Sense of Touch: Love and Duty at Anne of Brittany's Court

Anne of Brittany #0

by Rozsa Gaston

In July of 1497 Anne of Brittany, Queen of France, gives birth to a son. Within hours the child joins the five dead siblings who came before him.

In the mournful weeks that follow, fifteen-year-old Nicole St. Sylvain meets Philippe de Bois, a young horse trainer breaking in one of the queen's stallions. The attraction between the two is immediate, but duty and honor bring their romance to an abrupt halt. They work together to heal the horse's infected hoof, then part ways.

As the daughter of a wealthy but untitled merchant, Nicole exists in a precarious social position. Her family has money, she is the sole heir, but she is only noble on her dead mother's side. An arranged marriage to an established noble family will secure her future but dash any hope she has of a life with Philippe.

When the queen's only living child falls ill, she remembers Nicole's skill as a healer. If Nicole's healing sense of touch can save the royal child, will the queen reward her with the greatest desire of her heart--marriage to her one true love?

Sense of Touch tells the little-known story of late medieval/early Renaissance queen Anne of Brittany, wife to two kings of France, in a gripping tale of forbidden love between two of her courtiers. If you like page-turning romance and suspense in period-perfect detail, you won’t want to miss this prequel to the Anne of Brittany Series. Download this heart-stopping love story today.

Genres: Historical Fiction, France, Historical, 15th Century

324 pages, ebook

Published May 23, 2016

About the author

ROZSA GASTON writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life. Her focus is on 16th century European female rulers.

GASTON studied history at Yale, and then received her master's degree in international affairs from Columbia. She lives in Bronxville, NY with her family. Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest on special offers. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rozsa...

Her motto? History matters.

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I surprisingly enjoyed this story. It was really a combination of historical fiction and romance.

Unique thing about this book is that how easily it read and how easily it flowed from the scene to scene & character to character.

I love how the author wove historical facts into the story, even though the whole idea of the betrothal is for to our way of life today.

This is an exceptionally good book that is very easy to read. And I highly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and ½ Stars - Sweet Story of Love in 15th Century France

Set in France, beginning in 1497, this is the story of Nicole St. Sylvain and Philippe de Bois. Fifteen-year-old Nicole serves Anne of Brittany, Queen of France as one of her ladies. There she meets Philippe, a young horse trainer, breaking in one of the queen's stallions. The attraction between the two is immediate, but Nicole and Philippe have only a brief time to love before duty and honor separate them.

The daughter of a wealthy merchant, Nicole awaits an arranged marriage to a man of a noble family. She loves the queen and will do her duty even though she has given her heart to Philippe. She has a gift with healing herbs and a touch that heals, both horses and people. After the loss of many of her babes, the queen finally gives birth to a healthy girl. When the child falls ill, she asks Nicole to help. The queen has promised to grant one favor to any who can save her child.

The history is woven into the story and you are swept into the 15th and early 16th century and to the court of Queen Anne and all she endures trying to bring a child into the world. It’s as much Anne’s story as it is Nicole’s. Anne is an independent young woman who makes her own way in a rigid world. Philippe manages to rise in a society that affords little opportunity to do so.

For fans of historical romance that love the history, this will be a great choice. There are some repetitions that slow the pace a bit, and the ending comes quickly, but still, it’s a wonderful story, beautifully told.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

This is an exquisitely written piece that eloquently describes Anne of Brittany, Queen of France, as the gracious and kind, yet shrewd monarch that she was - a woman before her time.

Read full review in the 2016 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sense of Touch by Rozsa Gaston visits the court of historical figure Ann of Brittany and adroitly blends fact with fiction as this author shares the story of her characters, noble woman Nicole St. Sylvain and horse trainer Philippe de Bois. Fleshed out with amazing amounts of research coupled with Ms. Gaston's sensitivity and imagination this story comes to life as it shares an intimate view of life in 15th Century France and the hearts of her wonderfully depicted characters. This writer was able to maintain the delicate balance of her story and pay homage to a historical figure of note accurately and engagingly. Well written this work will resonate with lovers of history and romance alike!

[Victoria Brinius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love medieval romances. The idea of court, and women not having a say in their own destiny makes me that much more appreciative of what women have done in the past. Nicole is a "healer", and that is also fun to read about how items were used back then, and nowadays we consider them medicines. Historically this book is accurate and informative. Romance. At it's core this book is about a woman in love, and her fight to marry the man she loves. I can not wait for the next book in the series. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

[Duncan Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no hesitation in giving this book five well-deserved stars. A fascinating insight into Ann of Brittany (honestly, before I read this book I had not heard of her). A mesmerizing storyline eloquently told with a brilliant dialogue. Highly recommended.

