable to those who love history.
Content: mild violence; mild+ romance
*I received a copy, which did not influence my opinions*
May 2, 2018
This twist on the Scarlet Pimpernel was super fun. The Pimpernel is a woman, and several other characters are twisted to other genders too. It made for a fun, delightful, and sometimes terrifying tale. Still set in the throes of the French Revolution, this has Scarlet, a young widow, and her league of helpers using disguises and other tricks to wisk French victims away from La Guillotine. But when she rescues a young Frenchman named Matteo, her heart becomes involved. I adored the original version of this story, so this was a fun one for me. I felt the author did a great job creating a new story but with most of the elements of the original story I love. But in a way, I loved her villain, Eleonore, even more than the original villain. This didn’t disappoint. It has a heart-rending romance wrapped up between intrigue, distrust, gruesome national crimes, and goodwill. **I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
July 16, 2018
History fascinates me, it always has. That is why I am so quick to read a newly releasing historical novel that interests me. That being said I quickly grabbed this one upon it's release. With that being said I have not read the original Scarlet Pimpernel. This book fascinated me, I was captivated really. It was so hard to put down. First of all the cover s gorgeous and really drew me in. This is the author's own unique twist on the Scarlet Pimpernel. She has very clearly spent a lot of time historically researching this. Scarlet is an amazing woman strong mentally and physically, she had an undeniable intelligence about her and her wit is unmatched. Incredibly she goes on deadly missions time after time but she is unfazed by the thought of this. The prisons,the guillotine, the manipulation,bravery, it's all here. Richly historical, you will not want to rush through this one but rather savor it!
Pub Date 01 May 2018
I received a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
See more of my reviews on my blog https://cnnamongirl.wixsite.com/website
Pub Date 01 May 2018
I received a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
See more of my reviews on my blog https://cnnamongirl.wixsite.com/website
September 18, 2019
The plot is over-buried with names and the text is very descriptive, making the story move at very slow pace. And the tone seems to be set for the ones who like romances.
May 10, 2018
The French Revolution. Such a horrible, awful, bloody time in French history. It's honestly not my favorite time in history to read about but I thought this story was well balanced and didn't dwell in the beheading place too much or too long. But still. The moments it did were awful, and dark, and so, so sad.
The story builds continually- both in plot and with the characters. By the time I got to the last third of the book, I was almost speed reading because I was so desperate to know how it would all work out! I had to constantly tell myself to slow down.
Ooh boy, Matteo was swoony! His silver tongue said the prettiest words to Scarlet. I loved his devotion to her. He was the happiest part of the story for me.
I really enjoyed my time in this book. It definitely kept my attention and I was invested in all parts of it.
Content: violence, peril, kissing, some mild innuendo
- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
The story builds continually- both in plot and with the characters. By the time I got to the last third of the book, I was almost speed reading because I was so desperate to know how it would all work out! I had to constantly tell myself to slow down.
Ooh boy, Matteo was swoony! His silver tongue said the prettiest words to Scarlet. I loved his devotion to her. He was the happiest part of the story for me.
I really enjoyed my time in this book. It definitely kept my attention and I was invested in all parts of it.
Content: violence, peril, kissing, some mild innuendo
- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 27, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Such a clever twist on the old classic with settings and costumes brought vividly to life as well as clever, fun dialogue between all the characters. I loved Scarlet and Matteo's love story, despite the misunderstandings due to the horrific revolution going on in France at this time period (1793). Scarlet is a memorable and intelligent heroine - a woman of many disguises as she fools her way through rich, snobby society while rescuing those who are doomed for the guillotine. A well written historical novel with twists and turns that made me keep turning the pages!
July 30, 2018
This was everything I wanted it to be: a riproaring feminist nod to a favourite classic, a swashbuckling adventure, a swoony romance. Exceptionally well-researched and designed to make each page fly by swiftly, Johnson's Scarlet is an ode and homage to a favourite well-worn tome. I know that I will be returning to Scarlet's world again. The hero, of course, is dashing; but never so much as when he recognizes the unique and anomalous strengths of the eponymous heroine.
April 23, 2018
I loved this story and was intrigued by a female Pempernel. The characters were great and I loved the costumes. It did seem to take Mateao too long to figure it out... or did he? It was sad to see the reach of evil into so many people. It made me want to do a little googling to get the facts. What a sad time to live in. It makes me grateful for the freedoms I enjoy and more compassionate for others who are suffering. This was a sweet, clean romance with wonderful mystery and suspense.
I was given a free copy for my honest review. I have no personal connection to the author.
I was given a free copy for my honest review. I have no personal connection to the author.
July 3, 2019
SCARLET is a gorgeous remake of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but with the Pimpernel as a woman. Set during the terrifying French Revolution, Scarlet and a disguised posse rescue as many victims from the guillotine as possible. Romance mixes in with the horror and intrigue. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#Scarlet #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#Scarlet #NetGalley
May 18, 2018
4.5 Stars
SCARLET is a unique twist on the classic, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. The author did a fantastic job in staying true to the ideals of the original, but making this very much her own story. With delightful characters, intriguing espionage, plenty of danger, strong villains, and a sweet romance, this story is engaging from beginning to end.
I loved Scarlet from the start! I loved her intelligence and wit, her ability to manipulate, her kindness, and her loyalties. She was a very fun character. I also really liked Matteo. His character wasn't quite as strong, but he still was easy to cheer on. He brought a nice balance to Scarlet and some lovely banter. There were some fun side characters as well, and definitely some villains that were easy to hate.
What I loved most about this story was all the subterfuge and plotting. The disguises were marvelous, as were the plans. The story definitely moved at a good pace. I also enjoyed the romance. It moved a little fast, but I could feel the chemistry from the start. It's also nice that you don't have to be familiar at all with THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL to read this story. In fact, I hope if you haven't read the classic that this story will temp you to do so. The author also included some historical details at the back of the book that I enjoyed reading through.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed this one! It's full of adventure, witty banter, danger, romance, and tugged on my heart. A highly enjoyable read!
Content: Some gruesome violence during the French Revolution and some innuendo.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
SCARLET is a unique twist on the classic, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. The author did a fantastic job in staying true to the ideals of the original, but making this very much her own story. With delightful characters, intriguing espionage, plenty of danger, strong villains, and a sweet romance, this story is engaging from beginning to end.
I loved Scarlet from the start! I loved her intelligence and wit, her ability to manipulate, her kindness, and her loyalties. She was a very fun character. I also really liked Matteo. His character wasn't quite as strong, but he still was easy to cheer on. He brought a nice balance to Scarlet and some lovely banter. There were some fun side characters as well, and definitely some villains that were easy to hate.
What I loved most about this story was all the subterfuge and plotting. The disguises were marvelous, as were the plans. The story definitely moved at a good pace. I also enjoyed the romance. It moved a little fast, but I could feel the chemistry from the start. It's also nice that you don't have to be familiar at all with THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL to read this story. In fact, I hope if you haven't read the classic that this story will temp you to do so. The author also included some historical details at the back of the book that I enjoyed reading through.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed this one! It's full of adventure, witty banter, danger, romance, and tugged on my heart. A highly enjoyable read!
Content: Some gruesome violence during the French Revolution and some innuendo.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
May 10, 2018
Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson is an exciting twist to a classic. I loved the switch of a female Pimpernel. Scarlet herself in an intriguing, fascinating character. I absolutely loved her. Matteo was a charismatic and charming leading man, I liked him instantly. All of the supporting characters were fabulous too. Scarlet is full of adventure, danger, romance, and it also gives you a history lesson about the French Revolution. There was a lot about it, I didn't know. Of course, this is a fiction book but it's obvious the author did her research. There are a lot of details that may be harder to stomach, but I appreciated the raw approach the author took to try to be as accurate as possible.
August 3, 2018
*I received this book from Covenant Communications Inc. in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own*
Simply put, this cover is gorgeous and the characters intriguing, and the main plot of the story held my interest. I love The Scarlet Pimpernel, so this book instantly caught my attention, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to read it.
