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Stolen Spring
Mademoiselle Marie-Rouge is forced to become a spy in order to save her father from debtor's prison and must keep her identity a secret from the handsome peasant with whom she falls in love
480 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 19, 2017
Lousia Rawlings was a masterful author; it's unfortunate she no longer writes wonderful historical romances--in the truest sense of those words. (Ok, but now I hear she's republishing her novels as e-books, so now there is no excuse for anyone not to read her!)
France and Versailles under the reign of Louis XIV was a decadent, lavish era, and Rawlings captures it perfectly. Her dedication to historical details (like the nobles having to salute the King's food as servants carry it throughout the halls), the depth of emotion and colorful cast of minor characters transform this book into more than just an average historical.
Marie-Rouge, daughter of a Comte, is blackmailed to spy for France in order to keep her gambling father out of prison. Along the way she captures the hearts of many men, notably Pierre, a peasant miller who is not all what he seems. I liked Pierre, a tortured yet sensitive man, but the villain, Arsene, overshadows him a bit with his rough sensuality.
Marie-Rouge doesn't meet the hero for until about 80 pages into this 467 page epic, and they're separated for various durations. But when they're together, the sparks fly! Not a perfect book, but so enjoyable I might read again in the future! 4 1/2 stars or B+/A-.
France and Versailles under the reign of Louis XIV was a decadent, lavish era, and Rawlings captures it perfectly. Her dedication to historical details (like the nobles having to salute the King's food as servants carry it throughout the halls), the depth of emotion and colorful cast of minor characters transform this book into more than just an average historical.
Marie-Rouge, daughter of a Comte, is blackmailed to spy for France in order to keep her gambling father out of prison. Along the way she captures the hearts of many men, notably Pierre, a peasant miller who is not all what he seems. I liked Pierre, a tortured yet sensitive man, but the villain, Arsene, overshadows him a bit with his rough sensuality.
Marie-Rouge doesn't meet the hero for until about 80 pages into this 467 page epic, and they're separated for various durations. But when they're together, the sparks fly! Not a perfect book, but so enjoyable I might read again in the future! 4 1/2 stars or B+/A-.
December 11, 2025
Louisa Rawlings was the pen name for Sylvia Baumgarten, who had a blog I highly enjoyed during the pandemic called Life Lessons from an Old Bitch. She passed last year at age 90.
This was published in 1988, when I was in college, quelle horreur! I believe I got it as a Barnes and Noble Free Friday when I worked there in the 2000s.
This had an almost charming, fairy-tale quality. The story of a spy and the miller! But is he really a miller? I'll let you guess.
There are decent secondary characters that don't feel tacked on. There is a lot of information about milling. There is a cat named Jerusalem. And a female lead who loves to eat and isn't afraid to tell you how hungry she is.
It went a little long at 400 pages but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This was published in 1988, when I was in college, quelle horreur! I believe I got it as a Barnes and Noble Free Friday when I worked there in the 2000s.
This had an almost charming, fairy-tale quality. The story of a spy and the miller! But is he really a miller? I'll let you guess.
There are decent secondary characters that don't feel tacked on. There is a lot of information about milling. There is a cat named Jerusalem. And a female lead who loves to eat and isn't afraid to tell you how hungry she is.
It went a little long at 400 pages but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews