Review: Colette by Michelina Vinter

In 1938, Colette, an eighteen-year-old Parisian girl, falls for American professor Adam Walker. Within weeks, the young couple married and moving back to the United States, and Colette must say goodbye to the only home she's ever known. After traveling to New York and eventually to her new home in Berkeley, Colette discovers that she's expecting, and life doesn't seem like it could get any better. Colette soon discovers, however, that Adam isn't the man she thinks. Forced to endure an abusive husband and a lonely pregnancy, the only solace she can find is with her neighbor, John Wu. A devoted friend, John proves to be the shoulder she can cry on, and the man she can depend on to take care of her. But as time goes by and war draws nearer, life begins to take a dramatic turn. As the world begins to change around her, Colette's fantastic story will take her around the world and back in defense of her family, her child, and her love. Packed to the brim with dramatic twists and turns, this exhilarating story follows one woman's incredible journey through life, love, and war. Colette is an exciting new romantic thriller by Michelina Vinter filled with fast-paced emotions and gripping suspense. Exploring the constraints of life and family, this captivating novel uses romance, action, and intrigue to draw readers in while showing them something more. An enthralling romantic thriller, the novel is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys leisurely reading. From action aficionados to romance junkies, this book is perfect for readers of all backgrounds and interests and will keep them hooked until the very last word. A delicious blend of action, adventure, and romance, Colette is a one-of-a-kind story that follows one woman's fantastic journey through life. Encountering everything from first love and domestic abuse to the Gestapo and even a kidnapping plot, Colette's life proves to be as exciting as it is dramatic and a truly remarkable story to experience. Keeping readers guessing until the last sentence, this tremendous novel will stick with readers long after they've put the book down.

Paperback, 244 pages

Published August 2nd 2013 by Nathalie Valkov      

Terri's Review

I received this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say but the fact that the synopsis really captured my attention and I was eager to begin this read.  A love story that take place during wartime?  Those who know me or read my reviews know that this is my favorite genre of book.

This was an easy read.  The book started well with the introduction of Colette and how she met Adam.  Right from the get go you could tell that Colette was a strong well written character and she remained this way throughout.  The whirlwind romance followed by the disappointment as peoples true characters came out was very interesting and kept me wondering what would happen next.  Then enters the war and I had high hopes for the direction the book would take.

This is where the story let me down a bit.  With the introduction of the war and the subsequent events that followed I found the storyline got hard to believe.  Colette's role in the resistance seemed far fetched and I had a hard time buying in to the actions that she took.  Follow that with her romance with John and the plot surrounding his family the story took a turn that it could not recover from in my opinion.  It was almost like I was reading two separate books.  The first half was an historical fiction romance while the second half was an attempt at a suspense/thriller novel.  The first half was better written and I enjoyed it much more than the second half.

The highlight for me was the character of Colette and her strength and passion.  This was the one consistent piece throughout the story. The remaining character to me were just supporting cast and of little consequence.

I had such high hopes for this read however sadly it did not turn out as I had hoped.  I do however think Vinter shows promise as an author and I would not rule out exploring some of her other work.

 

About the Author

Michelina Vinter is a practicing acupuncturist and herbalist residing in the San Francisco Bay area with her two children, her husband, and a sweet shadow, her son’s Havanese. Possessing a vivid imagination since she was a child, she often was told to get to the point—which led to her career as an acupuncturist. Born in France, she left her family and moved to the United States when she was twelve years old. With firsthand experiences in hard goodbyes and long conversations with her maternal grandmother who was born in 1920, Vinter’s wisdom beyond her years has led to a fulfilling writing career covering multiple genres.