Madelyn Cunningham

This was quite a tale of action, adventure, intrigue, romance and history all rolled into one, with emphasis on history and intrigue, action/adventure running a close second and romance taking a back seat, so if you're looking for a typical HR you'll be disappointed. The H and h don't spend all that much time together, and when they are together it's usually in the midst of other people, so all the usual verbal sparring, game-playing and lovemaking is kept to a minimum. This is somewhat made up for by the scenes when they are together being very intense.

The first part of the story is about Monique DuBois's life with her gypsy family (she was taken from her French father by her gypsy grandmother after her mother died giving birth to her) and her love of being free to ride her wild horse, Savoy, enjoy the gypsy way of life and the beauty of nature, only to have it all destroyed in a terrible act of violence, which stems from the court of Louis XIV, full of plots, back stabbings and decadence. Monique's grandmother had sold herbal poison to Madame du Maine, to be used as part of her plan to grasp political power (I won't reveal all the details) and she didn't want to chance being identified. With the help of dragoons, who have no more qualms about killing gypsies than they do Huguenots, her problem was solved.

(Before this tragedy, she has a memorable encounter with Lucien Gastogne, one her grandmother wishes her to forget, as she tries to push her toward one of the gypsy men. Monique cleverly escapes marriage, when it's declared there's to be a horserace in which eligible suitors will compete and the winner will be her husband, by entering the race herself in disguise and winning!)

The next part of the story sees Monique reunited with her father and being trained as a proper mademoiselle, though her gypsy nature rebels, with another powerful horse, Cinnabar, to replace Savoy. She's soon introduced to French court society, and all the corruption and decadence that goes with it but keeps her distance from it all.

She's also reunited with Lucien, though he's in disguise as the foppish Pernotte (think of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and you'll get the idea), and their lives are entwined from that time on.

Lucien pretends to be a court dandy with a "Ganymede" appearance (a.k.a. gay) in order to get information on court intrigue, for the purpose of protecting the child King Louis XV and the regent, Philippe II, Duke of Orleans. He also helps to smuggle persecuted Huguenots out of the country.

(The next paragraph's a bit of a spoiler so you might want to skip it.)

Both Monique and Lucien have suffered terribly (he was orphaned at age 8 when his family was murdered by dragoons because of his father's Huguenot beliefs). There are so many emotions in the scenes where they first con front their true feelings. It starts at court, when Monique sees Lucien and Madame du Maine together and realizes they're lovers (reluctant on his part, as the only means of getting info on her plans) and retaliates by letting the Comte deVille (an ardent suitor, who has not yet revealed just how evil he is, though she suspects he was involved in the gypsy slaughter) talk her into doing a sensual gypsy dance, that excites the men and enrages Lucien. He drags her away to her room, they argue, he slaps her, and they make passionate love (tempered with some gentleness, as Monique's a virgin). Afterward, Lucien tells her everything he went through as a child, and she holds him close, telling him it's okay to cry. Then, after she tells of her gypsy family's slaughter, he does the same for her. Next thing you know, he abruptly leaves, stating he must continue with his court facade, but she tells him to stay out of Madame's bed from now on. So much emotion in so little time!

Later in the story after Monique has gone through a horrible ordeal (thinking Lucien dead, she was forced to make a sacrifice to save the lives of her father and Aunt Perle, whom she lived with in Paris) and Lucien returns to attempt a rescue, when he sees how she's suffered, much as he wants to make love to her, he just holds her, rocks her in his arms, and tells her how much he loves her, as they both find themselves crying. If anyone reading that scene doesn't feel like crying too, then they have a rock where a heart should be.

The book also gives plenty of detail about the history of the times (1716 to 1721), including the Mississippi stock fraud, which had people losing their fortunes investing in land shares, resulting in riots, suicides, debtors prison and one big mess. There's also plenty of description of Paris streets, neighborhoods, architecture, the whole atmosphere of the times. It was all well written, gives you the feeling of being there, and very impressive.

I would have rated it higher, were it not for several scenes of violence that I thought were way too graphic (I skipped over those, or I might have thrown up) and also, I thought the ordeal Monique went through went on far too long. I had thought the story would go a different way, as she wanted badly to get revenge on Madame du Maine and the Comte du Ville, and thought being at court would have enabled that, but having it backfire made more sense, as how could a young woman accomplish anything so dramatic on her own. Both Monique and the author realized how way over the top that would have been. However, that doesn't mean revenge isn't achieved, one way or another, and with some help.

I guess I've said enough. This is a book worth reading, and I'm surprised the author apparently didn't write any others.… (meer)