Review: Excellent story weaving...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2013
Betrothed as a child, Giselle's life is never really her own until she leaves her father's house and ventures into a strange new world where she'll meet her husband and one true love. Giselle is what I expected her to be, unsure of herself, shy, and overwhelmed by her husband's unusual family.Giselle starts out a weaker vessel--why shouldn't she? She's been dominated and imprisoned by her father. Once she finds her voice, Jackie Ivie's talent for story weaving takes over. We catch glimpses of Giselle maturing and taking control of her life over time.Attached to a man who can't love anyone because he suffered a serious injury that left him paralyzed, Giselle is forced to live a sort of lie. In public, she and her husband are seemingly happy. But behind closed doors, her husband is a complete brute and drunk. The only happiness Giselle has is the companionship and love she finds with her brother-in-law, Navarre.Navarre and Giselle are both inexperienced in the ways of love. That doesn't keep human nature from taking over ... who can deny such attraction? Or control it? Navarre tries to maintain some kind of decorum, but the tiny Giselle drives him crazy.Surrounded by vibrant secondary characters, both good and evil, Giselle and Navarre struggle with everyday life. Will they ever be able to live as husband and wife?Ivie captures the time period and lifestyle of the French aristocrats so well.Parts of the story are complicated. That's okay. In the end, we're rewarded with that happily-ever-after we all seek.