Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Her Own Revolution: Château de Verzat Series by Debra Borchert. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Her Own Revolution: Château de Verzat Series
by Debra Borchert
Her Own Revolution: Château de Verzat Series
Historical Romance
2nd in Series
Setting – Paris and a Loire Valley vineyard during the French Revolution
Le Vin Press (July 14, 2023)
Paperback : 422 pages
A Woman Forges a Treacherous Path to Save Hundreds from the Guillotine
If Geneviève Fouquier-Tinville had the same rights as a man, she wouldn’t have to dress like one, which she does to attend University—forbidden to women. By swearing her commitment to the revolution, she succeeds in convincing her father, the Public Prosecutor who condemns thousands to the guillotine, to hire her as a court clerk. But she intends to earn passage to join her lover, Henri, in America.
Tasked with copying lists of names scheduled for execution, she reads Louis LaGarde, a fallen noble whom she despises for having exposed her as a woman when they both attended University. Believing him innocent, she replaces his name with one already dead, saving his life. But she realizes that unless she forges a treacherous path, hundreds more will perish at her father’s hands.
When a Revolutionary hunts her down, she must accept LaGarde’s help, yet she denies her attraction to him out of loyalty to Henri. She fights for her life and the lives of those she’s come to love, but she must face the truth of her own heart.
Author Guest Post: The Marquise de Bourran
A sage woman, the Marquise de Bourran, becomes the matriarch at Château de Verzat where four hundred families’ lives depend upon the vineyard of the estate. An enduring character, she appears in Her Own Legacy and Her Own Revolution. Because of her experience on a battlefield, when she was fifteen, she learns how to save lives.
Image the author used as inspiration for the character Photo courtesy Wikicommons
I was born and grew up at Versailles, where people were consumed by silks, laces, and jewels. It’s not that I didn’t like those things, but I hoped I would meet a man who was kind and shared my love of nature and people.
I noticed Philipe when, much to the shock of other courtiers, he helped a maid who had slipped and hurt her ankle. He had wiped her tears and carried her out of the great hall. His kindness, beyond that of any other courtier, fluttered my heart.
Although we’d never been introduced, I was determined to meet him, and followed him to the battlefront. Yes, I know it was terribly naïve of me, but the Queen was going, and I was fifteen, and a lady-in-waiting, almost, and it was my duty to country, Queen, and Philipe.
When I arrived the Queen nearly banished me from court, but she allowed me to stay if I promised not to complain or faint.
A part of me wished I hadn’t gone, for when we arrived at the battlefield, the stench of blood, the sweat of fear, the acrid bite of gunpowder made my stomach writhe. I retched. Acres of men sprawled across the bloodied, burned ground. Dizziness darkened my vision, and I squeezed my eyes against flecks of light, willing myself not to faint.
Somewhere I found the strength to help and comfort the men. Falling in love was the furthest thing from my mind. In order to save the lives of men who had infections, the surgeon ordered us to collect maggots, which we were to place on the soldiers’ wounds. At first, I was repulsed, but then I realized that these writhing tiny worms could save lives, and it was when I was out collecting them, I heard a man cry out for water. He was Philipe. And the little white creatures saved his life and my love. The surgeon set his leg, told me to apply the wriggling things to his infection and not to leave Philipe.
I never did.
About Debra Borchert
Debra’s debut novel, Her Own Legacy, is the first in a series that follows headstrong and independent women and the four-hundred loyal families who protect a Loire Valley château and vineyard, and its legacy of producing the finest wines in France during the French Revolution. Her Own Revolution is the second book in the Château de Verzat series. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical French fiction. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and standard poodle who is named after a fine French Champagne.
Author Links
Website www.DebraBorchert.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/debraborchertauthor/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DebraBorchertAuthor/
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127906994-her-own-revolution
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org
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Her Own Revolution TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
August 17 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
August 17 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 18 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
August 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 19 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE
August 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – I’m Into Books – RECIPE
August 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 23 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – My Reading Journey – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
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This looks like a great novel.
Thanks for inviting me to your great blog! I love British TV and films, also. What’s your favorite? Debra
You’re welcome! I have many! Doc Martin, Happy Valley, Line of Duty, Death in Paradise, and lots more!