Rating: 
Summary: Frenchman's Creek
Review: I've read the book and I've had the pleasure of viewing the Mobile Masterpiece tape. Both are exquisite. This tale is romantic, hopeful, and loaded with adventure. I've read other reviews and I don't understand why folks think this is elementary writing. This is one of the best adventure stories ever put down on paper. Every day that I feel blue, I pretend that I am Dona St. Columb and I am transformed into another time. Please don't miss this masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Frenchman's Creek
Review: I've read the book and I've had the pleasure of viewing the Mobile Masterpiece tape. Both are exquisite. This tale is romantic, hopeful, and loaded with adventure. I've read other reviews and I don't understand why folks think this is elementary writing. This is one of the best adventure stories ever put down on paper. Every day that I feel blue, I pretend that I am Dona St. Columb and I am transformed into another time. Please don't miss this masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: A satisfying read
Review: If you like historical romances and can enjoy one even if it lacks the "sensuality" found in the historical romance novels typically sold today, you'll likely enjoy this story. Set in the 17th century, this story is basically about a wealthy, bored housewife and mother (Lady St. Columb) who finds herself falling out of love with her husband and wanting a change from the life she is living, or in her mind merely "existing". Although her husband adores her, realizing she needs a break from him and their surroundings, she leaves him "for a visit" to their Cornwall estate. With her kids in tow, she expects nothing more than some peace and quiet. What she finds is a ship moored just off her property, and a mysterious but intriguing man that makes her laugh and feel more alive than she has in a while. When she later learns that he's a pirate, the damage has been done; her attraction to him is too strong to end their friendship and budding relationship. And to make matters worse, he's equally attracted to her. What follows is a bittersweet love affair that is hampered by the fact that she's a wife and mother with responsibilities. As if those weren't issues enough to deal with, she's also surrounded by nosey neighbors and other acquaintenances who are quite content to try and mind her business, and eventually through their actions, threaten her happiness and even her life. While this story lacked the "fire" and excitement I was expecting, it was nonetheless a good read. Don't expect to be plunged into a whirlwind romance with a young, beautiful virgin being chased by the man she happens to captivate in a flurry of action. Expect instead, to find two mature people who know what they want out of life and who develop a relationship based upon mutual attraction and friendship, that simmers and builds slowly. There is some sensuality in the book, but it's subdued by today's standards. In this story, you will find romance, some action, and an atmosphere that contributes to a feeling of "being there" in 17th century England and experiencing a part of what life would be like for a titled woman, and a pirate. It's an interesting, bittersweet story that had my emotions on a rollercoaster as the two individuals were forced to make hard decisions about their directions in life. There wasn't much I didn't like about this book but if I had to pick something, it would be that in a few spots the pace was just a tad slow, and the fact that I happen to like the "fiery" (okay, real sensuous) historical romances of today. While a little more fire would have been nice, this book was satisfying nonetheless because the story is well told. I would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A satisfying read
Review: If you like historical romances and can enjoy one even if it lacks the "sensuality" found in the historical romance novels typically sold today, you'll likely enjoy this story. Set in the 17th century, this story is basically about a wealthy, bored housewife and mother (Lady St. Columb) who finds herself falling out of love with her husband and wanting a change from the life she is living, or in her mind merely "existing". Although her husband adores her, realizing she needs a break from him and their surroundings, she leaves him "for a visit" to their Cornwall estate. With her kids in tow, she expects nothing more than some peace and quiet. What she finds is a ship moored just off her property, and a mysterious but intriguing man that makes her laugh and feel more alive than she has in a while. When she later learns that he's a pirate, the damage has been done; her attraction to him is too strong to end their friendship and budding relationship. And to make matters worse, he's equally attracted to her. What follows is a bittersweet love affair that is hampered by the fact that she's a wife and mother with responsibilities. As if those weren't issues enough to deal with, she's also surrounded by nosey neighbors and other acquaintenances who are quite content to try and mind her business, and eventually through their actions, threaten her happiness and even her life. While this story lacked the "fire" and excitement I was expecting, it was nonetheless a good read. Don't expect to be plunged into a whirlwind romance with a young, beautiful virgin being chased by the man she happens to captivate in a flurry of action. Expect instead, to find two mature people who know what they want out of life and who develop a relationship based upon mutual attraction and friendship, that simmers and builds slowly. There is some sensuality in the book, but it's subdued by today's standards. In this story, you will find romance, some action, and an atmosphere that contributes to a feeling of "being there" in 17th century England and experiencing a part of what life would be like for a titled woman, and a pirate. It's an interesting, bittersweet story that had my emotions on a rollercoaster as the two individuals were forced to make hard decisions about their directions in life. There wasn't much I didn't like about this book but if I had to pick something, it would be that in a few spots the pace was just a tad slow, and the fact that I happen to like the "fiery" (okay, real sensuous) historical romances of today. While a little more fire would have been nice, this book was satisfying nonetheless because the story is well told. I would recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful classic gothic romance!
Review: If you like modern gothic you must read the master ! Daphne du Maurier is a classic! From back of book:
When wild , daring Lady DOnna suddenly left London and her husband and fled to Navron, her mysterious Cornwall estate, she did not know she had a date with destiny. But Jean Benoit Aubery, the notorious gentleman pirate, had been using Navron as his headquarters. And suddenly they were together- sharing desperate adventure, falling dangerously in love, casting convention to the winds and coutring disaster every moment....
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good romance
Review: If you were a bored wife, would you go off with a handsome French pirate? yeah, me too! Daphne du Maurier is the only writer I know who can raise sexual tensions using the minimalist approach, meaning there are no explicit sex scenes, but this book manages to be really sexy. The style of the ideas of love and passion are truly poetic and you can see why Daphne du Maurier is such a great writer. Dona St. Columb is a beautiful married woman and a mother of two. But then she encounters the sexy French pirate and goes off an adventure. Will her husband find out? What will happen to her marriage? Those are the question you ask throughout. Of course, like the technique in Rebecca, the suspense is good and will likely hold your attention until the very end. I don't have a problem with adultery as a theme in literature as the bitter reviewer had criticized. If you like he adultery theme in literature too, check out Anna Karenina, Emma Bovary, Jude the Obscure, Age of Innocence, and Lady Chatterley's Lover,
Rating: 
Summary: SUCKED!
Review: Lady Dona is an extremely shallow woman who leaves her children with servants for days while she commits adultery with a sea-faring bum. She savors her "independence" while living royally in her husbands mansion and being waited on hand and foot, by servants. She and her lover dine at luxurious table on husbands best china. When they're not living off the unknowing husbands bounty, they're vandelizing, and stealing from her neighbors. She is not intended to be the villain of the piece. Shes its heroine. This is supposed to be a classic? Stick with the Bronte sisters.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Escape
Review: My tastes in books and music vary wildly, but this book has been a favorite since I first read it at 13 (20-ish years ago.) The pirate is a perfect symbol for the "lawlessness" of love; love does not follow rules and boundaries imposed upon it by our social conventions. It is primal and magic, and creeps silently and unexpectedly up to our shorelines in the dead of night.
Rating:
Summary: Horribly Romantic
Review: My tastes in books and music vary wildly, but this book has been a favorite since I first read it at 13 (20-ish years ago.) The pirate is a perfect symbol for the "lawlessness" of love; love does not follow rules and boundaries imposed upon it by our social conventions. It is primal and magic, and creeps silently and unexpectedly up to our shorelines in the dead of night.
Rating:
Summary: Better than Rebecca!
Review: Rebecca was good. Jamaica Inn was okay. But Frenchman's Creek was great! Du Maurier really outdid herself. She took the heart of a woman and made it plain. What romantic wouldn't like this story? Pirates, adventure, philosophy and romance....better than those frilly romance books nowadays. Dona went on a quest and fulfilled it. The first chapter is boring---skip it; I put it down for a time because I was unimpressed. But it is really good. I read parts of it to people as they were working (while I joyfully read) and they kept asking, "what happened next?" Every time I would give a little giggle of glee. This is really good. Rebecca and Jamaica Inn are "dark" novels; but this is an exploration into a womans mind. I comprehend and adore Ms. Dumaurier! Another good writer found!
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