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Solitaire
Marty felt just like an alien!
Solitaire, her Uncle Jim's home in France, was to have been a haven for Marty after years of unhappiness. Instead of the expected welcome, she was greeted by a hostile stranger.
Luc Dumarais, the new owner of Solitaire, was frankly suspicious of Marty. And she, shocked and bewildered at learning of her uncle's death was at Luc's mercy.
Luc Dumarais was right out of her league. Of necessity she accepted the job he grudgingly offered, but she felt it was only the first step to disaster...
Solitaire, her Uncle Jim's home in France, was to have been a haven for Marty after years of unhappiness. Instead of the expected welcome, she was greeted by a hostile stranger.
Luc Dumarais, the new owner of Solitaire, was frankly suspicious of Marty. And she, shocked and bewildered at learning of her uncle's death was at Luc's mercy.
Luc Dumarais was right out of her league. Of necessity she accepted the job he grudgingly offered, but she felt it was only the first step to disaster...
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
3 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Sara Craven
493 books266 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 4, 2016
Orphan Marty arrives in France to live with her (not uncle) Uncle Jim. Marty is 19 and has been working as a secretary while living with her spinster Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary does not approve of this whole moving to France lark. She threatens never to speak to Marty again, and then slaps her goodbye. Because in this house, we do not smile at threats of disinheritance!
Marty shows up at Uncle Jim’s house, Solitaire, but Uncle Jim is dead. In his place is a sneering Frenchman, who insists that Marty must know who he is. For he is Luc Dumarais, famous French director! Marty never goes to the pictures. She has very limited understanding of what they actually are.
Marty had no idea Uncle Jim had died because on his deathbed, Uncle Jim said that he had no relatives. But Uncle Jim’s letter, inviting Marty to France was sent many months after Uncle Jim’s demise. How does such a thing happen?
Luc Dumarais has a thirteen-year-old bad seed named Bernard. Luc slaps Bernard across the face, because in this house, we don’t send letters from dead men so that our fathers will send us back to Paris.
In typical late 70s fashion, it’s sort of fine that Luc is at least twice Marty’s age, and already has a girlfriend. His seduction technique is to observe that Marty knows nothing about sex and blow cigarette smoke in her face. This is 100% effective in getting Marty to fall in love with him.
Marty spent her life savings getting to France, and at first I thought this was a little unrealistic. Then I remembered that I had about $50 when I was 19, and this would maybe have got me from London to Calais. It certainly wouldn’t have also bought me a bus ticket, an orangina and a three-course meal, so I have no right to judge.
Luc offers Marty a vague job that’s half go to the beach with Bernard, and half type up Luc’s movie paperwork. To perform her duties Marty will need swimwear, so it’s not long before Luc drives Marty to town to buy some, advancing her the necessary cash. It is far too much money, and she will not be bought! Marty is furious, and buys an ugly swimsuit as revenge.
Luc is revolted. He takes Marty back to the store to return the offensive swimmers, and catches Marty in a bikini. This is 100% effective in getting Luc to fall in love with her. They must now buy all the swimwear in the store! The saleslady offers sarongs and cover-ups, yes to it all, says Luc! Poor guy, he’s not going to get to see Marty in her fancy togs. That’s for 13 year old Bernard, and Marty’s French boyfriend Jean Paul.
Marty spends most of the book sulking about how Luc is going out with another woman. The housekeeper is mean to her. Bernard keeps using her in his bad seed plans to get sent back to Paris. Her French boyfriend keeps feeling her up but Marty’s already hooked on the touch of Luc. And Luc keeps telling her that he’s not going to rape her. Sure, he feels her up on a number of occasions, but he’s really not taking advantage of all those yearning looks she’s desperately trying not to send his way.
For Luc, Marty seems a bit of afterthought. He spends most of the book writing his movie and flirting with his girlfriend. He’s sort of into her? Because even though they’re not together she followed him here from Paris? And she puts out?
The girlfriend finally becomes seriously unimpressed with Marty and slaps her face. In this driveway, we take bribes when they are offered and we don’t smirk at women a thousand times sexier than we are! Poor girlfriend. Even though she didn’t get to marry a famous French film director, I hope he was at least good in bed. Or, when he wins the French Oscar, she can laugh with her friends about how he was so bad he had to find an English virgin child who wouldn’t know any better.
