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Charm Bracelet #1
The Diamond Slipper
Dear Reader,
What comes to mind when you think of a diamond slipper? Cinderella, perhaps? That's what Cordelia Brandenburg imagines when her godparents arrange a
marriage for her with a man she's never met--a marriage that will take her to Versailles, far from the rigid confines of her childhood home. The betrothal
gift is a charm bracelet with a tiny, glittering diamond slipper attached...as befits a journey into a fairy-tale future.
But Cordelia--young, headstrong, and completely adorable--runs into trouble right away. Her escort to the wedding is the golden-eyed, sensual, teasing Viscount Leo Kierston. For Cordelia, it's love at first sight. Yet Leo seems to see only a spoiled child--perhaps it's the way she cheats at chess--and Cordelia is determined to show him the woman beneath.
There is, however, no escaping her arranged marriage. She's devastated to discover that her new husband is an utterly loathsome tyrant who will stop at nothing to satisfy his twisted desires.
My heart went out to Cordelia as she struggles courageously against a man determined to break her spirit. But her husband has a secret, one that will bring down the vengeance of Viscount Kierston and all who have reason to hate him.
I hope you'll enjoy this love story of two of my very favorite characters.
Warmest wishes,
Jane Feather
P.S. The charm bracelet makes its next appearance in The Silver Rose .
Look for it next summer.
What comes to mind when you think of a diamond slipper? Cinderella, perhaps? That's what Cordelia Brandenburg imagines when her godparents arrange a
marriage for her with a man she's never met--a marriage that will take her to Versailles, far from the rigid confines of her childhood home. The betrothal
gift is a charm bracelet with a tiny, glittering diamond slipper attached...as befits a journey into a fairy-tale future.
But Cordelia--young, headstrong, and completely adorable--runs into trouble right away. Her escort to the wedding is the golden-eyed, sensual, teasing Viscount Leo Kierston. For Cordelia, it's love at first sight. Yet Leo seems to see only a spoiled child--perhaps it's the way she cheats at chess--and Cordelia is determined to show him the woman beneath.
There is, however, no escaping her arranged marriage. She's devastated to discover that her new husband is an utterly loathsome tyrant who will stop at nothing to satisfy his twisted desires.
My heart went out to Cordelia as she struggles courageously against a man determined to break her spirit. But her husband has a secret, one that will bring down the vengeance of Viscount Kierston and all who have reason to hate him.
I hope you'll enjoy this love story of two of my very favorite characters.
Warmest wishes,
Jane Feather
P.S. The charm bracelet makes its next appearance in The Silver Rose .
Look for it next summer.
389 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1997
41 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Jane Feather
170 books631 followersJane Feather (born Jane Robotham) is a popular British–American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop. She is a New York Times-bestselling, award–winning writer, and has more than ten million romance novels in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 12, 2023
Read: 12/9/23
2.7 stars!
Such a disappointing JF book
2.7 stars!
Such a disappointing JF book
October 14, 2016
The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers.
When I purchased my copy I didn't try to read other reviews on Goodreads (or anywhere on the web for that matter) and hoped that the blurb on the cover would give me the right idea about a possible Cinderella retelling. Even if it would be a very loosely based story but unfortunately it was not to be.
Instead I got a story of a 16-year-old girl who "falls in love" (more like in lust, if you ask me) with a man 12 years her senior. And he seems to fall for her as well... Despite the fact that he's to be her proxy-husband for almost a month till they travel from Vienna to Paris where Cordelia is to be married to man 30 years her senior. Alright, I can live with this. It has happened before that the people who are to be married are not in love. Maybe she won't go with her marriage in Paris and Cordelia and Leo will marry instead?
Yeah, too much to ask for.
I try to understand that this novel is loosely based on real historical events in the late 1760's, but I still find it pretty difficult to believe that the readers of today are all that comfortable with a couple where the girl is only 16 years old. I'm all for couples where one partner is older than the other one, but I must admit that I have to draw the line somewhere and my line is here. Here, where a sadistic man in his late 40s rapes his wife and we have to read about it more than once. Here, where a man in his late twenties seduces a teenage girl who didn't seem all that grown-up to me.
Whatever a 28-year-old seemingly sensible man saw in this silly teenager, I did not understand even when I finished the novel. Feather could have made us see why Leo liked Cordelia besides her spirit, but she didn't use the opportunity to tell us more about their journey from Vienna to Paris. If these two were supposed to get to know each other for almost 3 weeks on that journey and the readers actually get a short glimpse of only the beginning of the journey... well, I must say that something's amiss and maybe Feather could have cut down on the intimate scenes instead.
About those intimate scenes... Yeah, Cordelia had her first orgasm with Leo, but I find it highly improbable that a girl such as herself would escape from her marriage bed (where her husband had just raped her, mind you) and ask Leo to make love to her. Or is it just me that finds this a bit cringe-worthy?
So much for a Cinderella retelling that I hoped for...
When I purchased my copy I didn't try to read other reviews on Goodreads (or anywhere on the web for that matter) and hoped that the blurb on the cover would give me the right idea about a possible Cinderella retelling. Even if it would be a very loosely based story but unfortunately it was not to be.
Instead I got a story of a 16-year-old girl who "falls in love" (more like in lust, if you ask me) with a man 12 years her senior. And he seems to fall for her as well... Despite the fact that he's to be her proxy-husband for almost a month till they travel from Vienna to Paris where Cordelia is to be married to man 30 years her senior. Alright, I can live with this. It has happened before that the people who are to be married are not in love. Maybe she won't go with her marriage in Paris and Cordelia and Leo will marry instead?
Yeah, too much to ask for.
I try to understand that this novel is loosely based on real historical events in the late 1760's, but I still find it pretty difficult to believe that the readers of today are all that comfortable with a couple where the girl is only 16 years old. I'm all for couples where one partner is older than the other one, but I must admit that I have to draw the line somewhere and my line is here. Here, where a sadistic man in his late 40s rapes his wife and we have to read about it more than once. Here, where a man in his late twenties seduces a teenage girl who didn't seem all that grown-up to me.
Whatever a 28-year-old seemingly sensible man saw in this silly teenager, I did not understand even when I finished the novel. Feather could have made us see why Leo liked Cordelia besides her spirit, but she didn't use the opportunity to tell us more about their journey from Vienna to Paris. If these two were supposed to get to know each other for almost 3 weeks on that journey and the readers actually get a short glimpse of only the beginning of the journey... well, I must say that something's amiss and maybe Feather could have cut down on the intimate scenes instead.
About those intimate scenes... Yeah, Cordelia had her first orgasm with Leo, but I find it highly improbable that a girl such as herself would escape from her marriage bed (where her husband had just raped her, mind you) and ask Leo to make love to her. Or is it just me that finds this a bit cringe-worthy?
So much for a Cinderella retelling that I hoped for...
April 25, 2013
I absolutely adore this book, it is in my top 10. The only things I didn't like were a few things seemed to be left unsaid between the main characters, but still very enjoyable!
April 23, 2013
2.5 stars. I love a heroine in pursuit and the heroine in this book was the one pursuing the honorable hero, but something just wasn't right. The hero was a little too dull, and the words of the villain "too gullible" for my liking, and the heroine a little too immature at the age of 16! Her antics just wasn't cute and I kept thinking the poor thing was just a child that didn't know better. It's weird because I read Almost Innocent which pretty much had the same story-line but I enjoyed that one a whole lot more than this.
January 29, 2012
Wow! This is an amazing book. I have never read a romance like it. Usually the woman is rescued from having to endure the evil husband/husband-to-be. But not THIS ONE! I was not expecting the depth of emotions. I loved that I was constantly surprised and on the edge of my seat. The story never grew tedious and I didn't find myself skimming the pages. Yea, yea, yea.. she's 16 and it's awkward to think of the age difference. But honestly, I forgot about her age a lot bc she didn't act her age. I'm definitely reading book two in this series
July 26, 2023
I loved the story line on this. It kept me very engaged. It was hard to put down as I had to know what was happening next. I was confused a touch here and there when it went into the workings of the court, but not enough to put down the book. I definitely want to read the next book in this series.
August 9, 2012
Excellent series.
Read
June 5, 2019Not for me. Immature heroine. She's sixteen, I'd give her a break in real life, but as this is fiction, I fortunately don't have to cope. What a relief !
March 30, 2009
i really liked this novel i just felt at times it was too brutal for my taste. The heroine's husband abused her during sex and he enjoyed it. you saw this fiery spirit become a subdued and battered women. if it wasn't for her love interest i probably wouldn't of like the book but at least at the end he got his. overall it was a good story and it had a happy ending but throughout the story it wasn't very happy in my opinion. if your looking for a light read this is not it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2012
I have just discovered Jane Feather...I know...I'm really late to this party. I loved this book. Fabulous love scenes and two characters I could really enjoy as I watched them fall in love.
