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Madeleine
A beautiful coming of age saga by multi-million copy seller Elvi Rhodes, perfect for fans of Kitty Neale, Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin.READERS ARE LOVING MADELEINE!"Nostalgia at its best" - 5 STARS. "A gripping book and extremely well told." - 5 STARS."Excellent page turner" - 5 STARS*******************************************************************WILL ONE CHANCE ENCOUNTER CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER?Madeleine Bates, daughter of a tyrannical and bigoted mill worker and housemaid to the rich Parkinson family, spends her life serving the spoilt and spiteful Sophia Parkinson, the daughter of the richest mill owner in Helsdon. But beneath her obedient and dutiful exterior lies a passionate, fiery and rebellious spirit. And when the dashing Leon Bonneau - son of a French wool baron - comes to stay with the Parkinsons at their house Mount Royd, he cannot help but be drawn to her.From that moment on, everything changes for everyone at Mount Royd...Madeleine's story continues in Elvi Rhodes's novel The House of Bonneau.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
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49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2021
Madeleine Bates, daughter of tyrannical and bigoted mill worke and housemaid to the rich Parkinson family, spends her life serving the spoilt and spiteful Sophia Parkinson, the daughter of the richest mill owner in Helsdon. But beneath her obedient and dutiful exterior lies a passionate, firey and rebellious spirit. And when the dashing Leon Bonneau - son of a French wool baron - comes to stay with the Parkinson's, he can't help but be drawn to her.
This is another book filled with great characters. Madeleine's ather is a religious fanatic. Sophia is a romantic. This is another quite lengthy read with just over 500 pages. I love reading Historical fiction books and this one doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to read wat happens in the next book of Madeleine's story in The House of Bonneau.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #ElviRhodes for my ARC #Madeleine in exchange for an honest review.
This is another book filled with great characters. Madeleine's ather is a religious fanatic. Sophia is a romantic. This is another quite lengthy read with just over 500 pages. I love reading Historical fiction books and this one doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to read wat happens in the next book of Madeleine's story in The House of Bonneau.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #ElviRhodes for my ARC #Madeleine in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2012
Should have known by the cover! Very light 'women's' fiction. Old fashioned tosh!
June 30, 2020
First sentence: Walking along the narrow street, her hand resting lightly in the crook of George Carter’s arm, Madeleine was filled to the brim with rebellious thoughts. They coursed through her body and tingled in her fingertips until she felt sure that they must be conveyed to the man beside her. The sensation was so physical that she found herself compressing her lips into a tight line as if to prevent her feelings spilling out into words; words which she knew would surprise, even shock, George, coming from someone on her way home from chapel. But then he was easily shocked, wasn’t he? He was so good, so upright. She doubted if he had ever had a rebellious thought in his life. And since he continued to walk along without so much as turning to look at her she doubted that he had the slightest inkling of how she was feeling at this moment.
Premise/plot: Madeleine is a historical romance novel set in the 1850s in Yorkshire. Madeleine, our heroine, is a servant for the Parkinson family. Readers are told that this is the wealthiest family in the small town of Helsdon. But they only ever mention two possibly three servants: a cook, Mrs. Thomas, and Madeleine. (If there's a butler or stable boy, he's never named. I wouldn't be surprised if there was one or the other or both. But maybe because they don't figure into the story they're not named or mentioned. I have a hard time believing that an actually wealthy family at that time would only have two to four servants.) Madeleine is first and foremost rebellious and angry. She's rebelling against her father who is religious and attends chapel whenever its doors are open. She's rebelling against the Parkinsons though really her conflict is just with the so-called spoiled daughter, Sophia, with whom she clashes upon occasion. Sophia our antagonist, if you will, is actually spoiled. (But I couldn't help feeling that I liked her better for the first half of the book. Because I'd take flighty and vain over rebellious, brooding anger and resentment any day.) Mr. Parkinson, a mill owner, brings home a french man, Leon Bonneau, who is in a similar line of work in France. Sophia falls head over heels in love--think Scarlett's obsession with Ashley. Madeleine waits upon Mr. Bonneau while he is staying there and the two become slightly slightly friendly. (Though neither is exactly swooning for the other....yet). But after a trip abroad goes WRONG, Madeleine finds herself quitting that job and taking up work as a weaver at a mill (you know, as you do). Will Madeleine be happier as a mill worker? Will Leon and Sophie marry? Will the Parkinsons continue to be "wealthy"?