Unfortunately, the story bored me. A lot of the small details went over my head (which possibly could be because my mind is really full right now with life), and by the end it was literally swimming. The romance put my off because it was insta-love followed by a deceptive marriage and misunderstandings, most of which could have been easily explained if both Scarlet and her husband took the time to talk! Several kisses were detailed, and I skimmed those, because they were really bordering on intimacy I didn't need to see. There are some awkward situations with a woman toward a married man...blech!
The premise of this book is amazing, and I loved seeing the historical aspects of this book. I also loved Simon's character, and especially Scarlet and Matteo's drive to save so many people from the Guillotine.
Some may enjoy this more than I did, but overall it isn't a book I loved and I'd much prefer to read The Scarlet Pimpernel :)
**Content: some gruesome speech about the Guillotine, talk about sickness and death in the prison, detailed kisses and thoughts about being together in bed (a married couple), a woman making advances to a man before and after he was married. Man and woman thinking about a kiss/wanting to kiss. A couple mentions of prayer. No foul language**
Simply put, this cover is gorgeous and the characters intriguing, and the main plot of the story held my interest. I love The Scarlet Pimpernel, so this book instantly caught my attention, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to read it.
Unfortunately, the story bored me. A lot of the small details went over my head (which possibly could be because my mind is really full right now with life), and by the end it was literally swimming. The romance put my off because it was insta-love followed by a deceptive marriage and misunderstandings, most of which could have been easily explained if both Scarlet and her husband took the time to talk! Several kisses were detailed, and I skimmed those, because they were really bordering on intimacy I didn't need to see. There are some awkward situations with a woman toward a married man...blech!
The premise of this book is amazing, and I loved seeing the historical aspects of this book. I also loved Simon's character, and especially Scarlet and Matteo's drive to save so many people from the Guillotine.
Some may enjoy this more than I did, but overall it isn't a book I loved and I'd much prefer to read The Scarlet Pimpernel :)
**Content: some gruesome speech about the Guillotine, talk about sickness and death in the prison, detailed kisses and thoughts about being together in bed (a married couple), a woman making advances to a man before and after he was married. Man and woman thinking about a kiss/wanting to kiss. A couple mentions of prayer. No foul language**
September 4, 2018
This book is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy, a classic, read and loved by many. When I signed up to read this book, I hadn’t realized this was a retelling of that story. I saw the cover and couldn’t stop thinking about it. It finally drove me to read this story and for once, I’m glad I judged a book by the cover. Yes, the cover is beautiful, but the book is even better.
When I received a copy of this book, the first thing I did was pick up a copy of the original story by Baroness Orczy. I started reading that book and got immersed in it, but time was running out and I was itching to get to this copy. The Scarlet Pimpernel as a woman? That was too interesting to pass.
So I put the classic on hold and started this instead. Again, the cover love was strong with this one and I spent a while admiring it.
The Writing :
The first thing that struck me was the gorgeous prose. I have an intense love for books based in past centuries and this was written in a similar manner. The prose is lyrical and soothing in equal measure. It had been a while since I had picked up a Historical Fiction and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. There were moments when I wanted to savor the book because the prose was so perfect, and then there were moments where I read at a rapid pace due to the adventure-induced adrenaline rush while reading the book.
The Setting :
The year is 1793. France is going through a great political turmoil and the common man has taken up arms against the rich aristocrats who have indulged in excess for a long time. The commoners are filled with hatred for royalty as the gap between the rich and the poor keeps increasing. The citizens are hardly able to afford bread to feed their families and to add salt to their wounds, they are also being taxed at exorbitant rates to help the rich keep up their lavish lifestyle. The unrest spreads and the common people want the aristos’ heads. The French Revolution is at its peak and many French aristocrat families are getting denounced and sent over to La Guillotine. The times are brutal and the bloodlust is at an all-time high.
