Courtier's Secret by Donna Russo Morin
BUY IT NEW
- $14.00 List price$13.30 Online price$11.97 Member price(Save 14%)Limited Time Offer! Everyone receives the Member Price on books.
See Details
Reserve it at BN.com & pick it up in 60 minutes at your local store.
Enter a zip code
(Paperback)
- Pub. Date: February 2009
- 384pp
- Sales Rank: 404,682
| More Formats | |
|---|---|
| Available in eBook | $8.96 |
| Hardcover - Large Print - Large Print | $30.95 |
Buy it Used: 24 copies from $1.99 See All Available
Customers who bought this also bought
Product Details
- Pub. Date: February 2009
- Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
- Format: Paperback, 384pp
- Sales Rank: 404,682
- ISBN-13: 9780758226914
- ISBN: 0758226918
Synopsis
France, 1680. Louis XIV, the Sun King, is at the height of his power. The court at Versailles is a paradise for privileged young women. Jeanne Yvette Mas Du Bois is unlike most other courtiers. Her thirst for knowledge often incurs her father's brutal wrath. But her uncle encourages Jeanne's independence, secretly teaching her fencing in the palace's labyrinthine basement. . .
When two of the king's Musketeers are beset by criminals who are mere feet from Jeanne's fencing lesson, she intervenes, saving one of the Musketeers' lives. Hidden behind her mask, Jeanne is mistaken for a man. As "Jean Luc," Jeanne is admitted to an inner circle where she learns of an assassination plot against the Queen. As Jean Luc, she is permitted to bring her intelligence and swordsmanship to bear. And as Jean Luc, she is free to love the man of her choosing. . .even if she can never have him. Now, with the Queen in jeopardy, and her own double life making her privy to the tangled intrigues at court, Jeanne is in a powerful—yet increasingly perilous—position.
Brimming with lush period detail and vivid, unforgettable characters, The Courtier's Secret takes readers into a fascinating, intriguing world of pageantry, adventure, betrayals, and secrets.
"Exquisitely done. . .fabulous. . .unforgettable characters." —Marilyn Rondeau
"Compelling. . .brings vividly to life the constrained life of the noble Frenchwoman." —Allie Bates, author of Earthchild
Reading Group Guide Inside
Donna Russo Morin is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she obtained two degrees. In addition to writing, editing, and teaching, Donna dabbles as a modeland actor, using yet another imaginary world to help support her real one. Donna's two sons, Devon and Dylan, are her greatest works in progress. 7/23/2009
Publishers Weekly
Kicked out of the convent at seventeen, Jeanne Du Bois, the heroine of Morin's uneven historical, returns to Louis XIV's court only to rebel against her father's plans to marry her off to a fop. With training and a false moustache provided by a sympathetic uncle, Jeanne disguises herself as Jean-Luc, a gifted swordsman who fights alongside musketeers Henri and Antoine. She leads a tricky double life, particularly when, dressed as Jeanne, she wins Henri's heart and helps him uncover a threat to the queen. Morin fills her tale with maidens, mistresses and musketeers mired in intrigue, but her attempts to heighten dramatic intensity prove artificial: Jeanne's father is not only tyrannical, he's abusive; royal mistresses are not only conniving, they're murderous; and Jeanne's visit to a courtesan for advice seems particularly contrived. The novice novelist makes up for such simplistic technique by supplying lots of action, as Jeanne goes through quick costume changes, one minute a voluptuous virgin about to be raped, another a daring do-gooder, rapier in hand. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. More Reviews and RecommendationsBiography
Donna Russo Morin is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she obtained two degrees. In addition to writing, editing, and teaching, Donna dabbles as a model and actor, using yet another imaginary world to help support her real one. Donna's two sons, Devon and Dylan, are her greatest works in progress.
Customer Reviews
- Reader Rating:
- Ratings: 9Reviews: 9
- See All Reviews
Exhaustingby Anonymous
Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings
October 09, 2009: It was a chore for me to get through Courtier's Secret. It had the most exhausting descriptions I can recall ever reading. I skipped paragraphs at a time and still didn't miss any important details. I couldn't finish it fast enough...not because it kept my attention but for the exact opposite. It dragged on and on; I just wanted it over. The ending was quite predictable. However, it seemed to end quite abruptly especially for an author who is superfluous with words and descriptions. It was quite astonishing with all the events unfolding that I never felt a true sense of urgency or suspense. I was reading about impending danger but yet did not feel it. Not only will I not recommend this book but I strongly discourage anyone from reading this book.
I Also Recommend: Lady Elizabeth, Signora da Vinci.
You go girl!by Anonymous
Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings
April 27, 2009: This is a great piece of historical fiction with descriptions you can practically taste and a spunky heroine that you want to befriend. My only complaint is that it ended too abruptly. It suddenly ended and I wanted to stay in the world, but honestly, it didn't feel completely resolved.
Loading...