Sherry F. (sherryfair) reviewed on 9/13/2005 + 55 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 7

I've always thought Judith Ivory is the missing link between literary fiction and romance novels. I like lending her books to highly literate, otherwise intelligent people who tell me they hate "bodice rippers" and "tacky romance novels" (without ever having read any of them, of course). This one plays with the old tale of "Beauty and the Beast." The first half takes place on an enormous, luxurious turn of the century ocean liner. The other half takes place in a mansion in the South of France. The heroine's so beautiful, a little boy on the cruise ship asks her if she's a goddess. The hero's a French prince, who limps and got a forceps in the eye when he was delivered. He's a perfume maker and a dandy who's fond of good clothing and fine walking sticks. They are a fascinating couple, but you will enjoy them better if you like complex, slightly flawed characters. Not your stereotypical perfect couple.

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