It is during this time that the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a group of vigilantes originating in England, are trying to save the aristocrats from their trip to La Guillotine. Our main character, Scarlet, is the head of this secret league. Only a few people know her true identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Scarlet tries many different ruses and disguises to help save the people of France and take them to England. On a certain trip, she meets Matteo Durand, who has recently been denounced, and they feel a spark and try to get to know each other. But, Scarlet cannot reveal her biggest secret to Matteo. So, she keeps him in the dark and tries to save as many of the French as she, and her League can.
The Adventure :
As I mentioned before, this book was an epic adventure. The rescue attempts were brave and kept me turning the pages. The clever schemes Scarlet and the League came up with were both ingenious and when required, cunning. Reading this book was an exhilarating experience. The times Scarlet attempted a rescue, the near misses, and the almost captures by the French army kept my heart beating at a feverish pace. It was difficult to put the book down!
The Romance :
Yes, there is a romance between the main characters, Lady Scarlet Cavendish and Comte Matteo Durand, but it is not too heavy and is not the sole focus of the story. The romantic moments were few and far between and were pretty sweet. I did have a bit of an issue at one point where during a rescue, Scarlet seemed a little distracted trying to gauge her feelings for Matteo, but since the rescue worked out in the end, I didn’t have much to complain about. The romance was a nice filler and helped ease the pace of the book at times.
The Characters :
I liked the main characters, especially Scarlet. It was nice seeing this story retold with a female lead and I loved that Johnson made it work so well. Matteo Durand seemed a little weak compared to Scarlet, but it is quite understandable since he was being blackmailed/fearing for the life of his friends, for the most part. He did try and take a stand in the end though.
There weren’t a lot of supporting characters but Scarlet’s closest aides, Andrew and Simon, were nice. They were two of the few characters taken from the original classic by Orczy, and I enjoyed seeing them here. Scarlet shared a nice banter with them that was quite funny.
The Historical Accuracy :
I am not very familiar with the French Revolution but I tried to read up on it while reading this book. It seems Johnson has put in a lot of research to get her characters and setting right. The main antagonists in this story were real people at the helm of the French Revolution. It was interesting to note that a lot of the events in the book were inspired by real life, including the planned escapes of certain people. The author notes at the end of the book helped further my knowledge about the actual events of the time. Johnson also added annotations in the book for further research.
I really enjoyed this book and loved the Historical Fiction bit of the story. I will readily lap up more stories like this and will definitely try to get my hands on the author’s other works. This was really good!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, Covenant Communications, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
When I received a copy of this book, the first thing I did was pick up a copy of the original story by Baroness Orczy. I started reading that book and got immersed in it, but time was running out and I was itching to get to this copy. The Scarlet Pimpernel as a woman? That was too interesting to pass.
So I put the classic on hold and started this instead. Again, the cover love was strong with this one and I spent a while admiring it.
The Writing :
The first thing that struck me was the gorgeous prose. I have an intense love for books based in past centuries and this was written in a similar manner. The prose is lyrical and soothing in equal measure. It had been a while since I had picked up a Historical Fiction and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. There were moments when I wanted to savor the book because the prose was so perfect, and then there were moments where I read at a rapid pace due to the adventure-induced adrenaline rush while reading the book.
The Setting :
The year is 1793. France is going through a great political turmoil and the common man has taken up arms against the rich aristocrats who have indulged in excess for a long time. The commoners are filled with hatred for royalty as the gap between the rich and the poor keeps increasing. The citizens are hardly able to afford bread to feed their families and to add salt to their wounds, they are also being taxed at exorbitant rates to help the rich keep up their lavish lifestyle. The unrest spreads and the common people want the aristos’ heads. The French Revolution is at its peak and many French aristocrat families are getting denounced and sent over to La Guillotine. The times are brutal and the bloodlust is at an all-time high.
It is during this time that the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a group of vigilantes originating in England, are trying to save the aristocrats from their trip to La Guillotine. Our main character, Scarlet, is the head of this secret league. Only a few people know her true identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Scarlet tries many different ruses and disguises to help save the people of France and take them to England. On a certain trip, she meets Matteo Durand, who has recently been denounced, and they feel a spark and try to get to know each other. But, Scarlet cannot reveal her biggest secret to Matteo. So, she keeps him in the dark and tries to save as many of the French as she, and her League can.