October 22, 2024
'La scarpetta di diamanti' è il primo volume della trilogia Charm Bracelet (seguono 'La rosa d’argento' e 'Il cigno di smeraldi'). I romanzi non sono collegati tra di loro se non attraverso un bracciale prezioso che indossano le protagoniste a cui sono legate delle figure simboliche. Il braccialetto è stato donato a Cordelia dal principe von Sachsen.
A pag. 43 Cordelia, ammirando il braccialetto donatole dal promesso sposo (la giovane non sa ancora cosa le capiterà a Versailles), dice: “Mi piace la scarpetta. Mi fa pensare a Cenerentola che va al ballo”.
Nel leggerlo sono rimasto un attimo perplessa.
Mi sembra una frase che potrebbe pronunciare una ragazza d’oggi e meno una giovane alla corte di Maria Teresa d’Austria.
Sebbene Cenerentola sia una favola che affonda le radici negli albori della storia dell’umanità (le prime versioni risalgono addirittura all’antico Egitto), c’è qualcosa nel modo in cui viene pronunciata la frase che mi fa venire in mente che più leggerne la favola Cordelia abbia visto il film di Walt Disney.
Studio quindi la storia della favola, eliminando tutte le versioni arrivate dopo (a partire da quella firmata dai fratelli Grimm, pubblicata nel 1812) e scopro che due sono le versioni principali conosciute all’epoca: quella di Gianbattista Basile, in italiano, del 1634, e quella di Perrault del 1697. Nella prima versione, assai più cupa (la protagonista arriverà ad uccidere la matrigna) in nome dell’eroina è Zezolla. Nella seconda è Cendrillon.
Se Cordelia avesse letto la favola di Basile, avrebbe dovuto dire “Mi fa pensare alla Gatta Cenerentola”, perché così veniva definita Zezolla.
Quindi rimane Perrault.
In effetti la fiaba di Perrault è molto simile a quella di Walt Disney e potrebbe Cordelia averla letta? In tedesco no, perché furono tradotte solo in seguito. Rimane la possibilità che le abbia lette in francese (ma allora avrebbe dovuta chiamarla Cendrillon). Personalmente a me sembra quello che nei giochi di ruolo viene chiamato metagame, in cui l’autrice introduce fatti ed elementi del proprio bagaglio culturale, che in realtà i personaggi non possono conoscere.
La parte più interessante del libro è quella dedicata al viaggio intrapreso da Maria Antonietta per andare in Francia. Nella prima parte del trasferimento, la principessa è accompagnata dal fratello maggiore Giuseppe II, già imperatore d’Austria al fianco della madre.
Poche battute, quasi relegate in un piano secondario se non terziario, ma che mi hanno indotto a riflettere. Molto. Moltissimo.
Nei brevi dialoghi che intercorrono tra i fratelli si evince l’importanza strategica e politica di questo matrimonio, per siglare con forza un’alleanza tra la Francia e l’impero austro-ungarico nel cuore dell’Europa e di come la Francia prendesse la giovane principessa (e la sua cospicua dote) per un accordo che, ovviamente, ci si aspettava che fosse rispettato.
I due fratelli si salutano con un addio forte e sentito e per Maria Antonietta inizia l’avventura francese che tutti sappiamo come andrà a finire.
Ora, io mi sono chiesta… e l’Austria? Come ha potuto permettere che dilagasse la Rivoluzione? E soprattutto come ha potuto non reagire quando la principessa asburgica è stata decapitata in piazza a Parigi di fronte alla folla festante?
Politicamente non era possibile un suo non intervento. Giuseppe II poteva veramente aver abbandonato la sorella?
Per scoprire gli approfondimenti sulla questione visitate il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
A pag. 43 Cordelia, ammirando il braccialetto donatole dal promesso sposo (la giovane non sa ancora cosa le capiterà a Versailles), dice: “Mi piace la scarpetta. Mi fa pensare a Cenerentola che va al ballo”.
Nel leggerlo sono rimasto un attimo perplessa.
Mi sembra una frase che potrebbe pronunciare una ragazza d’oggi e meno una giovane alla corte di Maria Teresa d’Austria.
