Daughter of Silk (The Silk House #1)

Linda L. Chaikin has a way of seamlessly weaving together romance, suspense, and history, and she doesn't disappoint in "Daughter of Silk". The plot is exciting and compelling, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The romance is slightly rushed, but I enjoyed it anyway, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

Linda Chaikin always seems to come through with another great book just when you think her books couldn't get any better. I found Rachelle a refreshing heroine who had actual depth. And who couldn't love Fabien? While Madame Le Serpent practically gave me shivers, her son? Almost gave me nightmares! I love reading books with adventure and realistic villains. I hadn't known much prior to reading this book, about the Hugenots but now find myself facinated with that period of time and the courageous people who fought for their faith, even risking their life. I would recommend this book to anyone who gets sick of sappy Christian romance sometimes. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

This was a very easy read. But it was a lot of fun. This is one of those books that you keep reading until it's over and then you still want more.

Rachelle Dushane-Macquinet, a young woman from a prosperous and well-known family of silk producers and dressmakers, has come to court with her grandmother and older sister to help make gowns for the Princess Marguerite Valois, daughter of Queen Mother Catherine de Medici. But Rachelle and her family have a dangerous secret. They are Huguenots at a time when the Catholic church in France is relentlessly persecuting "heretics," which to them includes anyone of the Protestant faith. At court, Rachelle meets the handsome young Marquis Fabien de Vendome and is instantly attracted to him, but he is far above her in social class. Fabien is a Catholic, but he comes from a large noble family with many Huguenot members. When he and Rachelle learn of a conspiracy against the Huguenots, between the evil Catherine de Medici and her allies, the de Guise family, they are determined to do something to stop it. As they work together, they grow closer and begin to fall in love, but can they survive the many dangers of going against the most powerful people in France? This book was an excellent combination of history, romance, action, and political intrigue. The author brought to life the people -- both real and fictional characters -- as well as the customs and intrigues of the 16th century French court. My only complaint is that the next book in the series won't be out until Spring 2007, so I will have to wait that long to find out what happens next. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and historical romance set in this time period.

This story is one of the best reasearched, well-written books I have ever read. The fictional characters are very believable and representative of the people who had really lived during the time of Catherine de Medici's rule over France. The history is very accurate and Linda portrays the schemes of the Queen Mother so accurately that I felt shivers ever time she enters her mind.... Rachelle and Fabien are wonderful characters and I could feel the romantic tension between them while they also try to escape the Queen Mother's traps. The only thing disappointing about this series is that I have to wait til next year to read and find out what happens next for Rachelle and Fabien. I will for sure look for the next book in this wonderful series!