The Adventure :
As I mentioned before, this book was an epic adventure. The rescue attempts were brave and kept me turning the pages. The clever schemes Scarlet and the League came up with were both ingenious and when required, cunning. Reading this book was an exhilarating experience. The times Scarlet attempted a rescue, the near misses, and the almost captures by the French army kept my heart beating at a feverish pace. It was difficult to put the book down!
The Romance :
Yes, there is a romance between the main characters, Lady Scarlet Cavendish and Comte Matteo Durand, but it is not too heavy and is not the sole focus of the story. The romantic moments were few and far between and were pretty sweet. I did have a bit of an issue at one point where during a rescue, Scarlet seemed a little distracted trying to gauge her feelings for Matteo, but since the rescue worked out in the end, I didn’t have much to complain about. The romance was a nice filler and helped ease the pace of the book at times.
The Characters :
I liked the main characters, especially Scarlet. It was nice seeing this story retold with a female lead and I loved that Johnson made it work so well. Matteo Durand seemed a little weak compared to Scarlet, but it is quite understandable since he was being blackmailed/fearing for the life of his friends, for the most part. He did try and take a stand in the end though.
There weren’t a lot of supporting characters but Scarlet’s closest aides, Andrew and Simon, were nice. They were two of the few characters taken from the original classic by Orczy, and I enjoyed seeing them here. Scarlet shared a nice banter with them that was quite funny.
The Historical Accuracy :
I am not very familiar with the French Revolution but I tried to read up on it while reading this book. It seems Johnson has put in a lot of research to get her characters and setting right. The main antagonists in this story were real people at the helm of the French Revolution. It was interesting to note that a lot of the events in the book were inspired by real life, including the planned escapes of certain people. The author notes at the end of the book helped further my knowledge about the actual events of the time. Johnson also added annotations in the book for further research.
I really enjoyed this book and loved the Historical Fiction bit of the story. I will readily lap up more stories like this and will definitely try to get my hands on the author’s other works. This was really good!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, Covenant Communications, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 2, 2024
The roads in and out of Paris are heavily guarded, but the dead have easy passage out of the city. A ragged old woman transports the coffins of the most recent victims of the guillotine and is waved on unimpeded. Later, the same crone watches five French aristocrats step out of their coffins unscathed. Not beheaded, but spirited away to safety by that most elusive of spies: the Pimpernel. Or, as she’s known in polite society, Lady Scarlet Cavendish who presents herself as a fashionable, featherbrained young widow flitting about London. In truth, this façade is merely a diversion designed to conceal her clandestine work in France.
A retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel & whilst an enjoyable read it wasn’t a patch on the original. That said I did enjoy the book, the pace was good & the characters had depth. There were edge of the seat moments & I was routing for Scarlet
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel & whilst an enjoyable read it wasn’t a patch on the original. That said I did enjoy the book, the pace was good & the characters had depth. There were edge of the seat moments & I was routing for Scarlet
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
July 1, 2018
This is a time in history I'm not very familiar and I don't remember much about the Scarlet Pimpernel, so this book was enlightening to me on both of those. Scarlet is a strong and intelligent woman, I loved seeing how she handled different problems/glitches that arose. The romance felt a little rushed and sudden, but I still enjoyed that part. All in all, a good read and one I'd recommend if you are looking for a book set during this era.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
June 6, 2018
I have always loved The Scarlet Pimpernel as a story/play. I liked having it twisted on its head having a woman as the Pimpernel.
May 8, 2018
I LOVE the way author Jen Geigle Johnson is able to make history jump off the pages. People long dead become more real as you read her books! Scarlet did both of those things for me!