Sebbene Cenerentola sia una favola che affonda le radici negli albori della storia dell’umanità (le prime versioni risalgono addirittura all’antico Egitto), c’è qualcosa nel modo in cui viene pronunciata la frase che mi fa venire in mente che più leggerne la favola Cordelia abbia visto il film di Walt Disney.
Studio quindi la storia della favola, eliminando tutte le versioni arrivate dopo (a partire da quella firmata dai fratelli Grimm, pubblicata nel 1812) e scopro che due sono le versioni principali conosciute all’epoca: quella di Gianbattista Basile, in italiano, del 1634, e quella di Perrault del 1697. Nella prima versione, assai più cupa (la protagonista arriverà ad uccidere la matrigna) in nome dell’eroina è Zezolla. Nella seconda è Cendrillon.
Se Cordelia avesse letto la favola di Basile, avrebbe dovuto dire “Mi fa pensare alla Gatta Cenerentola”, perché così veniva definita Zezolla.
Quindi rimane Perrault.
In effetti la fiaba di Perrault è molto simile a quella di Walt Disney e potrebbe Cordelia averla letta? In tedesco no, perché furono tradotte solo in seguito. Rimane la possibilità che le abbia lette in francese (ma allora avrebbe dovuta chiamarla Cendrillon). Personalmente a me sembra quello che nei giochi di ruolo viene chiamato metagame, in cui l’autrice introduce fatti ed elementi del proprio bagaglio culturale, che in realtà i personaggi non possono conoscere.
La parte più interessante del libro è quella dedicata al viaggio intrapreso da Maria Antonietta per andare in Francia. Nella prima parte del trasferimento, la principessa è accompagnata dal fratello maggiore Giuseppe II, già imperatore d’Austria al fianco della madre.
Poche battute, quasi relegate in un piano secondario se non terziario, ma che mi hanno indotto a riflettere. Molto. Moltissimo.
Nei brevi dialoghi che intercorrono tra i fratelli si evince l’importanza strategica e politica di questo matrimonio, per siglare con forza un’alleanza tra la Francia e l’impero austro-ungarico nel cuore dell’Europa e di come la Francia prendesse la giovane principessa (e la sua cospicua dote) per un accordo che, ovviamente, ci si aspettava che fosse rispettato.
I due fratelli si salutano con un addio forte e sentito e per Maria Antonietta inizia l’avventura francese che tutti sappiamo come andrà a finire.
Ora, io mi sono chiesta… e l’Austria? Come ha potuto permettere che dilagasse la Rivoluzione? E soprattutto come ha potuto non reagire quando la principessa asburgica è stata decapitata in piazza a Parigi di fronte alla folla festante?
Politicamente non era possibile un suo non intervento. Giuseppe II poteva veramente aver abbandonato la sorella?
Per scoprire gli approfondimenti sulla questione visitate il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
March 6, 2019
It's been a little while since I have read a "silly" romance, but as I am going through some stressful things in my life I thought a little escapism was in order. Unfortunately, after reading books written by literary giants, my brain had a hard time adjusting and I found myself sifting through book after book before I found one that could keep my interest. And I am not at all surprised that the one I landed on was authored by Jane Feather.
Jane Feather is a good author. It is that simple. She writes well. So well, in fact, that one can read her and immerse themselves in the story without feeling the need to question or over analyze the elements or style of the writing. Her books are fun and easygoing but also intelligent and complex. And most importantly, her characters are believable and ones I find myself rooting for and loving. And I need a character that I can love right about now.
Overall, hero worship of Jane Feather aside, this is a good book. When compared to other books of its genre, it is a great book. It's both exactly what you expect while also carrying the edge characteristic to the author. I definitely intend to read the next books in the series.
Jane Feather is a good author. It is that simple. She writes well. So well, in fact, that one can read her and immerse themselves in the story without feeling the need to question or over analyze the elements or style of the writing. Her books are fun and easygoing but also intelligent and complex. And most importantly, her characters are believable and ones I find myself rooting for and loving. And I need a character that I can love right about now.
Overall, hero worship of Jane Feather aside, this is a good book. When compared to other books of its genre, it is a great book. It's both exactly what you expect while also carrying the edge characteristic to the author. I definitely intend to read the next books in the series.
January 23, 2022
If you are disturbed by abuse in a marriage, this book might not be for you.
16-year-old Lady Cordelia Brandenburg, BFF of Marie Antoinette is betrothed at the same time, and will also go to Paris and Versailles to be wed. The man who comes to escort her, Viscount Kierston, Leo Beaumont is entranced by her, and she loves him with the fervor of first love.
