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A Bed of Spices
Only love could bridge the dark abyss that threatened to keep them apart forever.
He filled her dreams with desperate longing...
The exquisite Frederica der Esslingen fled the castle to the herbalist's cottage. Rica could never give in to her father's wishes and marry the man her twin sister loved. Another man, a stranger, set her blood racing and understood her bold, searching heart. Yet he was denied her forever.
She set him afire with forbidden desire...
Son of a wealthy Strassburg merchant, and determined to become a physician, Solomon had come to study the herbalist's art. It was there, in a wild garden, that he first set eyes on Rica. Her golden-haired beauty and bold spirit bewitched him. As plague ravaged Europe, he struggled against his passion, risking his life for the woman he longed to hold in his arms forever on...A Bed of Spices.
He filled her dreams with desperate longing...
The exquisite Frederica der Esslingen fled the castle to the herbalist's cottage. Rica could never give in to her father's wishes and marry the man her twin sister loved. Another man, a stranger, set her blood racing and understood her bold, searching heart. Yet he was denied her forever.
She set him afire with forbidden desire...
Son of a wealthy Strassburg merchant, and determined to become a physician, Solomon had come to study the herbalist's art. It was there, in a wild garden, that he first set eyes on Rica. Her golden-haired beauty and bold spirit bewitched him. As plague ravaged Europe, he struggled against his passion, risking his life for the woman he longed to hold in his arms forever on...A Bed of Spices.
343 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
235 people are currently reading
1525 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Samuel
75 books393 followersBarbara Samuel is a multiple RITA award-winning author with more than 38 books to her credit in a variety of genres. She has written historical and contemporary romances, a number of fantasy novellas with the likes of Susan Wiggs, Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney. She now writes women’s fiction about families, dogs, and food as Barbara O’Neal.
Her work has captured a plethora of awards, including six RITAs; the Colorado Center for the Book Award (twice); Favorite Book of the Year from Romance Writers of America, and the Library Journal’s list of Best Genre Fiction of the year, among many others.You can find a full list of all titles here.
Now living back in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Barbara writes in a study overlooking Pikes Peak, a pin that draws her home from her travels. She shares her home with Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete, a gorgeous and lovable chow mix named Jack; a very, very old Siamese named Esmerelda; a rescued street cat who has become the fattest silver tabby on the planet, and the wonder twins, two tuxedo kittens from a local shelter, whose names have changed several times. Yes, a lot of animals.
An avid photographer, cook, and traveler, Barbara keeps a log of travels, recipes, and photos at her blog, A Writer Afoot, where she also sometimes posts writing advice. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, but she doesn’t promise to be particularly interesting there.
Her work has captured a plethora of awards, including six RITAs; the Colorado Center for the Book Award (twice); Favorite Book of the Year from Romance Writers of America, and the Library Journal’s list of Best Genre Fiction of the year, among many others.You can find a full list of all titles here.
Now living back in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Barbara writes in a study overlooking Pikes Peak, a pin that draws her home from her travels. She shares her home with Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete, a gorgeous and lovable chow mix named Jack; a very, very old Siamese named Esmerelda; a rescued street cat who has become the fattest silver tabby on the planet, and the wonder twins, two tuxedo kittens from a local shelter, whose names have changed several times. Yes, a lot of animals.
An avid photographer, cook, and traveler, Barbara keeps a log of travels, recipes, and photos at her blog, A Writer Afoot, where she also sometimes posts writing advice. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, but she doesn’t promise to be particularly interesting there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 20, 2011
Well. This is rare. I can't find any flaws with this book. None. I can criticize anything, but this book? Not happening.
It's just the perfect story of actual forbidden love. This isn't about crossed signals, stern parents or mismatched values. Oh no, this is about a highborn German woman and a Jewish physician. In the 14th century. During the Black Death. In the midst of anti-Jewish pogroms. I mean, there's "forbidden love" and then there's "shit just got real."
What I loved most about the book is how evenly matched Rica and Solomon are. They're two people who are surprised to find everything they've always wanted in each other. Neither had thought they wanted a great passionate love or an easy companionship in marriage, but they immediately feel as though they've known each other forever, and suddenly have no idea how they'd live without it. There was a sense of wonderment and enchantment in their conversation that was just infectious. I fell in love, ached and finally rejoiced right along with them.
Everyone should read this book. Plonk down the $2 and read it today. Your life will be richer for doing it.
It's just the perfect story of actual forbidden love. This isn't about crossed signals, stern parents or mismatched values. Oh no, this is about a highborn German woman and a Jewish physician. In the 14th century. During the Black Death. In the midst of anti-Jewish pogroms. I mean, there's "forbidden love" and then there's "shit just got real."
What I loved most about the book is how evenly matched Rica and Solomon are. They're two people who are surprised to find everything they've always wanted in each other. Neither had thought they wanted a great passionate love or an easy companionship in marriage, but they immediately feel as though they've known each other forever, and suddenly have no idea how they'd live without it. There was a sense of wonderment and enchantment in their conversation that was just infectious. I fell in love, ached and finally rejoiced right along with them.
Everyone should read this book. Plonk down the $2 and read it today. Your life will be richer for doing it.
December 4, 2013
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" For the second time in as many months, I have been gifted with a little gem of a read that I don't often see mentioned in romance discussion circles, yet I found it to be so unique in both content and presentation that I can't imagine it not satisfying any romance reader who is looking for something different from the norm. A Bed of Spices is an inter-ethnic story of forbidden love between a Jewish man and a Catholic woman who literally risk their lives just to be in each other's company much less realize the fulfillment of that love by marrying. They are also from opposite sides of the tracks, for Solomon is the son of a merchant, while Rica is the daughter of a nobleman. In addition, both characters struggle frequently between their passionate natures and the puritanical ideology of the time, and whether their feelings and desires for one another are right or wrong. If the main characters aren't unusual enough, the story has an out-of-the-ordinary setting as well. While most medieval romances take place in England, A Bed of Spices is set in and around the bustling city of Strassburg, Germany against the backdrop of the Black Death no less. This made the story quite fascinating, but until reading it, this was certainly not an environment which I would have thought to be conducive to a good romance novel.
While this book is anything but politically correct, it is very historically accurate, actually teaching me things I didn't know, particularly about Jewish history. I had known that there were other historical persecutions of Jews besides the World War II Holocaust, but I didn't realize that there were other instances of widespread genocide of Jews. In fact, nothing short of another holocaust took place in the mid-14th century when Jews were ignorantly accused of causing the Plague (although greed and religion also played a part) and were executed by being burned alive (a literal meaning of the word holocaust). The Jews of that time also had to wear a yellow patch on their clothes to denote their ethnicity. All of these elements in the story both fascinated and horrified me to the point that I had to do a bit of study on the subject myself. In my mind it is the mark of a good author for them to be able to draw me into the history of a novel so much that I not only learn something from reading it, but want to know more. The other thing in this book that is very un-PC is the inequality of women. Women, even nobles, were typically uneducated and unable to read. Young ladies were pledged in marriage at a very young age, which is illustrated by a vassal of Rica's father asking for the hand of a 12-year-old girl, though he was one of the kind secondary characters and said that he would wait a while to actually take her as his wife. I thought it was rather ingenious that the author doesn't specifically state Solomon and Rica's ages, leaving it up to the reader to imagine whatever age they felt appropriate, but I got the sense that Rica herself was probably no more than a teenager. There is a secondary character who was raped at the tender age of six, and because of her non-virginal status, is thought of as a whore by some of the men in the story, and women in general are ingrained with the idea that they alone are responsible for inflaming the passions of the men around them. I was fully able to reconcile all these things in the historical perspective in which they are presented, but any reader who considers themselves a true feminist should definitely be prepared for some brutal reality in this book. In addition to the actual history, I was impressed with the author's use of a more realistic grammar and syntax for that era. While I know that it wasn't entirely accurate (it would be very difficult for the average person to understand real Middle English in modern times), I thought that it did lend another air of authenticity to the story.