This book transported me to Paris in the 1700’s. It’s a time of unrest because of the overthrow of the government. That’s where we meet the title character, Scarlet. I loved her character! The way she works so hard to keep the people of France from the Guillotine inspires me. And her cleverness is amazing! The way she is constantly changing costume to become someone else and stay one step away from the Guillotine herself makes the book more interesting! I love that she is the Pimpernel, and the way she keeps her identity hidden from everyone, even the man she loves, until the very end. Wow!
We also get to see things through the eyes of Matteo Durand. He actually should be the next Prince of France, so he’s on Scarlet’s list to help escape and she does so in the most dangerous and clever way possible. These escape scenes kept me on the edge of my seat as I read this book. I loved the way Matteo was as well. He knew there was nothing but danger for him in France, still he went in order to help his friends. So courageous and selfless.
The plot of this one is full of danger, escapes, costumes, and deception. There’s also a bit of romance for those of us who like that! I loved the way the Jen Geigle Johnson stayed true to the times in this one. The author’s notes she included at the end helped me see what was actual and what the author changed to suit her story line were one of my favorite things.
If you love romance with adventure, Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson will be one you’ll want to read again and again!
This book transported me to Paris in the 1700’s. It’s a time of unrest because of the overthrow of the government. That’s where we meet the title character, Scarlet. I loved her character! The way she works so hard to keep the people of France from the Guillotine inspires me. And her cleverness is amazing! The way she is constantly changing costume to become someone else and stay one step away from the Guillotine herself makes the book more interesting! I love that she is the Pimpernel, and the way she keeps her identity hidden from everyone, even the man she loves, until the very end. Wow!
We also get to see things through the eyes of Matteo Durand. He actually should be the next Prince of France, so he’s on Scarlet’s list to help escape and she does so in the most dangerous and clever way possible. These escape scenes kept me on the edge of my seat as I read this book. I loved the way Matteo was as well. He knew there was nothing but danger for him in France, still he went in order to help his friends. So courageous and selfless.
The plot of this one is full of danger, escapes, costumes, and deception. There’s also a bit of romance for those of us who like that! I loved the way the Jen Geigle Johnson stayed true to the times in this one. The author’s notes she included at the end helped me see what was actual and what the author changed to suit her story line were one of my favorite things.
If you love romance with adventure, Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson will be one you’ll want to read again and again!
August 2, 2018
Reading Scarlet was like spending time with an old friend I hadn't visited with in years. I love everything Scarlet Pimpernel, so a retelling, this time with a woman as the Pimpernel was a delight. The gender switch worked so well in this one because Baroness Orczy gave us two such strong main characters in the original, seeing each role played a little differently reminded me of the strength of character of both main characters, not only in the original but in this new exciting retelling. This is not your regular romance novel. There are disguises, be-headings, prisons, and magnificent plans for rescues. I can't decide if not knowing the original would make this even better, but it definitely wouldn't make it worse.
July 7, 2018
I LOVE Ms. Johnson's writing!
It's well researched, heart felt, well paced, well written. Well, well, well. She knows her craft and weaves a beautiful love story against a dynamic historical backdrop.
Scarlet was the heroine every one cheers for and the hero is equally as strong. The villains make you fear the success of the champions.
The cover is stunning.
I could rattle on, but the best thing to do is READ the book! Savour it for yourself.
It's well researched, heart felt, well paced, well written. Well, well, well. She knows her craft and weaves a beautiful love story against a dynamic historical backdrop.
Scarlet was the heroine every one cheers for and the hero is equally as strong. The villains make you fear the success of the champions.
The cover is stunning.
I could rattle on, but the best thing to do is READ the book! Savour it for yourself.
March 3, 2019
I love novels about the French Revolution. I'm always surprised when anyone survived La Guillotine!
Spies, drama, intrigue and a bit of love and hope.
Spies, drama, intrigue and a bit of love and hope.
Want to read
April 2, 2020I know I'm going to hate it, but hey, I wrote my own well-loathed TSP redo back in the day, & maybe this will make me feel better about its inadequacies.
May 20, 2019
*2.75*
I was provided with a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishing house, Covenant Communications, in exchange for an honest review.
