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The Frenchwoman
Juliette Delahousse came to Norfolk from France to be a bride. As the powerful Lockington brothers fought each other for Juliette's love, the ghost of Isobelle Lockington rose relentlessly to walk again, and with her rose the jealousies and hatreds of the past, to destroy the Frenchwoman.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1977
About the author
Barbara Paul
4 books1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Barbara Paul is one of the pseudonyms of Barbara Øvstedal. She stopped using this name when another author of the same name (Barbara Paul) gained popularity; and changed over to the pseudonym Rosalind Laker.
AKA Barbara Douglas.
Barbara Paul is one of the pseudonyms of Barbara Øvstedal. She stopped using this name when another author of the same name (Barbara Paul) gained popularity; and changed over to the pseudonym Rosalind Laker.
AKA Barbara Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 7, 2019
Great read
It was a very entertaining book... easy to read and the ending is unexpected. Romance historical fiction
and mystery all in one
It was a very entertaining book... easy to read and the ending is unexpected. Romance historical fiction
and mystery all in one
July 31, 2020
Gothic style romance
Reading this story reminded me of books I read years ago full of mystery and suspense , short on romance.
Reading this story reminded me of books I read years ago full of mystery and suspense , short on romance.
April 26, 2022
I just discovered this author and checked out this book. It was pretty good, part mystery, part gothic, part historical novel, part ghost story, part romance, and all the parts mixed together well, with a few glitches here and there. It takes place during the Napoleonic War years (after the battle of Trafalgar), which is one of my fav eras, so that alone scores some points from me.
The Frenchwoman in the title, Marianne Delahousse, is a romantic young woman, who's preparing for an unromantic arranged marriage. She travels to West Thorpe Hall to meet her future husband, Gregory Lockington, but falls form his older brother, Brett, the heir to the estate, and supposedly still in mourning for his lost love, Elizabeth. He's also reformed form his former wild ways, while the same can't be said for Gregory, whom Marianne has no feelings for, not even a slight attraction. But what are feelings, compared to the security and social standing she'll gain from the marriage, and the money he'll gain from her dowry? Who needs love? (SHE DOES!)
While fighting her feelings for Brett and trying to come to terms with her upcoming marriage to Gregory, Marianne finds herself involved in all kinds of situations, including Lockington family and the story of Thomas Lockington and his wife, Isabelle, whose ghost apparently haunts the estate. There's also enough in the present to occupy her, like Venetia, a ward of the Lockingtons, a young woman who's been unable to walk since being involved in the carriage accident that killed Elizabeth. Marianne makes some attempts to help her regain the use of her legs, as the problem appears to be psychosomatic. Then there's Gregory's political leanings, as it becomes clear he supports Napoleon and assumes that Marianne feels the same (which she doesn't) and will go along with a plot to kill the Prince Regent and replace him with his estranged wife, Caroline, a Bonapartist. She endures some cold receptions from members of society who resent her French background and are suspicious of her loyalties, gets the distinct impression she's being spied upon, then gets more than an impression that someone's trying to kill her!
Adding to all this, are three cases of u requited love: Elizabeth's sister, Lucy has been in love with Brett for years, her brother, Alex has fallen for Marianne and Venetia hasn't gotten over her affair with Gregory, and despite her growing friendship with Marianne, resents her and hopes to win him back. Talk about a complicated tale!
The whole ghost story, as well as the mysterious and oft visited (by Marianne) North Octagon room got to be a little redundant, not to mention annoying. I would have liked more time devoted to Marianne's artistic talent and painting, as well as more scenes between her and Brett.
I won't say any more, except that you'll like the ending. Despite a flaw here and there, it's worth your time.
The Frenchwoman in the title, Marianne Delahousse, is a romantic young woman, who's preparing for an unromantic arranged marriage. She travels to West Thorpe Hall to meet her future husband, Gregory Lockington, but falls form his older brother, Brett, the heir to the estate, and supposedly still in mourning for his lost love, Elizabeth. He's also reformed form his former wild ways, while the same can't be said for Gregory, whom Marianne has no feelings for, not even a slight attraction. But what are feelings, compared to the security and social standing she'll gain from the marriage, and the money he'll gain from her dowry? Who needs love? (SHE DOES!)
While fighting her feelings for Brett and trying to come to terms with her upcoming marriage to Gregory, Marianne finds herself involved in all kinds of situations, including Lockington family and the story of Thomas Lockington and his wife, Isabelle, whose ghost apparently haunts the estate. There's also enough in the present to occupy her, like Venetia, a ward of the Lockingtons, a young woman who's been unable to walk since being involved in the carriage accident that killed Elizabeth. Marianne makes some attempts to help her regain the use of her legs, as the problem appears to be psychosomatic. Then there's Gregory's political leanings, as it becomes clear he supports Napoleon and assumes that Marianne feels the same (which she doesn't) and will go along with a plot to kill the Prince Regent and replace him with his estranged wife, Caroline, a Bonapartist. She endures some cold receptions from members of society who resent her French background and are suspicious of her loyalties, gets the distinct impression she's being spied upon, then gets more than an impression that someone's trying to kill her!
Adding to all this, are three cases of u requited love: Elizabeth's sister, Lucy has been in love with Brett for years, her brother, Alex has fallen for Marianne and Venetia hasn't gotten over her affair with Gregory, and despite her growing friendship with Marianne, resents her and hopes to win him back. Talk about a complicated tale!
The whole ghost story, as well as the mysterious and oft visited (by Marianne) North Octagon room got to be a little redundant, not to mention annoying. I would have liked more time devoted to Marianne's artistic talent and painting, as well as more scenes between her and Brett.
I won't say any more, except that you'll like the ending. Despite a flaw here and there, it's worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews