La casa degli usignoli

by M. Delly

Transis par l’aigre bise qui soufflait, en cet après-midi de mars, les passants hâtaient leur marche, peu soucieux de flânerie. Une pluie, mêlée de grésil, commençait à tomber... Pour s’en préserver, une fillette qui sortait d’une fruiterie ramena sur ses cheveux blonds le châle couvrant ses épaules et se mit à courir, souple et légère comme un feu follet. En deux minutes, elle ...

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

M. Delly or Delly was the pseudonym of the couple of French brothers Jeanne Marie Henriette Petitjean de la Rosiére (Avignon, 1875 - Versailles, 1947) and Frédéric Henri Petitjean de la Rosiére (Vannes, 1870 - Versailles, 1949).

Reviews

[Raffaella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one. The heroine is the poor relative that the hero’s mother takes in her house. Evil mother immediately hates her because she’s beautiful and proud and treats her badly, more like a maid than a relative, even if distant. She clashes with hero, that is hard and closed. Years later. She grows up a beauty and has finished her studies so she comes back to hero’s house where she is again exploited by his evil mother and from a jealous cousin. But the hero is stunned by her beauty and her sweetness. He offers her a job and falls in love with her. She’s still afraid of him but eventually she comes to love him. I loved
-how the hero changes for love, from letting his hair grow longer and dressing more fashionable to his ways that become more and more kind and caring.
-how neither of them let the others separate them. He doesn’t believe the lies his mother tells him about her double timing him with another man, and she doesn’t believe persons who tells her he was in a hotel with another woman. Their trust is commendable, a reminder for every mistrust I read in romances.
-how the hero supports the heroine and protect her from his mother’ abuse. He decides that when they marry they will live in another house, not with his mother. He tells his mother he will never tolerate a word against his wife
What a hero we have here. A real alpha male, he doesn’t let anybody affect him, he’s determined but fair, never cruel, and he asks forgiveness in such a charming way. He was guilty of neglect his ward but as soon as he realizes the unfair treatment she suffered he immediately repaired. So good.
And what a heroine, young and innocent but not naive. And caring. And selfless. And kind. Perfection.
- oldies but goldies. Truly.
So recommended if you find a copy and if you love vintage romance.