The Bookseller's Daughter

by Pam Rosenthal

During the French Revolution, scullery maid and avid reader Marie-Laure Vernet succumbs to forbidden passion with Viscount Joseph d'Auvers-Raimond, a smuggler of forbidden books, against a backdrop of murder and betrayal. Original. 35,000 first printing.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Erotica, France

319 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

A funny thing happened to San Francisco computer programmer and occasional essayist Pam Rosenthal: sometime in the late 1990s she became seized by an urge to write sexy period romance novels. She’d already published some erotica, buoyed by a wave of life-changing feminist discussion about what was possible, permissible, or just plain fun to say about female sexual desire. This led her to explore the history of sexual expression – and to think hard about what love has to do with sex and sex with love, and what sex and love have to do with freedom and respect between equals.

Or to put it another way, she’d begun taking on the big subjects at the heart of countless lives and also at the heart of romance fiction.

It was the experience of a lifetime, culminating in 2009 – which was when The Edge of Impropriety won Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Best Historical Romance. And also when Pam realized that she’d said all that she had to say, at least in novel form.

But happily, the books remain, while these days Pam works alongside Michael, her retired bookseller husband, at their copyediting business, P&M Editorial Services. P&M love editing romance (check out their website at pmeditorial.com) and recently they've begun lovingly reissuing selected, revised, and expanded versions of Pam’s romance fiction.

You can write to Pam at pam@pamrosenthal.com

Visit Pam on the web at pamrosenthal.com, on Twitter @pamrosenthal, and on Facebook

Find out about P&M Editorial Services at pmeditorial.com

Or check out Pam’s erotica-writing alter ego Molly Weatherfield, at mollyweatherfield.com

“Thank you for giving me so much to think about. Thank you for challenging me and for moving me. Thank you for having the courage to break so many conventions, to write something so complex and unique…” – DearAuthor.com, about The Slightest Provocation

Reviews

[Wollstonecrafthomegirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s no getting away from the fact that this was a disappointment. However, that’s because I am grading on a Rosenthal curve – I loved all three of her other books and there’s no getting away from the fact that this didn’t match them (I think that’s the objective reality of it as well, rather than just my opinion). This is her first novel to be fair. It picked up in the last quarter or so and thus my disappointment has softened somewhat and I feel it is worthy of 3 stars. But there were points during this when I thought it might get 2 stars. There were even points during this when I thought about giving up.

Perhaps some of my own prejudices have come through because this book contains some elements I really dislike in romance:

- It’s set in pre-revolutionary France (don’t even get me started – I have strong views about late 18th century France and the aristocracy which mean that it’s difficult for a romance author to write convincingly about the period and the place. Not to mention that we all know what's just round the corner for these people, you ain't gonna live HEA in your little chateaux - it's like setting a love story in 1910).
- Huge class and thus power disparity between the H/h.
- The hero is a rake, the heroine a virgin.
- A mystery element to the plot.

So, some of my least favourite things. Perhaps why I left this PR book until last.

PR writes well, and this book is no different. And she writes sex very well, although there’s a lot of it in this book, perhaps too much.

I think the problem here is that Rosenthal is inclined to sacrifice dialogue and character interactions for description and prose. Generally her romances are built more on telling than showing and a heady dose of shared lust. This worked fine for me in her other three books because I thought the writing was outstanding and the plotting had me believing the relationships, so whilst I would have appreciated a bit more interaction between my H/h I could live without it. Here, however, we have a whole relationship based on one night of shared conversation between the two characters, which we as readers don’t experience to any great degree (it’s sort of told in flashback). Then they meet again when the heroine is a servant in the hero’s father's house (the hero being the second son of a Duc) and they’re completely taken away with their feelings for one another which so miraculously developed during that one fateful night. I just didn’t buy it. There is such a disparity between the two of them (not intellectually) but in the form of life they’ve lived and are living it was just not believable to me that they would feel this way about one another. The disparity in their stations could have been a useful mechanism for angst and drama, it’s hinted at, but PR never committed to it.

Then there were plot points which were daft. Joseph leaves Marie behind when he goes to Paris, with a brother he knows has designs on her and a villainous sister in law (a character I sort of loved, and I am incrediblY glad that come about 1793 she’ll likely lose her head). Marie’s desire to stay and ‘make her own way’ bought her into TSTL territory - even more of a problem when we are told this is a heroine who is clever. Her escape from said villainous family members hinges on one helluva a convenient coincidence. The mystery is resolved in a big rush and with the extremely useful and unlikely presence of Joseph to save the day. Then the two are able to marry ridiculously easily in spite of the massive obstacle in their way namely that the hero marries someone else during the course of the book, but, of course, very conveniently she’s a lesbian . These were very unsubtle manoeuvres. Perhaps if Rosenthal had tried to do less with the plotting overall it would have been better.

