Lessons in French [Mass Market Paperback]

Laura Kinsale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2010

Laura Kinsale's unique and powerfully written love stories transcend the romance genre. In this, her first new book in five years, she delivers a poignant, funny, sexy, Regency romance sure to delight her many fans and attract a whole new readership.

Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure, until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and, in a furious frenzy, drives Trevelyan away in disgrace. Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns. Callie discovers that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with excitement, but he can't give her the one thing she wants more than anything—himself.

For Trevelyan, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last goodbyes, he's determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them.

***

Praise for Lessons in French:

"Laura Kinsale creates magic. Her characters live, breathe, charm, and seduce, and her writing is
as delicious and perfectly served as wine in a crystal glass."
Lisa Kleypas

"I loved it! Lessons in French is a delicious new Kinsale that couples the charm of Midsummer Moon with the intensity
of Seize the Fire or The Shadow and the Star. Intrigue, drama, secrets, passion, and a grand romance make this
a wonderful addition to Laura Kinsale's already excellent repertoire."
Jennifer Ashley | USA Today bestselling author of The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

"A rich and rewarding romance from the legendary Laura Kinsale!"
Mary Jo Putney | New York Times bestselling author of Loving a Lost Lord

"A truly gifted writer, Laura Kinsale is one of the romance genre's brightest stars."
Loretta Chase | New York Times bestselling author of Don't Tempt Me

(20091026)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Often flat and uninspired in its interactions, this by-the-numbers 1820s romance relies on complicated subplots and the heartstring-tugging tale of reunited childhood sweethearts. Lady Callista Taillefaire has been jilted three times and is resolved to devote herself to raising cattle, particularly her prize-winning bull, Hubert. When her lost love, Trevelyn, returns from nine years away, that resolve is firmly tested, but no sooner is their romance rekindled than he is convicted of forgery and forced into exile. Readers may enjoy the history lessons in several creaky but soundly constructed tales of Trevelyn's wartime experiences with another of Callie's former suitors, but Kinsale neglects to fill in the background details for Trevelyn and his unsavory valet, ex-boxer Jock, preferring to follow romance conventions with monotonous regularity. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Lessons in French was a lesson in life, love, and laughter for me... This wonderful novelist has been "missing in action" for the past five years and I, for one, am elated that she's returned. (Amy Lignor Once Upon a Romance 20091222)

Heartbreaking, poetic, and desperately hopeful -- Lessons in French just might be Laura Kinsale's best yet. A Night Owl Romance Reviewer Top Pick (Kyraninse Night Owl Romance 20100104)

One of the most beloved authors of the genre returns with a lighthearted, joyous love story... [Readers] will delight in the engaging characters, Kinsale's sparkling sense of humor and the pure joy of reading a romance crafted by a master. (Kathe Robin The Romantic Times 20100104)

The characters crackle with energy and life. (Coffee Time Romance 20100122)

Playful and amusing. (Romance Reader at Heart 20100122)

A classically romantic and elegant read. (Michelle Buonfiglio Barnes and Noble Heart to Heart 20100122)

A lighthearted romantic romp. (Mrs. Giggles Mrs. Giggles 20100122)

From one of the genre's much-admired historical authors... a worthy valentine for the season. (Christie Ridgeway BookPage 20100122)

Kinsale takes us on a journey of intrigue. (Tiffany Viale Affaire de Coeur 20100125)

Lessons in French has everything a reader is looking for in historical romance. (Elizabeth Bogardus Thoughts from an Evil Overlord 20100125)

Laura Kinsale is an absolute star... the story is beautiful. (Martina Cote-Kunz She Read a Book 20100126)

A perfect balance of drama and farce, weighty and trivial, darker and lighter. Whether you're new to Kinsale or a longtime fan, I encourage you to pick up Lessons In French. C'est l'amour! (Nicola Onychuk Alpha Heroes 20100126)

Smart and witty and adorable. (Brieana Louis-Jackson Musings of a Bibliophile 20100126)

Her prose, as always is enjoyable and smooth, her history feels historical, and her setting seems fully realized. (Rachel Potter All About Romance 20100126)

An entertaining tale... Welcome Back Ms. Kinsale! (Cindy Watson Cindy Reads Romance 20100126)

Laura Kinsale demonstrates her trademark wit, depth, detail and romanticism can serve a light-hearted historical romance just as well as they can with a darker one. (Anime June Gossamer Obsessions 20100126)

A great read with a wonderful romance. (Amy Jacobs My Over-Stuffed Bookshelf 20100128)

An adorable Regency story that is sure to tickle your fancy. (Terra Studer Yankee Romance Reviewers 20100128)

A beautiful love story about friendship and loss, loyalty and love. (Leslie Gladnick Leslie's Psyche 20100128)

Giving LIF to someone feeling down or disheartened would be humanitarian service. (Maya Missani Apprentice Writer 20100128)

A wonderful addition to the genre. I sincerely hope Laura Kinsale doesn't leave such a long wait for her next romance! (Meghan Burton Medieval Bookworm 20100128)

