Nine Coaches Waiting

Rating:
Summary: Mary Stewart at her Best!
Review: When Linda Martin first learned about the position of governess at Chateau Valmy in France for the young Philippe, she pounced upon it; though Madame de Valmy asked for an English girl. Concealing the fact that she is half-French, Linda accepts the position and pulges headfirst into a dark mystery.
Her charge, Philippe, is a wealthy, frail orphan, who spends his days reading and avoiding his uncle, the crippled archangel of a man Leon de Valmy. Almost imediately, Linda "smells sulphur". Both Leon de Valmy and his wife seemingly ignore the child but after the fist accident that almost results in Philippe's death, Linda trusts no one.
The only person other than Linda who appears suspicious is the dark, handsome, Raoul de Valmy, Leon's son. Soon, however, Linda begins to suspect even Raoul. All the Valmys would profit from Philippe's death.
This novel is truly Stewart at her greatest. Her only other novel that even comes close is "The Moonspinners".

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: Be transported to a world so believable, so magnificent, so mysterious, you'll not want to leave. Nine Coaches waiting is my favorite book in the world. I have read it so many times that the pages are falling out. I have what I think may be an unhealthy obsession with Raul and find myself searching for small roads with very small bridges whenever it rains...

Rating:
Summary: Great book!! Reprints, please!!
Review: I have read quite a few of Mary Stewart's books and for anyone who is interested "This Rough Magic" ties with "Nine Coaches". "The Moon-Spinners" is very good, so is "My Brother Michael" and "Airs Above the Ground". These are more along the romance line as opposed to fantasy as in "The Crystal Cave" which was very good but a different style of story.

I first found Mary Stewart when I was rather young The Wonderful World of Disney did "The Moon-Spinners" with Haley Mills. I was hooked and I still enjoy her books as true mystery romances with the covers falling off and all.

Rating:
Summary: A page-turner for all lovers of romance and suspense!
Review: Like most of Mary Stewart's novels, this one also centers around a beautiful and brave heroine. However, each and every one of these novels are different in content as well as in plot, so that even though you think you know what the outcome is going to be, in reality you don't! I read most of Mary Stewart's novels when I was a teenager (when I used to borrow them), but 15 years down the road, I find myself rummaging through bookstores for them - to be able to reread them, but more because I want to own my own copies (so that I can reread them yet again in a few year's time)! (Hint: London bookstores carry many of them, esp. Dillon's and Books Etc..) 'Nine Coaches Waiting' is great in the sense that it transports the reader into the rustic countryside of France, which Mary Stewart describes, as always, with so much pleasurable detail. The sense of mystery is heightened as the heroine searches for the truth behind the troubled family for whom she works; and the romance is made more even more romantic with the notions of 'unrequited love' and 'forbidden love'. I think that with most Mary Stewart's novels, there is never a huge emphasis on romantic love in terms of action or words, but better still, she concentrates on the inner feelings of longing and sacrifice (esp. before the official 'start' of a relationship) which serve to enhance the romantic atmosphere of her books.

Rating:
Summary: Mary Stewart in near-perfect form
Review: Mary Stewart is a genius; every time I read her books, I am filled with pleasure mixed with acute jealousy. Her descriptive and suspense-stringing talents have yet to be topped. This book is one of the best. If not as magical as This Rough Magic, it is much stronger on the romance and keeps suspense longer than any of her other books. I never knew, by the way, how many different settings there were in France until Mary Stewart came along--this one is quite Gothic in a 1960s-glamour way.

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: Next to Jane Eyre, the best "governess goes to the big spooky mansion" type of romantic novel. Has all the elements: a Cinderalla type love story, suspense, danger, and heroism. Excellently written and very superior to anything done in the past twenty or even thirty years. I first read this in high school, borrowed from the local library, and always wanted a copy, but was not able to find a copy of it until I started using Amazon. Reading it, I really became aware of how much romantic fiction has declined since then. The sheer quality of the writing is so good. Mary Stewart's best contemporary romance. I wish she had written more.

Rating:
Summary: so mysterious
Review: There was something so amazing about this book even when I first started reading it. I couldn't put it down. The book takes place in France. Linda goes to become the governess for the young Comte de Valmy. Someone is trying to dispose of him. Phillipe, the little boy was just so endearing that the book took be on an emotional journey because I love the boy. Also I was caught up in who could be trusted. I really wanted to trust the charming Raoul, but I didn't know what to think. I loved the relationship between Linda and Raoul, it was kind of humorous to me in a strange way. I really enjoyed this book. It was a masterpiece.