There were other plotting issues. The H/h spend about 40% of the book apart in the second half. Again, it left me with the impression that, save for writing sex scenes, Rosenthal doesn’t want to write interactions between her H/h. Although, there was an exchange of letters which was well done, if, again, reliant on sex.

I’ve been very critical, but: there’s a lot to take from this romance. It’s ambitious (over-ambitious, really) but fundamentally well written in terms of language and historical setting. I did read it all the way through and it picked up significantly for me when Marie and Joseph were reunited. I did like them as a couple, even if I thought the foundation of their relationship wasn’t adequately written and, as characters, I did care what came of them both. On balance I did like this, but it was not the book for which I was hoping.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something felt off about this one...

No question that Pam Rosenthal writes beautifully, but this one missed the grand slam one would expect from such a gifted writer. I never emotionally connected with either character, and without that connection I’m not exactly engaged with their plight. Both MCs felt one dimensional, neither exciting nor energizing. I didn’t think they were special.

I appreciated the time they spent together, connecting because of mutual interests, but a deeper connection was underdeveloped. Once they began a sexual relationship, I believed the love even less. It was almost as if they swapped one connection for another one. Nothing concrete can be built that way; you’re just stacking upward while removing the foundation. In the end I didn’t really believe they were in love- and the epilogue confirmed that for me.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book, but I now have to admit to having loved the idea of it more than its execution, at least as far as the romance is concerned. Admirable level of historical research, beautiful prose, but the love story lacked that je ne sais quoi in terms of real connection outside the bedroom.

Pam Rosenthal is a gifted writer with a penchant for including actual historical figures and events in her stories. Every character and their motivations are drawn to perfection and they all shine in their idiosyncrasies, even those you love to hate.

My only, but quite relevant, issue was with the main couple of the story, who were fascinated with each other from their first meeting and quite believably fell deeply in lust less than 24 hours after their reunion months later. I normally quite enjoy cross class romance (even though the class differences separating the two main characters were far bigger than I’m used to in the genre: the H being a Vicomte and the h a bookseller’s daughter turned scullery maid), but in this case I had the impression that their life experiences were so different as to always keep them apart, and their world views never really aligned.

When the heroine admits in the Epilogue that she and the hero, although married and settled in Philadelphia, lead two very different professional lives and he sometimes stays away for long period of time because of his diplomatic work....I’ve never been less surprised in my life.

At a certain point it even felt like they chose to get married because they happened to be reunited and they’d had a kid? I never felt like they really wanted to spend time together or would enjoy each other’s company without having sex. On the other hand they DO have chemistry, and their story would’ve benefited from the two of them getting the chance to truly know each other before diving headlong into an affair and then marriage. Insta-lust notwithstanding, this was a wonderfully written and truly exceptional example of historical fiction, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Cameron Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book! Pam Rosenthal's sex scenes are really beautiful. That the two main characters connect over books, to me, was totally believable. I am married to someone who loves books as I do. This book is a lush swoon into pre-revolutionary war France and I now plan to dive into all of the author's other titles.

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bookseller's daughter in pre-revolutionary France falls for a rakish nobleman with proletarian sympathies and a fondness for American political views.

For those of you who enjoy romance as a genre, especially historical romance, I thought this book was a lot of fun. Within all the formulaic genre tropes, there was a lot of creativity here, quality writing, great page-turner pacing, and I thought it was very well researched - I happened to have read and loved The Forbidden Best-Sellers of Pre-Revolutionary France by scholar Robert Darnton, which was the main source this book was based off of, and I love that she took historical figures from it and made characters of them. Is the plotline remotely believable? Not so much, but if you can suspend disbelief, a thoroughly enjoyable romp and guilty pleasure. Tons of steamy, wicked sex scenes, a few bordering on light kink, and a nice lesbian subplot to boot - for me it was a little bit too heavy on the romance with an excess of gratuitous and anatomically detailed erotic scenes that didn't contribute to moving the plot forward, but those of you who like that sort of thing will like it, and I still found a lot to enjoy here!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um... well... this not what I was expecting. A "bodice-ripper" would describe this book perfectly. And the "historical" part of this novel is definitely fictional.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be different than I had expected, but I very much enjoyed it!

The French Revolution is not an era I am typically drawn to in books, but this book is set some years before the actual start of the Revolution, so the depressing and violent stuff is not a major part of this book, which was a plus for me.

Really, with a title like this, I was almost guaranteed to be drawn to the book, and the love of and discussion of books is a big part of the story, so the title lived up to its description and was very enjoyable.

When I bought this book, I expected it to be historical fiction. That is part of the story, but this is predominantly a romance, with some historical aspects wrapped around it. That isn't a criticism, as I enjoy a romance that is more nuanced, with other components than JUST a romance. And this author is very talented at setting a mood, creating atmosphere and building suspense for the reader. The historical setting of the book, and the fact that Joseph and Marie-Laure come from completely different classes and worlds allows for plenty of suspense and drama as the plot plays out.

The pacing of this book was simply excellent! The ebbs and flows of the story really kept me engrossed, and the way the characters, their stories, and their personalities were presented made it very easy to like these people and root for their ultimate happiness and success.

This is also a very easy to read book. The writing is excellent; balancing character development with plot points offering both excitement and heart-stopping fearful moments, as well as the aforementioned romance.

A note about the romance - the book has multiple, detailed sex scenes, and while they are in no way excessive or over-the-top, they are explicit, so if that's not your thing, this may not be the book for you. If you have read any other romances that include sex scenes this book shouldn't be an issue, and the historical aspects really up the ante on making this story readable and enjoyable from many different perspectives.

Also a neat aspect were cameos by real historical figures, like Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Sade. The historical setting and the discussions of the political environment in France at this time were interesting and well done and added an extra level of interest and intensity to the story. I really enjoyed this!

[joyanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fair warning, this book is very spicy. You can skip over the scenes without missing context, however, there are many scenes to skip. The story line was intriguing, but the lust between the two main characters was unnecessary.

[The Romance Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review at Night Owl Reviews.

4.5 stars

Review Excerpt:

From the very start, Marie-Laure displays her unyielding spirit and indomitable will, and we see that despite her lowly status, it is clearly she who is too good for Joseph. But as THE BOOKSELLER’S DAUGHTER progresses, Joseph is forced to come to terms with his useless existence, and by the end, he has grown emotionally into a fully adult man worthy of her heart. Even though I had an idea of how and where they would ultimately end up together, the journey there kept me riveted the entire time, and made the seemingly inevitable ending even more enjoyable for me. It’s a wonderful historical romance well worth reading. (Copyright Night Owl Reviews)

[Brynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a book for escape into a romantic story, but Rosenthal makes the time period historically accurate and interesting. She also writes a very strong female character who one is able to relate with and cheer for as she makes her own way.

[Rachel C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical romance set in pre-revolutionary France. Pros: A lot of unexpected plot twists and a palpable chemistry between the two main characters. Cons: The heroine is ridiculously naive; the villains are consistently smarter than the good guys; the ending is farfetched.

[Katrina Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it shares some level of explicitness with the stereotype of the romance genre, the writing style and varied vocabulary set this apart from most, if I may, "smut" books. The heroine is likable and easy to relate to and faces difficult situations with grace as well as determination.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time between 3 and 4-stars. I finally gave a 4-star because I just enjoyed the book so much. The only downside was the middle part of the book; so much emphasis on the historical events but not enough on the characters.

[Ani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has very well written erotic scenes. Very well written. Very erotic. The hero and heroine also spend some time apart, but they exchange letters that melted my heart. Set in pre-Revolution France, it is a great historical. My own prejudice is that the French Revolutionary period is so bad is reality, that I have a hard time not being sad when reading it.
The plot and subplots are entertaining, and there is even an amusing cameo.
My other complaint is that his family are almost a caricatures.

[Ktmholm · Rating 2 out of 5]

You might say it was lust at first (and second) sight. The first happened when Joseph delivered a load of contraband books to the bookstore owned by Marie-Laure’s father. The second came months later, when, returning home for his father’s illness, Vicomte Joseph was astounded to see her working as kitchen maid in his family home.
Though predictable at times, especially when portraying the lives of pampered French aristocrats (and the sex scenes), the plot picks up some unexpected and interesting story lines as the story develops.

[melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. i actually read this last year at some point, but honestly this happening in prerevolutionary france is weird b/c you know what's coming to these self absorbed, awful aristos in a few years. the power dynamic in the relationship is completely imbalanced, and the plot felt too meandering at times. would i like this more on a re-read? maybe, but i'm not inclined to try.

[Lora Carrillo St John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was difficult to put down. The only thing I struggled with was keeping up with some of the many characters. Especially when they have multiple names/titles. I almost wished I'd kept a list as I went. But I'm the end, it wasn't that overwhelming. Rosenthal 's ability to keep the reader poised for delectible anticipation is award worthy. : )
Very beautifully written.

