Leonie

Ms. Adler completely held me captive, just as men did Leonie in this fascinating story! Thank you for good fictional writing!

Peach is the sequel (the titled heroine being Leonie's granddaughter) but the extra something that gave Leonie its spark is missing. But I'm not reviewing Peach... Reminiscent of the romances of the 80s with a touch of Steele and Susann, Leonie is nonetheless an enjoyable read. Messed up, somewhat lurid, it begins the story of Leonie, a provincal, beautiful French girl who leaves her hometown for Paris and eventually hooks up with Monsieur, a shadowy, powerful married man who becomes enthralled with her. It tells, in turn, of Leonie's interlude with Monsieur, Leonie's freindships, and how eventually Leonie breaks free of her obsessive and mentally abusive relationship. There are a few loose ends: Leonie's attraction to her Egyptian figurines, her parentage, and the climatic but ambiguous ending, but overall Leonie is a reasonably satisfying read.

This is definitely one of my favorite books. Yeah, it has that trashy romance thing going on, but it is definitely a lot more than that. Also, the main charcater has tons of spunk, and is really rather liberated.

Fans of Elizabeth Adler will find this book as great as her others. Readers who have read "The Rich Shall Inherit" should also read this book. Set in the late 1800's to the early 1900's, it follows the story of Leonie, a poor young girl in France, and the obsession of one man she calls Monsieur. Living in the shadow of fear from Monsieur, Leonie becomes a famous singer and eventually finds true love. The story comes together in a final conflict that frees Leonie from her Monsieur forever.I found this book difficult to put down, and I'm sure you will too.