A Bed of Spices [Kindle Edition]

Barbara Samuel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A full length historical romance from six-time RITA winner Barbara Samuel.

“With her unique and lyrical style, Barbara Samuel touches every emotion. The quiet brilliance of her story lingered in my mind long after the book was closed.”
—Susan Wiggs

HE FILLED HER DREAMS WITH DESPERATE LONGING

The exquisite Frederica der Esslingen fled from her father's castle to the herbalist's cottage, vowing she could never give in to her father's wishes and marry the man her twin sister loved. Another man, a stranger forbidden to her, touched her very soul. A man who listened when she spoke...a man with a tumble of black curls and clever lips...He understood her bold, searching heart. Yet he was denied her forever.

A Bed of Spices is a wildly romantic tale of forbidden love set in the turbulent middle ages. Solomon and Rica meet by chance at the herbalist's cottage and fall in love despite the divisions of religion, class, and expectations -- but how can they possibly find a happy ending with so many things stacked against them? Dark, beautiful and ultimately uplifting, this is a romance you won't easily forget.

The print edition has become a cult favorite.


"A Bed of Spices was a wonderful book which I would highly recommend to any romance reader looking for something out of the ordinary which breaks the typical romance novel mold. This is another one of those out-of-print books which I sought out through library channels, but will now be looking for a copy to own for my keeper shelf. --Hope Chest Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 602 KB
• Publisher: Amazon.com (August 23, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0040GJI4Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,038 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Barbara Samuel has won the highly prestigious RITA award 6 times, and has been a finalist many times more. She has more than 30 books to her credit, including 8 titles of women's fiction.

She has made her way by writing since she was eighteen, penning newspaper and magazine articles, columns and opinion, before settling in with an ancient IBM typewriter and even more ancient house, rescued from the wrecking ball, to write fiction.

She also writes as Barbara O'Neal for Bantam books, and you can read more of her blogs and stories at www.awriterafoot.com and www.barbaraoneal.com.

Barbara lives in Colorado with her partner Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete who insisted Barbara could learn to orienteer (the jury is still out), a high strung and beautiful chow mix, and two cats, all rescues. Her great passions are reading and writing, walking and travel, and she's happiest when she can combine them all in some exotic locale.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Historical Romance, July 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Bed of Spices: Bed of Spices, A (Harper Monogram) (Mass Market Paperback)

A Bed of Spices is historical romance for the history lover, as opposed to the usual romance reader. Samuel's effort is well researched and vividly written, and altogether poignant. Though A Bed of Spices is out of print, it is worth one's effort to locate a copy. One read of this novel will forever change the naysayer's opinion of the romance genre.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic medieval romance in unusual setting..., August 7, 2002

By 

bookjunkiereviews (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bed of Spices: Bed of Spices, A (Harper Monogram) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is going to be a very short review, because I won't really be able to do this book justice. The story is set in Strassburg 1348 (the time when the Black Death has just arrived in Europe). The protagonists are Solomon, a trainee physician, who is the son of a prosperous Jewish merchant; and Rica (Frederica), the daughter of a "new" nobleman. Both face familial constraints, but they are also divided by their religions, their class, and the expectations each family has of them. Rica is expected by her father to marry a rather religious German nobleman who cannot tell her apart from her mentally and emotionally disturbed twin sister Etta. Solomon is expected to become a physician, and then to marry a suitable Jewish girl. Add to all this, the fact that Rica and Solomon meet each other secretly at the cottage of her father's mistress (the local wisewoman). Add to this, the fact that mobs are beginning to massacre Jews all over Europe, believing them responsible for the Black Death. Don't worry, our hero and heroine survive - although their sanity is often tested, along with their commitment to each other.

This is one romance I am keeping. It is well worth several re-reads, for the complex social interactions as well as the sheer beauty of the relationship. To learn more about the book, buy a book (used, I'm afraid!), or check out the review at All About Romance which clued me into this wonderful book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ROMANTIC, GRIPPING STORY!, February 4, 2002

By 

"lethe2" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bed of Spices: Bed of Spices, A (Harper Monogram) (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this used from Amazon and am so happy that I had the opportunity to read and savor it. It is well worth hunting for. The story is rich with great characters. And the trevails of the lovers kept me on the edge of my seat. I have purchased every book, used or new, by Ms. Samuel/Wind that I have been able to find. Thanks to Amazon for offering used books when a book is out of print. This is a beautiful story told by a stunningly fine author.