Leonie [Paperback]

Elizabeth Adler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1987

With only her exotic beauty, seductive innocence, pride, and fiery spirit, Leonie came from the provinces to find her future in Paris.  From the shame of music halls, she rose to international fame singing songs of love and longing, straight from the heart.  From Paris to the Cote d'Azur, from New York to Brazil, from Cuba to Cairo, she moved in a dazzling world of money, passion, and power--a world darkened only by the relentlessly hunger of one man's obsession--a man determined to possess her . . . a man who could never lover her, never let her go . . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Leonie, who is only 16 in 1890, has left the provinces to seek her fortune in Paris. She is without fortune, family or friends but she has something to make her madly successful: she has tawn. Her eyes are tawny and so is her hair and her cat, Bebe, and so is her first lover, Rupert, who promises to marry her after he sees his parents in Germany. But alas, he never returns because the lovers' letters have been intercepted by Gilles de Courmont, who wants Leonie for himself. Nothing if not practical, Leonie casts her lot with Gilles whom she continues to address as "Monsieur," as if he were a rock-star instead of a Duc. Monsieur gives her Cartier jewels, Worth dresses, dinners at Voisins and a very hard time, for although he does nobly under the covers, he also has the heart of an undercover man. Monsieur is forevery spying on Leoniedispatching her other lovers with bribes and blowseven murdering one who has just given her another bebe. Finally provoked, Leonie leaves the Duc, becomes a famous chanteuse and finds true love with James Homer Alexander Jamieson iii, but Monsieur continues to haunt her life. Though studded with anachronisms and unconvincing coincidences, Adler's first novel should endear itself to those who like flossy romanances spiced with plenty of sex. November 1
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This historical romance is set mainly in France from the 1890s through World War I. Leonie, impoverished child of a French country woman and an Egyptian circus performer, arrives in Paris to seek her fortune. She soon becomes the mistress of a very wealthy but cold and manipulative man, ``Monsieur''; later she is famous as a singer and finally happy as the wife of a rich American. When Leonie bears the child of a casual lover, Monsieur's vengeance is terrible and casts a shadow over the rest of her life until his death sets her free. Leonie believes her destiny is ruled by Sekhmet, an Egyptian goddess, but neither the Egyptian connection nor other exotic locales (Brazil, Cuba, Florida) are ever really brought to life. Not among the most compelling of its type, this may satisfy fans of the genre. Patricia Y. Morton, State Lib. of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Dell (April 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440146623
• ISBN-13: 978-0440146629
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.5 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #707,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elizabeth Adler is a self-confessed romantic, a travel addict and a foodie, all of which she brings to the reader in her novels, along with a tough thrust of suspense and an unfolding mystery that keeps you on your toes. Elizabeth has lived in many countries and when she's not writing spends time discovering even more places to bring to you, with her husband, Richard - still in love after all these years - as are the characters featured in her past three novels, Mac Reilly the Malibu PI and Sunny Alvarez, his lover and side kick. You have to read about them to know them! Elizabeth lives in California and has the ability to take you to all those romantic places she knows so well, Capri, Venice, Tuscany, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, and of course, Malibu. You will feel you are there, with her, sitting on that Italian terrace, sipping that coffee, smelling the delicious food, savoring the heat and the sunshine and the mystery unfolding for you. Elizabeth is five-three and wishes she were taller, blind as a bat without her glasses that anyway she is too vain to wear, and at 128 lbs till thinking about that diet. She has one daughter, Anabelle who is married to rock musician Eric Avery and two kitties, the Siamese, Sweet Pea who rules the household, and an adorable black cat Sunny.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guilty pleasure, June 10, 2000

By 

Audrey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leonie (Paperback)

Peach is the sequel (the titled heroine being Leonie's granddaughter) but the extra something that gave Leonie its spark is missing. But I'm not reviewing Peach...

Reminiscent of the romances of the 80s with a touch of Steele and Susann, Leonie is nonetheless an enjoyable read. Messed up, somewhat lurid, it begins the story of Leonie, a provincal, beautiful French girl who leaves her hometown for Paris and eventually hooks up with Monsieur, a shadowy, powerful married man who becomes enthralled with her. It tells, in turn, of Leonie's interlude with Monsieur, Leonie's freindships, and how eventually Leonie breaks free of her obsessive and mentally abusive relationship. There are a few loose ends: Leonie's attraction to her Egyptian figurines, her parentage, and the climatic but ambiguous ending, but overall Leonie is a reasonably satisfying read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Story, January 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Leonie (Paperback)

Fans of Elizabeth Adler will find this book as great as her others. Readers who have read "The Rich Shall Inherit" should also read this book. Set in the late 1800's to the early 1900's, it follows the story of Leonie, a poor young girl in France, and the obsession of one man she calls Monsieur. Living in the shadow of fear from Monsieur, Leonie becomes a famous singer and eventually finds true love.

The story comes together in a final conflict that frees Leonie from her Monsieur forever.

I found this book difficult to put down, and I'm sure you will too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Leonie (Paperback)

This is definitely one of my favorite books. Yeah, it has that trashy romance thing going on, but it is definitely a lot more than that. Also, the main charcater has tons of spunk, and is really rather liberated.