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The French Wife
Love, hate, hope and pain powerfully intermingle in Diney Costeloe's moving sequel to The Children of the Siege. Hélène and Annette are now 18 and strive to put the horrors of their past behind them. But can they?
1877, St. Since the siege of the Communards in Paris six years earlier, Hélène is back in the safety of the family home. She watches as her eldest sister, Clarice, is set to marry the handsome young Lucas Barrineau, son of a wealthy, landowning family. Hélène is now 18 and a future as a wife and mother beckons. But can she overcome the abuse she suffered at the hands of unscrupulous men and finally put her painful past behind her? Annette the orphan, also 18, is running the Clergy House alone after Madame Sauze is released from service. Father Thomas proves to be a dangerous employer and before long, Annette finds herself pregnant with his child. When she is thrown out, the St. Clairs come to her rescue and take her in. Their lives are beset by thwarted love and shattered dreams as Annette and Hélène try to overcome the abuses they suffered during the siege and find happiness.
1877, St. Since the siege of the Communards in Paris six years earlier, Hélène is back in the safety of the family home. She watches as her eldest sister, Clarice, is set to marry the handsome young Lucas Barrineau, son of a wealthy, landowning family. Hélène is now 18 and a future as a wife and mother beckons. But can she overcome the abuse she suffered at the hands of unscrupulous men and finally put her painful past behind her? Annette the orphan, also 18, is running the Clergy House alone after Madame Sauze is released from service. Father Thomas proves to be a dangerous employer and before long, Annette finds herself pregnant with his child. When she is thrown out, the St. Clairs come to her rescue and take her in. Their lives are beset by thwarted love and shattered dreams as Annette and Hélène try to overcome the abuses they suffered during the siege and find happiness.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2020
277 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Diney Costeloe
33 books659 followersEncouraged by my publisher father, I have been writing all my life. When I was five, he took my first effort to his office and brought it back in a cardboard cover with the label, 'Tom's Party'written by Diney, published by Daddy.
I've never looked back and always have some writing on the go.
To date I have written 10 romantic novels under the name of Diney Delancey (I liked the shape of the name and it sounded like a romantic novelist) and four novels as Diney Costeloe.
All are also in large print and several recently published as e-books.
See my reviews on Amazon and on my website, http://www.dineycosteloe.co.uk or http://castlehavenbooks.co.uk
I've never looked back and always have some writing on the go.
To date I have written 10 romantic novels under the name of Diney Delancey (I liked the shape of the name and it sounded like a romantic novelist) and four novels as Diney Costeloe.
All are also in large print and several recently published as e-books.
See my reviews on Amazon and on my website, http://www.dineycosteloe.co.uk or http://castlehavenbooks.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 6, 2020
Rupert Chalfont was the youngest son to his brother Justin by two hours and as such wouldn’t inherit the title once their father died. So, Rupert enjoyed travelling, entertaining the ladies and generally having a good time. When he was invited to his friend Lucas Barrineau’s wedding in St Etienne, France, Rupert thought it was an opportune time to leave London for awhile. The home of Lucas’ bride, Clarice St Clair, also housed two other sisters, Helene and Louise, and once Rupert had laid eyes on Helene, his future was sealed…
Annette, an orphan, had been trained by Madame Agathe Sauze at the Clergy House and when their priest passed away, his successor released Agathe from service. But Annette was in danger from Father Thomas and when she escaped into Madame Sauze’s arms, they went to St Etienne and the St Clair family for help. When Helene and Annette saw one another, their friendship from six years prior was rekindled and Annette would be a great help to her charge when things went horribly wrong.
The French Wife by Diney Costeloe is actually the sequel to Children of the Siege, which I had no idea about until I began reading. Although it would have suited me more to have read it first, once I settled into the story everything flowed well. Set in France and London in 1877, I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel; found both Annette and Madame Sauze to be exceptional characters, and also felt intense sympathy for the young and naïve Helene. There were sections where I shed tears, and others where I felt like thumping a certain arrogant person! I had previously only read one of Ms Costeloe’s novels (Miss Mary's Daughter) which I loved and will definitely be reading more. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Annette, an orphan, had been trained by Madame Agathe Sauze at the Clergy House and when their priest passed away, his successor released Agathe from service. But Annette was in danger from Father Thomas and when she escaped into Madame Sauze’s arms, they went to St Etienne and the St Clair family for help. When Helene and Annette saw one another, their friendship from six years prior was rekindled and Annette would be a great help to her charge when things went horribly wrong.
The French Wife by Diney Costeloe is actually the sequel to Children of the Siege, which I had no idea about until I began reading. Although it would have suited me more to have read it first, once I settled into the story everything flowed well. Set in France and London in 1877, I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel; found both Annette and Madame Sauze to be exceptional characters, and also felt intense sympathy for the young and naïve Helene. There were sections where I shed tears, and others where I felt like thumping a certain arrogant person! I had previously only read one of Ms Costeloe’s novels (Miss Mary's Daughter) which I loved and will definitely be reading more. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2020
Beautifully written. An emotional and accurate portrait of French and English societies in the late 1800s.
Diney Costeloe is a new-to-me author, and I was very impressed by the quality of her writing. The narrative is beautiful and flows effortlessly.
I love that she tells the story without taking shortcuts. She takes her time describing the characters' experiences and, as a result, the reader feels a deep sense of connection.