‘Solitaire’ was mostly fun. It even had some vaguely gothic moments. Marty is lead by a large and threatening dog through a dangerous forest to the isolated grave of Uncle Jim. Mysteriously, someone has left flowers near the tombstone. Bernard was very motivated to get back to Paris, and he had the makings of a good little psychopath. I’m sure that’ll give Marty plenty to do so Luc can go off and make his French films and have affairs without worrying that she’ll get too bored.
Marty shows up at Uncle Jim’s house, Solitaire, but Uncle Jim is dead. In his place is a sneering Frenchman, who insists that Marty must know who he is. For he is Luc Dumarais, famous French director! Marty never goes to the pictures. She has very limited understanding of what they actually are.
Marty had no idea Uncle Jim had died because on his deathbed, Uncle Jim said that he had no relatives. But Uncle Jim’s letter, inviting Marty to France was sent many months after Uncle Jim’s demise. How does such a thing happen?
Luc Dumarais has a thirteen-year-old bad seed named Bernard. Luc slaps Bernard across the face, because in this house, we don’t send letters from dead men so that our fathers will send us back to Paris.
In typical late 70s fashion, it’s sort of fine that Luc is at least twice Marty’s age, and already has a girlfriend. His seduction technique is to observe that Marty knows nothing about sex and blow cigarette smoke in her face. This is 100% effective in getting Marty to fall in love with him.
Marty spent her life savings getting to France, and at first I thought this was a little unrealistic. Then I remembered that I had about $50 when I was 19, and this would maybe have got me from London to Calais. It certainly wouldn’t have also bought me a bus ticket, an orangina and a three-course meal, so I have no right to judge.
Luc offers Marty a vague job that’s half go to the beach with Bernard, and half type up Luc’s movie paperwork. To perform her duties Marty will need swimwear, so it’s not long before Luc drives Marty to town to buy some, advancing her the necessary cash. It is far too much money, and she will not be bought! Marty is furious, and buys an ugly swimsuit as revenge.
Luc is revolted. He takes Marty back to the store to return the offensive swimmers, and catches Marty in a bikini. This is 100% effective in getting Luc to fall in love with her. They must now buy all the swimwear in the store! The saleslady offers sarongs and cover-ups, yes to it all, says Luc! Poor guy, he’s not going to get to see Marty in her fancy togs. That’s for 13 year old Bernard, and Marty’s French boyfriend Jean Paul.
Marty spends most of the book sulking about how Luc is going out with another woman. The housekeeper is mean to her. Bernard keeps using her in his bad seed plans to get sent back to Paris. Her French boyfriend keeps feeling her up but Marty’s already hooked on the touch of Luc. And Luc keeps telling her that he’s not going to rape her. Sure, he feels her up on a number of occasions, but he’s really not taking advantage of all those yearning looks she’s desperately trying not to send his way.
For Luc, Marty seems a bit of afterthought. He spends most of the book writing his movie and flirting with his girlfriend. He’s sort of into her? Because even though they’re not together she followed him here from Paris? And she puts out?
The girlfriend finally becomes seriously unimpressed with Marty and slaps her face. In this driveway, we take bribes when they are offered and we don’t smirk at women a thousand times sexier than we are! Poor girlfriend. Even though she didn’t get to marry a famous French film director, I hope he was at least good in bed. Or, when he wins the French Oscar, she can laugh with her friends about how he was so bad he had to find an English virgin child who wouldn’t know any better.
‘Solitaire’ was mostly fun. It even had some vaguely gothic moments. Marty is lead by a large and threatening dog through a dangerous forest to the isolated grave of Uncle Jim. Mysteriously, someone has left flowers near the tombstone. Bernard was very motivated to get back to Paris, and he had the makings of a good little psychopath. I’m sure that’ll give Marty plenty to do so Luc can go off and make his French films and have affairs without worrying that she’ll get too bored.
August 13, 2018
Fun old school. She is poor and diffident, looking for some place to belong. A fairly common trope for older HPs. You could see he was falling for her pretty soon. All in all just a fun ride nothing too OTT. A there is a lot of slapping in the book though.
December 31, 2014
I often enjoy reading older Harlequins for the different style from what we see today. Some things might drive a modern reader crazy, such as the guessing game of what the hero is thinking. In this story, like many early romance novels, there is no diving into the hero's thoughts and feelings through his point of view. His motives are as mysterious as his past and Marty, the young, inexperienced English heroine, finds herself out of her depth trying to figure him out. We must wait, of course, for the ending before the worldly hero, Luc Dumarais, gives his side of things to explain his enigmatic, and sometimes not-so-kind or endearing behavior. In the last few pages, while not exactly groveling (just not his style), Luc will admit, "the good God knows I don't pretend to be easy to live with..."
You think? Yes, this we figured out about Luc throughout the story. He fits right in with what I thought was a touch of a gothic feel with the setting of the house in France, named Solitaire, complete with a grim, unfriendly housekeeper and a sullen, thirteen-year-old boy, Bernard, who seems older than his years. Bernard is Luc's son and their relationship is strained with misunderstanding. Marty, not much older than Bernard, feels out of her depth here also in her efforts to befriend the boy.
It's the kind of story where the heroine has to carry the weight of the reader's sympathy. She had mine from page one, right after Marty gets off the bus and the driver calls to her something in French. "...the tone was friendly and encouraging as if he had discerned there was something a little forlorn about the slender figure standing looking around the square, with all her worldly goods packed into the elderly leather suitcase at her feet. She smiled rather shyly and lifted a hand in response as the battered vehicle clattered and swayed over the cobbles and around the corner out of sight."
So, I like her. She reminded me a bit of a Jane Eyre kind of heroine and I rooted for her and enjoyed her spirited interactions with Luc. I miss some of the "modern" storytelling methods with getting to understand the hero more from his viewpoint, but there is something to be said for "old style" storytelling as well. I find it interesting (as a writer myself) to think about how "likable" the hero needs to be. Because I do rather love him in the end. When Marty says, "But I don't belong to your world," he responds with this:
"What world? I am my world. If you belong to me, then you belong to my world."
I just love that. The story began with Marty looking for a place to belong. Those few words are the reassurance she's found it.
You think? Yes, this we figured out about Luc throughout the story. He fits right in with what I thought was a touch of a gothic feel with the setting of the house in France, named Solitaire, complete with a grim, unfriendly housekeeper and a sullen, thirteen-year-old boy, Bernard, who seems older than his years. Bernard is Luc's son and their relationship is strained with misunderstanding. Marty, not much older than Bernard, feels out of her depth here also in her efforts to befriend the boy.
It's the kind of story where the heroine has to carry the weight of the reader's sympathy. She had mine from page one, right after Marty gets off the bus and the driver calls to her something in French. "...the tone was friendly and encouraging as if he had discerned there was something a little forlorn about the slender figure standing looking around the square, with all her worldly goods packed into the elderly leather suitcase at her feet. She smiled rather shyly and lifted a hand in response as the battered vehicle clattered and swayed over the cobbles and around the corner out of sight."
So, I like her. She reminded me a bit of a Jane Eyre kind of heroine and I rooted for her and enjoyed her spirited interactions with Luc. I miss some of the "modern" storytelling methods with getting to understand the hero more from his viewpoint, but there is something to be said for "old style" storytelling as well. I find it interesting (as a writer myself) to think about how "likable" the hero needs to be. Because I do rather love him in the end. When Marty says, "But I don't belong to your world," he responds with this:
"What world? I am my world. If you belong to me, then you belong to my world."
I just love that. The story began with Marty looking for a place to belong. Those few words are the reassurance she's found it.
February 2, 2022
Decent story but the romance is not compelling. Sara Craven would have had to show us more Luc to make it believable. I inferred that she has a huge crush on an older, sophisticated, extremely attractive and unattainable man and he's in love with her innocence and physically. Sure these can blossom into real love, but Craven doesn't quite pull it off.
Please see my longer review here: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/sol...
I got my copy on Thriftbooks and you can find copies on Amazon and likely eBay and other used book sites.
Please see my longer review here: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/sol...
I got my copy on Thriftbooks and you can find copies on Amazon and likely eBay and other used book sites.
October 23, 2024
Mediocre. Lukewarm romance. Needed more angst.
You don’t miss a single thing if you don’t read this one.
You don’t miss a single thing if you don’t read this one.
August 30, 2012
There was so many things going against the heroine in this novel. I felt very sorry for her that she was manipulated and cheated at times. The hero ticked me off to no end. He thought it was okay to fuck his mistress while in love with the heroine. It was absolutely ridiculous. How can you love someone like that? It was just okay for a novel, nothing spectacular.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews