4 out of 4 stars
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It looked like she was sleeping, but her eyelids were wide open. As he drew closer he could see that she was seriously hurt. He did not know who had done this to her, but Lucien was sure that Father Gregoire would make Rose better. Author Mario Guerrrier tells the story of the colonization of Haiti in a work of historical fiction titled Ashes of Desire.
Sir Henry Beauchamp, his wife, and his brother were not among the rich and famous. Still, the Beauchamps had the means to start out as entrepreneurs on the island. They found success and became one of the most wealthy and respected families on the island. Lady Beauchamp was admired by many. She was beautiful and influential, but she held an inner desire for motherhood and was unable to conceive a child. This desire lead to her fondness for a young slave girl. Lady Beauchamp’s feelings for the African slave girl challenged the social norms of the community. After the mysterious murder of the slave girl, Lady Beauchamp began a secret romantic affair with an attractive slave owned by her husband. There was no doubt that the two were passionate lovers, however, Lady Beauchamp and Joseph were on opposite ends of the social spectrum. As the couple’s relationship intensified, Lady Beauchamp and Joseph would face the harsh realities of the social hierarchy. And they would have to decide whether passion and desire were strong enough to shatter the social divide.
This is a seductive and thought-provoking novel. I was fully engaged from page one to the final word of the novel. Each character is beautifully developed with their own unique flaws and personality. Moreover, historical fiction is always my first choice, and this book did not disappoint. There is a perfect balance of dramatic storytelling and conveyance of historical facts.
This is a well-written, well-edited, and well-organized book. There are two minor grammar errors. These errors are missing and misspelled words. Still, the story is told with sophisticated, yet understandable language and flows seamlessly from scene to scene creating a pleasant reading experience. I recommend this book to fiction readers who enjoy informative historical fiction.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This novel is historical fiction at its finest. The skillful writing and editing make it pleasurable for a reader to follow this story through to the end. This story asks the reader to consider if human intuition and desire is stronger than social expectations.
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Ashes of Desire
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