Aside from all the uniqueness in the plot, I absolutely fell in love with the two main characters, Solomon and Rica. Solomon is a sweet beta hero who is very tender and loving and isn't afraid to show his true feelings to Rica. Instead of the typical knight hero of medieval romances, Solomon is a physician in training, and quite well-suited to that profession, in my opinion. He is a very gentle soul which is evidenced by the grief he feels at the the loss of life due to the various medical conditions and diseases of the time. He also possesses an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of the human body as well as why and how certain individuals are able to survive the Plague. He is one of the few men in the story who doesn't try to exert his dominance over the women, instead appreciating Rica as his intellectual equal which is a large part of what attracts him to her in the first place. In addition he does not think himself too good to learn medical knowledge from Helga, a renowned herbalist/midwife in the area, and he is in constant appreciation and awe of the general beauty of all the women around him. Rica is a very strong, capable and intelligent young woman who was fortuitous enough to have been educated by the castle priest who couldn't contain his enthusiasm for teaching, and since there was no male child in the family, Rica became the beneficiary of his knowledge. She too has a hunger to read and learn and wishes that it were possible for her to attend university like the men. Rica is an all-around admirable heroine who is kind and gentle, but also independent and filled with fiery passion.
Since the history of the story isn't romanticized at all, it can sometimes feel rather intense and heavy. Even Solomon and Rica's relationship is constantly tinged with danger and bittersweet moments, yet their love and the joy they share in each other's company stands out as a beacon of light against the dark backdrop of pain and sorrow around them. I loved that Solomon could always tell the difference between Rica and her twin sister, Etta, and near the end when I thought one of those cliched misunderstandings was going to get in the way, low and behold, he actually figured things out for himself which was utterly refreshing. Both characters have very deeply complex family relationships, mainly with fathers and siblings, but I always felt like I understood everyone involved even if I didn't agree with them. Helga, who was like a second mother to Rica and Etta after their own mother died, was a wonderful character, as was the kind vassal, Lewis. Rica's twin, Etta, was a very heartbreakingly tragic character, but I liked that the author kept an air of mystery surrounding her so that the reader is never quite sure if she is sane or not. Rica's suitor and Etta's love, Rudolf, is also mysterious in that one moment he would seem like a good, pious man and the next he would exhibit hints of evil. Although Rica and Etta played a game of who's who with the other characters in the story, I appreciated that the author made sure the reader was always in the know, otherwise it would have gotten very complicated.
Even though I really enjoyed A Bed of Spices, there were a few small things that kept it from quite being sheer perfection for me. Some passages were rather simplistically rendered, and I thought that a bit more details in those areas would have added more vibrancy to the narrative. There were also some repetitive word choices in a few places. I thought the author did a very good job with conveying the sexual tension between Solomon and Rica when they were together and their unrequited longing for each other when they were apart, so I found myself wishing that there had been just a little more steam when they finally consummated their relationship. Normally sweet, non-explicit love scenes are perfectly fine with me, but in my opinion, the mildness of this one didn't quite fully communicate the intense passion and deep emotional connection they seemed to feel for one another. Also, the author was very clear that Solomon and Rica's mutual attraction had an intellectual as well as physical basis. This was an element that I really appreciated and found to be very believable, but there wasn't quite as much demonstration of that cerebral connection as I would have liked to see. These are relatively minor complaints though, which didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment of the story, and I can't help but give it a few extra points for its historical significance and depth of characterizations. Overall, A Bed of Spices was a wonderful book which I would highly recommend to any romance reader looking for something out of the ordinary which breaks the typical romance novel mold. This is another one of those out-of-print books which I sought out through library channels, but will now be looking for a copy to own for my keeper shelf. This was my first read by Barbara Samuel, but it has definitely left me open to trying out other books by her. Barbara Samuel's most recent release was written as Barbara O'Neal, and she has also authored a number of category romances for the Silhouette imprint as Ruth Wind.
"4.5 stars" For the second time in as many months, I have been gifted with a little gem of a read that I don't often see mentioned in romance discussion circles, yet I found it to be so unique in both content and presentation that I can't imagine it not satisfying any romance reader who is looking for something different from the norm. A Bed of Spices is an inter-ethnic story of forbidden love between a Jewish man and a Catholic woman who literally risk their lives just to be in each other's company much less realize the fulfillment of that love by marrying. They are also from opposite sides of the tracks, for Solomon is the son of a merchant, while Rica is the daughter of a nobleman. In addition, both characters struggle frequently between their passionate natures and the puritanical ideology of the time, and whether their feelings and desires for one another are right or wrong. If the main characters aren't unusual enough, the story has an out-of-the-ordinary setting as well. While most medieval romances take place in England, A Bed of Spices is set in and around the bustling city of Strassburg, Germany against the backdrop of the Black Death no less. This made the story quite fascinating, but until reading it, this was certainly not an environment which I would have thought to be conducive to a good romance novel.
While this book is anything but politically correct, it is very historically accurate, actually teaching me things I didn't know, particularly about Jewish history. I had known that there were other historical persecutions of Jews besides the World War II Holocaust, but I didn't realize that there were other instances of widespread genocide of Jews. In fact, nothing short of another holocaust took place in the mid-14th century when Jews were ignorantly accused of causing the Plague (although greed and religion also played a part) and were executed by being burned alive (a literal meaning of the word holocaust). The Jews of that time also had to wear a yellow patch on their clothes to denote their ethnicity. All of these elements in the story both fascinated and horrified me to the point that I had to do a bit of study on the subject myself. In my mind it is the mark of a good author for them to be able to draw me into the history of a novel so much that I not only learn something from reading it, but want to know more. The other thing in this book that is very un-PC is the inequality of women. Women, even nobles, were typically uneducated and unable to read. Young ladies were pledged in marriage at a very young age, which is illustrated by a vassal of Rica's father asking for the hand of a 12-year-old girl, though he was one of the kind secondary characters and said that he would wait a while to actually take her as his wife. I thought it was rather ingenious that the author doesn't specifically state Solomon and Rica's ages, leaving it up to the reader to imagine whatever age they felt appropriate, but I got the sense that Rica herself was probably no more than a teenager. There is a secondary character who was raped at the tender age of six, and because of her non-virginal status, is thought of as a whore by some of the men in the story, and women in general are ingrained with the idea that they alone are responsible for inflaming the passions of the men around them. I was fully able to reconcile all these things in the historical perspective in which they are presented, but any reader who considers themselves a true feminist should definitely be prepared for some brutal reality in this book. In addition to the actual history, I was impressed with the author's use of a more realistic grammar and syntax for that era. While I know that it wasn't entirely accurate (it would be very difficult for the average person to understand real Middle English in modern times), I thought that it did lend another air of authenticity to the story.