How easily I got immersed in these characters' world.
The story happens in the late 1800s and starts by introducing Agathe and Annette, two women working for a clergyman. The hardship women had (and still have) to endure was heartbreaking, but their strength in fighting back very uplifting.
There is a strong element of kindness and friendship throughout the story.
As the narrative progresses, a romance starts to flourish between a roguish English second son and a seventeen-year-old French girl.
The romance is sweet, but the real gem in the book is its accurate portrait of the society of that time. From family relations to land interests, also stopping "downstairs" to describe the servants' quarters, their lives and dreams.
Overall, a great choice for anyone interested in reading fiction set in France and England during this period.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: Sexual Violence
Diney Costeloe is a new-to-me author, and I was very impressed by the quality of her writing. The narrative is beautiful and flows effortlessly.
I love that she tells the story without taking shortcuts. She takes her time describing the characters' experiences and, as a result, the reader feels a deep sense of connection.
How easily I got immersed in these characters' world.
The story happens in the late 1800s and starts by introducing Agathe and Annette, two women working for a clergyman. The hardship women had (and still have) to endure was heartbreaking, but their strength in fighting back very uplifting.
There is a strong element of kindness and friendship throughout the story.
As the narrative progresses, a romance starts to flourish between a roguish English second son and a seventeen-year-old French girl.
The romance is sweet, but the real gem in the book is its accurate portrait of the society of that time. From family relations to land interests, also stopping "downstairs" to describe the servants' quarters, their lives and dreams.
Overall, a great choice for anyone interested in reading fiction set in France and England during this period.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: Sexual Violence
April 9, 2020
I am a historical fiction lover with a capital L. and I have Read several of Diney costeloe books and really really enjoyed them.. This is The sequel to children of The siege. and I have to confess when you have Read The first book you expect something Else from The second book. The book is beautiful written. It has all The element I expect from a historical fiction book. But I am sorry to say It was only an ok book for me. why? The book became in some parts too predictable and cliche. I got this e arc in exchange for an honest review. thank you to netgalley
May 15, 2020
This is a beautiful, evocative and gripping story that really grabs the readers attention and carries them away on a magical carpet of captivating bliss.
This is the sequel to; The Children of The Siege, which I haven’t read and to be honest I didn’t even realise it was a sequel. Yes, I know, that it says it clearly in the back blurb, but I have said it before and I will say it again; I do walk around with my eyes shut – no wonder I am always bumping into things – anyhow, to say that this is a sequel I wouldn’t have guessed it, I saw this as a stand-alone, it reads like a stand-alone so if you are like me who does jump in first without properly reading the blurb then I can guarantee you don’t have to read the first book.
What really struck me about this is that it isn’t just your run-of-the-mill historical, there is a lot of depth. There is a lot of feelings, a lot of emotion. There are some pretty taboo subjects such as mental health illness, rape and abuse. For those who know me, will most likely know that Mental Health awareness is very close to my heart and I am always seeking out a book that has it apart of the story in some way, especially when it is written with such care and beautiful sensitivity as it is here. Some may not like hose aspects included in what is essentially a very simplistic and elegant story, but I beg to differ. These subjects no matter how unsettling and as sad and hard it is to read, need to be apart of our stories now.
I completely got behind the characters, each of the women brought something different to the story. The shining star of the book isn’t the characters are the beautiful engaging plot, it is the attention to detail. Every single scene is sprinkled with perfect historical detail and great depth which makes you feel as though you are living and breathing the era. The clothes, the rooms, gardens even the characters personalities are so perfectly written.
This is the first I have read by Dinah Costeloe, how many times have I said that over the last few weeks? And I can say without a doubt, that it certainly will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed her elegant and timeless graceful writing, the attention to historical detail is rich and vivid you can almost smell the French air and envisage every scene. Anyone who follows the blog will know that I am one of those readers who like a lot of historical facts and history, I love to be bombarded with the small details that really create a picture in my mind and this is right up there with some of the best.
I just want to make a brief apology to Dinah and the team over at for not posting this review on my day of this amazing blog tour. I think many will agree with me when I say the last few weeks/months have been a bit on the weird side and I’m afraid I have let things slide a little and now I am drastically playing catch up.
So, for all those who missed out on the blog tour, why not check out each of these amazing blogs which participated in this tour and show them some love?
This is the sequel to; The Children of The Siege, which I haven’t read and to be honest I didn’t even realise it was a sequel. Yes, I know, that it says it clearly in the back blurb, but I have said it before and I will say it again; I do walk around with my eyes shut – no wonder I am always bumping into things – anyhow, to say that this is a sequel I wouldn’t have guessed it, I saw this as a stand-alone, it reads like a stand-alone so if you are like me who does jump in first without properly reading the blurb then I can guarantee you don’t have to read the first book.
What really struck me about this is that it isn’t just your run-of-the-mill historical, there is a lot of depth. There is a lot of feelings, a lot of emotion. There are some pretty taboo subjects such as mental health illness, rape and abuse. For those who know me, will most likely know that Mental Health awareness is very close to my heart and I am always seeking out a book that has it apart of the story in some way, especially when it is written with such care and beautiful sensitivity as it is here. Some may not like hose aspects included in what is essentially a very simplistic and elegant story, but I beg to differ. These subjects no matter how unsettling and as sad and hard it is to read, need to be apart of our stories now.