(Duncan Whitehead - Author of The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical romance is my favorite of the Romance genres. They seem to have more adventure in them and I appreciate learning about how people lived and reasoned in different eras.
In fifteenth century France, and surrounding countries, women were property, tools of a special sort, a means to a desired end, often political connections.

While women understood this, it did not mean they approved or even went along with the desires and arrangements made for them. The stronger women acted out and sometimes managed to manipulate circumstances to their own benefit. Sadly, this did not always end in the best results.

This is a love story, or rather two. It demonstrates what a person may endure and how they can adapt for survival or a perceived greater purpose. I enjoyed discovering how these women thought.

I would recommend this book to readers who also enjoy television shows such as Reign, The Last Kingdom or The Tudors.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history

The best part of this historical romance novel is the fascinating history of Anne of Brittany, Queen of France. This amazing woman lost seven babies through miscarriage, stillbirths and illness after birth during her first marriage to King Charles of France and after his death she marries his successor, King Louis and has seven more pregnancies all that failed except two. I couldn't imagine the heartbreak of loss she suffered, yet she was quite a liberated woman in her time, late 1400's.
The romance that blossoms between one of her maids of honor and a stable boy is sweet and sad due to the disparaging discrepancy of their stations in life. This is an overwhelming problem and the couple are duty bound to marry others.
The basic plot is good and the historical background was what kept me reading. My criticism is the constant repetitive reminders of the queen's history of parents, sister and child losses, as well as the maiden's history of the death of her own mother and her father and uncle's need to marry her off to nobility over and I er again. This ruined the book for me and made me want to skim past the constant reminders. It would have made the story much shorter, but so much better.

[Danny Lamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is that author Jessica recommended. I somehow forgot about this. It 5 star all the way! There are other books by her too!

[Estelle Haward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter the bewitching and bewildering world of High Court in the 1490’s. A world where duty comes before your heart, your desires and your future. A world where the wrong look and following your desires can cost you your future.
Nicole serves in the court of Anne of Brittany, Queen of France. The Court is a sheltered world that revolves around the Queen and King, the intrigues of the ladies in waiting and discovering womanhood and love. Nicole meets Philippe de Bois and their love for horses and healing pulls them closer and closer together. Duty separates them until a chance presents itself to prove that love and duty can be the same person.
An exquisite read with characters that are as real as the feelings, pain and laughter that they share.

[Karunakaran N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sense of Touch by Rozsa Gaston... Historical fiction unlike any other... More from the view point of the noble lady of the queen. How the events of the royal affect the day to day life of the people around them spelt out in their own voice. The historical winning spirit of Anne of Brittany with losses throughout her life and becoming stronger after every loss is well spun around Nicole being narrated as a part of her story.... Great read....

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of historical fiction, but this novel is the first I've come across about the Court of Anne of Brittany. And I am glad I found it. The book is rich with the history of the period, but more importantly it shows a real understanding of how women deal in a society where they had little value other than what they brought to a marriage. Here we see the main character, Nicole St. Sylvain, and the women around them carve their own identities.

I really enjoyed this one.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS

I really didn't know much about Anne of Brittany so this historical romance was so very interesting. Love that is a NO NO is always enticing whether it be historical romance or any other genre. 15th century history of a French queen. She stood tall even through the heartbreak of trying to bear children. Heirs, typically male heirs were not a wish but often times a demand. Does that tell you anything about how important women can be? This story is composed of two main characters, both female, Love, often is not real, only surface appealing, but this true story of Anne of Brittany and her personal maid Nicole tells of both women and their strength to go after what they want. Some women can relate so much to this story. Wanting children but heartache after heartache happens. Wanting things so passionately and going after that passion. Life years and years ago was not all that different as far as the struggles and heartaches that take place. The author gives us a historical lesson, the heartache of child loss and forbidden love, a woman who stood her ground and fought fiercely for what she believed and wanted. The reader gets it all and there is no lack of interested. I loved imagining the life, the clothing, the scenery and feeling all the emotions right along with the characters. Imagine, what would it be like to be married to Charles VIII and if that wouldn't be enough, be married later to Louis XII. Queen not once but twice. The demands on your time and your life. You would think it would be a glorious wonderful life. But was it for Anne of Brittany? The story was exceptionally well written and the descriptions were vivid. Anyone who is a history lover, a romance lover or a strong woman admirer, will love this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Rozsa Gaston and PUYB and voluntarily decided to review it.

[Angi Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of Nicole and Philippe. If you want an easy read, then this is for you. If you enjoy more history in your historical romance, then it might leave you feeling a little flat. I was in the latter camp I'm afraid. The comments that alluded to finding out more about Anne of Brittany in a mix of fact and fiction were disappointing as very little was mentioned. Granted the story is about the two central characters, but the story could have been a tangled love story from any time with a few of the time references thrown in.
That said, it's a well written book, and a pleasurable enough read, just don't expect masses of insight into the people of the time.

