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Book Review of The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon's Bird of Paradise

The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon's Bird of Paradise
reviewed on
Helpful Score: 3


I agree with the other reviewers a bit -- this is, as the author describes it, historical "entertainment." I was not fond of the speed of time throughout the book, for Erickson covers the entire (fictional) life of this remarkable woman in 325 pages. I tend to like a bit more meat with my meal, as do most lovers of historical fiction. I mean, why read it if it's not going to be full of HISTORY? Plus, I enjoy a good conversation as much as the next gal, and this book is not full of witty exchange between intriguing characters. Everyone in this book is basically how they seem. No surprises here.

However ...

It a fun book and well told. The story flows (though very quickly!) and is very believable, uh, for fiction. It made me want to know much more about the heroine and what her real story was, though I doubt it will be as colorful as this book. I didn't find the romance sappy or overwhelming (a big peeve of mine). If you like historical fiction without a lot of details, this would be an excellent story for you. I enjoyed it!