Aside from all the uniqueness in the plot, I absolutely fell in love with the two main characters, Solomon and Rica. Solomon is a sweet beta hero who is very tender and loving and isn't afraid to show his true feelings to Rica. Instead of the typical knight hero of medieval romances, Solomon is a physician in training, and quite well-suited to that profession, in my opinion. He is a very gentle soul which is evidenced by the grief he feels at the the loss of life due to the various medical conditions and diseases of the time. He also possesses an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of the human body as well as why and how certain individuals are able to survive the Plague. He is one of the few men in the story who doesn't try to exert his dominance over the women, instead appreciating Rica as his intellectual equal which is a large part of what attracts him to her in the first place. In addition he does not think himself too good to learn medical knowledge from Helga, a renowned herbalist/midwife in the area, and he is in constant appreciation and awe of the general beauty of all the women around him. Rica is a very strong, capable and intelligent young woman who was fortuitous enough to have been educated by the castle priest who couldn't contain his enthusiasm for teaching, and since there was no male child in the family, Rica became the beneficiary of his knowledge. She too has a hunger to read and learn and wishes that it were possible for her to attend university like the men. Rica is an all-around admirable heroine who is kind and gentle, but also independent and filled with fiery passion.
Since the history of the story isn't romanticized at all, it can sometimes feel rather intense and heavy. Even Solomon and Rica's relationship is constantly tinged with danger and bittersweet moments, yet their love and the joy they share in each other's company stands out as a beacon of light against the dark backdrop of pain and sorrow around them. I loved that Solomon could always tell the difference between Rica and her twin sister, Etta, and near the end when I thought one of those cliched misunderstandings was going to get in the way, low and behold, he actually figured things out for himself which was utterly refreshing. Both characters have very deeply complex family relationships, mainly with fathers and siblings, but I always felt like I understood everyone involved even if I didn't agree with them. Helga, who was like a second mother to Rica and Etta after their own mother died, was a wonderful character, as was the kind vassal, Lewis. Rica's twin, Etta, was a very heartbreakingly tragic character, but I liked that the author kept an air of mystery surrounding her so that the reader is never quite sure if she is sane or not. Rica's suitor and Etta's love, Rudolf, is also mysterious in that one moment he would seem like a good, pious man and the next he would exhibit hints of evil. Although Rica and Etta played a game of who's who with the other characters in the story, I appreciated that the author made sure the reader was always in the know, otherwise it would have gotten very complicated.
Even though I really enjoyed A Bed of Spices, there were a few small things that kept it from quite being sheer perfection for me. Some passages were rather simplistically rendered, and I thought that a bit more details in those areas would have added more vibrancy to the narrative. There were also some repetitive word choices in a few places. I thought the author did a very good job with conveying the sexual tension between Solomon and Rica when they were together and their unrequited longing for each other when they were apart, so I found myself wishing that there had been just a little more steam when they finally consummated their relationship. Normally sweet, non-explicit love scenes are perfectly fine with me, but in my opinion, the mildness of this one didn't quite fully communicate the intense passion and deep emotional connection they seemed to feel for one another. Also, the author was very clear that Solomon and Rica's mutual attraction had an intellectual as well as physical basis. This was an element that I really appreciated and found to be very believable, but there wasn't quite as much demonstration of that cerebral connection as I would have liked to see. These are relatively minor complaints though, which didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment of the story, and I can't help but give it a few extra points for its historical significance and depth of characterizations. Overall, A Bed of Spices was a wonderful book which I would highly recommend to any romance reader looking for something out of the ordinary which breaks the typical romance novel mold. This is another one of those out-of-print books which I sought out through library channels, but will now be looking for a copy to own for my keeper shelf. This was my first read by Barbara Samuel, but it has definitely left me open to trying out other books by her. Barbara Samuel's most recent release was written as Barbara O'Neal, and she has also authored a number of category romances for the Silhouette imprint as Ruth Wind.
October 4, 2023
3.5⭐️
TEARS😭😭
This is truly a forbidden romance between a young, Jewish, merchants son and a Christian girl who is the daughter of a nobleman. The story is set in Strasburg, Germany during the 14th century when the black plague was just starting to ravish Europe and the Jewish people were being blamed, arrested and burned. Such a truly horrible horrible time and I feel like the author did a great job realistically capturing what it would have been like. My heart ached for these two and their trails. Definitely not a light romance but worth it.
TEARS😭😭
This is truly a forbidden romance between a young, Jewish, merchants son and a Christian girl who is the daughter of a nobleman. The story is set in Strasburg, Germany during the 14th century when the black plague was just starting to ravish Europe and the Jewish people were being blamed, arrested and burned. Such a truly horrible horrible time and I feel like the author did a great job realistically capturing what it would have been like. My heart ached for these two and their trails. Definitely not a light romance but worth it.
May 16, 2011
1 of the most evocative against-the-odds luv stories evah penned... despite the fact that beta heroes are not my cuppa. Anotha bittersweet reminder that U can't choose who U luv & U need more than a li'l luck to have a HEA. There's an epic feel to it just based on the series of potholes H/h gotta go thru' to be together. Makes U feel blessed U don't live in Germany around 13th century & don't evah underestimate the power of paternal luv. The boiling suspense was pitch purrfect... my hair is still spiky from the thrill. Someone should turn this buried treasure into a movie. Will I re-read it ? Prolly not.... but I give credit where it's due. The writing oozes authenticity & the elegant prose is 1st rate. @ moments I thought... how the zip can these doomed souls have a positive outcome ? Which begs the question... how far would U go for tru' luv ?
July 22, 2024
"It does not seem an evil thing," he said with quiet wonder. "It seems as if I have held you thus for all of time, that I should go on doing so forever."
This is a very sweet and tender romance set in a time and place where it cannot safely blossom. Frederica (Rica) is the beautiful daughter of a local lord, and Solomon the son of a Jewish merchant in Strasbourg. Danger is looming: Rica and Solomon would be killed if found together, and Solomon has to try to manuever his family out of the city to escape the pogroms.
Their meet cute reminded me so much of Forever & Ever. They are instantly smitten but then shortly learn information that complicates the attraction, sours it a bit. They still can't keep away from each other, though, sometimes it's an engineered run-in and sometimes it's fate.
As is often when I read older historical romance novels that are set outside of the Regency and try to swing big, I get frustrated with a genre that has seemingly closed in on itself in the past fifteen years. Who is the Barbara Samuel of 2024?
This is a very sweet and tender romance set in a time and place where it cannot safely blossom. Frederica (Rica) is the beautiful daughter of a local lord, and Solomon the son of a Jewish merchant in Strasbourg. Danger is looming: Rica and Solomon would be killed if found together, and Solomon has to try to manuever his family out of the city to escape the pogroms.
Their meet cute reminded me so much of Forever & Ever. They are instantly smitten but then shortly learn information that complicates the attraction, sours it a bit. They still can't keep away from each other, though, sometimes it's an engineered run-in and sometimes it's fate.
As is often when I read older historical romance novels that are set outside of the Regency and try to swing big, I get frustrated with a genre that has seemingly closed in on itself in the past fifteen years. Who is the Barbara Samuel of 2024?