I completely got behind the characters, each of the women brought something different to the story. The shining star of the book isn’t the characters are the beautiful engaging plot, it is the attention to detail. Every single scene is sprinkled with perfect historical detail and great depth which makes you feel as though you are living and breathing the era. The clothes, the rooms, gardens even the characters personalities are so perfectly written.
This is the first I have read by Dinah Costeloe, how many times have I said that over the last few weeks? And I can say without a doubt, that it certainly will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed her elegant and timeless graceful writing, the attention to historical detail is rich and vivid you can almost smell the French air and envisage every scene. Anyone who follows the blog will know that I am one of those readers who like a lot of historical facts and history, I love to be bombarded with the small details that really create a picture in my mind and this is right up there with some of the best.
I just want to make a brief apology to Dinah and the team over at for not posting this review on my day of this amazing blog tour. I think many will agree with me when I say the last few weeks/months have been a bit on the weird side and I’m afraid I have let things slide a little and now I am drastically playing catch up.
So, for all those who missed out on the blog tour, why not check out each of these amazing blogs which participated in this tour and show them some love?
May 2, 2020
The French Wife by Diney Costeloe has Madame Agathe Sauze and Annette relocating in 1876 to Belair, the St. Clair country home. Annette finds herself pregnant courtesy of a violent priest. Agathe and Annette helped Helene St. Clair when she was eleven during the Communard siege. Agathe got Rosalie St. Clair to give them positions and respectability for Annette. Clarice St. Clair is marrying Lucas Barrineau with an elaborate ceremony, reception and ball. Lucas invited Rupert Chalfont, the youngest son of a titled gentleman, who happens to need to leave England for a time. Rupert is immediately taken with Helene and sets out to woo her along with her family. When Rupert must return to England, he promises to return for Helene in the spring. People and circumstances are not in their favor. The French Wife is a dramatic historical novel. It is the sequel to Children of the Siege, but it can be read on its own. I thought The French Wife was well-written and it moved along at a gentle pace. The characters are complex and suit the time period. The villains were well-crafted and easy for a reader to dislike (they deserve it). Annette and Agathe are working class women or servants. Their clothing and behavior suited this era. The other characters like Helene were from a higher-class bracket which was reflected in their language, clothing and attitude. The authors word imagery helps to bring the story alive for readers. I did feel the book was a little long and the pacing could have been livelier. I also would have liked something unexpected to happen in the story instead of playing out in an expected manner. I do want readers to know that there is violence against women in the story that is graphic and difficult to read. I could tell the author did her research for this book. I like a story that has people you will cheer for and villains you boo. I liked that some of the good characters from Children of the Siege were in this story and were available at pivotal points. The French Wife is a dramatic saga with a Casanova charmer, sordid secrets, a pathetic priest, a wooed woman, a kindhearted coachman, and a vile villain.
November 19, 2020
Als je twéé doodgeboren baby's nodig hebt om je plot een beetje kloppend te krijgen en 489 bladzijden lang niets anders doet dan vertellen wat alle personages zeggen en wat ze denken en waar ze naartoe gaan om 'ze' elkaar uiteindelijk te laten krijgen, en 'hij' ook nog voorzien is van een vastberaden kin, dan heb je een bende bomen voor nix laten omhakken IMHO.
May 15, 2020
After Miss Mary's Daughter which was the first Diney Costeloe novel I reviewed, I received this. It is great to have a Diney Costeloe book again.
****Trigger warning-contains sexual violence****
France, 1800's. Agathe Sauze, works as a housekeeper for a priest who is dying. Agathe is hard working and is unaware her life is about to change with the arrival of the cruel Father Thomas. Annette is given a job as the new housekeeper.
Agathe escapes and goes searching for her estranged sister.
Another character in the book is Helene who lives in the small village of St Etienne. She is part of a wealthy family and her concern is being accepted into high society. Soon, the characters' lives will become intertwined with each other as well as with other characters'.
Parts of the novel take place in France and others in England, in rural parts of Sussex. I liked this as my family lived in Sussex for some years when I was very young and I remember many a holiday in northern France and a later trip to Paris when I was in my twenties.
The description in this book is outstanding. I felt like I was in rural France one minute, Sussex the next. The landscapes and cultures of both countries are well-represented. I have always felt a sense of magic and mystery surrounding chateaux, and some are truly majestic.
I loved the upper class clothing and dresses yet was also interested to see the poorer areas and people represented.
It's clear Diney Costeloe researched incredibly well and this made for an enthralling atmosphere.
The very beginning had almost a thriller feel to it, which I wasn't expecting with this being a historical novel, but that had me eager for more, and got me immersed in the novel.
The French Wife is a blend of suspense, intrigue and romance within a very well paced historical novel which sped up and slowed down according to what was gong on.
I found myself concerned for Agathe and Annette then rooting for them at various points in the story. I liked Helene and was disgusted by Father Thomas.
Diney deftly explores the hard-to-tackle issues of rape, pregnancy sexual assault and mental health.
The French Wife is the sequel to Children of the Seige, which I have not reviewed. I am interested in getting a copy so I have the full backstory of some characters and can fill in some gaps to understand the whole picture of the story told within the two novels.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel as it showed the challenges for the rich and poor living in French, and English, society at the time as well as the role of the church and the help people did (or did not) get in life and how trustworthy and reliable (or not) people were.
