The Painted Rose (Berkley Sensation)

Rating:
Summary: 2.5 stars
Review: Beauty and the Beast gets a new twist as Lucien Delacourte journeys to Elmstone Manor where a veiled lady haunts the gardens. Even through the veil, he can see the beauty of her soul, perhaps even of face, yet he hides behind a mask of his own unseen that stand between him and love. As two haunted, scarred souls work through the maze to find love, in direct contrast stands the troubled marriage of Sarah's brother and his cruel wife who is bent on seducing Lucien. If you have longed for a true Gothic romance, then this will satisfy your need. Like an impressionistic painting of light and shadows, this is a work of art.

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: Donna Birdsell has a beautifully poetic voice that sings throughout this story of love lost and found. Rather than starting with the perfect couple, the author has chosen to show deeply scared charactes and how love can make them whole. A great first book, and I look forward to her next work.



Rating:
Summary: A beautiful story, beautifully told
Review: Donna Birdsell's tale of a scarred woman and the artist who helps her recognize her inner beauty is a story not to be missed. Ms. Birdsell's lyrical writing and evocative characters will stay with you long after the book is done.

Rating:
Summary: Lush, romantic debut novel
Review: I just fell in love with this book. The writing is so beautiful, and the characters are so real. Lucien is a great hero, very unusual, with his artistic sensitivity--but somehow still very strong and sexy. Lady Sarah has a very sad story until he shows up to bring her back to life and love. I was really excited for these two to get together, and I was not disappointed--their happy ending is so satisfying, I wanted to read the whole book again right away! I can't wait for Ms. Birdsell's next one...

Rating:
Summary: terrific Georgian romance
Review: In 1777 with the deaths of his wife Katrina and their child Tessa in a tragic Paris fire in which he felt he could have saved their lives, haunted artist Lucien Delacourte leaves France to tutor an English woman. When he arrives at Whitford, he learns from the locals that his destination Elmsford House is haunted by a veiled phantom. The host Lord James Essington is surprised that someone showed up for the position, but welcomes the newcomer anyway.

James abruptly leaves so Lucien wanders around until he sees a mysterious woman wearing veils. He learns she is the earl's sister and his student, Lady Sarah who escorts Lucien on a tour of her gardens. To his amazement she has brought vigor to his life as he enjoys talking with her and needs to see her visage. Lucien learns that she wants to paint her gardening efforts to present as a catalogue to the Royal Botanical Society. Soon he falls in love with her inner beauty though he has yet to see her face. Sarah reciprocates, but knows her beloved mourns his losses.

This Georgian romance is a terrific tale because of the deep characterizations of the prime five (including the Earl's dowager Mom) residing at Elmsford House. Readers can compare the differences between James's amoral wife Julia and his sister hiding behind veils due a tragic accident. Lucien is a wonderful protagonist as he struggles with guilt over his deceased wife and child while falling in love with Sarah, face unseen. Fans will enjoy Donna Birdsell's delightful debut and look forward to more historical romances from this talented newcomer.

Harriet Klausner