May 20, 2010
After reading A Bed of Spices by Barbara Samuel, I am left with the impression that MOST romance plots are just plain silly. Hardships are not REALLY hardships, common plot obstacles such as "the misunderstanding" are not REALLY that hard to overcome, and many plot lines are shallow. I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS BEFORE, so I guess I will "blame" the richness, historical accuracy, and perfection of this novel on my change in perspective. None other compares to this book.
This book is not a "light hearted romp"! These characters are facing REAL crisis....The Plague is ravaging through villages in Europe and is leaving thousands dead in it's wake, Jews are being blamed for the plague, tortured and killed, and marriage between a Gentiles and a Jew is punishable by death. Soloman is a Jewish physician in training and Fredricka (Rica) is a German nobleman's daughter. They meet in a "spice garden" owned by a local midwife/medicine woman. He is studying herbal remedies from Helga and Helga is a sort of "mother figure" to Rica. Love at first sight seems too elementary to describe what happens when these two meet. It is more like it is a "collision of souls"...not to get to dramatic!!! The CONNECTION that Soloman and RIca share is what sets this couple apart from other couples. There is no reason these two should fall in love....they are of different class, race, and religion, and yet their love just "is".
The odds these two face seem insurmountable, even right up until the end. I couldn't put this book down until I knew what would come of these two "star crossed" lovers. There are secondary characters...Etta, Rica's twin and an evil pursuer of the sisters, but nothing can compete with what goes on between Soloman and Rica. Their relationship is absolute beauty.
I'm usually kinda cheap:)......I paid $15.00 for this book and don't regret a penny of it! Find this book.
This book is not a "light hearted romp"! These characters are facing REAL crisis....The Plague is ravaging through villages in Europe and is leaving thousands dead in it's wake, Jews are being blamed for the plague, tortured and killed, and marriage between a Gentiles and a Jew is punishable by death. Soloman is a Jewish physician in training and Fredricka (Rica) is a German nobleman's daughter. They meet in a "spice garden" owned by a local midwife/medicine woman. He is studying herbal remedies from Helga and Helga is a sort of "mother figure" to Rica. Love at first sight seems too elementary to describe what happens when these two meet. It is more like it is a "collision of souls"...not to get to dramatic!!! The CONNECTION that Soloman and RIca share is what sets this couple apart from other couples. There is no reason these two should fall in love....they are of different class, race, and religion, and yet their love just "is".
The odds these two face seem insurmountable, even right up until the end. I couldn't put this book down until I knew what would come of these two "star crossed" lovers. There are secondary characters...Etta, Rica's twin and an evil pursuer of the sisters, but nothing can compete with what goes on between Soloman and Rica. Their relationship is absolute beauty.
I'm usually kinda cheap:)......I paid $15.00 for this book and don't regret a penny of it! Find this book.
July 25, 2016
3.5 Stars
A BED OF SPICES was, for all intents and purposes, a tale of forbidden love. 'Rica' der Esslingen was a devoted daughter, a loving sister and a friend to many of her father's subjects. She was also a Catholic living in very dark times.
She had a thirst for knowledge uncommon to women of her era. When not required to solve problems in her father's home, she borrowed her sister's wolfhound and visited the village herbalist. She felt most at ease when she was picking and grinding herbs, reading medicinal tomes or learning to heal.
Solomon was a student of medicine and a quick learner of Hilga's herbal remedies. He was the son of a prosperous Jewish merchant and was expected to become a doctor. He had been studying his trade for over four years when he first met Rica. Before too long, their attraction morphed into love but they both knew nothing could come of it.
Ms. Samuels spliced heart wrenching moments taken from real-life events and intermingled them with Rica's and Solomon's story. Pride, contradictions and angst riddled the romance. Etta, Rica's sister, and Rudolf, their father's vassal, added a fair amount of tension to make this romance an emotional roller-coaster.
At times, this group of people in the grip of denial, was a painful thing to watch. I am giving the story 3.5 stars because though I liked it, it is not something I would want to read again.
A BED OF SPICES was, for all intents and purposes, a tale of forbidden love. 'Rica' der Esslingen was a devoted daughter, a loving sister and a friend to many of her father's subjects. She was also a Catholic living in very dark times.
She had a thirst for knowledge uncommon to women of her era. When not required to solve problems in her father's home, she borrowed her sister's wolfhound and visited the village herbalist. She felt most at ease when she was picking and grinding herbs, reading medicinal tomes or learning to heal.
Solomon was a student of medicine and a quick learner of Hilga's herbal remedies. He was the son of a prosperous Jewish merchant and was expected to become a doctor. He had been studying his trade for over four years when he first met Rica. Before too long, their attraction morphed into love but they both knew nothing could come of it.
Ms. Samuels spliced heart wrenching moments taken from real-life events and intermingled them with Rica's and Solomon's story. Pride, contradictions and angst riddled the romance. Etta, Rica's sister, and Rudolf, their father's vassal, added a fair amount of tension to make this romance an emotional roller-coaster.
At times, this group of people in the grip of denial, was a painful thing to watch. I am giving the story 3.5 stars because though I liked it, it is not something I would want to read again.
May 28, 2023
I'm not sure I recommend this to anybody, but I enjoyed it.
Solomon is a Jewish physician in training and Rica is a Christian daughter of a lord in Strasbourg in 1347. Things do not go well in Strasbourg in 1347! I'm not sure if I have read another romance that is so acutely connected to a historical tragedy and may also be the least optimistic/highest actual stakes romance I have ever read.
I thought Samuel did a good job for the cross-cultural romance. It really put into focus just how much fetishizing happens in the typical Regency cross-cultural pairings (Roma man/English woman, Scottish man/English woman). Both characters identities are important to them and we see them in their communities and the way that Rica describes Solomon in her POV really does not focus on his other-ness, but his Solomon-ness. That part was great!
But lots of bad things happen in this book! Sad, terrible things. I can't even think of something to liken it, except maybe more traditional historical fiction that is more acutely placed in a setting.
I'm glad I read it just because it was so different, but I'd be wary of recommending it to any romance reader without a lot of caveats.
Solomon is a Jewish physician in training and Rica is a Christian daughter of a lord in Strasbourg in 1347. Things do not go well in Strasbourg in 1347! I'm not sure if I have read another romance that is so acutely connected to a historical tragedy and may also be the least optimistic/highest actual stakes romance I have ever read.
I thought Samuel did a good job for the cross-cultural romance. It really put into focus just how much fetishizing happens in the typical Regency cross-cultural pairings (Roma man/English woman, Scottish man/English woman). Both characters identities are important to them and we see them in their communities and the way that Rica describes Solomon in her POV really does not focus on his other-ness, but his Solomon-ness. That part was great!
But lots of bad things happen in this book! Sad, terrible things. I can't even think of something to liken it, except maybe more traditional historical fiction that is more acutely placed in a setting.
I'm glad I read it just because it was so different, but I'd be wary of recommending it to any romance reader without a lot of caveats.
May 20, 2012
Finally I'm getting around to writing a real review for this amazing, wonderful book. I've read it several times, and it is still my #1 favorite romance novel. Five stars is not enough.
Rica der Esslingen is the daughter of a German, Catholic baron. She acts as mistress of her Father's estate due to the fact that her mother was killed in a brutal attack that also left Rica's twin sister, Etta, mentally unstable and physically (sexually) destroyed. Rica is free-spirited, romantic, and intellectual. She spends a good deal of her time with the midwife and herbalist, Helga. This is where she meets Solomon ben Jacob.
Solomon is the the fourth son of a Jewish merchant, whose father has given him permission to study medicine. As a physician in training, he hopes to learn the herbalist's secrets from Helga during his sabbatical from his classes at Montpelier.
Despite the social and class differences that separate them, Solomon and Rica are instantly drawn to one another. It's a powerful, almost mystical magnetic pull that they are unable to resist, despite how much they try (and OH WOW, they certainly do try!).
Barbara Samuels is an absolute master at dialogue and characterization. The interaction between Solomon and Rica was brilliant, vivid and real. They are best friends and lovers despite the diverse social ties that bind them. Their bond feels destined, written in the stars, unbreakable... regardless of whatever odds are stacked against them. And the odds are most definitely STACKED against them. True to the era and setting, any sort of socialization (much less a romance) between a noble Catholic maiden and the son of a Jewish merchant was not only forbidden... it could mean death. Especially since this novel is taking place during the panic of the spread of the Black Plague through Europe, when antisemitism was rampant. Samuels writes very action-packed scenes to illustrate the very real danger these characters face as they fall desperately in love. And in the scenes where Rica and Solomon are able to be together, their passion is incredibly well written and heart-achingly beautiful.
An arranged marriage to a brutal man, violence, serious illness, prejudice, death, politics and religion are only a few of the hurdles these characters face on their journey. And through it all they are determined to find some way back to each other. Right up until the end, their HEA will seem impossible. But it comes. And in a way the reader least expects.
I also really loved how the book touched on the theme of the love of a father for his children, as both Solomon's and Rica's fathers play significant roles in the book.
The secondary characters are also very vivid and real, and you will come to know all of them very well. You will fall in love with Solomon and Rica. If you are a fan of romance, read this book. Even if it's not your usual genre preference.
Rica der Esslingen is the daughter of a German, Catholic baron. She acts as mistress of her Father's estate due to the fact that her mother was killed in a brutal attack that also left Rica's twin sister, Etta, mentally unstable and physically (sexually) destroyed. Rica is free-spirited, romantic, and intellectual. She spends a good deal of her time with the midwife and herbalist, Helga. This is where she meets Solomon ben Jacob.
Solomon is the the fourth son of a Jewish merchant, whose father has given him permission to study medicine. As a physician in training, he hopes to learn the herbalist's secrets from Helga during his sabbatical from his classes at Montpelier.
Despite the social and class differences that separate them, Solomon and Rica are instantly drawn to one another. It's a powerful, almost mystical magnetic pull that they are unable to resist, despite how much they try (and OH WOW, they certainly do try!).
Barbara Samuels is an absolute master at dialogue and characterization. The interaction between Solomon and Rica was brilliant, vivid and real. They are best friends and lovers despite the diverse social ties that bind them. Their bond feels destined, written in the stars, unbreakable... regardless of whatever odds are stacked against them. And the odds are most definitely STACKED against them. True to the era and setting, any sort of socialization (much less a romance) between a noble Catholic maiden and the son of a Jewish merchant was not only forbidden... it could mean death. Especially since this novel is taking place during the panic of the spread of the Black Plague through Europe, when antisemitism was rampant. Samuels writes very action-packed scenes to illustrate the very real danger these characters face as they fall desperately in love. And in the scenes where Rica and Solomon are able to be together, their passion is incredibly well written and heart-achingly beautiful.
An arranged marriage to a brutal man, violence, serious illness, prejudice, death, politics and religion are only a few of the hurdles these characters face on their journey. And through it all they are determined to find some way back to each other. Right up until the end, their HEA will seem impossible. But it comes. And in a way the reader least expects.
I also really loved how the book touched on the theme of the love of a father for his children, as both Solomon's and Rica's fathers play significant roles in the book.
The secondary characters are also very vivid and real, and you will come to know all of them very well. You will fall in love with Solomon and Rica. If you are a fan of romance, read this book. Even if it's not your usual genre preference.
March 30, 2025
When I finished this book, I decided it was the most tragic romance I’ve ever read, so check the CWs. But my buddy reader said it was the most earnestly romantic book, and... that too.
A Bed of Spices takes place in northern France/southern Germany in the 14th c. (The town is called Strassburg, but I can't tell if it's supposed to be Strasbourg, one of the many towns actually named Strassburg, or a made-up town.) Rica is the daughter of a minor lord, and Solomon is a smokin’ hot Jewish man in a time when Jews are being blamed for the plague that’s sweeping Europe. Their paths cross at the home of Helga, the local midwife, because Rica goes there for medicinal supplies for the castle and Solomon is supplementing his physician training with Helga.
Rica and Solomon are absolutely magic together. Their desire for each other is palpable; Samuel works wonders with the female gaze, particularly in the section where he emerges naked from the River Ill. Unfortunately, Rica's father has betrothed her, without her knowledge, to local smarm peddler Rudolf, who I hate with the fire of a thousand suns. Things are complicated by the presence of Rica's twin sister Etta, who is suffering from severe psychological trauma due to an assault when she was six years old.
This was my first Barbara Samuel, and she is an exquisite writer. I don’t know how she managed to conjure full cinematic pictures in my head without overusing descriptors or overwriting in any way. There is a scene at 48% where a character watches Rica and Solomon through a window that is sheer wizardry. Stunningly beautiful.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but I think it's one of the best historical romances I've ever read.
A Bed of Spices takes place in northern France/southern Germany in the 14th c. (The town is called Strassburg, but I can't tell if it's supposed to be Strasbourg, one of the many towns actually named Strassburg, or a made-up town.) Rica is the daughter of a minor lord, and Solomon is a smokin’ hot Jewish man in a time when Jews are being blamed for the plague that’s sweeping Europe. Their paths cross at the home of Helga, the local midwife, because Rica goes there for medicinal supplies for the castle and Solomon is supplementing his physician training with Helga.
Rica and Solomon are absolutely magic together. Their desire for each other is palpable; Samuel works wonders with the female gaze, particularly in the section where he emerges naked from the River Ill. Unfortunately, Rica's father has betrothed her, without her knowledge, to local smarm peddler Rudolf, who I hate with the fire of a thousand suns. Things are complicated by the presence of Rica's twin sister Etta, who is suffering from severe psychological trauma due to an assault when she was six years old.
This was my first Barbara Samuel, and she is an exquisite writer. I don’t know how she managed to conjure full cinematic pictures in my head without overusing descriptors or overwriting in any way. There is a scene at 48% where a character watches Rica and Solomon through a window that is sheer wizardry. Stunningly beautiful.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but I think it's one of the best historical romances I've ever read.
September 12, 2025
A Bed of Spices is a class difference, forbidden, historical romance. Its setting felt more unique to me in historical romances that I’ve read as it’s set in the 14th century during the Middle Ages in Starsbourg around the Black Death. At times this read more as historical fiction, which I enjoyed the history of it all, but just something to note.