Set after the French Revolution, Scarlet is the adventurous story of a young English widow who is, under another name, the french Pimpernel, one of the most elusive spies of her time.
When she's given the task to rescue Matteo Durant, a comte, feelings will get in her way and she will have to face a very difficult task: love.
I would say I enjoyed this book, more or less. It was a good historical fiction novel, where the historical part is somewhat present and it does not succumb to the main love story.
The two main characters were good. I empathize with them in some ways, but the chemistry between them was so sudden, too sudden for my tastes. Matteo falls in love with Scarlet right away, based on her looks, and even though he comes to know her as a person throughout the book, I can't shake the feeling that the two of them basically don't know each other and that they marry after not even a month of knowledge.
I liked the fact that in this retelling the Pimpernel is a woman, it is a good representation of the female genre way before the first feminist movements, and I particularly enjoyed how the author added a little bit about a group of women fighting for their rights.
If I remember well, the Bastille was demolished around 1789/1790 so I was really disappointed in seeing that it played an important role in the book. Maybe I am mistaken, but if I am right I can not condone such an error in a book set right after the French Revolution.
The ending seemed a bit rushed, but I enjoyed how all truth came out and how the love story was not affected by it.
I would recommend only if you want to read a romantic book with an historical surround.
I was provided with a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishing house, Covenant Communications, in exchange for an honest review.
Set after the French Revolution, Scarlet is the adventurous story of a young English widow who is, under another name, the french Pimpernel, one of the most elusive spies of her time.
When she's given the task to rescue Matteo Durant, a comte, feelings will get in her way and she will have to face a very difficult task: love.
I would say I enjoyed this book, more or less. It was a good historical fiction novel, where the historical part is somewhat present and it does not succumb to the main love story.
The two main characters were good. I empathize with them in some ways, but the chemistry between them was so sudden, too sudden for my tastes. Matteo falls in love with Scarlet right away, based on her looks, and even though he comes to know her as a person throughout the book, I can't shake the feeling that the two of them basically don't know each other and that they marry after not even a month of knowledge.
I liked the fact that in this retelling the Pimpernel is a woman, it is a good representation of the female genre way before the first feminist movements, and I particularly enjoyed how the author added a little bit about a group of women fighting for their rights.
If I remember well, the Bastille was demolished around 1789/1790 so I was really disappointed in seeing that it played an important role in the book. Maybe I am mistaken, but if I am right I can not condone such an error in a book set right after the French Revolution.
The ending seemed a bit rushed, but I enjoyed how all truth came out and how the love story was not affected by it.
I would recommend only if you want to read a romantic book with an historical surround.
July 2, 2018
My 1st book by Jen and happy to say a through & through entertainer... also this is the first time i ve read about the Scarlet Pimpernel... I have a great passion for reading historical fiction let it be romance,mystery, treasure hunt, pirates...It is fascinating to know the Era through this books ...
The French Revolution was one of the most terrifying period in History where people from the upper class of society were carted off to the guillotine every day. Jen's portrayal of the french revolution shows us the horror , violence , terror ,struggle it was , it is quite realistic and accurate, what sad,bad time for people living in france at that time .
The French Revolution was a time of unrest ,massacre in Paris . That's where the story starts with Lady Scarlet Cavendish who is the Pimpernel a spy with a talent of various disguises pitches in to help the people by planning there escapes. She along with a league of like-minded people ,slips in and out of France, risking her life to save others. While she has various disguises, the one seen most often is the one she wears in polite society--that of a flirty fashion-obsessed woman.
I loved the heroine, Scarlet Cavendish -or the Pimpirnel- is an admirable character: headstrong, bold,brave,intelligent,sensible,cunning, independent and very compassionate. I think the story has everything: history, adventure, drama, romance and suspense,escapades, Romance. I loved how Scarlet manages to save many people from the guillotine by disguising herself and putting her life constantly at risk.
The hero is Matteo's character pales in comparison to Scarlet ...This story is all about Scarlet... the best part i loved is the concept of women Spy leading the team... Jen has well written & presented the story ...her plot is past faced & well developed...the script is so brilliant that i could visualize the escapes & disguises wen reading ...
A marvellous , superb book by Jen ...I very highly recommend it ...worth reading ...u will miss a good book if u dont read it
The French Revolution was one of the most terrifying period in History where people from the upper class of society were carted off to the guillotine every day. Jen's portrayal of the french revolution shows us the horror , violence , terror ,struggle it was , it is quite realistic and accurate, what sad,bad time for people living in france at that time .
The French Revolution was a time of unrest ,massacre in Paris . That's where the story starts with Lady Scarlet Cavendish who is the Pimpernel a spy with a talent of various disguises pitches in to help the people by planning there escapes. She along with a league of like-minded people ,slips in and out of France, risking her life to save others. While she has various disguises, the one seen most often is the one she wears in polite society--that of a flirty fashion-obsessed woman.
I loved the heroine, Scarlet Cavendish -or the Pimpirnel- is an admirable character: headstrong, bold,brave,intelligent,sensible,cunning, independent and very compassionate. I think the story has everything: history, adventure, drama, romance and suspense,escapades, Romance. I loved how Scarlet manages to save many people from the guillotine by disguising herself and putting her life constantly at risk.
The hero is Matteo's character pales in comparison to Scarlet ...This story is all about Scarlet... the best part i loved is the concept of women Spy leading the team... Jen has well written & presented the story ...her plot is past faced & well developed...the script is so brilliant that i could visualize the escapes & disguises wen reading ...
A marvellous , superb book by Jen ...I very highly recommend it ...worth reading ...u will miss a good book if u dont read it
June 28, 2018
First book I’ve read by Jen Geigle Johnson; first book I’ve ever read on the French Revolution. My only knowledge of the subject has been the three times I’ve seen "Les Mis". With that pathetic admission, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed “Scarlet”! 4 1/2 stars.
The story is a take-off of the “Scarlet Pimpernel” with Lady Scarlet Cavendish of England (as the secret and elusive Pimpernel) heading a group of spies that saves and creatively helps French citizens escape the merciless doom of the guillotine. Scarlet and her team don an array of costumes and disguises to pull off their sneaky, fascinating, and highly successful plans.
One of her most daring saves is that of rescuing French Comte Matteo Durand. What they each did not expect was an instant attraction between the two of them. Each harbor important secrets that must stay that way to succeed with the rescues of many French citizens.
Author Jen Johnson has a wonderful way of ending a chapter with just the right hook to make me not want to stop. Love it when that happens! This definitely begins a watch for anything else she writes. I realize this is historical fiction and some liberties have been taken, but I appreciate the footnotes of sources sited and also the Author’s Notes at the end where I had more to learn about the Revolution and its principal players.
I add here that the cover is exquisite, and summary on the back cover was superb! Well done, Jen Geigle Johnson. You have earned a place in my personal library.
PS – I might be so moved to actually read “The Scarlet Pimpernel”…or maybe watch the movie…
The story is a take-off of the “Scarlet Pimpernel” with Lady Scarlet Cavendish of England (as the secret and elusive Pimpernel) heading a group of spies that saves and creatively helps French citizens escape the merciless doom of the guillotine. Scarlet and her team don an array of costumes and disguises to pull off their sneaky, fascinating, and highly successful plans.
One of her most daring saves is that of rescuing French Comte Matteo Durand. What they each did not expect was an instant attraction between the two of them. Each harbor important secrets that must stay that way to succeed with the rescues of many French citizens.
Author Jen Johnson has a wonderful way of ending a chapter with just the right hook to make me not want to stop. Love it when that happens! This definitely begins a watch for anything else she writes. I realize this is historical fiction and some liberties have been taken, but I appreciate the footnotes of sources sited and also the Author’s Notes at the end where I had more to learn about the Revolution and its principal players.
I add here that the cover is exquisite, and summary on the back cover was superb! Well done, Jen Geigle Johnson. You have earned a place in my personal library.
PS – I might be so moved to actually read “The Scarlet Pimpernel”…or maybe watch the movie…
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