Chateau Villon

by Emily Spenser

There was too much at stake to hold out for love

With her father's California vineyard precariously close to financial ruin, Camille had no choice but to beg for assistance from her grandfather -- the same man who ruthlessly disinherited her father and forced him into exile years ago.

Antoine de Breze, her grandfather's present heir, accused Camille of scheming to claim his lifeblood, the great Villon Winery of France. And his accusations seemed justified, especially when he and Camille were forced into marriage. />
As a matter of pride, Camille wanted to win Antoine's admiration and respect. But deep down, she also wished for the impossible--his love.

Genres: Harlequin Romance

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 1 out of 5]

The heroine is the long estranged American granddaughter of a wealthy French vigneron. Hero is the insufferable, snobby, arrogant, and big fat cheater second cousin of hers. The patriarch commands them to marry in order to inherit the vineyards. The hero looks down his nose at heroine as the daughter of a peasant. It is only after a makeover that he expresses some admiration for her. H is constantly aware of his image, and when he says stuff like she looks good or he is proud of her, it is only because it bolsters his ego to have a presentable wife at his side in front of all their hoity-toity friends and associates. If she shows independence or spirit like when she wants to roll up her sleeves and get down to the grape picking and wine making along with the rest of the "peasants", he gets angry and hostile again. The entire duration of their marriage, he is carrying on an affair with a bovine French high class tart who humiliated his wife. No loyalty there, no respect at all. Then he has the gall to slut-shame heroine when she spends time with OM who is kind, friendly and a good shoulder to cry on. Even his last page "love" declaration is so fake and depressing. He basically implies he is embarrassed that she left him because not only do all his friends clamor for her, but all the servants and peasants (his words not mine) have threatened to go on strike if he does not return with her to the chateau. No word about OW, no apology for cheating on her and being so brazen about it. The OM is the one who forced his way to his house and had to convince him that his own wife was not having an affair with him and she was in love with hero. This "romance" was an absolute disgrace and I am so disappointed I shelled out the money to order a hard copy. BLECH

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I expected to. There were a few parts I could do without, but considering that it was written in the early 80's, it was expected. It even made me cry. Antoine could be a pompous ass at times, and an idiot, but it all came together in the end. I did like the fact that Camille managed to be able to work in the grape fields and prove her worth in the male world of wine making.

[More Books Than Time · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent in some ways but I detest the end. H only decided h was not unfaithful when the supposed OM forced his way in to set H straight. I hate that!

We don’t know whether H is sleeping with the OW, it seems likely but author only hints. H is a jerk and a snob. He wouldn’t have thought twice about dumping his MOC wife if she didn’t turn out gorgeous once dressed and made up. The h was rather immature.