Almost Innocent (Almost Trilogy)

by Jane Feather

Book Overview

Dear Reader, Almost Innocent is a romance that is particularly dear to me, with a heroine who surprised me with her strength and resourcefulness, and a hero who will always be one of my favorites.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553573705
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.9" x 1.1" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

This was my favorite Jane Feather novel

I LOVED this book. It reminded me of the stories of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot and Gwenivere; the love triangle between the three. This was one of the rare occasions I've read a novel purposely slow - wanting to savor the story and enjoy the images created rather than just reading quickly to find out what happens. I loved Guy, Magdalen and Edward. I felt for all 3 of these characters - wanting Magdalen to appreciate Edward's love, but knowing she had to stay true to her heart. I was not offended by the "immorality" of her cheating because her marriage was arranged. It was never her choice to marry Edward. Had she chosen him from the start, giving herself body AND soul to him and then decided to cheat, then I would have had a hard time liking her character. As it is, I found this one of Jane Feather's best novels - it was powerfully passionate and I felt myself torn between Edward and Guy, much as Magdalen did toward the end of the novel. A great read!

Book Description

A historical Medieval romance JOINED BY DESIRE IN A WORLD DIVIDED... She was called Magdalen -- the beautiful, illegitimate daughter of a powerful British duke and his French mistress -- hidden behind the cloistered wals of an impenetrable English fortress and betrothed at a tender age. The uncle of her intended groom, handsome Guy de Gervais was her protector, her devoted champion -- until duty called him to the bloody battlefields of feudal France. But time would transform a spirited child into a stunning, sensuous woman ... and a youthful infatuation into a blistering, soul-searing love -- impelling Magdalen and her gallant knight to defy destiny in reckless pursuit of a dangerous, forbidden passion.

Truly Different

I will not repeat the synopsis since it's right here but I will say that I never found the story to be boring and I really enjoyed the author's writing style. This is not your typical romance novel. There aren't steamy love scenes on every other page and the characters do not always behave sympathetically. This IS a story about adultery, so if that bothers you, you will never like this book. HOWEVER, it is worth noting that Magdelen never had a choice about her marriage. It was decided when she was just a child, and she did try and prevent it. Finally, lets be honest about Edmund, who is Magdelen's husband. Everyone goes on and on about how great he was and how he did not deserve what Magdelen did to him. Come on, maybe he was great for his time, but not only did he cheat on Magdelen with prostitues, he raped a woman who's husband he had killed. So, in short, he got no sympathy from me. Read this if you are looking for something other than a mindless boddice ripper. Although judging from the reviews here, most people aren't.

This rich romantic saga took my breath away. . .

ALMOST INNOCENT is a tale about love that survives and triumphs despite indescribable suffering and tragedy.Lady Magdalen, our heroine, is oblivious to her pivotal role in the silent struggle between England and France. From the beginning, her life is marked with brutality, yet the determindeness of new life: she delivered by her father, a powerful English prince, from the body of his freshly poisoned French mistress, who lays dying in spasms on a cold stone floor while the baby Magladen fights her way into the world. Magdalen grows up for eleven years enclosed in a stronghold until her knight in shining armor, Guy de Gervais, takes her away to have her marry his nephew, Edmund de Bresse. Although Guy knew her only as a child before he left for the war in France, he is tormented by a fierce love and desire for her when he sees her again after so many years. He is tormented by the fact that he loves the woman married to his beloved nephew.This story is an amazing saga. I was disappointed to read that some of the reviewers thought this book was boring. I think the sheer beauty of Jane Feather's work is in her words, the beautifully lilting and lyrical way she describes love, passion, and raw emotion. These particular characters were exceptionally well written as well. This is not a book to read if you want to skim just the superficial plot off of the deep inner meaning of the story. If you read carefully, you will be rewarded with being there to see little Magdalen grow up into a stunning beauty, and to see her affection for Guy de Gervais develop from a budding infatuation into an all consuming love. You will see how human beings suffer from the injustices of fate and the cruel coldness of politics. And you will see how in the end, through the tragedy and bloodshed, love conquers all.Of course, every book has negative aspects, and I do not deny that there were some parts having to do with beatings and violence that disturbed me. Plus, some of the politics and historical implications between France and England might be hard to follow, but everything falls into place as the story moves along. But overall, the awesome love and the richness of the characters more than compensated for the book's sparse shortcomings.Those of you who do not have patience for "wordiness" that deeply describes every facet of the characters and the essence of the story, this probably isn't the book for you. But other readers who are curious, please pick this novel up. Absorb Feather's unique language and you will live as these characters lived. . .and you will also be moved beyond words.

Historical Romance ....with a taste of reality

I thoroughly enjoyed this book...I became attached and hoped the ending would never come. You can feel the heat from Guy's hands when he touches her...your heart starts to race when he pulls her on his knee. I have read the other reviews, and its not that I disagree (opinion entitlement) although I do wish you could have felt the way I did. I have traveled all over this beautiful world, stationing myself in England for 2 years.. and never have I read a book with such absolute detail and feeling for the time. The reality of Magdalen is that she is arrogant, she is strong, she is not of high intelligence (many woman weren't permitted to be in the 1300's) and she was betrothed. It did not disgust me when she made love to Guy. Edmund was not her hearts choice. You can choose to marry whom you wish nowadays. She had no say in the matter. This was as real as they get. Intuitions, fornications, death, sickness, jealousy, arrogance, and most of all love. You don't have to like who she is, although I did... Most people read romance novels to escape and read about someone they'd like to be like...completely impossible to be perfection....there is no such woman. This story was amazing, beautifully written, and perfect in length. Its one of those...Damn-I-cant-put-this-down books...