This does have a forbidden romance at the center of the story, it’s forbidden because of the class difference of the time and religion playing into it as well. Rica (Fredrica) is a young Christian girl and the daughter of a local German nobleman, Solomon is the son of a Jewish merchant and physician. Like I mentioned, the book takes place in the 14th century right when the Black Death is ravaging Europe and Jewish people are being blamed, arrested, and murdered. To say the least this book has heavy, darker themes. The writing was decent, I wasn’t wow’d and kinda expected more from the romance, but the history elements were well done. At times this book feels like it won’t end in an HEA, but it definitely is a romance and does. The original cover for this is a stunner, and I did like seeing that this book was on Kindle Unlimited (and audio).
CW: anti semitism, genocide, grief
This does have a forbidden romance at the center of the story, it’s forbidden because of the class difference of the time and religion playing into it as well. Rica (Fredrica) is a young Christian girl and the daughter of a local German nobleman, Solomon is the son of a Jewish merchant and physician. Like I mentioned, the book takes place in the 14th century right when the Black Death is ravaging Europe and Jewish people are being blamed, arrested, and murdered. To say the least this book has heavy, darker themes. The writing was decent, I wasn’t wow’d and kinda expected more from the romance, but the history elements were well done. At times this book feels like it won’t end in an HEA, but it definitely is a romance and does. The original cover for this is a stunner, and I did like seeing that this book was on Kindle Unlimited (and audio).
CW: anti semitism, genocide, grief
May 26, 2011
WOW it was good. One of those books that make you wonder why they don't write like this anymore. A love blooms between a Jewish man and Christian lady. Powerful stuff.
September 2, 2017
Grade: A+ - my Gold Standard for medieval romance
This book was one of my first Kindle impulse purchases, and I’m pretty sure it was my gateway drug to the evil realm of Romancelandia.
It's one of those books that I feel I could never do justice in a review, other than to say it was BOOK TRANCE from beginning to end. And it was even better the second time when I was reading it more critically with a reviewer’s eye.
A Bed of Spices is a perfectly balanced mix of history, humor, passion, romance, angst, atmosphere, characterization and story-telling. I’m sure I left out other good stuff, but it’s all in there.
For me, this is the epitome of a Star-Crossed Lovers story - and the hard-won HEA is WORTHY EVERY MINUTE of all that glorious angst.
*~*happysigh*~*
He did not kiss her, but his eyes held hers as if he had cast some spell, and in his face, she saw the fever of his need. “For this, I have been waiting,” he said in a low, raw voice. “For this, I would die.”
This book was one of my first Kindle impulse purchases, and I’m pretty sure it was my gateway drug to the evil realm of Romancelandia.
It's one of those books that I feel I could never do justice in a review, other than to say it was BOOK TRANCE from beginning to end. And it was even better the second time when I was reading it more critically with a reviewer’s eye.
In the silent gray fog, they were alone. The knowledge rippled between them as they stood face-to-face, a fearsome and dangerous thing…. For a moment, he held her eyes and she felt the heated pulse of his maleness through the cold mist; sensed once again that she was not alone in her wish to be less polite and more tangled.
A Bed of Spices is a perfectly balanced mix of history, humor, passion, romance, angst, atmosphere, characterization and story-telling. I’m sure I left out other good stuff, but it’s all in there.
He would not stray from within the walls of Strassburg itself. Surely, if he had no glimpse of her, this lunacy would burn itself clean. For, dear God, it must....
For me, this is the epitome of a Star-Crossed Lovers story - and the hard-won HEA is WORTHY EVERY MINUTE of all that glorious angst.
“All is well, my love,” he whispered. “All is well.”
*~*happysigh*~*
June 23, 2024
totally beautiful and captures that feeling of young fated love in difficult times (a unique setting for HR, felt like hist fiction at some parts for how richly woven it was)
*on KU rn!*
*on KU rn!*
August 7, 2023
UGH. I genuinely think this was a perfect book. And completely unexpected! I have trouble with medieval romances and I wasn't sure how this book would handle a Jewish hero. That said, my expectations have been exceeded. I don't come to old historicals for values that resonate with mine. (I don't trust most authors to approach race or religion with a humane lens.) But it's a welcome surprise when a book manages to weave a fantastic story that manages to feel warm and thoughtful towards all its characters.
This is all I have to say for this novel, which I find pretty funny. I write paragraphs upon paragraphs about books I hate but don't have much on the brain for the ones I adore. Smh
This is all I have to say for this novel, which I find pretty funny. I write paragraphs upon paragraphs about books I hate but don't have much on the brain for the ones I adore. Smh
February 20, 2022
This story of forbidden love between a German lady and a Jewish man studying to be a physician was so beautiful. As someone who is Jewish themself, I really felt like I was doing my ancestors a service by reading it. Unlike a lot of other books I've been reading lately, I didn't want to finish reading it; I wanted to make the reading experience last. When I finished reading this, I thought I would love to see this turned into a movie!!! I never think that about any books to be honest!
I also did not see how they were going to have a happy ending, I was really wondering and curious to as how this would end up. I'm not going to spoil it by saying whether they get their HEA or not.
I loved the secondary cast of characters (Charles and Helga especially). I was just worried about Rudolf. He could have and almost ruined it for Rica. I'm so glad he never found out about Solomon, that would have been bad. The author left his character ambiguous; sometimes he seemed pious, othertimes he nearly raped Etta. I was afraid that he was going to rape Rica before long.
I would have liked to know how old the characters were. Rica was probably only 17 and Jacob 21. At first, I was like wait, what if he is 30 or something? But then I realized he would probably already be a physician by that point. Another reviewer said that she would have liked the sex scenes to be steamier and I agree, though I went in with low expectations, so I wasn't too disappointed.
The author even tried to trick the reader with which twin was which. I knew for the most part, but you definitely had to pay attention. What happened to Etta was really sad.
I also did not see how they were going to have a happy ending, I was really wondering and curious to as how this would end up. I'm not going to spoil it by saying whether they get their HEA or not.
I loved the secondary cast of characters (Charles and Helga especially). I was just worried about Rudolf. He could have and almost ruined it for Rica. I'm so glad he never found out about Solomon, that would have been bad. The author left his character ambiguous; sometimes he seemed pious, othertimes he nearly raped Etta. I was afraid that he was going to rape Rica before long.
I would have liked to know how old the characters were. Rica was probably only 17 and Jacob 21. At first, I was like wait, what if he is 30 or something? But then I realized he would probably already be a physician by that point. Another reviewer said that she would have liked the sex scenes to be steamier and I agree, though I went in with low expectations, so I wasn't too disappointed.
The author even tried to trick the reader with which twin was which. I knew for the most part, but you definitely had to pay attention. What happened to Etta was really sad.
January 30, 2013
What a beautiful story! Twists and turns and seemingly no way out of lots of problems. Many people highly recommended this and I wholeheartedly agree. It was quite angsty and sad at times. This is my third book by Ms. Samuel. I loved them all but I think the first one I read by her still holds first place Night of Fire. What I especially loved about this one was the love the two fathers had for their children. As parents we always want the best for our children. If we see them taking some misstep we want to stop and protect them. It is so hard when logic and emotion collide. There was a whole lot of emotions here!
May 15, 2011
I'm almost speechless. Such depth. Such brilliant writing. Such a unique pairing in such a brutal time period. Such heartfelt emotion. Simply a perfect book.
