Mary's Bookcase : Have a sneak-peek between the covers of Her Own War by Debra Borchert

Her Own War
By Debra Borchert

Publication Date: 14th July 2024

Publisher: Le Vin Press

Page Length: 438 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

As Napoleon Rises from the Ashes of The French Revolution, One Woman Dares to Spy Against Him.

Sentenced to eight months in an insane asylum for the crime of impersonating a man, Geneviève LaGarde fears giving birth in a filthy cell will mean certain death for her and her unborn child. Desperate for her release, her husband, Louis, trades his freedom for hers and must join Bonaparte’s army in Egypt.

As Geneviève wages her own war against the tyrannical general, she not only risks her own life but also those of her children and the four hundred families who depend on the Château de Verzat estate. Knowing her desperate actions could cause the government to confiscate the entire vineyard, she sacrifices everything to save her husband and protect the people who become her family.

A captivating tale of the power of love, hope, and courage, and the strength of community.

Praise

“Fans of historical fiction will find this novel a most captivating read.” —Kirkus Reviews

“For fans of Stephanie Dray's The Women of Chateau Lafayette.” —Publishers Weekly BookLife Editor's Pick

“A compelling story of love, war, and fierce family loyalty. While the narrative stays true to the social mores of the French Revolutionary era, Borchert gives her readers powerful and active female characters who often cunningly use conventional gender expectations to conceal their real motives and actions. Fans of historical fiction will find this novel a most captivating read.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Readers of historical fiction with a strong current of love and loss will enjoy watching both Louis and Geneviève fight their own battles in hopes of reuniting—and reunifying their ravaged country. Sweeping, passionate portrait of the everyday lives in Bonaparte's France.” —Publishers Weekly BookLife Editor's Pick

“Set against the tumultuous backdrop of war-ravaged France during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the novel masterfully merges historical accuracy with fictional storytelling, plunging readers into an immersive and authentic world. Geneviève's strong-willed nature and unwavering determination make her an intriguing protagonist. Her interactions with others, particularly Louis and Aurélia, reflect themes of resilience, human connection, and the complexities of personal relationships. The dialogue crackles with wit and the smooth pacing and the tight plotting keep readers invested. Simply un-put-downable.” —The Prairies Book Review

“With meticulous attention to detail, Borchert grounds her portrayal of wartime experiences in historical context and realism, drawing upon thorough research and actual events to vividly depict the trials of the era. Throughout, the book explores a myriad of themes, such as family, identity, resilience, human connection, and the complexities of personal relationships while raising questions about the price of war, the boundaries of morality, and the impact of violence on individuals and communities. An absolute stunner.” —BookView Review

“The divisive tragedy of war pulls a fearless fighter from the vineyard to the front lines in Her Own War by Debra Borchert, a gripping and lyrical work of historical fiction.” —SPR

Excerpt

Egyptian Desert

The gangly beast was two heads taller than Louis and smelled of dry excrement. This was Murat’s challenge? His cure for Louis’s cowardice?

Because he did not wish to be spat upon or bitten, he avoided looking directly at the animal. Its bulging amber-brown eyes were soulful yet harbored distrust. The thick brown lashes were as long as Louisa’s fingers. How his daughter would giggle. The camel must be female with such lovely eyes. A quick look confirmed his guess.

Louis pressed his lips against a laugh, blessing the night he and three other courtiers had broken into the King’s menagerie at Versailles. Louis had been the only one who not only successfully mounted the beast but also rode him around the enclosure. Despite his past success, Louis needed a lesson.

A black-robed and turbaned Bedouin held a rope tied around the creature’s neck and muzzle.

Louis nodded to him. “Inshallah.”

The man’s eyebrows rose. Louis could not tell if the man was surprised or impressed or both. “Inshallah.” His reply was gritty as sand.

Louis’s men stood around the Bedouin and his herd, watching carefully. He stood to the side and stroked the camel’s long soft neck, patting her wrinkled curve, and whispering, “I shall call you Sophie. Let us be friends you and I, surprise them all.”

Her small ears twitched.

The Bedouin brought a stick behind the camel’s front knee and pulled down on her rope bridle. After a bit of growling, Sophie knelt, rested back on her haunches, and sat, calmly chewing, her jaw sawing side-to-side.

Removing his hat, Louis pointed to the Bedouin’s turban. Then he pointed to himself. The Bedouin called out to a boy, who unwrapped his own red turban. Louis bent for the child to wrap the fabric around his head and neck. Louis placed his bicorne on the boy’s head, brought his hands together, and nodded, for he knew no other gesture for thanks.

The boy grinned. “Shukran.”

Louis repeated it to the boy and then to the Bedouin. The Bedouin’s lips relaxed their grim line.

Atop Sophie’s hump, draped in a colorful rug, sat a leather saddle with a carved wooden post at its front and back. Camel riders kept one leg bent around the front post and used the opposite foot to kick the animal’s flank. As there were no stirrups, Louis held onto both knobs, hoisted himself up onto the saddle, and hooked his leg over the front knob. The Bedouin gave him the rope and stick and slapped the camel’s hind quarter.

Sophie jolted forward, lumbering to her knees, and it seemed she was trying with all her feminine wiles to pitch Louis forward and fling him over her head. He leaned back to counter her efforts and gripped the rope. Sophie hissed and spat as she rose. Louis patted her neck. “All will be well, beauty.”

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Debra Borchert

Debra Borchert has had many careers: clothing designer, actress, TV show host, spokesperson for high-tech companies, marketing and public relations professional, and technical writer for Fortune 100 companies. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Writer, among others. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and independently.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical French fiction. She has been honored with a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice, Publishers Weekly BookLife Editor’s Pick, and many other five-star reviews.

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