Review: 1 Part Outlander+ 1 Part Jane Eyre= Me, Lost in LeBlanc
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 22, 2011
I spent a week (yes, A WEEK) on this book. It might be mostly due to the fact that I flipped through it 8 times just drooling over the pictures. Within those 8 flip throughs, I read the story. The concept is GENIUS! I mean, who hasn't wanted to know exactly what the author sees when she's writing her book? Who hasn't wondered what the hero REALLY looks like? Well, wonder no more. Ms. LeBlanc takes us into her vision, complete with pictures.This is the love story between a 21st century girl and her 19th century Duke. Girl(who is not the heroine) is running through the woods, steps out in front of a fast moving curricle and horses, and Duke almost tramples her. Girl passes out, Duke takes her in, she wakes up and freaks out. Who, what, when, where? Girl(who is the heroine) realizes she's not in Denver anymore. Is this is some sort of sick cosmic joke? Cue in the brooding, green eyed hero. Instant connection! He doesn't know what to do with her, she doesn't understand all the rules of his society. They flirt, they spend time together, she teaches him sign language, she turns his life upside down and side ways. They begin to fall in love and then, twist! Enter the villain. He's here to take back his fiancee (Madeleine) per order of his crazy mother. Twist! Madeleine (Francine) and her 2 sisters are now wards of Perry since the Larrabees signed them over.That means Perry can void Hepplewort's claim on Madeleine(Francine). The Duke falls HARD for Francine, vice versa and that dear reader is where I will let you find out what happens next.Important Characters:Gideon Alrick Trumbull, the 10th Duke of Roxleigh is a delicious slice of 19th Century brooding, tortured, anti-social, perfectly sculpted (look at the pictures!) specimen of a romance hero.Francine Larrabee is an outspoken (even when she looses your voice after waking up in 19th century England), fiery, hardworking, independent 21st century girl. According the Francine's father's thesis journals, "certain people within the family were born at the wrong time, and the universe was endeavoring to return them...when they should have lived..should have lived with."Peregrine Trumbull, Viscount Roxleigh or Perry to all his nearest and dearest,is charming, funny and always knows what to say when things get tense.Lord Hepplewort is Madeleine's (Francine) betrothed, has been betrothed to her since she was like 10. Gross! He is a volatile mama's boy.You can't help but root for his comeuppance.Madeleine Adelais: Not much is said about Madeleine, although she opens the story. It is assumed she has taken Francine's place in 21st century Denver.Favorite Quote: "'You either need to find your way out of my bed, or I will find my way into you,' he growled."Overall:I don't recall ever reading a time travel book. Ok, I lied, I attempted to read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and I couldn't get into it.(It might have been the fact that the book was long.) With this book, it was easy to slip into this world where a girl who didn't feel like she belonged anywhere, found her place in a different time. It's a fun, fast paced(unless you stop and stare at the pictures), sexy read. Well, Ms. LeBlanc, I've got to hand it to you. This is such an amazing concept for a book. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us with Perry's book.This review or variations thereof have also been posted on Goodreads, Barnes and Noble and my blog.