[Sharon A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little bit serious historical fiction, little bit bodice ripper, little bit preachy underdog; this book reached high and tried to cover it all. It was interesting, and the spice was well-done, but the preachy, plucky commoner who wants to go her own way instead of being cared for by the wealthy aristocrat was a bit heavy-handed. All said I enjoyed it and it was a quick read.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book fairly entertaining. It was basically a historical fiction with a little bit of raciness, which I really appreciated. It was a good book for a little escapism; a vacation of the mind.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first romance book. A distracting summer read.

[Lydiane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was first published on my Blogger account on May 2, 2014.

First read (2014): 4.5 stars

Overall impression:
Mon dieu, I don't know where to start. I picked up this novel because I thought it was an erotic historical romance. I had high hopes; I haven't read a well-written, actual-plot-with-depths-and-character-growths erotica/romantica in a long, long while (well, there's Cara McKenna, but Ms McKenna writes contemporary romance). Through a series of unfortunate events and serendipities, I stumbled upon this page in which I saw a reader wrote that Pam Rosenthal "... writes like a dream". And indeed, she writes like a dream, I'm pleased to note later.

Main characters:
I'm happy to report that Marie-Laure is not another TSTL heroine and Joseph doesn't partake in brooding [as a sport] seriously, which is a common disease that plagues most historical romance heroes. In fact, after reading so many historical romances, I've begun to believe that it's a secret, unwritten rule that they must partake in brooding; it's like a secret sport where only men are allowed to take part in, much like the membership at the White's.

These two are no one-dimensional characters, in fact, these two are very unusual. Unusual for two fictional characters bound to a historical romance setting, but not unusual in everyday life. In my mind's eye, Marie-Laure is both softness and hardness. Strong, loving, reticent, graceful, determined. A woman who is not afraid to answer untoward advances with a swift kick in the groin. A woman who faces indignity with grace and admirable reticence and is not stupid to stay to see the shite hits the fan, pardon my French. Joseph, meanwhile, is a vulnerable character in spite of his obvious hardness, which makes him easy to relate to. He is believable, I'm pleased to note. The best part? These two are both book lovers (Marie-Laure plans to open her own bookshop and Joseph is a former book smuggler and a writer).

Secondary characters:
Very well fleshed-out. Interesting, colourful characters. The characters who hold the villain cards are somewhat muted (a bit one-dimensional, but then again, that's villains for you) though believable, however.

Plot and details:
The story begins almost immediately. For that one afternoon, I was in France. The bookseller's daughter is serving tea in the drawing room to none other than the second son of the Duc, Joseph, shaky hands and with her nerves jumping all over the place. In a series of well-placed, short, and easy to follow flashbacks, Marie-Laure shows the readers how they meet for the first time. The story picks up very quickly after that, leaving no pauses and breaks for me for the first half of the novel. I find the second half to be somewhat emotional. If the screen of my iPad could bleed, it would. I don't know how many times I actually tsk-tsked at the screen. No ridiculous twists, that is, until much, much later ... in a scene that involves a stand-off at the balcony and an escape from a place no one is expected to escape from (right, I share the inspector's bafflement with that one).

Romance:
Strangers to book smuggler/bookseller to good friends to lovers. No frustrating are-they-going-to-yes?-no? conundrums, thank heavens. For a good while everyone thinks they are scorching the sheets night after night, when in actuality these two are actually exhausting themselves talking and arguing about what else? Books, of course. I didn't quite see why this novel is on the erotica/romantica pile, that is, until they decide to abandon the books and start their body geography lessons. But the love scenes are surprisingly well-written and only a bit erotic, leaving me somewhat glad and baffled at the same time as to why anyone would throw this into the erotica/romantica basket.

Reading playlist:
Hooverphonic, "Mad About You"
Kirsten Dunst, "Dream of Me"
Plumb, "Stranded"