I liked the character of Nicole who decided to take charge of her destiny as much as she was able. Her ability to heal was a nice way to get her noticed in more ways than one. Also cook was an interesting character who maybe could have been expanded upon, I felt.

All in all, for a light read a good book.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sense of Touch was an interesting book to read on the Anne of Brittany. The book was a historical fiction romance novel that incorporated both true historical facts and fictional elements that made the story more interesting. Personally I found the book to just be okay; it was an interesting book to read when I was bored, but it would not be my first choice due to the fact that the pace of the novel is somewhat slow. That said the characters were well developed and the romance seemed to develop in a somewhat natural manner (not one of those love at first sight/kiss things). If you enjoy historical romance fiction that is not a fast paced novel then you will enjoy this book.

I was sent a copy of this book for free for only my honest and unbiased review.

[Savannah Schaeffer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book tried to pretend it was historical fiction, which honestly was minimal at best. It literally could have been any time period, any court, any anything. It had no substance in the time period, and I don't really understand why the author chose this court. Normally, like in books by Phillippa Gregory, you can feel the passion she has for the time period, there's real research done for the characters, setting, etc. This book had none of that.

This book also tried to pretend it was about true love, young love, whatever, but really it was an awkwardly executed trashy romance novel with about as much character depth as a generic clothing commercial. Do not recommend if you like books with substance and an actual plot.

[Rozsa Gaston]

◆ 2017 RONE Book Award finalist

◆ 2018 TopShelf Indie Book Awards finalist for Women's Issues

“Sexy, exciting, visceral and tone perfect.”—Dorothy Snyder Potter

"Well written, well developed characters and accurate historical information make this book a winner."—Helene Furst, Morning Beans Blog

[Ginger Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

ginger@thebeach

I really enjoyed this book! I love reading about the court, especially when people who really lived there are involved. This is a wonderful romance, but it's also a beautiful love story. Not just between a man and a woman, but a woman's courage and strength in saving the life of a child. It's a quick, heartwarming book that encompasses more than a romantic tale of the court. I would give it more than five stars!

[Toby Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, a real page-turner. Anyone interested in romantic historical fiction will love Sense of Touch. Set against the intriguing backdrop of French 15th Century Court life and its Queen, the strong, fascinating Anne of Brittany, the author skillfully weaves both real-life and fictional figures into this extremely well-written novel.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost fun?

If this book didn't repeat itself, it would hardly be a novel at all. There were a few interesting historical tidbits in there and the characters had personality but the rest of it was pretty trite and did I mention repetitious? If you have two hours to kill and have read all the other Kindle unlimited historical fiction, read this.

[Jessica Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely enjoyable 5 star read!

[Cody Marie Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why, but I was expecting a story about Anne of Brittany as a more prominent character. She had a starring secondary role, but the main character of Nicole St. Sylvain was a Lady in waiting to Queen Anne. With only a 5 year age difference, they became as close as sisters in some areas of their lives. The story definitely shows what was important in the era this book takes place in, and the eventual discoveries from what some would say was simple kitchen witchery. Please research what that is before judging.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Genie Stelnicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really about Anne of Brittany

Usually when a fictional handmaiden tells the story of royalty, it is about royalty. Although Anne's experiences and personality affect our main character, it is really about her life and her romance. Nice enough story, but not if you are expecting much about Anne.

[Amanda DeLong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smooth enough read, but...

The book left a massive amount of depth to be desired. Rather predictable and shallow. It could have afforded a bit of research, too. Beyond a quick glance at Wikipedia for a handful of biographical dates. It did, however, provided a few hours of enjoyment, so long as I didn't think too much while reading.

[abigail meurk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had high hopes because I am very interested in this time period and these characters. Was very disappointed. Characters were very flat and one dimensional. Read like a book written for a teenage audience. Lots of obsessing over cute guys and cute horses. These women were teenagers but they grew up quickly then.

[luralee wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touch of Love and Duty

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was fun to learn about French royalty and how they lived without feeling like I had to keep up with all the lineages, which I often try to do when I’m reading historical novels about English royalty.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining book

I really enjoyed this story. It's a quick read, but a fun one. Interesting to discover some of the differences between th French court and the English court during the late middle ages.

[Yaz Pistachio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, strongly defined characters who are consistent throughout. The only problem I had was that the "oyer characters --,the people who would be constantly in the background weren't via single. It was as of the cote characters were the only ones caring for the!selves.

[Marilyn]

A Very Good Romance Novel, as these things go

Not at all taudry, but imaginative and beguiling, the author, Rozsa Gaston uses a light touch and an arcane bit of history to concoct a nice warm red for a rainy day.

[Beata Balazs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could hardly finish it. So boring. So dull. Repeats the same few facts all the time, perhaps some more research would have helped. I love historic fiction, but this was only a languid love story in disguise.