4 stars.
Thanks to Diney Costeloe and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
****Trigger warning-contains sexual violence****
France, 1800's. Agathe Sauze, works as a housekeeper for a priest who is dying. Agathe is hard working and is unaware her life is about to change with the arrival of the cruel Father Thomas. Annette is given a job as the new housekeeper.
Agathe escapes and goes searching for her estranged sister.
Another character in the book is Helene who lives in the small village of St Etienne. She is part of a wealthy family and her concern is being accepted into high society. Soon, the characters' lives will become intertwined with each other as well as with other characters'.
Parts of the novel take place in France and others in England, in rural parts of Sussex. I liked this as my family lived in Sussex for some years when I was very young and I remember many a holiday in northern France and a later trip to Paris when I was in my twenties.
The description in this book is outstanding. I felt like I was in rural France one minute, Sussex the next. The landscapes and cultures of both countries are well-represented. I have always felt a sense of magic and mystery surrounding chateaux, and some are truly majestic.
I loved the upper class clothing and dresses yet was also interested to see the poorer areas and people represented.
It's clear Diney Costeloe researched incredibly well and this made for an enthralling atmosphere.
The very beginning had almost a thriller feel to it, which I wasn't expecting with this being a historical novel, but that had me eager for more, and got me immersed in the novel.
The French Wife is a blend of suspense, intrigue and romance within a very well paced historical novel which sped up and slowed down according to what was gong on.
I found myself concerned for Agathe and Annette then rooting for them at various points in the story. I liked Helene and was disgusted by Father Thomas.
Diney deftly explores the hard-to-tackle issues of rape, pregnancy sexual assault and mental health.
The French Wife is the sequel to Children of the Seige, which I have not reviewed. I am interested in getting a copy so I have the full backstory of some characters and can fill in some gaps to understand the whole picture of the story told within the two novels.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel as it showed the challenges for the rich and poor living in French, and English, society at the time as well as the role of the church and the help people did (or did not) get in life and how trustworthy and reliable (or not) people were.
4 stars.
Thanks to Diney Costeloe and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2020
Unbeknown to me when I originally chose to read, this book is actually a sequel to another book The Children of the Siege, but it is so beautifully written, so flawlessly that explanations for past situations and links to the past were not made a big deal of and never felt intrusive to the flow of the overall story or that large swathes of the story didn’t make sense because of missing backstory.
The book entwines several characters together in a slow but steady climax that is a part quaint thriller and part romance. We are introduced to Agathe Sauze and Annette, poor women who are very firmly in the servant class of society and to Helene and Rupert, both members of better, wealthy classes. Set mainly in France with the occasional scene in rural England, it explores the rights of women and their lot in life as cast by society and the rules that they had to live by in 1877, looking at the power held over them by the men in their lives. Perhaps the exception to this overall plotline is the storyline of Rupert Chalfont, the second son of a wealthy landowner who is originally painted as a fairly disreputable and unlikeable character, forced to face up to the weight of expectations usually reserved for the eldest son after tragedy strikes his family, making him a character as a reader you invest time and emotion in. It also helps that he was contrasted clearly with the villain of the piece, who is all in all a nasty piece of work and thoroughly disagreeable.
Costeloe has written evocative scenes in which beautiful dresses are described, or the feel of a working kitchen in a well to do home with the accompanying hustle and bustle, or the feel for a Paris neighbourhood set in the not so elegant parts of the city complete with ruffians and troublemakers and makes them vivid. The story explores various topics such as sexual abuse, rape, death, familial expectations and mental health. It clearly delineates the lives of both the upper and lower classes and the treatment of people within these classes, although class lines are broken with a friendship between Annette and Helene that was formed in their childhood (a storyline from the first book) that carries over to the young women in this piece.
The story moves briskly and never feels as if it labours over any one scene, but the climax doesn’t come until almost the final pages of the piece. Whilst it is not searing, thought-provoking commentary on women’s rights of the time that will fire up your inner feminist, it was an enjoyable way to spend a day.
July 7, 2021
Always enjoy this author and although a little predictable at times, I still loved the book.
November 3, 2023
Diney Costeloe knocks it out of the park! I listened to the audiobook and just could NOT pull myself away!
November 5, 2024
Nice read, enjoyed the storytelling
May 17, 2020
Bestselling author Diney Costeloe returns with a captivating, immersive and emotional historical saga set in 19th Century France that will hold readers spellbound: The French Wife.
It is a time of celebration for the St Clair family. Their daughter Clarice is about to marry and the entire family has been swept up in preparations and planning for this grand wedding. The St Clairs have known their fair share of hardship and anguish, so this wedding is an opportunity to put the past to rest and to embrace the joy and happiness of this wonderful occasion. However, little do they realise that old ghosts, a passionate love affair and devastating secrets threaten to ruin the life the St Clairs have striven and worked so hard to build. Can the family manage to ride out this storm and emerge united and stronger than ever? Or will the ties that bind them together be severed and their family destroyed beyond repair?
The siege of Paris in 1871 had changed France and the lives of the French people forever. During that horrible ordeal, Helene, the youngest St Clair daughter, had befriended a penniless and lonely orphan called Annette. Despite the vast social chasm that divided them, Helen and Annette had formed a close bond and now the orphaned girl is working below stairs for the St Clair family. However, Annette has a secret that only Helene knows. A secret so powerful and devastating that she daren’t risk anyone finding out. Helene had promised to keep this secret for Annette at all costs – even if it jeopardises her life and that of her family.