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember how I came across this book, or why I added it to my to-read shelf because I've never read a "historical romance" before. Perhaps it came up on a search for The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson, which is definitely more up my alley. Regardless of how or why I came across it, I read it from cover to cover in a very short period of time. The publisher's blurb basically summarizes the first 150 pages or so, and then the novel plods on for another 150 pages. There is so much going on overall in the book that I feel like the author couldn't quite decide what she wanted the book to be. For example, there are sections of steamy sex, but there are also sections of semi-erudite discussion of period philosophy. There is a murder mystery and some chateau intrigue. There are descriptions of aristocratic life, scullery life, middle class life, prison life, provincial life and Parisian life. Ben Franklin and Marquis de Sade make cameo appearances. There is even some medicine and midwifery thrown in. But the author didn't spend enough time or space on any one area to really convey richness or texture. But maybe that is what "historical romance" is all about. I have a feeling that The Bookseller's Daughter is the genre at its best, so for my own sake I'd better stick with either literary fiction or unabashed trashy romances. However, overall, it wasn't an awful way to spend a few evenings reading.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book because I thought (for some reason -- maybe the cover art) that it was historical fiction. Instead, it was historical romance, and it included many of the things that really annoy me about that genre. In particular, when the book (or film) is all about modern people with modern morals and sentiments, dressed up in old fashioned clothes. I would rather get a glimpse into the lives and minds of historic times that is more real and true, even if foreign to me.

But, whatever, I picked this book up last night and read the whole thing in one night. It was a romp, light and frothy and also... um... rather graphic, even for a romance novel! And some of the author's euphemisms (when she used them, and many times she did not, see: "graphic") were rather... amusing. Like a "delicious wild mushroom swollen after a rainstorm"? Really. Really??? Talk about creative license!

Also, I don't know of any woman who feels cheated after a sexual encounter due to a lack of sperm. The whole idea just makes me laugh and shake my head. Did you see "It's Complicated"? Where Meryl Streep has to back up Alec Baldwin's medication story for the doctor, and she says sarcastically, "Yes, because I like a lot of sperm." It's really not a thing most women I know focus on. LOL.

Basically there are problems with this book, but you take it for what it is, and it kept my attention ok, and that is why I like to read books.

But it's rather funny to spend Easter weekend reading a book that has the yearning for more sperm as a theme of it. My life is surreal sometimes.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bookseller's Daughter by Pam Rosenthal is what you call a a real bodice ripper. The sex isn't all that explicit compared to some other writers, but it's there. The story is centered around Marie-Laure who ran her father's bookshop, but then tragedy strikes and she must make her own way in the world. What is a woman of no means to do in pre-revolutionary France? She becomes a scullery maid and as chance would happen in the home of a book smuggler she not only knew, but along side her brother nursed back to health after he had been attacked by a knifeman. At first Joseph pretends not to know her, but of course that doesn't last. They want and love each other and their affair begins. They have their happy moments but that can not last, because you see he is Viscount Joseph d'Auvers-Raimond who is unfortunately broke and must make an advantageous marriage and be a kept man.Marie-Laure being a very intelligent, strong willed woman will not however be a kept woman. This was a sweet easy to read romance that would definitely make a great summer read.

[Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting that some reviewers are bothered by French characters having revolutionary ideals...in 1783...six years before the French Revolution.

Anyway, by the standards of current erotic romance this probably has too few sex scenes and too much non-sex plot, but I think it works very well in that regard. Sex/sensuality is an important part of the relationship between Marie-Laure and Joseph, and it's explored as an interaction between two people in a more complex way than in many other erotic romances. The sexual attraction is obviously present but Rosenthal avoids the trap of making lust the only believable feeling there.

[Amy Subaey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a non-English speaking native (norwegian, I think) gave the book an interesting and unique style that was simply refreshing in itself.

The story, however, is absolutely gripping. A family in Kabul, pre-taliban, and their norwegian 'observer', who documents everything she sees as she sees it.

If you have any interest in this part of the world, or any empathy for the lives of women that are unlucky enough to be born there, you must read it.

[Heather Mims · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, I have to echo what another reviewer said – it's a little too heavy-handed in the way of modern sensibilities. I certainly don't mind reading characters in a historical setting who are more forward thinking than the status quo, but there's a fine balance… lay it on too thick and much is lost in the way of authenticity.

That said, this was well plotted with interesting characters, and the eroticism was handled beautifully. All in all, I'm happy I read it.

[Eh?Eh! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm embarassed to admit I read this. Very much the bodice-ripping, bosom-heaving, cheesy, trashy, physically-weak-and-needing-her-man-but-also-independent-heroine, rake-who-finds-the-one-woman-to-tame-him...you know the type. In my defense, there was no half naked couple on the cover. Anyone could have made the mistake. Not that there's anything wrong with romances, just not my cup of tea.

[Erica Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, which is set in pre-Revolutionary France and features an unusual heroine. It's published under the Brava imprint, but I wouldn't consider it erotic romance, or even particularly racy. I liked the strong characterization, especially of some of the secondary characters.

[Cherisse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty racy historical romance..definitely erotic fiction. I liked it though. Also, Rosenthal is a local author.