Book #2 in the Josephine Bonaparte trilogy. This installment picks up where the last one left off: the day after Napoleon and Josephine's wedding in 1796. It ends at the beginning of 1800 when Napoleon and Josephine move into the Tuileries Palace.

I can't remember how many times I thought, "Poor Josephine!" Those Bonapartes are a family to be reckoned with and they stop at nothing to foil Napoleon's marriage to her.

This installment is probably going to end up being my favorite because it has my favorite character (so far): Captain Charles. The young captain is absolutely hilarious and adorable. I loved him.

As with all historical fiction, there are some liberties taken, but I'm still learning a lot about a period of time I didn't know much about. These books were no doubt extensively researched, and it shows. Josephine is a strong woman who has been through a hell of a lot. Despite the limitations of women at the time, she uses her brains and charm to get things done.

The world and characters in these books are exquisitely drawn up to where you feel like you're right there on the streets of Paris. The smells, colors and faces are clear as day.

Josephine's story is only going to get more intense from here. ( )

The second in this trilogy about the life of Josephine Bonaparte. This is mostly about Napoleon's rise and the early years of the marriage -- through his campaigns in Italy in which she joined him, and while they were separated when he was in Egypt. Of course, we get all the information through Josephine's journal so we are limited to what she knew and thus prevented from really knowing Napoleon, the brilliant general and ambitious leader. But the novel is certainly entertaining nonetheless, albeit light -- similar in quality as the first installment.

The journal entries did not work as well for me this time -- it seemed much more obvious that they contained huge chunks of dialogue and were therefore an unrealistic gimmick. I think you either have to bite the bullet and work within the framework of the device you have chosen, or make it a combination of diary and narrative. Also, the dialogue, diction, vocabulary did not strike me as authentic, much too modern -- for instance were words like 'infertility' ever bandied about in the 1700's?

But again - to be positive -- this is an enjoyable, flowing story illuminating the early Napoleonic years as well as a very interesting woman in Josephine. Gullard strikes a fine balace with these novels - not as superficial glorified 'chick lit' like say Phillipa Gregory; but easy yet informative reading that should recommend it to the 'women's book club' crowd. ( )

Second book in trilogy about Napoleon. Excellent---a definitely must-read.

The second volume of Sandra Gulland’s Josephine B. Trilogy traces Josephine’s life from her marriage to Napoleon through to his coup d’etat and appointment as First Consul of France.

I’m pleased to report that this book is every bit as good as the first. Once again, Gulland manages to imbue her heroine with pathos and humanity. I felt deeply connected to Josephine throughout the whole novel. Her frustrations and fears became my own. I found it impossible not to root for her.

The diary format continues to work to great effect. It made this a quick, readable book that builds in momentum as it progresses. By the end, I was hard pressed to put it down. I especially appreciated how Josephine’s reactions fit in with what had come before. At no point does Gulland dramatically foreshadow coming events; such an approach would have taken away from the book's overall feel. While there are hints of what’s to come, as there would be in real life, each triumph or betrayal comes upon Josephine in a natural, realistic fashion, and she reacts in kind.

Overall: definitely worth reading and highly recommended. ( )

The second book of the Josephine Bonaparte trilogy is riviting. You really connect to her as a character and person in this book. ( )