Customer Reviews

Lessons in French

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Laura Kinsale's Lessons in French is a wonderfully funny historical romance. I have read historical romance of many eras by many authors, and this is one of the few where I laughed out loud frequently. At the age of twenty-seven, Lady Callista Taillefaire has perfected the life of a country spinster, having been jilted by three fiances! Living in her childhood home, Sheldon Hall, under the patronage of her cousins, the new Lord and Lady Shelford, Callie spends her days breeding cattle, and often assisting Lord Shelford with the running of the estate. Her placid existence goes topsy-turvey when her childhood neighbor and love, Trevelyan d'Augustin, returns after nine years rebuilding his family's fortunes in France. Close with Trev's mother, the ailing Madame de Monceau, there are many occasions for Callie to encounter Trev as she helps care for Madame. Thwarting the re-kindling of Trev and Callie's flame is Major Sturgeon, a former fiance who has also recently arrived to press his own suit.
It soon becomes clear that all is not what it seems regarding the origin Trevelyan's new fortune, as he hires large muscular men with thick street accents to serve in and around his mother's home. In truth, Trev has spent the past several years as a soldier in Napoleon's army, and then a boxing promoter and bookie on his return to England. His past begins to catch up as hijinks snare Callie into working a scheme with him at the annual county fair, much as they had played out shenanigans as children. Costumes for each of her two identities, painted cows, and stampeding chickens and pigs all work together to return Hubert, Callie's beloved champion bull, but cause Trev to be more on the run than ever. Of course Trev and Callie are eventually united, but it takes high government officials, a blackmailer and a forger to bring it all together.
Lessons in French has everything a reader is looking for in historical romance. Interesting information about an era in history, specifically country village life and boxing in the early 1800s, as well as the Napoleonic Wars, which happen during the years Trev is away from Shelford. The friendship and respect Trev and Callie have for each other spreads into some very romantic scenes, and there are the usual gossipy village women, gregarious tavern-keepers, and snippy ladies who think themselves of high society.
In her Author's Note, Laura Kinsale mentions the difficulty of writing a comedic historical romance, so I can see why we don't come across them too often.

A new Laura Kinsale book!!!!!!!!! I pre-ordered this book as soon as I knew of its existence and happily awaited its delivery by Amazon (early, which made me even happier).

If you are a Laura Kinsale fan (as am I) you will probably buy this book. I certainly recommend that you do so, as waiting for her work is a little like waiting for rain in the desert - you take what you get.

I really liked the characters in this book; Trev and Callie are great fun, full of the quirkiness that makes them fully drawn and interesting; like someone you might like to get to know. I never fully felt as if I knew Trev, until the end, and didn't feel as if he was drawn with as much detail as Callie was. Still, he is a complex and interesting hero - full of flaws and human frailties that make him more compelling. Callie, too, the wallflower that purposefully dresses poorly and spends her time at parties contemplating her toes and daydreaming, is interesting, fun and very human. Secondary characters including Trev's mother, Callie's cousin-in-law and others are well drawn and make for a good read.

The plot however, seems to bounce all over the place. Is Trev a good guy or a bad guy? Should Callie trust him or not trust him? Some plot twists - including hiding a prize bull with laundry - are both funny and clever, but others just remind me of the old Abbot and Costello routine "Who's on First". I'll probably read it again just to see if the plot makes better sense on a second reading, and hope that Laura is hard at work on something else which I look forward to - but also hope she manages to avoid tangling up the silk lines of her plot so much.

Lady Callista Taillefaire is described as "a gifted wallflower", who at the age of twenty-seven is a spinster who blends very well into the wallpaper that people don't even notice she's there. Callista knows she doesn't have much to recommend to herself because she is plain with red hair, very stiff and shy with gentlemen and has such fair skin, that when the wind blows, she becomes splotchy. She's been jilted three times by men she was engaged to, but for some reason or another, gave an excuse and decided not to marry her. Callista has a fortune, left to her after her father's death, and enjoys her small town life, waiting for her younger sister, Hermione to marry so she can move way with her and her husband because they live with their cousin and his wife, Dolly, who is a very shrewish woman with her nose in the air. Other than being at odds with these relatives, Callista loves to raise livestock, including her favorite bull, Hubert, who she treats more like a pet than a farm animal.

Callista's staid life is about to become topsy turvy, when her very sick French neighbor, Madame de Monceaux's son, Trevelyn d Augustin returns home from France to England after being away for almost a decade. Callista and Trev used to be teenage sweethearts. She was given French lessons from the Madame. Trev taught Callista very different lessons in French that is until her father caught them intimately together in a carriage. Callista was heartbroken because Trev left England without a word. He arrives unannounced during a ball and re-acquaints himself with Callista. She's shocked to see him, as he is her, because he assumed she would be married with children.

Trev went to France to search for his family property that was lost during The Terror, as well as fighting at Waterloo. He has returned home to Shelford to see his mother and hide from the law. He's gotten himself into a big scrape and thrown into prison. He had no idea how close his dear mother is to death and the horrible conditions she's been living in. He turns to Callista for help. Trev wants to be friends with Callista again because he has missed her all this time. He hopes to find a way to exonerate his name before he's exiled to either the Americas or Shanghai.

Then a series of incredible events occur, starting with Hubert being sold from Callista, Trev trying to buy her beloved bull back and a former suitor of Callista's, a Major Sturgeon, comes back into the picture and wants to rekindle their relationship. To make matters worse for Trev, Sturgeon and he had a past together. If Sturgeon recognizes Trev, the jig is up and he'll be hauled away in irons. Callista is torn between Trev and Sturgeon because on one hand, Sturgeon can give her the stability she has always wanted, but on the other, she cares deeply for Trev even though she thinks he only views her as a friend. Trev tries to show Callista that what he feels for her is more than friendship, but because she thinks she has nothing to offer except her fortune, and because Trev is dashing and has been on many adventures, he would never want to settle down with a boring nobody like her. If only Callista knew the truth about Trev and what's he been hiding from her. When she finds out, it maybe too late for them because not only does she have to figure out a way to get Hubert back, but juggles two men who want her for their own reasons.

Lessons in French is a delightful romance that pulls you in, where you are surrounded by the sites and sounds of rustic England after the Napoleonic Wars. I would say this is part adventure, part comedy as Callista and Trev team up together. This duo has a way of falling into some major pitfalls that is comparable to a screwball comedy, but just subtle enough where you won't roll your eyes.

Callista is a wonderful heroine who has wit and intelligence, even though she maybe lacking in looks and overall sparkling personality. She's a very analytical woman. Her reasons for letting Sturgeon court her may turn off some readers, but she has her reasons for doing so. At first glance, Trev may seem to be as cold as Callista's former suitors, but as the story unfolds, we find out why Trev acted the way he did. You can't help but root for him because the way he feels about Callista is so beautiful and moving.

I must hand it to Laura because she really makes Trev shine. There's a bit of a mystery regarding Trev, and it's up in the air whether or not he has waited for Callista, so he can engage in those intimacies most men his age already have. Trev may seem experienced, but has an innocent quality to him. At one point, while Trev is spilling his deep feelings to Callista, you're made aware that Trev has never fallen for another woman in the time he's been away. Nothing is more romantic that the hero saying to his heroine- "I seem to be yours, body and soul."

Laura Kinsale has written a lighthearted, romantic Regency romp. Lessons in French is like a breath of fresh air, that twenty pages into reading, I stopped and thought, this is the reason I read historical romance.

Katiebabs

This is a gem of a story. The characters are juicy and 3-dimensional, the story builds and weaves in spicy secondary characters (including a scene-stealing bull). As I read, I could feel my face pulling into a big goofy grin, before falling into the same "awww" mooshy expression I get at weddings, when the bride and groom dance their first dance. My friend received her copy before I did, and when asked for a review over the phone, would only say, "Well, he's not a typical hero" before bursting into laughter and refusing to explain. The two other reviews posted were also long-time Kinsale fans. For those who haven't read her before, this is a lovely introduction, and your only challenge will be choosing which of her other novels to read (or for current fans, to re-read!) next.

As always, Kinsale delivers a great story with such wonderful characters that you can't help falling in love with them - all of them, from the major ones to the most minor (character-wise, not size), in this case, a bull named Hubert. A funny, fast-paced Heyer-esque adventure with hotter love scenes. This author can move from the dark style of "Shadowheart" to the lightest of touches with "Lessons in French." She is fantastic.

Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale is an adorable Regency story that is sure to tickle your fancy. A story of the magic of love being time tested and still able to stand up to the task. A story of the English breed lady and the French scoundrel that will show there are indeed no bounds where true love is concerned.

Lady Callie is not a stunning beauty especially in a plain dress and muck boots that she wears to take care of her cattle. She is however a gem of the highest quality on the inside. She has a tender heart and is quite shy so that when there is a ball she is the wallflower that blends in with the background quite nicely. Having been engaged and jilted three times, she has finally come to the conclusion that at the age of seven and twenty she will become a spinster rather than put up with the fickle temperaments of men.

Trevelyn has finally come into his birthright and is a Duke of little import. Having gone to France, fought in the battle of Waterloo and unsuccessfully tried to get back his ancestral home, Trev has realized that it is time to go back and see his mother before she passes from a life of loneliness and heartache. What he is not prepared for however is the woman he has loved since childhood still being available and emotionally wounded.

Our author has done a wonderful job at not only showing us that true love has no bounds but that what one person might perceive as plain and dull is another person's sparkling gem. This story is adventurous, daring, comical while heart wrenching as brought about by the cruelty of human nature. But, as with most stories written with a hidden message, it is a story of determination, patience and the ability to forgive that brings about an ending much worth waiting for.

I really give this 3.5 stars.
This was my first time reading a Kinsale book and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I really enjoyed Lady Callista's character and you had to admire her pretty upbeat attitude despite being jilted 3 times. Trevelyan was also an intriguing character as there are hints through out the book that his background wasn't quite as he stated so you are kept wondering until near the end. If you like some humor thrown in with your romance then this is a great book to check out. Even some of the lesser characters like the cook or Trev's friends from his sordid past will give you a chuckle. The one negative was I thought the book could have been shorter. There were a couple points in the story that I felt it could have been nicely resolved but then it kept going. Thankfully the humor and likeable characters kept me from getting bored.