She is to marry Prince Michael of Prussia, she will be Princess von Sachsen. She marries Leo as proxy for the journey.
In this book, you KNOW that the marriage will be bad, as the book starts out with the fact that he poisoned his first wife, Leo's twin sister. But unlike the beautifully perfect life of some romances, she is not spared the marriage match made for her in the 1760s.
Mathilde, her wet-nurse/maid/abigail is such a great character in this book.
16-year-old Lady Cordelia Brandenburg, BFF of Marie Antoinette is betrothed at the same time, and will also go to Paris and Versailles to be wed. The man who comes to escort her, Viscount Kierston, Leo Beaumont is entranced by her, and she loves him with the fervor of first love.
She is to marry Prince Michael of Prussia, she will be Princess von Sachsen. She marries Leo as proxy for the journey.
In this book, you KNOW that the marriage will be bad, as the book starts out with the fact that he poisoned his first wife, Leo's twin sister. But unlike the beautifully perfect life of some romances, she is not spared the marriage match made for her in the 1760s.
Mathilde, her wet-nurse/maid/abigail is such a great character in this book.
October 11, 2022
Colpa mia, avevo aspettative troppo alte su questo romanzo e, oltretutto, mi sono lasciata affascinare da un inizio molto innovativo e promettente, ambientato nell'inconsueto scenario della corte austriaca di Maria Teresa all'epoca della partenza di Antonietta per la Francia e del matrimonio con il Delfino.
Purtroppo però, continuando con la vicenda, il romanzo si è popolato di ben due delle caratteristiche che più detesto nel genere romance:
- L'ambientazione francese (e Maria Antonietta al top della classifica)
- Lo stupro della protagonista
Senza contare una protagonista davvero mocciosetta e un eroe insipido quanto il principe imbaccalito di Cenerentola.
Peccato, quando ho iniziato il libro ero davvero su di giri e molto felice della scoperta che si è poi trasformata in una delusione cocente
Purtroppo però, continuando con la vicenda, il romanzo si è popolato di ben due delle caratteristiche che più detesto nel genere romance:
- L'ambientazione francese (e Maria Antonietta al top della classifica)
- Lo stupro della protagonista
Senza contare una protagonista davvero mocciosetta e un eroe insipido quanto il principe imbaccalito di Cenerentola.
Peccato, quando ho iniziato il libro ero davvero su di giri e molto felice della scoperta che si è poi trasformata in una delusione cocente
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
This book is well written as all Feather's works are. Just finished rereading a delightful holiday book she wrote. This one was not delightful for me, too dark. Spousal abuse, rape, murder are all in Prince Michael's arsenal. Cordelia's guardian has married her off to the Prussian prince and glad to be rid of her. Leo, an English viscount, is uncle to the Prince's two daughters, children of his late sister. Cordelia sees Leo approach the Austrian palace where she resides near her friend, Marie Antoinette, and immediately is attracted to him, throwing roses out her window. Little does she know he's been sent to marry her by proxy to Prince Michael. As I read this, I thought most times I can't wait for the next book in the series but not this series. Then I got to the end and found I've already read it. That one is a bit dark but nothing like this one.
September 29, 2024
Sempre gosto de ler essa autora, no entanto, esta me defraudou. Mocinha casa aos 16 com um homem quarentão viúvo. Sadomasoquista que a estupra recorrente, bate... Porém, ela mesmo apanhando não se dobra. É desafiante, mesmo diante das adversidades. Se apaixonou imediatamente pelo irmão da finada também mais velho com a qual era gêmeo, sabia que tinha algo de errado na morte do irmã e quem descobre tudo a mocinha. Eu o achei um pouco sem personalidade. Ela merecia alguém mais forte. O viúvo tinha duas filhas gêmeas adoráveis. Porém, já planejava o casamento delas com 7 anos. O que mais me impactou foi a crueldade e a mente doentia do viúvo. Um personagem que odiei pela barbaridade. Alguns personagens históricos como Maria Antonieta e parte da familia do esposo.
December 5, 2017
posso tollerare un libro con una trama che langue nell'attesa di un evento che lo riscatti, ma non posso tollerare gli abusi sessuali nei confronti della protagonista 16enne vergine (e innamorata di un conte) da parte di un principe con 30 anni in più di lei. promessa oppure no, sarebbe già abbastanza come condanna a vita. aggiungerci le sevizie mi sembra eccessivo e così chiudo.