With the weight of Annette’s secret weighing heavily on her shoulders, Helene has certainly got a lot on her plate. Yet, this doesn’t stop her from falling in love with a young English nobleman. As her feelings for the man she has grown to love intensify, Helene wonders whether she can have a future with the English man who had stolen her heart when his family make it clear that they would never welcome a French wife.
Will Helene find the happiness she has been searching for? Or is she destined to be condemned to a lifetime of regret?
It is impossible not to fall under Diney Costeloe’s spell. A writer who has the storyteller’s gift, she never fails to pen evocative, emotional and enthralling historical novels that keep readers riveted to the page and captivated until the final page and The French Wife is no different. A book sure to satisfy her legion of fans and win her scores of new readers, The French Wife is a beautifully rendered historical drama rich in atmosphere, intensity and heart that centres around a strong and spirited heroine in the best saga tradition.
Diney Costeloe deftly blends scandalous secrets, dangerous passions and powerful romance in a stunning historical novel that is impossible to forget.
It is a time of celebration for the St Clair family. Their daughter Clarice is about to marry and the entire family has been swept up in preparations and planning for this grand wedding. The St Clairs have known their fair share of hardship and anguish, so this wedding is an opportunity to put the past to rest and to embrace the joy and happiness of this wonderful occasion. However, little do they realise that old ghosts, a passionate love affair and devastating secrets threaten to ruin the life the St Clairs have striven and worked so hard to build. Can the family manage to ride out this storm and emerge united and stronger than ever? Or will the ties that bind them together be severed and their family destroyed beyond repair?
The siege of Paris in 1871 had changed France and the lives of the French people forever. During that horrible ordeal, Helene, the youngest St Clair daughter, had befriended a penniless and lonely orphan called Annette. Despite the vast social chasm that divided them, Helen and Annette had formed a close bond and now the orphaned girl is working below stairs for the St Clair family. However, Annette has a secret that only Helene knows. A secret so powerful and devastating that she daren’t risk anyone finding out. Helene had promised to keep this secret for Annette at all costs – even if it jeopardises her life and that of her family.
With the weight of Annette’s secret weighing heavily on her shoulders, Helene has certainly got a lot on her plate. Yet, this doesn’t stop her from falling in love with a young English nobleman. As her feelings for the man she has grown to love intensify, Helene wonders whether she can have a future with the English man who had stolen her heart when his family make it clear that they would never welcome a French wife.
Will Helene find the happiness she has been searching for? Or is she destined to be condemned to a lifetime of regret?
It is impossible not to fall under Diney Costeloe’s spell. A writer who has the storyteller’s gift, she never fails to pen evocative, emotional and enthralling historical novels that keep readers riveted to the page and captivated until the final page and The French Wife is no different. A book sure to satisfy her legion of fans and win her scores of new readers, The French Wife is a beautifully rendered historical drama rich in atmosphere, intensity and heart that centres around a strong and spirited heroine in the best saga tradition.
Diney Costeloe deftly blends scandalous secrets, dangerous passions and powerful romance in a stunning historical novel that is impossible to forget.
May 23, 2020
Pretty good 3-1/2 Stars
Costeloe's novels are always good. This one was as well, but it wasn't very original. I kept thinking I'd read something very similar before. There were a lot of missing words and some typos, which I reported. Hopefully, they'll be fixed. This was a continuation of The Lost Girl in Paris. I couldn't remember what had happened in that story, just bits and pieces. Otherwise, the characters were distinctive and interesting for the most part, with blustering fathers, mothers who cared mainly for propriety in provincial France and servants who were the smart saviors of the day. This wasn't my favorite Costeloe novel, but it did hold my attention. The ending is predictable.
Costeloe's novels are always good. This one was as well, but it wasn't very original. I kept thinking I'd read something very similar before. There were a lot of missing words and some typos, which I reported. Hopefully, they'll be fixed. This was a continuation of The Lost Girl in Paris. I couldn't remember what had happened in that story, just bits and pieces. Otherwise, the characters were distinctive and interesting for the most part, with blustering fathers, mothers who cared mainly for propriety in provincial France and servants who were the smart saviors of the day. This wasn't my favorite Costeloe novel, but it did hold my attention. The ending is predictable.
March 7, 2023
Very lovely interesting story
I could not put it down Its so true to live and the characters were well chosen and very strong people who were willing to share their lives together helping others less fortunate than them. Easy to read entertaining.
I could not put it down Its so true to live and the characters were well chosen and very strong people who were willing to share their lives together helping others less fortunate than them. Easy to read entertaining.
May 16, 2020
Paris 1876
Rupert Chalfort is the younger son of Sir Philip Chalfort, a Baronet. Rupert’s brother, Justin, is his twin and older by two hours. Rupert is spending some time in Paris to attend the marriage of his friend, Lucas St. Claire. When he meets Lucas’s younger sister, Helene, he is smitten. As she is just 17, her parents feel she is too young to be married. But Rupert is allowed to pay his addresses to her. They are in love and want to marry when she is just a bit older. But Rupert receives word that Justin has drowned and he must return to England. Now he is the heir. He and Helene write back and forth to one another, but evil is at work and they do not receive one another’s letters. Now, they believe the other has forsaken them leaving them brokenhearted.
As part of the story, we see young Annette who grew up in a workhouse and then went to work for a priest who turned out to be the devil himself bringing shame on her. She is rescued by her friend Agathe Sauze whom she has known from earlier days when they went through a siege together. They both end up working in the St. Claire home.
As we follow these characters, we experience their trials, pain, and joy in life. There is a lot of intrigue and heartbreak, which seems to predominate most of the story. Had I read the previous novel, I may not have been as confused as I was with the story of Annette, Agathe, Helene and Pierre. However, as I read more of the book I gained enough information to get gist of their background. This is certainly a compelling book and the characters are real. I’m sure readers will enjoy being transported to Paris and England in this historic novel.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rupert Chalfort is the younger son of Sir Philip Chalfort, a Baronet. Rupert’s brother, Justin, is his twin and older by two hours. Rupert is spending some time in Paris to attend the marriage of his friend, Lucas St. Claire. When he meets Lucas’s younger sister, Helene, he is smitten. As she is just 17, her parents feel she is too young to be married. But Rupert is allowed to pay his addresses to her. They are in love and want to marry when she is just a bit older. But Rupert receives word that Justin has drowned and he must return to England. Now he is the heir. He and Helene write back and forth to one another, but evil is at work and they do not receive one another’s letters. Now, they believe the other has forsaken them leaving them brokenhearted.
As part of the story, we see young Annette who grew up in a workhouse and then went to work for a priest who turned out to be the devil himself bringing shame on her. She is rescued by her friend Agathe Sauze whom she has known from earlier days when they went through a siege together. They both end up working in the St. Claire home.
As we follow these characters, we experience their trials, pain, and joy in life. There is a lot of intrigue and heartbreak, which seems to predominate most of the story. Had I read the previous novel, I may not have been as confused as I was with the story of Annette, Agathe, Helene and Pierre. However, as I read more of the book I gained enough information to get gist of their background. This is certainly a compelling book and the characters are real. I’m sure readers will enjoy being transported to Paris and England in this historic novel.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 11, 2020
The French Wife by Diney Costeloe is a historical romance-taking place in England and France in 1876. Rupert Chalfont arrives in France to attend his friend's wedding. Well, in reality it was expedient to get out of England for a while. There was the matter of a young woman in the family way. His friend, Lucas, had invited him unbeknownst to his family and Lucas' mother was not happy about it, but she had little choice. She was primarily concerned for her daughter, Lucie, who was just now out of the schoolroom and ripe for being preyed upon by young men. Rupert had no eyes for anyone but the bride's sister, Helene, with whom he fell in love almost immediately.
There is a lot going on in the book: multiple story lines, which work together nicely. Plenty of romance, but plenty of abuse, lust, subterfuge, and lies. There has always been prejudice and it is rampant in this story. Most of it gets worked out. There is much manipulation, some of which threatens to destroy people, as manipulation often does. Rupert is a rake, until he meets Helene. He has never been in love before; never anticipated being in love; wasn't sure love existed. Helene is very young pure of heart. She doesn't discern the difference in classes very well but she is a good judge of character. She comes to love Rupert with all of her heart. It is really quite a lovely story. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of The French Wife from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thefrenchwife
There is a lot going on in the book: multiple story lines, which work together nicely. Plenty of romance, but plenty of abuse, lust, subterfuge, and lies. There has always been prejudice and it is rampant in this story. Most of it gets worked out. There is much manipulation, some of which threatens to destroy people, as manipulation often does. Rupert is a rake, until he meets Helene. He has never been in love before; never anticipated being in love; wasn't sure love existed. Helene is very young pure of heart. She doesn't discern the difference in classes very well but she is a good judge of character. She comes to love Rupert with all of her heart. It is really quite a lovely story. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of The French Wife from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thefrenchwife
January 14, 2021
Take a trip into the past, 19th century France and England, walk in the shoes of the downtrodden and privaledged alike.
Madame Sauze kept house for a priest, until he passed and then changes were made, a late life change was forced upon her. But it was not until the girl she rescued, Annette, suffered at the hands of another and was thrown out that she starts anew.
Rupert had little he had to live up to, being second born in a house of privaledge. So an offer to travel to France for a new friends wedding, what harm could come of it?
Helene was to see her sister married and join society to start her adult life. Her childhood trauma left behind, but is the past ever the past?
The worlds of these very different people collide and intertwine to show strenght, friendship, love, heartbreak, betrayal, brutality and forgiveness. The story drawers you in and you hope for the best but not always does it work out as planned.
Although some of the story was a little predictable, I loved this read, it was hard to put down when sleep called. I was unaware it was part of a series, standing well on its own. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, if the happily ever after doesnt sit well, but why not give it a go.
Thanks Beauty & Lace and Disney for such a good book.
Madame Sauze kept house for a priest, until he passed and then changes were made, a late life change was forced upon her. But it was not until the girl she rescued, Annette, suffered at the hands of another and was thrown out that she starts anew.
Rupert had little he had to live up to, being second born in a house of privaledge. So an offer to travel to France for a new friends wedding, what harm could come of it?
Helene was to see her sister married and join society to start her adult life. Her childhood trauma left behind, but is the past ever the past?
The worlds of these very different people collide and intertwine to show strenght, friendship, love, heartbreak, betrayal, brutality and forgiveness. The story drawers you in and you hope for the best but not always does it work out as planned.
Although some of the story was a little predictable, I loved this read, it was hard to put down when sleep called. I was unaware it was part of a series, standing well on its own. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, if the happily ever after doesnt sit well, but why not give it a go.
Thanks Beauty & Lace and Disney for such a good book.
January 6, 2021
Oh, how I loved this book! Diney Costeloe’s writing flowed so beautifully. Her character description made me fall in love with every one of them and made me feel like I knew them so well. It was so refreshing to read about noble families from this era, that were not cruel to their servants, but went out of their way to help and protect them. While there were a couple of unpleasant characters, the majority of them were likeable and I loved how they all worked together to protect those they cared about, regardless of their station. The relationship between Helene and Rupert was just beautiful and so I was quite startled by the turn of events that affected this relationship. However, the last few chapters I read with happy tears in my eyes, as the saga came to an end. I was left feeling completely satisfied with the ending and a lovely warm feeling inside, as I left the characters I had come to care about, exactly where I wanted them to be. I will be seeking out more books by this author. A five-star read, without a doubt.
Thank you to Head of Zeus for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
Het vervolg op Children of the Siege. We zijn inmiddels zo’n acht jaar verder, Hélène is dus bijna achttien, de familie woont het grootste deel van de tijd op hun buitenhuis en niet meer in hun villa in Parijs. Hélène haar oudere zus gaat trouwen dus er moeten veel voorbereidingen getroffen worden.
Waar in het eerste boek het verhaal toch voornamelijk uit naam van Hélène verteld werd krijgen we hier diverse verhalen, Annette en de huishoudster van de priesters hebben een eigen verhaal, een jongeman uit het verre Engeland en dan natuurlijk Hélène zelf. Er gebeurt dan ook veel in het boek, je krijgt een mooi inkijkje in het leven van de gegoede klasse in die tijd. Meestal lees ik geen historische romans die zich voor WO1 afspelen maar ik heb van dit boek genoten. Natuurlijk ook vervloekt hoe men toen omging met het leven van een jonge vrouw, wat er allemaal voor haar besloten werd. Blij dat ik nu leef en niet toen. Het was 416 bladzijden lang genieten.
Helaas moet ik de Nederlandse lezers van Diney Costeloe haar boeken teleurstellen dat deze twee titels voorlopig zeker niet vertaald gaan worden.
C = 8 | A = 8 | W = 8 | P = 8 | I = 8 | L = 8 | E = 8 | Score 8,00 = 4 sterren
Waar in het eerste boek het verhaal toch voornamelijk uit naam van Hélène verteld werd krijgen we hier diverse verhalen, Annette en de huishoudster van de priesters hebben een eigen verhaal, een jongeman uit het verre Engeland en dan natuurlijk Hélène zelf. Er gebeurt dan ook veel in het boek, je krijgt een mooi inkijkje in het leven van de gegoede klasse in die tijd. Meestal lees ik geen historische romans die zich voor WO1 afspelen maar ik heb van dit boek genoten. Natuurlijk ook vervloekt hoe men toen omging met het leven van een jonge vrouw, wat er allemaal voor haar besloten werd. Blij dat ik nu leef en niet toen. Het was 416 bladzijden lang genieten.
Helaas moet ik de Nederlandse lezers van Diney Costeloe haar boeken teleurstellen dat deze twee titels voorlopig zeker niet vertaald gaan worden.
C = 8 | A = 8 | W = 8 | P = 8 | I = 8 | L = 8 | E = 8 | Score 8,00 = 4 sterren
May 12, 2020
I enjoyed this book overall. The story was a bit predictable but still enjoyable. The book starts out telling us the story of a maid who works for a priest. That priest dies and the new priest sends the maid away, leaving a different maid in her place. At this point in the book, you think the story is about this maid but in actuality it's really more of a backstory that is needed to set the stage for the main part of the story which is about a young girl Helene and a man she loves named Rupert. Through a series of misfortunes, they can't be together but as in all good books -everything seems to work out in the end. Spoilers aside, you'll love the characters in this book. They are interesting and a bit extreme in some cases. The well developed characters made the book move fast and I found myself really wanting to get into the story. I believe that this book could be the start of some interesting stories for Helene & Rupert should the author continue their narrative in a subsequent book. If she does, I'd surely read it!
August 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this story and couldn’t put it down. A charming story about love, betrayal, loss & the position of women in France in late 1800s. The story starts with a young maid escaping from an abusive employer. The maid and her former colleague both end up in the employment of the St Clair family & assist with their daughter’s wedding. The St Clair family are a wealthy family seeking to secure acceptance in French high society but scandalous secrets threaten to undo everything they’ve worked for. At the wedding another daughter catches the eye of the second son of an English baronet and they fall in love. The couple face many trials and obstacles including family pressures, society expectations and a dangerous love rival. The story also explores the position of women in society at the time & the challenges they face. Status and honour are important, and the actions of men can have devastating consequences on their futures. If you like a historical romances filled with suspense, scandal & intrigue then I’d recommend this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2020
The French Wife is an emotional and poignant historical story about women's lives in nineteenth-century France. It explores the fortunes of two women with a multigenerational relationship who are servants and a wealthy French family. This story is the second in a series but reads as a standalone. Agathe, Annette and the St Clair family's connection are provided as required in this novel.