Twenty pages into reading, I stopped and thought, this is the reason I read historical romance. Welcome back Laura, we've missed you dearly (Kate Garrabrant Babbling About Books and More 20100128)

A heartwarming love story... very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer. (Elizabeth K. Mahon Scandalous Women 20100129)

A lighthearted, romantic romp. (Amy Lignor BookPleasures.com 20100201)

Lessons in French was such as sweet and quiet romance. (Grace Loiacono Books Like Breathing 20100202)

Cute, witty, with a bit of fun adventure, I recommend Lessons in French to those who'd enjoy reading a light romance. (Farrah Kenendy The Book Faery Reviews 20100203)

Lessons in French has everything a historical novel should have: history about the era, romance, peppered with a little suspense and wit. (Barbara Davis Everything Victorian and More 20100204)

Cute, lighthearted, and full of whimsy. (Keira Gillet Love Romance Passion 20100205)

A definite gem of a book. (Jill Dunlop Romance Rookie 20100208)

A lighthearted romp in the romance genre. (Audrey Salick Drey's Library 20100208)

A really sweet story of old lovers rediscovering each other. (Christina MacLean Chris' Book-a-Rama 20100208)

Laura Kinsale spins such a fine web of a story, you find yourself ensnared from page one with no desire to be let go. (Wendy Hines Wendy's Minding Spot 20100208)

Charmingly written with such witty dialogue. (Karen Gervasi Pudgy Penguin Perusals 20100208)

Kinsale's gift for smart and effervescent dialogue is clearly evident. (Martina Bexte BookLoons.com 20100210)

Enchanting and completely charming! (Carrie Divine Seductive Musings )

From the start of the book I fell in love with Callie and Trev. (Crystal Fulcher My Reading Room )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402237014
• ISBN-13: 978-1402237010
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Finally, my Medieval Hearts series is now available for the Kindle. Looking for an unusual romance where the dark, tortured character is the heroine instead of the hero? FOR MY LADY'S HEART is Melanthe's story. Then in SHADOWHEART, the assassin Allegreto will take you deeper into his black heart than you may have thought you were willing to go...

I've designed the new covers myself, and it's been great fun. One of the perks of ebooks is a bit more author input on covers. Wait till you see the new MIDSUMMER MOON cover...hedgehogs anyone?

***
Laura Kinsale is a New York Times bestselling author and both winner and multiple nominee for the Best Book of the Year award given by the Romance Writers of America. Her novel FLOWERS FROM THE STORM was chosen by readers of Glamour Magazine and the Washington Post as one of the Greatest Love Stories of All Time.

Laura believes that a romance novel can be more. More fascinating characters than you ever anticipated. More unexpected depth. Emotion to engage your heart and your mind. Stories that keep you awake and words you will remember long after you close the book.

Whenever readers list their "Desert Isle Keepers," the books they couldn't live without, Laura Kinsale's award-winning historical romances are included near the top.

Why a puppy for an author photo? There have been a few fake author pages on the web purporting to be Laura. So whenever you see a picture of Ventoux the Peter Pan of Great Pyrenees dogs, you know it's authentic Laura Kinsale.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You read Kinsale For the Depth, January 23, 2010

By 

Talvi - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lessons in French (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have read her books in the past, then you know they tend to fall into two categories: challenging and serious - or a bit more lighthearted but with depth. This falls into the latter category and has a lot of whimsy and charm but with the same Kinsale trademarks:

- strong male character who is definitely flawed, unsure, and 3 Dimensional. It's in her heroes that her strength lies - they aren't cookie cutter ciphers but do things that are unwise or even self destructive (just as a normal person does). You don't have the usual historical hero who is wealthy, knowledgeable, self assured, super intelligent, a 'rake', and utterly perfect - and then falls for random spirited girl. Instead, you have a 'wounded' man who finds a light at the end of the tunnel with someone who can understand his pain.

- female lead who isn't the prototypical "spitfire" who says and does dumb things just so she can be rescued from her own 'spirit.' Instead, Kinsale often gives her heroines quiet strength and dignity. That's what really draws me to Kinsale's protaganists - that sensibility. The heroes and heroines play the same game we all have to play - not knowing the true feelings of the other or why they do what they do.

- Obsessive love. It's complete and unconditional and Kinsale is really good at making the reader feel the depth and commitment (and reasoning) that the male character is so in love with the female character.

- A lot of pathos and depth to the characterization of many of the people in the book. No one is purely bad or good and many are just doing what people do normally - be selfish or unobservant. Kinsale is wonderful at plumbing psychological depths and characters don't act irrationally just to create a 'situation' that moves a plot.

- The book is well written and not given to lazy or sloppy sections.

For this particular book, the story moves over a short one week time period which suits the plot of two people who really cared for each other but were separated by circumstance. At times, it does feel a lot like an Austen book since the banter can be very witty and makes sense for a couple in their late 20s who once shared a close intimacy. And you do get the feeling that neither are quite sure of what time has done to change the other.