May 24, 2019
Good
3.75 ⭐️
This was honestly the very first book I picked up out of school and chose to read. I remember where I purchased it from because I was bored and thought it looked interesting.
It was the book that started my love affair with reading and historical romance.
It still holds up on the reread. It probably wasn’t as good as I remember but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The historical aspects are well done.
I liked that it revolves around the time of the Black Plague. It adds a sense of fear to the book as it was always in the background.
I liked Rica, she tried to do the right thing and stay away from Solomon. Solomon too tried and yet they kept running into each other.
I felt for Solomon’s family who fled to save themselves. I understood his dad’s need to stay and try and hold on to what he had built up over his lifetime. What happened to the Jewish people at this time was cruel and heartbreaking.
I also felt for Etta. She didn’t deserve the life she was given.
I liked that Rica kept parts of her religion after marrying Solomon. While she agreed to bring up their children in the Jewish faith she didn’t give up her beliefs for her husband.
3.75 ⭐️
This was honestly the very first book I picked up out of school and chose to read. I remember where I purchased it from because I was bored and thought it looked interesting.
It was the book that started my love affair with reading and historical romance.
It still holds up on the reread. It probably wasn’t as good as I remember but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The historical aspects are well done.
I liked that it revolves around the time of the Black Plague. It adds a sense of fear to the book as it was always in the background.
I liked Rica, she tried to do the right thing and stay away from Solomon. Solomon too tried and yet they kept running into each other.
I felt for Solomon’s family who fled to save themselves. I understood his dad’s need to stay and try and hold on to what he had built up over his lifetime. What happened to the Jewish people at this time was cruel and heartbreaking.
I also felt for Etta. She didn’t deserve the life she was given.
I liked that Rica kept parts of her religion after marrying Solomon. While she agreed to bring up their children in the Jewish faith she didn’t give up her beliefs for her husband.
March 7, 2024
I really appreciate what Samuel was doing in this book. There is such a strong sense of setting - characters act and feel as though they are informed by the period in which they have been set. I miss this!
I keep coming back to a scene between Solomon and his father.
I keep coming back to a scene between Solomon and his father.
January 29, 2024
An exquisite and unforgettable book.
August 1, 2016
"You are the spouse of my heart :')))))"
1 cheerfull star.
The story isn't new, and the forbidden love story drama wasn't new either. Yes, I do suppose the love was seriously forbidden, and the character's peril real enough, but the author's skill level didn't do the story justice.
The dialogues - my favorite the soul spouse one - were ridiculous. I mean, which self-respecting character would actually (very mild spoiler) ???
Right. None.
Also, the grunting, soul-chattering, world-changing, love-inducing, psychedelic and vague lovemaking made me smirk and cringe, often at the same time.
I would have given this 2 stars because I enjoyed it a little, but three things kept me from that:
- the dialogue was too bad to justify even in a romance novel about forbidden humping
- even though shit got real in this book the characters were entirely too cheerfull
- some of the characters actually had the potential to be interesting and gripping (Jacob, Etta, Rudolph and Charles to a degree), yet they were treated like second choice and often dismissed, while the author went through an emotional bout of wet underpanties. NO.
Samuels ruined what could have been most excellent what the fuckery. My disappointment is complete :/
1 cheerfull star.
The story isn't new, and the forbidden love story drama wasn't new either. Yes, I do suppose the love was seriously forbidden, and the character's peril real enough, but the author's skill level didn't do the story justice.
The dialogues - my favorite the soul spouse one - were ridiculous. I mean, which self-respecting character would actually (very mild spoiler) ???
Right. None.
Also, the grunting, soul-chattering, world-changing, love-inducing, psychedelic and vague lovemaking made me smirk and cringe, often at the same time.
I would have given this 2 stars because I enjoyed it a little, but three things kept me from that:
- the dialogue was too bad to justify even in a romance novel about forbidden humping
- even though shit got real in this book the characters were entirely too cheerfull
- some of the characters actually had the potential to be interesting and gripping (Jacob, Etta, Rudolph and Charles to a degree), yet they were treated like second choice and often dismissed, while the author went through an emotional bout of wet underpanties. NO.
Samuels ruined what could have been most excellent what the fuckery. My disappointment is complete :/
October 21, 2022
This book was fine, but it was insta-love and I didn’t like most of the side characters.
Rica and Solomon meet and then can’t stop thinking about each other. After the initial meeting, they might meet a few more times but they don’t really talk about anything significant and suddenly they are in love. I wanted to see more scenes where they spent time together and got to know each other.
There were some side characters, but I didn’t like Etta at all (she seemed to live in her own world where only she existed, so she didn’t care about anyone else), Rudolf was disgusting, and Rica’s father contradicted himself (he liked Rica as she was but then told her that she had too much freedom).
The plot was interesting, but it wasn’t really for me as there is a lot about antisemitism. Also, the description of this book is not what actually happens – Rica doesn’t even know that she is betrothed until nearly the end of the book.
This book was fine, but it wasn’t really for me.
Rica and Solomon meet and then can’t stop thinking about each other. After the initial meeting, they might meet a few more times but they don’t really talk about anything significant and suddenly they are in love. I wanted to see more scenes where they spent time together and got to know each other.
There were some side characters, but I didn’t like Etta at all (she seemed to live in her own world where only she existed, so she didn’t care about anyone else), Rudolf was disgusting, and Rica’s father contradicted himself (he liked Rica as she was but then told her that she had too much freedom).
The plot was interesting, but it wasn’t really for me as there is a lot about antisemitism. Also, the description of this book is not what actually happens – Rica doesn’t even know that she is betrothed until nearly the end of the book.
This book was fine, but it wasn’t really for me.
January 23, 2024
Such a beautiful love story. Filled with passion and longing. Couldn’t stop reading this one! Just so so so beautiful ❤️
April 21, 2012
Good enough to keep my interest. Average or slightly above average for a romance novel.
STORY BRIEF:
Identical twins Rica and Etta are 16. Ten years ago Etta was brutally raped. Since then she has rarely spoken and appears to have mental problems. Rudolf wants to marry Rica and the father gives his permission. Rica does not like Rudolf and does not know she’s been promised to him. Rudolf does not want Etta because he considers her damaged goods. Etta desires Rudolf and starts coming out of her shell. She and Rica pretend to be each other. Etta spends a lot of time with Rudolf and flirts with him. He thinks she is Rica. Rica meets Solomon a Jewish medical student. It’s love at first sight but forbidden since she is Catholic. They both would be killed if anyone learned of their love. The plague is occurring in nearby communities. People erroneously blame and murder the Jews. Solomon’s family is at risk.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
What is most interesting is probably the setting. It’s rare to read something set in Germany and set during the plague. Love is forbidden due to religious reasons.
Rica is unusual in being able to read. The priest taught her. Other women cannot read, and that is one reason Solomon likes her. They discuss poetry and stories. She is good, loyal, brave, takes risks, and of course she is beautiful. Solomon is so handsome and virile looking that women of all ages stare at him as he walks by on the street. One woman compares his sex appeal to that of a stallion. Not much else is done with their characters. It’s mostly lust at first sight. They must sneak around and fear being caught. There is not much relationship development and nothing special about the dialogue.
Two things bothered me. 1. A woman is killed and the author does not tell how or by whom. I am guessing who did it, but I wish the author had been more clear. That wasn’t great storytelling, yet so many authors do this kind of thing. The result is a lot of separation and more worry, hurt, and grief due to separation.
DATA:
Story length: 343 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: 5. Total number of sex scene pages: 12. Setting: 1348 - 1349 mostly Germany with a little Cairo, Egypt. Copyright: 1993. Genre: historical romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Identical twins Rica and Etta are 16. Ten years ago Etta was brutally raped. Since then she has rarely spoken and appears to have mental problems. Rudolf wants to marry Rica and the father gives his permission. Rica does not like Rudolf and does not know she’s been promised to him. Rudolf does not want Etta because he considers her damaged goods. Etta desires Rudolf and starts coming out of her shell. She and Rica pretend to be each other. Etta spends a lot of time with Rudolf and flirts with him. He thinks she is Rica. Rica meets Solomon a Jewish medical student. It’s love at first sight but forbidden since she is Catholic. They both would be killed if anyone learned of their love. The plague is occurring in nearby communities. People erroneously blame and murder the Jews. Solomon’s family is at risk.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
What is most interesting is probably the setting. It’s rare to read something set in Germany and set during the plague. Love is forbidden due to religious reasons.
Rica is unusual in being able to read. The priest taught her. Other women cannot read, and that is one reason Solomon likes her. They discuss poetry and stories. She is good, loyal, brave, takes risks, and of course she is beautiful. Solomon is so handsome and virile looking that women of all ages stare at him as he walks by on the street. One woman compares his sex appeal to that of a stallion. Not much else is done with their characters. It’s mostly lust at first sight. They must sneak around and fear being caught. There is not much relationship development and nothing special about the dialogue.
Two things bothered me. 1. A woman is killed and the author does not tell how or by whom. I am guessing who did it, but I wish the author had been more clear. That wasn’t great storytelling, yet so many authors do this kind of thing. The result is a lot of separation and more worry, hurt, and grief due to separation.
DATA:
Story length: 343 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: 5. Total number of sex scene pages: 12. Setting: 1348 - 1349 mostly Germany with a little Cairo, Egypt. Copyright: 1993. Genre: historical romance.
own-need-to-read
November 22, 2015This has been on my wishlist for awhile, and today it's free on amazon! Thanks, Lindsey, for bringing this to my attention!
I've heard fantastic things about it, so all you historical romance lovers out there should grab it while it's free!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Bed-of-Spices...
HE FILLED HER DREAMS WITH DESPERATE LONGING
The exquisite Frederica der Esslingen fled from her father's castle to the herbalist's cottage, vowing she could never give in to her father's wishes and marry the man her twin sister loved. Another man, a stranger forbidden to her, touched her very soul. A man who listened when she spoke...a man with a tumble of black curls and clever lips...He understood her bold, searching heart. Yet he was denied her forever.
A Bed of Spices is a wildly romantic tale of forbidden love set in the turbulent middle ages. Solomon and Rica meet by chance at the herbalist's cottage and fall in love despite the divisions of religion, class, and expectations -- but how can they possibly find a happy ending with so many things stacked against them? Dark, beautiful and ultimately uplifting, this is a romance you won't easily forget.
January 16, 2013
Wow. A truly passionate and heartbreaking novel of a Catholic woman, Rica, the daughter of a German baron, and a Jewish man, Solomon, the a son of a merchant. The story is set in Strassburg, Germany (now Strasbourg, France) in 1348-49, at the coming of the Black Plague, at a time when fear was rife and Christians blamed the Jews for the Plague. At the time, any romantic interaction between the two would have meant death - and Rica and Solomon fight their love in order to stay within the social order, but are drawn back together time and again. The author weaves the couple's love into the setting seamlessly, showing how the (truly amazing) love that binds them pulls against the laws and discrimination that would keep them apart.
The dialogue and descriptions are amazing, realistic, and true to both the characters and the time. Rica and Solomon's conversations are well-crafted, showing the reader their love, caring, and friendship rather than telling. The interactions with the other characters - Rica's sister and father, Helga (herbalist and midwife), Rudolf, Solomon's father - are also well-written and show depth that is missing in many novels.
I highly recommend this book.
The dialogue and descriptions are amazing, realistic, and true to both the characters and the time. Rica and Solomon's conversations are well-crafted, showing the reader their love, caring, and friendship rather than telling. The interactions with the other characters - Rica's sister and father, Helga (herbalist and midwife), Rudolf, Solomon's father - are also well-written and show depth that is missing in many novels.
I highly recommend this book.
October 12, 2013
****Positive points:
*love scenes are beautifully written without being graphic.
*characters are believable in their portrayal.
*angst is not too unbearably torturous.
***Negative points:
*Lots of foreshadowing without arriving to foregone conclusion- I kept expecting certain characters to get their comeuppance... didn't happen.
*Lots of buildup and then a hurried ending. I felt there should have been three or four chapters left at least to round out the novel to its end.
*The antagonists in the story were wishy-washy, as if the author wrote them to be villainous but reluctantly so. I think it would have been a much better story if the author had delved into their motivations and thought reasoning in order to round out their characters a bit more.
*angst is not too unbearably torturous. The lead characters should have suffered a bit more. Instead the 'torture' falls on the surrounding cast.
***Summation:
I really wanted to like this book, but like Nathan Lane's character in 'The Producers' said, "You keep saying that but you don't say how." The reader is told 15 ways from Tuesday that evil will arrive, but it never does leaving this reader feeling a bit cheated and not a little disappointed.
November 18, 2023
Insta love is not my favorite trope. Often I find it too shallow and unsubstantial, and when that is paired with forbidden romance, I dislike it even more. How can someone think to risk everything for people they don't even know?
This one is different, though. They recognize each other instantly as people with the same values and principles in a world that's against them more often than not. They truly are soulmates.
Another point: it's refreshing the way both characters are presented. Solomon's jewishness is not his main trait, as Rica's whiteness is not hers. In HR is very common to enhance the otherness of people with different cultures (I'm looking at you and your romani characters, Lisa Kleypas), to a point the main characters see nothing but this in each other. (And it's alarming how often the white character is the image of civilization and politeness, in contrast to something wild, untamed and spicy. Not gonna say what that sounds like, but you know it).
Beautiful and well done work. I was enticed from the very beginning.
This one is different, though. They recognize each other instantly as people with the same values and principles in a world that's against them more often than not. They truly are soulmates.
Another point: it's refreshing the way both characters are presented. Solomon's jewishness is not his main trait, as Rica's whiteness is not hers. In HR is very common to enhance the otherness of people with different cultures (I'm looking at you and your romani characters, Lisa Kleypas), to a point the main characters see nothing but this in each other. (And it's alarming how often the white character is the image of civilization and politeness, in contrast to something wild, untamed and spicy. Not gonna say what that sounds like, but you know it).
Beautiful and well done work. I was enticed from the very beginning.
August 1, 2025
This is my first book by the author and it had all the ingredients of a perfect romance: forbidden love, historical facts and great angst. Set in the time of 1300s Germany it gave the perspective of how the Jews were persecuted and treated during the Black Plague. Lots of sorrow and peril to make the story real but with the magic of the happy ending to give us hope. Going on the favorites list.
*started as audio but switched to Kindle due to poor narration
*started as audio but switched to Kindle due to poor narration
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