There's a lovely sense of place and time from the rich historical detail. The story highlights the disparity in opportunity and treatment of women of all classes. Agathe and Annette and Helene and Annette have a life-affirming friendship, which makes them stronger emotionally.
This a poignant and rewarding historical read with an authentic historical setting and believable characters.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
There's a lovely sense of place and time from the rich historical detail. The story highlights the disparity in opportunity and treatment of women of all classes. Agathe and Annette and Helene and Annette have a life-affirming friendship, which makes them stronger emotionally.
This a poignant and rewarding historical read with an authentic historical setting and believable characters.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 7, 2020
The Charismatic Guest
An Englishman, Rupert, has been invited by a casual friend to attend his wedding in France where he meets a beautiful 17 year-old-girl, Helene. They fall in love, but Emile and Rosalie, the girl;s parents have other ideas about her future. Her maid, Annette, has been thru some tough times at the hands of a priest, but becomes maid to Helene. Rupert"s twin brother (a few hours older), is set to become Baron of his family estate, so Rupert"s status is not as high as another suitor nearby Helen"s family estate. The push and shove between the families becomes turmoil for Helene. Although the story is entertaining, the writing is without much description or substance. Two stars is all I caan award this tale.
An Englishman, Rupert, has been invited by a casual friend to attend his wedding in France where he meets a beautiful 17 year-old-girl, Helene. They fall in love, but Emile and Rosalie, the girl;s parents have other ideas about her future. Her maid, Annette, has been thru some tough times at the hands of a priest, but becomes maid to Helene. Rupert"s twin brother (a few hours older), is set to become Baron of his family estate, so Rupert"s status is not as high as another suitor nearby Helen"s family estate. The push and shove between the families becomes turmoil for Helene. Although the story is entertaining, the writing is without much description or substance. Two stars is all I caan award this tale.
May 13, 2020
I've read quite a lot of Diney Costeloe's books, although the others have been set around the time of the Second World War. I don't often read books based on this era so it took me a little while to get I to it, but once I did I really enjoyed the story. The only downside was, having now read other reviews, I've discovered this is a sequel, which explains the fact why I didn't really know what had happened to Helene during the siege, or how she ended up in an orphanage with Annette. After a while though, this didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book.
November 5, 2020
Beautiful story
I loved this story. The beginning is rather slow. I was even thinking that not much excitement is going on. But that it took off, the sparks were flying and I couldn't stop reading. It's a simple story about love in the XIX century when women are very often married without their approval regarding the future husband and man marry to keep their family obligations. But sometimes life brings nice surprises if we believe in ourselves.I think it is a very good book if you need to cheer up.
I loved this story. The beginning is rather slow. I was even thinking that not much excitement is going on. But that it took off, the sparks were flying and I couldn't stop reading. It's a simple story about love in the XIX century when women are very often married without their approval regarding the future husband and man marry to keep their family obligations. But sometimes life brings nice surprises if we believe in ourselves.I think it is a very good book if you need to cheer up.
August 13, 2024
The only genre in which the miscommunication trope is acceptable, due to everything being written by hand and sent by post, rather than a simple text.
It was a moving read; I enjoyed how Costeloe set up strands of the story, allowing the reader to piece them together (e.g., when Justin got his own chapter, I knew he would die).
The epilogue made me tear up, despite it only being half a page long; it was a simple yet effective way to show how Rupert and Helen's relationship progressed and grew
It was a moving read; I enjoyed how Costeloe set up strands of the story, allowing the reader to piece them together (e.g., when Justin got his own chapter, I knew he would die).
The epilogue made me tear up, despite it only being half a page long; it was a simple yet effective way to show how Rupert and Helen's relationship progressed and grew
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2020
I always look forward to any new novels by this wonderful author and this does not disappoint.. It is set in the 1870's in London and focuses on the forthcoming wedding of Clarice. The elder daughter of the St Clair family. Trouble is on it way though. Helene the younger daughter holds a terrible secret of an Orphan girls she befriended and who now works for her parents. Throw in a love affair with a French man and it creates a tense and compelling novel.
June 4, 2020
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A bit more romantic than my usual books, but nonetheless a good read. France in the 1800s; Helene meets and falls in love with a handsome young Englishman. But her family is busy setting up a more suitable match for her (them) in order to join properties. As fate decrees, they are torn apart by family duty, perhaps never to meet again...A little predictable, but a good read overall.
A bit more romantic than my usual books, but nonetheless a good read. France in the 1800s; Helene meets and falls in love with a handsome young Englishman. But her family is busy setting up a more suitable match for her (them) in order to join properties. As fate decrees, they are torn apart by family duty, perhaps never to meet again...A little predictable, but a good read overall.
September 10, 2020
Such a great book. I listened to the audiobook and just could not put it down. I realized when I was about a quarter of the way in that it was part of a series (ha I always do that). So I cannot wait to read the first novel. The book is very well written. I felt like I was reading a classic novel. It was very refreshing to read a story that was not first person. Also it didn't have foul language or sexual themes.
April 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and haven't read one by this author before. I really felt like I got to know the characters and was sorry when I got to the end. I did feel that occasionally there was a marked change in the writing style as on occasions it brushed over some events and therefore bits felt rushed whereas other bits were really in depth. Still loved it though and definitely going to read all their other books
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