In all, the book is a very enjoyable read. It's not one of Kinsale's challenging works (the English of For My Lady's Heart or 'plot in letters' in My Sweet Folly). Instead, it is lighter and more pleasant, with a great supporting cast of characters and two protagonists that are deeply developed and not cardboard cliches of the genre. I give it one star less because of a plot point that I really thought was ridiculously coincidental and could have been constructed differently to achieve the same effect.

I don't read romance much any more and Kinsale is the only romance author whose books I still buy. As soon as they are announced, I put them on preorder on Amazon. I know that whether she challenges me or makes me smile, I can always look forward to a well written story devoid of usual hoary cliches that can really turn one off of the genre.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Entertaining Historical Romance, January 28, 2010

By 

Leslie - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lessons in French (Mass Market Paperback)

She's back. And what a lovely way to come back. In Lessons in French Laura Kinsale has written a beautiful love story about friendship and loss, loyalty and love. She's made the heiress wallflower a charming character and the dashing Frenchman endearing in spite of his misadventures. Callie and Trev were each other's first love, then circumstances tore them apart. Now Trev is back, whether for good or not remains to be seen.

There's something about stories of first love that we romance readers can't help but be drawn to. Add to that a second chance at love and we just have to find out what happens. Will they finally get their HEA (Happily Ever After)? For Callie and Trev the road to HEA is filled with one detour after another. It's an adventure of laughter, love, friendship, narrow escapes, hiding from the law and waking up in the arms of your true love.

It's been nine years since Trev left. In those nine years Callie has had three fiancés along with three broken engagements. She is now twenty-seven and unsure of her future. She has recently come out of mourning for her father, the late Earl of Shelford. With her cousin Jasper now the earl and his wife Dolly wishing for both Callie and her younger sister Hermione gone from Shelford Hall, Callie no longer feels welcomed in her own home. It looks as though Callie's hope lies in her sister marrying someone willing to allow Callie to live with them. Not exactly the brightest of futures. Then Trev comes back and her world is turned upside down as she is once again caught up in his adventures.

Callie is a wonderful heroine. She's practical but has this fantastic whimsical side where she daydreams of romantic and humorous scenes of her life as she would imagine it. A fairy tale of sorts with her in control of the outcome. She also has wonderful sense of humor that she shares with Trev. Their banter and joking with each other goes back to their early years together. Another side to Callie is her love of animals, specifically Hubert her large but docile bull. Callie shows that she isn't afraid of hard work and getting her hands dirty when taking care of Hubert. Then something happens to Hubert and Callie is trying so desperately to hold on to her composure, to keep the tears at bay. It's one of those moments it's obvious why Trev loves this wallflower so.

Trev was an amusing, devil-may-care hero. He returns because of his love and concern for his mother. He doesn't expect to find Callie unmarried and still there. He has no plans to stay long but with Trev, plans tend to change and as he and Callie renew their friendship he finds himself pulled towards this woman who he thinks is out of reach. Trev seemed to enjoy becoming involved in plots of intrigue and adventure. When he wasn't engaged in daring plans he was caring for his mother and trying to be a friend to Callie. His love for both of these women came through, making him both vulnerable while still giving him that air of danger. Trev is far from perfect. He makes mistakes and acts rashly with some less than stellar outcomes. But even when he is engaging in some reckless behavior, his love of life and of Callie makes him hard to resist. There were moments when I couldn't help but laugh as I thought, "Oh, what has he done now?"

Kinsale's quick wit and way with words comes through in the dialogue and descriptions of the village, the people and the emotions that make this a fun, boisterous story. Any problems I had with the plot or storytelling were minor. The ending wrapped up a little too neatly with problems that had seemed insurmountable, swiftly taken care of. Then there was Trev's French mother, who I enjoyed but it became a bit annoying when she would get the English word wrong when using phrases and clichés. It was cute the first few times, after that, not so much.

Lessons in French could certainly be called lighter fare than what Kinsale is more widely known for. I would call it an enjoyable love story full of laughter and adventure. Here's to hoping we don't have to wait too long for the next Laura Kinsale release.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A richly charming Regency, January 15, 2010

By 

Marian Librarian (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lessons in French (Mass Market Paperback)

After young lovers Callie and Trev are separated by an angry earl, nine years' passage of time is not enough to make them to forget one another. When the characters meet again, it is clear they are still achingly in love, but as the chapters quickly unfold, the nine years' separation (and ensuing consequences) must be dealt with. This is "classic Kinsale" in that her effervescent wit and prose styling defies the reader to not smile or even laugh aloud. There is a bit of mystery, some upending of cliches, madcap humor, and conflicting claims of possession--and that's just for Hubert the prize bull! The same and even more applies to Callie and Trev. One of the best aspects of Laura Kinsale's writing is her sunlight-and-shadows portrayal of her characters. There's a poignancy about both Callie and Trev that makes them more than cardboard cutouts on a Regency paper stage. Their mistakes, eccentricities, miscommunications and efforts to both cling and let go make them fully dimensional characters. Add in lyrical eroticism and page-turning pacing, and this book becomes a gift to the reader.