My thoughts: I liked this one well enough to keep reading. At no point did I say enough is enough is enough I can't stand the characters anymore. But I did have a few thoughts. First, I think the author must really love Gone With The Wind. The dialogue seems a bit modeled after Scarlett O'Hara. Along with one or two elements. Second, there is a LOT of cocoa drinking going on. You would think that they'd be more tea drinking! Third, do romance writers purposely make their characters dim-witted so that obstacles loom larger and seem impossible?! I mean that would be one explanation why things with obvious and mostly easy solutions would seem IMPOSSIBLE AND AGONIZING. I'd rather believe the characters are silly and dim then the author is unaware. Fourth--and finally--Madeleine seems to be a relatively contemporary woman (perhaps born circa 1950 or 1960) than one born in the 1830s. She just seems a bit off. The other characters--perhaps because we don't live inside their minds--seem to be a slightly better fit with the 1850s.
Premise/plot: Madeleine is a historical romance novel set in the 1850s in Yorkshire. Madeleine, our heroine, is a servant for the Parkinson family. Readers are told that this is the wealthiest family in the small town of Helsdon. But they only ever mention two possibly three servants: a cook, Mrs. Thomas, and Madeleine. (If there's a butler or stable boy, he's never named. I wouldn't be surprised if there was one or the other or both. But maybe because they don't figure into the story they're not named or mentioned. I have a hard time believing that an actually wealthy family at that time would only have two to four servants.) Madeleine is first and foremost rebellious and angry. She's rebelling against her father who is religious and attends chapel whenever its doors are open. She's rebelling against the Parkinsons though really her conflict is just with the so-called spoiled daughter, Sophia, with whom she clashes upon occasion. Sophia our antagonist, if you will, is actually spoiled. (But I couldn't help feeling that I liked her better for the first half of the book. Because I'd take flighty and vain over rebellious, brooding anger and resentment any day.) Mr. Parkinson, a mill owner, brings home a french man, Leon Bonneau, who is in a similar line of work in France. Sophia falls head over heels in love--think Scarlett's obsession with Ashley. Madeleine waits upon Mr. Bonneau while he is staying there and the two become slightly slightly friendly. (Though neither is exactly swooning for the other....yet). But after a trip abroad goes WRONG, Madeleine finds herself quitting that job and taking up work as a weaver at a mill (you know, as you do). Will Madeleine be happier as a mill worker? Will Leon and Sophie marry? Will the Parkinsons continue to be "wealthy"?
My thoughts: I liked this one well enough to keep reading. At no point did I say enough is enough is enough I can't stand the characters anymore. But I did have a few thoughts. First, I think the author must really love Gone With The Wind. The dialogue seems a bit modeled after Scarlett O'Hara. Along with one or two elements. Second, there is a LOT of cocoa drinking going on. You would think that they'd be more tea drinking! Third, do romance writers purposely make their characters dim-witted so that obstacles loom larger and seem impossible?! I mean that would be one explanation why things with obvious and mostly easy solutions would seem IMPOSSIBLE AND AGONIZING. I'd rather believe the characters are silly and dim then the author is unaware. Fourth--and finally--Madeleine seems to be a relatively contemporary woman (perhaps born circa 1950 or 1960) than one born in the 1830s. She just seems a bit off. The other characters--perhaps because we don't live inside their minds--seem to be a slightly better fit with the 1850s.
July 2, 2020
I love Madeleine. Such a strong character.
Her father, Joseph is quite a religious fanatic. I had to shake my head severally at his fanaticism.
Sophia is just a spoilt hopeless romantic. I was a bit appalled by her snobbish attitude.
There were other characters mentioned in the book. I don’t want to give out spoilers.
Elvis Rhodes writes well,sincerely speaking. I love her style of writing.
Honestly, the book is quite long and I didn’t get to enjoy it like that. The setting shows early time period before the war. I struggled to enjoy the book.