July 27, 2020
Read on February 17, 2018
Skipped through most of it. Was not entertaining. Violent.
Skipped through most of it. Was not entertaining. Violent.
October 8, 2020
Fun!
I usually dont like instant love books. It worked here! There are some pretty brutal rapes in the book, they were not described in detail but if was still upsetting..
I usually dont like instant love books. It worked here! There are some pretty brutal rapes in the book, they were not described in detail but if was still upsetting..
February 27, 2021
Sexy romance but with a good story. Really felt for the characters and their troubles.
December 25, 2022
if i could give this book -5 stars i would
May 24, 2023
The 18th century is too early for my tastes ... while a happy end, what a generally horrid story
March 28, 2025
Liked it.
April 12, 2018
Here's the thing: I did not like the plotline because I am not comfortable with adultery plotlines. However, for whatever reason, ten years after I read this book, I can't forget it.
June 20, 2012
This one is kind of Silver Nights retold. Cordelia Brandenburg, an orphan fostered at the Austrian court alongside the young Marie Antoinette, is given in an arranged marriage to a Prussian prince who attends the French court. She's married by proxy to the prince, with his friend Viscount Leo Kierston standing in for her husband, then he's to escort her to France along with Marie Antoinette's party.
Thing is, Cordelia falls in love at first sight with Leo. She pretty much pursues him the whole way to her husband, without much regard for the ethics or morals of it (here she differs from the heroine in Silver Nights, who doesn't much like her escort, at least at first). For Leo's part, he thinks she's a scandalous little brat, but he can't seem to stop kissing her whenever they get close.
Leo's sister was the prince's first wife, and she died suddenly of a wasting illness while he was away. He's suffering from guilt and an uncomfortable dislike of the prince, but he plays the friend because he wants to stay near his young nieces. He has a fair idea that Cordelia and her hubby aren't going to get on well, but he doesn't try very hard to reel in her behavior or help her try to conform to what's expected of her.
And the prince (no spoiler here, since it happens in the first scene) is actually a real creep who murdered his first wife, and enjoys making women fear him.
Leo sees the same flashes of fear or misery in Cordelia's eyes that he saw in his sister's, and eventually gets a clue. The denouement is a bit dodgy; I didn't like the way Leo handled it, because it seemed he cared more for his revenge than for Cordelia or his nieces. But I did like the characters, in general, and the story. Almost as much as Silver Nights.
Thing is, Cordelia falls in love at first sight with Leo. She pretty much pursues him the whole way to her husband, without much regard for the ethics or morals of it (here she differs from the heroine in Silver Nights, who doesn't much like her escort, at least at first). For Leo's part, he thinks she's a scandalous little brat, but he can't seem to stop kissing her whenever they get close.
Leo's sister was the prince's first wife, and she died suddenly of a wasting illness while he was away. He's suffering from guilt and an uncomfortable dislike of the prince, but he plays the friend because he wants to stay near his young nieces. He has a fair idea that Cordelia and her hubby aren't going to get on well, but he doesn't try very hard to reel in her behavior or help her try to conform to what's expected of her.
And the prince (no spoiler here, since it happens in the first scene) is actually a real creep who murdered his first wife, and enjoys making women fear him.
Leo sees the same flashes of fear or misery in Cordelia's eyes that he saw in his sister's, and eventually gets a clue. The denouement is a bit dodgy; I didn't like the way Leo handled it, because it seemed he cared more for his revenge than for Cordelia or his nieces. But I did like the characters, in general, and the story. Almost as much as Silver Nights.
February 28, 2023
3.5 stars
definitely the best book in the series. i don't even know where to start. Cordelia was such a breath of fresh air compared to all the other mcs i loved and related to her so much. at her age she realizes her potential and wants to show Leo how mature she is that's such a girlboss move. speaking of maturity, did anyone realize that none of the mcs parents in the trilogy are alive???
maybe it's just me and the fact I can't commit but the way she said i love you several times so soon made me cringe. i think she cheapened the word for Leo. adverse to that, their banter was definitely my favourite.
honorable mention characters, Christopher was such. good friend. I loved how they were close PLATONIC friends. usually in romance books it's hard to find without one secretly having a crush on the other. next up we have MATHILDE MY LOVE. she was such a good role model i loved her so much. the book would not have been the same without her. she's so badass and an apothecary???? men should kneel before her.
definitely the best book in the series. i don't even know where to start. Cordelia was such a breath of fresh air compared to all the other mcs i loved and related to her so much. at her age she realizes her potential and wants to show Leo how mature she is that's such a girlboss move. speaking of maturity, did anyone realize that none of the mcs parents in the trilogy are alive???
maybe it's just me and the fact I can't commit but the way she said i love you several times so soon made me cringe. i think she cheapened the word for Leo. adverse to that, their banter was definitely my favourite.
honorable mention characters, Christopher was such. good friend. I loved how they were close PLATONIC friends. usually in romance books it's hard to find without one secretly having a crush on the other. next up we have MATHILDE MY LOVE. she was such a good role model i loved her so much. the book would not have been the same without her. she's so badass and an apothecary???? men should kneel before her.
February 27, 2011
Un romance originale, che mi ha sorpresa molto positivamente. Inanzitutto l'ho trovato diverso ed atipico rispetto alla quasi totalità dei romance letti: questa volta è lei, innamorata fin da subito, che corre dietro a lui, che inizialmente si mostra indifferente, non per tattica, ma perchè lo è veramente, a differenza di molti romance dove lui insegue lei quasi senza un motivo apparente. Già questo cambio di ruoli e di prospettiva mi ha piacevolmente impressionato. I due protagonisti crescono nel corso del romanzo, con lei che da bambina viziata diviene donna consapevole delle difficoltà della vita, e lui che mostra di essere un personaggio maschile dalle molte sfaccettature, con le sue ombre e le sue debolezze, che prende coscienza dei suoi sentimenti forse troppo tardi, e che non appare mai come l'eroe infallibile e il cavaliere tutto d'un pezzo. Quello che mi ha convinto del tutto poi è stata la profondità e l'attenzione mostrata dall'autrice nella narrazione delle sofferenze e delle pene inflitte alla protagonista: nulla è lasciato all'immaginazione, e forse per la prima volta il cattivo prende il sopravvento sull'eroe per quasi tutto il romanzo, e Cordelia deve passare per un lungo tragitto di sofferenze, molto umane e reali, prima di avere il suo lieto fine. Consigliatissimo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
Abbasso le mocciosette!
Ebbene si, sembrerò cattiva ma la protagonista di questo racconto l'avrei seviziata a vita. Sono stata più contenta dei patimenti subiti dal marito che per l' "amore..." provato per Leo.
Quando mai non ho retto una mocciosetta simile che tutta spudorata biricchinaggine è una campionessa a letto e una sfrontata smorzata a voce?
L'unica cosa piacevole è ritrovare Maria Antonietta e Versaille le mie due passioni sfrenate con tutto il lusso e la leggiadria che ne compete. Ma per il resto la storia può anche essere eclissata dai valletti e servitori vari.
Lei fortunatamente matura durante il libro, riesce a far illuminare il proprio cervello da quell'oscura mambassa fanciullesca che l'ha contraddistinta fortemente.
Lo stile non è male ma a volte avevo dei sensibili cali di attenzione sulla vicenda da non sottovalutare.
Ebbene si, sembrerò cattiva ma la protagonista di questo racconto l'avrei seviziata a vita. Sono stata più contenta dei patimenti subiti dal marito che per l' "amore..." provato per Leo.
Quando mai non ho retto una mocciosetta simile che tutta spudorata biricchinaggine è una campionessa a letto e una sfrontata smorzata a voce?
L'unica cosa piacevole è ritrovare Maria Antonietta e Versaille le mie due passioni sfrenate con tutto il lusso e la leggiadria che ne compete. Ma per il resto la storia può anche essere eclissata dai valletti e servitori vari.
Lei fortunatamente matura durante il libro, riesce a far illuminare il proprio cervello da quell'oscura mambassa fanciullesca che l'ha contraddistinta fortemente.
Lo stile non è male ma a volte avevo dei sensibili cali di attenzione sulla vicenda da non sottovalutare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2011
Not my favorite Feather - partly due to the age discrepancy...even if 16 was ripe for matrimony at that time. Also the stupid risks they took were too... stupid. Towards the end I did warm up to it. I know I read (and traded) another in this series and enjoyed it... and was wondering about the third by the time I finished.
August 18, 2010
I read this book quite awhile ago, but I thought it fit nicely into the group category. Although it has been so long and I don't remember it all, I do remember thinking Leo should have done more, however I still thought it was interesting.
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