The Maiden's Court: In Progress Book Review: The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien

Monday, April 7, 2014

In Progress Book Review: The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien

The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien
Kindle eBook, 485 pages
Amika Press
December 1, 2013

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received for review as part of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour

“As a clever girl in stodgy, mercantile Baltimore, Betsy Patterson dreams of a marriage that will transport her to cultured Europe. When she falls in love with and marries Jerome Bonaparte, she believes her dream has come true—until Jerome’s older brother Napoleon becomes an implacable enemy.

Based on a true story, The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is a historical novel that portrays this woman’s tumultuous life. Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, known to history as Betsy Bonaparte, scandalized Washington with her daring French fashions; visited Niagara Falls when it was an unsettled wilderness; survived a shipwreck and run-ins with British and French warships; dined with presidents and danced with dukes; and lived through the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. Yet through it all, Betsy never lost sight of her primary goal—to win recognition of her marriage.”

Disclaimer: This review is based on what I have read so far of the book – a full review will be posted at a later date. I try not to do this often, but life happens.

So far I have really enjoyed this novel. Betsy is one of those characters that I instantly liked and it is fun to follow her perspective. She is headstrong and determined to achieve what she perceives as her destiny. Her emotions feel very real and almost as if the reader is experiencing them too. Her early relationship with Jerome is quite interesting and I go back and forth between liking him and being unsure of him.

The author’s writing style is very easy to read and enjoyable. Events flow together seamlessly and I am very interested to see what comes next.

I have enjoyed that the novel has been set in historical Baltimore. As you know I love American set HF, and this is not a setting which I have read before.