Scan barcode
fee1965's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
bingmao's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
kskidmore7's review
4.0
It was a little predictable but an enjoyable read. I'm undecided as to whether I would read it again so 4.5 stars
a_neverending_tbr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Quote: “Perhaps someday we will find a solution to which both sides can agree. But that can’t happen if you give up.” Her brow furrowed. “You want me to fight?” “I love it when you fight.”
This was such a beautiful story of love that overcomes differences. It is a slow burn but with the best ending. I loved getting snippets of Marie-Caroline’s point of view from her letters and watching these two fight their way to love. There is a significant side character arc that worked so well but I don’t want to spoil with too much detail. This book also shines a light on the French Revolution and the difficult decisions that many French citizens likely found themselves facing during that part of their history. The history and detail was impressive. The imagery of the lavender fields and that moment was so beautifully written.
Content Notes: Kisses
This was such a beautiful story of love that overcomes differences. It is a slow burn but with the best ending. I loved getting snippets of Marie-Caroline’s point of view from her letters and watching these two fight their way to love. There is a significant side character arc that worked so well but I don’t want to spoil with too much detail. This book also shines a light on the French Revolution and the difficult decisions that many French citizens likely found themselves facing during that part of their history. The history and detail was impressive. The imagery of the lavender fields and that moment was so beautifully written.
Content Notes: Kisses
thestagedstory's review against another edition
I wanted to love this book. I did think the different point of view through letters was interesting. Overall it was just missing something for me.
rosannelortz's review
4.0
“I do not want you to kiss me.” When Gilles Étienne accepts a bet to charm a friend’s sister into kissing him, he does not expect such a scornful rebuff. But the beautiful and independent Marie-Caroline Daubin (known as Caroline) is not interested in playing games with her father’s revolutionary clerk. Having already experienced the cruel effects of the incipient revolution in France, Caroline does her best to tread the right path, arguing that forcible equality is not equality at all. Discontents like Gilles Étienne don’t understand how close they are coming to unraveling the fabric of society and making France even worse than it was under the oppressive monarchy.
Intrigued by the beautiful royaliste, Gilles cannot help but question his revolutionary principles. When his brother goes to Paris as a revolutionary soldier, Gilles endures the stigma of coward to stay behind in Marseilles and protect his mother. He gives up the games and follies of youth, although he cannot quite give up the revolutionary principles that he espouses. As tensions heat up within the coastal city, he finds himself called to help the Daubin family elude escape from his own Jacobin friends. And although Caroline continues to protest that she does not want to kiss him, their friendship seems destined to become something else entirely.
I enjoyed Arlem Hawks’ previous naval novel Georgana’s Secret, and since I’m currently teaching The Count of Monte Cristo (which is set in Marseilles, thirty years later), the setting of this book appealed to me. This book provides a fascinating view of the ordinary family’s experience during the early days of the French Revolution. The story sheds light on the plight of refractory priests (who refused to give up their religion or leave France) and the persecution they faced at the hands of the revolutionary mob. A few subplots seemed underdeveloped–such as what exactly happened to make Gilles despise his piratical father so much–but all in all, this was a compelling story with memorable characters exploring how romance can flourish between people with differing political views in a society torn by revolution.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Intrigued by the beautiful royaliste, Gilles cannot help but question his revolutionary principles. When his brother goes to Paris as a revolutionary soldier, Gilles endures the stigma of coward to stay behind in Marseilles and protect his mother. He gives up the games and follies of youth, although he cannot quite give up the revolutionary principles that he espouses. As tensions heat up within the coastal city, he finds himself called to help the Daubin family elude escape from his own Jacobin friends. And although Caroline continues to protest that she does not want to kiss him, their friendship seems destined to become something else entirely.
I enjoyed Arlem Hawks’ previous naval novel Georgana’s Secret, and since I’m currently teaching The Count of Monte Cristo (which is set in Marseilles, thirty years later), the setting of this book appealed to me. This book provides a fascinating view of the ordinary family’s experience during the early days of the French Revolution. The story sheds light on the plight of refractory priests (who refused to give up their religion or leave France) and the persecution they faced at the hands of the revolutionary mob. A few subplots seemed underdeveloped–such as what exactly happened to make Gilles despise his piratical father so much–but all in all, this was a compelling story with memorable characters exploring how romance can flourish between people with differing political views in a society torn by revolution.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
mom_loves_to_read's review
5.0
This book was so rich in historical details. It was just simply beautiful.
I loved the forbidden love of Gilles and Caroline. He’s a Jacobin. She’s a royalist. They find themselves on opposite sides during the French Revolution. Even though the story is told from Gilles POV, we get Caroline’s thoughts in letters written to her cousin.
Gilles and Caroline have a slow burn romance, which I always love. They form a friendship which slowly grows to love despite their differences. These two characters both grow so much during these dangerous times. Gilles must choose between fighting for what he believes in and protecting the ones he loves the most. Caroline is not afraid to stand up for what she believes, even if it puts herself in danger.
This book was so well researched. Read this book and I promise you’ll feel like you stepped back in into the late 1700s.
I loved the forbidden love of Gilles and Caroline. He’s a Jacobin. She’s a royalist. They find themselves on opposite sides during the French Revolution. Even though the story is told from Gilles POV, we get Caroline’s thoughts in letters written to her cousin.
Gilles and Caroline have a slow burn romance, which I always love. They form a friendship which slowly grows to love despite their differences. These two characters both grow so much during these dangerous times. Gilles must choose between fighting for what he believes in and protecting the ones he loves the most. Caroline is not afraid to stand up for what she believes, even if it puts herself in danger.
This book was so well researched. Read this book and I promise you’ll feel like you stepped back in into the late 1700s.
thebookedcookie's review
4.0
I’ve always been interested in the French Revolution, so this book seemed like a great fit. There were many aspects that were extremely well done. I appreciated the enemies to lovers trope with Gilles and Marie-Caroline being on opposite sides of the conflict. Gilles growth was fantastic. He started to consider how his actions and those of his compatriots were impacting their ultimate goal. I liked that he thought for himself and followed his heart.
Gilles character made this book for me and is the reason I kept reading. This was a slow read. It did eventually pick up, and I became more invested towards the end of the book. It took me a while to root for the romance, but eventually I did.
I struggled to connect with Marie-Caroline. I liked that we got to know her through letters that she wrote, but found it unbelievable that she would write so many incriminating things in them. I would have liked to see her character grow some through out the story.
I enjoyed the overall story, and was happy with the conclusion.
This is a clean read.
Gilles character made this book for me and is the reason I kept reading. This was a slow read. It did eventually pick up, and I became more invested towards the end of the book. It took me a while to root for the romance, but eventually I did.
I struggled to connect with Marie-Caroline. I liked that we got to know her through letters that she wrote, but found it unbelievable that she would write so many incriminating things in them. I would have liked to see her character grow some through out the story.
I enjoyed the overall story, and was happy with the conclusion.
This is a clean read.
chelseagibbs's review
5.0
“Doing what’s right is more important than who is right”
I don’t usually read outside the fantasy genre but I adored this book. Gilles is adorable and watching him think through the implications of his own actions was beautiful. I don’t know very much about the French Revolution so I don’t know if it’s historically accurate but a beautifully written story!
I don’t usually read outside the fantasy genre but I adored this book. Gilles is adorable and watching him think through the implications of his own actions was beautiful. I don’t know very much about the French Revolution so I don’t know if it’s historically accurate but a beautifully written story!