I am happy Madeleine made a choice for herself and her family.
I will give it 4 stars. Maybe somebody will enjoy this book more than I did.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House UK,Transworld Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Her father, Joseph is quite a religious fanatic. I had to shake my head severally at his fanaticism.
Sophia is just a spoilt hopeless romantic. I was a bit appalled by her snobbish attitude.
There were other characters mentioned in the book. I don’t want to give out spoilers.
Elvis Rhodes writes well,sincerely speaking. I love her style of writing.
Honestly, the book is quite long and I didn’t get to enjoy it like that. The setting shows early time period before the war. I struggled to enjoy the book.
I am happy Madeleine made a choice for herself and her family.
I will give it 4 stars. Maybe somebody will enjoy this book more than I did.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House UK,Transworld Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
February 8, 2022
tw: rape
It happens during the novel to a major character, the scene is described not in particularly graphic terms but still described. The rapist is a secondary male character. The victim become terrified of men and decides that will never marry. Another secondary male character manages to change her mind by giving a "Not All Men" speech:
"You have to realize that most men aren't like [rapist]. Not one in a hundred is, not one in a thousand! Most men are normal decent blokes. You're condemning them all because of him. Do you reckon that's fair? Do you?"
Other than that, the story is entertaining but could have been way shorter + I couldn't bring myself to cheer for the main couple.
It happens during the novel to a major character, the scene is described not in particularly graphic terms but still described. The rapist is a secondary male character. The victim become terrified of men and decides that will never marry. Another secondary male character manages to change her mind by giving a "Not All Men" speech:
"You have to realize that most men aren't like [rapist]. Not one in a hundred is, not one in a thousand! Most men are normal decent blokes. You're condemning them all because of him. Do you reckon that's fair? Do you?"
Other than that, the story is entertaining but could have been way shorter + I couldn't bring myself to cheer for the main couple.
July 8, 2020
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I read this book many years ago and had forgotten how good it was. Great storyline and great characters, thoroughly enjoyed it. This author never fails to impress me.
September 20, 2021
A good story filled with both drama and hope.
A beautifully developed story. I could hardly put it down. A heartwarming good read. I do hope there is a sequel.
A beautifully developed story. I could hardly put it down. A heartwarming good read. I do hope there is a sequel.
July 22, 2010
I have read 4 of this author's other books and have enjoyed them all. This one left me a bit wanting and I didn't enjoy it as much as the others. The author tends to write books about the period between the late 1800's - early 1900's.
Back Cover Blurb:
Although Madeleine Bates and Sophia Parkinson were both eighteen years old, the contrast between their two lives could not have been greater.
Madeleine - daughter of a tyrannical and bigoted father who worked in the Parkinson mill - spent her time either at chapel, or working a fourteen hour day as housemaid at Mount Royd, a victim of Sophia's whims and occasional spitefulness.
But Madeleine - who beneath her obedient and dutiful exterior was volatile, strong-willed and rebellious - was not the kind of young woman you could overlook, and when Leon Bonneau - younger son of a French wool baron - came to stay at Mount Royd he was, against his own inclinations, startled into noticing the dignity and beauty of the young housemaid.
From that moment on the lives of everyone at Mount Royd began to change and Madeleine stepped forward into a new and challenging role.
Back Cover Blurb:
Although Madeleine Bates and Sophia Parkinson were both eighteen years old, the contrast between their two lives could not have been greater.
Madeleine - daughter of a tyrannical and bigoted father who worked in the Parkinson mill - spent her time either at chapel, or working a fourteen hour day as housemaid at Mount Royd, a victim of Sophia's whims and occasional spitefulness.
But Madeleine - who beneath her obedient and dutiful exterior was volatile, strong-willed and rebellious - was not the kind of young woman you could overlook, and when Leon Bonneau - younger son of a French wool baron - came to stay at Mount Royd he was, against his own inclinations, startled into noticing the dignity and beauty of the young housemaid.
From that moment on the lives of everyone at Mount Royd began to change and Madeleine stepped forward into a new and challenging role.
May 5, 2014
The best book I've ever read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews